LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 76, 11 December 1862, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lancashire Relied Fund. —We have been requested by the Secretary to this Fund to inform Subscribers that the first subscription, amounting to A 72 lls., have been sent home to Sir J. P. K. Shuttleworth, Secretary to the Cotton Districts Relief Fund. All monies subscribed are left entirely to the management of the Home Committee, of which the Earl of Derby is chairman. Another instalment will be forwarded by the next mail. Inquest on a Maori. —We yesterday received information that the corpse of a native had been found under circumstances leading to a suspicion that he had been murdered. From a letter received last night from a resident inland we gather that an' inquest was held on the 9th iust. The deceased, named Eruka, (Luke), was found dead in his whare at Tamunm, on Saturday last, with various wounds in his head. Dr. Venn had held a post mortem examination. The evidence given was of a'Conflicting nature, which, according to our correspondent, compelled the Jury to return the verdict “that the said Eruka died from a visitation of God!” Our correspondent adds that all the officials concerned, from coroner to constable, had done their utmost to elucidate the mystery. Thatcher, the Vocalist. —The" want of rational amusement has often been the theme on which our grumblers have expatiated. Me have great pleasure in announcing that Mr. Thatcher, the popular and humorous vocalist, intends to enliven the Napier boys during his short stay here. From Otago to Auckland he has delighted those who have heard him ; his local hits in particular entitle him to the rank of a first rate shot. The Weather has been very dry and sultry- lately, and our plains have assumed the light brown hue so common in Australia during the summer season. Wo fear our agricultural settlers will sutler serious loss if the drought continues. Shearing is now brisk, the warm dryweather being advantageous for this operation. Meteorological.—Lunar Eclipse.— On Saturday evening (the Gth inst.,) as the moon emerged from behind a dark cloud it was discovered to bo darkened by the earth’s shadow. The eclipse was nearly'' total, and lasted till about nine, pan., beingseen to great advantage during the middle and latter portions. Several meteors were seen during the course of the same evening, one of them especially is described as havingbeen very brilliant, travelling rapidly across the heavens from the Westward and appearing to pause and explode, and then again resume its course. This was about eight p.m. W e find Mr. I lorance of Auckland had informed the public of the event through the columns of the Aucklander of the sth inst., one day before the Eclipse. We have received per Queen the New Zealand Gazette of the Gth inst, from which we learn that the Provincial Council of Hawke’s Bay was dissolved by Proclamation dated the sth inst.—An alteration has been also made in the Postal Regulations under which, on and after the Ist proximo, newspapers for transmission within the Colony or for overland Mails shall be posted singly, and so put up that the date of publication may be readly seen. Newspaper packets containing more than one number to he treated as Book packets.—Several new justices of the Peace are appointed the last name on the list being that of Major George Stoddart Whitmore, of Auckland.—Some correspondence on the Otago Harbour Signal lately published, in which an important mistake had occurred, the omission of the word NOT.—The proper directions are, “Blue with a White St. Andrew’s Cross, ebb tide and Bar NOT fit to take.” Several resignations and appointments in the Volunteers and

Militia are gazetted. A return is also published of the gold exported from the Colony from the Ist April, 1857, to the 30 th December, (should be September, we presume') 1862. The Total amount is 588,500 ounces, valued at £2,086,921.