MURDER AT HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 761, 10 January 1871, Page 2

MURDER AT HOKITIKA.

SUICIDE AT STAFFORD TOWN. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH:) ALARMING- STATE OF AFFAIRS .., .IN WAIKATO. NATIVES DEFYING THE GO- ■•■ ■ > VERNMENT. :dr FEATHERSTONE APPOINTed.; agent - general at ;home. (from our own correspondent.) . i Hokitika, Monday. ',' A shocking murder was committed here oft Saturday night. The man suspected is a colored man, named •Anth'ony Noble. The murderer entered the cottage of a laborer, named Modauniby, where three children were asleep, and violated a girl eight years old, subsequently smashing her skull with a tomahawk. Her throat was also cut and the body was thrown into a paddock. Noble was arrested, his clothes being found to be covered with bloodstains, and there is other evidence against him.

He had also undergone a previous sentence, of three years, for a violent assault upon a woman. Thomas Betts, a butcher, of ITokitika, has committed suicide at Stafford Town.'

The latest item from Wellington is that Dr Featherston returns to England as Agent-General for the Colony.

Tattratstua, Jan. 6

News from Auckland to sth Jan. G-reat excitement in the Waikato. Whitora and party are close to Alexandra, and threaten to burn the town. The Natives defy the Government.

Tapihani is building a pah at Mangamairiri, six miles from Alexandra. Hetit's store has been robbed of all the axes and tomahawks. The settlers and militia are under arms. Colonel Lyon, with 15 constabulary, has arrived at Alexandra,from Hamilton.

' A private letter from Eaglan says than even the friendly Maoris avoid the town latterly ; that ugly rumors come from Aotea and Kawhia. and that Rev. Mr Schanckenburg's life has been threatened if he any more returns to the Aotea Mission Station. The first daily mail starts to-morrow to Tauranga, via the Thames. Waikato.

Telegrams received in Tauranga, on January 4, report that Tapihana, with a number of men, variously stated as forty and sixty, was at Mangamairiri, and that Whitiora; better known as "V/iremu Rumeti, was at Hautura with another party of twenty men, and they intended jointly to attack Alexandra.

Some clays since, it was reported that Tapihana had come to Hautura ■with forty men to protect that place, in case of an expected attack from the Europeans, and as Mangamairiri is •close to ..Hautura, both places on .the '.Kawhia road, it seems probable that a repetition of. the story has caused the uneasiness above mentioned. The ■necessary steps were taken by Colonel Lyon to obtain accurate information, but the rumor of intended attack had not been confirmed.

. ; " Wellington Jan. 6. Dr Featherslone was entertained at a banquetat the Club last night. In his speech be announced his acceptance of the office of Agent-G-eneral for the Colony in England, and his consequent retirement from political life. "He Jeaves for England with bis family in the course of a couple of :monthß.

" How is your wife to-day ?" said a friend to a French gentleman. "Oh mocbe de sem," said he, " she is no better, and I am 'fraid ver little waas. I--feel so unhappy— my mind is so moche unsettle. Ven she die, I shall not be so much dissatisfied."

Gribbens is a neat fellow. He sajs he can't spare time to take a bath ■ besides, it costs money for soap and towels. We asked how he managed ( io keep clean? " Oh," said r he, with 'a'highly inventive smirk, "I sandpaper myself every Christmas,'

WELLINGTON.'! ||| ; fPEOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) . Merry Christmas to you! I kuow my wish- will come to you by letter ralher late, but in spirit I sent it you four daySjßgo, and 1 know you felt all the betted for it. At all events I'll be early enough in wishing you a happy new year.

Christmas has passed here very much the same as other ChristmaSses (is. that spelt correctly?) have done. There was the show of butcher's meat, •poultry, fruit, vegetables, the decorated grocers' shops, the ferns that wither so quickly, and the booksellers' exhibition of seasonable presents, that are always to be seen before the day. At midnight on Saturday there was the cele-' bration of the mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, which of course drew hundreds of people and kept them out of their beds till two or three in the morning. On Sunday we had our decorated churches, choral services, Christmas anthems and sermons And on Boxing Day we had any amount of amusement in great variety There was a fete got up by the combined efforts of the Oddfellows and Foresters, which was held at the top of one of the hills surrounding Wellington, a beautiful spot if there had been only well-regulated balloons to take you there, but the ascent was so steep, and by a road so bad that a stoney desert would have appeared a charming spot at the top of it, if only it was level, so that really the opinion of the place is not impartial. Sundry sports were carried on by the Hundreds who toiled up the road, with au energy that showed they were determined not to have their trouble for nothing. There were besides this fete a cricket match, an excursion to Picton-(which afc least 600 people availed themselves of) and trips about the harbor in the Storm Bird and the Wallabi. On the whole Wellington enjoyed itself well.

. On Tuesday, which was also a holiday, nothing was done beyoud quiet drives and rides into the neighborhood.

Sometime ago I wrote you that Mr was intending to go to England in January. I now understand that he leaves on the 7th of the month. I know that my opinion and yours on the subject of the immigration and public works scheme are opposed, so I shall not trouble you with much of my own about it. The fueling of a large number here is that by hurrying on the presentation on the London market of the loan, Ministers are breaking a pledge, very clearly implied, that the scheme should not be carried into effect whiie the present war wa*s raging in Europe, and while the price of money was raised in consequence. Dr Eeatherstone is expected to arrive to-day by the Eangitoto. JN T o public demonstration to greet him has been arranged. We feel that he left Wellington in its hour of need, to fight its way as best it might, and so his return is scarcely a matter for public rejoicing. Still as an old settler and a man who has held a leading position in the' Colony he gained many friends, and I anticipate that a large crowd—composed equally of private and political friends, and political opponents —will assemble to give him greeting.

The first annual meeting of the Wellington G-as Company took place a few days ago. Its proceedings were uninteresting to non-shareholders. The erection of the works is progressing favorably, and we may expect that the Company will be ready to supply customers in about two months.

The Constitutional Eeforin Association rather " drags " just no .v. It has been casting about for candidates to whom to offer its support. Half overtures have been made to Mr Travers, who has explained to a meeting of the Association his views on certain subjects, but no distinct pledge has been given on either side. Mr J. C. Eichmond has been asked,. but his reply was indefinite, and Mr Gillon. the Press Association Agent, is spoken of —in default of any one else with suitable politics aud qualifications. I understand that as soon as arrangements can be made a public meeting will be called, and Messrs Richmond and Travers will be invited to attend and make addresses.

It is rather amusing to see how any remarks I make to you come back and appear in the columns of the local journal. The " Independent " likes quoting what I say in a chaffing kind of way.

By-the-bye, how does the canvassing for Mr Buckley get on in the Grey Valley district. lioundabout repjrts say that his return is certain. I hope it is, for I.know that he has refused to stand for a Wellington district as he would not disappoint those Grey Valley Voters who have promised him their support. ■ : • We bad a fire in "Willis-street a few evenings ago, when a grocer's stare vAis destroyed. Tlie stock was insured for £3OO. The shop was cleared !hy the firemen, but all I -saw turned out was a few bars of yellovy soap, some empty boxes, and a' dozen or so of crockery plates. " " Poilekeana" has appeared, and liko most well-advertised sensatious, has disappointed not a few. The sale of it has been good. The faults in the pamphlet seem to be those caused -by the hurry in which it was got up. It has been ill naturedly criticised by the " Post," who it is said should be called the " Daily Bail, in consequence of its abusive prociiviiics. The " Independent " noticed it fairly but severely.