NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1687, 17 July 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

The Maori Prisoners. £PEB FBKSS AOBKOT.] WELLINGTON, July 17. Tho fiftoen Maori prisoners arrested at Opunake will not now be brought up before two this afternoon. A remand will be applied for on the ground that Dr Buller, the oounael for the Maoris, is absent. An Operatic Fiasco. WELLINGTON, July 17. All the papers comment in the strorgest terms upon the wretched fiasco of the opera, " H.M.S. Piaafcre," last night, through the conduct of the leading tenor, who, from gome cause, was quite incapable of singing or acting.

[FEOSt OTTB OWN COBBESPOKDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, July 17. Tho Armed Constabulary are undergoing inspection by Colonel Roberts. The Political PloughmenTho CsAura ploughmen appeared before the District Court this morning, and were remanded for a fortnight to enable the Crown Prosecutor to apply to the Supreme Court, Auckland, for a change of venue to Wellington. The prisoners behaved very quietly, and cams to the Court House under the care of a few unarmed constables. Vote of Thanks. Last night, at a meeting presided over by the Mayor, a vote of thanks was given to the Volunteers of the different parts of the colony who gallantly tendered their services fcr duty on this coast during the late troubles.

AUCKLAND, July 16. An old man named Stafford suffered fracture of the skull through being pushed out of a door and falling upon his head in the street. The injuries are not likely to be fatal.

At Cambridge to-day considerable excitement was caused in the Native LaDds Court by Tunhcirua, who violently addressed the Court on the dispute' over the decision in the Okaia cese. Ho said his people, Ngatihaua, had been burning whares and killing cattle and pigs. If a re-hearing of the case was not granted he would go up and worse things would happen. The Court replied that his appeal had better be made to the Magistrate's Court, where cognisance would also be taken of their criminal acts. Afterwards a settlement was made and a chief was despatched to bring in the Nativeß (who had occupied the block) from Okaia. At the Native meeting to consider the petition to the Governor, Aukatere was opposed to the petition and spoke against all land purchasers, suggesting that leases be substituted for sales. He argued that the opening of Native lands to direct purchase and stopping Government influence would bring the country into constant trouble. He was willing to leave these matterß for the Government and law to decide, and he was not a supporter of tho petition, nor would he sign it. The petition to-day is in worse odour and is not likely to meet with much support. WELLINGTON, July 16. Ngamare and fifteen other Maoris, arrested at Opunake for ploughing settlers' land, but not previously brought up, will appear before the Resident Magistrate to-morrow. There are eighty-nine in prison now, and in a few days there will be 107. Ail necessary precautions have been taken to prevent escape. Those newly arrested will be brought down to-morrow in a four-horse conveyance, escorted by a guard of armed constabulary. The whole fifteen will be committed. It is said that it was on Mr Mackay's advice the Government got the ermed constabulary to make the arrests of the Maoris, taking it out of the hands of the settlers.

In 1860 (the year after Savings Banks were established) the excees of deposits over withdrawals amounted to £69,956 9a Id. Last year the amount of businesa transacted had increased four-fold, but tho excess of deposits ever withdrawals dwindled down to £20,030. In the years 1872 and 1873 the excess was £117,700 and £154,634 respectively. Tho postal districts of Hawke's Bay, Marlborougl, Nelson, Westport, and HoMtika ' show &u excess of withdrawals over deposits during last year. In 1868 there were only 13,014 deposits in the Savings Banks, amounting to £194,535. Last year there were 69,903 deposit*, amounting to £762,084. The papers on emigration to New Zealand show that Mr Gh M. Heed's appointment as immigration officer for the north of Ireland is for two yearß definite, with six months' notice after that. The salary is £6OO, with travelling expenses, £250 being allowed for the passage home and the same amount for the return

passage. The "Chronicle" says Mr Stout will return to political life in eighteen months. Wm, Woods, remanded to Christchurch for fraudulent insolvency and wife desertion, was sent South to-day. Among his property has been found £55 in sovereigns, and £l5O worth of ■jewellery. In the Land Tax Appeal Court to-day the objection was raised by Mr Travers that municipal reserves could not be taxed, but the Magistrate, after considering, held that the intention of the Legislature was that lands granted by the Crown to boroughs when occupied by a tenant, should bo subject to provisions of tho Act, the same as ordinary lands.

Henare Tomoana has been elected for the East Coast district. The Natives here say that Tomoana will oppose the Government. He ia half brother of the late member, Karaitiana.