GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 856, 2 September 1871, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

Eeicheldt's trial was to take place at Dunedin last Monday. Mr John Cargill is a candidate for the representation of Roslyn in the Assembly.

A petition is in circulation in Otago in favour of Mr Macandrew's resolution for the financial separation of the North aud South Islands.

A public meeting was held at Prebblcton, near Christchurch, on Monday, when it was resolved to petition the Assembly to impose a protective duty on grain, consequent upon the action taken by the Victorian Government.

Mr O'Neill is moving for a reduction of the present rate of duty upon gold, but is not expected to carry it. In reply to Sir David Monro, Ministers refused to say whether the telegraph had been used by any Minister without payment, for the purpose of influencing the Motueka election.

It is rumoured that the capitation allowance is to be abandoned, and that the Colonial Government will assume th* management of public work?, i f the police, gaols, &c, thus virtually abolishing the Provincial system in its present form. On AVednesday last Mr Harrison presented to the House of Eepresentatives a petition from the Eoman Catholics of Greymouth in favour of denominational education. Several other petitions of a similar character were also presented.

The schooner Io arrived off Greymouth from Melbourne on the 23rd ultimo, and was towed in by the Despatch on the 30th.

A rush took place on Sunday last to ground situate between the Hokitika Hospital and Rosstown, a little below the punt at the Totara. Nearly an ounce of gold was obtained from a paddock 12ft by Bft. The is very light not more than 3ft, and the wash is about the same depth, of a blue shingle. On Tuesday about one hundred men were on the ground. A successful smelting of Taranaki iron sand took place on the 18th inst. when four to five hundredweight of pure steel was obtained from half a ton of sand.

The French Government has paid to Switzerland two million fraucs, as a partial reimbursement of the expenses incurred in the maintenance of French soldiers who took refuge on her soil. Switzerland has restored to France the greater portion of the war material brought across the frontier by the French army. Hint to Go.—"When a lady indulges in a yawn or two, gentlemen callers are justified in taking their hats and viewing the houso from the outside.