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Dunstan Times, Issue 226, 24 August 1866, Page 2

Divine service was held on Sunday last the 19th inst., in the Church of England, the Rev. Mr Gilbert _of'Port Chalmers officiated -'both morning and evening. On both occasions [there was a good attendance. We glean the following, items from our Wellington correspondents :—Upon the reading of the Budget, and the statement that the Government proposed to discontinue subsidising the Province with three-eights of the Customs'Revenue in future, and that the Provinces henceforth must depend'upon themselves for all local improvements—great discontent was expressed, and eventually Mr Fitzgerald came down with an amendment tantamonttoa want of confidence, but not being~exaetly" what was required for the occasion it was negatived, and then, Mr Moorhouse proposed as a further amendment, that the Government, as at present constituted, did not possess the confidence of the country, which was carried on division by 47 against 14. Mr Moorhouse, in due course, was sent for that gentleman,'v intimated it was not his intention to take office himself, but thct his endeavours were for the formation of a strong Government," with Mr Stafford at the head. Therefore, on the whole, there is to be a reconstruction of the ministry rather than an entire change. I regret to acquaint you with the failure of the to lay the Electric Telegraph Cab e, it appears to have been caused by the cable getting foul in the tier, thus breaking the paying out machinery, the cable was expeditiously cut and buoyed up; all returned to port greatly disheartened at the accident. A Bill is now before the General Assembly which will make it a misdemeanour to sell articles having a forged name or trade-mark; also, to provide for the ap pointment of a registrar of trade-marks. The want of such a protection to traders has long been felt in New Zealand—tho brands placed upon the articles which are almost in daily use is no guarantee of their genuineness. In the matter of liquids, the trade-marks and labels are almost universa ly forgeries ; the public will be considerable gainers by the Bill, the passing of which there is but little doiibt. The Frenchman's"' claim,]"Manuherikia, has for years past been noted for its extreme richness, and if we may judge by the amount of gold that is being obtained at the present time, the claim will .equal in value, if not entirely eclipse any claim in the province. From the paddock, which is not to a degree worked out, 200 ozof the precious metal have been obtained, of that amount 60 oz. was got in one shift of eight hours. It is talked of by the shareholders, to place a steam-engine for the more effectually draining the water, which cannot be kept under by the hydraulic and manual power they can bring to bear on it. The party is working under very serious inconveniences, they having to work in a depth of four feet of water. It is virtually impossible to save all the gold, such is the belief of tho party, and they imagine, by placing capacious pumps with a powerful engine, say 20 horse power as motive power, the whole of the gold will be saved, and the prime-cost of the machinery obtained in a short time from the gold they are now losing. * meeting of the Hospital local Comi mittee, was held on Monday last, at Blac 's, o. 1, —Messrs Carlbach, Pitch • M'Conib, Newberg, and Machin, were ' present. The business transacted was of ' the ordinary character, authorising collec- , tors, &c. On the following day ' übscrip- - tion-lists were opened, and we are happy to . say the cal was responded to in a manner . that not only speaks well for the district, , but also the interest the miners arc taking ! in the institution. e believe it is in- ; tended to hold an Auction Bazaar shortly, t in order to augment the funds.

The attempt by the Star Steamer to |>ick up the cable has ■signally failed, it is "premised through the bed of the sea being 'exceedingly rocky instead of shingly as was supposed; it will however be regained by over-running.