NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2097, 12 November 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

GRAHAMS TOWN, November 8. Land Agitation. Owing to the agitation initiated here re the Patetere block, a monster meeting will be held shortly to adopt a memorial to Governor Gordon on his arrival in the colony against the giving of the Vice-Regal assent to the withdrawal of tbo proclamation. Mining There are now sixty prospectors at the Te Aroha goldfields. AUCKLAND, November 12. Kauri GumKauri gum having risen £2 the ton, large quantities are coming in. The Waste Lands Board purpose to recommend Parliament to impose an export duty on the gam, and issue licenses to dig similar to miners’ rights. Fire. A fire broke out in Williams’ bakery. Grey street, last night, through hot ashes being left in an exposed place. The damage was slight, and the fire was quickly extinguished. The Patetere BlockIt is rumored here that the withdrawal of the Government proclamation over the Piforere lands is in the “ Gazette” to-day. WANGANUI, November 12. The Death of Moffatt. Further particulars of the tragedy at Tuhua are to hand. Moffatt, in company with Henare, left Taupo for a journey down the Wanganui, giving as his reason, that he wanted to recover some property and money he had left in the Tuhua district. The two travelled together without interruption until they arrived on Sunday last at the native village of Melakans, which is within a few miles of Taumaranui, is situated at the spot where the northern branch of the Wanganui joins the parent stream. From the natives of Matakana Moffatt and his companion received no welcome. The Maoris appeared sullen, and told the travellers that they had no right there and the land was tapued to white men. The same night the Maoris sent a message to Taumaranui to inform the inhabitants of the pah of the arrival of Moffatt and Henare. The chiefs at Taumaranui at once held a meeting, at which it was decided that Moffatt should be shot, and they sect out an armed party of seven men, under the leadership of Ngatai, Maunakn’e nephew, to carry the sentence into effect. The murderers formed an ambuscade in the fere by the side of the Maori track, along which Moffatt and Henare would have to pass. On Monday the travellers resumed their journey, and when they came within about ten yards of the spot, - the war party rose up, and one of them immediately fired at Moffatt, and wounded him. He staggered forward crying out “ Kati kati (stop, stop),’’ when a second shot was fired at him, and he fell in the track a dead man. Then his companion Henare called on the party to shoot him also. “Kill me as well as my white friend,” but they would not do it, as they knew him well, and he was a Wanganui native. Henare came on to Taumaranui, but though he received no violence, he met with no welcome. He asked for a canoe to take him down the river and, at length, a lad volunteered to go with him. They at once started on their journey, and saw Mamaku, who did not know what had happened and appeared much grieved at the news; they also saw Kemp at Parikino, and by him were told to hasten down to Wanganui and inform the authorities, and this they did without loss of time.

Mr Proctor.

Mr Proctor lectured tast night to the best audience ever gathered together in Wanganui and met with a hearty reception. DUNEDIN, November 8. Sudden DeathWilliam Dryedale, dryealter, dropped down dead in Q-eorge street yesterday, from heart disease. AUCKLAND, November 11. Auckland InstituteAt the Was f e Lands Board an application was made by the Auckland Institute that a specified endowment might be given for the Museum. The chairman said that they had no legal power to grant the request. A Quarrelsome CaptainJames Tozer, master of the s.s. Rotorua, was summoned for unlawfully assaulting Fred. Mason, by kicking him on board the vessel, but the prosecutor not pressing the case, the information was withdrawn. “The Water God.” The now yacht building by Mr Nicol for the Intercolonial Regatta, is to be named the

Waitna, or “ The Water God.” She is to 1 launched on Monday next, and will probabl be ready for sea the week after. She will t taken to Melbourne by Captain Press, a reoer orriyal in the colony, who hae had great ea perienoe in pilot boats in the Hughs Channel. Anti-Carrosive Paint. Owing to the excellent result of the experi merits with anti-corrosive paint on th Southern Cross, prepared by Mr Hoddei manager of the Auckland Steamship Com pany, he intends to patent his invention. NEW PLYMOUTH, November 11. The Jury System. Michael M'Oarthy, charged with perjur; in the Besident Magistrate 1 !) Court, cami before the Supreme Court this morning when the jury found a verdict of “ nol guilty.” Judge Eichmond remarked thal from the number of challenges in empannel ling, it was almost impossible in small placet to get an impartial jury. He was apprehensive that it would be necessary to have a modification of the jury laws, or justice would be seriously endangered. The remedy he said was, when a charge was brought against an old settler in a small district the ease should not be tried in that district. John Eraser Bell pleaded guilty to falsifying the register of a child’s birth, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Wanted LocomotivesOwing to the want of locomotive power railway traffic is seriously interfered with. NAPIEE, November 11. Distress in in Napier. Mr Carr, District Engineer, has received notice that his services will be dispensed with after January Ist. This is taken as indicating the total stoppage of all railway work. The settlors in the Bush townships have had next to no work for the last twelve months, and now they are not only unable to pay the instalments due on their lands, but in many oases are reduced to absolute want. They have no other possible means of earning money, as they are long distances away from any market for produce. Then if they could raise it, they cannot leave their sections and seek work elsewhere without forfeiting them, and thus losing the labors of years. In the House last session Mr Ormond obtained a promise that a portion of the vote for the unemployed should be spent in the Bush districts. Hitherto the settlers have waited patiently, but now being on the verge of starvation and having exhausted their credit at the local storekeepers, they are holding indignation meetings in order to obtain a fulfilment of the promise. The local clergy paint the position of the settlers in pitiable colors, and the County Council is doing its best to find work in their neighborhood to relieve, to some extent, their existing distress. NELSON, November 11. The Anchor Line. The highest tender for the purchase of the Anohor line of steamers and property is said to have been from Nelson, but it is understood that the same has not been accepted. The steamers will continue to run as before. HOKITIKA, November 11. The Doctor ThankedAt the last meeting of the Borough and County Councils votes of thanks were passed to Dr. Hector for his great attention to the Hokitika exhibits at Sydney and Melbourne exhibitions, and for bis unceasing exertions in connection with the same ; also, for the able manner in which he edited a pamphlet on the resources of Westland. Old FriendsThe Lynch family of Bellringers will conclude a most successful season of a month’s duration on the West Coast this evening. In spite of the bad weather they have invariably drawn good houses. The company leave for Christchurch to-morrow overland, DUNEDIN, November 11. The Excursion SeasonFour thousand four hundred excursion tickets were issued at the Dunedin Bailway Station from the 6th to the 9th. FireA four-roomed wooden house at South Dunedin, owned by John Shannon and occupied by Thomas Allohin, was destroyed by fire last night. Nothing was saved except two boxes. AUohin had his furniture insured in the National for £l5O, and Shannon had a policy in the Standard for £l5O over the house. fPHOM OTJB OWN COEEEBPONDENT. 1 WELLINGTON, November 11. The TariffI hear that the Government have decided to reduce the tariff on the conveyance by rail of timber intended for export by 3d per 100 ft.

Native Reserves.

Sir Dillon Bell arrived in Wellington last night. Sir W. Fox and Mr Farris are on their way hither, and ore expected to arrive to.night. The object of the visit of all three is to confer with the Government regarding the Native reserves recommended in the report cf the Native Commission. I understand that Mr Farris will bo employed as executive officer to carry out the plans decided on by the Government in conference with Sir W. Fox t.nd Sir F. Bell, and, so far as possible, the views of the Commissioners will be given effect to. The Farihaka BlockOrders were given to commence the survey of the Farihaka block to-day, and to push it on with the utmost energy. It seems to be anticipated that this will force Te Whiti’s hand, and compel him to adopt some definite line either of concession or resistance. If the latter, everything is in readiness for vigorous action. London Wool Exhibition. The Government have sent instructions to Sir J. Vogel, to apply for space in the Crystal Palace Wool Exhibition at Sydenham, London, for New Zealand exhibitions; also to receive and forward exhibits sent from New Zealand. Exhibitors will have only to pay freight to London, as, after arrival at the agency—general exhibits will be taken charge of by the Agent-General at the expense of the •olony.