INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 255, 26 October 1881, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, Wednesday. Authentic information- has been received to the effect that the Native and European inhabitants of Rorptonga were recently thtown .into . a state of considerable eieitement by ifi visit frbm ihe _(_ rencii manof war Hugar, the captain of whick stated that France intended to establish a Protectorate over the Group. He is also stated to have actually prohibited the export of any produce from the Group except to Tahiti. A considerable trade is at present done with New Zealand, tHe ship_i_ents 6f produce, last year to tbis Colony from the Group being valued at £55,000. The inhabitants, who are quite satisfied with their New Zealand trade, do not want a French Protectorate, and will, it is said, do their best to prevent it being established, i , , Wednesday. At a meeting df tHe Ai'tillery last night the reply received from the Defence Minister relative to Col. Reader's remarks to the Battery was discussed, and the Lieutenant Commanding, and a Sergeant of th c Battery who was present at the interview,' stated that they were not under any misapprehension as to the meaning of Col. Reader's meaning. It was decided , to feply to tha letter from the Defence Minister, and to express the feeling of the Battery on the subject. Mr Hutcheson, one of the candidates for South Wellington, addressed a portion of the Electors at Newtoft last night, and received a vote of confidence. Tba Hinemoa proceeds to Opunake at seven to-night with the Wellicgton Naval Brigade. Major Atkinson will also bo a passenger in hsr. After landing at Opunake she proceeds to Nelson for the Volunteers, and thence to Opunake again. ,7. Tauhanga, Wednesday. Mr Q. v. Stewart addressed the electors last night, and received a vote of confidence. Nicw Pltmouth, Tuesday. At a meeting held by Te Whiti yasterday, it is reported be told bis followers he was aware of the Proclamation going to be sent, for it was cent by God, and that after fourteen days the land would belong neither ta Pakeha nor Maori, but would belong tb the world. Till tha fourteen days had elapsed they were not to heed anyone, as tha Pakehas would then leave the place. As it was uncertain what Te Whiti meant, and as the Natives appeared unfriendly to visitors, ths men in Camp were not surprised to receive orders to be in readiness for an alarm, and niany of the.- slept in their belts and clothes. Wednesday. Capt tin Davidson (who is also the Mayor of New Plymouth) left at 8 o'clock thii morning with his corps, the Mounted Rifles, for Pungarehu for active service. The troops wera only notified at midday yeiterday that their services would be required. They ws re heartily cheered as they rode through the town. Auckland, Tuesday. Sir George Grey has returned to Ktw&u, suffering from a.slight indisposition, it being deemed advisable^ that he should have come rest before the elections commence. Itis understood that his return will be influenced by the uncertain issue of Native affairs on the West Coast, and the preser.t Parliament may yet have to be called- together.Wednesday. ; The Ohinemutu Natives having complained tha,t not more than half of them have been vaccinated a doctor was sent up at once from Tauranga, and promised to return in! a week. The natives accordingly collected from the surrounding country but the doctor did not put in an appearance. I Except in odd instances the natives along this coast appear to know little about Te Whiti. Tbe Tourists' season has now fairly set in and the weather is fine. ." "~ The half yearly meeting of tbe Bsak of New Zealand was held to-day. A dividend of ten per cent and bonus of five per cent was declared, and £23,700 carried forward. Chkistchckch, Wednesday.; The Government has accepted the services of the Cadet Rifle Corps formed at Christ's College. A seam of coal has been discovered on Mr J. G. Whilks' property in the Leeston district. Mr J. L. Wilson, a candidate for St. Albans, addressed the electors last sight and received a vote of confidence. Gisbobne, Wednesday. Michael Mullhally was charged with the larceny of a cheque from a- Native. The accused is a well known settler and hotelkeepsr at Tolago Bay, The jury without leaving the box found a verdict of not guilty, and expressed the opinion tbat Mu_lhally left the Court without a stain on his character.