LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 29, 16 January 1862, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Provincial Council.—We believe that Monday the third of Feby. next has been fixed upon for the meeting of the Provincial Council. The Elections.—Mr. 11. S. Tiffen has been returned unopposed for the Te Aute District; and Mr. M. Fitzgerald for the Waimarama. We believe the latter gentleman was unopposed at the hustings. The Dredge.—The hands employed in connexion with this machine have for the most part been paid off, some of her working gear being completely worn out.—We believe, however, that the Burnett brings a quantity of new machinery ordered for the dredge some time ago. The fate of this unfortunate Provincial property will soon be decided. From what we can learn there is a great probability that it will not long be retained by its present owners at least in the capacity of a dredge. The Hon. Mr. Ward returned from his inland visit on Friday evening last. This gentleman who, we believe, has formed a very high opinion of our inland districts, had an interview with the native chief Te Hapuku, who, although having no direct interest in the native land over which Mr. Mason’s sheep had been depasturing, had, notwithstanding, supported by his influence the cause of the native claimants for grass money. This meeting had a favourable effect. The natives who had possession of Mr. Mason’s sheep were making preparations for shearing them.—Had this been effected it would, doubtless, have entailed great loss and disappointment upon the owner. The result of the interview was that the sheep were permitted to find their way back to their original shepherds, and the fairness of the native claim was agreed to be submitted, with others of a similar kind, to a runanga to be held at no distant date. Public Meeting.—Pursuant to advertisement a Public Meeting was held in the Council chambers last evening.—The object in view was to discuss a system to be proposed for leasing the Agricultural Lands of this Province from the Native owners.—The meeting was one of the largest we ever remember to have seen in Napier, and discussion was prolonged until nearly midnight. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the Chair. The following gentlemen addressed the meeting, viz :—Messrs. T. H. Fitzgerald, Colenso, Triphook, Hon. C. Ward, T. B. Harding, Buchanan, J. Begg, and several others. The following rsohitions were passed : 1. That at the present very important crisis of native affairs, in which the right of the Maoris to sell or lease the lands still held by them has been formally recognized by the Government of Lis Excellency Sir G. Grey, it is the opinion of this meeting that, for the protection of the land interests of this Province, and the rapid development of its agricultural capabilities, no time should be lost by those inhabitants of Hawke’s .Bay interested in the pursuit of farming in communicating with the Provincial Government and the native chiefs of the Province with a view to the establishment, in suitable places under the auspices of the Government, of agricultural settlements on the native lands in which the interests of small farmers and working settlers would ho especially cared for. 2. That a Committee he appointed to communicate with the Provincial Government and native Chiefs on the foregoing subject and to draw up schemes for settlements to be laid before an adjourned meeting for approval; also to prepare a m emorial to bis Excellency Sir G* Grey embodying the views of this meeting and praying for his best offices and the cordial assistance and cooperation of his Excellency’s officers in bringing the proposed negociations with the natives to a successful issue. Such committee to consist of Messrs. Miller, Newton, Scarles, Lindsey, Donaldson J. Begg. Fittal, Allen, Rhodes, Rose, T.ll.Eitzgerald, Fenru-’ son, M’Nalty, J. Wood, Dolhel, W.W.Tates, A. Kennedy Buchanan, & Kelly, with power to add to their number’five members to form a quorum, and Mr. W, Miller to act as convener of the Committee. Amendment on .Vo. 2.—That this meeting in accordance with former resolutions passed on the evening of the 2nd January, do agree to memorialize his Excellency Sir George Grey on the subject of leasing native lands, and with a view to carry out the spirit of the memorial addressed to the hon. Croshie Ward, they; further resolve t-. communicate wii'n lire rimiiiigii of Lids district, (as soon as the sam" shall he legally constituted) for the leasing of a hloclT'of land for immediate occupation on the hanks of the Ngamroro containing ten thousand acres more or less, for small farms not to exceed one hundred acres each.

3. That the committee just named do wait on the hon. ft Croshio Ward previous to his departure from the Province ' to explain in detail to him the way in which the proposed arrangements with the natives are to he worked out and solicit his kindmediation andassistanceinpromoting objects of such vital importance to all, but especially to the working classes.

4. That the meeting do stand adjourned till Wednesday, sth February, at 7 o’clock p.ra., to receive the report of the Committee, and that at such adjourned meeting the formation of an association for promoting the formation of agricultural settlement, and the protection of agricultural interest generally, should be considered.

A vote of thanks having’ been passed to the Chairman the meeting separated.