Colonial News.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1017, 22 April 1869, Page 2

Colonial News.

We (Southern Cross) understand that Captain Young, 18th R.I. who for some time past has been stationed at Wanganui, has received letters from home announcing the death of his father. Captain Young will in all probability proceed to England in consequence.

Ouk Armed Constabulary would appear to be a much more mobile force than any part of the regular army, if we may judge by the small amount of “impedimenta” attached to the three hundred men who started from Auckland for Taurauga by the ‘ Lord Ashley ’on Monday 15th inst. The baggage—consisting principally of blankets —barely filled three drays. This is of immense advantage to a crops destined to cope with no ordinary difficulties in the item of transit.

A lakgb quantity of Victorian preserved beef was on view last week at the new auction mart of Mr. J R. Vaile, Queen-street Auckland. The beef is preserved in casks, and is tightly tied into rolls. There was also a quantity of it cooked and placed upon a dish for immediate trial, and during the day a large number of persons tested its quality, which we have no hesitation in pronouncing to be most excellent. It is very superior beef, and is just sufficiently salt to make it palatable. There is no doubt that it is a good wholesome article of food, and for a long voyage it would be found invaluable, as it can be kept in all weathers for any length of time. Still, as it is little less in price than our own fresh or salted beef—sixpence per pound —we scarcely think it will stand much chance of coming generally into use in this colony.— Southern Cross.

As an instance of what lengths a jury may be put to, we extract the following from the Melbourne Arc/us of the 24th March says : —“ The jury in Ah Coy’s case, after being up for ninty seven and a half hours, have at length been discharged. Last evening they sent a petitian to his Honor, the purport of which did not transpire, and, on being brought into Court, the foreman stated that he and two other jurors were suffering from serious illness, and that few of them would be able to keep their health much longer under the lenthened confinement. His Honor made some remarks on the great imconvenience of juries not agreeing, and ultimately said that under the circumstances he would not detain them longer. Eleven of the jury were agreed upon a verdict, and the sufferings they underwent were entirely owing to the obstinacy of the twelfth man.” We learn that the population of New Zealand, exclusive of the aboriginal native, and of the military and their families, in December, 1567, was 218,665, of whom 131,929 were males,'.gand 86,739 females. The distribution of this population was as follows :—Auckland, 45,321 ; Taranaki, 4,359 ; Wellington, 21,950 ; Hawke’s Bay, 5,283 ; Nelson, 23>813 ; Marlborough, 4,371 Canterbury, including the County of Westland, 53,866, or if the population of that county (15418) be deducted, 38,448 ; Otago 45,577 ; and Southland, 7,943 ; to which is to be added 384, the population of the Chatham Islands ; making up the grand total as above. The Northern Island thus contains 36,58 per cent., and the Middle Island 63,42 per cent, of the whole population. The native population of the Northern Island and the province of Nelson is estimated at 37,107, and that of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland 3,433.