General News of the Month.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 365, 7 April 1866, Page 3

General News of the Month.

Death bt Deowning. —We regret to have to record a melancholy death by drowning which took place in the Meaneo river, on Wednesday, 21st March. The deceased (Mr W. C. Gordon, •on of Capt. Gordon, of Cape Kidnapper) was, it would appear, at the Shamrock Hotel on the day in question, and had left in the direction of Mr Mapey’s. The same evening, a Maori named Jerry, formerly in the employ of Messrs Rich and Parker, found the horse, with a saddle on, but no signs of the rider. The body was found on Friday morning, floating in the river. It is supposed that the horse had gone to the river for a drink. while proceeding in the direction of Meanee, and that, in going down the hank, which in some parts is very steep, precipitated liis Unfortunate rider over his head. An inquest was held on the body on Saturday, 24th March, when a verdict of “Accidentally drowned” was returned.

Hawke’s Bat Agkicultueal Society's Show. —-The second Show cf the above Society took place at Havelock on Wednesday, 21sl March. The arrangements were carried out iu a manner which reflected great credit upon those entrusted with management ; and the show of stock, although not quite so good perhaps as might have been expected, was such as to lead us to look forward to a far better show next year- Nearly all Napier was present; and everybody seemed well pleased with their day’s enjoyment, and with the •beep, cattle, horses, &c., which were exhibited.

Thb Maosi Peisonees. —Tlie s.s. ‘St. Kilda,’ Captain Kennedy, which left Napier for Chatham Islands on the 10th March, with some 67 native prisoners, returned to port on Thursday, the 22nd .having been absentouly twelve days. She arrived at Waitangi, Chatham Islands, on Wednesday, the 14. h March; when the Resident Magistrate of the Island, Captain Thomas, weut on shore, and held a consultation with some chiefs there, who requested him not to land the prisoners till next day, when they would have an opportunity of consulting other chiefs not then present. Accordingly, next day (Thursday) arrangements having been completed, the prisoners were landed, and marched to a pa, where they were treated in a very kind and hospitable manner by the roaident natives. We heard one gentlemen who had gone up ia the ‘ St. Kilda ’ say that they had been placed in a perfect Paradise. The * St. Kilda,’ we understand, will return to the Chathams with Another batch as soon as she has been cleaned.

Is tub Wab Oveb ?—Lately w» treated our readers to a few remarks on the above subject, in which we set forth the falsity of the opinions entertained by some of our contemporaries that the war was virtually over. As a further proof of the joundness of the opinions we then expressed, and which wo still hold, we clip the following extract from the Southern Cross, of the 20th March : Amongst the fruits of the late war is this: that the country between Napier and Auckland is closed to Europeans. Recently, Mr William Auckland, who secured a large run iu the interior, proposed to purchase sheep to stock it, and deputed two influential chiefs, with letters from William Thompson, to go over and arrange with the natives the terms on which they would allow them to pass through their country. The Maoris'north of Taupo expresssed themselves well disposed, and »aid they would.assist in every way ; but Thompson’s authority does not go beyond Taupo, and the Uriweras declared they would kill both sheep, cattle, and white men crossing their district Therefore the project must be abandoned. The loss is a serious one both to this province and our neighbor Hawke’s Bay.

A. Peovincial Govebnment Gazette, issued ,on Wednesday, the 28th March, contains a set of Harbor and Wharf Regulations for the Port of Napier *, the usual monthly land revenue returns for February, amounting to £1235 6s 6d ; coastwise returns for the December quarter; and two notices re-published from the ‘New Zealand Gazette,’ —1: notifying that Brevet-Major J. Fraser, Hawko'a Bay Militia, is raised to the rank in Major; and 2: cancelling the offer of an additional reward of five pounds that has been made for some years past for the apprehension of ■deserters from Her Majesty’s service.

Native Lands Codex.—The proceedings under •the new Native Lands Act at this Court has been somewhat abruptly and unexpectedly brought to .• close, from the actual impossibility of coming to • satisfactory decision among so many conflicting -claims. The old orthodox plan pursued by Q-o----vernmcnt when engaged in land purchasing—that of paying for the land several times over, according to the number of opposing owners, —not being Available iu this esurt, no alternative remained but to leave many of the questions undecided. The Act may be said to be an expensive failure.

The e.s. * Hdntsess * still lies stranded on the beach at Wairoa; and we regret to hear that it teems doubtful whether she will ever come off. By the way, wa notice that this useful (though unfor-

innate) little steamer is advertised for sale in the papers of the Southern Provinces. We wonder why the advertisement was not given to the local journals also# * « 4

Clothing Found on the Beach.— On Tuesday last, 3rd April, a gentleman named James Laughton was taking a walk along the sea shore between the Napier Steam Mill and the Iron Pot. When he got about half-way down, he spied what afterwards proved to be a bundle of clothes. He then waked down to the Spit, and informed the police of the fact; whereupon he and Constable Wiggins proceeded to the spot, and took possession of the articles, which were as follows : 1 French-peak cloth cap (without lining) ; 1 pair black cloth- pantaloons (apparently new) j 1 inside and 1 outside flannel; 1 flowered silk hand-, kerchief; and Ik pair woollen socks. After examining the articles. Constable Wiggins took them up to town, where, we presume, he handed them over to the Inspector of Police. The question now arises, where did those clothes coma from P What clothes did Mr Rich have on when he was missed? Nobody in town seems to know; but wo can hardly bring ourselves to believe that they were his. If they were, how did they come where they were discovered ? Did they belong to any of the passengers to or from the ‘Lord Ashley’ or ‘Lady Bird* on Monday, the 26th ult, ? This is supposed by some to be the case, and we consider the surmise a correct one. The 1J- pair of socks would seem to warrant this also, inasmuch as in the hurry and bustle of disembarking from the steamers many things are apt to be mislaid.

Missing.— On Tuesday, the 27th March, a horse belonging to Mr William Rich, of Havelock, saddled and bridled, but without his rider, appeared at that gentleman’s station; and great fears were in consequence entertained of his accidental death. It appears that he was last seen in the neighborhood of Te Aute by some Maoris on the morning of the same day. The friends and neighbors jof the supposed unfortunate gentleman have offered a reward of £2O for the recovery of Ins body, or £SO for his restoration if living. This has set a good many natives to active search ; but we greatly fear that ho will never again be seen alive. Every effort, however, have been and are still being made to find his body, and we must hope against hope that those efforts will be crowned with success.

Xbansfeb of Licence. —Wo understand the licence hitherto held by Mr M'Nalty for “ Mac’s Hotel” has been transferred to Mr G. H. Swan, Mr M’Nalty retiring from a business that he lias carried on for seven years, besides an experience of ten years in the other colonies and England. To him Napier is indebted for much of its present accommodation, he haring built the three principal hotels of the town.—(Communicated.)

His Honos the Supebintendent took his departure for Wairoa on Thursday, the 29tli March, of the Colonial Government s.s. ‘ St. Hilda.’ The following gentlemen proceeded by the same opportunity Messrs W. Maltby, J. G. Gordon, M. Fitzgerald, S. Locke, Lieuts. Cutbill and Hill, and Dr Russell. The ‘ St. Hilda ’ returned to port on Sunday, Ist inst., (being forced to do so on account of an accident to her machinery.) Having got the necessary repairs, she proceeded to Wairoa on the night of Wednesday, the 4th inst. j and returned with his Honor the Superintendent the following day. Politician thbned Teaches. —Mr Mantell, we doubt not, will be more amused than otherwise when he peruses the following paragraph, which confers upon him both a wife and a profession! We clip.it from a recent number of the ‘Wanganui Chronicle’:— Misfortune makes us acquainted with strange bedfellows, as Trineulo said when he crept under the gabardine of Caliban; and certainly colonial life habituates us to rather startling changes. For example: We observe, in a recent Government Gazette, the names of Mr and Mrs Mantell among the list of teachers to whom probationary certificates have been awarded in the Province of Wellington. Mr Mantell, our readers will remember, was first Native Minister in the Weld Ministry, and to turn schoolmaster is rather a curious phase in the curious career of this gentleman. The Whakatane Teagedt.— The Southern Cross of the 21st inst. says .-—The trial of the sixteen Maoris for the murder of Ned, seaman, of the cutter Kate, was resumed at the Supreme Court yesterday. At the conclusion of Wetini’s evidence, Mr Carnell addressed the jury for the prisoners. His Honor then summed up at considerable length, and the jury, after being absent about three-quarters of an hour, returned with a verdict finding all the prisoners guilty. Sentence was deferred.

Ms Hensx Sewell has gone to England. The ‘Wanganui Chronicle/ 17th March, thus gives the ex-Miaister a parting fling;—Mr H. Sewell, Mr Weld’s Attorney-tjensral, having been disappointed by his rejection at Lyttelton, has taken ship for England by the Wild Duck. “Speed the parting, welcome the coming guest." Mr Sewell was “ everything by turns find nothing long,” until he lost tho confidence of all parties, so that we fear he leaves th<» colony a soured and disappointed man.