COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1997, 29 September 1869, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

Some time ago we remarked that the mining interest was .assuming a better position; —that it was emerging once more from a period of depression. We are glad to see that the assertions then made are being practically borne put. The escorts have been gradually on the increase, the last one from Queenstown being 1100 oxs., and from the Arrow, GOO 03s. Of this quantity 80 ozs. was reef gold from Skippers. It is satisfactory to know that this increase is likely to be sustained, and that it is not due to exceptional causes, such as an influx of Chinese, — Waka tip Mail. At a public meeting at Kaihiku on Wednesday last, the following resolutions were carried ;—“ That this meeting is of opinion that no Bill affecting the waste lands of the Crown should be passed by the Assembly, without affording to the Province concerned an opportunity of fully expressing its views thereupon. That this meeting considers that the Otago Hundreds Regulations Act is opposed to the best interests of the Province. That this meeting learns with satisfaction that the Legislative Council have rejected the Otago Loan Bill. That, in consequence of the part taken by our representative, Mr Macandrew, in these matters, this meeting considers him no longer deserving of their confidence. That the following gentlemen be appointed a committee, to communicate with other committees to make a united effort so secure the repeal of the Otago Hundreds Regulations Act; and to endeavor to secure that every settler in the district entitled to a vote, shall have his name on the Electoral Roll: Messrs Matthew' Paterson, John Watt, James Nicol, A. D. Johnston, David Mickie.” Messrs D. Henderson and J. W. Thomson, M.P.C.’s were the speakers.

No time has been lost in erecting a new flax mill at Tokomairiro, in the room of that destroyed by fire last week. So energetic have been the steps taken, that the new premises were so far advanced as to permit of operations being resumed on Monday last. Last week, the Re l . Charles Connor*, of Balclutha, received from his friends and members of his late charge in the Oamaru district, the sum of L 47, “in recognition of his past unwearied and zealous labors among them on behalf of the Redeemer’s cause.”

His Honor the Superintendent, while at Port Molyneux, on Saturday last, inspected the proposed site for the Puerua bridge, and promised to further the erection of this much needed under-

taking. At the annual general meeting of the Clutha Agricultural Society, it was shown that the Society was in a flourishing state. Its progress was evinced by in 1868 the number of horses exhibited being 70 against 46 in 1867 j cattle 28 against 21 ; sheep 73 against 33 ; butter, eggs, and poultry 48 against 20. The state of the poll at the election for a member to represent the County of Wallace in the General Assembly has now been made known, and the result is a majority of six for Mr Webster. We understand, however*, that very great dissatisfaction is felt among the settlers generally as to the manner in which the election has been conducted, and circumstances are not wanting to excite some suspicion that a mistake has occurred as to the numbers polled for each. The presiding officers were prohibited from disclosing the state of the poll at their respective booths after the poll was closed. All the returns were in the hands of the Returning Officer on Friday last, but the poll is not to be officially declared till Friday first, and then at some out-of-the-way place called Hokanui. Mr J. C. Brown telegraphed the Returning Officer for the state of the poll on Monday last, and got for a reply, Brown, 58 ; Webster, 58. This was four days after the returns were in. How then was Mr Webster’s numbers afterwards increased to 641 We believe Mr Brown intends to cause strict examination of the polling papers to made in Invercargill. Further, the polling places are appointed in the most inconvenient localities possible, the furthest from the centres of population, and apparently only intended to accommodate a few squatters in each case. A re-arrangement of the polling places must be made before next election, and wc understand steps have been taken with a view to this object. —Bi •uce Herald.

At a sale in the Taieri, about a fortnight ago, pure merino ewes, which originally cost L2O each, were sold at 4s each.

Mr Barbor, postmaster at Lawrence, has received an appointment as a gold-receiver at Hokitika. The local journals state that the advancement is a well-deserved one, for Mr Barbor was a willing and obliging, as well as a zealous officer.