LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 14, 3 October 1861, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

The Sale of Crown Lands took place according to announcement at the Land Ofilce, Napier, on Tuesday last. There was a good attendance, but the lots offered were for the most part purchased by the original applicants at upset prices of 55., or at ss. |d. All the lots were purchased. Puilic Meetjnj. —On Tuesday evening last, a meeting was held at the Settlers' Hotel, having for its object the appointment of a parly lu explore for g.dd in *this Province. It was numerously and influentially attended, and its object was enteml upon with a spirit and earnestness which we hope will he crowned with success. Mr. A. Kennedy was called to the chair. Air. Colenso ado eased the meeting at some length, as did also Aicxsrs. AVorgan, Leljuesne, Topping, mid E gliy. It was pro posed hy Mr. \V„rgau, secon led lyMr. Hoydu, and carried u.iim usly, “ Tiiat the Government be petitioned to grant TIOO for tire purpose of paving the expense of a party to explore in this distr.ct tor not less than two months, the party 10 he composed of applicants nominated by a Committee of lids meeting, and to oiler a reward of TTOO for a payable field." The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to carry out the above resolution : Captain Carter, Messrs. Mallhy. AV. Miller, Colenso, J. A. Smith, Lindsay, Newton. and Punier. The Chairman made known to the meeting that a petition would be prepared, and kept on the Spit for signature, which would be presented after first meeting of committee. AVe are unavoidably compelled to forego a more lengthened report of the proceedings. Three Soldiers Drowned. —An accident, by which It. Finn, M. Bourke, and J. Kelly, privates of the 14th Kegt., lost their lives, occurred on Sunday last. It appears that the deceased, along with two other men of the same corps, proceeded up the Tutaikuri river in a boat as far as the new public house, where they remained for some lime drinking. On returning one of them, Hal], declined to accompany them, and a civilian named Henry went in his stead. On arriving at the mouth of the river, the boat was by some means upset, and out of the five men two only escaped—Henry and Brown, after great difficulty. The bodies of the other three have not yet, we believe, been recovered.