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Dunstan Times, Issue 228, 7 September 1866, Page 2

The Maori population of the North Island was computed to be formerly between 40,000 and 50,000. By the reports of two gentlemen who have officially gone through the Island, and who have comI piled an estimate of the population, they give the numbers at present as 27,0(10audi 34,000 respectively. We have been requested to ca 1 attention to the Sales by Auction, to-morrow at the Post-office, I lyde, of the Furniture, Piano, personal effects, etc., of Mr A. flume, the late Postmaster, who is leaving the Province ; also to the Sale by Auction on Monday, of the ftook of Mr Joseph Booth, Merchant, Cromwell, who is leaving the district. 'I he Sub-Marine Telegraph connecting the North with the South Island, appears to answer admirably. We yesterday received a telegram direct from Wellington, forwarded by Captain Ba dwin, the member for Manuherikia, informing us that "the Goldtields Administration''' would still remain as at present, in the hands of the Provincial Governments. Also, that great excitement existed in the House of Representatives respecting the Waste-Lands ill. The telc o rani reached us in three hours.

We are informed by the Post-Master, that the Mail for Dunedin, via Tuapeka, will close at Clyde on Wednesday at five o'clock p m., instead of Tuesday as for- „ merly. Money-orders will be issued and s letters registered till four p.m. The "Hokifcika Chronicle" and the c " Evening Despatch" have ceased to exist. , The only daily papers now in Hokitika are x the " West Coast Times" and the " Even- ] ing Star." . . \ A writer in the G. R. Argus observes: — i I believe your theory as to the deposits of gold on the beach terraces, but at the f same time these working are not likely to * be so permanent as deep sinking. They , will no doubt extend to the back of the town, and how much further no one can c say, and they are deep enough to (last for a years, but if the large tract of country * from the Saltwater to the Little Grey should be found to pay for deep sinking , we may expect to see some young "Ballarats" springing up, and the works in ma- < chinery, &c, will be very good, giving employment to many others than miners. ( The ' Timaru Herald' gives particulars j of a reported discovery of go'd in the ' Mackenzie Country. The spot is nine miles from the junction of the Ohou and ( akapo, opposite enmore mountain, and not very far from Mr Teschemaker's ! tatiou. on the Waitangi. ; The ' Melbourne Argus' says : —By the Gothenburg there appears to be numerous diggers going to re-occupy their claims, or to search for others on the West Coast; and among those assembled to see them off were others who only wait the coming of the spring, when they will follow. Appearences at present indicate the probability of an early and considerable rush, both to Hokitika and Greymouth. The 'Ly ttleton Times' says :—Great complaints have been made respecting the treatment experienced by the kangaroos in the Acclimatisation Society's Gardens, at the hands of thoughtless Sunday visitors, who keep the poor things continual) - on the hop the whole of the day ; ungratefully would it bo appreciating the kindness of the donor by permitting these interesting animals to bo hunted to death. We sco by a return laid before the House of Representatives, that the £&}}f, j cost of iVii? savings of both Houses of Legislature, exclusive of the pay of permanent officers, amounts to no less a sum than £B2 10s, of which £7O is the 'hone rariuni' paid to members. V correspondent writing from the Nevis says :—Great indignation is felt here at the conduct- of the Government in removing the officer in charge from this important district ; they have at the same time removed the one solitary constable on whom we wholly depended for protection. So that as far as the Government is concerned we are left to our own devices, and are likely to remain so, until the Old Identity nobodies think it worth their while to bale us up for the purpose of rep enishing the Exchequer. But it remains to lie seen whether the inhabitants of the Nevis will tamely submit to the milking process, without some reasonable equivalent in return for their money. It is more than suspected here, that a certain great explorator is at the bottom of the mischief. It being well-known, that a decided antipathy to the Nevis and its residents is one of the peculiar weaknesses of that very distinguished individual. But it is the intention of the people here to take the matter up in earnest for the purpose of knowing the why and the wherefore of such treatment. Whilst indulging in an Englishman's prerogative ' the right of grumble' I will point out the disgraceful manner in which the postal arrangements nre carried out, so far as we I are concerned. '1 he mail invariably does not ( j arrive till 10 p.m., sometimes later, and i the mail does not leave here till Thursday, I though it is closed tousonTuesdayevening. I am happy to state that marrying andgiving i n marriage is the order of the day here at present. Last week one of our respected merchants, namely Mr D. Scally, brought home his bride, which was the cause of much rejoicing—a continual discharge of fire-arms was kept up from rosy morn till ' dewy eve. At night, the township was tastefully illuminated in honor of the oc- '! casion. The bridal-feast, which came eff with great eclat, was graced by all the rank and fashion of the district. At Vienna on the 6th of June last, a i Carpenter returned to his homo from a [; long journey, found his wife dying, his , child dead, and an order to join the army ; pinned to his door. T- is combination of . I misfortunes so overcame the wretched man * that he fell to the ground in a violent fit j [and in a few minutes expired. His wife I soon followed him to the grave.