Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 892, 14 December 1870, Page 2

The first number of the " Universe," a Roman Catholic organ, was published in Auckland on the 3rd December. A butcher named Asher Haine has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the Commissioner of Insolvency for wilfully destroying his cash book. An old Trafalgar veteran, named Hollist, recently died at Maitland, at the age of 90 years. During the latter years of his life he enjoyed good health, and had a voice very strong for his great age ; aud his faculties were unimpaired to the last. Referring to the recent cold-blooded murder of Mr Todd in the Waikato district, the New Zealand Herald says :- What the Government will do in the matter remains to be seen. The murderers are known as well as their place of residence. They are of the party of Whi« tiora, of Hauturu, who has himself written to the King stating that the murder was committed by his orders, and asking his aid and assistance in carrying out further deeds of blood. This Tawhiao has refused to grant, stating that he had given his word that the sword was sheathed, and would not break faith with the Government. Tiiis is, as far it goes, satisfactory, and the course of the Government in the matter would appear to admit of no hesitancy- Rumours of Te Kooii and Kereopa hanging about the outskirts of the Poverty Bay and Opotiki settlements are rife, but though the settlers are on the qui vive, and evidently uneasy, native rumours must always be taken cum grano salis. It is this fact which has led to so many disastrous massacres, since the cry of " wolf" is so perpetually being raised that it has grown to be almost unheeded. The late Mr Todd, for example, bad been repeatedly warned, and only the night before he was shot a native woman had urged him to clear out for the settlements, hut he poolipoohed the warnings. It is on this account that we generally find the Europeans, who have been on the most iutimate terms with the natives, fall victims to their treachery first. Familiarity engenders confidence and carelessness, and* as all unprejudiced observers must long ago have discovered, there is no depeo dence to be placed in u colored-skhu