CALEDONIAN.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 307, 25 July 1868, Page 6

CALEDONIAN.

July, 18th IS6B. (froiii our own correspondent.) The Amateur Concert and Theatricals, for the benefit of the Westport Hospital, took place last night, at the A_llianee Hotel, the use of which, was kindly granted by Mr Bossard—The scenery was painted by Mr Hooker, the principal decoration was was on the stage, and consisted of a large piece of calico, on which Mr Hooker painted in large letters the words, "In aid of tho Westport Hospital. " The opening chorus was very effectively sung by the company; after which Mr M'Laren sung Glasgow Fair, with much sperit, and at its conclusion an encore was loudly called for. several songs were sung after this, " Pat of Mullingar," by M M'Laren, was well received by the audience. A Duet was very prettily sung by Messrs Butler and M'Laren, and " Simon the Cellarer " created much mirth.

The'second part, was a Negro entertainment and commenced with a chorus by the company, " Let us be gay " which had a cheering effect. MrCato, sung two solos, and was encored after each. Mr M'Laren received thunders of applause for "Poor Old Jeff." The third part a Farce, was well sustained by the company. The performance concluded with the laughable farce of the " Black Barber," in which Mr Cato acted well, aud Mr Robinson sustained his part with credit. The performance on the whole, was excellent, and the singing really good, too much praise cannot be given to Mr M'Laren, and indeed, all the characters were well sustained, Messrs Webb, Moss, Butler and Stewart, enacted their parts with considerable taste. At the opening of the performance Mr M'Laren read an original prologue. Mr Eobert M'Farlane fM.C. Westport Hospital) took the money at the door, (Mr Braithwaite acted as treasurer) and I regret to say that owing to the heavy rain which continued without intermission, on Friday evening, the funds obtained by the performance are not as large as the Amateurs anticipated. None of the German terrace people ventured over, the night was so very wet, and several would not leave their huts. Notwithstanding such obstacles they hope to hand the Hospital about £2o* which shews that their exertions, to sell tickets &c., were unceasing, and the fact of their not being able to hand over more, is only atributtable to .circumstances over which they had no control. Too much credit cannot be given the men on the Caledonian for their response to the appeal for funds in aid of the Hospital, and clearly shews that if they have been fortunate enough to be placed in good circumstances by their own energy and the richness of their ground, they have not forgotten that charity covereth a multitude of sins There is nothing new on the Caledonian as regards mining matters, since my last. Some of the business people are anxiously watching the progress of Davis and party's tunnel, on Giles terrace, as much is expected from the class of gold they should strike. Another party have set in to work south of the Arowaite, where Langrish and party are working. The Caledonian track is in a very unfinished state, the portion leading from Poverty terrace to the Bush Inu is nothing more than the bed of a rivulet, and in wet weather the water is about a foot in depth. This could have been easily avoided by cutting a channel at one side about two feet wide and and in depth which would have carried the water off and left a good track. A portion near the lagoon is not even cleared as yet, although I was informed portions of the road have been already passed by the overseer. However I hope a track will be made of such a class as will suit the growing requirements of this important district, and as an extension, nine days has been granted the contractor, at the expiration of that period, we may hope to have a track completed, on which a pedestrian can proceed without being either in a foot of water or the samedistance in mud.

A novel race has been inistituted in Victoria, and we have no doubt the example thus set, will be followed in other places. Mr Rawdon Q-reene, an old and most successful breeder of " flyers " has been the moving cause. We extract from the " Wagga Wagga Express." That journal says that "on the conclusion of the pastoral meeting there, Mr Rawdon G-reene addressed the Turf Club, and said that a good deal of discussion had taken place lately, both in Great Britain and the Colonies, as to the relative merits of the English horse and the Arab. It was said that the tendency of racing, as at present conducted, was to encourage a breed of horses that could fly along at a great speed for a short distance, but could stand no continuous exertion, and that inducements to produce the kind of horse that they all required for actual work were altogether overlooked. Eor his own nart, he did not want a flyer for half a mile, but rather an animal that could endure hard work for a long distance, and to encourage the breeding of this class it was necessary that they should offer prizes for superiority in a trial of stoutness and speed. To give practical effect to his idea, he would propose that, with the sanction of the Turf Club, a ten-mile race for a prize of 300 sovereigns, should be run at the annual meeting in November next, with a sweepstakes of five sovereigns each added, welterweights ; the second horse to receive £SO, and the third horse to save his stake. He did not wish the race to in any way] interfere with -the usual programme, or to use any of the club funds in carrying it out, but that when the funds were raised, as he had no doubt they could be by subscription, the race should take place under the management of the club. MrM'Kinnon seconded the proposition, which, however, met with some little opposition on the part of two or three gentlemen present; but on its being explained that there was no desire to make the club responsible for the forthcoming of the necessary funds, or to interfere with their regular arrangements, the opposition was not pressed ; and upon Mr Greene's proposal being put to the meeting, it was carried with but two or three dissentients. A subscription list was then sent round, and £IOO towards the proposed stake was quickly obtained in the room ; and from the warmth with which the proposal was taken up, there is no doubt that with a little exertion, the remaining funds necessary to bring the stake up to £3OO can be got together. The Northern Argus, in an article on the supinness of the present Government of Queensland, draws the following uninviting picture of the present state of that Colony:—" Money does not multiply and iucrease in our hands : we can hardly manage to keep a nest egg. Our country remains undeveloped, our merchants do nothing but draw water with sieves ; the dead horse is ever holding them back ; our tradesmen are compelled to give long credits, and to sell without any certainty of payment; our artificers are half unemployed ; and our laborers wander about the land seeking work, and like the Israelitish spies return with 'an evil report.' A debt which no doubt will yet be made heavier, hangs like a millstone round the neck of the country, and ad valorem, our curse and our blight, eats into the core of our prosperity, and keeps us ' beggars all.' Our squatters are in a state of insolvency ; stock of every description commands ruinous prices only; our railways are running at a serious annual loss, while freightage and bad water carriage add to a catalogue which shows, to a partial extent, the sum total to our present difficulties." The New Zealand Herald of July 6th, states : —" We regret to have to record the total destruction by fire, on Tuesday last, of Mr. W. M. Home's Junction Hotel, at Coromandel, together with the general stores and other buildings. The particulars of the fire have not yet reached us, but we are informed that it is supposed to be the work of an incendiary. Two dastardly attempts had also been made to set fire to the Royal Hotel, at Coromandel, but on both occasions the fire had been detected in time to prevent its doing any damage."—A dwelling-house and its contents were destroyed by fire at Newton, on the night of July 9th.

Checkmate. —John and Julia's chess problem, by Amateur John, to move and mate in two moves. — " John moves his arm round Julia's neck : She moves one square, and whispers —, Check.' He, nothing daunted, moves right strait His lips to hers, and calls out —'mate !'

GREAT MEETING- OF THE NATIVES.

CANNIBALISM REVIVED. LETTER EROM THE REBELS. As. everything from the North Island must now be interesting, we republish the following, taken from a Waiujaniti Times Extra of Monday last. . 'Times' Office, Wanganui, Monday, July 20th, 10 a. m. As the " Ahuriri " leaves for Wellington this morning, and, as the "Lady Bird" which arrived from there yesterday brought some important items of intelligence, we publish this short Extra. Our friends '■ down South" are anxious for the latest intelligence, and we are most happy to inform them that although rather important there is nothing exciting. A gentleman—a personal friend—who left Waihi on Saturday evening, reached Wanganui at 7. p. m. yesterday, and reports " all well," but that for want of men to defend the town of Patea, Colonel M'Donnell can make no aggressive movement. On Saturday night Colonel Gorton had the town placarded with the following notice:— VOLUNTEERS EOR THE FRONT. Wanted—One-hundred ablebodied men for the European Contingent now being raised for immediate service. Applications will be received at the Militia office, from ten o'clock a. m. on Monday, the 20th instant, where the conditions of service can be seen. Pay, 5 s per diem, excluding rations; 3s 6d including rations. (Signed) Edward Gorton, Lieut.-Col. Com. Wanganui M. D. Militia office. Wanganui, 18th July, 1868. We earnestly hope that" able-bodied men" will cheerfully respond to the call to-day. GREAT MEETING DE THE WAITOTARA NATIVES. Eor some time past (as we have frequently informed our readers) Hav-hau agents have been traversing the Waitotara districts—in fact the entire country from Patea to Wanganui—trying to induce the different tribes either to join them or remain neutral. The Waitotara natives held several meetings out of which arose a determination to hold one grand and general turn out on Eriday last, July 17, when the assembled tribes would showclearly to both Europeans and Hawhaus the determination to which they had come, and the line of conduct which they would pursue. They invited Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton, and any of the authorities from Wanganui that might wish to attend. Consequently, on Friday morning Colonel Gorton started, accompanied by Mr G. W. Woon, as interpreter, also the Putiki chiefs Hori Kingi, Aperaniko, and four or five othersOn arriving at Perekama, the place •of " gathering " Colonel Gorton and his party were warmly and enthusiastically greeted with the usual friendly salutation—Heerema, Heerema, welcome, welcome, friends, welcome. The more substantial proofs of welcome were ready, it being then about 2.30 p.m. The feast provided eonsisted of pork, pigeons, potatoes, &c, followed by a dessert of lampreys and other delicacies. That important part of the ceremony having been discussed, the leading men assembled at a large runanga, in a new building beautifully finished, especially inside, and capable of accommodating about 200 persons. There were about 120 present, of whom 50 or 60 were able-bodied men, the remainder boys, women, and children. The meeting was opened by Hare Tipene, in a speech expressive of loyalty and welcome. He was followed by the following chiefs and influential natives, each of whom in prose or verse reiterated sentiments of loyalty and Welcome: —Harira, Rehunana, Rehari, Uru, Tamati Kakakaka, Hoani Te Karae, Te Retini, Hamiora Te Atua, Perinona Te Kahu, Tawake. Hori Kingi and Aperaniko reserved their addresses for the wind up. Hori Kingi said that he was glad to hear their expressions of welcome and loyalty to the Pakeha. They had said that they had seen the folly of having fought against the Queen, and now wished to live at peace with their European fellow settlers whom they must look upon as the best promoters of their prosperity. " This," he said, "is my house; this my office wherein to transact business—ye are my. friends and relatives—welcome, welcome. One house of business is at Wellington, I have built another here. The work must be the same.

Haire Tipeno replied- "lam willing. Hani Te Karae said—rather irreverently —" Come, give me the living water. You—Hori Kingi—and Colonel Gorton, are the living water. . It is now light; the Colonel has come and we will know their real sentiments. Hori Kingi said—" Tou are all in my hands, not only you but Taupo, Wanganui, Rangitane and Ngatiapa, (meaning the various tribes). Koiri Te Kara replied—We are your slaves. Hori Kingi wound up by singing— Come let us bo one Let us be valiant for our Queen. And fight for kho good cause &c., &o. Colonel Gorton then addressed them and said that he was much E leased with the hearty welcome they ade given him, and their expre sions of loyalty. He told them the time had come when we must distinctly know our friends from our foes. They had that evening showed that they were true friends, and so long, as they continued to be true and faithful to the Government, and try to promote their own best interests by preserving the peace of the district the Government would respect and esteem them, but the rebels, wherever found must suffer the consequences of their evil works. He was happy to find that they had resolved to live in peace and harmony with the Pakehas, and felt assured that by doing so they would be contented and happy. The meeting was wound up with warm expressions of friendship on both sides, leaving, we believe, Colonel Gorton perfectly satisfied that there is at present a firm determination on the part of the Waitotara natives to preserve peace within their boundaries. CALLING OUT THE MILITIA. From reliable authority we can state that Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton has received positive instructions to call out the Militia for active service in this district, the boundaries of which are thirty miles radius from the Wanganui Court House. It is not, however, his intention to call upon them to perform duty, but merely to order the Ist and 2nd class in town and country to parade for receiving arms, and if they do not come voluntarily forward to ballot for 150 or 200 men from the Ist class in town, to hold themselves in readiness to assemble at certain posts on sound of the bugle. This is a very necessary precautionary measure, in so far as the town of Wanganui is concerned, and we have no doubt but men will cheerfully come forward to receive arms. The old members of the Wanganui Yeomanry cavalry and others meet to-morrow evening to re-establish the Company.

ESCAPE OF THE PRISONERS FROM THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

SEIZURE OP A VESSEL. THE GUARD TIED UP. LANDED AT POVERTY BAT. (From the Neio Zealand Advertiser, July 18.) "We received a telegram from Napier this afternoon to the effect that the Maori prisoners had escaped from the Chathams, and had landed at Poverty Bay. The following is authentic information on the subject: — A letter from Captain Biggs, at Tauranga, Poverty Bay, to Colonel Whitmore. Napier communicated to the Government by telegraph, states that the Chathamlsland prisoners have been landed to the northward of Tauranga, and are all well armed ; they are said to have tied their guards. There were only thirty-one stand of arms belonging to the Government on the Islands, but the resident natives had guns which may have been taken. The friendly natives have received a letter from the rebel head chief, it being put on a stick and stuck in the road near "Waihi. Its contents were to the effect that "he had eaten the white man they had killed. His wife and children had tasted the white man, and it was good. In future all white men would be but food for the beasts of the field and fowls of the air His throat was open; it was hanging and red. "We have tasted the white man, and who knows when we will stop ? Tou know not when the winds die. Death is now my friend. Every white man who crosses here death will claim even as the heavens, so are my words. "Will the next meteor come from the east or south, or from the north or from the west ? Te know not even so —you know not where we will gather the next palm of the white man. I have said,"

FIGHTING BETWEEN THE NGATIAPA AND NGATIRAUKAWA AT MANAWATU.

(From the Wanganui Times?) Extraordinary reports reached town yesterday of " Fighting at Manawatu," and some of the " facts" have been stated with such an appearance of truth as to create some little alarm in the minds of the public. The following is a correct narrative of what occurred ; but for the better understanding of the real cause we may preface it thus. A few weeks ago a Ngatiraukawa chief, named Nepia, leased something like one-half of the recently purchased Manawatu block to Mr John Gotty, and we believe received from him about £250 as the first year's rent. This Nepia had signed the deed of cession to the Crown, and was one of the Ngatiraukawa chiefs who had received £IO,OOO as their share of the purchase-money, of which he received as his own share £675. No doubt, instigated thereto, this same Nepia signed and obtained the signatures of a considerable number of Ngatiraukawas, to a lease of about half the block to Mr Gotty, and received his money. Gotty drove some 1,500 sheep from Wanganui toManawatu and took possession.

On Dr. Featherstone's arrival at Rangitikei a meeting of natives was convened, when he wrote to Nepia and Mr Gotty requesting them to have the sheep removed. No attention was paid to thisletter by Mr Gotty and so Governor Hunia was told to have the sheep driven off, if Mr. Gotty refused to remove them. The Ngatiapa ultimately commenced to drive the sheep off, and were attacked by the Ngatiraukawa. A shindy ensued, and some broken heads were the consequence, but nobody was much hurt. On Sunday morning thirty Ngatiapas on foot, and twelve on horseback crossed the river. A few of them carried tomahawks to cut down the fences of the paddock in which the sheep were penned. On approaching the paddock the Ngatiaraukawa came out, both men and women, and defied the Ngatiapa to dare to advance. The Ngatiapa did advance and then there was another small fight, one or two slight cuts being inflicted on a few of the belligerents. One incident of what can hardly be called a fight is thus recorded:—A Ngatiraukawa rushed at Governor Hunia's son—a mere lad—who had an axe in his hand wherewith to cut down the fence. The lad resisted, and the assailant also received a slight cut on the hand, but took the axe, and another of the Ngatiraukawas ran forward to knock him down. A Ngatiapa instantly sprang forward and said that the first man who dared to touch the lad, he would instantly knock him down: so the assailant withdrew. While this was going on the sheep were driven into an adjoiniug bush, and both parties to the quarrel commenced to fence them in. Then from each side there were violent threats, and on Sunday, evening Governor Hunia sent to say thot he would pitch his tents on the prohibited spot, and both parties commenced to prepare for the coming contest. Thus matters stood when Captain M'Donald left on Sunday night. He returned to the scene fo dispute yesterday, and we shall shortly hear something further on the subject.