Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 132, 22 August 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Ladybird, on her way to Wellington, was expected at Picton last evening. The Falcon took the first opportunity of crossing the bar on Monday morning last, and arrived in Wellington at 3'40 the same afternoon. She was to leave yesterday afternoon, and may therefore be looked for hourly. / Mr. Dudley Ward proceeds shortly, we underI stand, to Dunedin to assume his new judicial | functions. Previous to the departure of Judge | Chapman for England, on leave of absence, Mr. \ Justice Ward will sit conjointly with that | gentleman,— Post. Whaling.— A large “right whale” was captured on Wednesday last by Mr. James Keenan and party in the Sound, near the entrance of Tory channel. The fish is the largest taken this season, and is expected to give about 9 tuns of oil, which, with the bone, will be worth over £3OO. Another entered the Sound at the same time, but managed to effect its escape. This makes the seventh whale taken this season, and the whaliers say that it has been the best season they have had for many years.— Press.

The Lyttelton got stranded on the North Spit of the Grey on Monday last. Fortunately the weather was fine, and she was got off again without sustaining any injury at the spring tides of Wednesday last. She is to leave Nelson this day for Blenheim, and will return on Tuesday morning next. The usual meeting of the Mutual, Improvement Society will be held on Tuesday evening next. The discussion announced in our last is unavoidably postponed for the present, consequently Air. Johnson will anticipate his engagement of a fortnight later, by an essay entitled. Where is the Soul during Sleep ?” i His Honor Judge Ward was one of the passengers by the ill fated Taranaki to Picton, en route for Blenheim, for the purpose of holding his last sitting in the District Court, prior to his elevation as Judge of the Supreme Court at Otago. The Picton sittings wifi commence on Monday next. It is doubtful whether there will be any sittings held here beyond some bank- ■ ruptcy business, which will be done in chambers. The Thames Goldfields. —The Auckland Weekly News, of Saturday last, August 15th, says:—“On Saturday morning an additional two thousand ounces of gold were brought up from Shortland in the p.s. Duke of Edinburgh, from Hunt’s claim. We understand that, up to the present time, only fifty-two tons of quartz have been crushed out of nearly four hundred—four stampers being all that can at present be driven for want of sufficient water.”

We gladly welcome the Bishop of New Zealand back to this colony, where he has so universally and deservedly gained public esteem and affection. Before departing finally from New Zealand, we trust that colonists will not fail to testify to his Lordship the sense of regret which all feel at his leaving us to assume the important duties which he has Undertaken, at the request of her Majesty, to fulfil in the Bishopric of Lichfield. The Bishop of Christchurch arrived by the same opportunity.— Post. The Earthquake. —We have been favoured by the Government with the following particulars of the Earthquake Phenomena experienced on Monday throughout New Zealand :— Napier, 9 55 a.m.—Two slight shocks; direction N. to S. Waipukurau, 9.55 a.m.—Very strong shock. Castle Point, 9.56 a.m.—Very strong shock, from S. to N. Grey town, 9.ss—Severe shock. Featherston, 9 55—Ditto. White’s Bay, 9.ss—Ditto Ditto, 9.564 —A second shock. Blenheim, 9.55 —Two severe shocks, from N.W. Kaiapoi, 9.57 —Severe shock, from N. to S. Christchurch, 9.564 —Strong shock, from E to W. Lyttelton, 9.57 — Strong shock, N. to S , with oscillation of tide. Hokitika, 9 58—Violent shock ; also felt at Greymouth. Port Chalmers, 9 65—No shock, but oscillation of tide still going on. Nelson, 9.57 — Two smart shocks, so severe, it was deemed prudent by the operator to leave the office, got into the road and felt fire or six distinct waves from E. to W. /The following particulars respecting the new

paddle steam-tug in course of construction for fuse in the Opawa river will interest our readers. The Osprey will be 45 feet long, and of proportionate width ; her hold will be 4.1 feet deep, and sufficiently capacious to carry 30 bales of ' unpressed wool under hatches; the material iron, and of great strength; the engines, by Exall and Anderson, are 16 horse power, with double cylinders, will be fitted with reversing gear, and all the latest improvements. Mr. Seagar, of Wellington, the builder, is bound by his contract to have her ready for delivery on the [ 14th November next. We understand Mr. C. , .Redwood intends employing her in carrying fire- ; wood from Port Underwood, and other locaj* -business, between the voyages of the Falconer I W b are quite tired of calling public attemion to the way the General Government are dealing with this Province financially. No one can understand their way of keeping accounts ; and but recently it was stated in the Assembly that they would neither add, substract, multiply, or divide. We are informed that some time ago an intimation was received by the Provincial Government as to the amount of the balance due, after manipulation by the Colonial Treasury. After a long lapse a paltry credit was placed at Bank, on account of this sum, of about half its amount, which the provincial authorities properly declined to touch until they knew what had become of the balance. Our case is not a singular one, as nearly every province is making a similar outcry. It is said in Wellington that a misunderstanding has arisen on this account between Mr. Stafford and the Comptroller, who isd inpatient at the muddle into which the colonial and provincial accounts have got into. It is a burning shame that these funds should be thus delayed—preventing the payment of numerous claims, as well as the salaries of the police and others, who have not received the money earned by them for the last three months. -v. M ‘Kinley Ftryp. —The Committee of this Fußd , 'irel3'a > 'meeting on Thursday evening last, when, in consequence of information communicated to them, it was determined to reverse the determination come to previously of investing the proceeds of the late concert for the benefit of Mrs. M ‘Kinley’s family, and pay over to her the remainder of the money to dispose of as she may see fit. The following statement of the accounts

—The sum of £22 Is. was consequently handed over yesterday by Mr. Warner, the treasurer. The trust is therefore brought to a close.

The Panama Mail arrived, in Wellington on Tuesday last—three days before her time. Me, Moorhouse, late Superintendent of Canterbury, has resumed his practice as solicitor and barrister in the Courts at Christchurch. The “Wellington Punch. ” — Uunder the head of “Latest from the Thames Goldfields,” our witty contemporary says;—“Fresh discoveries every quarter of an hour. Gold scraped every five minutes from the bottoms of the vessels lying in the stream. The captain of the Whisker has discovered a rich vein in the three reefs of his maintopsail. Gold so plentiful in Auckland that 3d. per ounce is quoted as the highest price.”

was passed ;— Dr.—To Tickets sold £25 14 0 ,, Cash at door 9 1 0 ,, Sale of Local Sons ... ,, Donations, Litchfield 0 15 0 10 0 0 „ „ Johnson... 1 12 3 ,, ,, Millington 0 19 9 „ Error overpaid in Bank 0 4 0 £38 16 0 Cr.—By Mr. Lamb, music £1 0 0 ,, J. Ewart, refreshments 1 0 0 ,, Lighting and cleaning 0 15 0 ,, Carting stage, &c. ... 0 10 0 ,, Advertising News ... 0 19 9 ,, „ Express... 0 17 3 ,, Print. Tickets & Locals 1 5 0 ,, Cash paid Mrs. M ‘Kinley at sundry times 10 0 0 „ Cash overpaid Bank in error 0 4 0 ,, Cash in Bank N.Z. ... 22 5 0 £38 16 0