AUCKLAND. May 6.

North Otago Times, Volume 1881, Issue XXVI, 7 May 1878, Page 2

AUCKLAND. May 6.

lie Colonial defence, Sir G. Grey forwarded tho following resolution of' Ministers to tlio Governor, in l'oply to tho Imporial tolegraphio despatch :— " Sir George Grey presents his respectful complimcnta to tho Marquis of Normanby, and states that tho \ T ow Zealand Mini«tors reply fco Her Majesty's Government that the Colony will undortaKo tho expense of the proposed armament. Her Majesty may rest assured that Her new subjects will, in the event of any crisis loyally and resolutely in all respects do their duty to thoir Queen and country. Sir George Grey requests that tho Marquis of Nrrmanby will bo so good as at once telegraph a copy of this memo, to Her Majesty's Government for their information." A. younw daughter of Mr Dixon, publi.can, struck a match which ignited her nightgown. Sho is so injured that it is doubtful if sho will recover. Cooper and Bailey's performing elephnnf Titatiia died jnnt before the Golden Sea sailed with the Circus Company. Site had i wallowed the contents of a man's pockef, inr-ludin'tr a largo box of matches, which nre supposed to have been the been the cause of death jRe the Kingitc meetings specinl telocrrnins state that Sir Goorae Grey, Mr .T. Sheehan, Nahi, and Mr Potts, a Cnnterbury settler and ex-M.H.TC., with a party of 'friendly Native chiofs, arrived af Alexandra oh Sunday nijjht. They do not go to Hikuranpi till to-morrow, There are mountains of flour piled up at Hikuranori. Tawhiao camp near Alexandra, on the opposite bank of the river, on

Saturday, to witness a grand procession of Qieenite war canoes. A messenger who arrived from Hikurnnga this morning reports that 2000 -.vere present, among whom are very few Ngatimaniopotos. ltewi is atTakanui— his settlement near Oraknu. The late rains flooded Hikurnnga, and the witer ran through the houses. The - ( Nativis, under temporary covers, suffered, mliciij and are growing very impatient. There are piles of food, sufficient to last ford 1 fortnight. The numbers at Hikurania are variously estimated at 2500 to '5000. The following are present : — The Whole of the Waikatos, about 2000 Ngatirawakawas, n small section ot the Ngatimaniopotos from Tckapun, some from Wanganui, besides To Wheoro'a people, 'lavhko Ins long been anxious for the nvet'ncr, and has used every means to induce the Natives to come long distances. The Ngatihikairo are said to have left the crops to rot.