BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2771, 4 January 1872, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(from greville’s telegram company, beuter’s agency.) Christchurch, January 3rd The Provencial Council was opened today. Ip hi? speech, the Superintendent said that only pressing business would bp submitted to the Council until the autumn session camp on. The railway at Kaiapoi, a distance of 12 miles, would be opened in February. For branch lines the Province would have to find L 42,000, and the General Government LU0,350, and their construe? tion would be commenced immediately. He considered the alteration in the mode of conducting immigration a questionable one. Endowments and grants for an observatory and for education would be asked for. Increased accommodation was necessary in the hospital and lunatic and orphan asylums. The expenditure on these objects and charitable aid would amount to L13G,000 for the year, for a population of 46,000. Surveys made proved that the project for the irrigation of the plains between the Waimakiriri and the Selwyu was quite feasible. Altogether the position of the Province was a subject for congratulation. The Volunteers have returned from camp. At the Supreme Court to-day John Muirhead, for forgery, was sentenced to three years’ penal servitude. E. Burke, against whom three convictions for the same offence was obtained, was sentenced to four j eers’ penal servitude ; and John Keid, for obtaining money under false pretences, to nine months’ imprisonment.

The Opera Company performed ‘‘L** Sonnambuia” last night to a house crowded to excess, aud were triumphantly ful. Bluff. The Tararua arrived to-day. She left Melbourne on the 30th ult., and brings 7 tons of cargo; 27 saloon and 23 steerage passengers. . Passenger List.—Mesdatnes Kebble, Attwood, lleeve, Webb, Hart, Findlay, Misses Kebbel, Hart (2), Carr, Reeve (2), Messrs Kebbell, Lemon, Durand, Reynolds, Barnett, Francis, Christie, Houston, Leffler, Sharp, Reeve, senr., Reeve, junr., Findlay, Knox, and Williams. Melbourne, December 29. There is little business doing, people being generally holiday-keeping. Mr Childers has been appointed Agent* General permanently. Mr Hamilton bad a walk over for the Southern Province, Mr Sullivan having retired from the field. There has been an extensive forgery of Union Bank LI notes. A man, named Jenner, is in custody for uttering them. Mr Trollope and wife are lionising in the provinces. Kosenwax, the pawnbroker, who levanted to the Fijis, has been found guilty of fraudulent insolvency. The Somersetshire has arrived, having made the run from London in 56 days. The Tararua’s trip down the bay on Boxing Day realised L 268, which goes to the Ladies' Benevolent Society. Che betting is level on t'"-lay’s race between the boy Bedford and Pentecost of New Zealand. The inquest on the body of Mrs Gallogly, who was found dead in her bed at the Civil Service Club hotel, resulted in a verdict of murder against some person unknown. Sydney, The ship Sobraon, from London, brings out a quantity of pure bred stock. At the inquest on a drowned seaman, evalence was given that the light house was not lighted on Saturday night last The prices were firmer at the last wool sales. ' The Condor, from Mauritius, reports that five ships are loading for the Colonies, Adelaide, Mr Solomon’s banquet to old colonists was a success. Over five hundred perso: s were present. Three deaths have occurred from sunstroke. Bochin has been committed for trial for the murder of Guireu at Paradise. Mr Westcott is organising a Northern gold prospecting expedition. He has received very favorable concessions from the Government. West ern Australia. The figure-head of a ship, evidently burnt, has been found near Rotten-nest Island. It was apparently not long in the water, as there were no hapnac}es on it, neither was it worrmeaten. The figure is that of a seafar, ing man, and bears the motto “ Keep a look out,” on a scroll. The ship w r as probably one of 1500 tons, and the figure had been recently burnt away from the vessel. Wellington, January 4. News from Patea has been received, stating that Tito Kowaru’s people are at Kaupukannu, eight miles from Wamgongora. They say they are collecting fungus. Tito is at Waitara, and says he is coming in a month to take possession of the land. Consequently the Luna takes the Defence Minister Constabulary reinforcements to Wanganui instead of going South.