TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 47, 16 December 1871, Page 7

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Napier, December S. Mr Colenso, in a long letter to the ■' Herald," argiu-s against the execution of Kereopa. Every exertion is being made to procure proper evidence against him, and Mr Commissioner Clarke (Resident Magistrate at Tauranga) and nine witnesses are expected by the Keera this evening. At the adjourned examination yesterday, Kereopa expressed a desire to be taken to where Mr Volkner was crucified, and there to be crucified himself. This is very ominous. The Eperaima bridge, 130 feet long, was blown down the night before last, and entirely destroyed. At a cattle sale yesterday store steers were sold at from 75s to 90s ; yearlings, 33s to 50s. Sheep same as last quotations. December 10. Arrived—Noon, Keera, from Tauranga ; she sails again to-night for Wellington. Mr Clarke, H.M., and the witnesses for Kereo'pa's trial were passengers. Mr and Mrs Steel, who have been engaged for eight nights, at £6O, to play with the Amateur Dramatic Society, also arrived by the Keera. December 11. Kereo'pa's trial commenced to-day,

when five witnesses were examined. The following evidence was adduced : Kereopa first asked for a Catholic priest to kill, but to this the other natives would not agree. He then asked for the Rev Mr Volkner, and some chiefs agreed to give him up. There was no direct evidence to show that Kereopa personally laid hands on Mr Volkner, but there was that he directed others to hang Mr Volkner, then eat his eyes and ordered his head to be cut off. One witness said, "I asked Kereopa for Mr Volkner's headless body to bury. He replied " No, let the fowl of the air and the beasts of the earth devour it." December 12. The Court was crowded yesterday and to-day; there was great excitement. Kereopa has been committed for trial before the Supreme Court on the 21st instant. Four more witnesses were examined, and the evidence adduced was more explicit. Kereopa was heard to order a party to lead Mr Volkner to execution. Two men led him, and Kereopa himself followed about a yard behind. None of the witnesses saw the actual hanging, but afterwards Kereopa ordered the head to be cutoff and given to him. He went into the church, and Mr Volkner's head, after being cut off, was handed to him through a window. He laid it on a table and gouged out the eyes ; holding one in each hand, he said :—" Sister Whakatohea : These are the eyes that have looked on the destruction of this country; I will eat them. This is the Parliament of England." He then swallowed the eyes, and drank some blood out of a pannikin. Cobb and Co. intend, on the Ist January, to start a line of coaches for Taupo Lake and the hot springs. This will be a capital trip for tourists. 'iho Attorney-General, on the application of the Crown Piosecutor through Mr Lee, the Counsel retained to defend Kereopa, has applied for a special jury in the case. Taranakt, December 10. The Phcebe arrived at 10 a.m., and the mail was landed at 10.30. Greville's courier, with the mail telegrams, left at 10.45, and arrived at Opunaki at 5 p.m. Auckland (via Opunaki), Monday. Fat cattle, 25s to 30s per 100 lbs. Dairy cows and springing heifers, £4 to £6. Sheep, 3d per lb. Canterbury wheat, 5s (3d; flour, £l3 ; oats, market glutted at 3s sd. Greymoutii, December 11. A man named George Healier has been drowned while bathing in a lagoon. A girl named Margaret Hogarth has also been drowned in a water-hole in a claim on the south beach. Mr Frank Guinness has resigned his seat in the County Council as member for Grey mouth. There is splendid news from the Inangahua reef. £'soo has been offered and refused for a quarter share. Hokitika, December 12. The Waipara has arrived from Bay. She reports that nearly I all the male inhabitants have left the district for the shearing season, leaving their wives and families behind and intending to return. Those left are nearly starved, and are loud in their complaints of the neglect of the Otago Government. Gold is still being obtained at Big Bay and to the south of Martin's Bay. Mr White, M.H.R., addressed a large meeting of his constituents in the Town Hall last night. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed. Christchurch, December 9. The Railway Commission is still sitting, and two more employees have been discharged. The Police Commission has reported that there is not fhe slightest evidence to sustain the charges made against the integrity of Commissioner Shearman. The City Council visited the Waimakariri protective works yesterday, and found the overflow channels safe. A new description of shingle boxes have proved very effective. Wheat, 4s 2d to 4s 6d. Oats scarce, 2s 9d to 3s. Bacon is in improved demand at 7-|d. Butter is unsaleable for shipment to England. Cheese, light, 3|d to 3fd. December 10 The Intercolonial boat race is fixed for the 25 th January. - : ; A coach-road is now opened between Christchurch and Akaroa.

A volunteer encampment has been arranged to take place at Selwyn on the Gist December and three following days. December 12, The Germans are endeavoring to establish a Lutheran Church here. The Opera Company opens here on the J 9th inst. James Clarke, a patient in the Lunatic JAsylum, hung himself in the dormitory on Friday night. The Avon Boating Club has launched its new boat for the Inter-colonial race. It is 43 ft long, 19£ inches in beam, aud 11 inches deep. It weighs 115 lbs. December 14. The half holiday question has been decided by Thursdays being fixed on. The new arrangement will commence on January 4. Two more railway officials have been dismissed. The erection of a boys' reformatory has been commenced. A proposal has been made to establish an astronomical society here. Oamaru, December 14. Mr Steward" addressed a meeting of his constituents in reference to his conduct during the late session. 200 electors were present, and his speech occupied two hours and a half. A unanimous vote of confidence \va* passed. Dunedin, December 9. Wheat firmer, 5s to 5s 3d. Oats are in improved demand for good milling, which are saleable at 2s-2d. There is a slight demand for barley. Best malting,° 3s 9d; feeding, 2s. Flour is dull at £l3. December 10. The City Council has interviewed the Superintendent, asking the Government to purchase Fern Hill as a residence for the Governor. December 12. The Dunedin Cricket Club has decided to agree with Canterbury's request to play the inter-provincial match on the 28th and two succeeding days. Christie's friends offer to back him again against Walker for £I,OOO a side, at the same ranges as before. £250 has been staked with Captain Robertson, of the Naval Brigade. There are twenty cases for trial at the next sessions. Invercaegtll, December 13. Hugh Blackmore, the shepherd, who was reported to be missing on the 27th ulr., and to have committed suicide, but"who was afterwards found to have returned home, really committed suicide to-day, cutting his throat with a butcher's knife in the stables of the Eagle Hotel. December 14. The Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show was held to-day. The weather was rather cold, but the attendance was fair notwithstanding. The exhibits in most of the classes were good. The show of sheep was firstclass, and that of shorthorned cattle better than on any previous occasion. The horses though short in numbers were of superior quality. Dairy produce and poultry were fairly represented, but there were few exhibits of implements^