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Evening Post, Issue 198, 26 September 1865, Page 2

The Diocesan Synod met to-day, at the Board Room Mulgrave street, at half past ten o'clock, and retired to St. Paul's Church, where Divine Service was conducted ; after which the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by the Lord Bishop of Wellington. At two o'clock the Synod again assembled at the Diuoesan Board Room, under the presidence of the Bishop. There was a full attendance of members. The opening address by his Lordship occupied the greater portion of the afternoon. A late statistical return shows that the population of this province on the 30th cf June last amounted to 14,987, comprised of 8,342 males and 6.645 females. There were at tha same time 127,350 acres of land fenced, of which 95,416 were under crop as follows • —Wheat, 764; oats, 1,720; barley, 116; maize, 15 ; potatoes, 665 ; garden or 01 chard, 1,034 ; sown grasses, 90,287 ; other crops, 825. The return of live stock is equally good. There were 7,356 horses, 90 mules and ass s, 411,502 sheep, 1,016 goats, 13,073 pigs, and 42,064 poultry. The amount of Customs revenue received during the quarter was £20,186, against £13,008 the corresponding quarter of 1864. The value of the imports are not given. Some little time ago the Attorney-General sent a circular to the Supreme Court Judges, some of the Resident Magistrates, and practitioners at the bar of this colony, asking

for an expression of their opinion in to the working of the " Debtors and Creditors Act, 1862." Their replies have since boon published, and, in accordance -yrith suggestions made in them, Mr. Sewell has drawn up a bill to amend the Act, wlubh will be submitted to the House at an earl}' date. Tiie bill, we are informed, provides that jurisdiction over the estates and persons of insolvents snail be exercised by commissioners appointed by the Governor, but under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Insolvents will have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court in all necessary cases. Official assignees are to be appointed, in whose hands the administration of estates slialt be placed. There are other improvements on the present Act, but all designed to hasten the speedy and cheap settlement of insolvent estates. V^lien the bill is laid before the house we shall say more about it. The members of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade will meet this evening at eight o'clock for practice at the No. 1 Engine House. The Wanganui Times has the tallowing" extract from a private letter sent by one of the East Coast Expedition, having reference to the Native Contingent when at Wellington a few days ago : —•' We left Wanganui about six o'clock a.m., and arrived in Wellington the same evening. We remained over Mon day to ship provisions and ammunition. On the Tuesday wo had an outbreak amongst the Maoris, in consequence of not receiving their last month's pay. They very wisely remarked when they were told the pay would be given to them at Opotiki, that if they could not be paid at the Seat of Govern, mem, where all the money was supposed to be kept, they could not get it in Opotiki. They commenced to take their things out of the ship with the intention of tramping it overland to Wanganui ; but Government, after allowing the Maoris to see that they were masters, met them half way by sending part of their pay on board." The Marlborough Press says :—": — " Rumours were afloat through Picton all Monday afternoon and yesterday, to the effect that some important mineral discovery had been made •which would be publicly announced in a few days. A close enquiry enables us to s*y that what has given rise to the reports is an a'legod discovery of the existence of the hijjhlj valuable metal platinum, near Picton ; but we are not permitted to say more than that th re is every reason to believe it is no idle report which has been circulated as a few days are likely to show." Tlie following is from the Otago Daily Times of the 23rd inst. : "It is with much regret we learn that there is a probability of the services of the steam-tug Samson being lost to the port. Owing to the present inactivity in shipping, the owners of the steamer find that they are experiencing a loss of cons derably over £ 100 a month, and it is not um>atural (hat they should either seek elsewhere more profitable employment for their vessel, or be anxious to part with her at her value."