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Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 77, 22 June 1868, Page 149

The Provincial Council of.Wellingfcon, on the_9fch inst., authorised the placing on the estimates the sum of £IOO to enable Mr Grove to continue prospecting for gold n f he Wairarapa district.

The Evening Post, 9th June, says;— Mr Carl Schafer, who . left Wellington overland a few days ago, arrived at Greytown on Thursday afternoon, and after a short stay proc ecled to Masterton, from thence he will proceed on foot (as usual whenever practicable) to Napier, and bv way of Lake Taupo to Auckland. The Alpacas. —The Hon. Robert Stokes’ unfortunate alpacas, which have long hung on the hands of the province are to be dropped. Tlie lion, member for Rangitikei, Mr Smith, has pointed out the folly of keeping such a burden any longer, and sagoly' suggested tlie necessity of selling them forthwith. The aninials had no “friends in Council” who could say a word in their behalf, as the Executive have been empowered to dispose of them on the best possible terms. Possibly some runholder rich enough to experimentalise, or the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society, may take these “ white elephants,” but as the province could get rid of them at once by letting the Nelson Acclimatisation Society have them, possibly it would be better to write to the Superintendent of Nelson at once, under the chance of getting some birds, beasts and fishes in return.' Wellington Independent, 13th June. The Bottle License. —A long and amusing debate took place in the Council on Thursday evening ou the proposed introduction of Mr Pharazyn’s clauses for granting to grocers and others bottle licenses, and the general opinion appeared to be that such an indulgence should be granted, subject to , condition that the fee payable for such be of the same amount paid tuallcrs.' ’ The watchword of those- members in favor of (he bottle system was “ Free trade and no monopoly,” and the other aide, while not directly opposing the proposed innovation in our licensing laws, called loudly ior fair play for the publicans. The arguments m favor of the bottle trade were first, that it would decrease drunkenness ; second, that no particular class should have the monopolyof selling liquor; third, that it would improve the. health and morality of the lower classes and improve the quality of the liquor sold in public houses. Ou the other side it was urged—first, that before such an innovation in the laws ,w.as made, an expression of public opinion should be taken; and second, that the proposed bottle system would inflict an injury on licensed victuall-rs. Everybody was unanimous, however, in desiring to see the licensing system abolished altogether. Du ing ihe discussion, several complaints were made of the quality of the wines, beers and spirits sold in country inns particularly, and the poor publicans were spoken of as “ licensed poisoners.” More fortunate than the alpacas, our hotel-keepers found two doughty champions in the persons of Mr Masters aud Mr W. S. Milne, both of whom not only denied that the quality of liquor sold in hotels was bad, but threw a bombshell amongst the city members, by urging the Couucil to remember that, even supposing tlie spirits were adulterated and the whies weak, -they were purchased from Wellington merchants. Of course, such atu quoque argument elicited bursts of laughter. But this was not all. It caused not a little indignation amongst the representatives of tlie class so attacked. Up jumped one Wellington merchant in wrath, who at once solemnly assured the Council that he had been in business for years, and had never yet used “ oil of vitriol or any other adulterating fluid.” Hardly had this gentleman cooled down to his usual state of placidity when another, merchant entered the lists in defence of his order,, r and-stated that none but the best brands of spirits, wines, and beers were imported, as there was no sale whatever for bad liquors. Another gentleman then took up cudgels on. behalf of the mercantile men, to assist whom probably, he told how a certain publican, formerly a whaler, used to water his rum till it would bear no. more, and that then be would “ put in bluesione, and that tickled ’em.” The end; of the matter was, however, that thb proposer of the clause agreed to replace his. rather long-drawn-out clauses by one s-hort one for granting, not . grocers only bub every shopkeeper, a bottle licemse on payment of an annual fee of £3O. This new clause' has yet to, be considered, but ,it is very probable that it will, he' supported’ by a majority : of;the Council,-as everybody is heartily tired of the Licensing which haß ior sessions been a standing dish.—Wellington Independent, 13 th Jane. ■ '

r\ ~ ■ 1 dis c<w»ed on Captain HotfeM;£jauu*-'rti Southland* fs- being used on the railway there. The engineer reports most favorablr as to its quality. , An Adelaide telegram, dated 27th May, says;—“ The 15th Regiment is- to be removed from South Australia, and replaced by the 18th Royal Irish.” . The Riveehead Gum Diggings— W~& are informed that there i 9 now ample room at Riverhead for a much larger number of gum diggers than are at present employed in that locality. There is therefore a good opening for men who are not afraid of work, and no excuse for the “ loafing class who are ever complaining of the absence of employment. We are very glad to learn that all who are engaged at gum digging at Riverhead are doing well.—New Zealand Herald, 12th June. We learn that a petition is numerously ligned by a very influential portion of the community who have an interest in the Kuranui Moanatairi, and Waiotahi Creeks, to have a branch bank established at or near Graham’s town, the want of which is much felt in that district. We cau sympathise with the petitioners, as the great bulk of the rich claims are situated iu the immediate neighborhood, together with a number of crushing machines.— Thames Advertiser, 4th June.

The Thames Advertiser has the following letter from Messrs Spencer & Co., dated the 3rd June :—“ In your notice of the Loch Earn Claim, Waiotahi, published on the 2nd inst., you quote the value of their gold at £3 17s lOd, per oz. Many diggers are under the impression that they are getting this price for their gold. We think the Banks would be conferring a great favor on those miners who are not conversant with arithmetic-by paying them for their gold at its real value per oz. and not at the standard price of £3 17s lOd.”

New Zealand Flax Export. —The Novelty, which will leave our harbor this day for Sydney, will take ab>ut 20 tons, of New Zealand flax. The quality of the fibre, is of a superior description, and the bales we inspected, as they lay on the wharf, appeared to be wholly of flax which had been passed through the hackle. It was free from the husk or straw which is generally to be found adhering to the machine dreesed flax. In color it was very good, and its strength highly satisfactory. H'rom the last quotations of New Zealand flax at Sydney, we believe this consignment will realise from. £23 to £3O per ton.—New Zealand Herald, 10th June. Kebosine at Rivebhead. Having mentioned incidentally the other day Mr Lamb, of the WaitematA Mills, had discovered anoiLapring-near. the. Waitemata, we may as well furnish: our’ readers- with the full particulars.: The kerosine was not discovered in the fi-st instance by Mr Lamb, but by a gum-digger,- -while spearing for gum. On withdrawing his spear, .which lie had thrust into the soil, the oil bubbled to the surface, and mentioning this to Mr Lamb, that gentleman further tested the ground with an iron rad: Oil and water rose to the surface, and aquautity of the oil was separated. At the present season, however, the ground is too wet to profitably prospect the same spot. There might, however, be drier spots in the locality where the petroleum well could be reached, which could be prospected in present season.—New Zealand Herald, 6th June.

Military Intelligence —A rumor is current among the Military in Auckland, that the 2nd battalion, 18th Royal Irish, will proceed to Australia before the year expires, for the purpose of relieving the 50th Regiment, which is reported to be concentrating in Sydney, previous to the embarkation for England. The time of foreign service of the latter corp, is about being expired, and there is some probability of the rumor in question turning out a fact. The statement lately made in the House of Commons by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in reference to the Military in New Zealand, somewhat bears out this rumor. Rumoi also points to a regiment from China or India to take the place of the 18th Regiment, here but only as a temporary arrangement. Two sergeants, one belonging to the medical, the other, the purveyors’ department, are about leaving Albert'Barracks for the Australian Colouies, to do duty with the troops there stationed.—Evening News; Bth June.

Kennedy’s Bay. —The Thames Advertiser Das the following in reference to Kennedy’s Bay:—“ We have received tlie following information respecting the position of affairs at Kennedy’s Bay from asource in which we have every confidence. The writer says that M'Leod aud party, had been prospecting about three weeks, but no man had obtained a payable prospect before or since. M'Leod had a prospecting claim granted him, and worked, but got only the color of gold. He also prospected other ground, reported to be payable, but found nothing. The writer says that he never saw a sample from any digger who had worked there that was anything like payable. The gold that M'Leod and party sent away by Mr Maokay was generally believed not to have been obtained at the Bay. He was there two weeks, and was well acquainted with the diggers. At one time there were three or four hundred diggers, most of whom returned to Tapu and Shortland. Some of the Maoris stated that some of the gold said to have come from the proapectoris claim they had themselves given to Mackay.” *