DESTRUCTIVE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1083, 3 June 1879, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.

THREE SHIPS SUNK. LONDON, May 29. A naval engagement has taken place off the poit of Inique between two wooden Chilian war-shipa and the Peruvian ironclad Independencia. All three ships were sunk. Prince Lobanoff will be appointed Russian Ambassador of the Court of St, James. /

EPSOM SUMMER MEETING. I LONDON, May 29. Derby. Sir Berrys ... * 1 Palm.bearer ... .* , M ... 2 Viscount ... ... '.i. 3 ADJOURNMENT OF WOOL | SALES. ' LONDON, May 29. The wool sales have been adjourned for the Whitsuntide holidays. CALCUTTA, May 30: # The principal portion of the British troops will leave Jellalabad immediately. \ The ratification of the treaty of peace with Yakoob Khan was completed to-day. SIR G. WOLSELEY LEAVES FOR SOUTH AFRICA. LONDON, jJMaj 30. Sir Garnet Wolseley left London to-day, to assume the command at Natal. EPSpM SUMMER MEETING. LONDON, May 30. The Oaks. Wheel of Fortune ... ... 1 Coromandel ... 2 Adventure ... ... ... 3 ERUPTION OF MOUNT ETNA. NAPLES, May 30. Mount Etna is in active eruption. THE ZULU WAR. LONDON, May 30. The Zulus, in strong force, have crossed the Tugela River into Natal, breaking through the British outposts on the line of defence between Fort Williamson and Rorke's Drift. The Zulus committed great havoc in the settled country, killing many of the Natal natives, and capturing large herds of cattle. The British forces are musterihg to repel the invaders. Great consternation prevails at Greytowe, Maritzburg, and other centres of settlement. The British Government are hastening the departure of reinforcements for the Capo.

A VSTRALIANTELEGRAMS, [reuter's special cablegrams.] INTER-COLONIAL BOATRACE. SYDNEY, May 31. The Inter-colonial Boat-race between New South Walas and Victoria took place to-day. New South Wales won. MELBOURNE, May 30. The Woiberg enquiry has commenced and been adjourned. Peace was bailed out in securities of £IOOO. Lady Normanby is progressing favorably. SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. TpBESS AGENCY.] AUCKLAND, last night. Reports from Kawhia state that Tawhiao and a number of'Kingites are forming a new special settlement there.

Rewi has been visiting publid institutions and manufactories all day, apparently much gratified. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce today, Mr Firth, chairman, congratulated Auckland on the soundness of its business, while a general depression prevailed down South. Referring to the native difficulty he siid that up tq a recent date it had seriously affected the extension of agriculture by limiting the area of good land, and thus enhancing its value to a point beyond which profitable farming was possible. If in place of dancing attendance on Tawhio with proposals to make him a real king oui politicians would give natives open Conrts and markets for their lands the peaceful and permanent settlement of thft native difficulty would eventually be secured. - The case against Robert Graham occupied all day. Mr Robert Graham was found guilty, and fined <£s and costs, in all, £7s* TAURANGA, Monday.

It is rumored that Major Roberta is daily expected to be called to the field forces in Taranaki, also nearly every member of the local constabulary will shortly be despatched to New Plymovth., NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. The natives have resumed ploughing Courtneys farm yesterday. The Hinemoa still at anchor. The Governor is out shooting'. Colonel Whitmore visited Oakura and Okato yesterday.

Ministers proceeded in a special tra.n to Inglewood.

Volunteer companies are rapidly i forming, fifty-fire ' names were [ received at Inglewood, and seventy-five at Waitara. and forty at New Plymouth. Government will accept short services without uniforms. A crowded meeting was held this morning, the Mayor presided. It was resolved that the meeting adopt resolution passed at the meeting of Justices and others on Saturday presented to Government by a'deputation as an expression of the general feeling of the community, and trusts that while firmly asserting supremacy of law the Government may succeed in averting the calamity of another war on this coast. Therefore, whilst deprecating any measure which would be taken as a challange to fight, it desires to press upon the

Government the duty of imraedi. ately putting the whole of the threatened district in a most complete state-of defence, and of stationing and maintaining in the most suitable position a serviciablo force sufficient ,to dhow the disaffected natives that their own settlements can be at once destroyed, if they pommitacts of violence." THE RAILWAY OBSTRUCTION. NAPIER, Saturday. The Maori Chief Hirakatuhia, who obstructed the railway line, was charged at the Police Court with the offence. Inspector Scully said he had received instructions from the Government to withdraw the information, as there wero extenuating circumstances. The R.M. s&id the summons was withdrawn because it appeared that in the morning the prisoner had been ejected from the j railway carriage with undue force I for smoking, and had then allowed his temper to get the better of him. He had, however, informed the station master at Kopua of his .intention to obstruct the line, and he no doubt thought he had the right to prevent trains running over his land. Ho had, however, rendered himself liable to penal servitude for life, and it was to be hoped that this would be a warning to him. NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. THE GOVERNOR AND TFIE PREMIER AT TARANAKI. THE ARRIVAL. The Hinemoa,fr6m Wellington, arrived in the roadstead at 11 o'clock this morning. She had on board His Excellency the Governor, Sir Geo. Grey, Colonel Whitmore, Hon. H. Lytclton, Captain St. John, Mr Duncan, Mr Seymour George, M.H.R., and Mr W. Mitchell, private secretary to the Premier. The Hinemoa had a very roagh passage, she being hove-to for a considerable time. On her coming to an anchorage, a boat, containing his Worship the Mayor, Major Stapp, Mr P. A. Carrington, Mr T. Kelly, and Judge Shaw went off to her. There was a large assemblage on the beach, amongst whom we noticed Major Atkinson, Colonel Trimble, and other gentlemen; Twenty-five of the Armed Constabulary, under the command of Captain Goring, formed a guard of honor ; and, upon His Excellency landing on the beach, the Mayor called for three cheers, which ' were heartily' res ponded to by the crowd of spectators. The party then drove away. His Excellency and Col. Whitmore are guests of Mr J. S. Caverhill, and.the Premier and his private secretary are the guests of Mr A. Standish. DEPUTATION FROM SETTLERS. A meeting.of the settlers was held this afternoon in the Borough Council Chambers, when it was decided to wait on the Premier and Col. Whitmore, and lay before them a resolution to the effect that they hope the Government will not take stepstp suppress the natives witho"t first protecting the 1 district with a large force. A deputation, consisting of the Justices of the Pence, the members of Assembly, and principal settlers in the out-distriefcs, waited upon the Premier and Colonel Whitmore. Major Atkinson having submitted the resolution, they proceeded to state the anxiety that existed amongst the settlers with reference to the aggressive attitude taken by the natives. The deputation then proceeded to state that they had upod the Government to know whether the Ministry were prepared to give absolute assurance of protection, and would inform them that -they might remain at their homes with sofety. Sir G. Grey replied that the Government would do everything in its power to protect the out. settlements when there was danger. He thought it 'would be better if sonfe of the' leading settlers would meet him, so that they might give him information respecting their several districts, as to the number of settlers in each, and what means of protection they had in case of an outbreak.

Major Atkinson said the settlers were always ready to give all information in their power to the Government,

Sir G. Grey said that «vas the sole purpose of his visiting them. Major Atkinson said he would not like to be one of a private deputation. Sir G. (irey replied that there were other gentlemen who were equally cognizant of the state of the coHntrv.

Several of the settlers also spoke.

In reply to the deputation, Sir G. Grey said the Government would be in a position to protect them and their interests when required, and would notify to them if it was advisable to quit their homesteads. After the deputation had departed, Sir G. Grey and Col Whituiore had a long discussion with a number of the settlers as to the population and condition of the various districts in which they resided, and the state of defence.

A public meeting of the settlers has been called for Monday next, at 11 o'closk.

It is expected that the party will remain here till Tuesday next, and then leave for * nckland.

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday.

At the usual meeting of theSelwyn County Council to-day, a number of grants were made for planting reserves and other works which will employ men. The sum of £5,500 was allocated for further extension of the Malvern water-race.