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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 235, 30 March 1866, Page 2

The difficulty which is experienced in the obtainance of men with legislative mind and Bchoolastic attainments, capable of taking from their legitimate avocations, the time and attention which public work involves, has ever, and for a considerable time to come must tend to keep Provincial Councils from taking that high position which a deliberative law-given institution should occupy. It is therefore matter for regret whenever a man who does, iv some degree, possess the qualities, retires from political life. Mr Macdonald (this morning) announces his resignation as a member of the Provincial CounciL He was desirous, previous to the hist session of the Council to retire, but was induced to continue to its termination. Upon the adverse vote which caused the resignation of the late Ministry, Mr Maedonald resigned, not only his office as a member of the Executive Council, but also that of Provincial Solicitor. Mr Macdonald's retirement will be a great loss to the Council. It is reported that Mr. Cuthbertson finds that Iris private affairs are likely to command so much of hiß time during the next few months that he will not be able to devote so much attention to the Government business as he thinks should be given by a member of the Ministry, and, therefore, has resolved to resign his office. If the report is correct it is much to be regretted, as the Cuthbertson Ministry have commenced well, and possess the confidence of the people. We have received the following information from Biverton. The letter is under date 28th March. It says : — Mr H. Burbridge started on the morning of the 26th instant from Kiverton, in a boat belonging to Mr D. Durbridge, for the Pahi, accompanied by Charles Husen. They started on Sunday, but, owing to the boisterous weather, were compelled to put into Kolac Bay, from which place Mr Durbridge determined to walk, leaving instructions with the boatman to take round the boat as 6oon as the storm abated. On Monday morning the boatman left Kolac Bay. he states : — " He had not gone far when the wind changed, and, as he could not beat up against it he lay to all night, and on Tuesday morning finding the ■wind still ahead he determined on running back to Kiverton; but when putting the boai about a heavy sea struck her, and before he could bail out the water she was struck by another sea, filled with water, and capsized. He then got on the bottom ot the boat, which drifted towards Stewart's Island and with the next tide she drifted close in towards Howell's Point ; seeing the boat was likely to be again carried out to sea, he threw himself off the boat, and swam ashore. There was about half-a-ton of stores in the boat when it capsized. As soon as the circumstances were reported here, the Pilot Mr Tale, and a volunteer crew went out, but could rot find the boat, and it is supposed that it had drifted towards the New River Heads. The boat is of about three tons burden. Husen had a very narrow escape of his life, it appears that he undertook a dangerous task which few would hare attempted. We understand that a numerously signed requisition is to be presented to Henderson Law, Esq., requesting him to come forward as a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council. It is to be hoped that he will acceed to the request. Friday, March 25th, was the anniversary of the Province of Ofcago, and was kept t»s a holiday The Daily Times says : — " The weather was very unfavorable ; and there was less holiday making on the anniversary of the Province, than has taken place on any public holiday for a considerable time past. In the forenoon, there was a strong wind ; in the afternoon, the temperature was higher, but there was occasional slightshowers ; and between four and five o'clock heavy rain commenced, and fell almost uninterruptedly throughout the evening. The Caledonian Gathering was, perhaps, fairly attended, under the circumstances. We give elsewhere some particulars as to the games. At the Taieri, we learn, there was but little rain during Thursday night up to List evening. There were from 100 to 120 valunteers, rank and file, present at the Encampment ; and a good amount of exercise was get through. Some of the tents had not been erected when the men reached the ground on Thursday nigh^j and a3 a whole, there was a fair taste of the pleasures of camping out. The shooting for the Challenge Cup by the Artillery .Regiment, which was to have taken place at the Kaikorai butts yesterday, wa3 postponed until next week (Friday, we believe), in consequence of the weather. The Golden Age got but a small number of passengers for her Portobello aud Port Chalmers trips. The ball of the Caladonian Society was held in ths evening, at the Exhibition Building, and passed off very pleasantly. The hall was smartly decorated with flags ; and the arrangements in the refreshment and retiring rooms were good. Mr T. Lack's quadrill band occupied the orchestra, and played in a style that gave general satisfaction. Mr Gilfillan acted as master of tha ceremonies, and the directors of the Society did duty as Stewards. The attendance was moderately good, but many ticket-holder 3 were known not to be present" We have been requested to correct some errors which appeared in our report of the Provincial Council, published in our Wednesday's issue. The following is the correct report of what Mr Macdonald Baid; — "He did, not think eomuch

blame was attributable to Mr Stuart as had been cast upon hM, inasmuch as the lien claimed by Mr Battray was the lien which every unpaid con* tractor possesses, and did not therefore arise from any action of the late Treasurer, Mr Stuart. Ho thought, however, that acknowledgments ought not to have been issued to Mr Eattray unless the lien had been relinquished." The Wanganui Times indulging in the facetious, will hard it that Sir George Grey has become a convert to Hau-Hauisra, and is now, in company with the prophet Te TJa, dancing round a pole at Kawau, but does not inform, us if in a state of nudity. The Times aays : — " Strange reports are afloat regarding the Hau-Hau prophet. It is said that the Wellington papers know more of him than they wish to say anything about, but we are determined to ferret it of them. The case on our aide is simple and straight forward. When Gen. Chute reached Opunati on the 2nd of last month he captured the notorious Te Ua and his personal followers. The arcH villains life was spared, although the Native Contingent very properly wanted to inflict summary justice on him. On the 10th February he left Wanganui, on the 11th reached Wellington, and was in due course introduced to his Excellency the Governor. Now, the question is, what is become of him since ? Beport says that Te Ua has converted Sir George Grey, and that they have both started for Kawau to erect a Nui, hoist the flag, and dance around it. Of course the Wellington papers are silent upon the subject, but in these days of mesmeric influence they, too, may be under some mysterious spell from which we are anxiou3 to arouse them by asking the question — where is Te Fa?" The " Lyttleton Times," after noticing the strength which the support of Dr. Featherstone and the Wellington votes will afford to Mr. Staftord, goes on to say : — "A leader in the House much stronger for all practical purposes than either Mr. Stafford or Dr. Featherstone, and perhaps as powerful as both together, will be Mr. Whitaker, of Auckland. He has never yet appeared in the House of Representatives, but has kept pace with the march of political events in the colony as member of the Legislative Council ; a Minister from 1856 to 1861, Premier in 1863 and 1864, and now Superintendent of his own Province. Sagacious, determined, and indefatigable, high in political standing, thoroughly informed upon facts, a practised debater, and an experienced man of the world, Mr. Whitaker is in his own person a tower of strength. But this is not all ; he possesses the implicit confidence of his colleagues, and holds in his hand the fifteen Auckland votes at his own disposal in the House. What will he do with them ? To all appearance he has hud the foundation of a close alliance with Mr. Stafford in the recent transaction respecting the confiscated lands. The two politicians are old comrades in oiSce, have been of one mind respecting the withdrawal of the British troops, and used to hold somewhat similar views on Maori questions and the general relations between the colony and the provinces, which we are not aware that either of them has abandoned. Nothing would seem more natural, therefore, tlian that Hr Whitaker should give a warm support to Mr Stafford and with Dr Featherston's aid construct a party, formidable not only by its numbers, but even more so by the ability of its leaders. The Middle Island may well be driven to consider whether it has cohesion enough to resist 60 strong a Government, should injustice to the South be threatened in its policy. * * * It is strange, but probably true, that the safety of the Middle Island during the next session will depend upon the eagerness with which Auckland seeks to separate the colony. If Mr Whitaker and his followers repeat the action taken by the Auckland members last session, and waive this one question for a time in order to support Mr Stafford, there is little doubt that they will give him overwhelming strength in the Assembly." Tkx Hokitika Chronicle, 24th March, has an account af a mysterious loss of gold. It says : — " The gold escort between Hokitika and Waimea township made its first journey on Thursday, and it is intended that the service shall be performed at regular intervals. Unfortunately the first attempt at the safe convoy of gold to town has resulted in an unexpected mischance, the cause of which is at present enveloped in mystery. Ifc appears that the gold intended to be sent down was received from the Union Bank at the Waimea by Mr M'Farlane, in three bags, and these were placed by him in a sack, and securely tied up. After doing this he left the sack for a few minutes at the door of the Bank under the eye of the Police Sergeant, and went into his own store. On his return he saw the gold securely fixed on the saddle of the packhorse, the fastening being to all appearances stili intact and untouched ; but to his utter astonishment, on reaching town he found the sack contained but two bags of gold, the third in which had been placed 270 ounces having most mysteriously disappeared. He at once rode back in hot haste to the Waimea, on the chance of hearing something of the missing treasure, but the search proved useless, and the mystery ol the affair still remains unravelled."