NORTHERN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1262, 7 June 1870, Page 3

NORTHERN NEWS.

(fsom otjb own cobkespondent.) Duneddt, June i. In the Provincial Council, resolutions have been carried affirming that Port Chalmers should be the last port of arrival, and first of departure, for the San Francisco mail service, and that the subsidy should not exceed £25,000 annually. The resolutions were passed By a majority of 19 to 9.

We take the following telegraphic sum- j mary from our Northern files : — Auckland, May 26. A grand review and sham fight took place on the Queen's Birthday. The| Governor attended as commander- in-chief I of the forces of the Colony. An infant son of Mr Thomas Ensor fell into a bucket of water and was drowned. The Native Land Court at Ohinemuri is still Bitting. Te Hira attended at the conclusion, and in the course of his examination said — "I hold Ohinemuri in my hand, and will not let it go." W. Fagg has been committed for trial st the Thames, on a charge of selling needle guns, caps, &c,to the Maoris two years ago. The schooner Sulu hai arrived from the j South Sea Islands, bringing twenty-seven islanders under engagement to work at the flax mills for a term of years. They are said to have come voluntarily, but other circumstances throw a doubt upon this. It would seem as if the chiefs had been bribed to ship them. The importation is condemned by the Press, as opening the door for the same irregularities which have caused such trouble in Queensland. Wellington, May 29. The Tricker Defence Committee have announced their determination not to cease their efforts until a free pardon is granted to him. News to hand via Wanganui states that a general Native meeting is to be held at Pariaka, Taranaki, on the 18th September. It is summoned by Te Whiti and Toha, and messengers will be sent to all parts of the island. The object of the meeting is to re-establish a general peace, Te Whiti says that Taranaki commenced the war, and Taranaki must end it. Hokitka, May 30. Mr David Curie, proprietor of the Boss Guardian, has been committed for trial for libel on the County Chairman ' (Mr Hoos). He has been admitted to Vail, himself in a surety of £150, and two sureties of £25. Wellington, May 81. The result of the deputation to the Government yesterday is regarded as extremely unsatisfactory. People generally are dissatisfied, both with Mr VogeTs explanation and Mr Pearee's statements. Anxiety is felt here regarding the safety of the schooner Isabella Jackson, 40 tons, Watson, master, which sailed from this port for Lyttelton on the 28th April, with 20 tons of coal on board, and has not since been heard of. A system of telegraphic money orders has been arranged, and will be brought into operation immediately. During the first month that the reduced telegraphic tariff was in operation there was an increase over the last month of the old tariff of 5015 messages, but a decrease in revenue of £145 12s 6d. A private letter from Dr Featheraton states that Sir George Grey is likely to stand for the seat at Newark in the Imperial Parliament, rendered vacant by the death of Mr E. Denison. His election is considered probable. The Doctor also Bays that he believes it is finally arranged that Messrs Bvagden and Co., the great railway contractors, will send a staff of engineers to survey and report upon the Nelson and Cobden railway. Mr Brogden is also quite willing to entertain a scheme for establishing a system of railways throughout the North Island. Capital is not a great object with him. Dr Featherston adds: — "I am going down with him to North Wales, to inspect a railway with only a 2ft. gauge. This gauge, though at present laughed at by engineers, seems likely to be extensively adopted, if it is found to be perfectly safe. With a speed of 30 miles an hour, the cost is diminished £1000 per mile for every foot the gauge is reduced." Najpieb, June Ist. The Luna, with Mr M'Lean on board, has arrived. She also brings three prisoners, one of whom, Karama, has been in our hands three times. He was first captured atTauranga, after which he took the oath of allegiance; secondly at Hungahungatoroa, and was then sent to the Chatham Islands. The present is his third capture. There are several witnesses against him on board the Luna, and it is hoped that a conviction will be obtained. Karama is supposed to have been one of the leaders in the Poverty Bay massacre. Mr M'Lean is to be entertained at a public dinner on Thursday. The.Native meeting at Tanpo proved very successful, although the weather was so inclement — snow falling constantly— as to prevent many influential chiefs from being present. One result of the meeting, however, has been that Mr Locke has succeeded in purchasing a site for a townsbip on the banks of the Waikato liver, at its debouchure from Lake Taupo.