LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 April 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A New Presbyterian Minister for Hawke’s Bay. —The Southern Cross of the 3rd inst. says:—“The Rev. Mr. MacMiebael, who has been appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to minister at Hawke’s Bay, and arrived last week in this city by the Louisa, conducted Divine Service yesterday in the forenoon in the Wellington-street Chuch, and in tbs evening at St. Andrew’s Church. The rev. gentleman’s style of preaching is vigorous and impressive, and his diction copious, comprehensive, and dignified. We congratulate the settlers in Hawke’s Bay in having obtained the services of so talented a minister of the Church, whose ministrations will, be feel assured, be acceptable and profitable.”

False Impressions in Auckland. —The news taken to Auckland by the Sea Shell would teud to reassure the public as to the state of matters in Poverty Bay. We can imagine the feelings of disappointment and sadness which would be excited by the appearance of the Tawera with the women and children, and the news of the relapse. The following paragraph is the last that was known of Poverty Bay in Auckland when the Prince Alfred left: —“lt appears that the Sea Shell was lying in Turanganui River, Poverty Bay, or. Monday, the 20th inst., when intelligence came down from Bishop Williams, advising the captain of the vessel to get out of the river as soon as possible, and to be ready waiting outside in case of emergency, as the settlers resident there were threatened by the Pai Marire fanatics, who had the previous night surrounded the Bishopls house, 1 placing armed sentries around it, and swearing they would take him away with them. About 9 o’clock the same night some 70 Europeans, men woman, and children, came flocking down from inland, and embarked on board the Sea Shell, stating that the rebel natives had threatened to slaughter the whole of them. At 11 p.m, the vessel proceeded out of the river, and kept cruising to and fro, until next morning, when she again stood towards to river, and a boat was sent on shore to ascertain the state of affairs. Intelligence wasbronght back that all was quiet again, and the same evening all the Europeans went on shore, stopping at Capt. Read’s house that night, and returning to their houses next morning. After this the vessel still remained at the mouth of the river, in case of any emergency arising, when, on the following Friday, the settlers were again threatened, but not so much so as to cause them to deem it advisable to leave their homes. It appears that the Pai Marires were determined, if possible, to get Bishop Williams, but the friendly natives resident at Poverty Bay were resolved that they should not do so, and ordered the fanatics at once to leave the district, one party to go one way and cne the other ; the Poverty Bay natives stated that they had no intention of allowing them to remain any longer, as they put no belief whatever in their pretended miracles, and were determined to hold fast to the true religion.”

Parliamentary JoufiKALs.— We have received per this mail a copy of the journals 9 the Lcgis-ative Council. of the journals of.tie House of Jiejiresentarives, and the appendix to ditto, fur the fourth session 18G4.

A Testimonial eou Captain Levy. We have already oiven it as our opinion that the testimonial should he made a colonial affair • the friends of Mr Grace oppose this, and say, leave it to the Government to recompense him. Ihe question of a public acknowledgment was quietly burked at the late meeting in Auckland, where, when a gentleman proposed to commence a subscription he was informed by the chairman that the Superintendent was already in communication with the Government,” this Superintendent, be it remembered, that did not come to pr side at the meeting. The Daily Southern Cross says :—“ ft j s t } ie duty of the Government to award compensation to Mr Levy, and that in coming forward with something more than empty words the citizens will be doing that themselves, which should he done at the expense of the colony at large—will be placing their public meetings and public subscriptions in the place that should be occupied by the Government.” Ihe public, however, need not play at cioss purposes witu the Government ; let it recompense, and themselves reward him. We agree with the Herald in the following‘-The most that anv Government could do for Captain Levy would be to return him the exact amount of his less. That which the people (of Auckland) should desire to do. is to repay him for some thing more than the mere pounds shillings and pence which he has lost. In doing so they will honor not only the recipient, but themselves as a community.