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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1228, 22 January 1872, Page 2

At the sittings of the Supreme Court (in banco) at Wellington on the 10th insfc., on the motion of Mr OUivier, a rule nisi was granted to make absolute an order of the Court made on the 23rd December, 1870, at Wellington, to the effect that John Nathaniel Wilson, # of Hawkc's Bay, should deliver to James Meliss Stuart, of the firm of Kinross and Company, accounts of fees and disbursements on account of the Company, of which he was a member. Reports are to hand from all parts of the province of Canterbury as to the injurious effect the drought is having upon the late crops. The early crops have also been ripened in many instances before thoroughly filling out, and the yield generally speaking will be very light compared with what the promise of the young crops led farmers to expect. Caterpillars are also said to have done some damage in the Southbridge district. Rain would be very welcome to the late crops, but to the early ones it would be somewhat otherwise, whilst it would also interfere with harvesting operations, which are now becoming very general.

There were no criminal cases for trial at the sessions at Nelson held on the 3rd insfc. His Honor the Judge was consequently presented with the customary pair of «gioves.

Government life assurance is gaining favor on the West Coast. Oapt. Bald win .succeeded in obtaining proposals for no less than £IO,OOO in Hokitika alone during a late visit to that plao<\ The Dunedin Evening Star, 15th inst, says:— -Duiiug last week the thermometer ranged from 100° bo 120° at Clyde, and at Queens'own 85° in ihe shade and 120° in the sun. We learn from the local paper that the weather in the Oamaru" distiict has continued extremely dry and warm, and Thursday last was the hottest clay of the season. Rain, if it comes now, will almost come too late. Owing to the drought some of the rivers in the district are nearly dry. The Kakanui

can be stepped across, and there is no water in the Shag, except a little in the fish ponds. Mr sToung, Palmerston, tried to save as much as possible by a dam in order to keep the trout alive, but five were yesterday found dead, one of the fish being 11 inches in length. The Otepopo and Waianakarau may be crossed dryshod. The Big Kuri, Shag, and Kahalp have lonoceased to run.

The Australasian Trade Review has the following on what becomes of bad wheat:—" A good deal of excitement has been occasioned through the action taken by the City Council, in bringing before the Magistrate's Court several bakers who are alleged to have used alum in the preparation of* their bread ; the bakers persist in laying the onus on the millers, the latter, however, deny the allegation, and some (through the medium of the press) invite an inspection of their stock. The question probably resolves itself into the following enquiry :—What becomes of the very large quantity of damaged and unwholesome New Zealand and other sorts of wheat competed for so eagerly at our weekly auctions? It is well known that if flour-be made, from such inferior grain, it can only be rendered marketable, by the use of alum, or some similar ingredient, as this community will have a white loaf."

The Lyttelton Times, January 19, says :—The inhabitants of Christchurclv were somewhat alarmed on Wednesday night by seeing the reflection of a large fire. As the direction was Lyttelton, it was feared that another fire had broken out in the town. Fortunately this was not the case. The reflection, was caused by a tremendous grass fire on the hills opposite the town. As far as can be learnt the fire commenced near Little Port Cooper, and extended along the range of hill* up to Rhodes' Bay. At midnight the scene was very grand, the fire running along the ground at terrific speed. It conunued its ravages all night and also yesterday morning, the hills being enveloped in thick smoke. It had reached Rhodes' Bay by noon, and had destroyed the. gorse fences round Mr Rhodes' paddock. Fortunately Mr Rhodes was on the. spot, and under his direction the fire was beaten out and prevented extending to Purau and Mrs Dean's beach orchard, but he was unable to prevent ifc from obtaing a hold of the bush. When our exptess left last night the tire was still raging in the bush, and. it will be some time, we fear, before it is subdued. Another fire took place near Ruapaki, and at one time it threatened to be very extensive, but late in the afternoon it appeared to. have been suppressed.

The Lyttelfcon Times says.that during the past year there have been about 111 artesian wells sunk within the boundaries of the. city of Christchmch, making the total number now in existence about 629. It is therefore no wonder that the supply of water should have visibly decreased.

The Evening Post of Saturday says, that " the arrangements for laying the foundation stone of the new Provincial. Government buildings are not yet completed, but we believe we are correct in saying that the proposal is that the. ceremony should take place on Monday week, that day to be observed as a holiday in honor of the occasion ; his Honor the Superintendent to lay the stone; the volunteers to parade ; a lunch to be arranged at Moeller's, for admission to. which every person, should pay (this is because the Executive don't like spending public money o,n such matters); and in order to make a little more to be done, it is suggested to, christen the new fire bell on the same day. Such is an outline ol the course proposed.

In the recent message of the President of the United States to Congress, reference was made to " a remnant of barbarism, indecency, and uncivilization as existing in the state of Utah." He said that "neither polygamy nor any other* violation of existing statutes would be permitted within, the territory of the United States." " The saints would be protected in the worship of God according to the dictates of their consciences, but they would not be permitted to violate laws under the cloak of religion. - '