LATEST SOUTHERN ITEMS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 147, 29 March 1872, Page 3

LATEST SOUTHERN ITEMS.

The Pariaka meeting, at which over 700 natives were present, came to a c’ose on March 2. The Taranaki Herald says:— “ Te Wliiti was the principal speaker; and the subject was chiefly of himself. With regard to the telegraph passing over the land, lie did not decidedly object to it, hut wishes the matter delayed.—Wi Parata. M.H.IL, spoke at the meeting, and advocated the road being opened. lie seemed to have some influence, and was listened to attentively.”—The Taranaki News says :—“ We understand that Mr Parris has agreed with natives for the building of a temporary telegraphic station on the other side of Stony River, with a view to assist the present telegraphic arrangements; with this exception all things remain as they were.” —The Wardens give the populations in tiie County of Westland mining districts as follow : —Grey district, Westland, 4380 ; Greenstone, 570; Stafford and Waimea, 2,21 G little boy, two years old, named Charles Meadows, has been drowned near Stafford Town (Ilokitika), through falling into a water-race.—A groom in the employ of Mr Barker, hotelkeeper, at Reefton,lias been drowned in the Inangaliua river, through, it is supposed, the horse he was riding having stumbled into a deep hole. —The Roman Catholics in Christchurch appear to he outgrowing their church accommodation. The existing building, which is now capable of holding 700 peo-

pie, is to be enlarged to such an extent aa to provide accommodation for 1,200 or 1,30 J people ; the alterations costing, it is estimated, nbout £I,OOO. —Harvest hands in the Murewhenua district hare been getting 12s, and even, in some cases, £1 a day.—The buying and selling of longwooled rams is assuming importance in Canterbury. The Lyttelton Times , in recording this fact, comments upon it as follows :—“ This must result in a great change in the description of wool exported from this settlement, which till within a few years consisted exclusively of merino ; now many hundreds of bales of very superior long-wool will bo produced by our sheep farmers.” Largo quantities of preserved meat are being shipped for England at Lyttelton.—ln consequence of the falling otf in the traffic on the Hokitika and Greymouth tramway, the company contemplate closing the line.—Signor Donato, in connection with Mr and Mrs Searle, Herr Bunz, and others, is performing in the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton. The Wakefield monument, brought out to Wellington about 25 years ago, is likely to be erected in a suitable spot centrally situated in the city.—The total number of persons in Dunedin who have pledged themselves by 7 signature not to shop after one o’clock on Saturday is 4,G60. —The Walcatip Mail , speaking of the result of the election, says Mr Mncassey’s views, as expressed by him, were rather against the present Cabinet; while the successful candidate gave in a general adhesion to the present policy.—The Tuapeka Times states that a stone having all the appearance of a horse’s head was lately found bv a miner named Currie, in his claim on McCann’s Beach. The sockets of the eyes and nostrils, which are filled with quartz pebbles, give it all the appearance of a fossil head. A rush is reported by the West Coast 'Times to have taken place within the last few days to some ground at the back of A tbur’s Town, on the southern side of the Hokitika Kiver. It is said that the prospectors are averaging £7 per week each. —Bishop Moran, Catholic Bishop of Otago. clergy are certainly in earned ■.. ~c y say they will leave > • .. Lamed to get children of their ii, . io attend their own schools. The Catholic school at Lawrence is a success, and Father Larkin is determined that every Catholic child shall go to it. At his own expense lie is providing a suitable wagon, wliic.i is being constructed by Cobb and Co., and in it the children residing at. Weatherstonc and otlmr outlying districts will lie brought to school and back in all w.-nthers.—Tlie Mayor of Weliugton, at a supper given to the Wellington Itega:ta Crew, said:

—“ Much had been said lately about the so-called salary which had been lately attached to his office. He could assure them that he should look upon it as a sum to be distributed solely for the benefit of the city.” A man of the name of Grant, who had been working until lately at Major Marshall’s, came into the township at Marton about a week back, and commenced drinking heavily. The effects soon became apparent, the man being attacked with a fit of delirium tremens. In this state the unfortunate fellow left the town and went into the bush. Not returning that day or the next, search was made, but with no result. He was seen by a lad on the third day, at a distance, almost naked, running and shouting violently. On Thursday, the constable, enlisting the help of several volunteers, started for a more thorough and complete search. After some hours the poor fellow was found lying in some scrub, apparently dying. He w r as brought into town and received careful attention, which had the effect of saving his life.