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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 205, 21 August 1876, Page 2

There are now four woollen factories in the Province of Otago, and the local papers say that they are not only holding their own against foreign competition, but that it is a difficult task to overtake the orders. After experiment, the conclusion is that Lyttelton possesses the finest dredging fleet in the Southern Hemisphere. Work is now commenced in dredging the whole bay enclosed within , the breakwaters for a depth of sis feet. The dredge is bo powerful that two | other hopper barges are required. The Taranaki Budget haa the following:—-" No offer will be refused " was yesterday announced by a tradesman who is leaving the province. A gentleman promptly presented himself last evening, and placing a £1 note on the counter, said, " Give me twenty pairs of watertights — there's the cash — no | offer refused — I'll take twenty pairs for j the pound" An alteration has been i made in the announcement. Lyttelton is expected to be supplied with water in about four months, Two powerful engines in the Heathcote ; Valley are to pump water from an artesian well to a height of 200 feet I above the railway, along which pipes are to be laid through the tunnel to Lyttelton. Sir James Pergusson is suggested by the Auckland Herald as a suitable person for the office of Agent- General. On Tuesday last there were fifty-six orders of the day and thirty notices of motion on the Order Paper of the House of Representatives. The planting on the Canterbury railway reserves, north of the river Styx, was completed last week. The Lyttelton Times says the total number of trees planted will be about 75,000. Yesterday (says the Southland Times ox Saturday, 29fch ultimo) was a great day in the sporting annals of Southland, inasmuch as the first public coursing match was held, as the preliminary to a series of meetings every season. About fifty gentlemen, comprising many of the most influential residents of Invercargill, started by a special train for the place of rendezvous, Morton Mains, about sixteen miles eastward on the Mataura railway line. There were altogether eleven dogs. Hares were plentiful, and in the early part of the morning, in the nearer paddocks where tussocks abounded, there was a kill in almost every case. Later on in the afternoon, there were three or four splendid courses run, where the dogs turned the hare time after time aad where, nevertheless, pussy managed ;to get off clear at last. Altogether, eleven hares were killed during the day. It has been reported for some time (says the New Zealand Herald of the 4th instant) that Sir Donald M'Lean is about to resign the office of Native Minister, aud that he ia to be succeeded by Mr Ormond. Sir D. M'Lean has attained high honor and much credit, and it is always a safe plan for a public man to retire upon his laurels when he has any to retire upon. Mr Ormond, who is spoken of as his successor, has the reputation of being a good administrator, but is said to be narrowminded and ill-tempered and he has manifested special dislike to Auckland. We learn from the Auckland Herald that the murderer Winiata is now quite lionised at Te Kuiti, and even Hami Waaka — a miserable wretch who some six weeks since stole a few pigs from a Waipa settler, and upon his next visit to the settlement only escaped being apprehended by casting off his clothes, and flying before his pursuers till he crossed the confiscated line, where he was of course safe, and at once became famous — has since been promoted by the King to be a priest of the Tareaos for having so distinguished himself.