The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 732, 4 October 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1867.

We perceive, from a Q-azette, dated the 2nd October, that His Honor the Superintendent by proclamation prorogued the Provincial Council. Mr James Mackay, Native Commissioner of the Province of Auckland, supplies some information, which must be deemed authentic, relative to the Te Karaka goldfield. He writes : — " Mining operations may be said to have commenced at Te Karaka on Ist Augu3t. The ground prospected was not of a highly auriferous character ; but the miners were able to procure small grains of fine gold almost anywhere in it. This in my opinion would have paid for ground sluicing in some places, t and not in others. The general desire, however, appeared to be to get to the bed rook (bottom) in hopes of finding something heavier. Owing to bad weather and the want of timber for slabbing, this ha* not yet been attained, and many parties after sinking to considerable depth (varying from twenty to forty feet) abandoned the undertaking. I believe, in nearly all cases, more or less of fine gold was found from the surface downwards. About six parties are now sluicing at the Karaka, and there is also a company of twenty-four men formed to carry on deep sinking. On the 10th August, Messrs Hunt, White, and Clarkson discovered a very valuable reef, or leader from a reef, at Karanui. A 'rush took place to the spot, and several claims have been taken up there. I may mention that, on the 30th, Mi- M. Barry and party, holding a claim above Hunt, struck what I believe to be the main reef there. The quartz is solid, and the gold apparently of a better quality than that found in Hunt's claim. Mr Tookey has struck a payable reef above the Moauataiau stream, and Mr Boyd, who holds an adjacent claim, has also succeeded in finding a continuation of the reef. All the specimens are satisfactory. Mr Boyle and party have found a reef at Te Karaka ; but lam not in a position to report on its value, not having had time to inspect it. Mr Murphy, an old quartz miner, well known to the Coromandel, has also discovered a reef above the Hope Stream. He appears sanguine about its being remunerative j but I cannot state any particulars about it, not having yet visited the ground, or seen specimens from it. The condition of affairs generally is, I think, hopeful." The erection of lighthouses on the coast of New Zealand has coßt £44,305 Is Id, and the annual expense of their maintenance is £3927 ss. The estimated cost of the apparatus, -which it is proposed to erect at the Nuggets, and the beacon on Flat Rock, is £4500 j and the annual expense of tbeir maintenance, £§75,

', We have received the following note from the { Director of Meteorological Stations (O. R. Marten, Esq.)— " Mai<endale, Oct. 2.— The barometer to-day has fallen to 28.94 inches, having steadily decreased at the rate of one-tenth of an inch daily, for nine days, during which time the weather has been magnificent. Coupling the remarkable depression with the reading of the hydrometer, the electric and magnofcte state of the atmosphere, the unusually high temperature (70 degrees in shade) and the appearance of theclouds, it is absolutely certain a violent cyclonic storm is raging at no great distance. It is impossible to predict positively tha? it will visit this Province, but there is every probability that we experience a share of the atmospheric disturbance. — Charles Rous Marten, Director of Meteorological Stations." The district of Collingwood, in the Province of kelson, the scene of the earliest gold-diggings in New Zealand, is again attracting some attention Tlie " Nelson Examiner" of the 19th Sept. Bays : — "By the Lady Barkly, which arrived last evening from Collingwood, we learn that the greatest excitement prevails at Collingwood, through the discovery of a goldfield of unusual richness between Bedstead Gully and Slate River. Many of the minors in the district have abandoned their claims for the new ground. The gold is obtained by deep sinking, but the returns are said to be something fabulous. The Supply, which left Collingwood before the Lady Barkly, had some of the gold on board. We hope next week to be able to give additional particulars." The following notice of the state of arrangements for the naval defence of Melbourne appears iv the " Argus "of the 12th ult. : — " Information was received by the Government by despatches by the last mail, to the effect that the Nelson, steam frigate, would in all probability sail for this Colony about the end of August. She was detained waiting for the six 300-ponnd guns, ordered for the shore defences here, which she will bring out in order to save freight. The crew, however, had not been engaged, so that no expense was being incurred. One or two alterations and improvements had also been suggested in the boilers and machinery of the Nelson, and advautage was being taken of the delay to carry them into . effect. We are informed that there is no truth in the report that the Nelsou was rotten and but little worthi During the thorough overhaul which she underwent only two or three pieces of unsound timber were discovered, and these were all removed. The plans and drawings for the iron turret ship had been prepared by the Admiralty, and submitted to Major Pasley, and he had taken the best unofficial professional opinion upon them which was to be obtained in the United Kingdom. Only a few trifling improvements were suggested, and these are to be carried out. Tenders for the construction of the vessel were to be immediately called for, and it is said that when finished the Victorian turret ship will be one of the finest, if not the finest, vessel in the world. She will be armed with four 600-pound guns, and is estimated to cost £120,000. Before any tender ia' accepted it will be sent to Major Pasley for his approval." Captain Savory, of the cutter Sea Flower, which has arrived at Wellington from the Chatham Islands, reports that much sickness prevails at Waitangi. Measles are very prevalent, chiefly affecting the natives, and considerable numbers have died. The " Melbourne Argus" - says :— " The intending competitors at the next Intercolonial Eifle Match are hard at work practising with the new match Whitworths, and we are informed that some capital shooting has been the result Apropos of rifles, we learn that a supply of new Snider converted breech-loading rifles has been sent out to the Australian Colonies for the use of Imperial troops here. They have not, however, been distributed as yet." Tho following items of local intelligence is taken from tho . " Wakitip Mail" :— " The new Provincial Council of Southland has been opened, and a most extraordinary session has commenced, but pressure upon our columns prevents us from commenting upon the procedings. Mr Taylor was re-elected Superintendent, and then his Executive resigned, upon the grounds that they were only a Provisional Ministry ; or, as one ex-Minister said, because "His Honor renounced his directory functions and told them 'that he should retire into his shell, and do nothing,'" but really in consequence of a financial difficulty represented by a sura under £2000. A debate then ensued unparalleled as far as our experience goes. Each speaker seems to have vied with the other in warmth of temper, or the imputation of motives. It is time the era of Provincial Governments was numbered with the past." Mr Wrigg, who has been engaged by the Nelson Government to make a rough survey of a line of railway from Nelson to Westport and Cobden, was to start from Nelson on Monday to make a preliminary inspection of the country through which it is intended the railway shall be carried.