OTAGO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 319, 27 November 1862, Page 3

OTAGO.

Last night the escort arri-ed in town with 17,4710 z.. 15dwt.:—Dunstan, 9,567 oz. ; Teviot, 14oz. ; Tuapeka, 5,6690 z. ; Waitahuna. 1,0960 z. ; \\ oolshed, 5230 z. The news from the diggings is of a most satisfactory character. The diggers on the Dunstan are generally doing well, while many are making “ piles.” The Nokomai 'gullies are turning out well, and a large number is working in them. We also hear excellent accounts from the Beaumont. 'The Otago gold-fields are turning out splendidly remunerative.— Daily Times Nov. 15. ,

TARANAKI. The ‘ Claud Hamilton 1 arrived from Nelson on Tuesday last, bringing among her passengers the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Domett, on. his way to Auckland. He landed here and was immediately waited upon by the deputation appointed, at the public meeting three weeks ago, with the object of getting as much authentic information as possible from the Government as to the future prospects of Taranaki.

The interview was nob strictly^formal, nor were categorical answers got to the several questions, because Mr. Domett wished to have them in the form of a letter, that he might consult his colleagues upon and give a written answer, which he promises to do by return of the steamer —but he did not leave us without the means of judging what those answers are likely to be. With regard to * compensation’ as it is called here, / restoration’ or ‘ re-establish ment’ as it is called elsewhere, he said, that a part of the money voted by the General Assembly should be distributed immediately and the whole of .it . at the end of the summer, if by that time nothing' was done to reinstate the Province.' * -

As do the still more important point of the luture security of life and pi’operty in this district and the means of attaining it, it was evident from what was said, joined with what Sir George Grey has himself said already several times, that the reason which restrains the government from punishing the Southern natives is the fear of a general rising. The only other thing spoken of, we believe, was a scheme which the Government has in contemplation, which may considerably affect the fortunes of the province if carried out, and that is the introduction of a large number of immigrants from Europe, and their location upon the unoccupied bush lands (of which there are still about 36,000 acres) as a half military settlement—the cost of their bringing out, and of their land, or a part of it, to be repaid by a certain term of military service and by work, on the roads. This scheme at earliest will be rather late for our present troubles, but it may add greatly to our future strength and . e ;urity. So far, we think, we have good reason to be satisfied, but resive our comments till we get the written answer. Capt. Atkinson went with Mr. Domett to give the Government any needed information.—Herald Nov. 22. Native Intelligence. —We hear from the South that Pene Tahuna, the murderer of W. Pote’s son at On ata has lately hung himself. The immediate cause of his doing this is not known ; but he has been suffering a great deal from disease and the loss of a child.

On Wednesday night a native, named Hone Umu hung .himself at Moturoa. The chief reason supposed to have actuated him was jealousy of his wife— Herald Nov. 22.

AUCKLAND. We have papers up to the 19th by the Abeona, whose cargo of cattle from this arrived safely. The friends of the two candidates for the Superintendency are exertiug themselves in favour of their respective men. The small steamer Avon ou its arrival from Canterbury, is to be placed on the Waikato. The real property in the city to be assessed by the town board is valued at £980,000. No crushing macliine at Coromandel WAIKATO. The. great meeting at, Peria, William Thompson’s place, is just over. We have as yet received no details, but the main results, we believe, ai’e these:—lst, That no road shall be made on Maori land. 2nd, That a steamer shall not be allowed on the Waikato. 3rd, That the Waitara questi on (the title of Teira to the land) shall not be investigated until the Governor has pardoned the murderers, and agreed to say nothing more about the plunder taken from this place. 4th, The Governor is to

be invited to come into Waikato ; t. ratify, we suppose, these articles of peace.— ■ Taranaki Herald, No-v. 15. The correspondent of the ‘Southern Cross ’ writes, under date the 2nd Nov. :

ihe great meeting of natives at Pena is nearly over; Many have left y. and others are still there ; I presume, to discuss certain topics which had been brought on the tapis. • My- native informant tells me that Wm. Thompson got up and spoke as follows—--viz., “ We must not allow a steamer to enter Waikato: we must not allow a bridge over Maungatawbiri : neither must we allow the road now making at Raglan to cross the Waitetuua —to which all were unanimous.

It is said that Thompson merely put this forth as a feeler : and it is also said that if Thompson knew how to extricate himself from the position iu which he has placed himself, that he would not hesitate to do so ; but there is the difficulty—-he. cannot well withdraw -from the league,'being, I may say, the first to' put it in motion. The Taranaki question was warmly discussed. Thompson, finding the. majority were opposed to having it settled by arbitration, gave his vote with the • majority, which, I am. sorry to say, doesnot look like a peaceful solution of the Tai*anaki difficulty. I may here mention that some of them said that if the troops were removed from Waitara they, might possibly enter into some indefinite arrangement. "Bishop Sehyyn, who was present, told „ them that the purport of his visit there was to endeavour to get the Taranaki question settled in a just and, peaceful manner; but, I fear, all his good intentions were of no avail. An allusion was made to the letter sent by Sir G. Grey to Matutaera, which appears to have given great offence ; still many of them can see how just the remarks made by his Excellency in that letter are. Anything that appears to them like dictation they are utterly opposed to ; hence I fear that a peaceful solution " of affairs is as far off ss ever—-(probably further.) . W. Kingi, the Taranaki chief opposed to Government, and who is residing at Rangiawhia, says that so soon as the road which is being carried on at Taranaki reaches a block of his land, which intervenes between government land and the Tataraimake block, it will be : opposed. The Maungatatari chief, Te Hori Hori, has sent a letter to the Governor, inviting him up. ■ ''