REVOLUTION IN OTAGO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 241, 8 November 1876, Page 4

REVOLUTION IN OTAGO.

(FROM OUR SP.4CIA.L CORRESPONDENT.), By Pigeon Express. Dbnedin, November 2. The national colors are eiill floating proudly in the south-west breeze. Every public building and a great many private ones are decorated with fUge. Yesterday everything was quiet aDtl orderly. Although (he puulichouses bad been open all day, the strong temptation of free whisky . had been steadily resisted. In this greßt crisis with the fate of an infant nation trembling in the bulaoce, let it be recorded that not a man forgot himself. There could be no better proof, of the intense earnestness pervading the people. •Some disappointment is felt at tbe ppaihy displayed by the country districts. Political agents are tofcbe Bent to them to weke the national spirit and stir" it to enthusiasm. As yet the excitement has not Bpreal southward beyond the Abbotaford bridge. It ia to be hoped a day cr two more will find it exteud over Saddle HiFl. Some of the large firms seem chary about paying their Customs dues, and Cargills and Co. have flatly refused to do so All their goods are consequently to be seized, Mr Buthgate has been sentenced to a heavy fine for being illegally on the premises. He persisted that he had a right to sit in the E.M. Court after being warned that he was a trespasser on the Bench. To-day, a grand ceremony took place. All the volunteer officers assembled in front of the University aud solemnly burned their commissions. The President, standing on the steps of the Cargill monument, presented them with new commissions of higher rank in each case. Wales is. made a full General, and if actual hostilities take place is to be made Field Marshal. The Harbormaster, Captain Tbompaon, hae been made Admiral of the Fleer, and hoisted his flag on the Vulcan. All the small B'.emnerß are being plated and armed. Kincaid aud M'Queen have commenced the manufacture ol rifled cannon, ami A. and T. Burt claim to have invented a most destructive torpedo. They are now completing a large order. The liev K, L. Stanford is appointed Chaplain to the force?, aud last niyht delivered & most^Btirring and warlike address to the meu. His text was ' : Smite, and apare riot." This morning some men in the employ oi the Harbor Board attempted to take possession of the wharfs and quays reserve, under the late Act of Assembly, The members of the corporation and Leiu (-General Barnes were promptly on the spot, and forcibly resisted, refusing to recognise the right of the Assembly of New Zealand to legislate for Qtago. The Harbor

Board does not like this phase of the revolution, and Mr Tewßley has telegraphed to Melbourne to know whether Sargood and Co. 'a duties are pail to the new Government. Mr Jha L. Gillies' allegiance is said to be wavering, and nothing but the managership of the new State Bank, added to his Harbor Board Secretaryship will codfirm it. 1 There was great excitement to-day when the Hinemoa was announced to be approaching the Heads, with the Son. Commissioner of Customs on board. The Geelong was chartered 'iud Admiral Thompson took command. His Honor the President and a number of members of the Political Association, with a strong guard of Volunteers were received on' board, and the Geelong went dowu to meet the Hineraoa. As the latter crossed the bar, the Geelong ran alongside,' the Volunteers seized Captpiu Johnson, and took possession of the steamer in the name of Otago. Immense crowds -cheered as the national colors were run up, and tbo Hinemoa was brought alongside the graving dock. The seizure is justified on the ground that the vessel was purchased chiefly with Otago money, McLean was below when the vessel was seized. As he came up he was seized also, and immediately taken below again. He asked for a private interview with the President, and it wus granted. Shortly afterwards the President emerged, white with rage, and said he had been offered the ap- : pointuaent of Government Agent at £1000 a-year, and a promise of a grant, of 5000 acres of land if he would betray his country, and give up Stout and De Latour to be made examples of. He indignantly refused. George McLean is to be tried for his treason, as being an Otago man, and as having attempted to bribe the officers of the State. He has been handed over to the custody of Mr J. C, Brown who is to be Provost-marshal of the foroes. A carriage and pair was provided for Brown on l&ndiDg, and Lloyd's fiah-bairow was impounded for the. conveyance of George McLean to the gaol. In the barrow he was wheeled backwards with his bands tied behind hiß back. Chief Justice Stout is to preside at his trial, and Mr A.ttornej-General H.ialop is to proaecute. Captain Johnson was offered promotion to a flag in the new navy, but' refused. He is treated as a prisoner of war. — Argus