Local Intelligence.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 202, 2 August 1860, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Resipen'T, Magistrate’s Court. —Before D. S. Durie, Esq., E.M. The following debt cases were decided in favor of the plaintiffs, 28th July—C. O’Neill v. John Stokes, £ll Bs. sd.,a»d July 31, J. F Kells ». R. Black, and John Roberts, £l2. On same day Win. John Mullins was brought up on a cligrge of stealing ; a number of rarticles from the'store of Messrs. S. Curtis, . and . Co., his . employers. They'are chiefly articles of jewellery, of the value of £2O or £25. The accused has been about three months in Messrs. Curtis’employment, and was committed/ for trial at the District Court. ■' , ' v ' l ' s

The Ferry.— A Petition to the Superintendent is now lying for signature in Messrs. Taylor, Watt and Co.’s Store, .in which the memorialists” point-/ out the' heavy tax which the Ferry imposes on this J cbmmuhity,'and the injustice" of putting the- rent drawn from; the ferry into the Provincial Treasury, and pray that the ferry-rates may be reduced to what may merely yield : enough to pay the working expences. * The Reserve on the Left Bank of the River.— Elesewhere • will be found a copy. *of the letter which His Honor the Superintendent has'addressed to the chairman of the public meeting at which the protest against the sale of the reserve was made. We understand that a memorial to the" Superintendent has been prepared for the'adoption cf the left bank- settlers—praying that this land my be either sold ordeased. There are separate columns for signatures for either of these modes of disposing of it. The argument used is the heavy expense and the loss of time which the transit of goods to and fro occasions, and -the consequent convenience .which stores on the left bank of the river would afford to- the residents on that side—while, it is stated that selfish considerations have induced the opposition of the storekeepers and land holders in the tdwn-.

. 7'V<mUNTEERS AED -MILITIA.. The' folloCving appointments appear in the New Zealand Gazette of 7th July; in the Wanganui Regiment of New Zealand Militia, Thos. Kells to be Captain; Arthur Wicksteed to be Ensign. Date of Commission 30th- June: in No. 2 Company of Wanganui Volunteer Rifles, David Porter to be Captain, Wm.. Davidson to be Lieutenant, and Alfred Ross to be,'/Ensign: Date of Commission 3rd July ; and in tlw No. 3 Company of Wanganui Volunteer /rifles, Nathaniel Beamish to he Captain, and John Wilsoa to be Lieutenant. Date of Commission 2nd July. .> Tiiere are. now sworn in--of volunteers 54 cavalry and 390.riflesin,the Wangauni, Rangitilcei, and i'urakina distriets,.-. , •■ .

100 iiHea, ioo-sets or accoutrements, and 20,300 rounds of ammunition were received last week by the Tyne. No. 1 and- 2 Companies shot for these rifl’e3 on Monday afternoon. Major Cooper considered the firing very good, one out of every three shots hitting the target at a distance of 1.20. yards; and seventy of the rifles were given out yesterday morning to the successful competitors. : • >

Seventy of the militia were, called' out on Saturday, and, as wili be observed by the orders to be found in another enjumn Major Ooopei is anxious.that they should be put, into .in efficient state as soon .as possible. It will he observed from an advertisement ui our columns that a block house is to be erected at the Heads, to keep the navigation open in case' of hostilities, and .that the palisa - dings at the Rutland arid York Stockades areto be renewed.

We observe that Lieutenant Andrew Nicholson Magrath, is. Gazetted Captain, by purchase, in the 65th, and that. Brevet-Colonel //uson M‘Cloverty is promoted to the rank of Major General. . ,

lurakina. —A Total. Abstinence Society, to he called the ‘ T.urakina and Rangitikei lotal Abstinence Society,’ was formed hereon the evening of Wednesday, the 18tli ult. The weather was unfavourable, ami the attendance on that account not so good; hut. 12 adults enrolled themselves as members, besides children. The Rev. Mr. Mason moved, and Mr. Franklin, storekeeper, seconded, resolutions as to the formation ami name.of the society, the terms of membership (abstinence from intoxi - eating drinks and enrolment by the secretary), ami the holding of quarterly meetings. The appointment of a committee was, on the motion of Mr. Hugh Cameron deferred till the following week. • ; .

As it is understood that the volunteers in Taranaki .are ill provided with the ordinary com hu t s ? of life; it- wQuld Ibe tbecomirig -in the settlers here to help their unfortunate fellowcolonists, by sending to them such articles as hosiery and underclothing; preserved. fish, herrings. , &c., tobacco,: cocoa; and other groceries, wine, ale, porter, and spirits in bottle. Any articles contributed will he forwarded free of charge by Messrs. ;7aylor, W att, and Co., in the * Sea Gull,” which is daily expected from Wellington, and will then proceed to 'Taranaki. ■ A Lunar Eclipse took place this morning.