TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 473, 16 May 1857, Page 5

TARANAKI.

(Prom the ' Herald,' April 18)

The/elections of members for. the/Provincial Council were brought to a. close;on. Monday, and we are happy to reqorct that the successful, candidates under .the; informal writs >vere, returned without opposition...... only, change of repreuentation, is in ,the ..Omata,,.^r vr . Gieemypoct having consented, tp< corae, for^yar,4> i& pKpe ;of Mr. ; East— &.. mere .matter of. arrangement be-! tweenthe electors.of-'thatdistrict..,rv .. „ | ; . , We;are credibly, mfqrmed.ftliat^lie pound ,at the Bell Bldckhas. again :b,eentjroken. .pjeni by a body of armed natives ani the impounded, cattle forcibly,. released. ; It.; appeals '%afc_ .sjncei .the peaccthe,:nativesin jthat..yjcin.i^^jiave erected enclosures,. impounded, ; idj.., cat.tle; belo»g?ng 7 to the seslers ; straying ;y^it>)b.in theii- boundary,, and exacted-fees valuing from five. shiiljings to, one shilling and sixpence jpejc -head,- per day. „ „" On Wednesday.,last .sixteen native .horses wore impounded % fJMtr. ...if'prthfjrqft for ti-es-passing on his land,;andVa foe >of ,2s.i\<M..per lread was demandedby the district poundkeeper, .whereupon a party .of the Jfinia natives, headed by Aiona,-proceeded, i,q the.pound^took,4p,wn. a pannel : fvom; -the., fencing, and- "■ drove '■. .pif the horses. On a (ormef, occasion a similar offence was. .committed by,.a, native assessor, who, instead, of being instantly dismissed frpm office, was permitted to compromise; |he. matter putting up the fence and paying a fine of two pounds.: "VVhen those ,>Yje pay to assist in administering the laws are thus permitted to violate them with -impunity,,it. is not-,t0.,.be wondered at that other natives.. fqllowi the cx T ample thus set them. We have'heard, that the authorities have called rupori: tlie Ninia natives to make good the fence arid pay the amount of poundage fees due., In our opinion, this is a were mockeTjrof -iustie&f a,sunTmLons should be issued- against Aiona rahd' ■Timotiu :to appear uefore the. Resident, Mdjgistrate, which suniinons ahbuld beplaced :m'|he r Hands'' of the native assessors, with instructions io ■ produce. the Renders in eourt'at the appointed time, when phe case should be thoyoughly invetstigated, and « provedj a .heavy, penaitjr. 'should be. indicted upon the delinquents.. .This is an occasion which calls for the exercise of the moral influence conTejTett by'We prosence of the military, w.r if sue], repeated outrages are permitted to ■Pass^ unpunished, we shall next expect to see the >-11a natives break open the gaol,« should any

of thejr tribe be confined for a breach of the lawa. , .'.',. i Our readers will be gyatified to learn that at length a decidedly practical movement has been made to test the quality'and suitableness of the Iron Sand which lies in such profusion on our shores for mechanical purposes. At an adjournedmeeting on Monday last a very excellent report from the Committee was read auH of, and in accoi dance with a recommendation °f that Committee a subscription' was originated for the purpose of offering a reward to any person or persons who shall produce from the sand a merchantable aiticle of cast of wrought iron, and shall bo able to show to the satisfaction of urnpir-es that the process can be continuously, successfully, and profitably carried ( on. We, heartily recommend this project to the earnest consideration of the public as' being calculated to .advonce the prosperity of the province, increase "the value of propeity1 and benefit all classes of the community. W"e; arc* happy to state that the subscription list already presents a most respectable appearance.'