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Dunstan Times, Issue 224, 10 August 1866, Page 2

+— —— - The first Meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday last, with the exception of Mr H. J. Cope, whose absence was unavoidable—the whole of the Councillors, with the Mayor, J. D. Feraud, Esq., presiding, were present. We refer our readers for full particulars, to another column. Our Wellington correspondent informs us that nothing is doing in the House but Separation. It was the intention of laying a motion on the table of the House respecting the repeal of the Gold-Duty, but the supporters of the motion have concluded to let it lapse "for the present" feeling assured it would be lost, as the temper of the House is not the most amiable. The Goldfields Committee are sitting, and it is understood they have agreed to reduce the mineis' right to 10s. The question of handing over the administrative and legislative powers to the Province, or keeping it in the hands of the General Government is submitted to this Committee. It is thought the General Government will

withdraw the delegated powers from the province. This will bo without a sacrifice to the provincial revenue. A petition was presented to the House on the 24th, from the inhabitants of the district of < amaru by Mr Campbell, for the removal of the present Provincial Council of Otago, and the establishment of one system of government for the Midd e Island. The " Grey River Argus" says :—The bill of indictment against W. H. Bracken, dn a charge of manslaughter was thrown ont by the Grand Jury. W. H. Bracken will be known to most tjf our readers as sergeant-major of the police in this province j also, as being a hotel-keeper at the Clyde and Queenstown, which latter place he left for the superior attractions of Hokitika. where, up to the time of the fatal event that caused the indictment, he was highly respected by the community generally for his uniform urbanity and attention to business. It appears that after all, the prisoners are not to be tried at Wellington as was previously reported. The '>elson Examiner' says:—The arrival of the Provincialsolicitor in Wellington settled the business, and we now learn that a Special Session will probably be held here for the purpose early in September. It is the intention of the Government to send over from Wellington a gentleman to assist Mr Adams in conducting the prosecution. Our Nevis correspondent states :—A severe shock of earthquake was felt here on the night of Friday the 20th inst., between ten and eleven o'clock, which was unpleasantly suggestive of the fate of Corra Dathara and Abirum of unhappy memory. Some of the people of Upper Nevis felt a sensation :imilar to sea-sick-ness immediately after the shock, but whether the same was caused by fear or otherwise I will leave to the savants to determine; suffice it to say, that the few hairs still left on the upper story of your correspondent felt a desired inclination to stand on end during the awful phenomenon. King frost still rules here with a rod of iron, consequently mining is almost at a stand still, but great things are looked for upon the recurrence of Spring. Nelson papers say:—A circumstance has come to light which will le regarded with interest respecting Levy the assassin. While at Matthieu's Hotel at Deep Creek, on Sunday prior the murders of the four victims ; a Mrs Morgan who knew him on the Dunstan recognised him, and after some conversation said " By the bye, Phil jLevy, what did you do with Emma'?'' This was" a woman whoh. , hi m while on the Dunstan, and who had u'j'sappeared. Levy replied, "Oh ! don't! speak of that, keep that dark" or words to the same "effect; at the time, the sudden disappearance of the woman was looked on with suspicion. What the full particulars are we cannot state, but that a conversation of that kind did take place is vouched for by parties who were present while Levy was in Matthieu'3 Hotel. The Wellington Correspondent of the ' vening Star" ( 'unedin), commenting on the late debate on the Separation question in the General > ssembly, says—" The speeches of Mr Dillon Bell and Mr John H all were both far above the average of the ordinary talkers, whilst mongst the new members, Captain Baldwin, and Mr Bryce of v\ anganui, distinguished themselves for clear, sensible, weil-delivered expressions of opinion." If men would but follow the advice they bestow gratuitously on others, a great reformation would be exffected in I their character.'