News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 51, 13 January 1872, Page 12

News of the Week.

On Monday Mr Wallace submitted for public competition the lease for three years of the Queen's Wharf and the bonded wkarehouse. There was a large attendance, and the bidding was spirited, starting from £2500, and advancing by bids of from £SO to £lO, until it was knocked down to Mr Irvine, agent for Messrs Jackson and Graham, at the sum of £4OIO. The late lessee of the bonded store, Mr Dransfield, went as far as £3990, and Mr Levy bid £4OOO, but an advance of £lO from Mr Irvine closed the competition. It will be remembered that during the trip of His Excellency and party to the Wairarapa an accident which jeopardised the safety of Lady Bowen and the rest of the occupants of the carriage took place on the Rimutaka Eange, which resulted in the bolting of the horses down the hill. On that occasion Mr R. Williams, of-the Tauherinikau, rendered very effectual service b\ securing the animals before they had proceeded far, and to this activity was attributed the absence of injury to the occupants of the carriage. In recognition of Mr Williams' conduct, his Excellency has forwarded to that gentleman a handsome pencil case as an expression, on behalf of himself and Lady Bowen, of their gratitude for the service rendered. In consequence, we presume, of the strike in the building trade, the Provincial Government have consented to extend the contract time for the completion of the new buildings on the reclaimed land. We observe, also, that pending the settlement of the dispute between the masters and men the Government have withdrawn the advertisement calling for tenders for the erection of a bridge over the Tauherinikau river. A case arising out of the application of the provisions of the Stamp Act of last session was heard yesterday morning in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The manager of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, being in doubt as to whether the company was liable to pay the duty of an incorporated company, had endeavored to make the point sure by making an application to the Government on the point, which however, was not replied to, and the case was allowed to go into Court to obtain a decision. Mr Brandon appeared for the company, which he admitted was carrying on business in New Zealand, and was incorporated in Australia, but inasmuch as it has no nominal capital, he contended that it was not liable to pay duty. The decision given was as follows : —" From the evidence before me.it appears that this company has no subscribed capital, and therefore nothing on which to levy the duty required by the act, and although a strict reading of clause 15 would seem to imply the necessity for taking out a license, yet, as the reason for taking out that license, namely, the payment of duty, cannot be enforced, I think a common sense view of the provisions of this clause and of clause 18 will show that they do not apply to the case before me." Dismissed with costs. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston will deliver judgment in the case of Buchannan v. Watt on the 15th instant. Seldom have we seen a more influential gathering of business men of Wellington than that which met on Wednesday at the Empire Hotel, upon the occasion of the departure of Mr G. H. Vennell and his family for Wanganui. It was gratifying as well as interesting to see our oldest and youngest settler —persons of all shades of opinion—busily engaged in commercial pursuits, throwing aside their pressing engagements to pay a tribute of respect, and to offer their good wishes for the future career of one who ha 3 lived amongst us, and well and honorably performed his part as a colonist and man of business for a period of twenty-four years. We have been unable to obtain a correct list of all who were present, but we noticed amongst sixty or seventy the following, besides his Honor W. Fitzherbert, Esq :—The Hon. W. B. Rhodes, M.L.C,, Edward Pearce

1 and George Hunter, M.H.Rs., H. Bunny, Esq, C. B. Borlase, Esq, his Worship the Mayor ; Messrs Walter Turnbull, J. Hackworth, Collector of Customs, W. H. I Levin, F. A. Krull, D. Anderson, W. W. Johnston, W. Whittem, D. M'lutyre, A. P. Stuart, Thos. Buchanan, J. Dransfield, sen., Geo. Moore, J. M'Dowell, W. Lyon, W. M. Bannatyne, C. D. Barraud, W. Gibson, E. W. Mills, G. Thomas, F. Dyer, G. Crawford, H. B. A. Duncan, T. Mills, J. H. Wallace. A. J. M'Tavish, R. Port, H. Edmeades, J. E. Nathan, Lord, E. Catchpool, T. M'Xenzie, R. J. Duncan, Dr Johnston, L. Levy, J. H. Bethune, F. C. Kreeft, W. J. Tabor, besides several other well known business people. His Honor proposed the health of Mr Yennell in a few graceful and appropriate words, and as befitting the hourand the audience, two or three steamers being about to sail, was very brief, but happy. The toast was received in a very hearty and enthusiastic manner. Mr Vennell responded in a few words, thanking the company for the honor conferred upon him and their good wishes. Mr Borlase proposed the health of his Honor the Superintendent, saying that which every man feels, whatever his political opinions are —that he is emphatically the right man in the right place. Mr Duncan briefly proposed the health of Mrs Vennell and family, which was as warmly responded to as any of the preceeding toasts. The luncheon had two characteristics about it. Firstly, it formed the occasion for a reunion of old colonists, who had assembled to bid good-bye to one of the pilgrims of New Zealand colonization; and on the other side were ranged those of our leading men whose connection with the province dates from that period when the efforts of the early colonizers had raised it to position of commercial importance such as to require the presence of such gentlemen accustomed by experience to the ramified channels of a commerce so extensive as that into which the trade of the port was rapidly expanding. When the hour for the departure of the steamer arrived a great number of those who had taken part in the luncheon met on the wharf to bid Mr and Mrs Vennell a final adieu.

A youthful witness in the embezzlement case, heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, created some amusement by his answers to inquiries as to whether he understood the nature of an oath. The witness stated that he could read and write, in proof of which he signed his name to the depositions, which he afterwards gave, but although he kissed the Bible without any hesitation, at the conclusion of the rehearsal of the form he could give no explanation as to why he had done so. Sergt. Monaghan, however, by the aid of a few leading questions, produced answers of a kind which justified the Bench in receiving the lad's evidence. He stated that he was twelve years of age. Sergeant: "Do you go to school?" Boy: "No." Sergeant: "Do you know the penalty if you don't speak the truth?" Boy:""No." Sergeant: " Don't you know where you'll go to if you swear to what you know to be false ?" Boy: "The devil 'll have me." The Sergeant turned round to the Bench with an inquiring look, and a nod from Major Edwards signified the satisfaction of the Bench as to the fitness of the witness for swearing purposes.

We learn from our Wairarapa coi respondent that a serious accident occured at Kaiwaiwai, near Featherston, on Tuesday last. Mr Vickery, a steady, industrious, and much respected settler, was driving a horse and cart, loaded with hay, along the road known as Moran's line, when two wild ducks suddenly flew across the road, which frightened the horse and started him off at full gallop. Poor Vickery was thrown from the cart and one of the wheels went over his leg, causing a very serious compound fracture. There was no one within hearing, and the poor fellow lay for more than an hour in dreadful agony, when he was accidentally seen by Mrs Benton. Dr Spratt was immediately sent for, but could not come. On the following morning Dr Smith arrived, but the leg was then in so swollen a state that it was feared it could not be set properly, and that it would have to be amputated. For this purpose the sufferer was removed to Greytown on Wednesday evening, having been carried on a stretcher the whole distance of twelve miles, no less than forty neighbors having kindly volunteered for this service. In confirmation of a paragraph which appeared in our last week's issue, on the mode of preserving butter, a correspondent informs us that he is now using butter preserved by the same means, and it is two years old. It is perfectly sweet for use in making pastry, the jar from which it is being used having been opened twelve months ago. A curious case was heard a day or two ago at Otaki, before Major Willis and Dr Easton. The case was one in which a Maori woman sued her husband, a native, for maintenance, and the bench adjudged the defendant to pay lOsa week. This he demurred to on the ground that he had offered his better half a share of tha quarters in which he was then living with

another spouse. This his wife refused, as there were six offspring to support as the result of their union, and she insisted that the award of the Court should be met. The defendant expressed his inability to meet so heavy a claim out of an empty exchequer. How the matter has pro ceeded we have not since learned. Mr Walker in his report upon the Baker's Hill and Terawiti mines expresses his opinion that the auriferous ground is more or less impregnated with sulphur. Upon the effect of this combination we may quote the following passage from a paper " On the Absorption of Sulphur by Gold" by Mr W. Skey, the Analyist to the Geological Survey of New Zealand. He says : —" In whatever form sulphur is thus absorbed by gold, it is certainly the greatest obstacle to a thorough and complete amalgamation which we have to contend with ; no doubt other subtances occasionally intervene to prevent or retard this process, such for instance as the oxides of iron and organic matter, but sulphur and its isomorphs must, I think, be the most actively and the most frequently concerned in this refusal of natural gold surfaces to amalgamate. In case further investigation should prove this sulphurization of the natural surface of gold to be general, it will be easy to look for a remedy against its effects ; but as yet it* would be useless to speculate as to what this should be. As stated, there are several ways of removing these films; perhaps chloride of lime in conjunction with muriatic acid would prove serviceable, but, unfortunately, it could only be applied to the ' stuff' before arnalgation, and there might be a loss of gold occasioned by solution. The sodium amalgam of Crooke would be a safe and certain remedy, and easily applied ; its effect would be in relation to this sulphide to decompose it, and so expose the encrusted gold to the action of the mercury. Doubtless the great benefit which has often attended the use of this amalgam has been principally due to the exercise of this kind of action." Another meeting of carpenters was held on Thursday night at the Odd Fellows' Hall to discuss matters in connection with the strike which had transpired since the meeting of Monday evening. Throughout the proceedings a grievance, which was never lost sight of, formed the subject of bitter complaint, namely, that the employers had treated the men very unfairly by making improper representations to the outside public, to the effect that the men were demanding an increase in wages in addition to a reduction of the number of working hours. These assertions were utterly repudiated, and the true position of the matter stated to be this: No attempt whatever has been made by the workmen to increase the rate of wages. Their request is that the number of working hours per week should be reduced to forty-five, and that the rate per hour be increased from Is 3d to Is 4d ; so as to keep the wages (as at present) equal to a uniform payment of 10s per day for six working days ; so under the new arrangement as well as under the old they receive £3 per week, with this difference—that for lost time they lose more than under the old arrangement. The meeting deliberated at length on various propositions brought before it, and arrived at the sensible conclusion that an offer should be made to the employers to meet and discuss the matter with a view to bringing the strike to a conclusion. A deputation of residents in the neighborhood of the site on which it is proposed to erect the new Lunatic Asylum for the province, met his Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Secretary on the ground to discuss a proposition to change the position to one which those interested were strongly of opinion would tend more to secure the restoration of the patients to reason on account of the cheerfulness of its position. Other advantages were suggested, amongst them being that of contiguity to three streets or means of approach, in addition to shelter from the prevailing winds. His Honor, in reply to the representations made, said he could not at present see his way to interfere in the matter, but promised that inquiry should be made, and if it were shown that it would be possible to accede to the wishes of the deputation he would be happy to do so. The exceeding dryness of the weather taken in connection with the ringing of the fire bell on Saturday evening created a feeling of anxiety in the minds of a number of citizens, which fortunately was speedily allayed. About six o'clock the bell rung out a few warning notes, and the horses from Prosser's stables were quickly on the spot for the purpose of taking the engine of the Central Bri gade to the portion of the city indicated, Thorndon, but as the ringing of the bell was not being conducted in an energetic or (continuous manner, Captain Moss deemed it prudent to make a reconnaissance before creating the trouble and expense of turning out the brigade and taking the engine to the scene, and with this view he jumped into a cab and posted up Molesworth street. The state of affairs discovered on arrival proved this step to have been discreet, for the smoke from

the fire, which was in an empty store belonging to Mr Cleland, had been observed by some passers-by, and before the flames had time to make headway they were squelched by the judicious application of a few buckets of water. The fire was discovered in the very nick of time, as already about half of the flooring of the shop had been burned away, as well as portion of the lining of one of the walls. With reference to the origin of the fire we have briefly to state that it is surrounded with circumstances of a suspicious nature. We are not at liberty to make public information in our possession, but we may go so far as to state that indications of fire were discovered in the same building by the watchman when going his round on Thursday night last. The matter is in the hands of the police, and it is possible that something more definite may be made public in a day or two. The Government engine stationed at Thorndon was promptly on the spot, and was manned by about ten of the firemen residing in the vicinity. To this fact may be attributed the speedy manner in which the fire was got under. The escape of the surrounding inhabitants must be considered a very narrow one, as the fire must have resulted in an extensive conflagration had it obtained any mastery on such a day, the sun having being extremely powerful, and just sufficient wind to fan the flames. We understand that Dr Hector, who is now making an inspection of rich reefing district at Murray Creek, Nelson goldfields, has reported that he has travelled up the Buller River and visited the Lyell Beefs and other diggings, and finds the prospects of that district exceedingly satisfactory. He had despatched Mr Mackay to Mount Rochfort for the purpose of making preparations for a thorough examination of the coal-field there. We may expect that Dr Hector's report on the Murray Creek reefs will confirm the reports of their richness, and that steps will be at once taken by the Government for commencing roads to connect that district with the ports of Westport and Greymouth. The local papers are full-of accounts of new discoveries of rich reefs in that neighborhood, and a sort of furore appears to have set in. The "Grey River Argus" says: — Apart from the extended claims granted (and their name is legion) last Court day, which cost, in every instance, £5 10s, Fifteen applications were recommended for gold mining leases, varying in extent from twelve to sixteen and a half acres, which necessitated the sumof £3OO being deposited, and thirty-five more are now on hand awaiting consideration, showing an additional accumulation of current coin to the amount of £7OO. Twenty-three agricultural leases of fifty and 100 acres, and the issue of 150 miners' rights within the last nine days, representing in round numbers the very handsome sum of £1500; and yet,inthe face of such returns, communication with the district, either from Greymouth or Westport, can only be accomplished at the risk of life and limb. During the first week of this year, 22,0690zs of gold were shipped from the West Coast, 14,8090zs from Hokitika, and 7026 from Greymouth. The gold from Hokitika included 70450zs from the Nelson diggings, that amount having been sent from West port a few days prior to the departure of the Melbourne steamer. The value of this exportation is £82,808. The West Coast goldfields, especially in the Grey district, are improving. The Customs revenue at Greymouth for 1871 was over £4OOO in excess of the previous year, and nearly £BOOO higher than in 1869.

His Honor Mr Justice Richmond, in bis address to the Grand Jury, at Nelson, the other day, had a few words to say about provincialism. Speaking of the necessity of increased means for preventing crime, his Honor said : —"He was no optimisty and did not believe in the possibility of the complete banishment of crime from amongst us, which, indeed could never be accomplished so long as drinking habits were so prevalent in the colony, but he did think that if the criminal classes were properly dealt with, their numbers might be very largely decreased. There were, however, various obstructions in the way of attaining so desirable an end, among which might be named the local jealousies that existed in New Zealand. Provincialism, in some respects was no doubt an excellent thing, but one of its drawbacks was that it tended to prevent any united attempt being made for the suppression of crime ; there were also colonial as well as provincial divisions, which, at present, stood in the way, but he felt sure that the time would come when these would be got over, and the whole group of the Australian colonies would work together in the endeavor to lessen the amount of crime that now existed in them. Our system of police and gaols was so defective as to render any attempt to put down crime most unsatisfactorj'-, if not impracticable, whereas, if proper facilities existed, in the shape of penal establishments, the gradual extermination of the criminal class might

reasonably be looked for, as the irredeemable ones might be taken care of for life, and endeavors made to reform those who were less hardened."

A short time previous to the luncheon in compliment to Mr Vennell, on his departure from amongst us, a number of ladies and gentlemen " assisted" at the welcome of Mr, Mrs, and Miss Kebbell, who arrived in the forenoon in theTararua. Before the steamer was alongside the wharf a great crowd had collected, most of whom exchanged salutations by handkerchief signals, waving of hands, &c, the gratification of meeting being too intense in its development to permit of waiting for the more formal or customary greeting.

The anniversary of the Kaiwarra Sunday School took place on Tuesday afternoon ; the children sat down to an excellent tea, and after they had consumed the good things provided for them, the Rev Mr Harvey, distributed the prizes and addressed the children, urging upon them the necessity of attending the Sunday School, to listen attentively to their teachers, and endeavor to profit by the instruction imparted. Mr Camfield read a report of the school, and showed that it was in a very satisfactory state. The Rev Mr Harvey then presented two handsome books to Mr and Mrs Camfield as a testimonial from the children of their love and respect towards them ; after which a hymn was sung. The children spent the remainder of the evening in various games, which, to judge by their mirth, afforded them great amusement.

The gold yield of Otago has fallen off 15,000 ozs during the last year. The Dunedin "Evening Star" commenting on this says : —lt cannot be too often repeated that the Provincial Government have not taken means to encourage mining, but have supinely seen the people leave the goldfields without preparing others to take their place. It is evident, from our Customs revenue, we have been advancing in other respects : it is as evident our gold workings have not kept pace with the development of other industries. Had they done so, all would have been more prosperous, for there would have a large consuming as well as a producing population. The " Wanganui Chronicle" says : —We have made particular inquiry regarding the state of native feeling along the Taranaki coast, and, so far as we can learn, there is no likelihood of the least disturbance in that quarter, and no cause for the least alarm. The natives are not prepared for fighting and do not wish for it. It is quite true that they are anxious to get back to portions of land which they consider as belonging to them, and their unsettledness in regard to location will always be a source more or less of danger, but beyond this there is nothing in native affairs to excite a shadow of apprehension. Tho ninth of December last concluded thetwelfthyearof the existence of Queensland as a colony having self-government. Since separation the population has increased, in round numbers, from 28.000 to 120,000, and the revenue from £178,589 to an amount that has not been overestimated at £783,800. In the Auckland Provincial Council, amongst the various goldfield matters that came up for discussion was the subsidy in aid of the steam launch Fairy, when Mr C. F. Mitchell asked the Goldfields Secretary whether in this vote the prayer of the European and native inhabitants of Ohinemuri, as set forth in a petition presented by him to the House a day or two previously, would be taken into consideration ? This part of his constituency, he said, consisted of most respectable Hauhaus, and they would be much disappointed if it was found that the little steamer—picaninny teamer —could not maintain herself upon the river. The consent of the natives was unanimous, and there was therefore no objection " on native account." The plying of the steamer itself would greatly tend to familiarise the native mind with European manners and customs. He trusted the application would be favorably entertained. The Goldfields Secretary said that as this was the only subsidy ever applied for in connection with the Thames goldfield, the Government was prepared to comply with the prayer of the petition, and grant the subsidy. Mr J. Mackay said he was authorised by Dr Pollen, agent for the General Government, to say that the General Government was prepared to join in the payment of the subsidy to the steamer, to the extent of paying one-half. Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying tho 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 ("the oil when the stomach rejects it. These facts areattested 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. 52w.

Reaping has already commenced in tho Timaru district, and in a fortnight is expected to be general. A young man named H. Warner Stevenson, aged 22, in the employ of Fraser and Tinne, died suddenly in an epileptic fit on the 4th instant, in Jermyn street, Auckland. The manufacture of Tomata Sauce is being carried on largely in Auckland. From the "Herald" of the Bth instant, we hear that the Caledonian mine had lodged 273 ounces of gold, the result of a partial week's crushing at their battery at Tar am.

The quartz reefs at the Lyell (a tributary of the Eiver Buller, West Coast goldfields) are turning out well. We learn from a local paper that a parcel of gold weighing 296 oz 14 dwt, the product of six weeks crushing, had been brought down to Westport by the proprietors of the prospecting claim. A nugget weighing 21 oz has recently been found in the creek.

The Collingwood district suffered severely from a heavy flood a few days ago. Tho correspondent of the " rTelson Examiner'' says that the rain must have come down in a perfect deluge up the country, for hardly had the rain continued for six or eight hours when the river was overflowing its banks. Williams and party's punt, built on the Aorere for dredging, was torn from its fastenings, swept down the river, and only saved from going out to sea by using great exertions. The whole of the machinery is lost on the way, and the punt itself in a very shattered condition. What makes this loss the more to be regretted is that the party were just on the point of commencing to work their claim. The ltttle harbor vv as not without its casualties. A coal boat belonging to Mr Cross, kept in the harbor with coals for the Lady Barkly, by some means got sunk with about ten tons coal on board. Some poor wayfarer from West Wanganui, endeavorto cross some of the farther streams of the Aorere, was nearly drowned when rescued by the ferry boat. Farmers' Clubs in Canterbury appear to be of some practical use. The Courtenay and Ellesmere Clubs in one yeai', accox'ding to the " Lyttelton Times," on a rough calculation, increased the price of grain in Christchurch upwards of 6d per bushel.

Considerable excitement was occasioned in the Tuapeka district last week, by the circulation of a report to the effect that a payable quartz reef had been discovered in Gabriel's Gully. The correctness of the report so far as it related to the discovery was verified by Messrs Mark applying to the Warden for a mining lease of ten acres, for the purpose of working a quartz lode they had found in the locality indicated. The discovery was due entirely to accident. Messrs Mark were tunnelling at the head of Wick's Gully following up an alluvial run, which, although very narrow, proved payable—the gold in it being ofanuggetv character. One piece weighing 17 dwt?, attached to which was a piece of quartz, was unearthed, and a number of smaller nuggets were found. The party had driven about 75 feet, when upon striking the back of the drive it emitted a hollow sound. Unaware of the proximity of a reef, they imagined they were breaking into an abandoned drive. Great was their surprise, therefore, when shortly afterwards they struck the top of a well-defined quartz lode. We have been informed that £IOO was offered and refused for a sixth share in a claim next the prospectors.

From the "New Zealand Herald" of the 3rd instant we take the following intelligence relating to the Caledonian and Tookey claims at the Thames : —" Tookey have examined their prospects, since the taking down of the lode this morning, and at present have got a very heavy lot of antimony in the face, the first which has been met with in the whole of the low levels of either mine. No gold visible. By survey it has been ascertained that Tookey have followed the reef through their ground until it has again entered the Caledonian ground. There is no change in the Caledonians. Work has not yet been resumed, but will be to-morrow all over the field." The *' Alta California" informs us that a number of prominent citizens of San Francisco have associated themselves together for the purpose of incorporating under the laws of California, a company with the title of the Central Polynesia Land and Commercial Company. Us object is the purchase and acquisition of lauds on the .beautiful Navigator Islands, and the cultivation, sale, or lease of the same. The formation there of a coaling station for the steamers of the United States, New Zealand and Australian Mail Line is also proposed, as also the establishment of a Central Polynesian depot for commercial purposes which would serve the whole group of Island?. The capital stock of the corporation is to be 100.000 dollars, in 1000 shares, of 100 dollars each. Five trustees will be appointed. For the first three months the following gentlemen, until their successors are appointed, will act in that capacity : J. W. Stow, J. B. M. Stewait, James Makee (of Honolulu, one of the largest plantation owners of the Sand-.

wich Islands), N. B. Stone and FA Bee Thus are the beautiful and fruitful islands of the Pacific gradually, and by no means slowly, receiving the attention they deserve, and we are glad to note this evidence of the interest felt in them by leading business men of ban .bran--01 The Orepuki miners (Southland) are reported to have been nearly starved of late owing to a continuance of bad weather, rendering it impossible to convey provisions to the diggings. , Two lads sentenced by the Mayor ot Dunedin to six hours' imprisonment and to be whipped for stealing cherries from a garden underwent their flagellation a few days ago. The thrashing had the effect of rousing the neighborhood by the violence of the screams uttered by the voung pilferers, and they left the gaol with very sore backs, and it is to be hoped with the heartfelt determination to fight shy of other folks' cherries for the future. The Canterbury farmers are getting afraid of the scarcity of labor, the railway works having absorbed all the surplus. Colonel Brett has Riven notice of motion in the Provincial Council to the following effect —" That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that all public works be suspended from the 10th January to the 10th March, 1872, to enable the farmers to gather in the harvest." An ingenious plan, says the Wakatip Mail " was lately adopted by our towns man, Mr Atkins, at the mustering of sheep for shearing on the Crown Range. Five parties were interested in the mustering—two being neighboring runholders, the others holders of depasturing licenses. The sheep were easily enough recognised, but the lambs—the profit and increasepresented a difficulty. As the sheep were boxed, and the lambs were running about amongst them in all directions, Mr Atkins proposed to color the ewes' udders with red and black, and let them out for half an hour. As these were the only colors on the ground, the ewes had to be drafted in mobs. The result, of course, was quite successful. The lambs were hungry and their little woolly noses soon declared the right of ownership, and though some trouble and time (seven hours) was inTolved, angry contentions and doubts were avoided. , ~ We take the following from the "Otago Daily Times" :—We understand that the Nebraska will not;visit Port Chalmers next month, the Government allowing her to proceed to Sydney. It is known that MrW. H. Webb, who is now in New Zealand, and who has been endeavoring since he arrived in the colony to obtain certain modifications of his contract, is anxious that the coastal service should be abandoned. As Mr Vogel stated positively that the mail steamers would run to this port in terms of the contract after four trips to Sydney had been made, it is but reasonable to suppose, therefore, that 4he continuance of this concession has been made at the instigation of Mr Webb. We have no information as to the period for which the Government have sanctioned a further departure from the terms of the contract. The. public would gladly hear, however, that some arrangement had'been come to which possessed the element of finality. Mr Vogel visits the Australian colonies shortly, we believe, with tbe view, if possible, of getting them to subsidise a San Francisco service by way of New Zealand; and, should he succeed, we may expect, before the next session of Parliament, to find that the colony has been bound by a fresh contract, as unlike the Webb arrangement in its terms, as the latter is unlike the Hall contract. The " Evening Star " gives a slightly different version. It says that the Government have consented to the Nebraska being allowed to go to Sydney this trip, only in order that there may be no break in the Australian line of communication, pending arrangements with these colonies; but that in future Mr Webb understands and consents that the New Zealand Coastal Service is to be resumed. MAKAVILLA COCOA—No breakfast table is complete without this delicious beverage.—The " Globe" saya :—" Various importers and manufacturers have attempted to attain a reputation for their prepared Cocoas, but we doubt whether any thorough success 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 Theobrorna, 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 above 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, Bruges, Belgium. The sl2 Lever Watch, No. 13,580, pur chased from Chas. P. Norton & Co. 86 Nassau street, New York, January sth, has been carried by me over six months, with a total variation in time of only 26 seconds, without the slightest regulating, and presents the same brilliancy of color as when purchased.—JAS. B. WILSON, Sec. American S. M. Co. N. Y., New York, July 10, 1870.

Charles John Johnston, Esq., has been appointed Vice-Consul for the Netherlands at Wellington. Arthur Penrose Seymour, Esq., has resigned his seat in the Legislative Council of New Zealand.

The resignation of his commission as Captain by J. H. Hurst, of Turakina, has been accepted. His Excellency the Governor has accepted the services of the Wanganui Cadet Corps. The Rev. James Lawne has been gazetted an officiating minister under the terms of the Marriage Act, 1854. The Mayors of Greymouth, Lyttelton, Timaru, Christchurch. and Kaiapoi, have, in virtue of their offices, been gazetted Justices of the Peace. Amended regulations for the issue ot passage warrants to assisted immigrants have been gazetted. Professor Black arrived at Dunedin a few days ago from Glasgow in the Christian M'Ausland. Te Kooti's "force" is stated Maketu correspondent of the " New Zealand Herald," to consist of his two wives, a boy, and a dog. # The manufacture of hosiery by machinery is about to be commenced in Dunedin. The wool to be used will be that spun at Mr Barns 1 mill at Mossgiel. The Land Revenue of the province of Canterbury for the quarter ended Dec. 31st amounted to £8773. We learn from our Otago files that the manufacture of butter is to be carried on in an extended scale in the Tokomairiro district shortly. In the meantime, so the " Bruce Standard " informs us, two or three parties engaged in dairy farming have resolved to cure for exportation a few firkins of butter, and intend to consign them to Mr Tallerman, of London. We shall watch with interest the result of this experiment.

The following appointments are notified in Saturday's Gazette : Charles Edward Haughton, Esq., to be Under Secretary in the Public Works Department for Goldfields. Thomas William Maude, Esq., to be Secretary to the Resident Minister for the Middle Island. Fredk. William Riemenschneider, Esq., to be Deputy of the Registrar of Marriages, and of births, deaths, and marriages, for the district of Wanganui. The contributions to the Acclimatisation Society, brought from Sydney in the Camille, by Captain Stafford, were:—Two emus, obtained with great difficulty, and presented to the society on behalf of Captain Scott; four black swans, two opossums, two kangaroos, one of which was lost overboard soon after the sailing of the vessel, the other dying a day previous to arrival. Captain Stafford has also presented to the Domain Board a number of Australian plants, and to the authorities of the Museum a stuffed bear (forwarded by Captain Hill, of the Royal Exchange, a vessel which formerly traded to this port), and the skin of an Australian wild cat. The thanks of the community are due to Captain Stafford for his interest in the cause af acclimatisation —an interest which manifests itself not in a plentiful display of words but in the tangible form of valuable and rare animals, birds,andcuriosities, presentations of which are made by him on every occaison on which he visits the port. If captains of vessels from other parts of the world were to follow Captain Stafford's worthy example, our Acclimatisation Society would soon exhibit a collection of rarities of great interest. The remark is particularly applicable to captains of vessels trading between this port and the old country. It is to this source the societies of Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago are chiefly indebted for their most valuable contributions, such spirited men as Captain Rose, Captain White, and Captain Stevens of the ill-fated Mataoka, haying performed in this direction duties of no slight nature on behalf of the colony.

We have been favored with the following extract from a private letter from Napier dated the sth instant. " It goes to show the truth of the old proverb about a certain individual being " not so black as he is painted," and that even a fiend like Eereopa turns out to have had some manly traits about him. The letter is from a gentleman who was present at the execution, and we proceed with our extract without further comment : —" Kereopa was hanged this morning. He died very ' game,' and refused to have any ' grog ' or stimulant before execution. When asked if he wanted a 'tot,' he said ' No.' I like a nobbier as well as anyone, but don't want to go out of the world drunk, or wish my enemies to say I did. He made no speech, but would have done so if there had been natives present. When asked if he had anything to say, he said, 4 What can I say ? Good-bye, but don't keep me waiting.' I am glad the execution went off well. , who lias seen more than two dozen hanged, says he never saw one so well managed. Death was instantaneous, and it is doubtful whether there was even a muscular contraction of the knees. Some say there was, others say not; but there was no scene, as some expected."

Some despatches from the Earl of Belmore to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, inclosing a letter from the Crown Solicitor, vindicating himself and theGovernmentfromimputationscastupon them by the book of Captain Palmer on the subject of South Sea kidnapping, are published in the " Sydney Morning Herald" of December 11 and 12. lhe correspondence includes some letters from the Chief Justice of New South Wales, Sir Alfred Stephen, which contain remarks that are worth quoting at a time when stories of outrage in the South Seas are circulatedvery freely. The writer Bavs: —"Before the public meeting of 1868 or 1869, in Sydney, convened to take into consideration (if I remember rightly) the Queensland Polynesian Laborers Act, as a measure stimulating the trade in Polynesian deportations, some missionary reports and pamphlets were sent to me by one of the more active conveners. I read them with care, and found that some (I believe several) of the instances of kidnapping \sere really the same story, varied more or less in detail. I was struck with the same circumstance in reading two letters recently from one of the best and most devoted of the missionary baud, whom all men that know him venerate, and whoisincapableofintentional exaggeration. I recogniseagain the old tales, with scarcely the change of one accident. In Captain Palmer's book lean trace the same; almost every case rests on hearsay. ... In one instance, Captain Palmer (p. 51) gives the statement to himself of a shocking case by a Rotumah man—the catching of a swimming Polynesian by a boat-hook in the cheek. The narration to Captain Palmer, who was on the look-out for stories of the kind, was in March, 1869, and it is evidently told of the boat's crew of the Young Australian, whose commander was tried here in May of that year. . . . But as to the truth of the narrative, I would observe in confirmation of my opinion of its worthlessness, that no such occurrence was mentioned by either of the natives who were detained here as witnesses of the capture, and of whom one was examined at Hovell's trial. The tale of fraud, in pretending that a certain vessel was Bishop Patteson's, I have myself seen repeated in print or manuscript a dozen times. Professor Smith brings it up again in his recent letter from Levuka. I, nevertheless, do not remember that the story rests on any reliable source." Sir Alfred adds, "I protest against the system of exaggeration and wholesale denunciation in which so many of the missionaries and other good men have indulged, or to which they lend ready and credulous ears on the subject of Polynesian labor. And I regret deeply to find'that Captain Palmer has been led by his excess of zeal and impulse—suspecting everyone who is less hot-headed than himself—to calumniate, as he has so unsparingly done, men whose feelings of humanity, love of justice, and hatred of wrong, are quite as warm as his own." A good hoax was successfully perpetrated at the Murray Creek reefs on Christmas Eve, which is thus described by the "Grey River Argus:"—On Christmas Eve last, two well-dressed and respectable looking men arrived at an up country town, on their way to the Murray Creek reefs. They put up at one of the leading hotels for the night, intending to continue their journey in the morning. After refreshing themselves they strolled out together to admire the beauties and curiosities of the place, if they could discover any. Their distinguished appearance and extensive get-up at once attracted the attention of the few residents of the town, who were, as usual, hanging about the corners, and louuging under the verandahs ; those under the verandahs scandalising their fellow-citizens at the corners, and vice versa. An incorrigible wag, who is a nuisance to the more respectable inhabitants of the pbee, spread the report, as soon as the visitors passed out of sight, that they were no others than Messrs Brogden and Haughton, who had come specially to the West Coast with reference to the proposed Government railway and water supply schemes, and that they intended to honor our townby making "it their head-quarters during their sojourn in this part of the colony. The bait took; an improptu deputation was at once organised, and the two strangers were waylaid by a few exceedingly clever individuals, who have discovered enormous mares' nests before this, thanks to machination of the aforesaid wag. The deputation was headed by a celebrated local orator, who never neglects an opportunity of airing his eloquence. He congratulated Messrs Brogden and Haughton, as he thought, on their arrival, and on their escape from the dangers of the snaggy deep. This referred to their coming up the river in a cargo boat. He trusted, among a great many other things, that the Brunner railway would soon be commenced and completed. The spokesman especially addressed himself to the supposed Mr Haughton, acd assured him that he had the honor of his acquaintance years ago on the Otago goldfields, and he complimented the hon gentleman ou the wonderful improvement on his looks and general outward appearance, after the

lapse of such a length of time. The two swells remembering it was carnival time, entered into the spirit of the joke. Mr Brogden informed the deputation that the Brunner railway would be commenced at once, and concluded his speech by inviting them to a conference with him next day at noon (knowing that he would be far on his road to the reefs by then), telling them at the same time that their advice and assistance would be invaluable to his firm and himself in the vast undertaking in which they were embarked. Mr Haughton renewed his acquaintance with his friend the spokesman, and apologised for his not instantly recognisinghim with whomhehad been formerly so intimate, and hoped the day was not far distant when the Government he had the honor to represent would see fit to do justice to their town and its inhabitants, who, he could perceive, had not been treated with the consideration their courtesy deserved. He concluded by informing them that he could see, in his mind's eye, the possibility of their town becoming the focus of an immense system of water supply. The honorable gentleman here looked at the river, in which there was a fresh at the time, and no doubt he was thinking of the chances of its overflowing its banks, and submerging the adjacent country. The deputation thanked the two gentlemen for their reception, and previous to withdrawing, requested them, as it was a season for rejoicing, to waive ceremony and favor them by taking wine with them. To this Mr Brogden replied that he never took wine, but he had no objection to a pint of half-and-half. Mr Haughton concurred, and the happy party adjourned to G 's bar, and here, in consequence of an accidental remark made by the landlord, who was not on the deputation and who knew the real names of his guests, the hoax on the part of the strangers was exposed, and we will draw the curtain on the scene which ensued. It is sufficient to say that the travellers resumed their journey that night, and that the members of that deputation will not be in a hurry to again entertain strangers, even though they might turn out to be " angels in disguise." A correspondent of the " New Zealand Herald" gives a cheering picture of the peaceful and beneficial influence of the public works policy upon the northern natives. He says:—ln making a tour through the various settlements from Hokianga Heads to the Kawakawa, I could not help observing the great interest the natives take in politics, and, indeed, the great importance which the settlers everywhere attach to the carrying out of the great colonial scheme for settling the country. This all-absorbing topic is now kept in the foreground by the untiring exertions of the Maori member, Wi Eatene, who has already made a name for himself among the natives by his exertions ever since his return from Parliament. He and Mr Marsdon Clark have, for the last month, travelled over much of the Bay and Monganui, making the necessary arrangements for opening up lines of road throughout the entire Napuhi country as the first steps towards getting the £40,000 expended, or a portion of it, while summer weather lasts. It is said that they have already arranged for a main-trunk line of road from the Eaipara estuary to the Kawakawa coal mines.

On the 29th. December the remains of the young men whose melancholy death occurred on Christmas Day by the upsetting of a boat in the harbor at Port Ohalmer?, were interred in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. The request of the Mayor that citizens should close their premises upon the occasion was unanimously responded to, and along the whole route of the funeral profession every respect was s'a.own the remains of the deceased. The cortege started from the respective residences, there being four hearses, the chief mourners following the hearse containing the remains of their deceased friends, and a long procession of the general public followed. Flags in all directions were hung half-mast high, and as the procession passed the Cricket Ground, the match now being played between Canterbury and Otago was suspended for a time. The scene in the cemetery was very impressive. Four graves were opened ; the Rev D. M. Stuart conducted the service over the remains of Alfred Prictor; the Eev Dr Copland at the grave of William and Jas. Drew, who were interred together: the Eev George Sutherland officiated at tho grave of John Bruce; and the Eev John G-ow at the grave of Peter and William Scrymgeour, who also were buried together.

Berkley, Sept. 1869. —Gentlemen, I feel it a duty I owe to you to my gratitude for th(> great, benefit I have derived by taking Norton's Camomile Pills.' I applied to jour agents, Mr Bell Berkley, for the above named Pills, for wind in the stomach, for which I suffered excruciating pain for a length of time, having tried every remedy persenbed, 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 tbe benefit of those who may thus be afflicted." —I am, Sir, yours trulv, Hehey Allpass.—To the proprietors of Nobton's Camomile Pills.