LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 126, 24 June 1876, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[Pun Press Agency.] AUCKLAND. June 22. An explosion of gas at the Army and Navy Hotel to-day shook the building to its. foundation. The whole of the side wall, fourteen inches thick, was bulged in fully six inches. The landlady was severely injured, and narrowly escaped with her life. The Directors of the Auckland Steam Packet Company have resolved to take the Llewellyn off the Fiji trade, owing to the unremuncrative character of the service. GR All AMSTO WN. June 22. The plant and goodwill of the Thames Advertiser are advertbed to be sold by auction in July, in consequence of the expiration of partnership. The body of a man has been found at Miranda. It is believed to be one of three lost from a boat some time ago. CHRISTCHURCH. June 22. The cricketers here think that the visit of the All-England Eleven on the terms proposed by the latter is impossible ; but they arc very anxious to secure the visit of an Australian Eleven. DUNEDIN. June 22. The cricketers wdl not listen to the proposal of the All England Eleven. The Northern escort has arrived with nearly 7.000 ounces of gold. The Dunedin Crown land sales during tnc year ending 31st March last, amounted to £i 59,719. The area held under pastoral leases is 6.500,000 acres. The area taken up on the deferred payment system during the year is 20,0C0 acres. The total land revenue collected in Invercargill during the same period was £75,000. ' June 23. The low-lying suburbs are all flooded to-day. Both up and down trains to Clutha arc stopped by damage to the lino by land slips. Rain foil in torrents all night, flooding (ho lower streets. Harbor Board refused to pay charges for towing off the mail boat from (bo sandspit, alleging that such accidents arc common to ail'ports. WELLINGTON. June 23. The house and store of James Peters, at Tarabdii, was burnt down this morning. His children narrowly escaped. Nothing was saved. Insurance £7OO. THE MAORI KING.

Tine fobowing description of the Maori King is given by the special correspondent of the Southern Crons, who accompanied Sir Donald McLean through his tour through the Waikato :—His Majesty is a very respectable looking gentleman, standing about 5 ft. Sin. out of his stockingvamps, and is apparently about 40 years of age. His frame is muscular and powerful, and he is evidently in all the vigour of manhood. His face is tattooed after the most artistic pattern of the aristocratic Maori ; but though his features are moderately regular, woe is me ! —he has just the least perceptible cast in both eyes : in fact, not to put too fine a point upon it, his Majesty squints! He was attired in a fine flax mat with ornamental border, with an undress dog-skin mat. His hair, which was cut short, was worn plain, without the usual head-dress of feathers. In appearance Tawhiao looks every inch a chief. He moves with dignity, but appears to be already overburdened with the cares of state. Formerly it was used as a reproach against Tawhiao that he was, very much under the control of his principal advisers. Then —I blush to write it—ho was very much addicted to strong liquors, and was not always in full possession of all his royal faculties. Eight months ago his Majesty set an example to his people by abjuring sack, and since then he has gradually asserted his royal prerogative, and taken the reins of government into his own hands. Occasionally Tawhiao visits Kawhia where lie has another home, which may bo called his marine residence. When he visits any settlement he is received with ceremony by the inhabitants, the new “karakia” forming the principal feature in the proceedings Tawhiao is by no means a monogomist. He belongs to that class who believe that if one wife is good for man, a plurality of wives is better, Tawhiao is married ; in fact very much married, for he is blessed (at least I suppose so) with no fewer than three lawful spouses, and goodness knows how many more who have not gone through the ceremony, whatever it may be, which binds the Maori man and woman together “ for richer, for poorer, for better for worse.” The son and heir apparent is Tu Tawhiao, who is now at Kawhia, having fallen into temporary disgrace at Court by reason of some youthful peccadillo, in which I believe, a fair young creature, the lawful spouse of another man of rank, is involved. These things up here never result in crirn. con. actions, which must be a great comfort io all concerned.