FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 143, 7 May 1879, Page 2

FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

The grain returns for the past three months have just been published for the Amberly to Bluff Railway. During that period the amount of grain forwarded from the various stations was 08,550 tons. A telegram from Alexandra, dated May 5, states that the Northern Natives are very angry at the reception given to Ministers, and a few Natives around the King prevent his action. It is said that last night Sir George Grey sent to Rewi, who declined to come, saying that lie did not wish to have any private conference, : At Dunedin on Monday at ten o’clock, John Moon, recently convicted of rape on a child, and sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, and to receive two floggings of thirty lashes each, underwent the first portion of his sentence in one of the gaol yards. At the first stroke the prisoner set up a piteous howl, and cried out for mercy throughout the flogging. The operator formerly served in the American army, and was with General Sherman during his celebrated march through Georgia. Moon receives his second floging on June IGth. The EoyalS Commission appointed to enquire into the claims of the Natives in respect of the deed of cession of the Middle Island opened its sitting at Kaiap.ni on Monday, the Court being constituted as follows:—-Mr H. T. Smith (exJudge of the Native Lands Court) and Mr Nairn, of Nelson, Commission ; Mr T. E. Young (Judge of the Native Lands Court), Secretary and Interpreter ; and dir Grey official shorthand writer. Mr Izard, on behalf of the Natives, applied to have the evidence taken down in Maori as well as English, but as the Commissioners had no power to direct that this should bo done, they said they would communicate with the Government on the subject. The Court than adjourned until Wednesday. The township was full of Natives, including several chiefs from the Otago Provincial District. Mr Kemp, of Auckland,, who purchased the land from the Ngaita1m chiefs in 1848, will be the first witness examined.