The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 866, 16 December 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1867.

It will be seen by our advertising columns that an Amateur Dramatic Performance, in aid of the funds of the Ladies' Benevolent Institution, will take place at the Theatre Royal, on Thursday evening, 19th mat. The programme is most attractive, and no doubt the house will be well filled. We are glad to perceive that the Waihopai brings a large assorted cargo from Dunedin. Her trips have been quick and prosperous. No doubt this fast-going little craft will prove of great convenience to the traders of Invercargill in procuring constant and regular supplies from the Dunedin market. We observe that there is a slight improvement in the Invercargill Custom returns. It is understood that the Provincial Council will be convened during the month of January. From our telegraphic correspondence, it will be seen that the existence of Auckland as an independent Province has virtually ceased. The Provincial officers have received notice of dismissal in consequence of the General Government impounding the Custom revenues to pay the interest and sinking fund of the debt of that Province, in terms of the Public Revenues Act. Southland's turn may shortly be expected. It will be seen from our advertising columns that the time for entering exhibits for the forthcoming Show of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association has been extended to Tuesday, 17th inst., Tip to 12 o'clock. At a Cricket Match in Nelson, between 11 Teetotallers and 11 t( Barleycorn " men, the Teetotallers were the winners by 17 run s. Mr J. B. Bennet, Registrar General of the Colony, has issued a notice in the JSeio Zealand Gazette, requesting the " several ecclesiastical authorities connected with the United Charch of England and Ireland, the Church of Scotland s the Roman Catholic Church, the Free Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, all Presbyterian Congregations, the Wesleyan Methodists Society, all Congregational Independents, Baptists, the Primitive Methodist Society, the Lutheran Church, all Hebrew Congregations, and the Society of Friends, before the termination of the month of December, to send the names of all officiating Ministers, duly certified, in order that they may be entered in a list, a copy of which will be published in the New Zealand Gazette, in the month of January, 1866." An Auckland paper of Dec. 3 states : — By the Janet Grey, from Mercury Bay, wo learn that Barry and party, who have been prospecting the ranges at Mercury Bay for the past fortnight, have reported most favourably of alluvial deposits, and have struck a gold-bearing reef which bids fair to excel in richness the claim on the Karaka bearing this prospector's name. We also learn that the party have picked up the shovel, p^ek, and tin dish of the prospector Paget, who, it will be remembered, was drowned by the capsizing of the Bcbooner Rapid, whilst on his way to Auckland with two bottles of alluvial gold, in order to claim the Government reward of £2000. The Lyttelton Times, in an article on the Moorhouse Tunnel, says : — " The first passenger train to Lyfcellton left the Christchurch station yesterday morning at nine o'clock, carrying a large number of passengers — lsrger a great deal than we had expected to see. The journey to the mouth of the tunuel was very quickly accomplished, a few additional passengers having been picked up by the way. Notwithstanding the prominent caution to all and sundry — to keep the whole of the body inside the carriage on entering and passing through the tunnel not a^ few ventured to put out their heads in order that they might take a long look of tha land they were leaving, and question eagerly the way on which they were entering. Silently almost, and j smoothly, the engine entered, and immediately gave a signal which seemed doubly shrill. Proceeding at an aasy pace, the centre of the tunnel was reached, and the smoke from the engine hung somewhat uncomfortably about the carriages, though the atmosphere was at no timo oppressive. Presently the Lyttelton end was clearly visible, and even then the fresh sea breeze could be felt. In less than seven minutes — 6 mm. 27i Bees. — the engine emerged at ' the other end,' and the passengers were landed comfortably, under the half-hour, at the Lyttelton station. Having walked through the tunnel about a week ago, and haying then taken some note of the work that remained to be done, we were more than sacprised at the ease and comfort with which the journey was accomplished. There was hardly a jolt from one end to the other, and nothing which could alsrm even the most timid. Messrs Holmea and Co. had taken every precaution for th» security of their passengers, and had done all in their power to make them feel perfectly at ease. It seemed as if, when the station at Lyttelfcon was reached, the tunnel had been in use for years, bo complete were all the temporary arrangements, so thoroughly, were the carriages lighted and ventilated."

By proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette, it is notified that the " County of Westland Act" shall come into force on the Ist January proximo.

From recent • exchanges we learn that - a frightful tragedy has been enacted in Queensland. The Brisbane papers teem with comments upon the poisoning of the Clermont escort. It appears that the escort was bringing gold from thef&ockhampton District, from a distance that required camping out. The whole troop have been found in their first night's camp dead. The Mercury says : — " The men were wilfully murdered for the sake of obtaining possession of the money they carried. They had with them £4000 — their camping-place was close beside a public-house, and their haying been poisoned was proved from the fact of some pigs that had eaten stuff rejected by the stomachs of the men, having immediately died. Mr Griffin, Mr Abott, Inspector Elliot and Detective Kilfedder went up to the scene of the occurrence, and the result of their enquiries was the arrest of Commissioner Griffin, lately Police Magistrate at Peak Downs, on suspicion. Warrants had been issued to search Mr Griffin's camp and boxes for the notes stolen. Griffin was well known and generally liked in Brisbane, and one of the last men that would bo deemed capable of a deed so atrocious ; but as it was said that he himself browght news of the murder to Rockhampton, and that he was last seen in th© company of the unfortunate troopers, there is only too much reason to suppose that there exists at least a prhna facie case for his arrest." The Daily Times contains the following : — Mr Robert Chapman, Registrar of the Supreme Court, Otago and Southland district, retires from that office, at the end of the year ; and we understand that his successor will be Mr A. A. Catomore, who has for three or four years held the •office of Deputy Registrar. Mr Chapman has been in the public service, in Ofcago, for a little over 18 years ; so that, in terms of an Act of the Assembly, he will be entitled to an allowance of one-eighty-fourth part more than one-half of the' average of his salary during the last three years — in other words, to £256 a-year. The Act proTides for an allowance of one-third, after 15 years' service ; one-half, after 17 years j and an addition of one-eighty-fourth for each subsequent year, until the total allowance in equal to twothirds of the salary. Mr Chapman, who arrived in Otago on board the Blundell, in the spring of 1848, had purchased land before leaving Britain, and he at once settled upon his purchase. He has held many offices. He was the first Clevk to the Bench in Dunedin, and the first Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages ; he was Clerk to the Provincial Council, from the beginning of its second session to the appointment of the pre sent Clerk, Mr Charles Smith, in 1862 ; he became Official Administrator of Intestate Estates, when that office was, in early days, resigned by Mr Strode, who had held it with the Police Magistrateship ; and he became Registrar of the Supreme Court about 1852 — on the resignation of Mr E. M'G-lashan, who was appointed by Judge Stephen, when that gentleman came to Otago, in 1851, as the first Supreme Court Judge who had visited that Province. Mr Chapman was also, for some time, Returning Officer of the Province. As to the administration of intestate estates, Mr Chapman has acted under the Rules of the Supreme Court ; the Act on the subject not having been proclaimed a3 in force in Otago. We believe, however,, that the Act will now shortly be proclaimed, and that a Curator under it will be appointed. It is said that the salary of the Registrar of the Supreme Court will, from the commencement of the year, be reduced from £500 to £400. We have not a doubt that Mr Chapman will retire with the esteem and the heartiest respect of every member of the legal profession who has ever come in contact with him as Registrar. We must add that, in dealing with the many matters in respect to which a Registrar can assist or can inconvenience newspaper reporters, Mr Chapman has ever shown a real desire to assist the Press to the fullest extent consistent with his official responsibilities, and that such assistance has been given with courteous frankness. The Daily Times of the 9th inst., says : — On account of various letters we are receiving, some of which we pnblish with reluctance, it is as well at once to state that the Daily Times is not a theological journal, and there is an objection to using its columns for purely theological controversies. There is great difficulty sometimes in drawing the lino between comments upon matters which may be fairly referred to in the paper, and sectarian disquisitions founded upon them, which are decidedly objectionable. For instance, the introduction of a Bishop given to Ritualism, to a diocese entirely opposed to Ritualistic practices, may be fairly commented upon ; whilst a discussion as to the merits of Ritualism, with dispai'aging reflections upon particular religious bodies, is out of place in our columns. Again, it may fa?rly be discussed whether the Provincial Council should vote a salary for a Gaol Chaplaincy ; but in connection with the discussion, the consideration of the tenets of various religious sects trenches upon the objectionable. We trust our correspondents will accept this hint, especially some who have found, or who may find, place denied to their communications. We give the following on the authority of the Wellington Independent : —" An action was recently tried in Sydney, brought by the proprietor of the Caxton printing office against the defendant, one of the alleged partners in ' Cooke, Zoyara, and Wilson's' circus, to recover the sum of £45 4s Bd, balance of account for printing play bills, &c. The action itself was not of importance, but it elicited the following extraordinary piece of evidence from Mr Cooke, who said ' that he was not a partner of Zoyara. Last saw the peraon called Mademoiselle Zoyara in Melbourne, when about leaving for India. Zoyara was a man, and married ; but from the time he was four years dressed in female apparel. His proper name is Omar Kingsley. He invariably dressed as a lady. In England and Europe he passed as a lady. He was introduced as Mademoiselle or Madame Zoyara. It was also known ! in Melbourne. Could not say whether he took up his position in the ladies' cabin when travelling or not. Believed he did not. He might or might not. Zoyara from childhood dressed as a female ; and when he became celebrated still retained the dress of a lady.' It appears that a soft young gentleman followed the supposed lady to Sydney trith matrimonial intentions."

A Wellington contemporary Bays: — "It has leaked out that one of the duties of the Reception Committee appointed by the G-overnor is to dispense and divide the £5000 voted by the Legislature for tha Duke of Edinburgh's reception, among the different provinces it may please H.R.H. to visit. The Colonial Secretary has announced this to be the case. Our Greymouth contemporary states : — lf what we are told is true, there is a good deal of excite- j ment prevailing amongst the diggers just now regarding the Auckland and Queensland diggings. Already a considerable number of miners has left this port for both places, and possibly the mere fact of their going will induce others to follow. The Bankruptcy Act, 1867, requires that various things shall be " G-azefcted." Mr Justice Chapman has caused to be published a G-cneral Order under the Act, declaring that " the Government Gazette of the Province of Otago is hereby specified, and shall be deemed to be, the Gazette within the meaning of the said Act, for the publication of all matters and things arising within the said Province, which may be required by the said Act to be gazetted." The Government Gazette of Southland is similarly specified for this Province. In the Canterbury District of the Court, however, Mr Justice Gresson has taken a different, and a more practical course ; for (as we learn from the Lytielton Times) His Honor, on being applied to when the first Declaration of Insolvency was about to be filed, said that " a newspaper waa much more likely to give notice to the public than the Gazette. He would name the Lyttelton Times, being the oldest paper, as the journal in which declarations should be published for the first three months, and ' after that period, the newspapers might get the advertising alternately." j The Otago Daily Times of the 12th inst says : — j The answer to the petition of the Ofcago Provincial Council, in favor of Separation, is given by the Duke of Buckingham, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in the following despatch, addressed to Sir Q-eorga Grey, and dated September 26th t — " I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 64, of the 15th of June last, accompanied by a petition to the Queen, from the Provincial Council of Otago, praying that Her Majesty ' may cause an Act to be introduced into the Imperial Parliament to provide for the separation of the North and Middle Islands of New Zealand into two separate and Independent Colonies, with such provisions for a Federal Union as her Majesty's advisers may esteem desirable.' I request that you will inform the Speaker of the Council, by whom the Petition is signed, that I have been unable to advise Her Majesty to comply with the prayer which it contains." The speaker of the Council (Mr W. H. Reynolds) has received a letter from Mr Stafford, communicating the substance of th© Duke's despatch.