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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 247, 27 April 1866, Page 2

We perceive from, an advertisement, that the Government although not fully declaring the Longwood ) District a goldfield, has intimated that persons desirous of registering claims for prospecting or cutting races, in that districl, can do so by applying to the Resident Magistrate; and that such claims will be recognised according to priority, in the event of the Government declaring the district a goldfield. :■ W. H. Pearson Esq., has invited the electors of the Waianawa district to meet at the school -room, on Saturday next, when he will explain his legislative conduct since the time Ke became their representative, and his proposed future policy. 5; We are requested to call attention to Mr Todd's sale this day, at the Bluff, of one of Egnecker's patent diving dress with apparatus complete ; also to 'the sale of land, furniture, &c, at his rooms, Dee-street, on Saturday ; also to the sale at Mr H. Harris's, Plough Hotel, the particulars of which- will be found in . our advertising columns. - . We are informed that a boat laden with stores 'and belonging to Messrs Surmian and Crerar, Riverton, whilst on its way to the Paihi diggings was caught in a squall and capsised ; nearly all the stores were destroyed but -id lives were lost. The diggings are reported to be progressing well ; one man brought into Riverton 40 ozs., the result of his working. Trade at Riverton is brisk. The reports we have received justify the conclusion that these Goldfields will prove extensive and remunerative to a considerable number of miners. -The Provincial Government have not yet proclaimed the Riverton district a Goldfield ; this has arisen from a careful desire not to I raise false expectations, at the sametime to promote as far as possible the developement of the district. So strong is our impression of the payable character of the Goldfield, that a " special correspondent " leaves this morning on a tour of investigation and in a few days a reliable and . impartial report may be expected. On Wednesday evening, the 25th April, in perauance of an advertisement, a public meeting was held at the Provincial Hotel, of gentleman interested or favorable to the ■ construction of a bridge in Canon- street,, and the formation of a pathway to the southern boundary of the town Mr P. Darymple was called to the chair. He itated the objects of the meeting. Mr Lutns&en, ££,f tO.| wptewetl &$$ .ft j?rsYi©tts jaee&jg hjd

been held, avhen several suggestions had been advanced as to the class of bridge which was most desjrable. He considered that a twelve-foot wide bridge, calculated to carry a loaded dray, would be the most useful and lasting, as it would allow of cattle to pass without that injury which was certain to be done to a footbridge. To adopt these suggestions would require, an outlay in excess of what had at first been expected ; but two of the largest subscribers were willing to contribute a larger amount than previously named, in order to secure a good substantial bridge. Mr Mitchell said that no definite conclusion had been arrived at, and it wa» competent for any gentleman to make suggestions. A™ animated discussion ensued, and much interest was evinced in the movement. It was resolved to elect a working committee for the purpose of collecting information as to the various plans which had been suggested. The following were elected: — Messrs Rout, Hay, Dalrymple, Mitchell, Perkins, Lumsden, and Nutter (Secretary and Treasurer). The Neteon Examiner says — "The revenue obtained by this province from the West Coast; is steadily on the increase, and is now at the rate of £40,000 a-year. The Government have it in contemplation to open a communication at once between the Buller and the Grey, through the valleys of the Inangahua and Little Grey, passing through the new diggings. Fortunately the character of the country is such that this may be done at little cost." The following original advertisement showing a ] new way "of working the oracle " appears in a ] recent number of the (Dunedin) Evening Star : — : " Deafe of the Bell. Joe Munton, the original Town Crier, begs to inform his patrons and others, that as a bye-law has been passed by- the j City Corporation for the prevention of ringing bells in the city of Dunedin, for any announcement he will, from and after this date, blow a Horn instead of ringing a Bell, whilst crying any orders they may favor him with, and will endeavor to give as much satisfaction as heretofore." We are in receipt of the HoTcitika Chronicle, of the 21st April. The news is not of much interest. A tramway has been projected between Hokitika and Kaneri. The only mining intelligence is from the Okarita Goldfields. In this district progress is satisfactory, and the field extending, one party of four are said to have sold to the Bank of New Zealand 1200 ozs., gold the produce offa month's labor. The Lake District is in favor, and other workings are yielding well. The diggings" are steadily advancing in the direction of Bruce Bay. The Spectator (London) has the following, which, no doubt, will be as interesting to our readers. It says: — "This year (L 866) is said to be a year important in prophecy. The Morning Advertiser reminds its readers that Mr Fleming, writing in the da/s of William and Mary, more than 150 years ago, predicted that in 1794- the King of France would suffer some great humiliation ; that in 1848 the Pope would meet with a calamity (in fact he fled from Rome) j and that in 1866 the ten kingdoms of which the old Roman Empire once consisted would break up and dissolve, or take some new form. Either Mr Flemming missed hii first date by a year, or the Morning Advertiser, or the Record, which copies from it, have attributed their own blunder to Mr Fleming. It was in 1793, not 1794, that the King of Franca was executed, and if he suffered any great humiliation in 1794, the means ef knowing it were beyond mortal ken. It is true, however, we believe, that Mr Fleming's curious prophecies were in some very marked manner fulfilled. Our impression is that he also predicted the rise of a dynasty from some island in the Mediterranean, which should be overthrown, and after a certain interval restored. It is a curious question how far two marvellous guesses, if really verified, should entitle the guessers to any Bhare of confidence in a third instance. Even the Morning Advertiser and the JRecord do not say that they think it would be pious to believe it, but rather guard themselves against the imputation of credulity. They cite, however, other prophecies of a similar nature for 1866, which are due, we believe, to the prevalence of sixes in the date, sixes being universally favourites with pro- I phets, in consequence of the number of sixes in the number of the Beast. The curious thing to note is, however, the utter uselessness of Mr Fleming's guesses, even if we could believe them absolutely. What should a man, expecting the breaking up or separation of the ten kingdoms do ? should he be more pious "in consequence, or more cautious ? Should he sell out of the funds, and carry away bullion to an island in the Pacific ? Or would he not rather, in spite of his religious arithmetic, merely worship God after his old fashion, and for the most part, like the rest of us, live quietly on." We extract the following from the Daily Times, 20th April : — " A most melancholy accident occured at Clutlia Ferry^ on Monday afternoon, by which Mr Charles Gordon, farmer, lost liis life. It appears that, according to a settled custom amongst the farmers, one neghbor assists another during harvest and threshing time, and it was while giving a day to his neighbor (Mr Cameron) that the deceased met with the fatal accident. While engaged driving the threshing machine, which i 3 worked by horsepower, deceased unfortunately seated himself on the spur wheel, which turns horizontally, when his trousers caught between the same and the pinion. It was not until his leg had passed between the two, that the horses could be stopped, and upon assistance coming to his rescue it was found that his leg below the knee was absolutely crushed to" pieces. Medical aid was at once sent for, and on Dr Smith's arrival, he found il necessary to advise amputation of the limb. He ■eccordingly dispatched a messenger for the assistance of Dr Manning at the operation, but before that gentle^ man arrived Gordon had died. Mr Gordon was of exemplary industrious habits, having, in the course of only a few years, risen from the position of a ploughman to be the proprietor of a considerable amount of lauded property in different parts of this and Southland Provinces. Deceased is unmarried, and we understand a brother, resident at the Taieri, is the only relative in the Colony. A Coroner's Inquest was held by J. Gibson Smith Esq., on Tuesday, when a verdict of accidental death was returned — the, jury being of opinion thajt no blame wa3 attached to any one." We would remind our readers that. Monday next, the 30th Ay til, is the last day for entering objections to the names on the Electoral Roll. The desirability of making the Roll as perfect as possible;, is apparent, and unless active measures arenow.takea the Roll will bo fay &ora patte'

The important question, as to the legality of placing a prisoner upon his trial a Becond time, the first jury not agreeing, seems to puzzle the legal fraternity of the home country as well as those "of the colonies. .It will be in the recollection of our readers that' during the last year three cases hare arisen of a peculiar character, in different parts of the world, each involving the question whether a criminal can twice be tried for the same offence. The. notorious Captain Jarrey was the first caso, but he was executed in Dunedin before the question could be adequately argued. Then came the case of Winsor, the child murderess, in' England, when <^ie question became one of importance. The next was that of Bertrand, in New South Wales, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Blinder, but whose execution has been deferred, pending the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench, in the case of the woman Winsor. This decision has not yet been arrived at,' as will be seen from the following extract from the Some News, of the 26th February. It says : — Charlotte Winsor, the child murderess, has obtained another respite, and is to have another trial. On Feb. 10, it was announced that the Attorney- General had issued his fiat for the recent decision by the Court of Queen's Bench to be reheard before the Court of Error on the ground that the judgment of the court, that the discharge of the jury on the first trial was no bar to the second taking place, was contrary to a decision given by the judges in Ireland, who held that if a jury -were .once discharged the prisoner could not be tried again. During the time she has been in gaol the convict has been taught to i read and write ; and she has lately written a statement which enters minutely into details concerning the murder of the child. This statement consists principally of alleged conversations between herself and her accomplice? Harris ; and in it 6he reiterates the denial that she was the actual murdereas, but admits that she knew of the crime and endeavored to conceal it."