News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 41, 4 November 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

New Minister. —As will be seen from our Parliamentary report, the Hon Mr Waterhouse has joined the Ministry. We understand that the hon gentleman will during the session take charge of the Government measures, but that until the end of the session he will not accept any particular portfolio. He is, we believe, in full accord with the Government, and will be able to give them such a support in the Council as greatly to assist the passing of the Government measures. The Provincial Executive.— lt is intimated in a Provincial Gazette published on Wednesday that his Honor the Superintendent has appointed George Hunter, Esq., a member of the Executive of the province of Wellington. Land Transfer Department. —We understand that Mr Moorhouse has been re-appointed Registrar-General of Land, Mr Williams, who only held the office temporarily having resigned. The remarkable success of this department under Mr Moorhouse is the best guarantee of his special aptitude for this important office. New Duties. —lt will be seen from our Parliamentary report that very important business engaged the attention of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The duties on cereals were passed as proposed by the Government, as were also the duties on soap, malt, and hops. The duty on soap is 3s 6d a cwt, on malt Is 6d a bushel, and on hops 3d a lb. The debate was very long, but very interesting. Free trade and protection have each their champions, and the speeches last night fairly set forth their respective advantages. Projected Railways in Wellington. —A statement showing the proposed main and coalfields lines of railway, and the estimated traffic and working expenses of each line, has been laid before the General Assembly. The following are the esti mates of traffic on the lines in this province : —From Wellington to Masterton, 70 miles—The present yearly traffic of timber, wool, produce and merchandise amounts to about 12,688 tons, the carriagecost of which is £29,224. The passenger traffic produces £1750; and the cost of driving cattle and sheep for the home market ( i.e exclusive of those for exportation) amounts to £950 —making a total carriage-cost of £31,924. The newly purchased district of the Seventy-Mile Bush will be opened up by this line in conjunction with the proposed tramway from Masterton, and produce a large export of timber. —Manawatu to Wanganui, (Tramway) 45 miles—The present yearly traffic on the route of this line is—cattle 2000 head, sheep, 20,000 head, horses, 189 head, pigs, 2000 head, passengers by coaches and spring carts, 38,896, horsemen, 12,432, agricultural and other produce, 2191 tons, and merchandise, 620 tons, the total carriage cost of which is £12,022 2s. During the past year 600,000 superficial feet of timber was imported into Wanganui which would have been supplied from Rangitikei had

there been a rail or tramway, and at the present moment there are many thousands of bushels of grain, and large quantities of produce, which would be sent in to Wanganui but for the want of cheap carriage. The present traffic would be increased fourfold if a rail or tramway existed. The working expenses of the Wellington and Masterton line are estimated at £12,500 for one train per day, and £16,000 for two trains calling at seven stations. The Manawatu and Wanganui line is estimated to cost annually £5,600 for one train, and £9400 for two trains daily, calling the same number of stations. The Patent Slip— A meeting ot the directors of the Patent Slip Company was held on Thursday afternoon. Six tenders for the erection of the slip were received, but it was agreed by the directors that none of the tenders should be accepted. The Cereal Duties.— Mr Thomson, member for Clutha, opposed these duties, although his district might not have to pay a great amount under their imposition. Still, he had made a calculation of the proportion of expense to which each town of the colony would have to pay towards defraying the cost of the Colonial Treasurer’s visit to England, and he found that the township in which he resided would have to pay £34. If he had to pay that amount under the duties he would not object, but.he did object to paying it both ways, and as they had to pay for the Treasurer’s trip, whether they liked it or not, he should vote against the duties. The s.s. City of Adelaide.— The Australian Steam Navigation. Company s fine steamer City of Adelaide entered Wellington harbor on Thursday afternoon, having made a rapid passage hither from Auckland. There was little inducement on Thursday for anyone to venture oufc-of-doors or upon the wharf, which was exposed to the full force of a strong nor wester,but a considerable crowd assembled to witness her arrival, and all who visited her concurred in describing her as one ot the finest steamships they had seen. As described by Auckland contemporaries, “ she is certainly one of the finest steamers that ever visited these waters. Indeed it is difficult to imagine that any improvement could be made. The machinery could hardly be excelled by the works of a chronometer, and is kept in a state of cleanliness and polish that will do credit to any of Her Majesty’s ships, and indeed the same may be said of every part of the vessel. The accommodation is also in a style of elegance and comfort seldom surpassed ; and all the latest modern improvements have been made use of in the various apparatus, such as the steering, cooking, &c. As a specimen of what modern skill and ingenuity, can effect, she is well worthy of inspection. Should she be placed permanently on the trade proposed by her owners, the A.S.N. Company, and under the command of Captain Walker, whose character as a seaman and gentleman had preceded him to this port, we are confident that both the City of Adelaide and Captain Walker would become great favorites with the travelling portion of the public.” The Lyell Reefs. —The reefs discovered at the Lyell about two years ago have, after immense labor on the part of the prospectors, at length been thoroughly tested by a crushing of 33 tons of stone, and, as will be seen by our telegrams, that quantity has yielded 82 ounces of smelted gold, or at the rate of 2\ ozs to the ton. This result is likely to encourage increased interest and investment in the several claims adjoining that of the prospectors. Intestate Estates Bill.— In. the Legislative Council on Wednesday this bill was thrown out on a motion made by Mr Sewell that it be read a third time that day six months. The bill was one of the most useful measures that had been placed before the Lords during the present session, providing, as it did, for the. abolition of .the rights of primogeniture in the case of persons dying intestate, and dividing the property amongst the wife and all the children of a family in equal proportion.

Gold Returns. —lncidentally, Mr Vogel announced on Wednesday evening that the gold returns during the quarter just completed were larger than during any previous quarter, the only quarter which approached it in amount being that ending March, 1866, which gave a return of 204,0000z5. Wellington Christys.— The Manager of the Bank of New South Wales acknowledges the receipt of £ls from Mr A. Maginity, which sum has been duly placed to the credit of the trustees of Mrs Lawrence. We are pleased to learn that the Christys anticipate performing again on the 13th instant, for the benefit of St. Paul’s School, Thorndon. The Otago Land Sale. —In the Legislative Council, on Tuesday, the Hon Mr Holmes intended to propose a series of resolutions on the subject of the recent land sale in Otago, but he postponed his motion until to-day. The resolutions are : —That, in the opinion of this Council, the proposed sale of 45,000 acres of land to Mr Clarke should not be completed for the following reasons, viz.:—(l.)

That portion of the land outside of a goldfield has not been proclaimed as open for sale. (2.) Because the full price of rural land* has not been paid for the same.. (3.) Because the lease of that portion within goldfields has not been cancelled, nor the land declared open for sale or selection by proclamation. - (4.) Becauae portion of the land is auriferous, and the Warden a report has not been called for.. (5.) Because the proposed sale is prejudicial to the public interests, inasmuch as surveyed and covenanted blocks have been included therein, and due provision has not been made for roade. (6.) That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor enclosing these resolutions, requesting him to forbid the completion of the sale, or to disallow it if completed. Removal of the Legislature.-— The decision arrived at by so large a majority in the House of Representatives on the motion of Mr Wood with reference to the removal of the Legislature to Dun* edin has been reversed by . an equally large majority, in proportion to the number of members in the Legislative Council on the motion of Mr Waterhouse, “ That in the opinion of the Council, it is essential to the maintenance of efficiency in the public service, that the General Assembly should hold its sittings at the seat of Government.” The numbers on division were —Ayes, 21; Noes, 7. Native Lands Court.—A meeting of this court was held before His Honor Chief Judge Fenton, and Mitai Pene Taui, Assessor, in the Maori House, Museum, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 25th, 26th, and 27th. October, for the consideration of certain issues sent down by the Supreme Court to the Native Lands Court for investigation. Mr Izard appeared as counsel for the plaintiffs, and Mr Brandon for the defendants. The plaintiffs were Motu, Ngaponga, Hemi, Parai, Wi Tako, Ropika, Moturoa, and the defendants were the hospital trustees, viz, W. Fizherbert, W. W. Taylor, and J. C. Crawford, Esq. Hemi Parai being absent, was represented by a gentleman holding a power of attorney. Moturoa was lying ill at the Hutfc, and was unable to attend. The first issue was in effect to try whether the chiefs who sold Te Aro to Colonel Wakefield were, according to the Maori custom, the properly authorised persons to sell, and whether the first deed of cession was a good and valid one. The court decided that the chiefs who signed the deed had power to do so, aud that therefore the deed was a good one. The s.s. Nevada.— Californian mails by the steamers of Mr Hall’s and Mr Webb’s lines both turned up at Sydney on the morning of the 19th, within a conple of hours of each othei. The two vessels, the City of Melbourne and the Nevada, both left Honolulu on the same day, and one coming by Fiji and the other by New Zealand, both arrived at port as closely as we have stated. The Nevada met with a collision off the coast of New Zealand, and would have to go into dock, and, in consequence, would not visit Melbourne this Scene in the House.— On Wednesday afternoon the House of Representatives was "cleared of strangers.” Of course no report was made of what passed daring their absence, but it is very probable that Mr Speaker called the attention of the House to a proceeding by the hon member for Mount Ida, Mr Mervyn, during the previous evening’s sitting, of a character which tended to set at defiance the authority of the Speaker and Chairman of Committees, and he.no doubt, suggested that it was necessary that the Speaker should have power to remove from the House any person demeaning himself in such an insubordinate manner as Mr Mervyn had done. The Speaker, no doubt, also referred to the Standing Orders, which inflicts a penalty not exceeding £SO on any member guilty of vexatiously interrupting the business of the House, and adjudges such person to be guilty of contempt. He no doubt expressed his determination on any future occasion to enforce the order, and asked the House to support him. Mr Mervyn on this, we daresay, rose and apologised to the House, so that as far as he went the affair dropped. The Hon Mr Fox no doubt rose and expressed his strong sympathy with the Speaker, and the determination of the House to support him in the performance of his duty. This probably required no further provision in the case of persons wilfully interrupting the business of the House, but he said it with feelings of shame and humiliation that there had been during last week at least one occasion on which the business of the House had been impeded by a member not deliberately acting from any factious motive, but under influences which he need not designate. The practice of the House of Commons afforded precedent for dealing with the case of a members whose mental faculties were deranged by the interposition of Providence, but he regretted to say that there had been at least one occasion on which the business of the House had been obstructed by a member whose indisposition had not been caused by Providence. He thought some provision should be made to meet such

cases. It was, indeed, to be regretted if the House should be obliged to acknowledge by a standing order that any constituency had sent among them a representative whose conduct demanded such a course. But it would be less disgraceful to take steps to check such behaviour, than that it should exist without remonstrance. He would confer with other hon members, and endeavor to suggest some course which might strengthen the hands of the Speaker in the matter.

The Committee on Industries. —We have already indicated the contents of the report of the joint committee on colonial industries. Besides the important matters upon which they reported, papers and correspondence were submitted to the committee on the following subjects : The growth of linseed, the employment of a steam collier in the coal trade at the Grey River, the encourangement of hand loom weaving. Upon these the committee did not desire to make any special recommendation. A paper was received upon the manufacture of soap, asking that a bonus mijEfht be offered in certain cases ; but they are of opinion that this is an industry now sufficiently well established to prosper without extraneous assistance. Some evidence was taken on the subject of petroleum, its quality, and the places where it may be found, but no further information was elicited than is now obtainable in reports by Dr Hector, and other printed papers upon this product. Specimens were handed in of some fair building slate, but rough ; and some pieces of black birch timber, said to be suitable for railway sleepers. Towards the conclusion of their report, the committee recommend that steps be taken so that, by means of trade marks or otherwise, local manufacturers may be protected from spurious imitation or conterfeits.

The New Rush in Westland.—A correspondent of the ‘West Coast Times” gives the following description of the new rush in the Ross district:—“ The ground at present taken up is a low terrace on the east side of the Totara Lagoon, and extends from Chinaman’s flume to a mile and a-half, southward, towards the Totara. The terrace is very narrow, there scarcely being room for one claim. There are about 3ft of stripping and four feet of wash, the latter consisting of black sand and boulders. The gold is of a fine floury character ; the prospects vary half a grain to three grains to the dish. The ground was first rushed by about two hundred men, when Ross and party obtained a prospecting claim. The results not being considered satisfactory, the place was nearly deserted although by no means a fair trial had been given to it, very few holes having been sunk. One or two parties, however, remained, and about a fortnight ago one of them obtained payable gold, and the news spreading caused the second, about 150 men being now on the ground. There are two stores in course of erection, as also a butcher’s shop and bakery. The miners are confident that they will obtain at least good wages, as the stripping is light and the working generally of an easy nature. There is every probability of this rush extending considerably, as the terrace extends unbroken from the Totara river to the Hospital creek, a distance of six or seven miles.

Traction Engines are no longer to be used in the streets of Melbourne during the day time, under a penalty of £5 against any person driving one. Coal. Christchurch of the discovery of a seam of coal at Ashley Gorge, on one of the branches of the Ashley river. Specimens of this coal have been brought to Cjiristchurch, and are said to be of good quality. In Auckland the Mayor’s horse has been pounced upon by the police as an offender against the Municipal Police Act. Consequently, his Worship will have to adjudicate upon a complaint laid against himself.

Cannibals. —Ra Biau, and two youthful warriors who have distinguished themselves by their attrocities and human feasts in the Fijis, are now on exhibition at San Francisco, and it is intended by their exhibitors to take them a tour throughout the United States and Europe. Commercial Honesty. Auckland papers record a pleasing instance of commercial honesty. Mr Andrew Austin was forced to take advantage of the Bankruptcy Act in July, 1870, but since his discharge has made sufficient money to pay his creditors 20s in the pound. The fact that he has done so is acknowledged by the creditors. Mr Austin has worked a successful tribute for the Tookey Company.

Berkley, Sept. 1869. —Gentlemen, I feel it * duty I owe to you to express my gratitude for the great benefit I have derived' by taking ‘Norton’s Camomile Pills.’ I applied to your •gents, Mr Bell Berkley, for the above named Pills, for wind in the stomach, for which I Buffered excruciating pain for a length of time, having tried every remedy perscribed, but without deriving any benefit at all. After taking two bottles of your valuable pills I was quite restored to my usual state of health. Please give this publicity for the benefit of those who may thus be afflicted.”—l am, Sir, yours truly, Henry Allpass.—To the proprietors of Norton's Camomile Pills.

The Key to the Chinese Question. —;The problem as to how it is best to deal with the bugbear of Chinese immigration has been solved in a sentence by Mr G. B. Barton. He was invited by the select committee of the House of Representa tives to state his views on the subject, and he complied with the invitation. In his written reply to the committee, he states that he thinks it desirable that steps should be taken with the view of checking Chinese immigration, and he adds:—“The step I would recommend is this : The Government of New Zealand should place itself in communication with the authorities at Hong-Kong and other Chinese ports, for the purpose of representing the actual state of affairs on the subject, and making it known among the Chinese themselves. There can be no doubt that they are now flocking to Otago under gross misapprehensions. They have been led to believe that there are millions of acres in Otago open for occupation ; that the climate is mild, employment easily obtained, wage high, and provisions cheap. If it were made known to them that the facts are just the reverse, their emigrating tendency would probably be checked at once.” In strange contradiction to this most strange recommendation Mr Barton gives it as his further opinion that “ a capitation tax would neither drive them out of the country, nor prevent them coming into it.” The Great Land Sale in Otago.— The “ Tuapeka Times” thus concludes a leader which explains a recent telegram : —We do not suppose that Mr Reid is conceited enough to think that no other person could be found to manage the province but himself. But surely it was the last thing to be expected from a man who has made the settlement of the country his hobby that he would lend his name to such a gross violation of his oftrepeated doctrines. The report of the committee of the Legislative Council has encouraged a hope that the sale will be cancelled, and petitions, praying that such may be done, are now being extensively circulated and signed. We understand that Mr Bastings, who is about to proceed to Wellington as a delegate from the Tuapeka Railway Committee, will take charge of these petitions. That bis mission may be crowned with success is the earnest wish of all who have the good /of the country at heart.

Martin’s Bay. —A miner known by the name of “ Fred,” arrived at Queenstown from Martin’s Bay on the 18th. He had travelled overland in sealskin boots, and stated his mission to be for the purpose of organising a party to proceed to a portion of the beach near Martin’s Bay, where he stated he would guarantee to them from 18s to £1 a day per man. The locality referred to is probably Big Bay. The Arrow paper states that during the operation of digging a cellar for Mr Wilkinson of the Shamrock Hotel, a dishful of stuff was panned off, and a prospect of nearly two grains of nicelooking gold obtained. A whale fifty feet long has been captured off Waikouaiti by Mr Bradshaw’s party. It is expected to yield six tuns.

The Canterbury Races. — “ Druid,” the sporting contributor to the “ Lyttelton Times” makes the following comments on the race for the Canterbury Cup : —Why are the entries so few P It cannot be because the money is so little. It has been tried first of all with £IOOO added, and then the starters never, except the first year, exceeded five or six ; then it was reduced to £SOO, and these last two or three years to £3OO, and the distance has been reduced from 3 to 2J miles in the hope that that more would enter, but without effect. My own impression is, that instead of making this race a weight for age race, the committee ought to make it a handicap, with a sweep of £2o—£s on nomination, £5. on acceptance, the remaining £lO at the post. A good entry would result from it, and we very likely should have ten or fifteen come to the post (especially if the handicap was well made) instead of only three—Knottingley, Peeress, Flying Fish—the sole competitors for the great race of New Zealand. And of this lot the old horse Knottingly stands decidedly the favorite, and this year will have the assistance of the Flying Fish to make the running for him, so that he may be able to shake off the Peeress, and not let the Cup this year slip from him if all his owner and trainer can do to help it; but in spite of all these things I am a most decided admirer of the old mare, and shall, from my present observations! expect her to be the winner. Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying the foundation for Counsumption and Wasting, the use of Savory & Moores’s Pancreatic Emulsion and Pancreatine, already so highly approved by the Medical faculty, will be found among the most potent remedial agents ; they effect the digestion of Cod Liver Oil and prevent nausea, while they efficiently supply the place o 1 the oil when the stomach rejects it. These facts are attested by the published records of medical men, extracts from which accompany each bottle, price from 2s to 21s. Savory & Moore, 143, New Bond Street, London, and all Chemists. Note —Savory & Moore’s name and trade mark on each bottle. April 22 1871. 52 w.

Mining Excitement in Victoria.— The mining excitement in Sandhurst is thus referred to in the letter of the correspondent of the Australasian of Oct. 14:— The events of the week have been characterised by what would be wild excitement were it not for the apparent healthiness of operations. With the most cheerful information coming in from the mines, and fresh discoveries daily made, it is not surprising that stocks should rapidly rise in value, and that speculation should be rife. There' have been many strangers in the town, all eager to participate in the good things going, and the crowd at the Verandah has now assumed quite alarming proportions. The Sale of the Dunedin Gas Works.— -As reported by telegraph, the plant of the Dunedin Gas Works, and the lease of the property on which it is erected, were submitted to public auction on Tuesday last at the rooms of Messrs Driver, Stewart & Co, in the presence of about thirty persons. Mr Driver acted as auctioneer. Mr Cook, solicitor to the debenture holders, by whom the sale was ordered, having read the conditions, the bidding was started at £15,000 by Mr Larnach, and advanced by bids of £IOO, till £16,500 was reached, when bids of £SO were taken. When £17,800 was reached the bidding ceased, and the works were knocked down to Mr Larnach, for Mr Hankey, at that figure. Being unable to ascertain by whom the bidding was carried on in opposition to MrLanarch, we must assume, says the “ Star,” that it was, in the words of a person interested, by “ a Melbourne man.”

Murder at Tanna.— The “ Otago Daily Times,” in commenting on the Australian news by the Gothenburg, stated the person whose massacre by the Tanna natives was telegraphed from Sydney, to be Charles Grut, for some time connected with Messrs Bates, Sise, and Co. It would appear that the news so telegraphed was originally brought to Auckland ; and the Fiji papers received there give the name of the murdered person as Mr Glutt, a settler on the Island of Tanna. Information as to Mr Grut’s position, coupled with the fact just mentioned, warrant the “ Evening Star” in believing that he was never on that island.

The Labor Market.— lt is officially notified in the Otago Provincial Gazette that there is kept at each police station in the province a register in which employers of labor are requested to enter their names when wanting to engage servants and the rate of wages they wish to pay. The members of the police force in charge of the different stations have been instructed to afford every possible information on the subject to men wishing to obtain employment. A man named John Norman Webb, a miner at Charleston, has been killed by the fall of several pieces of granite in a cutting twenty-five feet deep.

A body which has not been identified has been picked up on the beach a mile north of Westport. It is supposed to be that of a man who was drowned some distance up the Buller, in August last. A new form of theft has been initiated by a well-known offender in the town of Charleston, named M‘Laughlin. For several nights he proceeded round the town abstracting the kerosene and candles in the lamps in front of the public-houses. Porter’s Pass. —The opening of a new road through Porter’s Pass has been celebrated by a dinner at which there were guests from Canterbury and Westland. The necessity for the work was noticed by the Superintendent of Canterbury when he visited Westland with the Governor, and it has been carried out by the local Road Board at a cost of only £SOO. In 1864 the cost of the same work was estimated at from £2OOO to £3OOO. Canterbury Races. Christchurch papers to hand by the Wellington contain a list of the entries and acceptances for the Canterbury races. For some of the races there are very numerous entries. For the Canterbury Cup of 300 sovs. the entries are Mr H. Redwood's Peeress, Mr Studholme’s Flying Fish, and Mr Studholme’s Knottingley. The Land Sale in Otago. —The Teviot correspondent of the “ Tuapeka Times” states that the survey of the now celebrated 50,000 block has been commenced. The surveyors engaged by Mr Clarke are performing the work for 6d an acre, so that he makes a profit in this item alone of £3250. This is the all-engrossing topic of conversation in the Mount Benger district, and a monster petition is in course of signature.

The Butter Trade.-- -The salting down of butter for exportation is now proceeding very vigorously iu Canterbury. In one large cooperage in Christchurch, says the “ Times,” the men are working almost night and day, yet they have been unable to supply the number of butter casks ordered. Reformatory.— lt is the intention of the Provincial Government of Canterbury to proceed with the erection of a Reformatory for boys. The site selected is at Burnham, fifteen miles from Christchurch, and close to the railway station, where a reserve of from 200 to 250 acres of land

has been made for the purpose. At Addington, about a mile and a half from Christchurch, a prison for females is also to be erected. The Inangahua Reefs. —The Westport paper gives the following as the latest particulars from these reefs: Another rush to the ground on the righthand branch of the Inangahua river has set in to what is reported to be a new reef between Anderson’s and Kelly’s reefs. Adam Smith’s party have struck the reef at the lower level of 60 feet. The stone exhibits increased richness. On Friday at four the dray conveying a second load of machinery for Messrs Mace and Co. arrived at Logue’s store, five miles from Reefton. Further progress was delayed by the flooded state of the country. About half a chain of the towing track has been swept away by the floods at Granger’s Point. A seam of coal, said to be of very superior quality, has been found in Blackman’s Gully, Dunstan district, Otago. The Oamaru Mutual Improvement Society have expressed themselves in favor of the admission of women to all the privileges enjoyed by man, except the right of governing. A child, three years old, the daughter of Mr Bonar, Lower Harbor, Otago, has been so seriously burnt by her clothes catching fire at the fire-place that she is not expected to recover. The River Rakaia, in Canterbury, has lately overflowed, and so altered its channel that it promises to be as troublesome as the Waimakariri.

Mr Win Stanley, Postmaster at Westport, has been promoted to Dunedin. He is to be succeeded by Mr Alexander, the present Postmaster at Charleston. The erection of the bridge over the Rangitata is progressing satisfactorily. The girder work over two spans is now completed, and the erection of iron work over the third span commenced. Another Job. —Under this heading the Dunedin “ Star” says : —An agitation has been got up at Swizers on account of the sale of some fifty acres of alleged auriferous land to private parties. The matter is likely to become the subject of direct governmental enquiry. The Late Fatal Accident at Taranaki. —The “Herald” has received from Mr Stockman, interpreter connected with the Native Office, the following particulars relative to the natives finding the body of the man Doughty, whose death we lately recorded :—Mr Stockman states that having been commissioned by the deputySuperintendent to collect a native search party, he left town on the 15th instant to carry out his instructions, Having made his arrangements with a party of natives, the search was commenced, and on the 18 th the body was discovered by Tamihana’s people in the Waionga, at a part called Huringa, hitched to the bank by the drift wood. The face was very much marked, and the trunk bare from the groin to tl © breast. The two natives who first discovered the body were named Hori and Hemi Mutone. The body was then brought on shore, and at the request of all present, was searched by Mr Wakefield, when a small leather purse was found, which contained one £5 note (No. 061,330), seven shillings, two sixpences, and one half-penny. The body had on it when found, a flannel calico shirt, waistcoat and trousers, besides socks and boots. Meeting of Creditors. On Thurs* day last a meeting was held at the Rutland Hotel, Wanganui, of the creditors of the late W. H. Shepard. The “Chronicle,” in its report of the meeting, says “ A large number of creditors were present, and great interest was manifested in the proceedings. Mr A Beauchamp, upon being voted to the chair, stated the object of the meeting to be to elicit what the liabilities and assets were of the late W. H. Shepard, and also to determine what steps should be taken to protect the creditors. Mr Perston, manager of the N. S. W. Bank, said as far as was known at present, Mr Shepard died intestate; that his liabilities were, to his late partner Mr Young about £1,200, and to various other creditors about £1,000; that if a proper party was appointed to administer the estate there would be more than double enough to pay all that was owing. Mr T. Allan, Mr D. Bell, Mr Chavannes, and others addressed the meeting. It was then proposed by Mr T, Allan, and se. conded by Mr A. Mason, “That Mr ThosFarrah be authorised to take the necessary steps for the interest of the creditors, and procure from the Supreme Court the appointment of administrator to the-estate.” It was further proposed by Mr Hurley, and seconded by Mr J. Duncan, “ That Messrs Pirie and Mason be supervisors, to act with Mr Farrah in the event of his becoming administrator,” which was also carried.

Beach Diggings. —The steamer Wallace brings to Dunedin good accounts of the Port Molyneaux beach diggings. Brenchley & Co.’s claim, next the Prospectors’, is turning out rich, as is the Water-wheel Company’s ground. There are now about 28 diggers at this spot, and our informant says there is plenty of room for more with a little capital.

Tinui Bridge. —The tender of Mr W. Francis, for the erection of a bridge over the Tinui river, has been accepted, ine amount of the tender is £133. Mr Darnel O’Kane tendered for the same work at £l4B. , , The Honorarium.— Mr Fitzherbert has given notice of his intention to move, •when the House next goes into Committee of Supply, —That the payment of memhers be fixed a £lO5 per regular session, 40s per diem being deducted for each sitting-day a member may be absent from attendance, unless he be prevented from attendingby illness. Special sessions, it any, to be paid for at the rate of 20s per day. That the above scale of payment shall apply to the present session, and be exclusive of travelling expenses to and from Parliament.

Patea. —Beward of Bravery.— ln the afternoon of the 23rd instant the Carlyle Light Horse Volunteers assembled on their parade ground, under their commanding officer,Lieutenant Beamish. The corps being duly formed, the officer commanding the district (Major Noake) came on the parade, and directed Trooper James Byan to the front, and read the following address : “ Trooper James Byan, a few weeks ago you saved the life of Mr Halcombe, in the Patea river, at the risk of your own life. Your intrepid conduct was witnessed by many of your fellow-townsmen, who have testified to the unselfish manner you perilled your own life on that occasion. Mr Halcombe has brought you under the notice of his Excellency the Governor, Sir George Bowen, for the Humane Society’s medal. His Excellency has marked his approval of your gallant conduct by recommending you strongly for that honor, which recommendation will, doubtlessly, insure you the distinction and gratification of having your name enrolled amongst that gallant band who have hazarded their own lives to save those of their fellow-creatures. Mr Halcombe has sent this watch, and requested me to present it to you on the parade of your corps, as an inadequate memento of the debt he owes you, and as an acknowledgment of your brave con duct. It affords me very great pleasure in thus fulfilling his behest, and I hope you will live long to enjoy the possession of this souvenir of a generous action. Lieutenant Beamish afterwards presented the address to Byan, together with a handsome watch and chain, the gift of Arthur Follet Halcombe, Esq., whose life Byan had saved in the Patea river on a recent occasion. The commanding officer then inspected the corps, and handed it over to the instruction of Sergeant Cowern, of the Armed Constabulary, under whose tuition they are rapidly acquiring a knowledge ot their drill. . , A Distinction. —The other day a buxom young woman was in the witnessbox at the police court, Melbourne, giving evidence in a charge of felony. “ I believe you are a social evil ? delicately inquired the prosecuting police-officer. Oh !no sir, I’m reformed; I’m living with a Chinaman.” The bench seemed to doubt the reformation.

Mu Aspinall.— Mr B. C. Aspinall is go far recovered in health that he has been enabled to proceed to England. He left Melbourne on 12th October for London. Referring to his departure, the “ Leader” says —The cost of Mr Aspinall’s passage home has been defrayed by the Government. As a simple matter of economy the state is the gainer by this act, as the cost of keeping him here would soon have swallowed up more than that sum. On higher grounds, though, the step was taken, as medical men stated that only by a voyage home to his friends could any permanent benefit be hoped for in thehon gentleman’s health. The Inter-colonial Boat race.—A special meeting of the members of the Auckland Rowing Club was held on Wednesday last. There was a good attendance of members. After a considerable amount of discussion it was resolved to send to Messrs He Loitte, of Sydney, for a gig to be built on the most modern principle. A committee was then appointed to select the crew to represent the club at the Christchurch meeting, and after some other business had been transacted the meeting adjourned. MARAVILLA COCOA—No breakfast table is complete without this deliciouß beverage.—The “Globe” says Various importers and manufacturers have attempted to attain a reputation for their prepared Cocoas, but we doubt whether any thorough Bucceas has been achieved until Messrs. Taylor Brothers discovered the extraordinary qualities of ‘ Maravilla’ Cocoa. Adapting their perfect system of preparation to this finest of all species of the Theobroma, they have produced an article which superseded every other Cocoa in the market. Entire solubility, a delicate aroma, and a rare concentration of the purest elements of nutrition, distinguish the Maravilla Cocoa nbove all others. For homoeopaths and invalids we could not recommend a more agreeable or valuable beverage.” Sold in packets only by all Grocers, of whom also may be had Taylor Brothers’ Original Homoeopathic Cocoa and Soluble Chocolate. Steam Mills—Brick Lane, London. Export Chicory Mills, 3&uges, Belgium,

Bank oe New Zealand.— The twentieth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand was held on the 30th, at the banking-house, Queen street, Auckland. The chair was occupied by Thomas Bussell, Esq., the President, who moved the adoption of the report. The report showed a balance available for division of £52,604 13s Bd., and this sum is proposed to be appropriated thus:—Payment of dividend at the rate of ten per cent per annum, £30,000 ; bonus of 5s per share, equal to £5 per cent per annum, £15,000 ; leaving a balance to be carried forward of £7604 13s Bd. Messrs James Farmer and Samuel Browning (the retiring auditors), were elected directors in the place of Mr James Williamson and Mr C. J. Stone, and Mr W. J. Taylor and Mr C. J. Stone were appointed auditors. A Note from Fiji. —“ Thank God ! Here the law cannot, and never will, be made an engine of oppression, as in the colonies. Were they with one wide sweep to raze the Insolvent Court, and send half the lawyers here to pick cotton, Australia would boast an honest community and more happy homes.” The San Francisco Boute.— The “ Age” complains of the exclusion ofNew Zealand from the late conference, and assuming that Mr Yogel has by his diplomatic mission to England, made himself master of the situation, ridicules the idea of the British Government consenting to any postal scheme by way of the Pacific, in which New Zealand interests have not primary consideration. The “ Age’ does not hesitate to say that Sir James Martin has made use of the Victorian delegates, “ to get his chestnuts roasted,” and that his playing off Queensland against New Zealand will, in the end, defeat the object of the assembled delegates. There is a pretty extensive feeling of sympathy with New Zealand in this community, on account of the extraordinary pluck she has exhibited over this postal question during the last year or two, although there are many who consider that she has gone beyond the bounds of courtesy in her attempts to force her own schemes on the other colonies.

A Chang-e.- Six mon tlis ago Mr Don ald Ixeid and his colleagues were the adored of the Mount Bengcrites ; now they are regarded there with unenviable feelings. According to the local correspondent of the Tuapeka “ Times ” a subscription list has been started with a view to procuring funds to purchase six halters, to be manufactured of New Zealand flax grown at Moa Flat, said halters with suitable inscriptions to be presented to Messrs Donald Beid and four others, in recognition of their recent services.

The Claim of Messrs Whitaker and Lundon. —The opinion of the Attor-ney-General on questions raised by the Hon Native Minister in relation to the claim of Messrs Whitaker and London has been laid upon the table of the House. We shall endeavor to publish it to-morrow. The Education Question.— At the meeting of the Auckland Diocesan Synod, held last week, the Rev. F. Gould moved : —“ 1. That this Synod regrets that the General Assembly of New Zealand lias not passed the Education Bill lately brought under their consideration, inasmuch that the bill contemplated the recognition and aid ofdenominational schools, and permission, when local boards desired it, to have the reading of Holy Scriptures, and the use of daily prayer. 2. That this Synod desires to impress upon every member of the, Chur cli the importance of using every effort to obtain from the General Assembly in the next session an Education Bill involving the same principles as were contained in the bill abovenamed. 3. This Synod considers the Common Schools Act of the province of Auckland unsuitable to the wants of this province. (1) Because it is in its main provisions inoperative. (2). Because it practically leaves the greater part of the money •voted for schools to the absolute and uncontrolled disposal of the Board of Education. (3). Because the offices of inspector and secretary are filled by one person(4). Because it is impossible for any right-minded teacher to comply with the terms of clause 31. which enjoins that the instruction shall be purely secular and that morals be taught. 4. This Synod is of opinion that as a temporary measure the main provisions of the Education Act of 1857 would again secure a fair encouragement to educational efforts in this province. 5. That a memorial be drawn up by the President and signed en behalf of this Synod, and presented to the Provincial Government at its next session, praying that they will prepare the scheme of an Educational Act for the colony, and that in the meantime they will pass an Educational Act, embracing in its main provisions those of the Education Act of 1857.” The Rev, W. Taylor moved a rather lengthy motion as an amendment to the whole question, having for. its object the appointment of a committee to draw up a petition on the edcation question for presentation to the Provincial Council and the General Assembly at their next sessions. The amendment was carried.