NORTHERN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1185, 20 December 1869, Page 5

NORTHERN NEWS.

We take the following from the Otago Daily Times : — Napier, November 24th. The Supreme Court concluded its business to-day, and the Judge leaves for "Wellington to-morrow. The Hawke'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 Auckland Superintendency election at 3 p.m. on the 23rd -.—Williamson, 2332 ; Gillies, 2341. Majority for G-illiea, 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 Grillies, 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. November 29th. Mr Gillies is virtually Superintendent of Auckland. Mr Ormond returned here on Saturday from inspecting the outposts from Te Haroto to Lake Taupo. He has made a contract with Paora Hapi's natives to form 50 miles of dray road between Kunanga and Tapuaeharuru, for £450. Te Kooti'a whereabouts is not known, but he is believed to be near Tahua. December sth. News is to hand from Tapuaeharuru to the 3rd inst. Te Kooti and Kereopa have left the bush, and are advancing into Hakawa's country. They have been reinforced by the TJriweras, and some of the West Tuhua natives, and are in force at Te Fapa, one day's journey from Tapuaeharuru, where our forces are concentrated. Colonel M'Donnell is marching against them. Wellington, November 22nd. A special messenger who arrived here to-day brought the news that the surveyors had been warned by the natives not to survey the Manawatu Block. Both sellers and non-sellers are united in taking this step, the former saying that the award of the Native Lands Court with respect to some of the reserves has not been compared (?), and the latter intimating their intention to oppose the survey or settlement of the block in any case. The Provincial Council was opened to-day by the Superintendent. In his address he alluded to the Manawatu difficulty, which he saidwaß not important, bat was owing to the baneful influence of

those who had always caused mischief and trouble, and who would never be quiet till they were brought under the operation of the Disturbed Districts Act, which he hoped would soon be the case. He also alluded to the probability of a mail service to San Francisco being shortly established. He suggested that an Ordinance should be passed to enable him when in England to settle the dispute with the Messrs Kennard, and to arrange for the construction of the patent slip, so as to give Wellington a chance of being made the port of call for the new line. He spoke of the importance of his going home next mail, but said he was entirely in the hands of the Council in the matter. 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 Featberson 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 Featherston, on 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 I 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 regarding 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 right 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." November 28th. The Provincial Council finished its business last night. A farewell address to the Superintendent was passed. He will prorogue the Council to-morrow, prior to his departure. No holiday, breakfast, or public demonstration has been arranged to mark the occasion. November 29th. Dr. Featherston left to-day in the Tararua. The Government gave their employes a partial holiday on the occasion, but beyond the assembling of a large crowd, who cheered loudly, there was no public demonstration. The Lady Bird, with a number of passengers on board, accompanied the Tararua to the Heads. Mr John Knowles, clerk to the Superintendent, has been appointed Secretary to the Home Commissioners, and follows in the Bangitoto on Thursday. November 30th. At the meeting of the shareholders of the N.Z.S.N. Co. to-day, a resolution in favour of voluntarily winding up the Company was carried by a large majority. The Directors offered to act gratuitously aa liquidators, and the question of their appointment in that capacity is to be considered at a future meeting. The Manawatu natives have pulled down the first " trig." station erected, and have felled trees across the surveyors lines. December 2nd. The Ngatiapa natives, after holding a consultation, have resolved to assist the surveyors in surveying the Manawatu Block. The Ngafciraukawa natives offered some slight opposition, but did not persevere in it, although incited to do so. The survey is now progressing. It is intended to take legal proceedings against the natives who destroyed the first " trig." station. December 7th. i The whole of the Constabulary in the depot here have been ordered to Napier, to assist in convoy duty to Taupo, fires, supposed to have been lighted by TJriweras on their way to join Te Kooti having been seen near Lake Waikaremoana. Sergeant Bullen and about 50 men start to-morrow morning. Mr Yogel has written to the Governor stating that he has seen a copy of Earl G-ranville's despatch ordering the immediate removal of the 18th Regiment, and that the orders are peremptory, admitting of no delay. December 12th. The deputation appointed at the late meeting of merchants had an interview with Mr Giaborne yesterday, relative to the English mail service. Mr Gisborne said that the Government would endeavour to make arrangements to subsidise a steamer to convey the homeward mail to Melbourne during the next six months. He feared, however, that the funds at the command of the Government were not sufficient to subsidise a steamer to bring the mail to New Zealand, but he could not speak positively on this point until Messrs M'Meckan, Black wood, and Co. had been communicated with. If possible, the Tararua would be subsidised to take away the next mail. Nelson, November 27th. Auckland dates to the 25th are to hand. Mr Ellis, a former candidate for the Superintendency, has offered himself for Auckland City East. Private letters say that Mr Yogel will return in two weeks, as the Conference will then be over.

An influential meeting has been held at the Thames to consider the unsatisfactory system of mining management at present existing there. It wa9 stated that the practice of stealing specimens wholesale was carried on. It was agreed that there should be an amalgamation of claims in order to secure ecouomy and better supervision. The Pioneer Steel Works, Taranaki, have been stopped for the present. This step was decided on at a meeting of the shareholders held on Monday last. Three new flax companies have been formed, viz., at Opuuaki, Patea, and near Cape Egmonfc. Mr Hurst proceeds to Wellington to arrange for the lease of the land at Patea. The true result of the late testing of quartz from the Kaitaki Ranges was as follows : — From Souter's Battery, at the rate of 1 ounce 11 dwts. per ton. From the Kuranui Battery, at the rate of 2 ounces 10 dwts. per ton. November 28th. An important trial for slander was concluded here on Saturday morning. The plaintiff was Mr Levin, a merchant in Wellington., and the defendant Mr Beaumont, a sheep farmer in Marlborough. The defendant had charged the plaintiff with fraud, and with colluding with Mr Tetley to swindle him (defendant). Damages were laid at £5000. The jury could not agree, and were dis- j charged with the consent of the parties, each of whom pays his own costs. The trial lasted three days. The jury were at first divided, but ultimately eleven were against nominal damages ; one, however, stood out for a verdict for the defendant. A whirlwind took place here at 9 o'clock this morning. It blew down a timber shed and warehouse belonging to Messrs Curtis Brothers. The damage is estimated at about £300. It also unroofed a stable, and blew in windows in various places, doing a good deal of damage. A smart shock of earthquake took place here at 1.28 a.m. on Friday. November 30th. The Auckland news to hand is chiefly of an electioneering character. Mr Gillies has been elected to the Superintendency by a majority of 51. Nearly 5000 persons in all voted. There is libfcle goldfields news, the market being glutted. Some specimen crußhings are reported, but nothing notable. The extension of the tramways for the conveyance of quartz from the back country is agitated. Westpobt, December sth. A great fire took place here last night, by which the principal places of business were totallly destroyed. The block destroyed is in Gladstone street, and extends from the premises of Messrs Fleming and Murray, drapers, to those of Messrs Southern, drapers, both inclusive. The value of the property destroyed is estimated at £15,000, none of which is covered by insurance. The fire was caused by the bursting of a kerosene lamp in the shop of Mr Onslow, draper. Timaeu, December 4th. The first block of concrete for the small boat breakwater, was put down this morning at low tide, after a previous unsuccessful attempt. There is a tremendous sea rolling in, which will severely test the tsrength of the work. At present it appears to stand firmly. Chomwell, December Ist. A new line of reef has been struck at Beudigo Grully, to the north of those already known. The prospects are good, and ten claims were pegged out ou the reef yesterday. Some very rich stone has been taken out of Colclough's claim. Good reports are to hand from the Carrick Range. Some samples of plumbago have been sent to Dunedin to be analysed. The share-market is very quiet. Qtjeenstown, November 27th. The Nugget Company's quartz-mining lease on the Upper Shotover was sold to-day, by the Warden's order, on account of the dissolution of partnership by the proprietors, for the sum of £600. The purchaser was Mr Eoskruge. !he following telegram was handed to us on Thursday by his Honor the Superintendent, with the request that it might be published : — Wellington, Dec. 16th, 3.40 p.m. The Superintendent of Southland. Be good enough to give publicity to the accompanying notice: — " Cciution to the public. Police office, "Wellington 15th Dec. 1869. Notice is hereby given that a certain quantity of sugar having been sent by Dr Grace to the Government laboratory this day, upon being analysed by Mr Skey, was found to contain a considerable quantity of arsenic. The sugar in question was recently purchased by Mr Henry Tateß, of Moles-worth-street, grocer, and was sold by him from the 4th to the Uth inst., inclusive. The unsold portion of the sugar was immediately handed over to the custody of the police by Mr Tates on the discovery being made. — Frederick Atchison, Inspector of Police." (Signed) Gisbobne.