OTAGO.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 64, 18 June 1863, Page 3

O T A GO.

|(FROM OfR OWN CORBESPONDENT.) DUNEDIN. Tuesday, June 9th, ISG3. The news has arrived at last that the Molyneux Kiver begins to subside to an extent that the digger, so long cast down, once again looks hopeful. [ fear that should the river not go down, and (hat speedily, there will be much distress among the diggers, and serious losses to the storekeepers. Many of the latter have (rusted the holders of river claims, in the confident expectation that when they became workable, all back scores would be rubbed off. And again, anticipating a very large winter trade, and availing themselves of the long period of fine weather, storekeepers have laid in very heavy supplies of all descriptions, which are now lying unsaleable on their hands; in many instances, I fear, to a ruinous extent. However, if the river settles down to a very low ebb. and the banks prove as rich as many prognostica f e all will very soon right itself. Of what is doing at the Lakes, I net d not dilate upon as you always anticipate m with news from (hat district. The detachment of the 70th Kegiirent, officers and mcD, Jeft here yesterday by the Airedale for the seat of war. H was quito an imposiij b spectacle. The members of the Volunteer Rifle Corps, as also those of the Fire Brigade, turned out in full uniform, to do honor to the brave fellows who had so lonj been in our midst, and who possessed the confidence and retained the respect of the t.owrisfork. The main thoroughfare thiough which the troops marched down to the wharf, wns lined with many hundreds of persons. The greater proportion of these were simply spectators, who had come to give a hearty cheer asid a sincere 'God speed" (o one and all ; but there were others in the throng- who felt far deeper interest in the departure of the corps. There were the sweethearts, wifes, and children of the soldiers. With in any a hearty cheer, wail and lament commingled. Husbands and lovers were leaving never more, it might be, to return Who could tell ? There was a fine band of music extemporised among our local musicians, and this pouring forth its cheerful strains, preceded the soldiery down to the jetty, where the embarkation took place. "Well, they have gone, and may they return crowned wiih the laurels of victory. The earthquake which we experienced on the 6th instant has been felt generally throughout all parts of New Zealand. At Port Chalmers the shock was particularly severe. The Criminal Sessions are still sitting. To-moirow the trial of Job Johuslon, for the murder at Miiler's Flat will come on. There are fourteen witnesses for the pro secution, and seven for the defence. My own opinion is that Johnston is quite innocent of the murder, and that a jury will find him so. If he be acpited, as J have little doubt, some compensation ought to be made to the unfortunate man, as the <:ost of his defence will swallow up the whole of all he possesses — sometwo hundred pounds, as I am informed — lo say nothing of his long and cruel incarceration in prison. Mr. Yogel, the editor and proprietor of the Oiago Daily Times, will, in all probability,be our representative in the Provincial Council for "Waikouaiti. He is supported by the most influential of ihe electors in the district. The weather still continues remarkably fine, and winter really appears as far off as t did three months ago. A day has not as yet been appointed as i general holiday to commemmorate the marriage of the Prince of Wales, but it will shortly be proclaimed, and arrangements will be made to make it in every respect worthy of so special an occasion. A Comnittee has been formed to collect subscripions for the purchase of a bridal present, md I believe lhe amount likely to be ■aised will be something most respect»blc. The Daily Times will shortly have a ipecial war correspondent in the Norlh sland, whose duty it will be to give from ,ime to time a faithful record of the out>reak from the commencement till its ternination, which, Jet us hope, will not, bo ong.

Wednesday, June 10. The Escoit arrived here yesterday evening with a veiy snisll cjuaiitii}'' of gold, which, until explained, caused a good deal of uneasiness. The returns were as under : — oz. dwt. j Arrow 41(5 10 Queenstown ... 405 .10 Dunstan ... 3,040 10 3,807 10 The cause of the small ness of the return from the Arrow and Queenstown is accounted for by the fact that none of the hanks fonvaided gold by the escort, for what special reasons I have not been able to ascertain. The long trial of William Marry att and Edmund Santy, for the murderous assault upon Constable Parker, came to a close last night. Both were found Guilty on the fourth count of the indictment, the intent to do giievous bodily harm. Sentence has been deferred. A cottage occupied by John Fisher, Port Chalmers, was yesterday completely destroyed l>y fire, along; with all the furniture it contained, and it is said, with some amount of money on the premises at the time. The fire occurred in the temporary absence of Mr and Mrs Fisher, and was so lapid in its spread that, though the police and others were early on the spot, not a single article was saved. Had there been a supply of water and a fire-engine accessible, the destruction of property would probably have been arrested, but neither of these necessities does Port Chalmers possess. You will shortly be visited at Invercargill by a firm of gentlemen, just arrived from Scotland, who are about to erect very extensive steam saw mills, to supply your market with sawn limber. The whole of the extensive machinery and plant is now on boaid the Electra, lying at Port Chalmers, awaiting transhipment. I do ivt understand how the horn- 1 folk arrive at the conclusion, but it is certain a very large number, especially from Scotland, are imbued with the idea that Invercargill offers a better field for permanent settlement than Dunedin. P.S.— The 30th of this month has just been gazetted as a public holiday in honor of the Marriage of the Prince of Wales. Saturday, 13th June. Job Johnston, charged with a most horrible and co ! d-blooded murder committed at Miller's Flat some three months back, has been tiied and honorably acquitted. I never witnessed such intense excitement in a criminal couif, through a long experience of twenty years, ss I did yesterday. I did not think tliat in a civilised country, in the nineteenth country, such a fearful accusation could be made; that the Crown Law Officers and the police had between them combined to bring a most horrible murder home to a man whom they knew to be innocent long before be came up for trial. The judge, in discharging the prisoner, was affected to tears The cheers which resounded through the Court-house the moment the jury returned their verdict, and they never left the box, was absolutely deafening. Groans were afterwards given for the detectives and Crown Law Officers. To-night thei-e is to be a public meeting, to raise a subscription for Johnston, whose defence lias cost him upwards of £300, and there is little doubt that had he not most fortunately had such a good round sum in the bank to his credit, be would have been convicted, sen'enced io death, and executed, while it was known to several who got up the evidence against him that he was an | innocent man. fcnich is the general impression of most people.