INTER-PROVINCIAL ITEMS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 739, 29 November 1869, Page 3

INTER-PROVINCIAL ITEMS.

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM TOKANGAMUTU.

(From the Daily Southern Cross, 23rd November,) We have been furnished with some important.information by five influential native chiefs who returned yesterfrom a visit to Tawhiao at Tokangamutu. The party numbered 25, and belonged to Ngapuhi. The chiefs who waited upon us were Tauwhiti, Tekiri, Porata Mite, Te Hemara Karawe, and Tamehana Maewa. The party left Auckland in October last, for Tokangamutu, their object being, as they stated, to " see the King, and to manifest their affection for him of whom they had heard so much." On their arrival at Tokangamutu they were received by over 2,000 ua tives, and there were many others in the neighboring settlements who would have attended the meeting had they received sufficient notice. The party were very cordially received by Tawhiao and the leading chiefs. One of the chief causes of this reception was that at the time of the escape of the 200 Kawau prisoners, they were kindly treated by the principal chiefs of the Ngapuhi party. A great num ber of valuable presents were made to the visitors most of which were made by Tawhiao in person. There were 20 very handsome mats, 20 greenstone ear-drops, and 10 mere pounamus. Amongst the latter may be mentioned a large greenstone mere, called Te Whiriugi, and a beautiful white mar ble one, which had been an heirloom of the King's family. Amongst the presents was also a taiaha, decorated with kakas' feathers, and called Te Roe. Ono of the mats was composed of peacocks' feathers, and another of kiwis'. Tawhiao in the course of a koreru which took place said he regarded the visitors as the harbingers of peace. First they had come up, and then Mr M'Lean was to follow. Tawhiao also said that fighting was nuvv over, and that distuibauces created by Te Kooti and his associates would bo put down. lie also said that Titako waru would be kept under control. The party were at Tokangamutu during Mr M'Lean's visit, and state that it has effected an immense change in ibe feelings of the natives with regard to the Europeans. The visitors remained after the Native Minister's de parture, and they sny that the intelli •rence of the liberation of Te Ilura and the other prisoners gave great satisfaction to the whole of the Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto tribes. As soon as the news was received, Rewi was despatched in search of Te Kooti, with instructions to escort him to Tokangamutu, where he will be set to work as a slave. If Te Kooti does not obey the commands of Tawhiao a war party will be despatched to take him dead or alive. Arrangements were also being made at Tokangamutu for an approaching meeting with Mr M'Lean at some place to be agreed upon.

On the way down, the Ngapuhis met Te Hura and party, and encouraged them to proceed onward.

LATEST EROM MANAWATU. The following is from the Evening Post, November 22: —We have been informed by a gentleman who has just ridden overland from Wanganui, that the Maoris have stopped the survey of the Manawatu Block, and ordered the surveyors off. How far this may be an organised at attempt at resisting the award of the Court or merely the isolated act of some turbulent Ilauhau, we are not informed ; but it certainly tallies very strangely with the professions made to the Superintendent, a few days ago. Since the above was written, we have received other information, which puts a different face on the matter. The surveyors made no attempt to proceed with the work, being informed by the Maoris at Oroa (the place where they intended commencing) that they would be stopped. The reason is that at this place a reserve was made for the non-sellers, which, (the Maoris now say) according to their custom, the Judges should have come on the spot and pointed out. This seems to be merely a temporary difficulty brought about by want of sufficient tact, and it is believed will be smoothed over without much trouble.

The following is from the Evening Post of the 23rd November:—T. legrains received to day from Wanganui state that Mr Buller will go down to Raugitikei on Thursday morning, in reference to the dispute with the natives about the survey, permission having been given him to do so by the General Government. The dispute is not considered anything serious. The following, which is the latest intelligence to hand, is from the Evening Post, November 24: —It is reported that the Ngatiraukawas, whose claims to the Manawatu-Rangitikei Block were disallowed by the Native Lands Court, intend holding a great meeting during the present mouth, to discuss whether they shall remain and contest the settlement of the land, or remove to the Waikato, from wheuce they originally came. This has only reached us in the shape of a rumor, and we give it for what it is woath.

LATEST FROM WANGANUI. The subjoined telegrams have been been kindly placed at the disposal of the Wellington papers by the lion, the Premier: — Wanganui, Nov. 22. A native has just arrived from Upper Wanganui, who brings the following information:— A most satisfactory meeting was held at Ohinemutu (three miles above Pipiriki) on Friday. Topia, Pehi, Tahana, and all the leading chiefs were present. Friendly relations were established with the Lower Wanganui's, and presents exchanged. It was agreed that the tribes should be united for the Queen. Topia has named his house "Te Aomarama," and lias set up a carved effigy of Hori Kingi on the centre post an emblem of peace and union. He offered to go out with our natives to hunt for Te Kooti, who if taken would be handed over to the law. He asks for guns and powder; if they are not refused, he "ffers to assist our natives with food, &c. Mete Kingi replied, "It rests with Ministers." Mete and his people (with Mr Booth) came down the tlihuharama yesterday, and are waiting there for Kemp, who is daily expected from Taupo. Nov. 23.

Last evening I telegraphed the native report of the meeting at Ohinemutu. Mr Booth's notes of the the speeches since received, have be<n forwarded by the overland mail. The proceedings were most satisfactory. My interpretation of the letter you showed me fully confirms Topia'a speech. "1 will keep to look for Te Kooti. See! this is my only weapon [a spear]. Do you think it will kill men ? If you say it is an effective weapon against a rifle, I will take it, but if not, I shall require a better weapon for my purpose of looking out for this man. You must give me arms and ammunition. Those are words ! words ! lam in earnest when I say I will look fur Te Kooti. I do not think that would take more than a few days. I want this peace to be lasting; let us again be one people; this house has been well opened; let the good work go on.

Tahana Turoa spoke to the 3ame effect. He had w r aited for Tawhiao's word, and for Topia's return from Te Kuiti: now he would do all in his power to capture Te Kooti, whether the Government supplied arms or not. In reply to a question from Haimona, Topia said he was not opposed to the making of roads to Taupo, but would assist in the work, and again said that he thought he could take Te Kooti in two or three days. The miscreant has now only about 30 followers, more than 100 of his men having abandoned his cause and joined Pehi Taroa. Mr Booth writes that they are waiting for Kemp, and that as soon as he arrives Topia's peoplo will come down to Rauana for another korero.

Native affairs ou the Wanganui River appear to be more settled and re assuring than they have been for many years.

Mr Builer fully believes in the sincerity of Topia's professions.

SUPERINTENDENCY OF AUCKLAND. The contest for the Superintendency of the Province of Auckland has been remarkably close, considering the large constituency ; but Mr Williamson, in spite of Ms immense power as the present head of the Government, and

the exertions of not over-scrupulous partizans, seems doomed to defeat. In Auckland Mr Gillies had a majority of 103, the numbers standing, —Gillies, 615; Williamson, 512. At the Thames Mr Williamson polled 818 to 433 for his opponent,-but had the voting been unimpeded, his majority would have been much less. The polling booth was guarded by an organized band of roughs, and those who voted for Mr Gillies did so at the risk of their lives. Cases of assault and battery were nu* tnerous. Under these circumstances Mr Gillies may be considered a very good second. The rioters were of the same class as rendered themselves so notorious on the West Coast goldfields, and it is a significant fact that during the polling day a green flag floated over the Court-house. TheWarden before whom the cases of assault, &c, would be tried, was a partizan of Mr Williamson, and was ac« tually chaired by the mob during the excitement of polling. The police were nowhere. At Coromandel' a check-clerk for Mr Gillies was violently abused ; and the windows of the Thames Advertiser office at Sbortland were smashed to atoms. One of the Auckland papers which supports Mr Wiiliamson remarks in reference to the Thames election that *' the enthusiam displayed altogether must have been very gratifying to Mr Williamson " (!) —and it is due to the Thames Advertiser and the Auckland Daily News that these disgraceful proceedings have been exposed Our latest advices by the s.s. Wellington on Thursday last informed us that Mr Gillies' majority was 15, and that his return was looked on as certain. For the latest information (via Nelson) we refer our readers to our telegraphic items.

Wo take tho following from the New Zealand Herald, 17th November: — Te Hura and the other natives who were sentenced to death by Sir George Arney, for the murder of Messrs Volkner and Fulloon, and who afterwards had their sentences commuted to penal servitude for life, were yesterday liberated. They were conducted by Mr Commissioner Clarke to Mechanics' Bay, and this morning will be conveyed to the Waikato in Messrs Quick's coach, Manuhiri having become responsible to Mr M'Lean for their good behaviour. The Evening Post, 22nd November, says: —"A very important case of slander is about to be tried before Mr Justice Richmond, at Nelson, in which, Mr Levin, of this city, is the plaintiff and Mr Beaumont, of Nelson, defendant, the damages being laid at <£ 10,000. The action has arisen out of some allegations made by Beaumont, in reference to the affairs of Mr Tetly, of Kerangua, who took a very unceremonious leave of his creditors some time ago, and for whom Mr Levin (to his sorrow) was agent. Mr Levin considered Mr Beaumont's assertions derogatory to his character, and called for a retraction, which Mr Beaumont having declined to give, the present action was brought on. Mr Levin, accompanied by the Attorney-General, left for Nelson by the Airedale on Saturday.

The 18th session of the Provincial Council of Wellington was opened by Dr Featherston on the 22nd inst. On the following day, on the Provincial Secretary moving the second reading of the "Volunteer Free Grant Act Amendment Bill," which was to prevent volunteers exercising their selection certificates in the Manawatu district, the executive were defeated. Consequent on this adverse vote the public breakfast to his Honor the Superintendent prior to his departure for England was adjourned. The executive, however, were re-constructed on Wednesday last, and there was hopes that the business would be completed in time to admit of Dr Featherston's departure by the s.s. Tararua this day.