NORTHERN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1175, 3 December 1869, Page 2

NORTHERN NEWS.

We take the following from the Otago Daily Times : — Wellington, November 24th. In the Provincial Council last night, Mr Bunny defeated the Government on the second reading of the Bill preventing Volunteers from exercising their land certificates in the Manawatu Block, a measure which the Government declared to be absolutely necessary in the present financial condition of the province. The division was 10 votes against the vote of the Provincial Secretary alone. Ihe latter stated that he would resign, but to-day a compromise was adopted, and the Executive reconstructed. Dr Featherson has written to the Testimonial Committee, stating that the action of the Council made it extremely unlikely that he would be able to leave on Monday, and asking them to postpone all further proceedings indefinitely. Mr Fox has refused to preside at the farewell breakfast to Dr Featheraton, ou the ground that, being a teetotaller, he could not countenance the toast-drinking which would be a part of the Chairman's duty. He is going to the Upper Wanganui to meet the natives, who have just held an important meeting preparatory to taking the field to attempt to capture Te Kooti. November 26th. A Gazette issued to-day contains the following notification : — " In consequence of fuller information having been received Tegardittg the late sale of auriferous land at Nelson, the Government do not, under the circumstances, consider it conducive to the public interest to enforce the ri<rht of the Crown to gold in such lands. The former letters to the Superintendent of Nelson are therefore cancelled. Though their right is waived in this particular case, the Government reserve the power to enforce it for the interest of the public with respect to other sales of auriferous land, and Commissioners of Waste Land Boards are cautioned against allowing such sales to take place." Napieb, November 24th. The Supreme Court concluded its business to-day, and the Judge leaves for Wellington to-morrow. The Flawke's Bay Prospecting Party have discovered gold, but not, as yet, in payable quantities. Mr Cashmore's saw-mill at Big Bush has been burned down. November 25th. The following was the state of the poll for the A uckland Superintendence election at 3 p.m. on the 23rd : — Williamson, 2332 ; Gillies, 2341. Majority for Gillie% 16*. Eight returns are still due, but from what is known little doubt remains but that Gillies will be returned. Private letters, also, state that it is all up with Williamson. The Thames Advertiser describes the scene at one of the polling-booths as follows: — " A body of men stood at the door, and would not allow anyone to enter, unless he showed one of Mr Williamson's tickets. Scores of citizens made several attempts to record their votes for Mr Gillifs, but could not, and lots of them were savagely maltreated." A new and exceedingly rich leader has been struck in the Long Drive claim. The amount of gold deposited from this claim from October 13th to November 18th, was 4,210 ounces, of the value of £11,000.