LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 344, 21 May 1863, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Rangitikei, oth May 1863,

Before Walter Buller, Esq., R.M., William Fox, Esq., J.P., and S. (Jurl, Esq., J.P. John Doughty, of Eangitikei, settler, charged with having been drunk on the last Court day (Ist ultimo). : Fined 20s and costs 6s.

John McKelvie, of Lower Eangitikei, settler, charged with having been drunk and disorderly on the last Court day (Ist .ultimo). Defendant not in attendance. Service of summons proved. Warrant of apprehension to be issued.

Eichard Hammond v. Amos Burr. Debt 14Z . A claim for the value of a bullock sold and delivered. Letter from detendant,apologizing for non-appearance, read in Court. Judgment ex parte for amount and costs 1Z 19s. Alexander McDonald v. Noa Te Eauhihi. .Debt 351 10s. A claim for the balance of a loan of 40Z advanced to one Warilii, for which, it was alleged, defendant had made himself responsible. Adjourned, after hearing by mutual consent, to the next sittings.

Fritz Poppe v. Gottlieb Goleb. Debt 13Z 17s 7d. The parties to this action being Germans, John Gottlieb Hentsclike was sworn in as interpi'eter. Set off put in for 6Z 13s 6d. Fvidence on both sides defective. Judgment given for Eighteen shillings and ten pence and costs (including mileage) 2?s. Kereopa v. Bull. Summons not served.

Oun Postal arrangements — After the complaints made by Mr. Fox at the last session of the General Assembly respecting the want of communication between Taranaki and Wanganui during the last war, it might have been supposed that some pains would now be iaken by the Colonial Government to secure us ready and speedy intelligence, and the more so as the present struggle takes place many miles nearer to us than the former one. As we are nearest on this side to the scene of strife—and therefore, after the ’! aranakians, the mostly likely to be involved —it is only reasonable to expect that we should be kept constantly informed of the progress of the struggle, in order that we may foresee and provide for any impending danger. Under existing circumstances the communication from Tataraimaka to Wanganui, via Hew Plymouth, is only too slow to meet properly the requirements of the case ; and it is most impolitic to double the time occupied in sending us news by transmitting it by way of Wellington. The directions said to have been given by the Governor to Captain McClutchie have led us to make these remarks ; since it is obvious, that if the outbreak at Taranaki was deemed by the Government so sei’ious as to justify sendingthe Wanganui settlers warning to fly into town, it would have been but right to order the Rifleman to call here with the warning, instead of trusting to the chance of her speaking in the Straits some vessel bound to this port.

While, however, blaming. the . Colonial authorities generally in this: matter, we arc bound to make exception in favor of Messrs. Mantell and White, to whom our settlers’ warmest thanks are clue for their endeavours to afford the earliest and fullest intelligence in their power ; and we have good reasons for knowing that the Provincial Government will do their best to forward us any news that reaches Wellington. But, still, we hope that our drawing attention to this subject may lead the Government to establish a, regular communication between this and Taranaki, in order that the Wanganui settlers may be enabled to judge when and whether they are in danger, and to act accordingly. The long time during which the expellees of the overland mail between here and New Plymouth has been saved by the Government gives us a stronger claim now for an expenditure in maintaining the communication upon which the safety of our settlement may depend. We leahi that it is reported in Wellington, on apparently good authority, that the Governor lias entrusted to General Cameron the task of dealing with the Tatarainiaka murderers.

The Natives:— Upwards of a hundred Wanganui natives started for Taranaki dur’irig Monday and Tuesday, making in all about 300 who ■ have gone from this .river.

Auction Sales.— Messrs. Taylor, Watt, & Co., on the 30th April, sold the Woodleigh Farm, containing 364 acres with improvements, to Captain Magrath, for 7501. s On the 23rcl April, on the left Bank of the river, a number of mixed cattle at an average of about 4/ per bead ; and yesterday, another lot on the right bank, a,t an average of 3/. In both lots there' was a large'proportion of young stock.