Local and General

Southland Times, Issue 1154, 7 May 1869, Page 5 (Supplement)

Local and General

Agricultural Statistics. —In a •New Zealand Gazette,' dated Saturday, April 10, we find the agricultural statistics of the Provinces of Wellington and Nelson. In the former, the extent of land broken up, but not under crop, is 10,866 acres; in wheat, 1355 acres, estimated to yield 28,194 bushels ; in oats, 2587 acres, estimated to yield, 61,699 bushels; in barley, 239 acres, estimated to yield 4892 bushels; in hay, 2801 acres, estimated to yield 3884 tons ; in permanent artificial grass, including that ia hay, 120,014 acres ; in potatoes, 754 acres, estimated to yield 4709 tons ; ia crops not specified, 369 acres. The extent of laud broken up but not under crop in Nelson is 10,369 acres ; in wheat, 2574 acres, estimated to yield 40,273 bushels ; in oats, 1819 acres, estimated to yield 36,2 il bushels; .in barley, 956 acres, estimated to yield 20,317 bushels ; in hay, 3440 acres, estimated to yield 3943 tons ; in permanent artificial grass, including that in hay, 30,122 acres, in potatoes, 825 acres, estimated to yield 4634 tons ; in crops not specified, 899 acres. From the foregoing it appears that the average yield of wheat per acre in Wellington is over 20 bushels ; of oats, over 23 bushels ; of barley, over 20 bushels; of hay, about H tons; of potatoes, over 6 tons. The averages in Nelson are — wheat, about 16£ bushels ; oats, about 20 bushels ; barley, over 21 bushels ; bay, a little over 1 ton ; potatoes, about 5* tons. Taking the total population of the two provinces at 46,000, and allowing 8 bushels per head for food, with the usual allowance for seed, it would appear that they will require to import about 300,000 bushels of wheat. — ' Lyttelton Times.' The General Assembly. — The ' Independent ' is responsible for the following :— "An unusually large infusion of new blood is likely to be apparent in the House of Repre. sentatives next session. In addition to Messrs Hull, George, Graham, Cox, Hepburn and Paterson, whose seats are already filled up, we believe that Mr Mitchell has resigned h>3 seat for Waikouaiti, that Mr Gallaher is about to resign his seat for Westland North, and' that Mr Campbell, the member for Oamaru, has left the colony on a visit to England. It is said that the newly elected member for Newton, Mr Creighton* is likely to resign immediately, having accepted a situation in the "fourth estate" in one'of the Southern provinces." The Eiji Islands. — "We (Argua) understand that the private advices received by the Polynesia Company are very encouraging as to their proposed buisness operations, and it is expected that a steamer will be laid on directly to proceed to the islands from this port. The Springbok is advertised to leave Melbourne direct to Fiji on the sth proximo. Several excursionists purpose visiting the islands during the present season, both from these eoloDie3 and New Zealand. They will doubtless so time their departure as to arrive in Fiji before the Duke of Edinburgh, who is expected to reach Oyalau, from Auckland, owards the end of May. The Natal Goldfield. — The 'Victorian Gazette' of the 9th inst. contains a notification from the < olonial Secretary of Natal (Mr Erskine), dated the 9th of February, addressed to the Chief Secretary of that colony, cautioning miners not to proceed to that colony uuder the apprehension that " payable gold- j fields " exist either in Natal or in the country of ! the Chief Moselikatse, "jit a distance of upwards of 800 miles in the interior of Africa." Mr Erskine states that the Government of Natal ate not in possession of evidence of the existence of gold in remunerative quantities either in Natal or the territories referred to, " although auri- j erous spots have been discovered in both. " The authorities of Natal also caution the public of the colonies generally that there is not such a demand for labour there as would supply by its profits, to any person without capital, the means of proceeding into the interior. " Colonel Whitmobe. — From our Auckland exchanges, we learn that a complimen- ! tary dinner was given by the citizens of Auckland on the occasion of Colonel Whitmore visiting that city, at the Auckland Club. About fifty of the leading men of the province were present. The chair wa3 occupied by the hon Mr Whittaker, who highly eulogised the military achievements of the gallant guest. Colonel Whitmore, in replying to the toast of his health, said he had received much undeserved abuse from the Press. Mr Firth said Colonel Whitmore had had to contend with " the helots of the Press, as well as the Hau-haus." Bishop Jenneb. — From the following paragraph taken from the ' Otago Daily Times,' 24th inst., it would appear that. Bishop Jenner has determined to give up the contest for the possession of tbe episcopal see of Otago and Southland, and return at once to England. It says : — " We are informed that, at the request of the Vestry, Bishop Jenner has consented to take part in both services in St Paul's Church tomorrow. His Lordship has also kindly promised, previous to his departure for England, to giva a lecture on church music, m aid af the funds of this church," The Buller. — The ' Weatport Times,' Ba y ß : — « A n interesting item .of mining news is contained in the letter of our Buller Kiver correspondent. Ho reports that a reef of quartz thirteen feet thick has been discovered in Irianman's Creek, a tributary of the river Lyell. Two parties of experienced quartz miners have marked off claims — one on each side of the creek, and are to proceed to te9t the quality of the reef by driving. From the fact of fragments of quartz and clay containing gold being found in the creek immediately below the situation of the reef, the present presumption is that it is auriferous. Our correspondent refers also to a superior description of cedar which is found in the neighborhood, and which mi^ht be made an article of exr ort." j Railway Contbacts. — From the Canterbury papers we learn that Messrs Holmes and Co., contractors for the Lyttelton and Christchnrch Railway, are about to commence an action against the Provincial Government of Canterbury for the sum of £23,537, being the amount of what they consider extra work done beyond the terms of their contract in the formation of the railway. Zanibae. — The ' Times ' supplies the following .- — " The territories of the Sultan of Zanibar extend for 1,100 miles along: the east coast of Africa, and under the rule of the present Sultan a very extensive trade is carried on with the United States, France, Hamburg, and Great Britain. The revenues of the Sultan have more than doubled within the last four or five years, and the city of Zanibur now contains a population of 60.000 inhabitants. It iB the chief mart in the world for ivory, cloves, gum, copal, ebony and sandal-wood, and has a large tradein oil seeds, rice, cowries, hides, gums, and spices." Man Drowned. — A man named J. M'Donald, about 45 years of age, who had served 23 years in the Royal Artillery in India, lately j arrived in Victoria, retiring on pension. Wishing to be sent to Auckland the Government paid his passage per Gothenburg. The man was much given to drink', iroaa the effects of which ho was suffering when be came on board. A constable was forced to see him safe off. Capfc. I Underwood found it necessary to put him in irons as he had threatened to commit suicide. The poor fellow appeared much, better during the voyage, and the captain shortly allowed him to be at large. At about 11.30 a.m. on the morning of the 27 th he leaped over the side of the vessel. The captain immediately put about the ship, and. lowered a boat, but there was a chopping sea on at the time. Before the boat could reach him tho poor fellow sunk to rise no more. The captain,, j after spending some time in the yam hope of j seeing the mau rise again to the surface, gave the order for the ship to proceed on her -nay. This sad affair -cast a gloom -over every'parf 'of j the veeseL i

The Otago Government.— The ' Evening Star' of Monday says :— " The wretched dulness of the weather has not prevented a liveliness of rumour— and of invention— with respect to the Government. We have no more to say as to these rumours than this— we believe that Mr Yogel has tendered his resignation, as, also, has Mr Burns ; but that neither has been accepted. With regard to Mr Yogel, we may add this— We understand that he will shortly leave for Auckland, and that he will remain theh) in connection with the ' Southern Cross ' newspaper. ' The Bank of New Zealand, WaikouAITI.— A recent ' Waikouaiti Herald ' says:— This handsome stone structure, designed by Mr R. A. Lawson, architect, Dunedin, for the branch establishment of the Bank of New Zealand here, may now be said to be fairly commenced— the foundation-stone being laid by the agent, Mr H. F. Pizey, on Saturday last, the 17th insfc., in the presence of a large number of the inhabitants, much interest being felt o a the occasion. The ceremony commenced by a bottle, duly prepared, being handed to Mr Pizey to place in the receptacle made for it, containing a number of coins of the realm, a copy of the Waikouaiti Berald, and a scroll, on which was engrossed the following: — " The foundation-stone of the Bank of New Zealand was this day laid by H. F. Pizey, Esq., in the presence of the undersigned " [here followed the autographs of several resident gentlemen and prinicipal business people]. The laying of the stone was carried out in the usual orthodox style and three hearty cheers were given for the succcs, of the undertaking. We may remark that ths site selected for the Bank is at the junction oe Kildare-street with the Main North Roa I, front-f ing the latter, and will be built with the beautiful" ligM- brown Pleasant Valley stone we havoso frequently tried to bring into notice. The plans show that it will be . a substantial building, mainly of two storeys, without much pretension to architectural effect, but it will have boldly rusticated coi^nes, and there will be a projecting porch, 10ft. squaiv, to cover the principal doorway. The building will have a frontage of 31ft. aud a depth of 50ffc., and the banking room will occupy the front part to the full width, and to a depth of 18ft. There will be a communication with the manager's room on one side, and with the residence portion of the building on the other. The strong-room will be built at a distance from i any external wall. We believe the whole will be completed within three months. A. New Invention. — We take the following from the ' Age' : — " A new quartz crush- | ing machine, lately invented and patented by Mr W. Rasche, C.E., of this city, was experimented with on the 25th March, at the Railway timber yards, Flinders-street, in the presence of the delegates of the mining boards, and a number of other persons interested in mining affairs. By, an ingenious contrivance in Mr Rasche's invention, the necessity for a separate engine to supply the motive powev is entirely obviated, the friction considerably reduced, and greater effec- I tive force and less liability of derangement incurred. The trial referred to was very satisfactory, and no doubt when the merits of the invention have been more fully and practically tested, it may be very generally adopted in mining industry." The Austbalian Conference. — The 'Age,' 3rd April, says: — "At the usual fortnightly meeting of the committee on Tuesday, Mr J. Lorimer, the president, in the chair, the secretary read some further correspondence on the subject of the proposed commercial conference in Sydney, which, as far as at present arranged, is to commence on Monday, the 3rd May. The committee resolved that seven gentlemen named should be requested to represent the Melbourne Chamber on the occasion, and that if a less number than six of them were able to attend, the substitution of other members up to triat number should be made by the rest of the deputation." Canterbury and "Westland. — A day or two ago it was noted in our columns (Lyttelton Times' 15th April) that the arbitrators appointed to settle the liabilities of Canterbury under the Act passed last session of the Assembly, had gone up to Wellington to meet the umpire, Mr FitzG-erald. This was rendered necessary, • from the fact that they could not agree. It now turns out that, the Act having been very clumsily drawn, the umpire cannot give his decision for two months. This, looking at the financial and other questions involved, is, to say the least, very unfortunate. Small-Pox in Victoria. — The ' Age ' says : — " Another inmate of the Royal Park Sirall-pox Hospital has been carried off by the ravages of that disease. The victim in this case is a shoemaker of the name of William Maine, of Rathdowne-street, Carlton. He was removed to the depot on the 19th March (the case being the worst admitted), and died there in a state of delirium on the 26th March. We are happy, however, to be in a position to state th it on 9 patient, having recovered, was discharged on Saturday morning, and that two others are now so far recovered as to be able to walk about the grounds, and are therefore in a fair way towards convalescence. The precautionary measures which have been adopted to prevent its spread should not be relaxed in the slightest degree, since the time has not yet ela-.aed which would justity us in assuming that the diseaae is thoroughly removed from our midst. A correspondent at Walhalla, writing on the 25th of March, relates some aditional particulars connected with the death of Mrs Hanks from small-pox, near that township : — ' Drs Boone and Hadden say that this case was one of the worst they ever met with, and Dr Boone was a medical inspector to a smallpox hospital in America.' " The Late Mb Jones. — We understand that the will of the late Mr John Jones was proved in the Supreme Court on Thursday by his executors, Messrs J. R. Jones, John Corgill, W. Isaac, Gh M'Lean, and James Mills. The personalty in the Colony waa sworn as being under £27,000. Justices' Justice. — The danger of entrusting magistrates with discretionary powers, which supidity or prejudice may convert into aots of tyranny, is well exemplified in an extract from the ' Birmingham Post ' of a recent date : — " A correspondent sends ua the following narrative of a scene which he and others witnessed and took part in at the railway station at Willenhall : — ' A thick chain, thee little boys on either side, and a bigger boy at the end ; all handcuffed. Several poor women crying. Lots of children, and three policemen. One of the children was so little that a policeman had to wrap a handkerchief round I his wrist to make the handcuffs fit. " What's the matter ; what have these boys done, and where are they going ? " Been a gambling, sir. G-oing to Stafford for seven days." " Gambling, did you say ?" " Yes, sir, pitch-and-toss on a Sunday." "Pitch-and-toss! Do I understand you ? Five little boys under twelve, and two not sixteen, all going to gaol for pitch-and-toss ? " Yes, sir." "Without the optiou of a fine?" "No, sir, fined 6d." " That's 3a 6d for the seven j I'll pay the lot." "But, then, there's the costs, sir." "Well, what's the total ?" £4 0s: 6d." Now, as I understand, neither of the boys had ever been in custody before, and as their dross denoted, they must of necessity be exceedingly poor. I inqired of a woman, who appeared in great distress, the habits of the boys. " I can only " she said, " speak for my boy, sir. He earns me 6s. a week. He's a good lad. Ihaven't money enough to free him ; and what he's to. do when he comes out of Stafford T don't know. He can't walk the twenty miles home." Fortunately, two gentlemen appeared on the scene ; and inquired particulars, which were soon forthcoming. " ScandaU ous!" said one '■' Monstrous !" said the other. '•If,'? I said, "any gentleman will join me in payment of the fine,' the boys shall be liberated." 1? wo gentlemen did join the writer of this ; the fine was paid, and the boys unchained ; and, alWou^h the tickets were taken from Willenhall to Stafford, the boyi did not go to gaol.' "

BEPORTED DISCOYEItI OE QUARTZ. — Wo are informed that a piece of quaTtz was recently brought to Christchui'ch by a man who for some time past has been residing on the Malvern Hills, and that on seeing it Mr ForS, who has personal interest in that locality, started off with a party of men to make further search. The specimen is stated to have been about the size of a man's fist, aud rumor further adds that Mr Ford judged it to contain about £20 worth of the precious metal. We give these statements tor what they are worth, and cannot vouch for anything beyond the fact that Mr Ford did leave Christchurch on Monday last for the place mentioned. Should there be any truth in the matter, a few days will no doubt give the necessary proofs. We are also informed that men are prospecting in the neighborhood of Oxford, where, it will be remembered, gold was once before reported.— ' Lyttelton Time 9.' Startling Official Returns. -" The returns occasional forwarded to departments of the Government by persons holding official positions, and claiming to be included in the learned professions," says the New South Wales • Burrowa Express ' " contain sometimes very startling statements. The following reference to the death of a child, came under our notice a few days ago :— ' Sex— male ; age one year and one day ; cause of death — convelsions, decentry, and influmation ; name of medical attendant — " none ;" when last seen by medical attendant — " Neabors Fryday ;" date and place of burial — " January, Plat." ' In answer to the questions, 'if deceased were married, where, to whom, and at what age.' The answer is, 'Nil 5/ but when the question of issue comes, ho is represented as being the father of two living males, five living females, two deceased males, and two deceased females." Death of an Old Colonist. — The ' Wellington Independent : ' 10th iust., says : — "Mr Edward Bull, who, for several years, was connected with journalism in Wellington, died on Wednesday morning. Tbe deceased gentleman was comparatively a young man, who might have done much good service had his days been prolonged ; and he had many friends who will regret his loss. Unfortunately the chief mourners are a widow and four children. The funeral of the deceased took place yesterday, and was largely ended." The Duke's Ball, Dunedin.— The • Daily Times,' has the following :- Our fair readers will be pleased to learn that a telegram was received yesterday by His Worship the Mayor, stating that the Postmaster General, in compliance with the request of the Reception Committee, had consented to the New Post Office Hall being used for the ball proposed to be given under the auspices of the Committe during the Duke of Edinburgh's visit. Mining Prospects Improving. — Mining matters in the Lake district are, according to the Arrowtown correspondent of the 1 Dunstan Times,' in an exceedingly healthy condition, in fact, they were never better even in the palmiest days of the Shotover and Foxe's ; considering the population, the returns must be very large. A number of miners from the neighbourhood of Cromwell have been looking about here lately, and express themselves highly satisfied with the prospect of the country ; additional sluicing and tunnelling parties are setting in almost daily to work the high terrace banks ot the Shotover, Skippers, and Arrow. There are now about 120 at the Twelve-mile, Arrow, and some 40 more at Bracken's Gully, besides a goodly numb.r of parties are scattered up and down the before-named river. The diggings up Lake Wakatip are likewise in an improving state ; some 6luicers from the Kowarau Gorge have set in lately, and speak highly of the chances of the locality. Shelter for Diggebs Travelling. — The ' Tuapeka Times' ol 17th inst. says : — " A j petition to the Government, asking the erection of two snow sheds on the Switzers road, for the shelter of wayfarers in stormy weather, has been numerously signed at Switzers. The memorialists propose that one should be situated about fifteen miles from Switzera, on the Dome Creek Range, and the other ten miles further on. The necessity of some provision of this kind has long been felt, and the want of it has had fatal results. Most of our readers will remember the melancholy death of three poor fellows on the very range s where it is proposed to erect the storm sheds. To prevent a second catastrophe of this kind, we trust there will be no delay in proceeding with the work, as winter rapidly approaches." A Strange Story. — The ' Daily Times' of 21et inst. says : — " A report reached the police at Waipori on the evening of Saturday last, that a Chinaman had been discovered lying dead in a deserted hut in the vicinity of the Black Rock. The story was to the effect-that the informant h-\d been travelling the district, and that the night previous he got benighted on the ranges. Wandering down into a gully he discovered a light, and in following it up he found that it proceeded from the crevices of one of two huts. After knocking at the door, and receiving no answer, he forced an entrance,, when, to his surprise, he found the dead body of a Chinaman lying on a stretcher and Bix candles burning around it. The candles had apparently been burning for a few hours, bat no trace was found of any one in the vicinity. The story is considered an improbable one ; still, Constable Dunn proceeded the following day to the place indicated to make enquiries into the matter. The result had not transpired when our informant left." Cle-ricai,.— The 'Daily Times' of 21st inst., Bays : — The Presbytery of Dunedin met yesterday, pro re nata, and there were present, Rev. J. M. Davidson, moderator; Dr Burns, Revs. G. Sutherland, D. M. Stuart, Wm. Johnstone, R. Scrimgeour, Wm. Will, Alex. Greig, J. H. M'Naughton, M. Watt, Wm. Gillies, Messrs James Molliaon, John Gillies, and Soraerville, elders. An extract minute of the Clutha Presbytery, agreeing to the translation of the Rev. Mr Todd from Tokomairiro to Oamaru, was read, when it was resolved that Mr Todd's ordination should take place on Wednesday, the 12th of May, the Rev Mr Johnstone to preach and preside, sfche Rev Mr Will to address the minister, and the Rev Mr Gillies to address the people. Cenlral Alps, Canterbury. —Dr Haast, who has been on an exploring trip which lasted It several weeks, in the Central Alps, returned to Christcburch some days ago. During this trip, says the ' Lyttelton Times,' he revisited some of the principal localities round Mount Cook, first explored by him in 1862. The object of the journey of this year was to collect specimens in all branches of natural history, a work which, the public will be glad to learn, he has accomplished satisfactorily, tie was accompanied by Mr Edward Seeley, an amateur photographer of considerable eminence, who, under great difficulties and privations, obtained some magnificent views of the grand scenery of our Southern Alps. We understand that Mr Seeley intends to present to the Museum, when it is completed, a full set of all his photographic views taken in the province. The taxidermist of the Museum, Mr F. Fuller, also accompanied Dr Haast, and greatly contributed to the success of the expedition, by procuring a number of valuable bii-dskina. Dr Haast informs us that, during the first six days of his stay near Mount Oook, the . party was favored with lovely weather — cloudless sky aud little or no wind. This, unfortunately, was followed by a succession of strong gales from the nor'-west, with heavy rain." Boiling down Sheep. — The ' Daily Times, 16th inst, says : — " Parties proposing to engage in boiling down as a means of getting rid of their surplus sheep, may derive encouragement from the success which has attended an experiment in this direction recently made by Mr 'James Wtephenson, West Taieri. The 'Bruce Herald' states that out of a half-bred sheep, bred by hiina -U, he had llllbs of tallow, which was worth upwards of 30s, and which, together with value ot hide, &«., is certainly not an altogether ruinous price. Before boiling down the carcase weighed 1501b5." '

Vaccine Lymph. — The ' Geelong Advertiser,' 12th April, states :— " Dr Mackin, accompanied by Sergeant Toohey, proceeded to Mr Townsend's farm at Lake Modewarre, yesterday, for the purpose of procuring some fresh vaccine matter direct from the cows, of which one or two were reported as having their udders thickly studded with genuine vesicles. Having selected a fine young heifer, a good supply of perfectly pure lymph has been removed for use by Dr Mackin, and some likewise transmitted to the Chief Medical Officer in Melbourne. Lymph perfectly free from the possibility of contamination will now be available for a week or two." Snake Experiments. — Mr L. L. Smith Bitten. The experiments with snakes and Shires' antidote which are nightly made at the Polytechnic were very nearly being brought last night to a most painful termination. A large black dog had Leen bitten, and no antidote having been applied, the poor aaimal was dying. Some of the audience, either actuated by a humane desire to Bave its life, or perhaps impelled by a feeling of curiosity to witness the effects of galvanism upon an animal suffering from Bnake-bite, requested that the galvanic battery J might be applied. This was done, and Mr Smith was relating the good effects of galvanism in the case of a Chinaman, suffering from snake-bite, successfully treated by him several months ago, when the dog, feeling the shock of the battery, jumped up and fastened on the left hand of Mr Smith. A scene of indescribable confusion ensued, everyone suggesting a different remedy. Mr Smith, who behaved with with great coolness and courage, had a ligature tied tightly round his 1 arm, sucked the wound, applied the antidote, and then drank half a bottle of champagne. AU the symptoms of s nake-bite, depression and vomit, ing, speedily manifested themselves, and doses of brandy which Mr Smith swallowed at intervals of half an hour each were as regularly vomited. After about three hours the violence of the symptoms gradually subsided, and abour 2 a.m. he was quite well. Singular Accident. — On Saturday last, says a late ' Nelson Examiner,' Mr Cross, ! jun., was driving a horse in a spring-cart up the hill leading from the Beach-road to the residence of Colonel Richmond. After proceeding a short distance the horse, not being staunch in harness, refused to proceed, and commenced backing down the hill towards the edge of the cliff, and Mr Cross, finding he was unable to arrest its downward progress, leaped out of the vehicle, which in another second went over the cliff", a depth of nearly forty feet, dragging the horse after it. Remarkable to say ; the horse sustained no material injury, nor was the cart very much damaged. Switzer's. — A Dunedin contemporary has the following : — At Switzers, a mining work of some m gnitude has been commenced. A new fluming is being constructed there which will carry Carney's well-known race at a higher level than that which it has at present. It is estimated that the cost of this work will be about £>00. With regard to this district, also, we may note th* fact that the whole of Mr Acton's mining property, consisting of auriferous ground, several water-races, dams, &c, is in the market for sale. This property was lately purchased by Mr De Carle, of Dunedin, being sold by auction under a bill of sale. It comprises some very valuable water privileges, which arc said to command a good deal of auriferous ground. Suicide of Mr Bridges. — In our I last we intimated the death by suicide of Mr W. I. Bridges, of Riverton. Since then the result of the coroner's inquest on the body has come to | hand. From the evidence then given it is clear that deceased's business matters, as at first supposed, were not the cause of the rash act. He ' was not being pressed for money, and had sufficient funds at his bankers to meet all demands. ! The real facts of the case appear to be that he has fallen a victim to the immoderate use of opium. No less than four witnesses testified to his having been for some considerable time in the j constant habit of taking large doses of morphia. The usuaL result of course followed ; periods of unnatural excitement, succeeded by times of as unnatural depression, ultimately culminating in mental aberration, and self destruction. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence, as follows : — "That the deceased shot himself when in an unsound state of mind, caused by the too free use of opiates." Pieuro-pneumonia. — The ' Bruce Herald,' in an article upon the recent spread of this diseaae in the Tokomairim district, says : — I " We are informed that the inspector strongly advises every owner of cattle at once to have them vaccinated. When this is done with sound cattle, we understand, there is but very little after danger with them ; for, should they take the disease, it would only be of a very mild form, and we have never heard of one such case ! proving fatal. Even in the first stages of the disease the animal may be vaccinated with advantage, as statistics prove that in such cases a much smaller proportion prove fatal than when they are left un vaccinated. The only, thing we believe the Government can do in the matter, is to compel the owners of suspected or diseased cattle to confine them strictly to their own paddocks, and prevent their running upon Hundreds." Eoyal Visit.— The ' Daily Times,' of the 17th inst., says : — The following telegram from his Excellency the Governor regarding the Duke of Edinburgh's movetneuts in Dunedin, was received by His If onor the Superintendent yesterday afternoon : — The Prince will land in Dunedin on the 26th, and stay there till the 30th. His Royal Highness will be happy to open the Horticultural Show, and attend the Caledonian Gathering, on days to be fixed after his arrival in Dunedin. The levee will be on the day of the lauding, after the end of the procession. Prospecting fob the Main Bottom at the Geeenstone. — The ' Grey River Argus ' informs us that " Great interest seems to be taken on the Greenstone with regard to sinking the deep shaft on the Duke of Edinburgh Terrace. Should the storekeepers and miners still continue in the same mind as they are at present, there is no doubt that the undertaking will not alone be well carried out, but will be continued until something definite is arrived at. There is no doubt should gold be Btruck at lower levels it will give another impetus to the Greenstone. A good prospect has already been obtained at a depth of thirty-five feet." The Harvest in Otago. — The ' Daily Times,' in a recent issue, says : — Harvesting operations, which, at the date of our last Summary, were in full operation throughout the province, may now be said to be almost over. The quality of the crop, owing to the favourable weather which prevailed during the latter part of the season, is excellent, and the quantity also is above the average. It is now un ascertained fact that there will be a considerable surplus, and the manner of its disposal is still largely occupying the attention of our farmers. Two vessels have already left for Melbourne with cargoes of grain, and the ship Lady Egidia will also take a considerable quantity to London. The result of this experiment will be anxiously awfcited, as it will materially influence the future action of producers here. Some attention has been paid of late to the take-all blight, whose ravages in Australia induced the Victorian Boavd of Agriculture to offer a prize lor the best essay on the subject. If, as has been stated, this dreadful plague is the result of the ruinous practice of growing cereal crops year after year on the same ground, without allowing it to rest, we may look for its appearance in Otago. It is asserted that tt c best remedy for tbe evil is the use of mineral manures, especially lime. 1 The subject, which is one" fraught with the deepest interest to the colonies i well worthy of the attention of agricultural chemists in England. I>3enti9tht. — We observe that Mr Armstrong, dentist, has returned from a prolonged professional visit to the West Coast, and resumed practice in Tay-street, next to Mr Clerke's, chemist.

Town Election. — At the close of the poll on Wednesday, 21st inst, the Returning Officer announced that Mr Andrew Kinross had been duly elected as one of the representatives of the town in the Provincial Council, the numbers polled by the several candidates being as follows— Kinross, 80 ; Wright, 50 ; Mitchell, 17. The result was received by the large crowd of citizens assembled at the hustings with demonstrations of considerable satisfaction. Throughout the day very strenuous exertions had been employed by the supporters of the second named candidate, both by means of personal, influence, posters, and that wrongly tolerated symptom of corruptive tendencies manifested in sending a carriage for the laggard voter. On the whole, however, the event passed off with much good bumor, although feeling was considerably excited. It is but fair to Mr Mitchell to state that he declined to use the slightest effort for his own return, and the reason of so few having recorded thsir votes in his favor is to be found, partly in the fact that he and Mr Kinross may be considered representatives of the same party, and that a division of votes would most likely have placed Wright at the head of the poll, but I principally in the early and persistent ejaculation of rumors to the efiect that he had retired irom the field. After Mr Hare had given the result, the several candidates shortly addressed the electors. Mr Kinross thanked them for the honor conferred upon him, and promised to do hi 3 best for their interests, at the same time expressing a | hope that when his turn came to retire; he might do so carrying with him their respect and esteem, and that if provincial iustitutions were doomed to speedy abolition ho might have the pleasure of serving them in some other capacity. Mr Wright gave his thanks to those who had voted for him, and hi 3 best thanks to those who had not. The position he occupied on the poll induced him to entertain the idea of trying again, when opportunity occurred. He congratulated the town on having secured a good member in the successful candidate. Mr Mitchell thanked those who had polled for him, and folt no regret at the result. Ho would be much happier out of the Council than in it, and therefore felt equally satisfied with those of his friends who had given their votes on the other side. He considered the town had secured a good man in Mr Kinross. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the business, and a smart shower quickly dispersed the crowd. MELANCHOLY SUICTDE. — A most determined and lamentable case of this nature occurred at Riverton on Monday afternoon. Mr W. I. Bridges, a gentleman well known in Invercargill, but who lately removed to Riverton to commence business there, on that afternoan put an end at once to his life and earthly troubles by his own hand. Deceased was always considered of a hot, excitable temperament, ana it appears that recently some unsatisfactory business transactions so increased his natural instability as to drive him to the rash act. The means used are said to have been a heavily charged gun, so effectively aimed that death must have been nearly instantaneous. The fact that a wife and family are left, add deeper gloom to the tragedy. The Duke's Visit. —We observe from Dunedin papers that during the visit of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, to Dunedin, he is likely to become the occupant of the residence of the late John Jones, Esq., Miss Jones and the trustees having, in accordance with deceased's intention, placed the spacious and elegant mansion of Femhill at the disposal of the authorities for that purpose. Weights and Measures.— A General Government Gazette' iutimate3 that Sergeant Major Chapman has boen appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures. This is a very necessary office, and the present officer will, no doubt, faithfully carry out the object for which he is appointed. A periodical inspection of all weights and measures, and their regular adjustment to a uniform standard, is •as necessary and beneficial for the honest trader, as for the protection of the public. Cases of wilful infringment of the law can scarcely be too severely punished, and ought not to be overlookd. Stewart's Islaitd. — Bucklejr and party, (3) who have been at work on Stewart's Island now for about twelve months, paid a short visit to Invercargill recently, and returned again to the scene of their labors at Smoky Beach, taking with them a supply of provisions for 6 months. They say they nave at least six months work before them at not less than £3 or £4 per man per week. Another party, Longuet and* Brown, have also been over to the Bluff for a six months supply of stores, and have gone back to their workings at Ruggedy Beach, where they say they can make about £4> per week each for that length of time. This is encouraging, and should induce others to try their fortune on the island. Public Vaccination. — It will be seen from our advertising columns, that Dr Deck will ; give attendance at the Hospital every Thursday between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock forenoon, for the purpose of vaccinating those who may apply. The effectiveness of this preventive to small-pox is too certain to allow of the operation being neglected, and as the loathsome malady it is intended to protect from is near enough to be alarming, no doubt the opportunity thus offered, of adopting the best known means of escaping it, will be widely embraced. Provincial Council. — A Government Gazette published 22nd ult. further prorogues the Council until Tuesday, Ist June. Bope Eactoby. — A flax rope factoryof considerable dimensions is a'->out to be established at Port Chalmers by Mr Mansford. Chinamen fob, Otago. — We learn from a contempory, that a ship had arrived in Melbourne with 250 Chinamen for Otago. A Whale Story. — A correspondent of the ' Southern Cross,' writing from Waipu lately, says : — " I hear that a whaleboat, with five men, arrived at Cove, Waipu, within the last two days. They report that they belonged to the barque California, out of Salem, last from New York; that on Saturday, 27th ult., they chased a whale, which the boat succeeded in striking. The monster flew through the water with them quicker than they could pay out line ; i which rendered it impossible for the other boats i (three in number) to offer any assistance. At last the officer in charge of the boat was swept overboard by the line. He called out to the crew I to cut the line — which they did ; then they lost sight of him. They could not say whether he ! go*; so entangled as to be carried away in the wake of the wounded whale, or freed himself and was fortunate enough to be picked up by one of the other boats. In fact they knew nothing about him since he -was snatched from among them. They were about fifteen miles from the ship, in a fog and squall , they knew nothing of their whereabouts, but that they were off the New Zealand coast. They had but a small quantity of biscuit on board, and were much exhausted before they made the land. Such is their account, which I give second-hand. They intend to take passage with Capt. M'Kenzie, of the cutter Don, to Aucklaud, whi?h will be ready to leave in a day or two with a full cargo of passengers, catUe, and settlers' produce." A Shoemakers' Newspaper. — From an English paper we learn that the shoeiuakers in England are to have a newspaper of their own, to be called "St Crispin," after their patron saiut. The projected paper is to give, among other things, biographies of noted shoemakers. This includes Hans SacU, Luther*B friend; Richard Savage, the poet Bloom tield and his brother, and a whole constellation of minor bards, headed by James Lackington, of the Temple of the Muses; Sir Oloudesley Shovel; Sir William Read Gifford, of the Quarterly ; Si, Simon Eyre, Benedict Baud >in, John. Partridge Jacob Boehmen, Samuel Drew, George Fox, Wm. Huntingdon, John Pounds, John .Brand, Hans Christian Andersen, Dr Carey, Dr Morrison, Dr Ebenezer Henderson, Dr Marshman, and Dr John Kitto.

Resident Magistrate's Court.— At this Court on Monday 19th ult, a notorious pest j known as " Mother O'flrien," the keeper of a. disreputable den, was brought up under the Vagrancy Act, and sentenced to ten days imprisonment. As she had frequently been before the court previously, she was cautioned that on hi? re-appearance in that position she would get six months, and that the corrective dose would be repeated ac every recurrence of complaint. The Tasmanian Submarine Cable.— - The ' Herald,' of the 13th April, says :— " The steamship Investigator, with the submarine eabld j which is to be laid down between Flinders add Tainar Heads, arrived yesterday in HbbsonS Bay. The cable, which is about 225 miles til length, was stowed away in an iron tank placed amidships. The tank has been kept filled with sea. water, and the cable has been so placed that the deep sea portion lies at the bottom, and the shore ends at the surface. So soon as she had coaltd, the operations for laying the cable will be commenced. The whole proceedings will be superintended by the electrician, Mr Fisher, and Mr Stanley, R.N., will lend an? assistance necessary in the Pharos." Quabtz Eeef. — A discovery of a most important character to parties engaged in quartz-mining has been made at the Pleasant (Jreek diggings, Victoria, where a payable horizontal, or flat reef has been found 350 feet below a reef formerly worked at a depth of 560 feet. This discovery is expected to give a fresh impetus to quartz-mining. Fish fob Export. — A correspondent of the ' Westport Times' suggests preserving fish or esport. Ho says : — •" I refer to two kinds of sh. — that is to say, white bat and eels. I devoted two weeks during the last whitebait season in order to discover something of their habits, and be enabled to form some estimate of the fquantity that may be procured in a season. I fl think that, from September to Christmas, they can be caught in large quantities. I have no hesitation in stating that between the periods named tea tons may be procured in the Bullef alone. No casual observer can form an idea of the quantity- of these tiny, though delicious fish that pass up the river every day during the season. I have no doubt that a ready market would be found in Melbourne and Sydney, where this delicacy is unknown." Reported Discovert of Quartz in Cantebbuby. — We (L yttelton Times,' of 10th April), are informed that a piece of quartz was recently brought to Christchurch by a man who for some time past has been residing on the Mai* vern Hills, and that on seeing it Mr Ford, who has personal interest in that locality, started off with a party of men to make further search. The specimen is stated to have been about the size of a man's fist, and rumor further odds that Mr Ford judged it to contain about £20 worth of the precious metal. Colonel M'Donnell. — A statement has been going the rounds of the colonial press to the effect that Colonel M'Donell has received from the New South Wales Government* the appintment of Commissioner of Police in that Colony. Colonel M'Donnell now writes to the Hawkes' Bay 'Evening Herald' that he statqj ment is totally unture. The Pacific Kailwat. — The ' Herald* (Melbourne), sth inst., says : — " The opening of the Pacific Railway, which is announced to take place on the 4th of July, and which will connect New York with San Francisco, will give Australia the means of a more speedy communication with Europe than even by the Isthmus of Suez. From Melbourne to Fiji is 2231 miles, and from Fiji to San Francisco 4719, ao that the whole distance could be traversed by full-power ocean steamers, sailing at the rate of twelve knots per hour, in 24 days. The journey across the continent of America would occupy five days, while from New York to Liverpool is frequently performed in nine, making the time occupied between Melbourne and Liverpool 38 days, while from Sydney it would be two days less. In practice, however, the passage would probably occupy a somewhat longer time, as the mail steamers might go a few hundred miles out of their way in order tofcouch at Honolulu. We understand that this route has recently been brought under the notice of the Colonial Ofßoe, and that tbero is some probability of the question of accepting the protectorate of Fiji being reconsidered, as it is not considered desirable that all the coaling stations m the Pacific should be under the con« trol of foreign powers." This may be taken as the solution of the question, why was His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred, instructed to curtail his stay in New Zealand, and visit the Fijis. Bishop Selwyn's Successor in New Zealand. — The London correspondent of the ' Argus' says it is understood that the Bey Mr Randall, Rector of Newbury, will be nominated to the See of Christchurch, and that Dr Harper, the present bishop, having been nominated to the Primacy of New Zealand will be transferred to Auckland. A New Province. — The * Southern Cross ' states that a number of gentlemen having property in the northern portion of Auckland, contemplate the formation of a Northland Association, for the purpose of securing the separation of Hokianga, Bay of Islands, and Mongonui, and its erection into a new province, to be called Northland." Ecclesiastical. — We understand His Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch will pay a visit to Invercargill shortly, when he will hold confirmation services. English Mail,— The 'Daily Times* of 17 th inst., says : — A great annoyance was ex- • perienced yesterday when it became known that th°. Dunedin portion of the mails brought by the Alhambra had been landed at Hokitika, amd had not since been heard of. We presume that the delay is owing to the swollen state of the rivers on the overland route between Hokitika and Christchurch. Prince Alfred's Visit. — The « Daily Times,' of 17 th inst., says : — At a meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian Society held last evening, the President (T. Birch, Esq.) in the chair, a plan of die reserved seats at the games to be held by the Society during the Duke of Edinburgh's visit was submitted, and it was resolved that Directors and members should be allowed until Wednesday next to select their seats, which would, after that date, be open to the public. It was also resolved that the booths shonld be sold on Wednesday next, and it was further agreed that a triumphal arch should be erected by the Society in Great King-street, opposite the Grand Stand, and that the Society's address, together with their ba Jge in gold, should be presented to the Duke by a boy in Highland costume. The Reception Committee have decided that a subscription bill shall take place under their auspices during the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Dunedin. We :vre also informed that the Duke will come overland from Port Chalmers, and that the only address which will be presented on the day of hi 3Uu ling will be one from the City Corporation, ai I, possibly, one from the Provincial Council. The other addresses will be presented at such times as may he found best suited to the convenience of the Duke, The Mormons and the Pacific Railway.— ' H»e 'Pall Mall Gazette' states that it has information in private letters from Utah to the effect that the order prohibiting the Mormons fro n trading with • Gentile' merchants and shopkeepers is now rigidly enforced, and has o -casioned great dissatisfaction. Brigham Young in in admirable spirits, dances 'with youthful case and grace ' at private parties, and declares that there are only three great men in the world —himself, Bi ,m» r ik, and Napoleon. The Pacific Railway is rapidly approaching Salt Lake Uty, aad.the Mormons are.still firm in their determine ation to desi>oy the road. As no orders have been sent to the United States troops to guard , the railway, tho Mormons flatter themselves that the American' Government ia afraid of them, and Mr Young and his elders encourage them in thur belief by numerous warlike apeeohes." ..^*

Telegraph Extension. — ' Morgan's Trade "Journal ' says ■— " Many of our readers wi' ; doubtless recollect that in the expedition or- £ ini.-ed last year for the purpose of laying the China Cable failed in accomplishing its project, on account of the difficulties encountered at sea, and the consequent inadequny of the length of cable to complete the intended line. It has been resolved to make an attempt to recover the lost cable, and with a view to effect that result, fifteen miles of line have been sent to New York, and will be shipped on board a st^amor fitted with all the apparatus necessary for picking up and paving out. The end of the" Cuba cable is about four miles from the shore, although about twelve from the particular spot appointed for its landing-place. ThoßO most competent to iudge arc of opinion that it hag not suffered any deterioration since its submergence, inasmuch, as it is covered with servings of hemp and bituminous compound. It is expected that the line will be in working order in the beginning of the year. The present attitudes of the affairs in Spain has not been disregarded by the promoters of telegraphic enterprise.' It is proposed that the telegraph wires on tbe Spanish railways be utilised for the public advantage, and that the offices for the receipt and transmission of messages be opened at the various stations. By this - improvement, it is calculated that five hundred stations will be added to the existing t3legraphic system. A plan of electric communication has been adopted on board tbe French Transatlantic steamship Europe by means of which orders can bo sent to tiie man at the wheel, to the officers in their quarters, and to the sailors in case of emergency or alarm." Eiverton. — Th,e Bishop of Cbristchufch held a Confirmation Service at Riverton, on Thursday, the 29th ult. It was attended by a Tery good number of candidates lor the ordinance, and a large congregation. The Bishop's excellent address was listened to with great attention by all present. After the service, the iollowing address was presented to him by the vestry : — "To the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Christchurch, Primate of New Zealand. May it please your Lordship : The vestry of St. Mary's Church, Riverton j avail themselves of the occasion of this visit to express the pleasure with which they greet your presence among them once more. Bince your Lordship's last visit, the church has been agitated by questions of great moment, involving as we have reason to fear some of her fundamental principles as settled by our forefathers at the reformation. These questions have, we hope, now been set at rest by the result of the late session of the Synod of Dunedin ; and we beg to express our conviction that by the pains you have taken to ascertain the true feeling of the laity, and by the firmness and impartiality of your conduct through the late struggle, your Lordship has earned the confidence and gratitude of all earnest churchmen who valtte the. principles of the reformation, and love the venerable church of their fathers.-^Si^ned by order of the vestry, W. F. Oldham, Chairman." The Biehop in replying observed that it was now proved that the laity aro a real power in the church, and exercise a controlling power over her destinies ; for the refusal to confirm the nomination of Bishop Jenncr was carried by the vote of the laity. He reminded them that this lays an additional responsibility upon them to make efforts and sacrifices in her cause. Gold at Carpentaria. — The 'Sydaey Empire ' furnishes the following respecting rieii gold discoveries at the Gulf of Carpentaria : — " Private letters have reached Sydney from the Gulf, of Carpentaria, announcing there the discovery of a very rich and extensive gold-field. The locality is on the Cloncurry River, near where the copper mine was found, and about 150 miles, from Burke Town. The fortunate discoverers, it is stated, have amongst other nuggets secured a3O oz. and a4O oz. lump ; and there have been already brought into Burke Town 300 oz., although there are but thirt) diggers at the place. It has been long known that tho ranges for three hundred miles around the Grull are auriferous, but this is by far the richest yield on record in that region. We shall look with considerable interest for the public confirmation of what is here stated on the authority of a private letter. Tbe letter we may state is from a reliable source." Curious Facts about Railways. — It is interesting to know that the wooden sleepers on which the rails rest perish at the rate of tour millions a-jear, and to renew them ten thousand acres of pine forest must be cut down and sawn into sleepers. The lines near London, unless of steel,' mußt be renewed every year, while in country districts they last for twenty years. The average work of a locomotive is twenty thousand miles a year. • The traffic between Liverpool an.l Manchester is in excess of all the accommodation that can be provided ; the canal traffic, instead oi being superseded, is still highly prosperous. London is now the central market for the precious metals,' and gold and silver are carried as regularly as butter and cheese. Goods ordered by telegraph from Manchester in the evening are delivered in London the first thing next morning. ?The bullock that was grazing under the shadow of Ben Wyvis may within forty-eight hours, be figuring as the principle piece de resistance at the west-end dinner." Salmon is sent up to London from the north of Scotland, and then sent back to customers in the north of Scotland by the west-end fishmongers. Such are the curiosities that are mingled with the marvels of steami— "London Society." Changes in the Otago Executive. — The ' Tuapeka Times' has the following: — Mr Burns, 'Secretary for Land arid Works, tendered his resignation a few days ago; and this has been followed by Mr Vogel's removal from the Province, altogether, he having accepted the editorship of the ' Auckland Southern Cross;' at a salary of £1500 per annum. However mistaken Mr Vogel's political principles may have been, his departure is a serious loss to the Province, which ib not over wealthy in administrative ability. We sincerely trust that every success will attend his efforts in a new sphere of labor. Events op the Present Tear. — The great events of the present year, in the way of material progress, are grouped together as follows by a writer in the ' Australasian' : — Eighteen hundred and sixty-nine is to be a memorable 7 ear in international works of rail, canal, and electric wire. The completion of the great American railway, which will connect the Atlantic with the Pacific, is promised by the Ist of June. The completion of the Suez canal is promised for the Ist of October. These two events will con-Btitute-an epoch. Among other performances of a similar cosmopolitan character, ws find that rapid : progress is being made with the Russian telegraph across Siberia and Behring ■ Straits, which will connect the European ■ and American lines, and so perfect an electric girdle round the globe. As for that piercing of the Alps which will shorten < the mail and passenger route to the East and Australia, three-fourths of the Mount Cenis tunnel were finished on the sth December last. Then of works projected are — 1. A submarine'telegraph' between Suez and Bombay, touching at Aden, to supplement the existing wires between England and India, and so secure the communication from any chance of being interruptedl' For this undertaking a company has just been formed in London. 2. The construction of a line of rail from European Russia to the Chinese frontier. The idea is the Czar's, and the object announced is to secure and increase the profitable overland Russia trade with China, as it is feared in. 8t Petersburg that, after the opening of the railroad between New York and Han Francisco, the Chinese trade may gradually flow to the coast, and pass altogether into the American hands. The first instalment of the •work— that between Orel -and the Caspian Sea — has been entrusted to a company, and will be proceeded with at once. 3. Unbroken railway communication between London and Paris, by means either of a tunnel under Dover Straits, or else of a suspension bridge, or rather a series of suspension bridges. Incredible as it my seem, the engineers entertain no question whatever of practicability of either plan, but the bridge appears to be regarded as the preferable one.

s The Weather. — As a result of the s very rough weather on Monday, we mention that the four horse coach, conveying Bachelder's i Diorama to Riverton, was unable to proceed i beyond a very short distance out of town, the I horses bein<» unable or unwilling to face the ; storm. It is, however, an " ill wind that blows • no one pood," and on the return of the cornt pany to Invercargill, the proprietors of the l Diorama consented to give an exhibition on 1 Tuesday evening, for the benefit of the Prol vinciul Hospital. '- Our Exports. — A late " Southern " Cross " contains a notice of the second shipment ' of flax (17 tons) for the use of the New South ' Wnles paper manufacturing company. And the 1 " Hokitika Daily News," of the 7th ult, ! understands that an export of a rather novel 1 character will be made in a few weeks hence by ' Mr W. H, Bennett, of Fitzherbert-street, con- ' listing of about eighty tons of old rags, bones, ' and metals, of all imaginable descriptions, fcho bulk of which has been collected in various parts of the town, and purchased from the gatherers. 1 The shipment is for the recently established j paper mills in Melbourne. • : Colonel "Wkitmore. — Colonel WhitI more's future jalans are said, by the ' Hawke'a J Bay Times,' to be the adoption'of the system of ] head money — to offer £10 per head and rations to native allies not enlisted in the 'Armed Constabulary j and to the constabulary a bonus of £5 per head for all rebels killed except in siege or, general action. The Deter in "Wairarafa. — The ' Mercury* says of these animals : — ■" It will be remembered that some years ago the late Prince Consort presented some deer to New Zealand, and they were brought up to Mr Carter's run, and let loose there. They have sinco thriven amazingly, and now number upwards of twenty, we believe. The old buck, the very one that waß sent from Balmoral, was seen at Mr Donald's paddocks at Manaia, and though he mu«t be attaining a very respectable ago he showed his agility by leaping the fences with the greatest ease. Political Corruption. — The Melbourne 'Daily Telegraph,' 22nd of April, with reference to the expulsion of Mr Jones, the Member for Ballarat West, from the Victorian Assembly, has the following . — " The decree of expulsion has gone forth, and Mr Jones has no longer a seat in Parliament. Contrary to expectation, the motion affirming that he had received moneys from a secret association for services rendered in Parliament, was carried without a division. The motion of the Chief Secretary, which immediately followed, declaring that in so doing "He had been guilty of a gross breach of the privileges of the House, and be expelled therefrom," was the neces3ary corollarly, and was also'adopted after an effort on the part of Mr Fraser to give Mr Jones an opportunity to appear in his place and be heard in arrest of Judgment The House, without delay, then proceeded to deal with other members mentioned < in the report, and Mr Butters was called upon to answet the charge laid against him in the 4th and sth paragraphs. ' His explanation, to judge from the reception it received, made a favourable impression on hon. ' members, for he was cheered on its conclusion. ' He pointed out the inconsistency of Mr Wi liams' ' conduct in nourishing for many months charges of serious nature against him, whilst they were enjoying the closest intimacy, and he refuted the statements of Mr Bowman and Mr M'Kean with evidence of a most convincing character, which it ! will apparently, be very difficult to upset. Those members will, however, be heard in explanation. ' Mr Bowman was anxious to proceed at once, but ( the House was weary, and it being late, an k adjournment wa3 asked for, and acceded to, until l next day. Masonic. — The annual installation of the Worshipful Master of the Southern Cross 1 Lod<*e, took place at the Masonic Hall, Prince 1 of Wales Hotel, last Thursday. The attendance ! ofbrethren w;is numerous, and the interesting ] ceremony performed with due impressiveness. 1 I The following gentlemen assisted at the ceremony, j Brother Butts, P.M., Brother Eeese, P.M., ' and Brother Danby, P.M. After he was duly '. installed, Brother Webster appointed the follow- ' ing gentlemen officers of the Lodge for the i ensuing year — S.W., Bro. Bain ; Secretary, Bro. 1 Conyers; Treasurer, Bro. Martin; S.D., Bro. ! Craig ; J.D., Bro. M'Clure ; 1.G., Bro. Nye ; i Tyler, Bro. Sugar. In the evening the customary l banquet took place, when the retiring W.M., i Brother Reese, was presented with an engrossed i testimonial and jewel, as a mark of the apprecia- i tion of the Brethren of the Lodge for his services 1 - during the pasJ year. After a good many toasts ( had been given and responded to, a moat enjoy- 1 able evening was brought to a close. '. Prize Essays. — There have, up to the , present time, been received 4.3 essays on the i subject of the settlement of goldfields, and in ] competition for the prizes offered by the General Government- No decision as to the prize essays ; has yet been arrived at. The prizes are £50, £30, and £20. 1 The Pall in Wool.— The ' Argus ' of the 16th ult., says : — Some doubt existed yester- ] day as to the correct meaning of the telegraphic j adviqes with reference to the wool Bales. The i opening series of sales commenced in February, j it seems, with a decline of &d to Id in favour of ; buyers as compared with the closing average \ prices at the November sales. The later sales, ( as telegraphed to the middle of March, appear ( to have suffered a still further decline of id to Id ; i making in all 2d as the maximum decline on the ; prices ruling in November; A supplementary ( telegram via Adelaide, which we received yester- \ day, is as follows :— " London, 15th March — j Wool sales unsatisfactory, and a decline of Id on i opening rates, and 2d on November sale?." Private information to hand, however, is to the effect that the decline is entirely on the lower ' class of wools, the fine qualities maintaining their ' value. It is aho to-be borne in mind that the j * earliness of last season's shearing enabled an un- j ' I usually large number of baleß of wool to reach j ' London in time for the first sales, and that ) amongst the wool was a very large quan tity -from the Darling, which could not have been im- ] proved by its long detention on the banks of that river — aome of it for nearly two years. The ' growers of wool, therefore,, may take heart of grace. The market would probably recover some ! portion of its tone when the difficulty between France and Belgium waa settled ; and the quantity of wool which will be .shipped this season is likely to be smaller this year than it was last. Te Kooti. — Te Kooti's recent tactics in the neighborhood of Mohaka are illustrated by an account of his attack upon a friendly pah, published by the 'Wellington Independent' : — The pah was obstinately defended by its little garrison. At sundown Te Kooti said to his soldiers, " This is the first time I have miscarried in this way. We shall not take these pah«i. For fighting we must use treachery." Te Kooti then called out, " Stop fighting. Let us make peace." The firing then ceased. Ultimately, after much negotiation, Te Kooti and his men were admitted into the pah, and what followed is told as follows :— " Te Kooti then greeted the people, and when he had finished he demanded the arms to be given up. Two guns were handed over. When Heta's rifle was demanded ho refused to give it Tip, and held it full cock pointed towards Te Kooti. Rutane pushed Heta's rifle on one side, but Heta brought it back, pointing towards Te Kooti. Te Kooti then said, ' Friend, would you shoot me ? ' and called out • fall in to his people. Heta answered, • I will not give up my gun ; you intend murder.' Te Kooti then fired at Heta with a pistol, and missed him ; Heta then fired and Te Kooli fell— we believe dead. Te Koofi'a people then fired and killed Rutene and some others. Confusion now ensued. Six men were killed. Eight women and children and five wounded escaped, one of whom was Ripihana, who has two ballet wounds in the stomach and one in the arm."

> The English Mail. — In consequence ; of the Airedale being out of repair, the English s Mail will have to be forwarded to Wellington I this month, by the Tararua, due at the Bluff on ; Saturday, the Bth inst. j Disreputable Journalism. — It has . been our invariable practice to refrain from i noticing the occasional silly allusionsto this journal L on the part of a local print, simply because we believe that the good sense of the community is far from appreciating the " tricks of trade," resorted to when the more legitimate and healthy 1 opposition fails in its object. Our readers may have often observed anonymous communications appearing, professing to take great interest in our business transactions, which always have the same object in view-. It was only the other day that an allusion was made to the almanac, insinuating that its sale was limited to a half dozen copies. J This was done, of course, with' the view of impressing the public with the idea, that as a circulating medium, it was useless. We can only say, that every one was sold that was printed — amounting to 160 copies ; and that the demand was far larger than the supply. When it is j understood that the proprietors of the paper alluded to, some three or four in number, are in the practice of writing most of these letters themselves, besides penning other scurrilous productions, aa for instance, .loticet to imaginary correspondents, &c, it demonstrates that artful cunning is often resorted to in business as a substitute for straightforward dealing. It does not injure us, but hurts them. Telegraphic Commttnication with Ettbofe. — The ' Daily Telegraph,' (Melbourne), 21st April, states :— " A correspondence was submitted to Parliament last night from the Agent-G-eneral of the colony, having reference to telegraphic communication between Europe and Australia. Mr Verdon had been communicated with by the directors of the telegraph companies in course of formation, both of whom propose to extend the telegraph lines from India to Australia. He had opportunities of conferring with the directors of one of these companies — the British Indian Company — and with their engineer, Sir Samuel Canning, and, in accordance with his suggestion, Captain Sherard Osborne, managing director of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, prepared a memorandum on the subject, which, together with the prospectus of the new company ani. plans of the various routes, he enclosed to the Chief Secretary. The promoters of the second company promised to furnish him with a similar proposal, but he had not received it when the mail loft. He says : — ' Ifc will depend upon the action which this colony may think fit to take whether the first extension if the Indian telegraph be to China or to Australia. It is anticipated that there will be more telegraph com nunication with China than with Australia; but if the Government of Australia will grant a subsidy to make up the difference, they will go first to Australia. The line would require, at tho outside, of English and Dutch capital, £900,000, of which £350,000 would be provided by British or Indian interests, £150,000 by the Dutch, and £400,000 by the Australian colonies." Mr Verdon thinks with reference to the amount named in Captain Sherard Osborne's memorandum, that a smaller sum would be accepted if it should be fouud, upon more exact examination, that a lower subsidy would protect the company against loss at the outset." Arb.it ax of Salmon Ova in OtaGO. — The ' Daily Times,' of the 29tn April, gavg ; — As previous'y mentioned, the Mindora, with the second consignment of salmon ova for this Province, arrived in harbour from London on Tuesday evening. Shortly after anchoring the cutter Surprise came alongside, and the crew of the ship and some of the pilot boat's crew went to work with a will, under the orders oi Captain Thomson, the Harbour Master, cleared away cargo, opened the hermetically sealed ice-houso, and discharged 182 boxes of the ova into the cutter, with the usual accompaniment of ice, by ten o'clock. The hatches of the cutter were then battened down, the ice on deck trimmed, and she was, half an hour later, taken in tow by the steamer Taiaroa. The Harbour Master accompanies the Taiaroa to Port Molyneux, and from thence he will proceed with the cutter to the Wai wen.. Thirty boxes of ova are left on board the Mindora, the one half being for Lyttelton and the other for Southland . Sergeant Quinn, representative of the former and Mr Howard of the latter province, went on board yesterday with large cases for their reception. One of the ova boxes was opened, and although musty, the ova, on the whole, were found to be better packed in the moss than those brought by the Celestial Queen last year. The eggs in the Queen were, for the most part massed together : whereas the box opened on board the Mindora yesterday showed that greater care had been taken in the stowing of the eggs, as they all appeared to be separate. A large number of them were dead, but at the same time several healthy ones were observed — the transparent pink plainly showing their vitality. The Rangitoto will convey the Southland ova to the Bluff, and the Gothenburg will take the Canterbury portion to-morrow. Acclimatisation. — The Ttangitoto arrived at the Blnff, on Saturday, having on board a large case, containing boxes with the Southland portion of the salmon ova, which recently arrived in Dunedin, by the Mindora, from England. The case on being opened was found to contain the boxes surrounded by ice in firstclass condition. It was closed and immediately sent out to the ponds at Wallacetown, in a spring van, and no doubt by this time the ova are safely lodged in the breeding boxes. The owners of the steamer kindly conveyed the case free of charge to the Bluff, and the railway authorities likewise conveyed it to Invercargill, without coat. Sttpbeme Cottet. — Hia Honor Mr Justice Ward is expected to open the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, at the Council Chamber, on the 12th inst. ; there are three criminal charges to come on for trial, in addition to the conspiracy case. With reference to the latter, we learn that the defendant, M'Kenzie, applied to have the venue of the case removed to Dunedin, on the ground of local prejudice ; the application was to have been argued before his Honor yesterday, 4th inst, but was not likely to be granted. The result had not reached town at the time the telegraph -office closed. Salmon Trout in Victoeia. — The 1 Warrnambool Examiner ' states : — " We are constantly hearing of large takes, which put every other river in the colony into the shade. The other day we were shown two baskets of fish, obtained in two hours' fishing with a couple of lines. There were six dozen of salmon trout, and the average weight of each could not be less than half a pound. The total weight might be about forty pounds." Pistbibution of Pbizes. — Theaetion. of Colonel Haultain in ordering the payment of the prizes to the three highest scores in the Third Set at the late Middle Island Prize firing, notwithstanding the fact that the minimum score required was not made, appears to have given general satisfaction in Wellington. The" 'Independent ' says :— " That these excellent marksmen deserved towin the prizes more than if they had scored a bare thirty on a reasonably fine day, every volunteer must allow ; and we are exceedingly glad to learn that the Hon. the Defence Minister has given instructions for the payment to them of the prizes, although their scores did not reach the minimum fixed by the regulations. The winners are known and tried shots, and this graceful recognition of their merits by the Defence Minister is not likely to occasion tke least jealousy amongst their brother volunteers." Vessel Lost. — From the Melbourne papers we learn that the ship " Hurricane," from Liverpool, foundered immediately after passing the Port Phillip Heads. K > lives are reported as lost.

j Teoops pbom India. — The probability i of tioops from India being despatched to this i colony is to some extent confirmed by the followi ing comments of the ' Times' of India, of the 30th Jan. last : — '* We shall not be in the least surprised if a telegram reaches Catoutta from ! London ordering the despatch of troops to Naw i Zealand. It is tolerably evident that the local authorities of that colony are powerless to cope ) with the grave dangers that threaten the very existence of the European settlers. The Maoris are more than a match for the colonial levies, and even if the militia are called out, we doubt if they will be of much use for want of competent leaders. A strong force must, we fear, be despatched without delay, and the stronger the better, in order that we may once for all crush these untameable savages. Conciliation has been tried, and has failed too often. We have endeavored to live in amity with these Maoris, and the result has been that they have conceived almost a contempt for the white man, whose leniency they mistake for cowardice. They have now sealed their own doom. We must deal with them now not merely as foes, but as executioners. If the detention of a few Europeans by an Abyssinian tyrant was sufficient cause for a costly expedition, ending in the destruction of hundreds of his followers, and the death of the madman himself, surely the cold-blooded murder of nearly half a hundred British subjects, the defeat of our colonial forces, and open defiance of our power, not only justify, but demand, the prompt assemblage at the scene of action of sucn an array as shall teach them a lesson that they will not soon forget. The Fijis. — The trade of the Fijis with Australia appears to be rapidly assuming important dimensions. A Melbourne correspondent of the ' Ballarat Star,' writes : — " An exodus on a small scale is going on in Sydney to the Fiji Islands. Several vessels have already left, and others are on the point of sailing — Rotumah, Ellesmere, Norman, Magellan Cloud, Sea Witch, John Wesley, Black Dog, Gem, Susanna Booths Scotsman, and Ocean. These vessels take in tho aggregate nearly, if not quite, 2000 tons of merchandise, and a goodly number of passengers. A gentleman of considerable means and influence, who has juat left for the islands, has subscribed £2,500 to a sugar plant, so that before long Fiji sugar will be found on the table of thrifty Australian housewifes, and a great satisfaction to them will be that one half the quantity, as compared with the Mauritius, will make the bohea equally palatable. Remarking on the foregoing the ' Star ' says : — Now, there are two facts to be gathered from the statements of our correspon dent ; the first, that a large trade is being carried on in Sydney with the Islands of the Pacific ; and the next, that an industrious man with comparatively small means can make a comfortable living. People emigrating to Fiji and other islands we do not loose as if they went away to California and Japan ; but they reproluce, and help us in a direct way to extend our manufactures by inducing hundreds of thousands of natives to adopt European customs and assimilate themselves to our habits and modes of life." Iron Sand.— The 'Daily Times' ga y S . " Mr. J. Henochsbarg, of this city, is about to set on foot an establishment in Taranaki for the purpose of manufacturing the celebrated iron sand of that province. He has succeeded in discovering a simple and effectual process for smelting the sand, aod has already obtained a patent for ifc. Samples of the ateel manufactured by Mr Henochsburg have been shown us, and appear to possess the qualities of the very finest material of the kind. In particular we may mention a chisel with which the hardest iron has been cut, without any effect upon the edge. Mr Henochsburg has already been offered £37 10s per ton for the rough metai. He has been joined in this undertaking by another gentleman of this city, and also by two practical men thoroughly acquainted with the manufacturing process. He proceeds north on Saturday for the purpose of superintending the completion of the works." His Royal Highxess the Duke of Edinburgh. — The sportmanlike behaviour of H.8..H. the Duke of Edinburgh during the pig hunt in which he took part during bis late visit to Wellington, is described by the ' Independent' as follows : — " H.R.H. showed himself to be no effeminate Nimrod, as he immediately dismounted and dashed into the flax swamp as eagerly as the keenest of sportsmen, floundering amidst the long tangled flax and boggy ground, and once getting hip deep into a concealed ditch, but in high spirits and taking it ail, as a matter of course. A pig was soon started, which his Highness potted in good style, and disdaining any assistance, dashed at the wounded animal and .gave it the coup de grace with his hunting knife- A second one was started, which his Highness also potted, but not in a sufficiently vital part to stop its gallop, as it made off at a rapid pace. However, one of the mounted troopers who escorted his Highness, stopped the pig in fall career by almost severing it with a blow of his sabre. This closed the sport, as the evening was drawing in. A New Bank ln Melbourne. — The * Argus ' 22nd April, says : — " The prospectus has been shown to us of a new banking institution which it is proposed to form in Melbourne, with the assistance of Euglish capitalists. The liability is to be limited, and the capital £1,000,000, with power to double it. The advancement of money on freehold securities and on cash credits is to form a special feature of the business of the new institution, which will also purchase or make advances on Government securities. The success of the monetary institu* tione established of late years in Melbourne would appear to indicate that there is room for this proposed bank." G-old IN" Tasmania. — From the Launceston papers we learn that gold ha 9 been discovered in the neighborhood of Port Cygnet by two men — Robert Thorpe and John Stanton who are described as experienced Australian miners, and whose character for veracity is good. The country around is barren and rough, and water is scarce in summer. The men have applied for tna Government reward for their discovery. At Kingarooma, near Cape Portland, a more promising goldfield appears to have been found. Some sixty diggers were encamped there, and they were getting gold running from ■ one pennyweight to three pennyweights per bucket of washdirt. This discovery has led to a claim being put in for a reward by T. Q-. Williams and R. J. Richardson. The goldfield is seventy miles from Launceston, and fifty-four from Bridport. Hawke's Bay. — The state of this province may be judged from the following extract from the ' Herald ' of April 16 : — Five members of the ' Herald ' staff are on the Tutere expedition. It is not, therefore, without difficulty that the paper is issued this morning in time for the mail. An exodus of population wi'l probably soon set in. The abrupt withdrawal of men of all classes from their daily occupations, the consequent deprivation of all comfort, cessation of business, and alarm to their families, is more than most people can stand ; and already many lok out for what they cannot obtain here — a place of rest. The Thames Yield. — The Auckland Weekly News' says : — We have sewn returns which bavej been drawr. up respecting the ex port of gold from the the Thames, representing the total yield up to the 11th of January (exclusive of that in the Bank of New Zealand for future shipment) at 80,978 ounces, of the value of about £200,000, or something over this sum. The total exported by the various banks are as follows : — Union Bank of Australia, 40,897 ounces ; Bank of Australasia, 2(),227 ounce* ; Bank of New Zealand, 17,835 ounces; and Bank of New South Wabs, 2010 ounces. A Modeen Hxdba. — On of the greatest curiosities in connection with the reptile world — a snake with two complete and perfect heads, two mouths, four eyes, the heads equal in size, and the one perfect as the other, has been caught at Harwood Island, New South Wales.

Steam fj£6m Australia to New i Yobk. — The ' Argus ' says: — A private letter from New York to a gentleman in this city conveys the idea that in America they look upon the route from Melbourne to New York, via San Francisco, us likely to attract passengers before long. The letter contains an invitation to pay America a visit, and says : — " That route will be j much speedier as compared with the Panama route, and it will be pleasanter and safer to come by way of San Francisco, and right across our i North American continent by our new Pacific Railroad, now nearly finished, and which* we expect to see in running order by July next. Prom Melbourne to San Francisco will , occupy perhaps three weeks, and from San Francisco to New York the journey will be completed in five or six days ; travelling by day and night in one of our ' palace cars' in which you can have your lodging and meals, and live as jou would in the best steamboat, travelling all the time continuously," District of Wallace. — The election of a member to represent the District of Wallace in the House of Representatives, resulted in the return of Cuthbert Cowan, Esq. He was proposed by Mr 0. W. Jackson, and seconded by , Mr John M'Keller. The Returning Officer, Mr j (I R. Marten, declared him duly elected. Mr ; Cowan is an old and respected settler, and is no • stranger to polities. He represented the Oreti District in the Provincial Council, and held the office of Provincial Treasurer for some time under Dr Menzies' Superintendency. The newly elected member possesses a good deal of practical knowledge and undoubted ability. Ho is a nephew of Lord Cowan, one of the Lords of Session in Scotland. Bacheldej&'s Diorama. — The matinee, or mid-day entertainment given on Saturday for the convenience of families and schools was well attended. The great majority of the spectators consisted of course of juveniles, who displayed a degree of attention and appreciation worthy of imitation by many of their seniors in years. In the evening the last opportunity was afforded to the public of Invercargill of visiting thiß historic mirror of the American war, which, whether regarded in an artistic point of view, or as a means of impressing the various incidents of that gigantic struggle on the imagination, or as a source of rational entertainment, is deserving of the very general patronage with which it has been favored on this, its first season, in this town. We understand that after a brief visit to Riverton, we are promised an exhibition of a very different kind, viz., views illustrative of the greatest epic of modern times —Milton's Paradise Lost. Dtt FEA.TKEBBTON ON THE ASPECT OF Appaibs. — We extract the following from a Northern contemporary, as part of a speech made by the Superintendent of Wellington, upon the prorogation of the Provincial Council. !He said : — " It would have been gratifying to me before closing the present session if I had been able to announce that some progress had been made in quelling the rebellion, and iri re-estab-lishing those friendly relations between the two races upon which mainly depends the future pf this island ; but in spite of the official despatches which are from time to time published, proclaiming victories, "and predicting the speedy annihilation of those in arms agaicst her Majesty, we have yet to learn that a single decisive blow* has been struck either on the East or West Coast. Te Kooti on the former and Titoko Waru on the latter, far from being conquered are, to all intents and purposes, masters of the position. They are being constantly surrounded but never are surrounded. We are constantly told that they are bo completely jammed in that their escape is impossible, and yet they ever do escape without serious loss. They sus* pend and resume active operations just as they please. And in order to hold our own we are compelled to rely not on our own purely Colonial Forces but almost exclusively upon the friendly natives, whose allegiance to the Crown has for some timt past been gradually .sapped and undermined, and is still being daily alienated by the action of the Government. That we are dependant upon the friendly natives is sufficiently proved by the constant transport of them from the East to the West Coast. I repeat what I said in my opening address that this is a most dangerous game to play when the stake at issue is the lives of our fellow-settlers in the outlying districts. Feeling so strongly as I do on this subject, it has been a source of great relief and gratification to me that you have bo thoroughly endorsed my views by your rejection of the resolution submitted to you in opposition to them. Backed as I believe your opinion will be by the General Assembly, there is every reason to hope that the Imperial Q-overnment will not much longer calmly and unconcernedly look on the massacre of Her Majesty's subjects, but that they, will by public opinion and feeling at home be forced to afford such assistance as will speedily put an end to a war which is fast becoming one of extermination, and which, if much longer continued, will render peaceful relations between the two races well nigh impossible." The Bat or Plenty. — The ' Hokitika News,' 17th April, says : — The following is an extract from a letter lately received by one of our country subcribers, from a friend of his resident at Opotika: — "I should have answered your letter before this, but Te Kooti ia harassing the life put of us here. I have just come home, having been out twenty days after him, and then did not get him, although we have been close to him on two occasions — first, at Whakatane, when we went to get Mr Htcairn's body, who was murdered by him, and afterwards we followed him up to a pah about sixty miles from here. He gave us the slip at both places. He lost about thirty men at Whakatane, but none afterwards, as he made his exit in the dark, although there were 500 of us around him. I belong to tho Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry ; my pay is seven shillings and sixpence 3 per day and find myself in everything but arms and ammunition, but I would much rather it was one thing or other — soldiering or farming. I have four acres of potatoes fit to dig, and cannot get it done. I have got wheat and oats stacked ready for being threshed. We know not the hour Te Kooti may pay us a visit, and burn everything as he did at Whakatane, wnere he did not leave a stick standing."