Summary of News.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 35, 12 February 1867, Page 3

Summary of News.

Tiie Editor of the Marlborough press is fond of a glass of good ale, as we infer from the following : — The Wellingtoninns are taking sure steps by means of Joint Stock Companies to secure tlie supply of good articles at moderate prices. They have for some time had a Baking Company and recently started a Butchering Company ; and the results!, boih as to quality and price of the articles supplied, and a fair profit on the eapila!, are said to be very satisfactory. We now see they propose to establish a Joint Stock Brewery, "which will doubtless pay much bet ter than the others, the business of which is limited to the supply of the citizens of Wellington. Good malt liquors will meet with readysale in any part of the colonj', anel the high rate of duty on imported aie and porter, would enable the producing Company to realise a handsome profit, should a genuine article only be manufactured — one that would keep and improve by keeping. The greater part of the trash sold by colonial brewers, is by the time it reaches the consumers fit for little else but vinegar, and vevy bad vinegar fo boot. The Grey River Argus says a rather novel match for no less than £100 a-side came eff at Kilgour's Union [-lotel. It consisted of a reai trial of skill in the art of tieing ginger beer corks, between one of the employees of Messrs. Mace and Dixon, of Hokitika, and Mr. John Strike, of Greymouth. Considerable interest was taken in the match, and tlie friends of the respective competitors backed their favorite freely. The match was commenced by Mr. Strike's opponent who in one hour succeeded in tieing 82 elozen and 8 bottles. This was considered such a wonderful work that the betting became decidedly against Mr. Strike., but wheu he set to work, anel the rapidity with wliich he could perform his task became evident, the confidence of the backers of the opposite party considerably decreased. Mr. Strike signally eclipsed his antagonist, his number being 85 doz. and 2 bottles, with 15 sees, to spare. This shows the most wonderful proficiency, the average being more than 17 bottles per minute. Wheu it is borne in mind that each cork had to be well tied, and the ends of the twine cut neatly off. the remarkable celerity displayed on the occasion may be understood. We had no idea that such a display of manipulation was possible. It appears that the Waste Lands Board of Otago will sell on the 20t.1i inst., about 100,000 acres of unsurveyed land within the Hundreds of Dunedin, East and West Taieri, Waihola, North and South Tokomariro, and East aud West Clutha, at an upset price of 10s. an acre. The sale will take place iv the Provincial Government Buildings, Dunedin. Another fire is reported in last Auckland advices. It took place at Freeman's Bay, and was fortunately discovered before any serious damage was done.

The Southern Ooss ofthe 81st ultimo gives the following brief particulars respecting the Piriraknu, the tribe that, has been causing the late troubles at Tauranga : — lt. is a small tribe, connected chit-fly with tbe Waikato.. and the two principal men are Te Kepa Itingatu and l.awiri. At tbe beginning of the first war in Tai'anaki, some emissaries from lbat part of ihe country came and persuaded the Pirirakau to go down. They took a prominent part at one of the fights, and lost a, great many men. A gentleman who som v time ago passed through one of their villages, informs us t.at amongst that small community there are fifteen widows whose husbands liad fallen in the Taranaki war. Of late they have shown but scant, hospitality to travellers, and we are seriously alarmed for the lives of the two surveyors who have fallen into their bands. It is quite likely that these men will be killed by the relatives of those who have fallen in tbe late unfortunate fight. In reference to tbe sale of land in the Waikato distiict, the WeUington correspondent of the Otago Times _:ys : — You will doubtless have received before this the particulai's of the great sale of Waikato land on the 12th March. I bear that it is being extensively advertised in Australia, aud hopes are entertained that a large quantity will be got rid of. Ko doubt, mnch will fall into the bands of speculators and a fine speculation it must prove for those who are in no buny to turn their money. I am continually bearing of splendid speculations in Maori lands. Only ten minutes ago, one was mentioned to me of a purchase of 400 acres irom a drunken native for £300, which in less than threo days changed hauds for £1000. Waikato land ought to be worth something in another year or two. A clerk iv the railway department — a man occupying a good position in society • — has just, absconded from Sydney — leaving defalcations to a large amount. He took a passage ou board the Amei'ican schooner Woodbind, bound from Newcastle to Sau Francisco, and must have sailed on Friday night or Saturday morning (the 25th or 26th ult;. The Empire points out the use of the Panama service in enabling the defaulter to be caught on landing, and says: — Ir, is obvious that if our costly police display sufficient diligence and intelligence, this man may be caught by means of the Panama line, as the telegraph wires were suid to have caught John Tawell. The Woodland, being loaded with coal, is not likely to make a veiy brisk passage to San Francisco. In the meantime, the Kaikoura, which leaves Sydney this evening, may be expected to be surely at Panama in from thirty to thirty-eight, days. Tlie passage thence by steamer to San Francisco occupies about fourteen days — in all about six or seven weeks; so that, supposing all tilings to be reasonably favorable, the warrant for the arrest of the defaulter, aud duly certified by the American consul, might be at ,:in Francisco before the arrival of the coi lier, or vvvy close upon her heels. Certainly this is unt one of the services whicb we had anticipated from the Panama line, aud it might be very disagreeable to tlie runaway, but it might be useful not only to the colony that he has left, but also to *■ the laud of his adoption." Judge Hargraves (says the Sydney Morning Herald) has rather astonished the patrons of the ring as well as the performers tliere, by sentencing two pugilists toa twelvemonths' imprisonment. Utterly disregard ful ofthe morals of the muscular school, the learned Judge treated fighting as a breach of tlie peace, and as the combatants were warned by the police, and declined to go, the crime of disobedience to authority was added. The Judge did not seem to think that fights were auy way more commendable because they were "prize" .fights ; on the contrary, beseemed to think tbey were less so, as they were got up and attended by rowdies. We are inclined to agree with his Honor.