LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

<■> Death ov Mr George Macimrlan. — We regret exceedingly to announce fchc decease of j Mr Georgo Macfarlan, fche member for Lyttelton, J which took plaoe afc midnight. The hon. gentle- ] man had been ailing for some days past, but nothing so serious was anticipated. We belicvo thafc a spocies of low fever, now so prevalent, in Wellington, was the immediate cause of his death. The announcement oft bis sad event tothemembers of fche House of Representatives jusfc afcthomomenfc of adjournment was received with profound awe. An accomplished scholar — a useful member — an ornament fco the House and to society, has thus boon out oil' in fche (lour of youth. Nkw Zealand Institute. — The meeting of the members of the New Zealand Institute, which was to take place last Tuesday, has been adjourned to Monday evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Colonial Museum. Vote by Ballot. — Ifc will be seen from our report of fcho proceedings in tho Legislative Council yesterday, fchafc fche bill for establishing vote by ballot at elections, which had passed the Houso of Representatives, was rejected by nino votes against five. Tho bill was consequently thrown out.

Oeeytown.— We have received two letters from correspondents at Greytown, one Bigned " A Subscriber*' complaining of the manner in wbich thoir local paper has of late been conducted, and the other signed " Constant Reader" under date October 7, giving an account of what the wrilo^ calls " a shameful scene" which took place on the sth inst. afc the School-house. The writer states in effect, tbat three members of the School Committee seized Mr Jupg, the Teacher, dragged bim out of the school room, looked the door against him, and-placed two of tbeir number at the door to prevent his return to his posfc. Mr Jupp offered no resistance, preferring to obtain the protection of the law, and bas taken oufc summonses against tbe offending parties. In tbe course of the day sixty householders signed a paper, addressed to Mr E. Grigg, Chairman of tho School Committee, protesting against such violent proceedings, and insisting that Mr Jupp should continue his duties as Master of the Oreytown public school. Penny Readings. — At the Karori Penny Readings, on Wednesday evening, Mr J. H. Marriott gave another of bis musical entertainments, comprising an excellent selection of pieces from Moore and other popular authors. Amongst the number of pieces sung were — " The Admirals of England," "The Pilot," "Tho British L-onclads," "The Gypsy King," "Betsy Lee," and several exceedingly amusing pieces, which were well rendered. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Marriott, and tho audience separated. Brutal Assault. — Mr N. Marcbant, Town Surveyor, was most brutally assaulted on Thursday afternoon whilo in tho performance of his duties on the Adelaide Road. While measuring somo contract work,' a man by the name of Pincber, one of the contractors, struck him a violent blow on tho head with a stick or bludgeon with which ho had previously armed himself. Mr Marcbant was conveyed bleeding and almost insensible to his home, and in the meantime tho ruffian made his escape, and is supposed to bo Inding in tho bush. A warrant has been issued for bi3 apprehension. We aro happy to hear that, though Mr Marcbant has since the assault been confined to his bed, he is slowly recovering. Memorial to the Departed Beate. — For several days past tho volunteers in this city havo been engaged in the praiseworthy task of collecting subscriptions for the erection of an obelisk recording the courage and untimely deaths of the lamented Yon Tempsky, Buck, Hastings, Palmer, and the others who so nobly fell at Te Ngutuotemauu. We believe that so far the subscription list has been confined to volunteers ; but we aro cerfcain that our merchants, traders, and professional men will also bo willing to assist in raising a suitable memorial to tbe brave departed. Ministerial Mismanagement. — The Wanganui Chronicle which formerly supported tho Stafford Ministry can do so no longer. Speaking of fche abandonment of tho outposts that journal says : — lt is impossible to avoid saying that tho Government did not, even whon the worst came to the worst, do all that they might have done for fchc settlers. The evacuation of the outposts being resolved upon, tbe execution of tbo order might have been delayed until everything moveable had been secured, as there was no absolute necessity for hot haste. A couple of days' grace would havo been sufficient to secure all or nearly all the cattlo and sheop on the other side of th© Manawapou. It was not granted. We have already had occasion to speak of the loss incurred by the reckless haste exhibited in abandoning this last post, whereby a great deal of valuable property stored there by tho settlers was entirely sacrificed. Tiia Defence' Minister. — The Chronicle of tho Bth says : — " Col, Haidtain returned to Wanganui by tbo p.s. Sturfc on Tuesday. He was accompanied by Mr Booth, R.M. Major Nixon also returned by fche same conveyance." Clerk of Parliament. — By the Interpretation Bill passed by the Legislative Council yesterday, the present Clerk of tho Houso of Representatives is to bo Clerk of Parliament, and on his retirement from office, the Clerk of the Legislative Council is to hold the said office. The City Mission. — We aro requested by the City Missionary to acknowledge tho receipt from Mr D. Anderson, jun., of £1, being Ms regular half yearly subscription in aid of the sunds of the Mission. Mrs. Maxwell. — This lady — tho widow ofthe late Rev. P. H. Maxwell — aud children, were passengers yesterday by tho s.s. Kaikoura. Mr Hawkins. — This gentleman, who has t earned in a long experience of twenty-two years in fcho Customs' Department in this city, tho goodwill of all classes of the community, has retired on a small bufc well-earned pension to a rural lifo afc Makara. Ho left hero on Thursday last, affcer receiving tho "God speed" of his many friends. Rev. Mr Watt. — This gentleman, who is en route for tho New Hebrides, will preach at tho Free Church, WiUis street, on Sunday morning next. Foley's Juvenile Troupe.— The first of a scries of performances by tbis talented troupe was given at the Odd Fellows' Hall last evening, but owing to the inclement slato of the weather there was nofc so full a house as would have otherwise been the caso. The performance commenced with the laugh able farce entitled tbo " Limerick Boy," in wbich Johnny Foley took tho part of Paddy Miles, and Miss Kate Foley that of Jano, both of which wero well sustained. Tho farce was followed by the great Blondin feat, performed to perfection by Johnny Foley, who cleverly as- . cended a wiro rope from fcho stago to tho gallery amidst tho applause of all present. Tho Highland Fling was given by Madame Tourncar in her usual artistic manner ; singing and dancing followed, and the entertainment was brought to a closo by the popular burlesquo Villikins and bis Dinah. Mn Kerr. — The constituents of this gentleman aro evidently nofc pleased with him. Tho ffero&f of fcho 2nd iustant remarks : — Tho electors of «5> Pensioner Settlements, as will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere, havo sot an example to certain of tbo Auckland constituencies in calling a public meetiug to take into consideration the conduct; of Mr Korr, thoir representative in tho Assembly. If we recollect rightly, Mr Kerr promised his constituents to resign if called upon to do so. Wo behove that other misrepresented constituencies aro merely waiting to see ivhether thore will bo a dissolution or not, before taking a similar step to that taken by the electors of the • Ponsionor Settlements.

Extermin ation. — The views somo time ago expressed by the Independent on fcho native question are beiug adopted by otber journals. Tbis is what the Taranaki Herald says : — " Wifch regard to Titoko Waru and his mob, our advice will bo short; and concise— Extermination. Desperate diseases require desperate remedies, and if we have no wish to see tbis nativo feud extending further, we musfc crush ifc out — crush every spark of it oufc— or we may find, when wo least expect it, that ifc has broken out in a fresh place, causing us more loss of blood and treasure to subdue. The blood of the gallant men wlio were killed—especially those poor fellows who were barbarously torturod, aud perhaps eaten by fche fiendish Hauhaus—cries aloud for vengeance, and tho Ministers will bo unworthy fcho name of men if fchey make any terms wit Ji* these wretches. Extermination from tho face of fchc earth is fche mildest phrase we can use for the punishment of such animals. Animals ! No animal — nofc even the brutes of fche forest — would torture the poor men that lay wounded, as these incarnate savages aro reported to have done. They are worse than animals — they are veritable ghouls. Let; us not; bo misunderstood. Wo arc not advocating in any way the extermination of the Maori race as a whole, but merely the hapu to the soufch of this province, headed by Titoko Waru. The conduct of such men as fche j natives who escaped from the Chatham Islands, ] wo can almost admire, and believe that; had the same number of European prisoners been in a similar position, that few of those who had fchem in charge would have been allowed to livo to tell the talc of their escape. But Titoko Waru's hapu, whose deeds are rapine, murder, and cannibalism — and who are a curse to fchis island aud colouy — ■wo would wipe out of existence by any means, as long as ib was done well and effectually. Better at once adopt Mr Cracroft Wilson's suggestion, and finish the war by contract, lot the sum be what ifc may, and we shall then hope to see the day when our settlers may occupy their land without fear of their lives being jeopardised, or their properly destroyed." Tub Trout Ova Robbery. — The Olago Daily Times reports as follows: — "An attempt, was made early on Friday morning to rob fche hatching boxes' containing tho trout ova, afc Captain Boyd's creek. Ifc appears thafc Mr Clifford, fche Acclimatisation Society's manager, rose between one and two in the morning, and proceeded according to habit, towards the hatching boxes, t which wero aboufc thirty or forty yards oil*. ' On seeing a light in fchafc direction, his suspicions were aroused, and 'on reaching tho boxes he saw two men bending down to them. He seized ono of fchem, grappled wifch him, aud by holding a stono to bis ear, protending it was a, pistol, Mr Clifford succeeded in leading him by fche collar for a distance of aboufc forty yards in the directum of Captain Boyd's bouse, when the other man came behiud him aud struck him, aud between fcho two ho was severely handled. The would-be thieves then made their escape, and Mr Clifford returned to his house, where he was found in tho morning by the man employed upon fche Society's grounds almost senseless, with his face and body much bruised. On visiting fchc boxes ifc was found fchafc the intention of fche robbers was fco have removed the ova in two bofctles and a tin, carefully prepared for the purpose. Iron Sand. — It is proposed to form a joint, stock company for the purpose of smelting the Taranaki iron sand. We hope Dr Samuels won't interfere. Towai Bare as an* Export. — The Taranaki Provincial Council have voted £30 for the purpose of encouraging the export of Towai bark. Tho Herald published some time since the result; of an analysis of an extract of fche Towai. tree by Dr Hector, in which that gentleman remarks, " Tlio Towai is Weinmannia Racemosa or Sylvicola, and is an allied tree to thafc which is supposed to alford the gum kino, so thafc this substance may be valued afc tho same rate as kino." Now according to Morgan's Br Wish Trade Journal, gum kino is worth from £5 to £7 10s per cwfc. Surely ifc would bo worth while sending some of the extracts to England to try its market value. Wifch regard to fche bark for tanning purposes we believe ifc is equal, if not superior, fco fche Australian bark, whioh cannot be landed here under £10 per ton. £1,000 Reward cor a payable Goldejeld. — Such is the reward the Superintendent of Taranaki is authorised to offer for the discovery of a payable goldfield in thafc province. This will encourage prospecting partios, and stimulate them to use greater exertions. Ifc will likewise, when tho natives hear of the reward, tempt them to fossick about their land, and, should they find ifc, may bo fche means of causing them to throw* opon the whole tract of their country for Europeans to mine iv. Thames. — A correspondent writes from the Thames : — We are having accessions to our num- j bers notwithstanding fche inducements of other places. Several gentlemen from Victoria have also favored us wifch a visit, and have become purchasers iv several of our besfc claims. An equal ' half was purchased in fche Full Moon for £280 ; an equal half in the Golden Spur for £130 ; and a full share in Quin and Cas'iiel's for £280. Several ofcher transactions aro spoken of, bufc I do not know the exact amounts. Dr. Knight. — The report of the Auditor General,* writes the Wellington correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, is enough to damn any Government. It charges the Treasury with falsifying fche public accounts, not in so many words but- that is the effect of it. You had better let the public sec a few extracts from tiiis document. A most; remarkable thing has happened in connection with it, namely, that it was found convenient, at half-an-houi-'s notice, to give Dr j Knight a year's leave of absence, and ho has gone • to England wifch Sir George Grey. ; Mr Swan. — Concerning this gentleman fcho Thames Advertiser remarks : — "lfc will naturally be aski d how can members be so blind to the interests of their constituents ? We aro at a loss to understand. Tho member returned hy this I district bus persistently opposed those interests from the first notwithstanding his busting promises. Ifc was predicted fchafc he would take his seat; in the Government chariot so soon as an opportunity offered, and the oracle was correct in the intimation. No doubt fche worthy member will be quite prepared to defend his votes before a meeting of his constituency at tho close of the session, but whether to their satisfaction remains to bo seen. For our own part wo aro perfectly afc a loss to know by what legerdemain Mr Swan has been made to seat himself, without a word, at the foet of a Governnient; the policy of which is so diametrically opposed to the best interests of his eon-lituctiev, and which has shown itself at enmity wifch fchc prosperity of his district. Mr Swan has not entirely failed to serve the interest in which he was returned, but has assisted on every occasion to turn the scale against us. We will not trust ourselves to impute motives ; but-, to say the least*-, an explanation is necessary, ami ■will doubtless be demanded on the member's return af the conclusion of this import ant session." Taranaki .Militia. — By a Taranaki Provincial Government Gazelle, we perceive that the Superintendent lias, by the powers vesical in him by the Governor, issued a proclamation culling out the whole of the Militia for active service within the Taranaki Middle District, and iv a notice appended to ifc his Honor states, " That in reference to the proclamation, he thinks it desirable in order to avoid causing groundless alarm, to slate fchafc fchis step is takon as a precautionary measure only, in consequence of the disturbances in the south of the province." The Natives in Rebellion at Patea.— Wo have received further intelligence from tho rebel district, One of the women of Titoko Waru's hapu visited the wife of a settlor near Warra, and has givon the TaranaH Herald an account of the doings of this cannibal tribe. A correspondent says ; — " The horrible cruelties perpetrated by fche cannibals of Now Zealand in former times 'on fcheir wounded prisoners, have again been indulged in to satiate their inveterate hatred and revenge towards tho pakeha. The •wounded who were left behind in the ret rcat from Ruaruru, were dragged into the pa, subjected to insult and torture,and eventually burnt to death,

thoir bodies afterwards cut hi pieces and divided amongst the cannibals, and eagerly devoured even by the women and children — any of tho men whe wero not fortunate enough in obtaining a- piece oi human flesh were hooted by their wives and abused as cowards. A white man who has been among the rebels since fcho time of General Chute's ovcrlaud expedition, made his appearance at the friendly natives' pa, Taihua, on Monday last. He stated thafc he had been astray in the bush for two days, having lost his way going tc an inland station belonging to the Wairos ; he left the Taihua's on Wednesday last, Septembei 30, to return to the rebels. Natives report fchat overland communication between Patea and Wanganui is stopped ; Waitotara and on to ten milee N.W. of Wanganui being occupied by fche rebels. Also, fchafc fcho Maori loss afc Ruaruru was four chiefs and a great number of others, among fchem some of fche Ngatimaniapoto tribe, who came to assist Titoko Waru. The Patukai (Taranakis) are ready to join when Titoko asks fchein." A Dangerous Ride.— A clergyman has ridden safely from Patea to Taranaki. He says he should nofc have risked his life, bufc having already waited more than a week in Patea for a steamer, and not being able to obtain a passage up, fcho captains' refusing to put him into this port under £50, he determined to start for New Plymouth overland afc all risks*. Speakers' Dinner. — We do not refer to the dinner givon or to bo given by our Speaker of tho House of Representatives, bufc to one given at Melbourne on the 23th ulfc. The Herald of tho 2Gfch says .* — " The Speaker's dinner, afc Scott's hotel last nighfc, was a brilliant affair. His Excellency the Governor, his suite, and a large number of the members of fcho Legislative Assembly were present. The only toast proposed was thafc of * Tlie Queen.' " Distillery Companies. — Now an act has been passed to encourage the distilling of spirits in the colony tho following extract from tho report of the Warronhoip Distillery Company, Victoria, will not bo without interest :— - The directors beg to present fcheir seventh half-yearly report and balance-sheet, and are again enabled to declare a dividend afc the rato of 10 per cent per annum, W,hich will ho payable at the company's ofliee on and after Ist proximo. A balaucc of £17-19 10s 2d will remain afc tho credit of profit and loss account after providing for the dividend and writing off £500 from property account. Considerable additions havo been made to tho premises and plant, wbich will materially increase the producing power, and thus lessen fche cosfc of manufacture. The consumption of the company's products has steadily improved, and the gin made by fche distiller who arrived from Holland for the company has given much satisfaction." On the motion of fcho chairman (Mr E. Cohen), seconded by Mr Shaw, fche report aud balance-sheet were adopted. Mr Tuckefct was appointed auditor. Some samples of " cocktail" manufactured at the company's works wero tasted and pronounced to be of exceedingly good quality aud quite equal to the imported article. Ifc was remarked by Mr Sumner that a quantity of tho whisky had been sent home, and ifc was decided that the article was extremely good. • Geelong Cloth Factory. — According to the Geelong Register, " the cloths now being produced at the Woollen Clofch Factory aro vastly superior to tliose first turned out, and sold afc tho auction sale. More durable, really good, and sightly cloths could scarcely bo conceived than some jusfc finished from this season's clip of wool, and sent up to the warehouse yesterday. This result is no doubt attributable to the fact that fcho workpeople are beginning to be more expert at their work than they wore afc first." Harvest Prospects in Victoria. — The Maryborough Advertiser says : — " Acres of crops which before looked miserably poor and scanty in growth, now glow wifch the healthful tint of fche season, and very little if any fear is apprehended from tho depredations of any ravaging insect. On the ofcher hand, there is much to indicate sound crops and a bountiful harvest." Sir George Grey and Dr. Featherston.— The Wellington correspondent of fcho Ne» Zealand Herald writes :— " Dr. Feafchersfcon, who has been ill and confined fco his bed during tho whole of the session, is at length able to take carriage drives. The loss of tho eloquence and personal influence of this remarkable man has been greatly felt by tho opposition. His influence is very extensive, and those who oppose him in politics have, I know a very high opinion of his wisdom. lam able fco give you tho defcails of a conversation which took place hero between Dr. Featherston and Sir George Grey a few hours bofore tlio departure of tho ex-Governor for England. I believe there wero only two persons besides those two eminent men present on that occasion. Naturally, afc such a time, fche reminiscences of public life turned fche conversation towards the exisiing political condition of fcho country, and the questions afc fchis moment agitating fche country and parliament^ The intonfcions^fche ultimate purpose, fche opinions of those who framed fche constitution, were, I understand freely discussed. Tho conversation closed with tho following remarkable words uttered by Sir Georgo Grey—' I much fear thafc fche complications which must proceed from fcho conduct* of Mr Stafford will lead to the ruin of every sort of prosperity in the colony for many years to come — even to financial embarrassment and disgrace.' These may yei prove to be memorable words." The Alloy ov Thames Gold.— Tho New Zealand Herald says :■—-' We received from Mr O'Keeflb a sample of ten ounces of pure silver extracted from thirty ounces of Thames gold, by Mr Samuel Wells, a very old colonist,, refiner, of Williamson stveet, Grahams Town ; aud also a i cako. of pure silver from a much larger parcel of gold. These samples may now be soen afc our oflico. We would particularly draw the attention of miners in this matter. Indeed we remember hi'viiv more than once done so since fcho opening of thc^oldfield. Tho loss fco the miner in selling his ixoltl in its natural or alloyed state is twolold. Ho loses the value of ton ounces of silver in every thirty ounces of gold he obtains, and he pays a gold duty of half-a-erown an ounce on the ounce ot silver, which he never need pay. The loss of the ton ounces of silver, afc Gs per ounce, amounts to a sum of £3. Tho duty unnecessarily paid on ton ounces of silver amounts to £1 os, or ■dto.relhor, £-t 5s on every thirty ounces of gold in ih- natural state. Tho cosfc of saving this £t 5s is comparatively trifling. Mr Wells charge for separating the gold from the silver being about, one shilling an ounce ou the silver extracted." South Australian Crops.— Tlie South Australian Register *ny a :— " Although fcho last year's crops wore tho worst, ever known in the colony, tbi' value of the exports of cereals fchis year has already exceeded £380,000; and nil hough the Customs receipts this year arc £2000 less than during tho corresponding poriod of 186 1, they exceed by moro than £10,000 tho average of fcho sovou previous yenrs. So also fcho land sales thi** voir have exceeded in amount those of the first viirht. months of 1807 by £20,000 ; and there aro «y7i.ploma which indicate that the tide of coinn.ei'eial prosperity hns ngain commenced fco flow, yr at any rate thufc it has ceased to ebb. S uaion Fishing.— Tho Melbourne Argus of (lie lUth snys:— Afc Loctil Bay, on tho 7th inst., a small parly caught 125 ib weight of salmon m about fifteen minutes. Some of tlie party wlio had boon fishing whore the crock enters the sea had only taken a few rock-fi?h and crayfish up to sunset, 'when looking at the crook they saw n ripple caused by a shoul of fish. These appeared to halo crossed fche burnt high water, and remain, ing too long had attempted to mako their exit |loVho straits wore too late, there being only a few in. -hos of water on the bar. One man going into tho crock drove the fish down to the bar, and while attempting to cross, fourteen fish wer« caught, hy two men and a boy, weighing from Gib to 11 lb each. The work is described as being most exciting, the ladies even entering into the spirit of the sport by catching tho fish as they were tossed ou the sand, and preventing them from jumping back.