AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1348, 16 December 1870, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

A correspondent sends us the following items of news: — Intelligence, of a startling nature was received in Auckland on the 28th ult.. from the Waikato. A party were engaged in surveying land at Pirongia when they were attacked by four armed natives, and Mr Todd. the surveyor shot dead, and i half-caste named Napera wounded in the arm and thigh. The Constabulary were urderarms and great excitement prevailed, A Militia armed patrol went for the body of Mr Todd and the wounded man. Mr Todd was in the service of the Government at the time of the murder, and vas well known both amongst Europeans aid Maoris. He was engaged surveying c<nfiscated land, which had been given iy Government to Hone te One and his tr6e as compensation for land taken from thstn during the war. Mr Todd was enga£<s& to cut this land, up, so that Crowirgranta might be issued. Hone te One did noj wish the land surveyed.^nd told Mr Todd that it would be dangerous to do so BepeaEen warnings werer-given that i would be impolitic to interfere with thii block. The Pirongia natives felt alarm ii consequence of two diggers prospecting for gold, and a band of 30 armed HauHaus started in pursuit of them, bu> fortunately were laughed out of thei* deadly purpose by a peaceful native. Thj Rev. Mr Shackenburg says that the native mind has been in an unsettled stafe ever since. From what I can learn, the affair has been a kind of ambuscade. Tie attacking party is said to have been smal, including two women. Mr IPritzell and party .were working on the same bloct, but had not seen Mr Todd for a week ; they are, however, safe. Colonel Lyons, who is in command of the district, telegraphed to Dr Pollen that all- was quiet, and no panic existed. The general belief by those competent to judge is that the murder has been committed by King natives. The Government will institute I a strict enquiry, and will demand the bodies of the murderers from the King. An inquest on the body of Mr Todd has been held, and a verdict returned of " wilful murder against certain natives whose names are unknown." A native woman — Hutu — who was in the tent at the time, gives two reasons for the murder. One was attempts at gold-seeking, and the other surveying the land. She says there was no personal animosity against Mr Todd. The supposed names of the murderers are Pato and Ngaru, Rangatiras of Ngatitimaunu tribe. They are supposed to come from Kawhia. "Dapt. Barneic-ftaa^ufftrftfl J»a_^firjigeiLto the Government to hunt up the murderers. ■— : — -~ Later advices from Waikalo-gay . - rg^"^ It is pretty certain Mr Todd met his death through the survey, and not as was -a*-&w»t-supposed by any personal feeling on the part of the natives. He was warned by a Maori woman who had been for him that the Maoris were coming down, but he only laughed at the idea. She then wanted him to allow her sons to go, but he refused. It is one of her sons who is wounded. The words she used. to Todd were — "There are two guns — one for the prospectors, and one. for the surveyors." Todd was buried with military and masonic honors, being an ensign in the Waikato militia, and a mason. Great excitement prevails, peo-, pie not knowing who may be next. The, murderers consisted of five men, and a woman named Hene. The Kingites are very shy of coming into Alexandra. The half-caste is recovering rapidly. A meeting of the sub-committee of the Auckland Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic has been held for receiving the result of a canvas of Citr West, of those for and against the Permisive Bill, with the result of 590 males and 298 females for, and 31 males and 13 females against, while 182 remain neutral. ProportiorriirraTor-of-the Bill, 2(X±o_l. . An ordination service was held in St. Paul's Church, when three candidates — E. R. Otway, L. C. Brady, and T. Scott — were ordained deacons. Messrs Whitson & Son's brewery, perhaps the largest in New Zealand, was opened on the 30th ult., and a ball took place in the evening. The Bay of Islands coal is becoming more~ap3)rertaTea^^veTT"t[ayrttto Btoamcrs" Auckland and James Patterson, calling on their way to Sydney, taking 200 and 100 tons respectively. The Provincial Government was defeated on the second reading of the Ap- . propriation Act. An amendment to the effect that the estimates were unsatisfactory, was carried by ft majority of four, the votes being 19 for, and 15 against The Government resigned on the' 3rd inst. John M'Donough, a groom in the employ of his Honor the Superintendent, dropped dead from heart disease, at Epsom, on the Ist inst. The James Patterson took 35000zs of gold to Sydney.

There appears to be some curious people among our neighbors on " the other side." The last instance of a somewhat unfriendly attention to a resident is given by one of the Launceston journals, which reports the destruction of the stables, dairy, agricultural implements, harness, &c, of Mr Dean, a dairyman at Prospect Village. The fire was the work, it is stated, of a neighbor with whom Mr Dean had a misunderstanding. After the milch cows had been released from the burning byre, at great risk, some other rather unfriendly person impounded them as they were straying away ,from tht scene of the fire. ;