Hawke's Bay Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1868. THE NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 573, 30 April 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1868. THE NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

NuUita aiUictus jurart in verla mayistri.

The intelligence from the gold fields j of the Auckland province continues toj be of an encouraging character. His j | Honor the Superintendent lias recently j ;paid a visit of inspection to the dis-( Strict, and the occasion was taken ad-1 vantage of by the inhabitants to lay j (before him a statement of the wants of j j the district in the way of wharf ac-] icommodation, roads, and other public! {works at Sliortlaud Town and other j (places on the Thames. Nothing has! resulted from from the interview, asj there does not exist any hinds fromj which such public works could be paid’ for, and, as is well enough known, the 1 land is native property. The chief Tui-j para is said to derive an income of over £2,000 per annum from' the rent oij this land, and his property it is thui j would be benefi f ed by the execution! of the necessary works ; yet it does! not seem that any willingness is' shewn on his part to erect the wharf, I or even to allow it to be done, though! it is said to bo probable he would lease i sire for such wbaif for the consoler-j at ion of an additional rental ; in short, it seems that the question of improve j menfs in a thickly populated district,! as is the ibanios, and especially! Shortland Town, is almost entirely at the mercy of the native race, who may exercise their obstructive inclinations to tlie lull extent of their will. There is a native disturbance in the North at Hokianga. His Excellency the Governor has paid a visit to that j neighborhood, and has been appealed i to, but he refers the belligerents to the j (law. Some fighting had taken place !at Hokianga, and one or more persons ’ . 1 ‘been killed, besides others wounded. j They will doubtless have to fight otu

' the difference amongst themselves, for ■‘liis Excellency told the natives that he

would nol send soldiers to the place to | suppress the fighting. From what we can understand of the dispute, it ap-j inears that the native magistrates are ; | themselves the real offenders and fomentors of the strife, as well as abet- j | tors of the Maori criminals—the fact j being that the office of assessor has

been conferred on some of the worst of the native race, in order to pay them for their loyalty. The cause of the 'quarrel is not very clear, but is said to be a land dispute by some, and by others to be connected with a half[caste woman.