LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

West Coast Times, Issue 591, 16 August 1867, Page 6

LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

' THE THAMES GOLDFIELD,

FURTHER PARTICULARS

REPORTED MURDER OF FOUR

EUROPEANS.

FIEE AT NAPIER,

By the arrival of the s.s. Taranaki last night we (" Wellington Indepent," Aug. 3)liave later news from Auckland, and Tauranga.

Paul Tubaere, native of the Provincial Executive, l'ecently returned from a visit to the Waikato. Paul did not attempt to open negotiations with the King party. Mr Firth and Mr C. O. Davis had left Auckland for Mataniata, to attend the native meeting which is to be held at Pevia

The '-Southern Cross" states that active steps have been taken to open up the Thames District for gold digging. Access can now be had to the Kauaeranga land, but as arrangements have not been completed with natives, it would, says the " Cross," be useless for Europeans to go down in the meantime. Mr Mackay left town on Tuesday morning with Taipari for Kauaeranga, to made arrangements to open up the district. Should he consider it necessary, he willengage an experienced number or miners to prospect on the part of the Government. The " Cross ' ! thinks it highly probable that a payable goldfield has been discovered. A considerable number of persons had started from Auckland for Kauaeranga in open boats. It was feared the proceedings of thoso people might cause a collision with the natives. The Auckland people were rather excited, as at a public meeting some of the speakers were foxbrushing the place and the Maoris at once. The " Herald" states that the washing of two loads dirt produced three ponnyweights. The "Herald" of the 29th ult. says that a native letter had been received by a gentleman in Auckland, stating that when the s.s. Taranaki left Tauranga it was there reported that a party of nino, composed of five European and four natives, while on their way from Napier to Taupo with cattle, had been intercepted and murdered by a band of Hau Haus, at a spot near the end of the Tarawera and the commencement of the Uriwera country, on the Kangaroa plains.

We ("Wellington Independent") think this story very doubtful because the later Tauranga papers, to the 27th ult., say nothing about it. Mr J ohn Kerr is a candidate for election to the seat in the House of Representatives for the Pensioner Settlements, vacant by the resignation of Colonel De Quincey. A destructive fire took place in Napier on the morning of the 21st ult., by which the Albion Hotel, and three other buildings were totally destroyed.