Untitled

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1018, 24 April 1869, Page 2

The Superintendent. — His Honor has left Wellington on a visit along the West Coast. Pigeon Match. — A pigeon match will take place this afternoon, at Mr Walker’s, Aramoho. Prize Firing. — The highest score of the Veteran Company, yesterday, was that of Sergt Reid who made 38 points. The Colonial Treasurer. — The Hon. Mr Fitzherbert has arrived in Melbourne from England, and will, in all probability, come on by the s.s. Rangitoto, via Hokitika. Turakina Rifle Volunteers. — His Excellency the Governor has accepted the resignation of the commission held by R. J. Knox, as Lieutenant in this corps. Illicit Distillation. — Sergt. Reid has been successful in detecting an illicit still in the neighbourhood of Turakina. The matter will be fully investigated in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, till which time the particulars are best witheld. Butter — Regarding the Melbourne butter market the Australasian of 10th April reports :— First class lots of potted butter are in great demand, and could be disposed of readily at from 1s 5d to 1s 6d. A few casks of newly-potted sold from 1s 7d upwards. Game. — A proclamation in the Government Gazette notifies that all native game mentioned in the Protection of Animals Act, 1867, and the Protection of Animals Act Amendment Act, 1868, may be hunted, shot, or killed, during the months of May, June, and July in the present year, in the Province of Wellington. Provincial Acts. — The following Acts, passed by the Provincial Council, and reserved by the Superintendent of the Province of Wellington for the signification of the Governor’s pleasure, have been assented to : “The Representation Re-adjustment Act, 1869,” and “The Manawatu Racecourse Act, 1869.” Taranaki. — A private communication from Taranaki received in Nelson and telegraphed from there to Wellington, reports that an orderly arrived at New Plymouth on Monday last who stated that the friendly chief Wiremu Kingi was harbouring and feeding Titoko Waru, who, with his men, was at Mokau.

Boiling Down. — The operations of the first boiling down company in this district have now fairly commenced, and promise, while being a source of profit to the company, to be of advantage to the whole district, not only in affording a present market for the surplus fat stock, but indirectly in raising the value of all kinds of sheep. Te Kooti. — The death of this miscreant is again confirmed. The Napier natives still persist in stating he was shot by Rutene at Mohaka. The impressive burial accorded to some high leader among the rebels, related to have taken place when the Hauhaus rowed the Government whale-boat to sea carrying a dead body to be sunk in deep waters that it might not be seen and recognised, and afterwards firing a volley on their return, seems to give colour to the rumour.

Colonel Whitmore’s Future Plans. — Colonel Whitmore’s plans are said to include the system of head money, at the rate of £10 per head to native allies (supplied with rations) not enlisted in the Armed Constabulary ; and to Constabulary a bonus of £5 per head for all rebels killed except in siege or action. It is also authoratively stated that Taupo is to be constituted as head quarters of the Constabulary, and that radii of roads are to be constructed so as to place the different parts of the North Island in communication with this central camp. The extension of the telegraph is also an important part of the Scheme.

“The Empire is Peace.” — The releasing of the Wellington Militia is not a matter in itself of any great consequence, but it has been made the means of another of those political shams which of late have been the fate of the colony. In the proclamation disbanding the militia these words of the Governor’s occur : “I do hereby proclaim and declare, that in my opinion the danger no longer renders necessary the services of the said militia force in the district, and that the said force shall henceforth cease to be on actual service.” This, of course is a gratuitous assumption but still the very expression of opinion, given on the departure by an English mail, is unusual in official notifications, which, on more important subjects, never vouchsafe a reason at all. The danger, then, is over. It would be hard to convince those who are most interested and anxious for security to believe this.

Prince Alfred. — In the Times of India (one of the leading journals of Calcutta) appears the following paragraph which we confess ourselves unable to understand :— “As the visit of the Queen’s son to India next winter will no doubt be considered a necessary occasion for the display of no little pomp and grandeur, there will be a gain in every direction if public ceremonials are delayed as much as possible till then. No one envies Colonel Blane his office of ‘bear leader’ to our royal scapegrace ; and should he succeed in getting the young gentleman out of the country at the end of his tour with a very different reputation to the one he left behind him in Australia, he will do something for our credit with the natives, and earn the gratitude of Englishmen. Gallantry among the fair, and discriminating inebriety, have been stamped as princely vices ; but personal avarice and a disregard of small obligations are mostly ascribed to men of a very different stamp.”