THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2509, 20 January 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1877.

It seems strange that ere the grave has scarcely closed over the remains of Sir Donald McLean, native " difficulties'' should have arisen in two different districts. "While some people, admirers of the late Native Minister, may attribute these - difficulties to the loss of that influence which Sir Donald undoubtedly exercised, on the other hand occasion will be given to the opponents of the peace policy to rail against it, and to point to these difficulties as evidence that the peace is but a hollow truce. For ourselves we do not regard the differences between the Te Aroha and Ohinemuri natives as a serious matter. The quarrel is one entirely between themselves, and they must, and no doubt will fight it out; not with guns, revolvers and other offensive weapons, of which such a display has been made, but with their tongues, in hot debate —in fact in a korero. There is little to fear from this quarrel, or inter-tribal dispute, as it does not involve any element of hostility to the Pakeha, with whom both tribes are professedly on friendly terms; and after the belligerents have had time to cool down they will probably settle their differences in a friendly way. The aggrieved side will be appeased by some present, and then they will proceed to talk business* which, we are assured, means an adjustment of accounts, one party having received more money for land at. Te Aroha than their interest in the same entitled them to. Trifling, however, as the dispute between these Natives may appear, the attitude of the Kingites at Alexandra presents a much more serious phase. Near to the spotwhere, seme years ago, a surveyor (Mr Todd) was wantonly killed, another surveyor, engaged in the peaceful occupation of laying off a plot of land which had been regularly purchased from the legitimate owner, is compelled under threats to desist. We can easily imagine a surveyor being bounced into leaving off his work, under intimidation from blustering Maories, but the conduct of the civil authorities in letting these Maories go in and out of the European settlements, after " breathing out threatenings and slaughter " we cannot understand. We give the " later particulars " regarding this affair from yesterday's Herald, which, as we understand, were obtained- from the Waikato Times, and both these journals are generally well posted in Native affairs :—

It appears from investigations made by us yesterday that some months ago a wealthy settler named Smith bought 400 acres of land in Pirongia—nearly opposite Alexandra—from Mrs Morgan of this place, for which he paid £600 in cash, got the Crown grant, and, as was thought, the matter was concluded satisfactorily. Mr Smith sent his superintendent, Mr Falconer, to Alexandra to break up the land and lay it down in grass in a thorough manner, and tenders have been called for this work. Ploughs, harrows, seeds.sfcc, have been sent up from Otago, and instructions were given to Mr Falconer to look out for more land adjoining. Mr Falconer could not find the boundaries, and telegraphed to Major Wilson, of Cambridge to send.over a surveyor. Mr Stubbing . and a chain man accordingly started on Tuesday morning to surrey the land. When fairly started, they were surprised to see Hunia, Te Ngakau, Take Waru; and Takerei te Eau, who told them to stop the survey at once, as the King had determined that no Pakeha should occupy the land. Ngakau is known as the accredited agent of Tawhiao, and thinking, therefore, that the warning was not to be neglected, Mr Stubbing and his man left the ground. So for the present, the survey is stopped. When Mr Stubbing satisfied Te Ngakau that the survey was not to be continued, the latter sent a letter to the King, stating that he, the King, need not send a party to turn away the pakeha, as the matter was arranged to his (Ngakau's) satisfaction. The reason given by Ngakau for this action is said to be that the Pirongia lands were promised to be returned to the King. The land is fairly on the European side of the confiscated boundary, within rifle shot of the township of Alexandra. Ngakau then left for Cambridge, to protest against the holding of the Native Lands Court.

If a European were to interfere with a surveyor in the pursuit of Irs profession he would soon find that his own liberty was curtailed ; but when it happens to be a MoQrip and one who significantly points to the scene of a former murder—and refers to the fate oC another surveyor who refused to be frightened away—as a clincher to his arguments, the civil power takes no notice of the act. Not only this, but we read, " Ngakau then left for Cambridge to protest against the holding of the Native Lands Court; " by which we understand that he is free to go his way

wherever he likes, sowing the seeds of disaffection, winning over sympathisers to the King's cause, and generally creating a bad feeling amongst the natives, emboldening them to commit further acts of an aggressive character and set the law at defiance. We trust this state of things will not be tolerated much longer. We are not advocating extreme measures. Sir Donald McLean's pacificatory policy has been often condemned, and now that the influence of his name and policy no longer remains, the natives should be made to understand that they will not be suffered to outrage the law with impunityObstructing surveyors may involve a question of title to be settled by an appeal to the civil courts ; but the utterance of threats of murder, and such like, is an offence that should be dealt with summarily according to the criminal code; and at any rate the threatener should not be allowed full liberty to go through the country defying the law and ts administrators.

Deputations of those interested in the Waio-Karaka mines have lately taken place—in Auckland on Thursday last, when a deputation waited on Mr j Whitaker, and to-day at the Thames, when a deputation waited on the committee appointed by the County Council to see that the arrangements concerning the Big Pump were carried out. The object of each deputation seems to have been the same. The mines around the Big Pump are benefited by its operations, and the mines on the Waio-Karaka are obliged to do their pumping for themselves, besides this they have to contribute to the working of the Big Pump. They naturally argue—and justly too— that if any of what may be termed public money is to be expended in keeping the Big Pump going, some assistance should also be given from the same source, or rather sources, to keep the pumps on the Waio-Karaka going, the stoppage of which has already caused much disaster to the field. What they ask seems to us to be perfectly reasonable, that they should either have part of the gold duty or have the free use of the water of the Thames Water Race as a motive power, so as to carry on pumping operations more cheaply. Mr Whitaker's reply was that the Government had already made an arrangement with the County, but that the terms of such arrangement might be modified if the Council requested it. The committee of the Council are, we are informed, prepared to advise that the request of the Waio-Karaka deputation be taken into favorable consideration at the next meeting of the Council, and that if no gold be found at the deep levels that the money necessary to carry on the Big Pump be diverted to the uses of the Waio-Karaka pump. We say we are glad of this, because the mines which have been benefited by the operations of the Big Pump have shown but little energy in pressing onward with their works and developing the resources of the district, whereas the Waio-Karaka mines have, until they were stopped, been for some time the mainstay of the Thames. What effect the stoppage had on the industry and trade of the place all know, and yet a similar stoppage is threatened again, to be attended, probably, with similar or worse circumstances, unless these mines are assisted in their pumping operations—if such assistance be necessary. Whatever may be done in the matter, the committee appointed to consider the arrangements should insist that the mines around the Big Pump should be vigorously and continuously worked, or if not that the revenue employed should be diverted to assist the Waio-Karaka.

In the New Zealand Gazette of the 11th instant, under warrant of His Excellency the Governor, Edward Fawconer Tizard, Collector of Customs is appointed to issue licenses at the Thames, and to have, exercise and perform within the Provincial district (of Auckland) all the powers, duties, and functions which immediately before the abolition of Provinces were vested in or might be exercised or performed by Provincial Treasurers or Provincial Secretaries, or other public officers of Provinces.

The usual weekly drill of No. 2 H.R.V. took place last night. Present: three officers, four non-commissioned officers and about 50 rank arid file, bbsides 15 of the newly organised band. This band, consisting of fifers and drummers has been steadily, at practice under Bandmaster Kelsall for the last three months, and has under his careful tuition made really good progress. The members have adopted the grey uniform ; the tunic with red facings and white braid, the cap grey, with red braid and white braid, a silver bugle in the front of the cap gives the band a very good appearance, and the whole reflects credit on the tailor, Mr J. Turner of Pollen street. A sample uniform was exhibited last ni»ht, and was generally approved of. It is expected that the uniforms will be ready in about a month. Major Cooper was present at the drill, and explained to the men the regulations to be observed at the district firing. Captain Paul informed the company that owing to the small supply of ammunition in hand he had agreed with Captain Murray, of the T.S.V., to postpone the match with that company— which was to have been fired to-day— until some future occasion.

A case of considerable importance, says the Herald, was tried at the District Court, Hamilton, before Judge Fenton and a jury, on Wednesday, in which Mr Eunciman was plaintiff, and Mr Selby defendant. Defendant had his sheep worried by does ; he "placed poison upon his land, and sent word to his neighbor, Mr Runciman, who, on passing where the poison was laid, allowed his dog to go on Mr Selby's land, where he took the poison and died. It was held that with or without notice the defendant was justified, provided he used no means to entice the plaintiff's dog on the land. Mr F. A. Whitaker, instructed by Mr Hay, appeared for plaintiff', and Mr J. J3. Russell lor the defendant. Judgment was given for the defendant.

Theee were no cases brought on for hearing at the R.M. Court to-day.

There was an error—and an important one—in last night's Star. The Customs Duties collected at the Port of Thames for the day appeared as £98 Ilssd. Unfortunately the day's collection was a poor one, the total only reaching £8 lls sd— just £90 out. The Advertiser, which never copies anything from us, has, strangely enough, fallen into the same error.

The Herald of Friday says :—Yesterday forenoon Mr Ewington, accompanied by Curtin's sister, waited upon the Attorney-General and presented the petition praying for a commutation of Curtin's sentence. The petition was signed by some six hundred names, amongst them being that of one of the Grand Jury. The Attorney-General promised to forward the document to his Excellency fee Governor for his consideration. Mrs Kenny, sister to the condemned man states that he is very contrite, weeps frequently, and regrets very deeply that Shanaghan's life should have been taken.

The Fife Free Press states that a few of the coins which were lately found near Jerusalem, have been secured by Mr John Lornie, F.R.S., Kircaldy. The coins found consisted of shekels and halfshekels of Judea, which are considered the most interesting of all ancient coins. They are silver of the great High Priest, Simon Macabseus, and have the cup of manna on one side, and on the other the budding rod, with the legends in Hebrew. The date ds also in Hebrew—viz., year one, being the first year of the Pontificate of Prince Simon, or 144 years B.C. Notwithstanding their great age, the coins are in fine preservation, both sides being perfectly legible.

Philadelphia, has the reputation of being eminently moral, if not the most religious c,ity in the Union; and she has lately exhibited her piety to the world by the strenuous effort which she made to prevent the opening of the Exhibition on Sunday. In the neighbouring villages Sunday is observed with great solemnity, and there is little mercy shown to the unfortunate wight who is caught in the " overt act of selling greens of a Sunday morning." He may expect to be mulct in a fine of five dollars. The penalty for swearing posted up at some of the railway stations is about the same figure. In Philadelphia, however, laws of this scrt are a dead letter. The side doors of the larger beer shops are all in full swing, and the Sunday consumption of liquor goes on with closed doors here just the same as it does in nine out of every ten public-houses in Sydney. Three-fourths of the theatres produce representations of a flagrantly indecent character, such as would, not be tolerated for a single night in an English-speaking community outside the United States; and the Press, with the exception of the Ledger, comments with approval upon the performance of the Can-Can, Naked Truth, and other pieces of a licentious stamp. The schoolmasters and parsons have their work to do if Young America is to be kept even decently respectable.