GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 843, 29 July 1871, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

Great floods have occurred in Canterbury. The North road was flooded for two or three miles'up to the hedge tops, which caused great alarm, but the water is now subsiding. The Otago Provincial Council has prorogued. The land resolutions have been passed, by which the price of land is advanced to 25s per acre. Duncan Ferguson, a farmer at the Clutha, lias been drowned in the Molyneux.

A. man named Gilbert Seymour Hall, a native of Prescot, was found dead,at the bottom of Tookey's shaft with his head under his body. Deceased was supposed to have fallen down on the night of the 15 th inst. Two brokers, having considerable liabilities, have disappeared suddenly from Auckland. The Caledonian company are sinking for a low level, which is expected to occupy four weeks before coming upon a rich run again. The next dividend will not exceed £4 10s-. Mr John Gillies, father of the Superintendent of Auckland, died at Dunelm on the 23rd inst. William Hough, a Dunedin hawker, has committed suicide.

The sum required by the Provincial Government of Otago from persons desirous of bringing out friends or relatives from Britain has been reduced to £5 per statute adult, for the passage from London or Glasgow. 1 A railway, 40 miles in length, is being constructed in Namaqualand, Cape colony, at an average cost of £1250 per mile ; convict labour is partly employed. If we may credit the following, from a recent number of the evening paper, "Wellington's so-called goldfield is looking up:—We have seen to-day some splendid specimens from the Baker's Hill and Morning Star claims, far richer than anything that has yet been shown us from that locality. Those working the former claim have repeatedly said that the further they drive the richer is the quartz they see, and if what we haye seen to-day may be accepted as a fair sample of the stuff last found, the future yield of the claim will undoubtedly be satisfactory.

An inquest was held at the Police Office, Invercargill, on the 6th inst., on the body of a newly born female child, which died on or soon after the day of its birth. The jury, after hearing the evidence, delivered the verdict: —" That the aforesaid female child was given birth to by Agnes Walker, on or about the 24th day of June, 1871, and that she concealed the fact. Further, the jury are of opinion that the said child came by its. death in consequence of the wilful neglect of its mother." The settlers in the Patea district are meditating the advisability of asking for the separation of their district from the Province'of Taranakx.

At an adjourned meeting: of the publicans of G-reymouth, held at the Union Hotel, on the 20th inst., it was resolved that a Licensed Victuallers' Association he formed, for the protection of the trade, and a number of rules were submitted and adopted. ' The Wakatip Mail says :—" At the sittiugofthe Warden's Court of Friday, the Chinese litigants set an excellent example. A day or two before they withdrew all the cases betweeu themselves, and deposited for each of the several companies the sum of £so— The Company that first goes to law is to forfeit £SO, and so on. They have also adopted an arbitration tribunal, to whom all matters of dispute between themselves are to be referred. Of course the Europeans would not use these means, but 'John' is thoroughly disgusted with the European courts of justice. He" says that he always goes to the wall and he cannot understand it at all. Hence this new movement, which is likely to be adopted throughout the district." Mining operations in the Wakatip district are reported to be at a standstill, owing to • the continuance of severe frost.

The case of the s.s. Albion, now under arrest by order of the Vice-Ad-miralty Court, was brought before the Chief Justice in Melbourne. The "arrest" was in consequence of two claims against the sbip—one for materials supplied, and the other on behalf of the late captaiu, Mr Frank Dunn, for services rendered and disbursements. Iu pursuance of this claim, application had been made for an allowance of time to send to Japan for evidence, and adjourned to allow the claimants to substantiate by affidavits the statements made in support of the application. On tbe other hand, appeared Mr 11. Iloyt, mortgagee of the vessel, who had disputed the original application. The substantiating' affidavits wore offered by Mr 1 Stewart (of Malleson, England, and Stewart), and answering affidavits were read by Mr Duftett, solicitor for the mortgagee, who, in addition, offered various reasons why there should be no adjournment, seeing that the delay must occasion an almost ruinous loss to Mi> Hoyt, His arguments were cut short

1 ■' i ==g*sejaa by the Chief Justice, who held that they were out of place, the application having been adjourned only to ahkw of the substantiating affidavits, which the learned judge considered sufficient. Four mouths were allowed to get the required evidence from Japan The "Tiniaru Herald" " There will be a considerable increase in the breadth of land laid down in cereals at the Waimato district. There is a much larger breadth in .'of wheat than any previous year* the plant is looking well and promises a heavy crop. There will also be a large increase in the Quantity of land under oats', which the farmers are busy preparing." We understand that it,is in contemplation to fontt a Royal Arch Chapter under the Scottish constitution at Hokitika, and that the Usual application has been forwarded by the out. going mail through First. Principal Thiel, of the Canterbury Kilwinning Chapter-, No. 130 S.C. A child thirteen months old has died at the Thames from taking "southing syrup.'* The funeral of the late Mr Mark Sprot took place at Hokitika, on Saturday afternoon, the lith inst. llaia fell more heavily and constantly on that day than it has done for many months past, and this circumstance necessarily diminished the attendance« but as it was, there was a large gathering of the principal inhabitants of the town, and, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, a number of gentlemen rode from Grreymouth and other parts of the County to pay respect by, their presence to the memory of the deceased.

Both in Christehurch and Dunediii preparations are being made to cele ; brate, on the 9th of next month, the centenary of Sir Walter Scott. At Dunedihthere is to be a'public banquet, at which ladies are to be presentand a prize • will probably be offered for the best poem celebrating the occasion. In Christehurch it is tem plated to combine with tbe celebration some demonstration in honour of the marriage of the Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lome.