SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1081, 29 May 1879, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

I [I'RESS AGE2KSY.] AUCKLAND, last nig-ht. Mr Sheehan goes to Waikato again to-morrow to bring Rewi down to meet the GovernorThe Mercer bull case occupied the JLJistricfc Court all day, and was adjourned, THAMES - WAIKATO RAILWAY GRAHAMSTOWN, last night. The ' Advertiser ' regrets hearing that, m consequence of heavy claims for compensation^ having been sent to the Government, and the many demands upon an almost exhausted

Public Works Exchequer, the sesond and third contracts for the Tba.-nes-Waikato Railway sire not likely fco be called for at present, and blames certain persons for persuading the Government to commence the line at the Goods Wharf instead of m Mary Stre&t, which would enable the line to have been mado as far as Puriri by this tidie. [The proper course, as we have before suggested, is for the Government to leave the Thames end of the line alone, arid commence work vigorously at the Waikato end — Ed. W.T.]' ' ' the Natives take possession of a farm. NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. Further particulars are at, hand relative to the natives at Qakura. it appears that a party of natives have taken possession of Mr Courtenay's property at Oakura. Mr Caverbill, Mr Shand,, and' Mr W.. Oarriugbon lefb town this morning, and oq reaching" Oourlenay's place saw a party of seven or eight Maoris ploughing with a bullock-team. They had come last night. Te W«ka, a nephew of Parira Kingi, and Tukito were m command, and tney stated to Mr Shand that they were acting under orders from Te Whiti to go and occupy all confiscated land, as the Europeans were now their slaves. Te Waka. who was quivering with excitement, was evidently suffering from a fit of faiiticism, and said Mr Shand knew that the natives were his lords. To which Mv Shand replied that he knew it 'to be false. He was told that the natives iutended to occupy all the confiscated land m Waitara and other places. " Te Waka afterwards apologised for being excited, and said he hoped there would be no ill-feeling between them A meeting 6t gentlemen was held today. Mr Kel'.y telegraphel to the Premier and Native Minister, re- )- orting the facts as being very serious, and that prompt action was necessary to guard ag-aingt their becoming more so. A settler who arrived m town this morning states, that the natives have warned him to leave his place, The 'HoraldV Oakura correspondent telegraphs thin eveniug that the chief Poukupa, informed Mr William Bayley, who is living at Stoney River, that the natives were coming to-morrow to plough up part of his land, and that of others m the district. The settlers are m considerable anxiety, and think the Government should send reinforcements. NAPIER, Wednesday. InfoTmation has Been received m town that the natives of country districts, acting under instructions from Te Whiti, intend to stop the train between Waipawa. and Kopua, where it. runs through native land. The nature of the proposed stoppage is, not known to the friendly naliyes, who have given the information, but it will probably take the form of pulling up the rails. Mr Miller, railway manager, has been apprised of the fact, and a body of police, went up the line this evening. WELLINGTON, Monday. The ''Post' circulates a rumour that a Northern journalist is about to be appointed a Judge of the Native Lands Court, and that a certain M.H.R., from the same district, will probably join the Ministry. It is expected, m consequence of Mr Sheehan's illness from quinsey, he will not be able to come to Wellington for some time. Bandsman Bannister won the 'Evening Post ' Challenge Cup, with a score of 50 out/ of a possible 60, at 400, 500, and 600 yards. FIELDING, Wednesday. The following circular has been posted at the sawmills, Manawatu, 2fch May, 1879 : — ln consequence of the slackness of the timber trade and the commercial depression q-enerally, sawmill proprietors and others of the Manawatu here found it necessary to very materially reduce the price of timber, m order to successfully roaist the importation of timber from abroad. With this object m view, they have found it necessary to temporarily reduce the rate of wages to the following 1 rates, coming into operation on the Ist day of June^next :— Sawkeepers, per day of 8 hoars, 10s; benchmen, 10s; tailmen, 8s ; vertical men, 6s to 7s ; engine drivers, 8s ; bush hands, 6s to 7s; builock drivers, m winter, 9s ; m sojnmer, 8s; horse drivers, 6a 6d to 7s ; ordinary hands about mill, truckloaders, -and others, 6s; boys, 4s to ss. The above circular fixes the wages at least 20 per cent, below the present rates. This resirlt is supposed to be caused by the recant alteration of tariff taking 2s per 100 feet off imported timber.