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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1178, 22 November 1871, Page 2

The Southland News learns from its. Riverton correspondent that two boats belonging to that port have just returned fi om a three months' sealing cruise on the West Coast. Bafflng winds pre* prevented them reaching the ground intended—Cascade Point -where the crews made certain of having great success ; still, their voyage has been the reverse of bootless, as they have brought back over 400 skins, which should give them such a return for their labor as, will induce them to try again. Two other boats and crews belonging to the same "fleet,'' were left at Dusky Bay 4 working the Cascade, where they counted on making a fifie haul. It will, be pleasant to hear, in due time, of their return with full cargoes, The Wellington correspondent of the Press writes ; —" I must inform you of a curious fact which has lately transpired, relating to the purchase of the Manawotu block. This curious fact was related by one of the intelligent savages who sit in the House to an hon. member, who, though partaking, in that woful incapacity, which you must have noticed to be a characteristic of the present Parliament, has yet one virtue—he can talk Maori. The intelligent savage, who has no more to do with the Manawatu block than you or I have, relates that he was asked by Mr Buller to sign his name to a document authorising the sale of the said block. With the touching innocence which distinguishes the child of nature, he refused at first to have anything to do with selling property which did not belong to him. His ideas were quickly larged by the Colonial Pet, Mr Buller, To the everlasting credit of that diplomatist be it recorded that, before they parted, the intelligent savage had signed his name, and in reward for this display of intellect had received a hundred pounds. He will probably do it next time without so much pressing. There must be many other instances of a eimilar kind, for it has further transpired that out of £25,000 which should have been paid to those who were adjudged by the Court to be the rightful owners of the land, only £ 10,000 has been paid —the remaining ,£15,000 having been frittered away amongst nat|\es who have nothing in the world to do with it. If this is a specimen of the muchboasted native administration of the present Government, we shall cease to be astonished at any difficulties' which may arise with the natives."