Local.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 141, 25 February 1859, Page 2

Local.

The English Mails.—-The Zephyr, arrived yesterday from Wellington, brought intelligence that the. steamer Tasmanian Maid left Wellington on Tuesday night last with the mails on board. She will most probably arrive before tbis meets the public eye, or at latest this morning. The Boomerang arrived at Wellington on ".the 18th xvith English news to the 20fch December, leaving Melbourne ou the 10th xvith 42 passengers, and a mail consisting of 87 boxes, slags, and 1 parcel. ! The Waiila*j' Gorge,—We are informed, that the road through tire Wairau Gorge is progressing, and the'satisfaction expressed by those, xvho-have'witnessed the xvay iii which M'Grojjor and his par(y.Jiave done their work, xvill compensate 'forr the limited advance through the party heing--foxv in numbor. The rond has been ent yon ud a swamp hitherto complained of; tw-,i crossings of the river have beoi «av<:<l and the road can be travelled on one side of the river up to the junction, and'we are told, the men are ioow busy culting'a road which-,, when finished, 'will sav_ nil crossings in the Gorge. Adv. —Buyers.of realiy good English.made 'furniture- are advised fco attend tho iuietio.* sale of George Aiken, at his sab room, to-morrow,* at , noon. For particulars,'sea advertisement.

. Tub.Speaker op the House of Kepresen* tatives.-—The Home News of December 17th Sll y S ;.-_.The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to bo passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Knight of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto Charles Clifford, Esq., the Speaker ofthe House of Eepresentatives of the Colony of New Zealand. The Governor.-—lt is reported that his Excellency the Governor may be expected to arrive in Wellington from Auckland about the end of next week. — New Zealand Spectator, February 19. The Cricket Match.—Should the steamer arrive as we expect, she will be laid on for Motueka and Collingwood as usual, affording an opportunity of witnessing the play between the Motueka and Riwaka clubs, which is likely to be good. The match comes off tp.-day, and visitors could return by the Collingwood steamer to-morrow evening. Apples.—There seems to be a brisk export going on in this fruit at the present season. The gatherings appear to be very abundant; some of the specimens we have seen, weighed more than a pound each. Most of these speculations find their way to Sydney, but whether offering any considerable remunerative inducement we are unable to state, as the prices realised appear to have been very variable, attributable perhaps to their fieitfg out of condition through want of care in the packing. Ifc is recommended to use small packages of a certain weight, lying them in good dry straw, "and coming iv contact as little as possible with each other.