The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 197, 3 January 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1866.

Up to the time of our going to press, no telegrams had reached us from any of the provinces. By the Tararua, which arrived at the Bluff on Sunday, we are placed in possession of Northern dates as foUows : — Wanganui and Wellington, 26th, and Lyttelton, 28th insfc. We summarize the news. — The body of Ensign Jenkins, 18th Royal Irish, drowned on the 18fch insfc., was found in the Patea River. The Rifleman, from Dunedin to the Grey, put into Wellington harbor on the 16th, wind bound. On Saturday last another great flood at Kaiapoi. The Waimakariri had previously overflowed. From Dunedin we learn thafc a Provincial Government Gazette was published on the 29th, announcing the acceptance by the Superintendent of the resignations of members of the late Executive, and the appointment of a new Ministry as foUows : Provincial Secretary, Mr. Henry John MUler; Provincial Treasurer, Mr. F. G. Moss ; Provincial Solicitor, Mr. JJ. C. Haggitt; NonOilicia! Members, Messrs James Adam, Charles H. Street and John Hughes. A grand amateur concert and dramatic entertainment in aid of the Ladies' Benevolent Society was given afc the Theatre Royal on Monday evening last. We were much gratified to observe that a weU-fiUed house rewarded the efforts of the amateurs in then* knid endeavors to forward the objects of an institution which has relieved much distress, and, in many instances, been productive of lasting benefit to the recipients of its bounty .> In the concerted pieces weU merited applause was repeatedly bestowed. The entertainment closed with the comedietta of " Delicate Ground" in which many of the points were exceUently rendered, and was throughout a complete success. It wiU be seen by an advertisement in our other columns that Mr. Morton proposes to continue his Floral Exhibition during this day. We have elsewhere noticed the success which has attended the labors of our enterprising feUow colonist, and need only add that the Exhibition wiU weU repay a visit. A meeting of electors interested in the nomination of candidates for the representation of this province in the General Assembly, wiU be held thia evening t afc half-past seven, in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Dee-street. The subject is one in the highest degres worthy of consideration afc the present time when questions of grave importance are awaiting solution, andwe have no doubt the public wiU give ifc their earnest attention. From the Riverton Gold-field our advices are of a mosfc encouraging nature. A party °f three came to town on Saturday last, for a supply of provisions and disposed of aboufc two ounces of gold. They declined to state what were the prospects obtained, unless paid for the information. Ifc is however, tolerably eertam they have struck payable ground. One or two parties have since started for the locality. There can be little doubt thafc ultimately an immense extent of auriferous country wiU be opened up, but this can only take place when a sufficient number of miners undertake to cope with the difficult nature of the country — covered as it is with dense bush. New Year's day being a public holiday the Resident Magistrate's Court was closed. Yesterday the Court was occupied with the hearing of a charge of an unnatural offence alleged to have been committed by a man named Torrence GaUoway on the morning of the Ist inst. The evidence adduced in the case, which is totally unfit for publication, was sufficient to warrant the Resident Magistrate in committing the accused for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. The foUowing is the state of H.M. Gaol for the week ending Tuesday the 2nd current. Sentenced to Penal Servitude 7 males, sentenced to hard labor 5, males, Lunatics 5 males, 1 female, committed for trial 2 males, total 19 males, 1 female. Discharged during the vreek, 2 males. Received during th§ I saele, S^ase fer j $.c wsefe I ?aal§, !