INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Issue 78, 12 July 1866, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

The Military Settlers. — By a recent order from Wellington, all military settlers are to remain permanently upon their land, and not to leave it for the purpose of making a living in town or elsewhere. Hitherto, when any company waa siruck off pay, the men were allowed to find employment where they could, the only stipulation being, if they left the block, that they should forfeit their ration allowance and parade once a month. It seems that some of the men, by falsely representing themselves as living on the land, got their rations when not entitled to them, and to stop this practice the clumsy expedient we have mentioned has been adopted. The men lose by being debarred the chance of making a little capital— the great want in all the military settlements : the Province, of course, loses to about the same extent ; the Government loses by having to pay the full ration money ; and who is the gainer ? We trust the Government will be. equally prompt to issue the Crown grants to these men when they are due. — "Taranaki Herald," 9th June. Gold Export. — From a return in the "New Zealand Gazette," published on the 20 th ult., we find the quantity and value of gold exported from the colony, from the Ist April, 1557, to the 31st March, 1866, to be as follows -—From Auckland, 15,794 ounces, value L 48,51 2; from Marlborough, 32,898 ounces, value L12G,4G5 ; from Nelson, 188,669 ounces, value, ; from Canterbury, 351,913 ouncea, value L 1,369,256 ; from Otago, 1,938,837 ounces, value L 7,512 .69 5; from Southland, 22 ounces, value LBS ; making the total export from the Colony 2,528,130 ounces, value L 9,788,501. The "Soutliland Daily Times "of the 25ih says :— " The following particulars relative to the recent boat accident at River ton have been forwarded to us from a reliable source. On Tuesday evening, about eight o'clock, a boat loaded with provisions for the Paihi Diggings, while crossins; the bar shipped a sea and filled. The cries of the erew — three in number — were heard by the men in another boat lying inside the bar, and they immediately gave the alarm. Mr Tall, the pilot, hearing the voices, ran to ascertain what was the matttr. On being told that a craft had been upset on the bar, he manned his boat with all speed and went to the rescue. There waa a very heavy sea on — the steer oar of the p^ofc boat was broken, so that Tall had to make shift with a short one, a hazardous experiment at any tims— but in spite of all disadvantages the task was accomplished, and the drowning men saved. Those acquainted with tho locality will give Tall and his crew full credit for the daring courage evinced. In broad daylight, when there is anything of a sea on, it requires coolness and skill to guide a boat ' safely over the bar, but at night the hazard is increased tenfold. In the home country, systematic provision is made by by Humane Societies to reward exertions like those we have related,, but the institution is not yet transplanted to this cottony. Some public recognition is due to the services of men voluntarily risking their own lives to save others." % The " Dunstan Times ' says :— " The rumor that Mr Warden Worthington, of Waitahuna, had made tracks for lands unknown, taking with him Government monies to a considerable amount has been verified ; a warrant having been issued for Ins apprehension. The deficiencies are supposed to amount to nearly £1000, although only about half that sum is all that can be traced at present. The delinequent, it appears, obtained leave of absence to visit the North Island; his not having returned at the expiration of his term of leave, naturally excited suspicion. An investigation into his affairs which resulted, soon discovered that Government monies had been mis-appropriated ; the Bystem of peculation extending over many months. We understand the Government are determined to secure the, person of the runaway at all risks, and will follow liim c veri to England. This is another specimen of the mismanagement of the gold fields by the Provincial authorities, whose incapacity to conduct the business of one of the most important interests of the' Province has so long been proverbial, that a remedy can only be provided by the management of the gold fields being entirely undertaken by the General Government." We extract the following from the " Bruce Herald," of the 21st ult; .:— " We have been informed that, on Friday last, as the steamer Tuapeka was returning down the Chitha River from Pomahaka, at which place she had been discharging cargo for the settlers— she suddenly struck against a rock (presumed to be the rock, by the way, which has cost the Government upwards of LIOO in its attempted removal), making a large hole in the bottom of the vessel. Captain Murray, with his usual promptitude and energy, directed two of the men to the part, who finding a bag of flour within reach, quickly jammed it into the opening, which effec-

tually prevented the inlet of water, and enabled the vessel to proceed on her journey. The steamer called at the Ferry, and took in a cargo of oats, leaving on Saturday morning for Port Molyneux, and arrived safely, suffering little inconvenience from an accident which might have been attended with serious loss." We regret extremely to learn that fever continues to make sad havoc with the Raglan and Kawhia natives ; many, too, of their principal chiefs are dying. Amongst those lately deceased is a friendly and loyal chief, Te Ao-o-terangi. The natives attribute these deaths, particularly those of the above chief and William Naylor, to the "makuiuing," or witchcraft, laid upon the friendly natives, they assert, by Te Ua, when he visited Raglan as a prisoner with Sir George Grey. They might, however, if they chose, find a more reasonable cause for the prevalence of fever amongst them. In the case of the death of Te Ao-o-ierangi, Dr. Harsant, on visiting the sick man, found him in a close and dirty whare, 20 feet by 10 feet in size, io. which were two fires burning, and no less than thirty-four natives and three dogs— the natives being principally engaged in gambling round tho sick men. The Kawhia andAotea natives have just sent in a request to Mr Mackay for a supply of medical comforts, of which, they are in much need. Mablbokoogh Gold Field Disco veby Bonus.^ — The following resolution was passed by the Mari borough Provincial Council during its late session :— " That his Honor the Superintendent will be pleased to proclaim and advertise in each of i,he newspapers vi the Province, a bonus for the discovery of a gold field in th?s Province, not hearer than eight roilos to the WakamariDa, ou the following terms : Providing a gold field is discovered yielding 2000 ounce 3of gold, the discoverer to be paid the sum of L 250, arid also a sjm of LIOOO is to be paid if a' gold field is dkeovered yielding 16,000 ounces of gold." The Went Coast Thnes of Tuesday gives currency to a rumor of the discovery of a quartz reef in the vicinity of the Arahaura, about twenty-seven miles from Hokitika. Our contemporary does not give any details, which, however, are promised "au an early date."