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Evening Star, Issue 2997, 26 September 1872, Page 2

Political.— His Honor the Superintendent left for Wellington by the Nebraska to-day. News.— The writer of Parliamentary gossip in the Wa-iganai Herald gravely speaks of Mr Donald Reid as “ a practical mathematician,” and of Mr Bathgate as “a high church,map. ! ”

Clutiia Railway, —The forcing of the Caversham tunnel was effected this afternoon, the workmen on both sides meeting at three o’clock. As showing the exactitude of the driving, we may mention that the error in line and levels did not exceed one inch. This result, which is almost unprecedented, is to be attributed to the care and skill of Mr Adam Johnston, the assistant Government engineer, who has had charge of the work. Parliamentary Papers.—The last batch of Parliamentary papers wo have to acknowledge the receipt of contains the following .'—Papers relating to the Administration of the' Sopth-west Goldfields of the Province of Nelson ; R.ep.vrt and Evidence in the case of John Ma?’tin ; Report of Mr >. Millar, F.S.A., on the Waipahi and Goldfields Line of Railway ; the Eighth Annual Report on the Working and Progress of the New Zealand Telegraph Department, Mu Stafford’s Native Policy.—A Wellington telegram published a few days ago conveyed the intelligence that the Hon. Mr Stafford had ordered a public funeral for Patuone, a Ngapuhi chief, brother of the late distinguished Taraati Waka. A reliable correspondent sends the following telegram, dated Sept. 2f“l have just returned from the interment of the Ngapuhi chief Patuone, I found the people risking laughing into a mean building to see the coffin. Counted BO natives present, instead of 500 as expected; about 50 volunteers, and two or three dozen European spectators. Every one was asking why a public funeral had been ordered. If meant to propitiate the natives, it was an expensive failure.”—Lyttsiton Timm,

Mining News. We have been favored with the following mining mems. from a correspondent at Whitechapel Plat: —.“ Mining here is looking very brisk. A party who have been sluicing at the head of

the Plat for some time have just struck another layer of washdirt, from two to three feet thick, and hove got good prospects, the gold being coarse. I bis has caused some excitement here to-day (IGth) among the miners, and it brought me in mind of the old times to see them running with picks and shovels, and almost lighting about their pegs. There were live or six acres pegged out iu a very short time. There is every indication that Whitechapel will yield its treasures abundantly, and that the miners will be handsomely rewarded for their extensive labors. Some parties are bard at work cutting branch races on to their claims to carry water from the New River Race, which they will get in a few days. Shares are up 20 per cent.” We hear of a tail-race robbery at the Kawarau River having been committed last week. The depredators are supposed to have taken from four to five pounds weight of go'd. Strong suspicion attaches to certain parties, and probably more will be heard of the affair.

Taranaki Politics.—A telegram, dated the 2lst inst., says :—“ Mr Moorhouse has issued an address in the Herald. He states that his opinions are in distinct opposition to the Halford Cabinet, and that peace and good government w.re Itkely to be secured by the Opposition party. He had a lirm faith iu Mr M‘Lean’s fitness for dealing with .Native affairs, aud he could not hope fur success iu any attempt to combine with Mr Stafford and his associates. The Herald states that either Mr Stafford or Colonel Whitmore telegraphed to Major Atkinson to be prepared to stand, when Mr Stafford tabled his want of confidence motion. Major Atkinson denies that he comes forward as a supporter of Mr Stafford. Engagement of Immigrants.—A large proportion of the immigrants ex Hydaspes having been nominated by their friends, most of them proceeded at once to their destinations. Four families, equal to 20 adults, proceed to Southland by the Storm Bird to morrow at the cost of the Government, according to previous agreement. The hiring commenced yesterday, at the depot in Princes street. Thirteen single women were engaged, at L3O to L3G per annum ; two shepherds were employed at L 32 ; three ploughmen at L3O to L 52 ; three farm servants, L 45 ; one gardener, L 4 5; one blacksmith, LOO; one laborer, L3">; two married couples, LOO to L/ 3. Three men engaged themselves with the Brighton Flax Mill at los per week with rations. The demand for laborers was very brisk, and all would have found employment had not many of the immigrants been somewhat extravagant in their expectations. Miners Beware. —It would appear by the local papers that the news from the Roper country has disquieted the miners at Queenstown and Maerewhenua; and that already several persons have left those disrtjets for the supposed new Eldorado. We would caution others disposed to follow that example tjj.q,t tlpy may go farther and fare worse; in proof of which opinion we give an extract from the Grey River Argus of the 14th instMr Thomas Waugh, of the New River district, was a passenger from Melbourne, yesterday, by the steamer Tararua, He is in possession of as late information as it was possible to procure from the Roper River district, aud he assures us that, so far as he could ascertain by diligent enquiry, there is nothing whatever to encourage people thither. With others he telegraphed for information as to Port Darwin ; and the reply received was that gold had been got, but not in payable quantities. He had also information, direct information from two of the name of Gifford, who left the Now Bjyer some months ago, aud, after proceeding to Australia, sailed for the Roper. They describe .the .dilate aa batj, f*pd the prospects discouraging. There was a»so a dearth of “tucker,” Mr Waugh adds that numbers of miners had comedown country to Melbourne, preparing to start from the Northern Territory, but the majority were returning to the old ground. The majority of the passengers who left Melbourne by the Omeo were for Queensland, aud the Bengal, which had been placed on the berth, was unable to get tilled up after six weeks’ detentien.

An entertainment will be given by the Dunedin Baud of Hope, in the Wesleyan Hall, Stffapt street, to-morrow evening, at The tenth monthly of the Permanent B dlding Society iwjll bp at the office of the Society, Temple Chambers, Princes street, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 7 o’clock. The programme of the concert to inaugurate the new head quarters drill shed, to be held to-morrow (Friday) evening, will be found iu our advertising columns. Apart from the object with which all volunteers will sympathise, the programme is sufficient to awaken considerable interest, and attract a large audience. Murray’s circus is apnounceff tQ be opened on Saturday evening on the old ground, Filleul street. Some valuable additions have been made to the company, and from the attractive programme provided, this troupe will no doubt receive its full share of public support. The new entrance to the circus is announced from Ceorge street, opposite the Oddfellows’ Hall.