TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 972, 24 August 1881, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(from ouk own correspondents). New Plymouth, Aug. 22. The Herald correspondent at Pungarehu telegraphs to-day that there was no meeting at Parehaka yesterday on account of the wet weather and the gale blowing. At the meeting to-day about 3000 natives were present. A great tangi was held over the death of Nuku, brother to Titikowaru. The purport of Te Whiti’s speech was to encourage young Maories to fence and cultivate land, and annoy Europeans within bounds, so filling his young hearers with pluck. He quoted from the Bible mentioning in his speech the flood and fire that according to Scripture in olden days wasted the land for seven years. Te Whiti said “ the Government’s power will cease in seven months,” two or three months have elapsed, leaving five more for European supremacy to fall in. Wellington, August 22. The Native Reserves Bill has been circulated and on coming into effect it will consolidate the law relating to the administration of Native reserves. It defines the jurisdiction of a Native Land Court as having equal jurisdiction over Native land on which time has been or shall be extinquished and on land owned by Natives under their customs and usuages. The Government in Council may make other, or revoke the existing regulations for administration for the management of Native reserves. All Native reserves are to be vested in the Public Trustee and all commissioners and delegates now holding power under existing Acts referring to Native affairs must, within six months, account to the Public Trustee, to whom all previous contracts, promises, and agreements will be transferred, and thereafter the Public Trustee must furnish an actual statement to the Minister of Native affairs, and a copy of all accounts so furnished, shall be laid before both Houses of the General Assembly. The application of proceeds from reserves are not to be varied from present purposes, except when such purposes have become obselete, or are no longer possible of attainment. The Public Trustees may with the sanction of the board (constituted under the Public Trust Office Act, 1872) lease any portions of reserves vested in him for agricultural purpose of any term not exceeding 11 years, and for building purposes, not exceeding 63 years on renewable terms, not exceeding twenty one years each subject to new assessment. The rent at

every such renewal of leases may be disposed of by private contract, or public auction, and no fine, premium or fore-gift, shall be taken upon any lease ; and when beneficiaries are not known the court shall after due enquiry make any order therein that it may seem fitting. In default of any beneficiaries being discovered the Public Trustee shall hold the Native Reserve, and the proceeds accruing upon the trust, for such purpose as the Government in council may appoint. No land reserved for the benefit of Natives shall be subject to the administration of the Act until the Native title has been extinguished. The Public Trustee may, with the consent of Native owners, apply to the court to have the land brought under the Act, and the Native title extinguished, trusts declared, and land vested in the Public Trustee. Native owners may also transfer land to the Public Trustee, and restrictions, limitation, and conditions may be annulled or removed, any orders of the court made in such respect to be registered under the Deeds Registration Act, 1868, or the Land Transfer Act, 1870. Existing grants may also be surrendered and others substituted and in effect shall be the same as if a Crown Grant had absolutely been repealed. Whenever on the session of sale of Native lands to the Queen, or any part thereof, shall be excepted by Native sellers, the Commissioner may apply for an order defining the individuals for whom any such land shall be deemed to be set apart and proportionate the share of each such individual. August 23rd. The ’Frisco steamer with the mail was signalled this afternoon at Auckland.

In view of the alarming spread of small pox in Sydney, it has been decided that in case of all vessels arriving from Sydney in the future no person shall be allowed to land until successfully vaccinated.

A seizure of a large plant of smuggled tobacco was effected, yesterday afternoon, by the detective authorities. Seven boxes, each containing 501b5., were found underneath a dwelling-house in Frederick-street. The tobacco was conveyed to the police station, and the occupant of the house. Walter Lee, taken into custody on suspicion of being concerned in concealing the goods. The matter was brought into Court this morning, when Lee was charged (1). With being knowingly concerned in concealing certain uncustomed goods. (2). With being knowingly concerned in concealing seven packages of manufactured tobacco, which had not been stamped. An information was laid against one William Barnard, who was arrested this morning charged under the Tobacco Act with being knowingly concerned in concealing ten packages of manufactured tobacco. The prisoner Barnard was represented by Mr. Cutten. The other prisoner pleaded guilty to each offence, and as it appeared Barnard had been apprehended in consequence of a voluntary statement made by him to Detective Benjamin, Mr. Cutten applied for a remand on behalf of his client. It was decided to adjourn the case against Barnard till Thursday. The only evidence against Lee was tendered by Detective Benjamin. Lee made a voluntary statement this morning to the effect that about last Monday week he became aware that a man named Joe Denley had seven cases of smuggled tobacco in his possession, and that he, assisted by Denley, removed the boxes into his house. At first the boxes were secreted under his bed, but were afterwards deposited underneath the house, where they were found yesterday afternoon. They then wrote a letter to Charles Plummer, landlord of the Tramway Hotel, telling him that if he (Plummer,) Boned, of the Foresters Arms Hotel, Barnard, and another, did not pay him £5O, he would spl ton them. Mr. Shaw said that as Mr. Cutten was not prepared to conduct the defence, the better plan would be to adjourn this case also until Thursday morning. This was done, and Lee allowed bail.