THE SOUTH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 713, 30 August 1869, Page 3

THE SOUTH.

Br the SB. ' Phoebe,' on Friday last, we have full files from Wellington and Southern Poits. The following is a summary of the news to hund.: — Messrs Chalmers and Moffat, of Lyttelton, are about to commence flax-dressing in Charteris Bay, where they have for some time been engaged in constructing a water wheel and other necessary appliances. The machinery is by Mr Williams, of Christchurch, and embraces the latest improvements. Employment will bo given to about half a-dozen hands.

Wo (Canterbury Press) are informed that on the 19th inst. a new ship will sail from the old country, commanded by Capt. Rose, late of the Mermaid, and which will bring to our shores 280 Welsh immigrants, the larger proportion of whom are about to establish a flannel manufactory on the Heathcote, whilst the remainder will embark in farming pursuits. These new comers will, we believe, receive a hearty welcome on their arrival, commencing as they will a new branch of industry, and thus affording valuable aid in developing the resources of the Province. We learn from the Bruce Herald that Mr M'G-lashan, of Dunedin, has erected machinery on his property of the Water of Leith, for the preparation from New Zealand fl ix of a pulp suitable for the manufacture of paper, which he purposes shipping in a compressed form to British paper-makers. In the Wairarapa Valley, according to the Mercury, there is every prospect of an early spring. Though only a little past the middle of August, the peach trees are seen to be blooming, and gooseberry and other trees are commencing to shoot. If there is no more frost, a good fruit season may be expected. The Maoris have commenced to plant the early potatoes in their bush clearing. We are glad to learn from the Mercury, that the price of fat stock is looking up ; holders of fat cattle are now asking 3| per lb by the carcase. Every probability exists that the value will materially increase.

The chief Manihera, whose name has been a good deal before the public lately, in connection with the land dispute ai Otaraia, is said to be very ill, and attended by Dr Spratt. Some people imagine his illness is a good deal exaggerated. A trial was made on Tuesday (says the Wellington Independent, Aug. 26) of a new flax machine, manufactured by Mr Mills. Its working was most satisfactory, and we' congratulate Mr Mills and the public interested inatter, on the energy and perseverance displayed in adopting every latest improvement in the manufacture of these valuable machines. We (Wellington Independent, Aug. 26.) were gratified to observo jesterday the outer T of the wharf covered with bales of flax from Messrs Ilillier & Pownall's mills. Though it is not got up as well as some we have seen in their establishment, the fibre is healthy and strong, and it is packed in well made and well pressed bales, fastened by tough rope of the same material. We hope soon to see the Wellington warehouses regularly filled. Ihe Wellington Independent, August 26, says there is no doubt whatever of the presence of gold in paving quantities at Terawiti, unwilling as the public generally seems to be to admit the fact. We were shown yesterday, by Mr Wright of Ohiro, 7ozs of beautiful nuggetty gold, and are allowed to state on his authority, that it was obtained by two men a 3 the result of fifteen days work ; but 30z3 and 7dwt were obtained in five days out of this time. Tne gold is very sharp and rough, evidently little waterworn, and therefore probably the matrix of the metal is not far off. A destructive fire took place on the 19th inst., in Mr Vincent's stables, Eyreton, Canterbury, by which three valuable horses lost their lives. The trial of marine velocipedes in Lyttelton has been postponed until the 4th September. An inquest has been held on the body of Mr Thomas Munroe, late Captain of the ketch Margaret, who was drowned in Decanter Bay, Canterbury, by becoming entangled in some kelp, while swimming after his which had been accidentally carried off the shore by a roller. The erection of a new Masonic Hall has been commenced in Manchester-street, Christchurch, for the C.L.F.A. Masons. The St. Augustine Lodge also contemplate building one. At Hokitika, E. W. Jones has been committed for trial on charge of appropriating monies received in his capacity as Curator of Intestate Estates. He has been released on bail.

Late heavy rains at Hokitika have broken the channel into three or four. A new Roman Catholic Chapel is about to be erected at Tokomairiro, Otago. The building will be commenced without delay. Tiie dr.'dges on the Molyneux, between the Bunstan and Alexandra, are still doing remarkably well, as much as £7O per man having been realized by each of the owners of one of them for the last week's work. Steps are being taken towards clearing the Molyneux of snags. In the Native Lands Court yesterday, (says the Wellington Independent, August 26) further evidence was adduced by the native claimant in support of the claim set up on behalf of the Ngatiteihiihi, a hapu of Ngatiraukawa. The claim rested on temporary residence on the block, and tho Court refused to recognize it. The judges then proceeded to sift the lists in order to determine the hapus. Mr Travers objected to the this course, and ultimately threw up his brief and retired from the case. The Court nevertheless proceeded with the examination of claimants' lista.

The Honorable Legislative Councillors' are determined, it seems, to give as much trouble in connection with the Hauhau prisoners as they possibly can. They have • already cut and pared the act framed for trying them under, till they made it all but useless, and now MrMantellhas given notice to move for. a return showing the name, tribe, nature of offence, date of apprehension, and date of committal, of eaeh of the prisoners confined on board the barque City of Newcastle. This will be rather a difficult return to prepare, and what useful purpose it can serve passes the comprehension of ordinary mortals.— Evening Post. An alleged attempt at incendiarism at Hokitika has been reported to the police, who are engage in sifting the matter. The settlers of Tokomairiro seem to have made a most determined stand against the Otago Hundreds Regulations Bill, introduced by Mr Macandrew, and passed by the House. The country papers are loud in the denunciation of it, and Mr Macandrew and all connected with the measure find themselves at the very acme of unpopularity. The Governor is to be petitioned to disallow it, and a commissioner sent by the agricultural districts is now in Wellington to urge their views upon the Legislature. Notwithstanding this strong expression of opinion Mr Fox, in the House of Representatives, on the 24th inst., said th:tt the Ministry did not intend to advise his Excellency to disallow the bill. Ihe later news to hand from Invercar gill, siys tho Daily Times, regarding the reported discovery of quartz reefs at Stewart's Istand, is confirmatory of the remarks published by us yesterday. It is stated that in one only out of many pieces of quartz tested, has gold been found, and nothing is said as to whether the indications furnished by this specimen are of a character to to justify the excitement that has prevailed in Invercargill.

We hear that a share in the company formed for smelting the Taranaki steel sand, has been recently sold for £5,000. It seems as if the real mines of wealth are to be found on the shores of New Plymouth, and not the Hauraki Gulf.

The publication of the Dunedin Echo has been suspended until a motion calling upon Mr Driver to proceed with the prosecution is disposed of.

A memorial calling on Mr Yogel to resign his seat in the Assembly is being canvassed on the Otago gold fields. Dr Featherston was a passenger by the s.s. Gothenburg, which arrived at Wellington from Melbourne on the 27th inst.

The Hon. Mr Man tell has given notice that he will move that the Legislative Council will not concur in any legislation which can bo construed as authorizing or permitting the introduction of Ghoorkas or other Asiatic troops into this Colony. Major Drown will move in the House of Representatives that the followicg rules should be adhered to in obtaining 3,000 additional arms for the use of the field forces of the Colony:—The rifles, of carbine description, sighted to 500 yards, not exceeding 40 inches in length, without rods, and with swivel rings and slinks ; of '45 bore ; breech-loading ; needle action ; with a central fire cartridge of the boxer description ; with a knife bayonet to fix on the underside of the muzzle, the knife with a keen cutting edge for cutting through the under scrub, and not exceeding from one and a quarter pound to one and a half pound.