General Intelligence.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 91, 6 April 1876, Page 3

General Intelligence.

— . # Mr Wm. Daniel, of the Oreti, has disposed of his well-known hotel — the Royal Mail — to Mr Purdue, who recently 'filled the- post of sergeant of police in Invercargill. . All the stinks iti the World, says a late number ot the .'New Zealand Times,' seemed to have concentrated themselves into one complicated smell which pervaded thelower parts of Wellington tile other night. On Mr Alexander Brown's farm, Lower Shotover, the ' Cromwell Argus ' says, a crop of potatoes has yielded at the rate of 25 tons per acre. The ground in question is a portion of a large point in the course of the river which contains a deep deposit of alluvial soil. • In Christchurch, the parents of a boy placed him upon the top of a load of shingle, and by some means he fell off, when the . dray wheel passed over his head, killing him instantaneously. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

Moonlight fishing excursions are the latest novelties at Christchurch and other places up north. A'-crusty bachelor is of opinion that there will be very few ofthe finny tribe caught, and thafc the word « flirting *"* should, in honesty be substituted for " fishing." Perhaps he is right.

Referring to the hop-picking on Mr W. Wilson's plantation, Canterbury, the ' Press ' says : — The hops, we may say, are of splendid quality, and about 25 cwt is the produce of the acre. The experiment made by Mr Wilson proves incontestably that we in Canterbury can grow hops equal in quality to- those produced elsewhere, and no doubt now that has been ascertained, the industry will be more largely engaged in. The ' Mount Ida Chronicle ' regret to learn that the Rev. H. Flamank, of Hyde, has had his newly-saved crop entirely destroyed by fire. Mr Flamank's loss was unfortunately not confined to the stacks, but also extended to his chaff-cutting machine and a valuable thrashing machine, which had never even been fitted up. The loss, we fear, will exceed £500, while the means to meet it are necessarily limited by the hard work needed * the first year to fence in the land, build a house, and put on a few stock. Mr Flamank, we have reason to know, was fairly round the early difficulties he had counted upon having to face. He will now.be thrown back in his work fully three years. The fire arose from that* unfortunate attraction between matches and, children which cannot be obviated by the greatest care.

Some of our goldfields contemporaries complain bitterly of the perfunctory manner in. which Mr Haughton has carried out his examination ofthe goldfields, with the view, as is supposed, of their management being taken over by the General Government. At Cromwell, for instance, the Under-Secretary arrived in the evening", and to the surprise of all, was off early next morning, without having made the slightest examination or enquiry. The same thing appears to have occurred not only in other districts in Otago but also in the other Provinces. The ' Grey River Argus' says: — a With all respect for the genial Under-Secretary for goldfields, we cannot but ask the Govern--ment what in ths wbrld was the ''use of sending him down here it all, unless for a purpose bf some utility ? If Mr Haughton's tour was of a mere holiday character, why was it n'bt so stated, and not telegraphed from Wellington and commented upon by all the newspapers in the .Colony as being of a most important official character bearing upon the impending transference of the administration of goldfields Irom the Provincial Governments to the General. Government ? We have no knowledge of Mr. Haughton's perquisitions in Otago. We hear that he has hod pleasant trips up-country, has shunted inconvenient deputations, and after bding* only away from his, office a month he presents himself at Grey mouth. For. what? Heaven only knows, and Heaven only can know what possible information the Under-Secretary for Goldfields could obtain in the, twenty •- four hours, "and without visiting the goldfields at all. Such a perfunctory, inspection as that, carried on by' Mr Haugnton.is a disgrace to tbe Govern--ment. It is something monstrous that just on the eve bf a change in ihe administration of the goldfields, the officer, appointed to -give Triforhiatibn to the Government should scamper across aiid along the country without doing that which he ought to do. . Sb far as we can learn, the wtirthy TJh3er-Secreta v 'ry has simply had a pleasure trip, during which, however, he would no doubt pick up some information, as he always does. But that is not what was expected, and if the Government hope to approach the great question of goldfields administration next session with any sort of .preparedness, they, must have. a lar more complete and leisurely inspection of the goldfields than that pretended "'to' be made by the UnderSecretary for the Gojdfieids." ' This is but a slight foretaste of Gerferal ' Government administration. What does .the Under-Secretary care for all" such complaints? He and his chief are beyond theirreach. . Tt -would" -be expensive and: inconvenient to send deputar tions to Wellington, , and if they were sent, the result would not' likely prove satisfactory.

A 430z.~ nugget has been found at Norfolk rush, "Victoria.

. The Bazaar in aid of the funds o Knox church, Dunedin, which "was held in the University Hall during last week realised the sum of L 2,253 17s 7d. The New South Wales Government have consented to give pound for pound subscribed up to LIOOO for sending a rifle team to Wimbledon and Philadelphia. ' . Great bush fires are raging in the vicinity of the City of Wellington. Many families have been burnt out, and forced to come into town. Numbers of ..homesteads, farm stock, and crops have been destroyed. A Wellington telegram says :— An amending Bankruptcy Bill will be introduced next session, but it will only deal with matters of detail, which experience shows requires amendment. The principle of the present Act will not be interfered with. We learn from the ' Taranaki Herald' that the State Prison will be near Maturoa. Recently his Honor Mr Garrington received a telegram to the effect that the plans for the prison was just ready, and that the Hon. C. Bowen would shortly pay a visit to the Province. The ' Marlborough Press' states that Mr Woodgate has made the discovery bf a mo'a's egg with a young* bird inside. The egg when found was stated to be in a perfect condition, but it appeared as if a fire had passed over it, and in attempting its removal it was broken into several .pieces. The immature liird is in a good state of preservation. . The ship destined for the Bluff, which was to leave at the end of January, is the Pomona. She hails from Clyde, and we (' Southland News') may hope to look for a superior class of immigrants by her. The Pomona, according to the Glasgow papers, is under contract only to remain 48 hours at the Bluff to land her 164: passengers. She will then proceed to Canterbury.

The following tenders were received for No. 3 Contract of the Winton and Kingston Railway : — Accepted : J. B. Blai-, Dunedin,- L 13,679. Declined: J. M'Leod, Switzers, informal ; Proctor and Whitaker, Invercargill, L 16,95 8; John Henderson, Wellington, L/ 16,174; Millar, Murray, and Walker, Invercargill, L 17,674 ; H. L. Mathew Bennett and Sons, Invercargill, L 20,390.

The Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne ' Argus' writes : — " Mr H. H. Hall leaves Sydney to-day to return to San Francisco. He has, in fact, been recalled by his employers, not from any dissatisfaction with him, but because the Government have intimated pretty plainly that they will nob be friendly with him. Messrs Gilchrist, Watt, and Co. are to be agents for the contractors, ancl they will find less difficulty in diplomatising with the Government." At the conclusion of the civil business of the Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, His Worship Mr Mansford stated, in reply to an application on the part of Mr Joyce for professional costs, that he had consulted with Mr Bathgate on the subject of such costs, and they had decided to fix a scale as follows for sums sued for : — Under L 5, nothing ; from L 5 to LlO, the Magistrate to be applied to ; LlO to L2O, one guinea; L2O to LSO, two guineas;- LSO to LIOO, three*, guineas. His Worship thought this arrangement would be fair to air parties' concerned, and would obviate much inconvenience and misunderstanding.-—' Daily Times.'

..On Sabbath-observing poultry the Mbrtlake (Victoria) Despatch has the ■following': — " We hear of some singular'freaks b'cciiring in the animal world at times, but one that has been fold us during the. present week, and that we are fully persuaded is true, surely caps . the lot. A clergyfhan in the district owned a number of fowls, including about a Scl-ren hen's, which were. famous layers, and not only were they very good in this -respect, but a most unaccountable characteristic was discovered in regard to the* period's at which. they ( laid. As a rale laying hens will miss a day- now and p.gain and no e&g will be forthcoming, and it is in the day. which th£se birds choose for their interregnum that -"thG. phenomenon consists. Not one hen of the dozen ever contributed an egg'oh.Sthday. , The friends of the ■smihister, finding -the -pecularity but, for sorhe time' took a special interest in the Sunday, doings, of his fowls, and we are •assured , the hens . rigidly observed "'the 'day by not laying." The following is the text of the 'hmenllecL. land, , property, and inconie tax 'resolutions, as "submitted . to the Victorian Legislative As*s'efhbly by the Government :—" For and: in respect of all lands, exclusive of buildings, for every 20s of the annual value. tli2.reof above the annual value of £80 and below the annual value of £200, the snua of 1 s, and for every 20s above the annual value of £200, the sum. of Ts 6d.. Por and in respect of tho annual profits or gains -arising and accruing *.*to-*any;per*-* 'son frora any kind of property, whatever in! Victoria, not otherwise taxed herein, Or from" V any* dividends, . interest • ' of money, annuities, allowances, or stipends, "or -from- any- profession, -trade, or vocation respectively derived or cxciv cised from or in Victoria, or from any source of inconie arising elsewhere than in Victoria and received iri Victoria durin°* any year, for every. 20s ofthe annual value or amount thereof above the sura of LSOO of ■ income derived from all sources, the sum of 6d."

~ ~ — « .■'... .' 'A .'". : A good many men/have left Lyttelton in various vessels to proceed to the Palmer diggings. The late favorable accounts from there have had a 'great effect on many. . The ' Mercury ' .(flaw lces Bay), says : —It is reported that Messrs Hunter, of Porangjihau, have "imported tlir.'e bulls from the South American -pi'airies for the improvement of their herd of cattle. This strikes us as a novel method bf obtaining* a pure strain, but, .may be, the bulls have a pedigree dating from the Ihca'S; Mr F. G. Odell, at present teacher nt Hyde, has been appointed master ofthe Main District School at Wairuna, in 'he room of Mr Clark, who retires from the service. Miss C. W. Christie, at present teacher in the Maungatua School, has been appointed schoolmistress ol the Industrial School. Mr R. Darling, Avho was the first teacher to take charge of the St. Bathans School, has been again appointed to the same position in the room of Mrs Yorston, who retires from the service. The following are late Fiji items :— Fiji-grown coffee is coming into general use. It is described as preserving an aroma almost, if not quite, equal to that grown in the East. : — The abuse of authority on the part of the native police is much complained of — The heat on several days lately has been 93 Fab. in the shade. x The Levukians think this is too much of a good thing,— The Ordinance prohibiting the supply of spirituous liquors to Polynesians is being rigidly enforced. . Several publicans have recently been convicted and fined under the provisions of this Ordinance.

, A telegram from Charleville, via Brisbane, says : — The 'country is in a fearful state from want of water and gras?, particularly to the southward of Charleville, and south-west of Cunnanmulla. . The accounts are di'stressirrg from. Cooper's. Creek, Paroo, Bultoo, and Wilson River. The gravelling stock which started towards the border are returning. All the back water is down, and the Warrego, for a. distance of 150 miles, is dried up. Fifty thousand cattle are now on the frontage. The thermometer has stood at 11U in the shade for the last three weeks.

A member of the Victorian Assembly has given notice of motion to the following' effect : — " To call the attention of the Honorable the Premier to the recent purchase by the Imperial Government of the Khedive's shares in the Suez Canal ; ancl to ask if it is the intention of the Government to. submit a resolution to this House, expressing its approbation of such purchase, in view of tho many advantages which will accrue to the Eastern and Colonial possessions of Her Majesty by such purchase."

. Four young men were charged with assaulting Mr and Mrs Price, ih Newton, on Saturday night. Constable Gamble deposed that towards midnight he saw a crowd in Newton, in which were the prisoners and the Prices, Most of them, including complainant, were undir the influence of liquor. He told them. to go home, as they were creating a disturbance by dancing and banjoplaying. Next morning* Price came and laid the charge. Mrs Price's evidence set out that she ancl her husband had been shopping,, and. only met, but were not with, the prisoners. She deposed to prisoners, J. M'llmbyle and D. ' M t Tlmoyle,lii*st assaulting her husband, and then robbing her of her money and parcels., When she attempted to scream she was gagged and 'struck violently on the head. She was then grossly insisted by one, and dragged across the road to a green patch nearj where David at tempted a criminal assault.. She" struggled with all her might and tore the prisoner's facj, --when he. kicked hftr in the mouth, cutting her lip and filling her mouth with blood; He also threatened to choke her if she screamed, and after further ill-treatment she .became insensible. Donaldson and Lodge, two other prisdneis, detainee! her htisbhriS : while the others ; were . assaulting her. When "she 'pame to "she was. lying ih.the middle Of the road. She is still suffering from lier injuries., In concluding her evidence Mrs Price said the men who attacked her were quite strangers. She had never, spoken .to them previously. She was'quite sober. \ She got up from the road? ri'hd; managed -'to .get to a cottage, but was tbo exhausted to tell : her story. Mr Joy, counsel [ for the defence, cross-examined lier. She "said the constable had made a mistake in saying- she : ' was /under the -influence of liquor." "She said she had only taken a glass of ale "and half a glass of brandy that evening. , When she came to 'her*, senses' it was daybreak; ; Her husband' reported the matter .to the police. Alexander 'Young, medical prac'titipner, deposed, to th.c nature of, .the injuries, iri-" fiicted upon the complainant,. Her lip was* 'cut,* and one of 'fee "'-'front teeth knocked out. There was a. wound, on her nose, and several bruises on her legs and other .pa'rts; of :he*r body. She, •had _ evidently, been ..Jrpiighly„_teea'ted_.. . Benjamin T p'Hara, „!c.Qrroborated. the. statement of the c'6nstable : — th'atf he saw' Mr and Mrs Price dancing along the^ "road,* 'apparently r the worse for liquor; * Price gave evidence to the . effect, that when his wife screamed he 'tried to go tp:h'e'r assistance,, wben P. ( ;,M'llmoyle. knocked him dow-n, and hammered him' till he became-insensible. ,;He -dsniecL that he or his ' wife -was' drunk. Tlie~ prisoners. wefe; : alj committed for *, trial. ; The case created great excitement.

• M adame Carandini has appeared at a - concerfin Melbourne.'* ■■■'■■■■- "Prayers for rain have been general throughout New South Wales. Tlu* re are 150* cases of scarlet fever under treat in'Oht in Marybbrougd. Legs of mutton have been selling in Wellington at Trom 9d to Is 6d. * * An attettipt has peeri^ftiade to float a* third woollen company in Launcesion. A meeting- has been convened at; Brisbane to memorialise Parliament to pass an "act to make eight hours a statute day's l'ubbr throughout the colony.

In the Majorca district (Victoria,) quarts yielding 2oz to the ton has been taken out at a depth of 300 ft. This is the greatest depth at which quart's has ever been found in that district.

. At Auckland, Thos. Mulvaney, an. elderly married man, has been committed for ''trial 'for an attempted rapeon Fanny Bowman, his stepdaughter, a child of only seven years of age. * ! . The ' New - Zealand Herald' state's that Capt. Waddell, famous as having been the commander of the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah, may be expected „ in Auckland in command of .the .mail, steamer City of San Francisco, on her next trip. ( .

A telegi^in from Reefton, Nelson, says : — The ReV; Edward Samuel Cross,-. Church of England •minister, refused* to read the burial service, over the remains of Mr H. G. Hiighes, chemist, &■ member- of the Pacific Lodge of Free- ' masons. "Great indignation is expressed ■•"■ at the clergyman's conduct. /Benjamin. William Campian, a s6h> citor in good practice at Launcestoh, has levanted, 'and it is reported that his defalcations are considerable. It ha*s been ascertained that 1 -; lie ieft in the Sumatra, 'and a warrant. has been issued for his apprehension. His estate has been declared bankrupt. „ The 'Southern Cross' says: — "Among the passengers by the s,s. Hero are fully 40 meh, miners from the Thames. It is believed that they take with them "about £3000 of their savings. Last trip the s.s. Hero took with the Thames miners at least £4000 savings. The men will not go South, but prefer leaving* altogether and trying the Palmer.'" A teleg'rarft Trbrh Adelaide. says :-*-r* • The new Ministry has been appointed as follows : — Mr Hawker, Chief Secretary : Mr Blyth, Treasurer ; Mr Boucaut, Commissioner of Public Works'; Mr Mann, Attorney-General; Mr Play-: ford, Commissioner of Crown Lands j Mr Everard, Minister of Education. Tiie new Ministry will carry out the policy of the old Government. .

Another little turf swindle has become .known, says* the '■* Melbourne Argus.' It appears that, a Melbourne bookmaker z'eceived a telegram purporting to come from one of his" confreres in Sydney, stating.' that the Valetta colt had gone wrong for the A.J.C. Leger. . The Melbourne man at once laid 100's to 15 against the colt, and got £1000 on that price. He telegraphed back to his friend, telling him What he had done, ancl a reply soon cat'he back, stating that' he had not sent any telegram that ' day, and, that the colt was all- right. Another bookmaker was served in a somewhat' similar manner, and the matter is nowbeing investigated by the electric tele**,;, graph officials. -- _- •■- -- „A case * ifi ./the Sale County Court (Victoria), of Woods v. Bow tell, regarding the ownership of cattle, presented some c'iirious phases of life. Mrs Bpwtell, in' revenge for her daughter (who is now Mrs Woo*ds) having eloped,.. sold... certain 'cattle given to- the latter by-'het- *} deceased grandfather, Henry Tones, a*;-: squatter, and Mrs Wood by her hus-. band sbiigbt to recover their value, ,v LIOO. "It was elicited in evidence that;; the daughter of Mrs Bow tell ran away with a youth named Woods, fo Sale, ' a and was. married to him at midnight. by-*;,) the Rev. Mr William Snook, Primitive Methodist, on their joint declaration *■' that they were Of age. In the box she had to admit that she was only 19. Judge Nolan censhred Mr Sn.obk, It also appeared that Mrs Bow tell, -who was preparing for a second, m-irriage, feceived last Week a letter .frgm. lief i ,-* 'husband, who -had deserted lie'r: for 191 1 years, announcing bißjetiirn. A verdict \l 'was giVen for L76,,the value Of the y 'cattle improperly sold, with costs.

-J A 'telegram from Cooktown, dated:*-;* March 32, records : — "The news- re the— -gpld-freld-is confirmed..* /The alluvial i's£ -patchy. Reef's arc innumerable, with.*-**-*: -gb'ld* Visible 'in 'every hit' of -quartz* .t Thereis intense excitement inCootkown* Gold is got in lumps in every* small 5 " ravine. There is a-splendid road .from Cook'tbw'n ;->:'a btiggy -can be driven at . a . gallop : all; the . wgy.. ; Mulligan' states ■ that gold is traceable 'for miles. - The present extent -of- tbe'ieid' is : 30 -miles long and 10 wide, bearing heavy,. gold. .. A great rush is anticipated/ - .The ,pjs***.T "vious news was dated the*Hst, and wasf ,as' : follows 1 *:—" Officiid^-acHicej^^dated^ Junction Creek, received to-day, states that Mulligan's partly ,, had arrived, at- r^ , Cookto'wh*, and had disco'"ere i d'' J a hew 1 ' Lg-qld-field. They "brought* ? in some splendid specimens, and tbe discovery*is-*f -li lcely ;7 to~ turn out" -ar.large, ;ritm~,Md.'^ Good "alluvihl and- rich 'reefs" have. 'Beea'^ r foUrid v /- tt is higher up than 'any-* of the A '"present 'diggings, and is said^Q^^tSnl **| the ICoclgkinson 4*iver,l6jJ Ocjoktpwn. There is'*a--'*^oocK^pa^.f>t^'| drays" rid w/;f JVI ul li^anjs sparfeyis^i^otf^ disclose the whereabouts : '*_ of ->^'-||^J[^ until they have made their qwn : arrang"e^-| I ments." -'v; ; ~ aaA- y A A-Aa'a