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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1946, 31 July 1869, Page 2

The Gas Question. —Mr Hutchison, having taken exception to our assumption in the leader of Thursday, that Mr A. K. Smith’s calculations should he taken as the basis of future arrangements respecting gas, we feel hound to gii r e his reply at ihe meeting of last evening.

Gaol Returns.—The following is the state of Her Majesty’s Gaol, Dunedin, for the Aveek ending to-day : Awaiting trial, 5 men, 0 Avomen; under remand, 0 men, 0 Avomen ; penal servitude, 24 men, 0 Avomen ; hard labor, 57 men, 15 women ; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 Avomen ; in default of bail, 5 men, 0 Avomen ; debtors, 2 men, 0 women; total, 93 mm, 17 women. Received during the week, 6 men, 6 women ; discharged, G men, G Avomen.

Pitt Street Works. —We understand that a deputation from the inhabitants of Pitt street and the neighborhood, waited on the Deputy-Superintendent, and urged him to cause the Pitt street Avorks to lie finished by prison labor. We are not aware of what his Honor’s reply Avas ; but believe that the deputation is to Avait on the Government next Aveek. We have it on good authority that a gang of prisoners could complete the Avork iu two months, if anything like line Aveather Avas experienced, and the Corporation supplied the necessary horses and drays. There can be no tAvo opinions as to the necessity of the work being completed, now that it has progres-ed so far.

Princess Theatre. —There was a crowded house at the The tre last night, when Mr James Slmmouds took a complimentary benefit, an 1, judging from the applause which he so often received during the evening, he has every cause to bo satisfied with his reception. His delineation of Grimaldi in the “ Life of an Actress” was excellent, and at the end of the third act, when he hears of his adopted child’s succ? ss as an actress, his acting was real, good, and effective, and it drew forth long and continued applause. Messrs 11 ay nor and AVhite played their respective parts very carefully and creditably. Mr Woolfe, as Mai* travers, had a part that suited him, and which he made the most of. Mr Howard, as Wopshot, was unusually good, Mrs Jackson as Violet, acted ver. naturally; she, together with Mr iSimmouds, being called before the curtain. Mr Sinunonds made a few appropriate remarks, observing that he hoped that he might long remain in Dunedin, and continue to deserve the patronage which had been so liberally bestowed on him on the present occasion. The performances concluded with the “Loan of a Lover,” with Miss Anna Forde as Gertrude, in which character she sang very sweetly that beautiful ballad, ‘ ‘ Charming A ision, and her rendition of the other songs was equally effiective. She was ably sir ported by Messrs .Simmonds, Joyce, and AVoolfe.

A Good Claim.—Mr T. G. Tauton, for some time agent of the Panama Company at the Bluff', disposed of his interest in the All Nations Claim, at the Thames, for the sum of LI 3,000.

Gold. —A correspondent, Avriting from Wannabe on Saturday last, says : —“A small but tine specimen of quartz was shewn in the township on Thursday. It was brought from the Waiho, found by a party of men who had been driven from the ranges, where they had been prospecting, by the deep snow. '1 ho specimen was of a milky-white appearance, with blue veins running through it, and contained, as far as could be judged, about fifty per cent, of gold. From its appearance, it looked as if it had not been carried far from a reef.” —Timaru Herald.

Education. — In the speech of Mr Stevens, while introducing his resolutions on “ Constitutional Changes,” the following facts and figures with respect to Education in New Zealand were brought forward The whole expenditure of the Provincial Governments on Education is only L.J3,()92. and was apportioned in the following manuer : - Auckland, with a population -150,000, expended the magnificent sum of L 704 10s ! Taranaki, L3Ol ; Hawke’s Pay, LBB2 ; "Wellington, 21)01 ; Nelson, LOS2B ; Marlborough. L 23 4; Canterbury, 1A924 ; Westland, 1.707 10s; Otago, 1.12,819; Southland, L5lB. After knowing these facts, who will d. nv the necessity for some Colonial system of education.

Accident, —An accident happened at the Inch Clutha punt on Monday that was very nearly attended with fatal results. While the puntman was crossing cattle, the punt, from some cause or other, stuck in the middle of the river, and the cattle made a rush to the tail board, and nearly upset the punt. On again crossing with a second lot, the same thing occurred, when a bullock rushed against one of the rails, and knocked the puntman over into the river, where a great current prevailed. Mr G. Spooner rode in with his horse, and attempted to save the man, but the rapidity of the current was threatening to carry him away, and Mr Spooner had to get again to land. Fortunately, Mr Joseph Smith, of Smith Bros., was present ; he immediately got out his boat and by the dexterous use of an oar, paced within reach of the now drowning man, he was enabled to save him from a watery grave. The man was very much exhausted, but was speedily brought round by the application of the proper remedies.- Bruce Standard.

The Waikato. — The following is the latest news from the Waikato Te Kooti is still in the Waikato with Hcu Hen and Rewi, who work cordially with him. He had demanded that Orakau should be given to him as payment for the Uriweras killed there, and his religion universally adopted. The latter demand was complied with, but the Ngatimanapoto could not listen to the former demand. • A split was the result.

Tawhiao and Manmvhiri keep studiously aloof from Te Kooti, who demanded to be made King. A collision not improbable. At one time it seemed as if Te Kooti was about to be ordered out of Waikato. He bad commmenced operations for returning to T; upo, in which case he threatened to make an attack upon Tauranga, to punish the Friendly Natives there, whom lie hated more than the pakeha. An alarm resulted at Taupanga, but the Virago moved up, and anchored opposite the town, ami the Government chartered a steamer to keep up the column ideation. Means were taken to reinforce the Waikato. The militia were called out foractivc service, and posts arc strengthened. A force of 250 volunteers from the Thames have come forward and offered their services, and. have gone to the Waikato. A good deal of apprehension has been felt in the outposts at the Waikato, but Colonel Mmile seemed calm and confident. Reinforcements are dicing sent up rapidly. T.to Kowaru and Tikaokao are expected soon to join Te Kooti. It is not certain whether or not Rewi was acting by instructions and shepherding Te Kooti. Tawhaio had sent a proclamation to the latter, tellimr him to keep quiet and mi home again, neither of which he seemed disposed to do. Heetet’s store at Alexandra was sacked by Te Kooti, and his daughter carried off.

The Native Office.—At a public meeting, bold at Taranaki, the folloAving resolutions Avero carried :—“ That this meeting is of opinion that the present alarming state of Native affairs imperatively calls for the immediate and thorough abolition of the Native Department, so as to restore confidence between the settlers and the Maoris, without which no peace can be lasting.” “That is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the power vested in the Civil Commissioner to hold secret courts to investigate NatiA-e accusations against settlers, to confirm evidence, prosecute eases, and sit as judges to decide the matters, is an outrage on civil liberty unknown to all civilised nations, unconstitutional, and unjust; and that a Committee be appointed to draw up petitions to both Houses of the New Zealand Parliament respectfully praying for the abolition of the Native Office.” “That this meeting is of opinion that all rebel Maori prisoners should be so treated as not to add to the heavy burden of taxation uoav borne by the taxpayers of this Colony.” “That in the opinion of this meeting, there is little prospect of terminating the war on the West Coost while the natives hold strong and impenetrable positions in the interior of our forest, as places of safe retreat. As a means of breaking up the strongholds of the rebels in the interior of this province, and hi inging to a close the Avar on the West Coast, avg are of opinion that it Avmild be de.-irable to employ the local forces ou pay in opening up and constructing a road from this to Patea, by the back of the mountain. That in the opinion of thismeeting, themanner in Avhich the rebel Natives are allowed to return and settle in the midst of the European population of this Province, Avithout giving up their arms, or taking the oath of allegiance, is disgraceful to the Government of the Colony, an insult to the settlers, and inasmuch as they can be spies from the rebel camp, greatly endangers the whole settlement.”

A New Rush on the AVest Coast. —Nelson papers report the discovery of new auriferous ground on the AVest Coast. One sa y S : —“ iSome rich ground has been opened on a river about twenty miles south of AVest Wanganui, and which has attra ted about seventy minors. It is said that a party of four men obtained 140 ounces of rough gold in four days. This intelligence, when it reached Collingwood, caused so much excitement that something like a rush took place to the new field, which could he reached by way of Pawakau and West AVanganui.”— Another Nelson journal says “ Accounts were received late last night that more finds of gold have been made in the district of West AVanganui. We understand that a vessel has been chartered and despatched from Nelson with all the necessaries for setting up a store at the scene of action, by a gentleman who has full confidence in the payable nature of the new goldfield. Several persons intended starting from Westport for West AVanganui. Among the pa; tics already at work there, there are a few who were for some time at work in the neighborhood of Hokitika, and these are understood to have done fairly on the new diggings. The locality is one of which Ur Hector expressed a highly favorable opinion.

A meeting of Mr Fish’s Committee will be held this evening at 8.30. Mr Fish announces that he will not address the electors in South Ward this evening, in consequence of the alteration of Mr Hutchison’s hour of meeting. Mr Egberts has retired from the contest for South Ward, as “he has ascertained that the feeling throughout the ward is that Mr Hutchison ought to be supported in this election.”