INTER-PROVINCIAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 26 February 1870, Page 6

INTER-PROVINCIAL.

The intelligence from the Waikato is exceedingly unpleasant and threatening. The native King is gathering his forces, and the powerful Rewi has sent a threatening note to Topia, who is chasing Te Kooti, not to follow the rebel into the Waikato ; and we gather that the colonial forces will be opposed by all the Waikato tribes, should they attempt to go in the territory of the King. These tribes have never assumed such a. threatening attitude since the departure of G-eneral Cameron, and it is to be feared, now that the troops have all left, they will break out into open rebellion. They know that the colonial forces have many of them been disbanded, and that Mr. Brannigan's armed constabulary is a myth, and with this knowledge the natives can readily estimate their own chances of success. The colony is rapidly drifting' into a war with the most powerful of the native tribes, which must eventually entail additional burdens on ,the South Island, if the evil be not averted by some fortunate turn in the tide of affairs. — " Wairarapa Mercury." While in other poi'tions of the colony great progress has been made in the extension of the manufacture of the native flax (phormium tcnax) nothing has until now been done in Westland. But at last Hokitika is about to take a share in the enterprise, and that, too, under very good auspices. Mr. Herman Meyer is making preparations to commence the manufacture and cultivation of flax on a large scale. He has leased a large block of land, has purchased another, and has bought the machinei'y of the G-old Land steamer. He proceeds to Christchurch by this morning's coach, for the purpose of obtaining other machinery, and as he never does anythiug by halves, he intends to visit Otago and Auckland, to be certain that he has all the latest improvements at his command. We heartily wish Mr. Meyer success in his undertaking, for he cannot benefit himself without benefiting us all. His efforts will, we believe, lead not only to a large employment of labour — (at his start he will give work to fifty hands) — but to the springing up of a trade that will do good to Hokitika.—" West Coast Tynes." An Auckland contemporary says that a certain wholesale house in the Colony, finding that the demand for the Nelson tweed was far in excess of the power of Mr. Webley to supply at the limited means at his command, forwarded home a sample of two tweeds, with the order to imitate it to the best of their ability, and send out a large quantity, as it was in great request in New Zealand. The order was completed, and much of the tweed now sold as of Nelson manufacture, is thus obtained and worn by the public in blissful ignorance of the deception. To the initiated who have compared the two kinds of goods, that produced by Mr. Webley shows a decided superiority, and to those persons the article is sold under the name of " imitation Nelson tweed." Sixpenny nobblers are the fashion at the Eight Mile and Maori Grully, in the Grrey district. — " West Coast Times." Mr. Webley, of Nelson, has received from the G-overnment an order to manufacture 2000 yards of G-rey tweed for the uniforms of the Armed Constabulary. — " West Coast Times." It was reported in town yesterday that a bailiff, who went to make a seizure for debt of some horses at Waiiti, had been prevented from performing his duty by the abstraction from his pocket, whilst asleep, of the distress warrant he had taken out with him. We refrain from mentioning names, till the case has been brought before the Civil authorities. — "West Coast Times." According to the " Wairarapa Mercury," the " flour and sugar policy " is being revived under Mr. M'Lean. It affirms that the Native Minister " disti'ibutes orders, such as the following, right and left amongst the Maoris, varying the item to suit the requirements of each recipient of his bounty : — ' Messrs. T. and W. — Grive SOOlbs. of flour, 1501bs. sugar, pair moleskin trousers, pair boots, two pair blankets, and a blue shirt. — Donald M'Lean.' " A late number of the "Hawke's Bay Herald" gives the following: — " On a recent date, a man named John M'lnnes left Jew's accommodation house at Pohni for Mohaka, to obtain a horse for the purpose of carrying some rope to the Mohaka ferry. Mr. Ebberly, a line man, informed him it was useless to proceed, as he could not cross the river with his horse. Ebberly, it seems, had crossed over himself by means of a telegraph wire stretched across — no mean performance, considering that the span is about 70 yards. M'lnnes, on reaching the ferry, cooeyed three times, and was informed by the ferryman's wife that he could not cross, and had better go back to Titiokura. No reply was received, and it was thought he had gone back. Next morning, however, his horse was found tied to the wire which is stretched across the river. It is surmised that he used the horse for the purpose of getting on to the wire, and when partly over, lost his hold, and fell into the river. The special correspondent of the " Southern Cross " states that during the vice-regal visit to the Thames, the

Mnot'is who were presented to his Excellency brought cards of the newest fashion. It was funny to see one of the natives, who presented his card as though he felt vastly important in so doing, but whose whole dress for the occasion consisted of a Crimean shirt and canvas trousers, worn to a fringe at the bottom of each leg. But that native, nevertheless, got through the presentation by no moans badly ; and he beamed with delight at the hand-shake of the G-overnor, and his Excellency's greeting. The following report of the Inspector of Weights and Measures has been furnished to the Council. He has during his tour stamped 1060 weighing machines, counter do, scales, steelyards, spring balances, and measures ; and has made thirty-three seizures and prosecutions. He has not detected any dealer in using light or unjust weights in any part of the County knowingly, and he believes that the wholesale and retail dealers of Westland will bear favourable comparison with any dealers in the South Seas. The fear of expense, and the Inspector's sudden and uncertain visits, act as a check on the dishonest dealer. — " West Coast Times."