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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 927, 26 January 1871, Page 2

. From Auckland we regret to learn of the severe indisposition of Mr Monro, Judge of the Native Lands Court.

On the 17th inst. Mr J. C. Richmond addressed a large meeting of the electors of Wellington, and was well received. A vote in his favor was carried unanimously. At a meeting of the Committee of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, held on the 20th inst., the following resolution was passed : —" That having heard the explanations given by Mr Ollivier [with regard to a new process of dressing New Zealand flax], and having examined the samples produced by him, this committee is of opinion that this matter is of so great importance to the whole Colony that the General Government should without delay take such steps as they may deem tiecesssary to prove the value of Mr Oliivier's process of cleaning flax, and, if satisfied of its being a sound and economical principle, should endeavor to secure, the privilege of its use to the whole of the colony. Resolved that the Secretary be instructed to iorward the above resolution to the Colonial Secretary." An Auckland paper observes that flour has been advanced j£l per ton (being now £16,) but if any justifiable reason for such a course can be given we shall be glad to receive it. What does the Melbourne Journal of Commerce say :—" In many places large stocks of wheat are still on hand, simply because the roads have been so bad that farmers have not been able to get their produce forward ; with fine weather, therefore, it is believed that this surplus will soon be sent to town. Those most competent to judge, who have gone through the country, report the crops as ample for all requirements. From South Australia the crops are reported as magnificent, except in some few parts of the country, and it is confidently stated that the surplus, available for export, will be over 130,000 tons, some say 150,000. Horse feed has gone up. Sound maize is now worth 6s per bushel, with an upward tendency. Oats are hardening, and other cereals are firmer, bran included,"

The Lancashire Bellringers had arrived at Auckland, and were to give several performances.

In the election for the Porirua district Mr Brandon defeated Mr Gillon. The numbers polled were —Brandon, 154; Gilion, 87.

Mr Naughton (for many years Commissioner of Police at Auckland) has been appointed Resident Magistrate at Ouehuuga, vice Capt. Symonds, resigned. —The latter gentleman, we read, retires on a pension of £201 13s 9|d. per annum.

The Thames Advertiser's Ohinemuri correspondent writes : —The great excitement affecting the natives now is the result of the Aroha case. Turner —William Thompson's son —passed up the river on Sunday night (Jan. 15) in a very mysterious manner; and it is said by the natives that he has been sent up by the hon. Mr M'Lean to collect all the Ngatihauas together, and stand prepared to take pos-> session of the Aroha. Others say, and, I. believe, with a great deal of truth, that Turner, or Tana, is going up to Tokangamutu to demand the murderers of Mr Todd. If unsuccessful ihey will declare war.

The New Zealand Herald thus concludes a recent leading article : —" There is one thing of great importance to the colonies of England, viz., that they should be declared neutral, as is Switzerland, and that no matter what may be the quarrels of England, the colonies shall not be made to suffer for them. We have no interest in these wars. Our work is that of peace. New Zealand should join Australia in urging as strongly and as wisely as possible the perfect immunity of these colonies from war, merely on account of their connection with land,"

THE SAN FRANCISCO. MAIL SERVICE. Mr H. H. Hall, the contractor for the line, leaves Sydney to-day for San Francisco to perfect his arrangements at the end of the line. The present service will positively cease with the boat that leaves here in March, and a new service by the direct route, via Fiji, will as positively commence in April. Mr Freddy, the agent for the American railway, who is now in Sydney as agent for that line, says th g. he saw Mr Webb just before leaving San Francisco, and that that gentleman stated most distinctly that he would not run his- vessels on the New Zealand coast, but that he was quite willing to run them direct to Sydney for a sufficient subsidy. Rumors me also current in Sydney to the effect that Mr Neilson M'Cann (or Mr M'Cann Neilson, whichever may be the proper way of reading the name on this side of the Pacific) will be found to have exceeded his powers in making a provisional contract wilh Mr Vogel, and that the New Zealand statesman will find that, instead of stealing a march on the Australian colonies, he has himself been considerably let in. However that may be, and whether the American service commences or not, it is quite certain that the route will be closed, and that a direct service will commence from Sydney in April next, A contract has been drawn up between the the A.S.N Co. and Mr Hall, which is ,to be signed this morning, by which the three steamers—City of Melbourne, City of Adelaide, and Wonga Wonga, are* chartered for the service All three are to be refitted with upper decks, something in the style of the Coonanbarra ; and the City of Adelaide is also to be fitted with surface condensers. These alterations will greatly ; ncrease the cabin accommodation, and enable the boats to carry 100 passengers comfortably. The Queensland Government has been appealed to to support the project, and from the tone of a debate, which tested the feeling of the House, it is clear the Parliament there ds willing to go as far as £IO,OOO a year. What your colony will do in the matter we wait to know, but that it will give a reasonable assistance is not doubted. The ne* service is to be four-weekly, and will alternate with that by Suez, and every confidence is felt that from and after April next we shall have an effective fortnightly mail, to England that will bring us letters and newspapers in forty-five days, and telegraphic news not more than thirty days old.—Australasian, Jan. 7.