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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2302, 22 September 1870, Page 2

Bell Ward.— A Provincial Government Gazette,, published to-day, announces that the nomination of candidates for the election to the office of councillor for 801 l Ward, in the room of Mr B. Baglcy, resigned, will take place on Monday next, at noon. Queenstown. A telegram dated the 20th instant says:—“ Fox, the prospector, returned towards the West Coast on Monday.—A new newspaper has been announced, to be called the hake Herald, and will shortly be published. Municipal. We understand that Mr F. P. Mansfield will contest the election of a councillor for Bell Ward. Mr W. Woodland will also come forward. A requisition, numerously signed, hns also been presented to Mr R. A. Low, inviting him to contest the election.

Unique. —The following announcement appears in the Wanqanui Chronicle. “Beware of a little thing in human shape. His name is Andrew H. Murray, who goes about getting goods and afterwards gives cheques that are no good. I got one for LlO, and this notice in the paper will remain until the LlO cheque is paid.” Jf The Taiebi Fasting Gibl. The father of Miss Ross, writing in the early part of this week, says: Although still weak, the girl continues cheerful, and talks freely. He says that any stranger who paid her a visit could not, from her appearance, know but that she was in perfect health. The hopes of her ultimate recovery, however, seem to be very slight. Supplying Aims to Natives. —On Tuesday our contemporary published a telegram from Wanganui, giving details of an alleged capture of arms and ammunition found in the possession of Mete Kingi, M.H.B. The telegram was evidently worded

so as to convey the impression that some underhand work had been going on in the Native Department, and the Defence Minister’s name cropped up in an unpleasant manner in connection with the matter. We, however, have very reliable information from Wellington which says that the whole story is humbug. It appears that Mete Kingi obtained a permit in the usual way, and purchased at his own expense the ammunition found on him from Mr Walker, a licensed seller of ammunition at Wellington, it being his intention to shoot birds for the meeting of Natives to be held shortly at Wanganui. Dinner to the Superintendent.— At Port Chalmers last evening, the inhabitants entertained his Honor the Superint'ndent at dinner in recognition of his services to the Province during the re ent parliamentary session. The dinner was provided by Mr Dodson in his usual liberal style. About seventy-live gentlemen were present, including Messrs Birch and Main M.H.R.s. H. M'Dermid, Esq., the Mayor, presided. The usual loyal toasts, were followed by that of His Honor, who, in replying, referred to the the satisfaction he felt at the progress of the works in construction at the Port, and foreshadowed its probable future. The interest of the evening was enhanced by the addresses of Mr Taylor, M.P.O. ; Messrs Main, Birch, M‘Kay, and others. The meeting passed off with more than ordinary enthusiasm.

Japanese Progress.—A singular as well as significant petition has been sent by the Japanese to their Government, advocating the introduction of railways, a translation of which has been recently presented to the British Parliament, and which is quaintly entitled “A Proposition for the Creation of a Source of Wealth for the Promotion of the Imperial Felicity, and the Establishment of an Unlimited and Everlasting Benefit to the Nation.” The following extract from this petition indicates an encouraging advance by that people toward an appreciation of Western civilisation:—“ None of the six continents seem comparable to Europe for extension of enlightenment and wealth in mechanical appliances. Indeed, the continent alone excels all the other five continents together. What is the reason of this state of things? The sole reason is, that Europe is more enlightened and better provided with '.machinery. The men of the West have a saying that if you wish to learn whether a nation is rich or poor, strong or weak, you must first asc.rtaiu how it is provided with machinery. The invention of the steam-engine, and the introduction of more efficient modes of locomotion, have enabled those countries to provide every facility for transports, both by land and sea. It is, therefore, not surprising to find them so wealthy and so powerful.” It seems almost past belief that the people which but a few years ago closed all their ports against commerce, and mobbed foreigners in its principal cities, could have been so completely revolutionised.

First great Robbery in Otago.,— Speaking of the acuteness of our present police force in detecting whether a piece of leather had been sewn by a saddler or shoemaker which led to the apprehension of the offender Rennie, who was recently convicted of the great gold robbery at Clyde, reminds one of the first great robbery which took place in this Province, when the old identity police and others were able to tell whether a hole in a wooden building had been sawn out by a tradesman or not. It happened in this way : -One morning, in the month of May, 1854, great was the excitement in Dunedin when it was discovered that the Custom House at Port Chalmers had been broken into on the previous night, and the Government monies in the Province carried off. Sentries on “treasure guards” were unknown in those days, the old identity being too honest, and the whole police force of the Province, consisting of three constables. Yes, great was the excitement; blunderbusses aSid horse pistols, which had not seen service for years, were hastily brought into use, and armed to the teeth (even with whale lances and harpoons), all proceeded to the quiet little town of Port Chalmers, then consisting of live or six families only. In those days the Custom House business was all transacted at the Port, and the Government monies were also kept there until an opportunity offered for sending these monies to Auckland, every six months or so. Well, the cash, amounting to 1.600, and all in gold, was placed in a safe in one corner of an old wooden building called the Custom House, and on the morning in question judge of the surprise of the Customs officials at finding a hole some four feet square had been cut in the building, and the iron safe with its contents gone. The police, from the manner in which the hole was cut, declared no one but a tradesman had done it. Steps were at once taken to trace out the offenders and recover the treasure, armed parties being sent out in every direction ; but they hadn’t to go far, for on the rocks at Pullen Point the safe was found with its contents intact. The thieves, it was supposed, had taken the safe down the harbor in a boat, but in the darkness of the night had run upon the rocks, and for fear of detection had thrown the safe out of the boat, a boat being found on the beach in the vicinity. The police were not successful, however, in finding out the offenders. The Government offered a reward of LIOO for such information as would lead to the conviction of the offenders, but without success, as the affair up to this day has remained a mystery. Southland. —A correspondent of the Bruce Herald writes as follows :—Matters social, political, and commercial are not over brisk. The lino weather of the past few days has, however, given a somewhat cheerful aspect to the place, and almost irresistably impelling to the conclusion that if wo have not a very great deal on which to congratulate ourselves, we have perhaps as lifctlo to complain of as many of our neighbors. It is strange, but it is nevertheless (rue, that we see the same thing at different times with different eyes ; and can at once readily extract comfort, from that, which at another time apparently justifies us in gloomy forbodings and misgivings. To say the plain truth, we are here, more of matter of fact than of ideal people ; more steady going than go-ahead folks. As a rale, (quoting Sam Weller) “we shan’t be bankrupts and we shan’t soon make our fortius.” Ever since the great burst up here, when everybody (in a figure of speech) broke, and everybody bolted, we have just gone steadily along. We never owe much money, perhaps because nobody will trust ns much, we meet our bills when they come due, and if they are not very heavy ones it suits all the better. It is an unusual thing to have a failure here, and the other day when in consequence of his dissatisfaction with a decision of our

worthy R.M , one of our citizens proceeded very energetically to demonstrate the inviolability of a Briton’s hearth and homestead, the very novelty of the thing supplied it with a zest. The fine weather, however, beside putting us in good humor, and putting an end to the carters’ strike, has enabled ns to put in our crops, and agricultural operations are well forward. The news by last mail has bad the immediate effect of stopping the llax industry, which is to be regretted, as a large capital has been employed in it, and much labor will have to find another outlet for the present. You know the old proverb about the grass growing and the steed starving, and for all that I think tbs present temporary check will for many reasons prove a permanent good. We expect a great deal from the projected visit of Mr Macandrew. In all probability he will be deluged with applications, sweet words of feeling, and doubtless the most affectionate demonstrations on his arrival.

The Court Pride of the Leith, A.0.F., will celebrate their sixth anniversary) by a supper, at Krull’s Caledonian Hotel, on Friday evening next, at eight o’clock.