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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 298, 17 August 1865, Page 2

A " Case ” or Powdeb ! —On Tuesday morning last the inhabitants of the Spit were thrown into a state of some excitement by the news of the discovery of a case containing ammunition under the verandah of the Post Office, where it had been standing for some days. We have learned the following particulars respecting the affair, which we give in order to correct the vague rumors that have been current The police having noted the case in question marked “ pilot bread,” and seeing that it was left exposed to the public, and moreover, partially broken by the weight of its contents, took charge of it, and removed it to Mr Jeffares for safety; but it soon became apparent that it contained something more combustible than mere bread, being in fact ammunition, disguised with an outside layer of biscuit. Of course the Superintendent of the Customs was communicated with, and on enquiry it has transpired that it has transpired that it had been packed by the orders of Mr Locke for the amusement of the friendly (?) natives in pigeon (?) shooting while building a stockade. Is mis Eight ob Whoso ? Anotheb Insult to the Town Elecxoes.— By a Provincial Government Gazette published on Monday last we are informed that Mr Kennedy,— the man who has recently been called upon by his constituency to resign his seat in the Provincial Council, having betrayed the trust reposed in him, by voting with the illegal squatters on the question of the illegal occupation of native lands, —that this man has been raised by the Superintendent,—by the Superintendent who is now asking to be sent to the General Assembly as our representative ! i to a seat in his Honor’s Executive. It is quite as well that we have this proof given us of the respect paid to our desires by our chief officer, as some of us may bo liable to forget his proclivities if not repeatedly served with some such reminder. After this, we think that notwithstanding the greatly vaunted requisition, nothing short of madness will induce him to seek an ignominous defeat by standing as a candidate for the district of Napier in the General Assembly. Nightlx Patboe on the Spit. —We are glad to be able to give credit to the authorities for prompt action in the matter to which we called attention in our last, viz., the unprotected state of the Spit. The evil has been remedied as far as possible by the appointment of a mounted patrol to act m conjunction with the police, and the militia is at length rendered efficient for action in case of need, having had a supply of ball cartridges served out to them. Abmed Eebels. —We have it on good authority that there is now staying at the pa on the Western Spit a party of Si) armed rebels, and they openly visit the town, parading their arms before the public. If there be any reason why this is permitted we presume that it is because to attempt to check it would be to offend them, and so to provoke an outbreak, which would lay the authorities here open to the odium of precipitating matters. We must wait until a revolting murder has been committed before anything can be done, for nothing less wiU, it seems, justify our interfering with these gentry. Outeages BX THE Naxives.— We are sorry to find that the natives are throwing off the partial restraint they have hitherto held over their true character, and are commencing to commit their outrages upon the Hawke’s Bay settlers. Yesterday (Wednesday) a party of three, belonging to Pa Whakaairo, were riding from the town, and when a short distance along the White-road, met with Air Palmer, sen., whom they abused and insulted in a shameful way, threatening to cut off his b y head, and striking at him. Some distance further along the road they came up to a spot where two men were engaged building a house. Here they alighted from their horses, and advanced in a hostile manner, using the same threats as before, causing the workmen to arm themselves for self-defence. They were by this means kept at bay, but their abusive language still continued, .and the further threat was made that in a little time they would see the work of the Maori upon the b— y Pakeha. These men did not reply to them, but remained perfectly passive. Eluding they could not provoke them to fight they left, and soon after met a lad pa horseback—a son of Mr Jioboitoin’s —who was quietly returning to the town from the Meanee EJats. The rascals surrounded him—one catching the reins of his horse, another the saddle, and the third striking him on the breast with his clenched fist so as nearly to unhorse him, using.most disgusting and threatening language. Eortpnately .the lad recovered his seat, and being a good rider es caped from .them. Increased vigilance is .certainly required in other parta.pf the town as well as on the Spit, for the crisis.pf our affair# with the natives is evidently at hand.

The Reports in the Assembly.- Great com - plaints are made by the members of the Council of the terrible inaccuracy of the reports of their speeches, given by the Wellington press, and on the motion of one of the hon. members a committee has been appointed to devise means for the remedy of the evil. Members are made to say the opposite of what they really say, and it does not seem that there is any reason to hope for much improvement. We ha ve heard a whisper that there is a magic property pertaining to gold, which renders it a talisman, but that members who forswear magic have no remedy. Moee Teoops poe Napiee.— Among other items of news by the Queen, we are glad to learn, that we are to receive a reinforcement of 800 troops. We believe that it is not before they are* needed and therefore hope it may prove true.