NORTHERN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1208, 11 February 1870, Page 3

NORTHERN NEWS.

♦ "Wellington February 4th. A man named Billman to-day lodged an application for the Government reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield on his property at Ngahauranga, five miles from town. He states that he sent some of the quartz to Melbourne for analysis, when it was found to be payable. He offers to supply any quantity of auriferous stone that the Government may require, in quantities of from one to twenty tons, immediately. Mr Smith, the contractor for Government House, has filed his schedule. The Government have called on his sureties to go on with the work. February 7th. Dr Pollen has resigned his appointment as Government A gent at Auckland, in consequence of having been censured by Mr Fox for his conduct with regard to Mr Firth's interview with Te Kooti. It appears that when Mr Firth telegraphed to Dr Pollen regarding his appointment to meet Te Kooti, Colonel Maule wished to march his troops to Colonel M'DonnelPs camp, and with their united force aurround Te Kooti. This, however, was prevented by Dr Pollen. 400 excursionists went to-day by the Airedale to Picton and Port Underwood.

Napieb, February 7th. Intelligence from Tauranga to the 3rd inst. states that Colonel M'Donnell, who has been engaged daily in scouring the bush between Patetere and Tauranga, has killed one of Kereopa's chiefs, taking his rifle and revolver, and capturing three prisoners. To counterbalance this, however, Colonel Frazer, when 17 miles from Tauranga, fell into an ambuscade, and lost one' European and two natives killed, but none wounded. News from Alexandra to the 4th inst. states that the Kin sites are collecting and arriving at Kuiti by Tawhiao's orders. It is supposed that their intention is to prevent Colonel M'Donnell from following Te Kooti into the King's country. The friendly natives have been warned to clear out from among the Pakehas, and are sending their women back into the interior. Great excitement prevails among the natives throughout ] Waikato and Patetere. Rewi, also, has | written to Topia, warning him not to i follow Te Kooti into the Waikaco. The Auckland Eegatta came off on the 2nd, and it was a great success. The Flying Squadron arrived while it was* going on. Dr Cowie, the new Bishop of Auckland, arrived there on the 3rd. The yield of the Long Drive claim for the month of January was 1761 ounces. The inhabitants of Poverty Bay are unanimously signing a petition for the annexation of that district to the province of Hawke's Bay. Nelson-, February 3rd. Auckland dates to the Ist inst. are to hand. A telegram from Hamilton states that on the night of the 31st January Colonel M'Donnell's scouts fell in with the enemy, of whom they killed one and made one prisoner. The Militia have arrived at the Front/ so that Colonel M'Donnell's force is now amply sufficient to cope with Te Kooti's. Colonel Fraser's corps is also expected to join Colonel M'Donnell. Five of Te Kooti's men were killed in the attack on the camp at Tapapa. It is reported thab Te Kooti with 200 of his followers has had a korero with Te Hira and other influential chiefs. It is believed that favourable progress towards opening up the Ohinemuri country has been made. Mr Puckey, the interpreter, warned "Wi Koko not to meddle with the miners, or they would ! fight, and told him that there were 22,000 of them at the Thames. "Well informed persons believe that the whole country will be opened shortly. Long Drive shares hare suddenly fallen 50 per cent. February 6th. Sixty pounds of stone taken at randomt from a reef near the prospectors' reef a "Wangapeka, has been crushed here, and has yielded at the rate of soz. 9dwt. 17 grains per ton of 2,0001b5. The. stone does not show gold to the naked eye. The reef is eight feet wide. The continued dry hot weather threatens to make feed for cattle scarce in. the country districts.