THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1726, 24 September 1862, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.

TARANAKI.

From the Taranaki News, of the 18th inst., we learn that a Bill has been brought into the Provincial Council, for the purpose of imposing a rate on the town of New Plymouth, for the construction and maintenance of roads and public works. The Omata Road Bill was negatived without division.

A grateful recognition of the hospitality received by them from the people of Taranaki had been rendered, in the shape of an address, by the shipwrecked passengers of the Lord Worsley. An accident, unfortunately attended with loss of life, happened yesterday. A fishing party left the beach in a light boat in the morning, and in returning, although the day was fair, there was a bubbling surf on, and the]; boat turned over in tte surf, and one of the persons on board, Marshbank, was drowned. All were in danger, but were happily relieved by assistance from the shore and their own exertions.

WELLINGTON. A new and indisputable argument in favour of Wellington being the most suitable place for the seat of government, &c., and which has been much wanted, has been found in the following event, which might equally well have happened had Wellington been an insignificant coaling depot, and nothing more. Our Wellington friends altogether ignore the utter impracticability of extending their town inland upon the mountain ranges, and the want of available back country for the support of even the town they have; but this state of affairs, perhaps, engages less attention from the knowledge that their harbour, never a first class one, is, owing to the constantly recurring earthquakes, becoming gradually shallower, until it bids fair to aiford space for a site ior the future " empire city." On Thursday four steamers arrived in this port, bringing mails" from all the Provinces of the colony, and also from the Australian Colonies, viz., the Rangatira, from Sydney and Nelson; the Queen, from Auckland and Napier; the Airedale, from Otago and Lyttleton, and the Storm Bird, from Taranaki, Nelson, and Picton. The Queen and Rangatira were crowded with passengers from Auckland and Sydney for the Otago diggings. But we draw attention to the fact as au illustration of the facilities afforded by this port as the centre of steam communication.

On Wednesday evening, the 3rd inst., a bail was given by the members of the General Assembly visiting Wellington, to their friends in that place. His Excellency Sir George Grey was present during the earlier part of the evening. The Provincial Buildings were used for the occasion, and were admirably adapted, from the size and number of rooms, for the purpose. The Chamber in which the House of Representatives holds its sittings was used as the ball-room, and was very tastefully decorated, and when filled with its festive throng of visitors, —with lights beaming, music gushing,—presented a striking contrast to its appearance on ordinary occasions, while the Legislative Council chamber was converted into a supper room, in which Mr. Laing exerted himself to the utmost in providing a magnificent repast worthy of the hospitality of the Amphitryons of the evening. On Wednesday last Messrs. Johnston & Co. sold by public auction the Saxon merino rams and ewes ex Blanche. The animals were of a very superior character, well woolled, and with a close staple, and excited a considerable amount of competition. The following were the prices realized: —Ram No. 237, £2O; ditto No. 9G, £33 10s.; ditto No. 5, £25; ditto No. 40, £24; ditto No. 50, £22 10s.; ditto No. 179, £42 10s.; ditto No. 17, £27 10s.; ditto No. 2, £37 10s. Ewe No. 204, £35; ditto No. 96, £37 10s. His Honor the Superintendent purchased a ram and ewe, Mr. H. Russell, of Ahuriri, was the purchaser of two rams, one of them the highest priced at the sale, and Mr. Stokes of one ram and a ewe. A number of rams from the Otaki School Estate were afterwards sold, which realized fair prices.

CANTERBURY. The body of a farmer, named Abraham Stubbs, had been found in the river Avon by some men whilst fishing. Money and a watch were found in the pockets of deceased. An inquest had been held, from which the press, by a most un-English, and injudicious order of the Coroner, had been excluded; but it has transpired that suspicions are rife against a man named Groves, with whose wife, it is said, the deceased had been on terms of too great intimacy, and for which conduct threats of vengeance had been used by Groves. More than 200 persons had left Lyttleton for the Hartley gold fields.