The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 57, 9 March 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1870.

After eight mouths trial the Government have practically admitted that in depending upon our native allies for the suppression of the rebellion they have committed a grievous error. To make use of the Arawas as auxiliaries was one thing, but to trust to them as the main body of our force was an entirely different matter. It now appears that the funds at command are not sufficient to allow of a standing army of natives being kept up, and a proposal has been made to the Arawas to the effect that they should pursue Te Kooti into his Uriwera fastnesses on the chance of obtaining £5000 as a reward for his capture. To this they strongly demur, and it certainly does appear too small a sum to offer when the large body of men that would have to be employed, and the length of time that would in all probability be occupied, are taken into consideration. Our allies who I have for so long a time been in receipt of excellent pay, will no doubt feel considerable annoyance, at what they will consider, the slight thus passed upon them, and it is even possible that from being staunch allies they may eventually become j dangerous enemies. As yet there are no signs of such being the case, but we confess that it is with much uneasiness that we shall look for the news that may reach us from the North within the next month, for should this powerful tribe assume a hostile attitude, we shall, we fear, be found in a thorough state of unpreparedness. Our armed constabulary, thanks to the demilitarising process to which they have been subjected, are by no means in the state of efficiency in which they were left by Colonel Whitmore, nor are their numbers such as to allow of their opposing successfully any large increase in the force now in arras against us ; any addition to the number of our enemies could not, therefore, prove otherwise than disastrous to the European population in the neighborhood of the Waikato. We , have no wish to raise unnecessary alarm, i but we cannot refrain from expressing an opinion that native affairs never looked more unpromising than at the present moment. The King natives " unstable as water," the Arawas offended, while Te Kooti, from his mountain fastnesses, eagerly watching the game that is being played below, is ready to strike a deadly blow whenever it appears to him that the right moment for such action has arrived. Such seems to be the state of affairs at the present time, and we earnestly hope that our leaders, both civil and military, may not be found wanting when the crisis overtakes us.

Supreme Court. — The sittings of the Supreme Court are adjourned, on account of the illness of his Honor the Judge, until Monday morning next, at 10 o'clock. Mr. Augarde quotes Perseverance shares, £1 paid, at £1 55.; Pioneer shares, '< £o paid, at par. ' Competitive Firing. — The firing to decide who are to be the Nelson repre- \ sentatives to compete for the General i Government prizes at Dunedin, was to have taken place to-day, but on account < of the high, wind, was postponed until { Saturday morning, at 8 o'clock, for the ! town and Waimea companies, and Monday for the Wakapuaka Artillery. ;

The Charles Edward. — Considerable uneasiness is felt with regard to Messrs. N. Edwards and Co.'s p.s. Charles Edward which left the Bluff a fortnight since for the new Otago settlement of Martin's Bay, on the West Coast. After landing her passengers aud cargo, she was to proceed to Hokitika, but from the date of her sailing from the Bluff, nothing has been heard of her. It is conjectured and hoped that she has been detained in Martin's Bay by stress of weather. Culliford Gold Mining Company. — The voting for a Director, in the place of Mr. Burnett (resigned), took place yesterday, with the following result : — W. Elton, 79 ; J. P. Black, 46 ; Eobert Lee, 26 ; W. Cooksey, 2. We understand that a new offer was made to the Directors by Culliford at a later date than that which we published yesterday, to the effect that the capital of the Company be remodelled according to the following conditions : — That it shall amount to £18,000, in 1800 shares, of £10 each. 2. That Culliford and his mates immediately receive £1500 including the £500 already paid, and that they also receive 450 paid-up shares, and 150 floating shares. 3. That any compensation from the Government become the property of Culliford and his mates. The Booths, right of stabling horses, and printing race cards, for the ensuing' Greymouth Eaces, were sold by auction the other day, and realised £236 15s. The Stewards have reserved the takings of the Grand Stand aud the gate money, which together are expected to realize £200, thus making the total receipts by sales and admission money alone equal to to over £436.