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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 702, 22 July 1869, Page 3

The leading paper published at Hokitika ]ja9 the following in its issue of the 13lh July:—lt is with regret that we have to record that defalcations on the part of a veil-known land and estate agent of this town have been brought to light. The criminal, against whom warrants upon ouarges of embezzlement have been issued, ]ms absconded. Taeanakt—A. correspondent of the Nelson Colonist, under date 7th July, supplies the following :—The only native pews I have to send is to the effect that Major Brown M.11.K, has returned from the Front, and proceeds to Wellington in the s.s. Phoebe. Colonel Lyon's expedition in Search of Titokowaru, has been abandoned for the present, owing to the inclement weather and the swollen state of the rivers. The taking of the soldiers from any of the outposts to join an expedition is condemned. Considering that there is no doubt that the movements of our forces are watched carefully by the rebels from the ranges, and every movement reported, there would be great risk to the small force (about fifty men) left behind to defend the two redoubts, hospital, stores and ammunitions ; and also to the ouc-settlers, as an attack would pro bably be made on them in the absence of the expedition. It i 3 feared by many that our forces march out will be a signal for a general blaze, and the commencement of of hostilities in this Province.

Baker's Hill Gold-field, Welling-ton.-—The following, from the Evening Post, 17th inst., is the latest respecting the working of the gold field recently discovered in Wellington Province : —A.t the diggings at Baker's hill to-day the men are " shepherding " their claims, the wet weather preventing them from working, with few exceptions. This morning a rumor was circulated through tho town that a disturbance had taken place, caused by some men jumping a claim in which two boys got the best prospect yet obtained, one pennyweight to the dish. The rumor, so far as the gold is concerned, proved correct, but tho " row " was settled quietly, after some talk on both sides. A party of two men sunk a hole on the side of a hill last evening, and the prospect obtained induced them to determine on putting down a sluice box, which they intend doing on Monday next. This claim is next bat one to the ground from which the pennyweight was taken. The diggers appear to be pushing further up the gully and setting into work with a good will, so, should the weather prove favorable next week, we trust we will be in a position to % encouraging news before out readers. Piercing- the Isthmus op Corinth.— With regard to the project of cutting through the Isthmus of Corinth, it is thought at Athens that the present moment is peculiarly apropos, inasmuch as the powerful machinery employed upon the Suez Canal may soon be had very cheap, and plenty of workmen will be out of employ,, and glad of this new job. A glance at ihe map w the Mediterranean will show how im portant such a canal would become for the commerce of the French, Italian, and Austrian harbors with Smyrna, Constantinople, and the Black Sea. The harbors at either end would not require any great outlay, whilst the Canal itself would only be s| English miles in length. The chief difficulty will be to cut through a hill Ot chalkstone, a mile wi ie at its narrowest Point, and USO feet above the level of the Be a. It is calculated that a channel 150 feet wide aud 40 feet deep will require the Jumoval of about 12,000,000 cubic yards w earth and rock. There can be no doubt that a canal would be of far greater real utility to the Greeks than an ironclad fleet to drive the Turkish fleet fronv M« Archipelago.—British Trade Journal. '