Local and District News.

Albertland Gazette, Issue 8, 6 January 1864, Page 4

Local and District News.

We have to state that the remark respectingl "y.o'ung stock" in our last, does not apply to' Messrs. Worker and Judd. - The Wairau Block.—The following gentlemen with, their families have located on this new section, of Alb'ertland, Messrs. Metcalfe, ■ Flower, Huradall, Rowsell, .Summer, and Huhan. , - Neav Arrivals.—Mr. Cutler, Mrs. Cutler, 7 children, Mrs. Barton, 5 children, Mr, East and Mr. T. Mason, have located at Te Whao, (Kakaria,) Mr. W. Bradbury, from Holme, Notts. Departures, Mr. and Mrs. Elliot. IWe (the staff of the A.G.) have to apologize for the imperfect appearance of part of our last issue, owing to a fractured ancle, occasioned by a fall from an horse whilst performing our duty as mail carrier, the day before publication, which incapacitated us from working at press. - Three additional houses have been commenced during December, viz. Messrs. Inger, Prictor and Bradbury. Christmas. —This season so festive at home ■Jias been passed very agreably amorig iig>. We heard of several private social parlies, and saw divers houses decorated wilh evergreens but the most striking reminder of home and its customs, was a party of Yorkshirernen, who visited the township and' sang in Christmas in true Old Euglish.style. Steam at Port Albert.—We are happy to state that Nicholson&<Co's steam sawmill commenced work on Nov. 24. Oil'going up. the river early one morning, we. heard a shrill •whistle, and almost expected to meet a steam-; er, or see a train knocking along,' however it turned but to be the. long expected engine cutting out timber at the rate of 1000 ffc. per id ay'/-! We trust it is "destined to achieve a 'greatsuccess, and that ere long it.will fur-

nish an important item of export,. The firm. is erecting a house and timber yard at the bottom of Florence-street. Fißii. —On Monday evening, Nov. 31, a fire occurred on the premises ofMr E. Blackb'Jrn ahout 3 miles from Port Albert. It appears that; the family,-consisting of Mr .and Mrs Ulackburu and tlieir son, hal retired to rest when the lire broke out, supposed to have arisen from the embers, catching the. "chimney. They escaped safe in person,but were unable to save anything but a box and a bed. The Maoris on tho opposite side of <he river conveyed information to the town, and Mr Cray kindly undertook to collect and convey to them, a quantity of clothing and food promptly contributed by the townfulk. A party of neighbours have since built them a new whare. Wheat.—On .'Friday, Dec. 18, Edger&Co. commenced cutting a beautiful field of wheat on their Co-operative farm. The Advance cleared at Onehunga on Dec. 5, but was detained by adverse win^s in the Manukau for a week, entered the Kaipara harbour without, difficulty, arriving at Port Albert on the 15th, with, the following poods and passengers : IS packages personal effects —Turner; 1 do.—Buck ton; 1 do.—E Marcroft 10 do.—Bailey ; 6 do.—Good fellow; 2 do.— Tibbete; 4 do—Fenwick; 30 do, avid 10 cwt. flour—Gittos; 2 pgs—Hame?; 10 do —Martin 2 do—Thompson; 120 pgs merchandise; 7 do —Me Cale; 2 tons flour and 10 psrs—Marcroft 10 p'gs —Cray; 12 do—Clark; 40 do. and 2 tons flour—Dodc). Passengers, Mr and Mrs Metcalf, Miss Copley, Mrs Dodd, Messrs. Taylor, Goodfellow and A. Brooks. Left here for Paparoa and Wairoa on the 17th. The cutter,- Three Brothers, Capt. Seymour, ran ashore on Hie sandspit at Mangawai on the 21st Nov. She has since been got off without much damage. . ■. The Christian Church.—Our friends will be interested in knowing that the principles of catholic Christianity as distinguished from modern sectarianism, are prevailing in the old country. Dublin is to have a place of worship to cost ,£SOOO, where there is to be no recognition of sectarian differences, and a similar effort is being made at St Ives, Hunts, under the designation of'the " Free Church," There is no doubt that the people are beginning to dfsire a more Christ-like spirit; than" can prevail amidst the rivalry of sects. ' • Mr. Johnson will be.in Auckland'about the 10th hist, and vcill be happy to meet friends by appointment left at Mr Smallfield's. ToyShop, Queen Street.