INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 969, 15 June 1868, Page 2

INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

The following is a summary of the latest intelligence of general interest from Auckland, Taranaki, Nelson, Wellington, aud the other Northern provinces : — AUCKLAND. His Excellency the Governor left Auckland on the 18th May, for the Waikato. His Excellency was accompanied by the Superintendent of Anckland, the hon J. C. Richmond, Captain Hope, Major Heaphy, and Mr Lamprier. The party was expected to return to Auckland about the 20th of that month.

Relative to this visit, the "Southern Cross " says that the natives are disappointed with the manner in which his Excellency has previously disappointed them, and will probably not meet him in large numbers.

The news from the Upper Thames is of a most unsatisfactory and threatening character. The contemplated rebellious movement against the Waikato is now definitely stated to have been fixed to take place during the present or ensuing month ; and Hauraki is to remain peaceful while this is being carried on. Some fifty or sixty head of Messrs _ Buckland and Eirth's cattle are reported to have again been seizedj and are now running at Manawaru.

There has been some further fighting at Ilokianga. A correspondent of the " Herald" writes: — Several skirmishes have taken place between the ; Rarawas aud Hikutu section of the Ngapuhi tribe, in one of which, on the 10th or 11th instant, three of the former were" badly wounded, and one of the latter — a young man from the Waimate— is missing since the fight. In a second skirmish which had taken place at an earlier period, one man belonging to the chief Mohi Tawhia's tribe, was shot through the back. The ball has since been extracted, and the sufferer (a half-caste), is likely to recover. A few hours before the Tauranga sailed from the Bay a report was prevalent that the Hokiangi postman had brought intelligence of another fierce contest between the two tribes, during which the murderer (Te Weka, of the Rarawas"), had been killed, and one of Mohi Tawhia's tribe dangerously wounded.

Hostilities are said to be impending in the Waikato. A correspondent of the " Southern Cross " writes from the Upper Thames as follows : — On the 2nd instant, Tukukino Hoepa, and Tareranui returned from Tokangamutu. They report that all the roads are closed against anyone returning from Tokangamutu, by the King's order ; and also that Tana te Waharo was on his way to that place, and was stopped by his Majesty's roadkeepers. He told them he was going to Tokangamutu, and then proposed returning to his tribe. The road aukati guard thereupon stripped him of his clothes and horse, burnt the clothes, and sent him back to his settlement and

people. This was Tawhiao's orders to 7 the roadkeepers. >" Mr Commissioner Mackay has addressed a report to tlie Superintendent of Auckland, of his visit to the newly discovered diggings in the Kennedy's -Bay district, from which' we learn that Mr M'Leod (a prospector) handed to him four or five ounces of gold, some- of which was very much water worn, and three or four other j samples* pf quartz containing gold worth | from £2 15s to £3 10s per ounce. No j gold has as yet been found in any reef, excepting the one found by the natives. 1 The upper part of the river is described as similar to Collingwood on the "West Coast, and in this judgment he was borne j out by miners from that district. The I Rocky River Diggings was a payable one, ! n,nd there the gold was found in patches, j as has been the case at Kennedy's Bay as \ far as they have prospected it as yet. j Under the circumstances, Mr Mackay considered himself justified in granting additional claims to the discoverer of the field. There were, when the Tauranga left, upwards of one hundred men at work on the ground. In commencing upon this report, the " Herald" remarks :— There is no longer any doubt as to the value of the Kennedy's Bay district as an alluvial goldfield. The gold brought down by Mr Mackay last night — some seven or eight ounces^in weight, and composed of four different samples, one at least of which is purely alluvial gold, and of standard value — is satisfactory proof of the paying nature of the new goldfield. It has been procured by prospecting in the banks and beds of the creeks by the party of three prospectors who have been recently working in the district. On the same subject our latest paper, the " Southern Cross of the 19th, says :— It is supposed that diggings exist capable of affording employment to a' least 400 miners, and that the bank claims, as well as those in the creek, will be found to be auriferous. Already a rush has set in from Shortland to the new goldfield, the firßt batch of 120 men having left on Wednes- ( day last in the Clyde. The " Southern Cross " publishes the following as the latest news from the goldfield -.—The news brought by the steamer Tauranga, which arived from Kennedy's Bay last night, is simply corroborative of that which we published on Saturday. We learn that between 300 and 400 people were on the ground, and that the number is rapidly increasing, both by means of land and water. G-ood gold is being got from all the creeks ; but i it appears that no one has as yet attempted reefing. A fortnight's protection has been granted to claimholders. The main creek is not accessible for the l present to steamboats except at spring | tides. The bay, however, affords good ! anchorage and shelter for vessels in all • weathers, and is only exposed to southI east winds.

The " Herald" of the 15th inst. says :" —We have intelligence from Opotiki and Whakatane up to Sunday last. Every available man was ordered out on Saturday last to join in an expedition which left the camp during the afternoon. It appears that for several days previous a large body of Hau-haus had been seen lurking about between Opotoki and Whakatane, and the officer commanding at Opotiki communicated with the force at Whakatane, directing every man to turn out on Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon the expedition which left Whakatane fell in with a body of Hauhaus, and a sharp fight ensued, during which several were killed and wounded.