GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 884, 7 November 1871, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

A nugget weighing 51b 7oz lOdwt was found, last Monday, in the Greenstone district by a party of three miners named Frank Keenan, William Spiers, and William Connor. The nugget was found in a claim upon the Argus Terrace, about 300 yards to the west of the Court House, just off the main road. The forhmato finders were, of course, exceedingly hilarious on espying the welcomo stranger sticking out from the face of the claim about 15ft from the surface, and under where an immense boulder had been taken away. On taking the nugget to the bank the party were offered £257 cash for it; but they refused to sell and merely deposited it at the Bank of New Zealand. The ground in the vicinity of the find has been but little worked, so that a fresh impetus will be given to mining in the locality. The amount of annual assessment collected on the Ist inst. by the Government on stock depastured on runs within the district pertaining to the Land Office in Dunedin, was £46,453 15s 2d, and on the runs within the Invercargill Land District, £9545 "s 7d, being a total amount of £55,999 os9d.

As anything relating to the Messrs Brogden possesses a certain degree of interest at the present time, we • may note, from the " Times," that some extensive copper mines and smelting works in Eastern Russia, known as the Pasebkoff Estates, and of which Mr Alexander Brogden, M.P., is the principal proprietor, have passed into the hands of a company formed to work them, with a capital of £300,000 and limited liability. The estates passed some time ago from the Pasehkoff family to Mr Brogden and others. A telegram, by the San Francisco mail dated September 13th, states that the St. Leger was won by the Baron Rothschild's filly, Hannah, the winner of the Oaks; Albert Victor being second, aud Ringwood third. Baron Rothschild has thus carried oil' the three great racing events this year. Auckland is not the only place in which stock-broking proves attractive. It proves equally so at Sandhurst, and i a good notion of the heterogeneous lot of men employed thus in that locality may be gathered from the following, which appeared in the Bcndigo " Advertiser" of the 29th ultimo :—" The various grades of men who have botaken themselves to the exciting employment of selling ahares under tho Verandah includo representatives

of most of tho learned professions—the lawyer or his amanuensis, with all the shrewdness acquired from constant sharp practice ; the healer of tho sick, the tradesman, the mechanic, tho clerk, tho genus loafer the heavy swell, the army and navy—have all become metallic men. Up to tho present time tho pulpit has withstood all the temptations of profit. It appears, however, that even within the mystic circle of black cloth and white choker there is a hankering after the loaves and fishes to be caught on the flags. We learn that lately a reverend gentleman of the Wesleyan persuasion, who has been lor a few months stationed on Sandhurst, has handed his resignation to the recognised authorities, and has taken his stand as one of those who are 'happy to do a line with you.' " The revenue of Victoria is reviving, Tor the quarter ended the 30th of Sept., the total revenue amounted to £1,013,209, being an increase over the corresponding quarter of last year of nearly £187,003. The revenue for the year ended the 30th of September was £3,480,035, which gave an increase of £197,370 in excess of the amount collected for the year ended at the same date. The salting down of butter in Canterbury for exportation is now proceeding very vigorously, and in oi e large cooperage in Christchurch the men are working almost night and day, yet they have been unable to supply the number of butter casks ordered. During the quarter ended Sept. 30. Auckland exported gold to the amount of 12(j,2290z. The remaining prov. inces exported 95,0750z., distribute as follows: —Westland, 35,1310z.; Otago, 31,2750z ; Nelson, 27,9910z.; Marlborough, 6780z. The Customs revenue collected at the port of G-reyraouth during the quarter ended the 30th September last, was £9003, and at Hokitika it was £-110,677. During the corresponding quarter of 1870, the returns were Greymouth. 10,831; Hokitika, £12,910, showing a considerable falling oft' at both ports.