TARANAKL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 679, 6 May 1869, Page 3

TARANAKL.

(From the Correspondent of the Southern Cross.) April 23. Great excitement was occasioned at the Waitara on Sunday night by the natives raising a false alarm that Titokowaru was amongst them. The whole of the settlers congregated themselves together at Webster's store, and Mrs Halse and her children who were stopping there (Mr Halse having come into town to write letters for the steamer that was expected to arrive on Monday) Came into town at 3 o'clock in the morning in an awful state of fright. Mr Parris and Major Stapp went out and found that it was a false alarm, which originated through some misunderstanding as to the whereabouts of Titokowaru. This wily cannibal, it is said, recruits his forces, which now number about 300. He is living on two or three acres of land at a place called Pukemahoe, on a tributary of the Wanganui river. He is about ten hours' march from this place. The election of a member to serve in the General Assembly in the place of Major Atkinson, who is now in England, comes off on Tuesday next. Mr Thomas Kelly and Mr Upjohn are the names spoken of. If a poll is demanded the former is likely to go in. The s.s. Phoebe took away a great many who went to see the Prince at Nelson. The (Superintendent and his wife went by her. Things are very quiet now, and the expedition in searx-h ot Titokowaru has been postponed sine die. April 27. There is nothing fresh to report since I wrote on the 23rd. Titokowaru is supposed to have moved down to his place at Ngaire. The nomination for a seat in the House of Representatives comes off to-day. Mr T. Kelly and Mr F. A. Carringtoa are up. It is said that Titokowaru, with £IOOO hanging over his head, is a fugitive, wandering from place to place, frightened even of his own people. This comes from a native, and I give it to you as I get it.

The Lyttelton Times of a late date says that the foundations of the new museum in the domain have been excavated. A Good Yield. —The Lyttelton Times says that Mr George Osburn, of Saxon Farm, Ferry Road, has thrashed from a six-acre paddock 426 bushels of wheat, making an average of 71 bushels to the acre. Me. D. L. Muedoch, managing director of the New Zealand Loan ar.d M'rcanti'e Agency Company, notifies that a dividend of ten per cent, per annum for the half year ending 31st December, 1868, is now payable at the office of the Company.—Daily Southern Cross, April 29. Attempted Suicide at Hokitika. — Mary Ann Hardman, a married woman, and mother of four children, attempted to commit suicide at Hokitika on the 12th of April. She took a dose of essence of almonds, but her life was saved by Dr. Acheson immediately administering emetics. A Maori Gentleman !—The New Zealand Herald, April 29, contains the following paragraph: —Yesterday some amusement was caused in the Native Lands Court by a series of interpellations from which it appeared that Rapana Maunganoa, a Thames Maori, who is known to be in receipt of nearly a thousand a year, went to the Native Office and demanded that food should be given him. Mr J. B. Russell felt some surprise at a statement which had appeared in the newspapers, and said that Eapana had £IOOO in the Bank, and it could scarcely be possible. A gentleman connected with the Native Department s'dd it was quite true that this fine Old Maori Gentleman did go and ask for food. The Chief Judge bore testimony to the meanness of some of those Maoris, who were in receipt of £3OOO a year, and yet would beg for sixpence. Sudden Death at Waiheke.—We are in receipt of a letter from Howick, which contains some further particulars of the sudden death of Mrs Harris, at Waiheke. The woman in whose house Mrs Harris remained for 36 hours after leaving her own house, states that Mrs Harris and her husband lived unhappily together for a considerable period before the woman's death j and this statement is corroborated by two other witnesses, one of whom was son-in-law to the deceased and the other a Mr Lockwood. They state that Mrs Harris had not been drinking, and certainly not on the day of her death. The remains of the poor woman were buried on Saturday last. In consequence of the inclemency of the weather, it was not possible to communicate with Waiheke by water. —Thames Advertiser, 29th April. Several colonial papers recently announced that the so-styled Chief Secretary at Bau, in the Fiji Islands, intended issuing a notice calling for volunteers to take military service under Thakobau, styled King of Bau, to assist that potentate in subduing certain tribes in the interior of Vita Levu. These volunteers would be required to sign a declaration faithfully to serve King Thakobau and his heirs and successors, and such officers as might be set over them, and were to be rewarded with large grants of land. As it is contrary to English law for any British subject to engage in such an enterprise without her Majesty's permission being granted, his Excellency the Governor has issued a proclamation warning all her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand that if they sign such a declaration, or accept service, or engage others to enter it, they will be guilty of a misdemeanour, and will render themselves liable to prose* oution according to law.