Interprobincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1536, 23 December 1873, Page 57

Interprobincial Items.

AUCKLAND. Live Stock Markets. Mr Biickland reports, under date 12th November:—At the Kemuera Yards, on Thursday, dairy cattle were in better request. Store cattle plentiful, at slightly lower values. Fat cattle in average supply, 160 head penned; prices very irregular. Store sheep in moderate numbers, and a fair inquiry. Fat sheep in full supply, and at lower values. Lambs plentiful, aud of choice quality. Pigs in moderate numbers, and in fair inquiry. Prices obtained were—Dairy cows, from £7 to £9; calves, from 30s; yearlings, £2 10s to £3; two-year-old steers, £4 to £4los; heifers from £3; three-year-old steers, £6; grown steers, £7 to £7 10s; aged cows and coarse cattle, although well fatted, from 20s; well-bred choice steers, 27s 6d the lOOlbs; heavy fat ewes, 2|d; wethers, 3d ; light weights, B£d the lb; lambs, very good, 16s to 18s each; inferior, from lis; ewes, all ages, in low condition, lambs at side, 20s the couple. long-woolled wethers, in low condition, 4s. At the Haymarket, on Friday last, horse stock were in full supply. For inferior animals the prices were low, but good stock, either for riding or draught, were in steady inquiry at late values. The wool sale on Wednesday was attended by all the dealers. There were no bales offered, but a large number of bags, small packages, and skins. There was a brisk demand throughout the sale, at relatively higher values than were obtained for wools at the larger sale pre. viously ruled. At the flax sale, held after the wool sale, on Wednesday, about 100 tons were catalogued. Bidding was very irregular, and at the auction the greater part was withdrawn. Eventually above 80 tons were sold: Best qualities, from £lB to £2O; medium, £ls ; inferior, £8 and upwards; tow, ;£6 10s to £7 per ton.

Messrs. Hunter and Nolan report : Horses: The supply has continued good numerically, but, as a rule, the stamp has not been good. At Auction, on Friday, there were a good many entrances, and good attendance, but bidding lacked spirit, purchasers evidently looking for easier rates, which vendors were indisposed to submit to: consequently several were withdrawn, and scarcely the average number were disposed of at about the last week's rates. Cattle : There wus a very fair muster at Newmarket on TuesdayDairy cows did not evince much improvement either in description or value. Stores in nearly every instance maintained last week's rates. Fat beasts were in fair supply, and best descriptions had rather an upward tendency, Sheep: Fat sheep were in particularly slack demand, the trade being indisposed to purchase except at a considerable decline, which, vendors being indisposed to accept, several pens of heavy weights were held over. Small sized and medium weights sold at a shade under last week's quotations, There is no noteworthy alteration as to lambs. Pigs were yarded in large numbers, and met fair demand. Wool sales: In consequence of several lots not coming to hand in time, the quantity catalogued was not so large as we expected. Buyers were not nearly so numerous as last year, but the bidding was spirited, and in most instances anticipated prices were obtained. The demand for flax was particularly slack.

Native Lands. The Native Lands Court, at Opotiki closed on the 11th inst. The Maoris, who numbered several hundreds, are reported as being quiet and well-disposed. About 100,000. acres passed through the Court. A Grabamstown correspondent telegraphs to the Bay of Plenty Times, under date the 12th December:—The great event of the week has been the sitting of the Native Lands Court. At an early stage Mr James Mackay, junior, stated that Government would withdraw all Ohinemuri claims on grounds of political difficulty. Mr Wilkinson, for Kikipaki, one of the claimants, objected; but Judge Fenton said the Court could not proceed in the face of political responsibility. All claims were,therefore thrown out, and the country indefinitely closed. A numerous and influential deputation subsequently waited,

upon Mr Mackay for further news. Mr Mackay declined to give any, except that Government are in treaty for purchase of lands, and had paid deposits on nearly every block from Cape Colville to the Aroha mountain. The decision has caused considerable excitement on the Thames. Long wishing for an outlet, people are leaving daily, and property holders are becoming alarmed. This business has absorbed public attention since my last communication. A correspondent of the same paper telegraphs as fellows, under the same date :—A large native meeting was held here yesterday to consider the advisability of sellling the Waiharakiki block to Government. It is the fiuest block of land in the district. The natives unanimously agreed to sell, and have since left for Waikato to negotiate the sale.

Tauranga Items. The Bay of Plenty Times, 13th December, contains several items of interest. Mr M'Lean has had an interview with the To Puna natives and examined the Whareroa native school, finding the progress of the children to be satisfactory. The pupils are said to be very proficient at cricket, and a match between two native schools —Maketu and Whareroa, is to come off at Tauranga, during the Christmas holidays. —A married woman, named Hose, of Te Papa, fell into a well fifteen feet deep, and containing nearly live feet of water. Her cries brought assistance, and she escaped with a few bruises.—Mr John Marshall) formerly hotol-keeper in Napier is erecting an accommodation house on the Tauranga side of the Oropi bush, about thirteen miles from the port.—Teudcrs are invited for the erection of a post and telograph office at Opotiki.

Mr M'Lean at Te Puna. At Mr M'Leau's meeting with the Te Puna natives, in reply to their expressions of welcome, he said that he was .glad to meet them, and to hear that their self-im-posed isolation was at last broken down. War aud all its evil consequences was to be dreaded. The only warfare that resulted in advantago to man was a war against the soil. They had a proverb which expressed this :—" Bravery in war was a shadow quickly passing away ; but bravery in subduing the soil conferred a lasting benefit." He was glad to hear that they were industrious, and he hoped that they would go on increasing the size of their cultivations. He said that he was sorry that the weather had turned out so unpropitious, which would oblige him to cut the meeting short; but he told them that he would be very glad to see a deputation of them at Te Papa, having been informed that they wished to discuss some points with him. Peni Taka, who (says the Bay of Plenty Times), is a bit of a wag sometimes replied that, with regard to the cultivation of the soil, it was their intention to take his advice; and that he looked upon it as an invitation to extend their cultivations towards Otumoetai—in other words, appropriate lands which had beeu otherwise granted. Mr M'Lean wished them distinctly to understand that he did not give his sanction to their cultivating any other lands than those allotted to them by Mr Clarke. They had ample reserves set apart—more, indeed, than the Pirirakau could properly manage, and they should cultivate them.

NELSON. The Governor's Reoeption at Greymouth. The Grey River Argus gives the following account of the Governor's reception:— At Gilmer's there was lunch provided and partaken of, and it is said that his Excellency found leisure to walk about town to inspect some of the public institutions, and even to have photographs taken—apparently an essential part of the life of Governors, or of professional photographers on the occasion of the gubernatorial visits. After a lapse of time, during which many people admired the weather, the pleasant expression of a painted lion above Gilmer's door, and the good looks of many young ladies, buggies and coaches were seen to congregate, or to be congregated. The nurpose of their congregation was to convey the Governor and all persons else who chose to be conveyed, to the coalmine—the biggest and best sample of the natural resources of the district. It was at this moment—the moment of the congregation of the buggies, &c, aforesaid — that Mr Tainui, the chief of the native race in these parts, addressed the Governor. The address was uot written; it was simply spoken; and it was spoken with all the emphasis and brevity of the Maori. Tainui said " Hullo," and the Governor graciously accepted the compliment, and the friendly, familiar manner in which it was paid. Subsequent to this ceremony the gubernatorial visitor started for the coal-mine, driven by the Mayor, Mr Glenn, and followed by four coaches, contaiuing eminent citizens. In one of these coaches there were the clergy. In another were the Borough Councillors, and a few friends of the order of "jolly fellows," and in another were the band and their bugles. Sixty gentlemen on horseback followed, riding at a canter, and amid much dust, which they seemed more to enjoy than otherwise. They were led by Messrs. Frank Hamilton and Donald Maclean, and represented a very fair average of white hats and respectability. Thus escorted, and. with floral decorations at intervals

the Governor was driven to the coal-mine, on a day which demonstrated the possibility of fine weather prevailing on the West Coast, along a road which demonstrated the possibility of roads being made under very difficult circumstances, and alongside of the principal public work in these parts —the railway. At Coal-bridge> or whatever its name is, the cavalcade was stopped and was stabled, and the Governor, with a numerous retinue, crossed the river to grunnerton in the common conveyance—a punt. The Governor and and his party were received by Mr Whitefoord, the Warden of the district, and were introduced to Mr Dent, who is the manager of the mine, and who appeared, after the manner of Diogenes, with a lantern in hand. He was fortunately accompanied by Dr Hector, who happened to arrive in the district yesterday, and who had a parcel of candles in his pocket; and with him and Mr Dent as guides and candelabra, the Governor entered the mine by its upper level, receiving from Mr Dent and Dr. Hector much valuable information regarding coal-fields in general, and this mine in particular. A sojourn of ten minutes or more was sufficient to satisfy the Governor that there was coal in the district, and he subsequently entered the mine by the lower shaft, at the inner extremity of which there was a long table laid with viands and wines—both provided by the Borough Council of Greymouth, The band was present, and played several airs, with an echo provided by the situation, and one toast was proposed—- " Prosperity to the coal-mine." It was proposed by the Governor, and in a few happily pointed sentences which pleased and amused his audience, and which apparently made everybody feel " at home," although everybody was, physically, at as great a distance from that domestic quarter as he bad probably ever been. In the mine, during the gubernatorial visit, darkness was made visible by the presence of innumerable sperm candles, and at its entrance, on the arrival and departure of his Excellency there was much noise made by the firing of fowling pieces and the blacksmith's anvil. Altogether the incident of visiting the coal-mine was well managed by all concerned, and proved to be what it was intended—the introduction of the Governor to the principal resource of the district, and one of the most valuable resources of the colony.