LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 493, 21 February 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

(Special to Taranaki Herald). HAW ERA. February 1 9. The natives returned from Parihaka yesterday, hut did not visit the Commission at Oeo. Te Wliiti told them that those who visited the Commission were chaff, and that the wheat was all bagged at Parihaka, but lie left it to their own option to visit the Commission. A letter from the Commissioners to the tribes at Parihaka was read, but bad no effect in inducing the natives to attend. It was pointed out that it would not be considered proper for an adulterous man to enquire into his own sin—and that Sir W. Fox was a Government man enquiring into the fault of tiic Government. The natives present numbered about 700. They 7 say—no fighting—no survey—no land enquiries—continued presents of food to the Constabulary—and a great meeting at Parihaka in March. Such is the Lord of the Woild’s programme.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. I'Vbrnarj PS. Twenty-five communists, nine of whom are convicts, have landed here from the schooner Graffin, chartered by the Preneli (.Tovernmoil to convey them to New Zealand. The vessel was only provisioned for a ten days voyage. She encountered bad Weather and ran short. She fortunately fell in with (he barque Loehnon, bound to Tasmania, which supplied them with stores. However they wore all finished a day b-d'ore the vessel arrived at Mannkan Hoads. Captain Bishop, owner of the schooner Graffiti which brought the Communists, sayns he agreed with the Preach authorities at Noumea, to convey them for £b per iiead to Auckland. Twenty men, one woman, and three children, were escorted on board by gendarmes, who watched the vessel until she was ready to leave the port. The passengers comprise eleven political prisoners, who wore exiled, and who, by the terms of their pardon, are authorised to return to Prance or remain in the Colonies ; and nine pardoned criminal offenders, who hold tickets of leave, and who cannot return to Franco without the loss of all civil rights for life, and constant police supervision. Amongst the passengers is a musical composer, a lithographic printer, and several other tradesmen. They suffered much hardship from an insufficiency of provisions. One unpardoned convict escaped by hiding in the hold and thus eluding the vigilance of the French police. Letters from New Caledonia hy the Rotomahana states that ninety more Communists have been hooked to New Zealand, hut await reports from those who arrived yesterday. The French Consul here is instructed not to recognise them officially. Hon Mr Whitaker says there is no law to prevent Communists from landing. He has telegraphed to his colleagues, and a cable message will he sent to London, and the British Government be requested to remonstrate with the authorities at Paris. The prisoners state that, owing to the collapse of the mines, and disasters of the hanks, they cannot earn a livelihood at New Caledonia. February 20. Prejudice against French Communists is so great, that householders refuse to let houses to them. Employers of labor also look with suspicion on them, and refuse to employ’ even political exiles, WELLINGTON. February 29. The following gentlemen have been appointed members of the Royal Commission on railways :—Colonel Pearce, Wellington; J:M. Clarke, Auckland; Oswald Curtis, Nelson; J. G. Wright, M.H.It., Canterbury; John Head, of EiJerslie, Otago. At inquest on body of young Richardson, drowned in the harbor last night, a verdict of accidental death was returned. CHRISTCHURCH. February 20. Temperance Society have decided to hold their next annual meeting at Taranaki. GISBORNE. February 20, First day’s Annual Races took place yesterday. Jockey Thompson, who rode Syhia in the County Stakes, and Ro}!o, who rode Mama in Maiden Plate, are both disqualified fiom riding again. In the latter case, the owner has b«-cn allowed one week to show whether •>r not he was a party to the swindle. The horses were pulled hy the jockey-:- in a m .-t upon maimer.