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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 240, 11 April 1866, Page 2

The present month is fixed by law as the period during which objections are to be lodged with the Registration Officer, to the retention of the names of unqualified persons on the Electoral Eolls. We have often advocated the desirability of an organised movement having for its object the correction of the Eolls, -which, up to the present time, through apparent want of interest in the subject, has been neglected. "We trust that some of our citizens will exert themselves in order to embrace the opportunity of amending the Rolls, by causing objections to be lodged against the numerous unqualified persons Whose I names still appear as voters. It will be seen from our advertising columns that the ship England will positively sail on Saturday, the 14th inst. This fine vessel has now completed her loading, and has a large portion of the passenger accommodation taken up. A number of well-known residents have taken advantage of this opportunity of paying a visit to the home country, and no doubt they will have a pleasant trip. The ship is unexceptionable, is ably commanded, and has first class accommodation for passengers. She takes, we understand, one of the most valuable cargoes which has ever been sent from Southland. We understand that the sitting of the Supreme Court for the despatch of criminal business, wMch are usually held this month, will not take plac6 until next month. There are but two cases, both of a very ordinary nature, for trial, and it is doubtful whether the sessions will not be postponed till July. The following i? the state of H. M. gaol for the week ending, Tuesday, the 10th current j Sentenced to^ penal servitude, 7 males j sentenced to hard labor, 11 males, and 1 female; lunatics, 5 males, 1 female ; committed for trial, 2 males •. total, 25 males, and 2 females : received during the week, 1 male j discharged during the week, 1 male, 1 female ; decrease for the week, 1 male. The following writing wa& found on a piece of paper enclosed in a bottle, which wbb picked up at the Riverton beach yesterday by one of Cobb and Co.'a driverß t — " Dove, schooner, from Melbourne to Hokitika, 2N T ew Zealand, H. GK Smith, masters latitude, 40,29 south j longtime, IQQ east, ' Bad we&fcher for the Iwfc nine (fcyßi"

The Treasurer of the Ladies' Benevolent Society begs most thankfully to acknowledge the receipt of £2 14s. from the Committee of the New Eiver District " Harvest Home," being the balance of the proceeds of the same. The Dunstan Times of the 31st ult., in commenting upon the change in the weather says : — " During Wednesday night a sudden influx of water, occasioned probably by a fall of earth, took place in the coal-pit of Messrs Holt and Dakin, at Clyde. The pumps have failed to make any impression upon the water, consequently the works are at a stand-still. We believe that the proprietors intend rigging up a " whip," so as to assist the pumping process by bailing with horse power." The Wellington Independent, says: — "The Haiokes Bay Herald of the 24th insf thus announces the return of the St. Kilda and the safe arrival of the Maori prisoners at the Chatham Islands. By the return of the St. Kilda, Captain Kennedy, we have intelligence of the arrival at the Chatham Islands of the first batch of Maori prisoners ; of the natives there having consented to receive them ; — and of their having been landed and located in apiece of land set apart for the purpose. The St. Kilda arrived at Waitangi, Chatham Islands, on Wednesday, the 14th inst. The consent of the resident natives having been obtained, the prisoners were landed next (Thursday) morning, and were welcomed with great acclamation by their countrymen assembled on the beach. After bejng mustered the prisoners were marched to the pah, where thay. received numerous presents of food, &c. In the evening they were marched up to the place where they are at present located — a beautiful spot at the foot of a rising ground, about half a mile S.W. of the principal pah. They are said* to have been highly i>leased with the place and the reception they met with." The Sydney Morning Herald says . — " When Dunn was confined in Darlinghurst Gaol he found there John M'Cormack, who had received two sentences, amounting in all to ten or eleven years' imprisonment, for robbery, and shooting and wound Lag a Chinaman, near Wombat. At one time M'Cormack was a companion of Dunn, and the condemned man shortly before bis execution, made a statement to show that M'Cormaek was in his company at Murrumburrah at the time the robbery was committed, and knew nothing whatever of its contemplation or perpetration. Certain persons were mentioned as having been present on the evening when the robbery took place, and who could prove that M'Cormack was not there. The Hon. the Chief Secretary caused a letter to be written to the magistrate nearest to the place where the crime was committed, requesting him to obtain the depositions of such of the persons mentioned as could be reached. „ These depositions were received by Mr Parkes at the close of last week. He then got from the sheriff a report in reference to Dunn's 'frame of mind when he made the confession, and other information relating to the conduct of M'Cormack during the term of his imprisonment. He found that he had been exceedingly well conducted — that he had been attentive in the prison school, where he had learned to read well and write a good hand. Mr Parkes then forwarded the whole of the papers to His Excellency the Governor, and yesterday morning received M'Cormack's , .pardon. He then went to the gaol, informed the unfortunate young man that he was free, and gave him a sum of money to. convey him to his home. M'Cormack had never before come under the lash of the law, and in this case he seems to have suffered a grievous wrong." From our Auckland files we learn that " the Provincial Council was prorogued on the 21st ult. In bis speech the Superintendent reviewed the progress of the session, commented upon the responsibilities thrown upon the Province through the acceptance of the confiscated lands for the purpose of colonisation, and expressed his regret that the Province was involved in such serious financial difficulties."