[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. ] DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 5.0 p.m.

Auckland, s.s., sailed for Lytlelton. Greelong, p.s., for Oamaru. No arrivals. "Weather cold and wet.

Mr Dick has announced Iris intention of addressing the electors of Oamaru, this day (Thursday), the 27th inst., at 7 p.m.. andMr M'Glashan.will follow suit on Monday next, the 31st inst. There ■will he Committee meetings held in Baker's Northern Hotel on Saturday first, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the forthcoming Ploughing Match, and also to arrange the programme for the Pastoral and Agricultural Association's Show in October. It is expected that the Ploughing Match will take place between the 10th and 15th of next month. "We will publish fuller particulars in our next issue. The following communication has been received by Mr Black from Mr Wayne, with reference to the Petition from Oamaru, to the "Wellington Houses of Legislature : — "Dunedin, 19th July, 1965. My dear sir, Owing to my having left Shag Willey on my way to "Wellington, your letter did not reach me till the 17th, and as I leave Dunedin to-morrow, it is quite impossible for me to do myself the honor of accepting the invitation of my constituents, to confer with the Oamaru committe. You will oblige me much by expressing to the committee my sincere dissappointment at this, and at the same time, stating my deep sympathy in anything which may advance the interests of the neighbourhood. I have read [with interest the proceedings of the meeting at Oamaru, and quite concur in the feeling expressed that a fair proportion of the Land Fund should always be laid out in the locality from which it is derived. I should be much obliged by your sending me any statistics of the revenue and expenditure of the distiict, which may be within the knowledge of your committee. Believe me, &c, &c, Fred. Watnb." The sentence of death passed by Mr Justice Richmond upon Thomas "Whitehead alias " Bruminy," who was recently found guilty of the wilful murder of David Stewart, at the Mataura Bush, has been commuted by His Excellency the Governor to one of penal servitude for life. "We observe that great excitement prevails at Queenstown, in consequence of additional discoveries of rich quarts reefs in that district.

The next Beading in connection with the Mechanics' Institute will be delivered in the Court House, tomorrow (Friday) evening, by James Ashcroft, Esq. The subject will be " Selections from the Modern Poets. '» We hope to see a fuller attendance than there was on the last occasion. "We remind intending purchasers that the sale of town sections, in Oamaru, will take place at the Court House, on Saturday first, the 2'Jth inst., at 12 o'clock noon. The sale of sectiors in Herbert Township, will take place immediately after the sale of the above. We would direct special attention to the notice in another column of the election of three members of the Oamaru Town Board, which is to take place on the 1st proximo. From the new Corporations Act, passed at last session of the Council and assented to by His Excellency the Governor, we believe that the position will shortly be one to be coveted by our citizens, and we should, therefore, desire that public interest should be awakened in the matter, in order that really good, influential, and active persons may be induced to come forward. One of the latest, and not the least important, of New Zealand enterprises, is the establishment of a General Telegraphic Agency at Bluff Harbor, in the Province of Southland. The following is the programme of the spirited projectors (Messrs Fitzgerald and Co.) : — "Firstly. — Receiving and transacting all mercantile h isinesa in which the telegraph wire may be called into requisition. Secondly. — Supplying the Pi •» ss throughout New Zealand with the latest English and Australasian intelligence, including the state of the markets, shipping, and general news from all parts of the colonies. Thirdly. — Transacting telegraphic business of a miscellaneous character for the public at large." Although the proper and successful undertaking of an enterpi iso of this kind will be met by no small difficulty, yet there is no place in New Zealand where they could have pitched upon a more suitable head-quarters, Bluff Harbor being the first port of arrival and last of departure for all vessels receiving or delivering the Home or Australian Mails. To civilised communities the vast importance of telegraphic communication can scarcely be over-estimated, but to merchants and others engaged in business, the services of the electric wire will be especially valuable. This agency will be the means of supplying information of the state of the maikets at Home and in Australia long before such intelligence can possibly reach the various Provinces of New Zealand through the 01 dinary medium of the Post-office ; and all are aware how important to traders is the early intelligence of the rise and fail of prices, the state of the maikets, the arrival and non-arrival of vessels, &c. We understand the arrangements of Messrs Fitzgerald and Co. (who may be not inaptly termed the New Zealand "Renter"), are very complete, accredited agents being appointed in every town ard Province in the Colony which is or will be reached by i he telegraphic wire. Agents have also been appointed at Melbourne, Sydney, Biisbane, Adelaide, Launceston, Galle, Suez, Marseilles, Paris, and London All this has been the labor of months, and when, as is contemplated, agents are stationed in Alexandiia and Maltn, each Province of New Zealand will, to every intent and purpose, be able to shake hands with all these commercial centres, and through them with every part of the world. It would appear that the farmers in this part of the country need have no reason to fear the want of a good market, and near at hand, for the bai ley they may raise from their lands. Another brewery is being established at the Waimate Bush, on the Canterbury side of the Waitaki, and is expected to be in working order about the middle ot September next. Mr Tyler (formerly of Messrs Tyler and Brown, Waitaki Ferry,) is the enterprising individual, and it is his intention, wo believe, to erect a very complete establishment, consisting of malthouse, brewery, and the other necessary buildings. Such a ready means of disposal will doubtless foster the growth of barley in the district, which is on all hands admitted to be peculiarly suited for the growing of that cereal for malting purposes. We wish Mr Tyler all success in his enterprize. There is more recent intelligence from the seat of war, via Christchui ch, to hand, for which we are indebted to the " Daily Times" of yesterday. The Wereroa Pah is taken ; Governor Grey led the attacking force, which consisted of Colonial forces and fiiendly natives. 50 or 60 rebels were captured— but there was no loss on our side. Pipiiiki has been attacked by 400 or 500 natives, who were repulsed with a loss of 40 or 50 men. Only two on our side were wounded. General Cameion goes home, and Major-Geneial Chute assumes the command of the troops in his stead. Five regiments are peremptorily ordered home. It is notified by the Commissioner of Crown Lands that Crown Grants in favor of the following persons are now ready for issue : — W. Craig, 2 sections, block I, Otepopo District ; Florence Edwards, 1 section, block VI, Oamaru ; C. L. C. and F. and W. Fenwick, 6 sections^ block VII, Otepopo ; Philip Filleul, 23 sections, block IV, Papakaio ; Algernon Gifford, 1 section, block XXV, Oamaru ; A. H. and J. and R. Hall, 6 sections, block II, Papakaio ; Matthew Holmes, 38 sections, block IV, Oamaru ; Holmes and Campbell, 1 section, block VIII, Oamaru; Holmes and Campbell, 1 section, block IX, Oamaru ; Holmes and Campbell, I section, block X, Oamaru ; Holmes and Gleeson, 1 section, block I, Otepopo ; A. Macauley, 1 section, block XI, Oamaru ; D. Kule, 1 section, block I, Oamaru ; John Reid, 11 sections, block III, Papakaio ; John Reid, 5 sections, block IV, Papakaio. We might mention, for the convenience of persons residing at a distance fiom Dunediu, and who cannot readily make a personal call at the Land Office, that they can obtain their Crown Grants by sending an agent with a written authority, signed before a Justice of the Peace for the Colony. It was mentioned some short time ago that the inhabitants of Lyttelton had very narrowly escaped fcudden destruction from a large quantity of t?unpowder being landed from the ship Canterbury, and left carelessly piled upon the Government whaif. It now appears that the passengers by that vessel had been still more providentially saved from an awful and sudden fate. While the gunpowder was being discharged, innumerable halfburned matches were found lying about on the barrels, between them, and around them, supposed to have been thrown down by the men and sailors, after lighting their pipes, when bi oaching cargo— *' So that,"saysthe ' Evening ALiil,' " the safety of every life onboard was, humanly speaking, in the hands of a set of drunken sailors, enjoying the liquor they had stolen* in secret, and let us hope unconscious of their danger." The Canterbury being 1297 tons register and having brought more than thhty-nine passengers to Lyttelton, is brought under the provisions of the " Passenger Act, '\ and therefore prohib ted by clause 59 from carrying on board as cargo various articles, and among them gunpowder. There appears to have been further violations of the Act, but the above is certainly one which calls for the strictest investigation, and we hope will lead to greater care and circumspection on the part of the Emigiation Commissioners at home for the future. We have received the first four or five numbers of the " Dunedin Herald,'' a new tri-weekly journal which has lately appeared in the capital of the Province. If we may accept what is before us as an earnest of what is in store, this new aspirant for public favor should fulfil the desires and intentions of its projectors, promising, as they do, to take a liberal and enlightened view of all public questions, and heartily support all measures calculated to promote the interests of the Province and secure the welfare of the community. "We wish our contemporary every success. One of the houses burnt down at the fire in Staffordstreet last week, is memorable as having been the residence of Ford and Anderson, who figured prominently in the late trial for the murder of German " Charley."

We are happy to able to state that there are hopes of the subject of acclimatisation receiving some degree of attention in this district. In a letter received by Mr Black from his father, who is Vice-President of the Victorian Acclimatisation Society, he states that should a branch association be established at Oamaru they will be happy to reciprocate favors. We trust something will be done to have these desirable objects carried out. As a commencement we might mention that Mr Waddell of this place took with him, per the Geelong on Saturday, seven paradise ducks for despatch to Melbourne as a present to the Victorian Society. We believe a Cashmere goat will be sent over in the spring, the last one unfortunately having died, after bein? here for some time. We cannot but think that the formation of a District Society here for the furtherance of acclimatisation objects would confer great benefits on this portion of tho province, and there is the greater necessity for it, seeing that at present anything sent from Oanrnru to any other Society must be sent as a gift from the Otago Acclimatisation Society in Dunediu, which Litter would in all likelihood ignore the district which should derive the benefit and credit of the exchange. The polling for the election of the first Mayor of Dunedin took place on Friday last, when an unusual amount of excitement appeared to have agitated the city. The poll was taken at places appointed in tho four 'Wards, viz., South, High, Bell, and Leith Wards, and the total number of votes recorded amounted to 1064, exclusive of 46 that were rpjpotoA •»» infummi. The vot;s recorded in each ward were as follows : — South (760 on vhe roll), 199 ; High (1000 on the roll), 365 ; Bell (1100 on the roll), 288 ; and Leith Ward (900 on the roll), 212 votes. These votes were given in favor of the candidates in the following proportions : — "W m. Mason, 495 ; J. P.iteison, 398 ; J. A. J. Macgregor, 88 ; W. W. Wilson, 73; R. H. Formnn, 10. Mr Mason was next day declared duly elected Mayor of Dunedin. The Rev. J. G. Williams, Roman Catholic Clergyman, reached Oamaru on Saturday evening last, and conducted Divine service on Sabbath forenoon, in the Assemblyroom of Baker's Northern Hotel. About fifty persons were present. The Deputy Returning Officer for the district (Mr Paradise) has received the following official notification of the retirement of Mr Clapcott as a candidate for tho Superintendency :— " I, John Gillies, Principal Returnjng Officer for the Province of Otago, hereby give notice that Mr Henry Clapcott lias withdrawn his name as a candidate for tho office of Superintendent of the Province." Mr Donaldson, of the Papanui Flax Works, was a passenger by the Geelong on her last trip from Lyttelton to Dunedin. He has received communications from several gentlemen in Dunedin, interested in the manufacture of our native flax into articles of commerce, and requesting his presence there with a view to examining into his process, and coming to tei ms regarding the starting of a company. We hope that at last something practical will result from the steps which are being token It is generally supposed that Mr Macnndrew will defeat Mr Cargill in the contest for the representation of Bruce. From the " New Zealand Gazette," we find that the Revenue of the General Government of the Colony for the half-year ending 31st December last amounted to L331,643 17s. lid. This sum was derived from the nine Provinces, in the following proportions, viz. :— Auckland, L89.402 9s. 8d. j Taranaki, L8.471 8s. 5d. ; Wellington, L25.111 7s. lOd. ; Hawkes* Bay, L8347 17s. 8d. ; Nelson, 113,751 18s. 5d. ; Marlborough, L5.501 9s. 6d. ; Canterbury, L45,C54 19s. 6d. ; Otngo, Llll.577 7s. 3d. ; Southland, L23.189 lGs. 6d. ; together with L635 3s. 2d., under the head of " General." The expenditure for the same period was L275,709 18s. 2d. Auckland receiving L43,156 11s. 8d ; Taranaki, L4,585 12s. TOd. ; Wellington, L13.303 10s. 9d. ; Hawkes' Bay, L4.363 8s. 3d. ; Nelson, L7,209 0s. lid. ; Marlborough, L2.493 15s. 7d. ; Canteibury, L24,817 11s. 9cl. ; Otago, L58.474 7s. 7d. ; Southland, L11.764 15s. 3d. Under the head " General," the sum of 1/105,541 3s. 7d. was disbursed, including L29,418 4s. 8d. for Postal Service, and upwards of L,">6,000 as permanent charges under Acts of the Assembly, &c. Mr J. B. Bradshaw has withdiawn his protest against tho validity of the election of Mr C. E. Haughton as Goldfields Member for Otago in the House of Representatives. The " Daily News " in an article on the New Zealand war and Mr Cardwell's last despatch to the Governor, concludes its remarks with the following : — " The colonists have now a plain course before them. They must manage their own affairs aa they were once proud of doing, but must not expect to have besides the management of a British force of 10,000 men. The right of doing that is not incl"ded in their constitution, nor does it aiise out of the relations which we sustain to thnm. They must make a native policy for themselves, which may be one of peace or war, but which must, at any rate, be such an one as they can carry into effect with their own resoutces. When they once clearly understand this, they will be able to strike out a course of action calculated to advance their interests much more than that which they followed while the presence of a Bi itish army and a complaisant general was constantly tempting them to enterprises beyond their power and beyond their right." While Mr Fotheringham, of the Bank of New Zealand, was out duck-shooting on Thursday last, he had the good fortune to fall in with rather an unusual adventure. In his excursion he reached the Sandy Beach, to the south of Cape Wanbrow, where he espied a seal of very large dimensions basking in the sun. He at once contrived to get between the animal and the sea, and being within shot, he fired, and lodged the conttnts of the barrel in its head. Contrary to expectation, the seal did not make for its natural element, but turning upon its assailant, charged him open-mouthed. Another shot, fired down its throat, bi ought it at last to a stand, while a blow with the butt of the gun, on its most vulnerable part— the point of the nose — finished it. The animal, on being measured, was found to be over eight feet in length, with a pirth of fully five feet. Mr Fotheringham, after procuring assistance, secured the skin, which is said' to be a very beautiful one. A seal of the above size will yield from ten to twelve gallons of oil. Formerly this animal was much hunted by whalers frequenting the southern seas, but of late years they have been captured but at rare intervals. There are, we understand, three distinct species of seal in New Zealand waters. The London correspondent of the "Daily Times" writes: — "Your mails were delivered on 15th and 19th insfc. ; but we seek in vain for encouraging news ; and must evidently wait a long time to hear that rebellion is crushed in your land. The dilatory movements of General Cameron do not at all accord with our English notions ; he may be right, nevertheless ; as also may your Ministers and your Governor ; we are expecting daily to read something of your affairs in our Parliamentary reports. It is a source of congratulation that the impost of stamps on New Zealand papers is so speedily removed, and Sir George Grey deserves many thanks for his timely concession to public remonstrances ; and the fact of rescinding such an obnoxious tax induces on© to forego the enquiry why it was ever dreamt of being inflicted." Mr Louisson, of Christchurch, was the other day thrown out of a buggy while driving down the " Zigzag " to Lyttelton. The horse bolted, through the breaking of one of the breeching straps, and the vehicle was capsized, the animal escaping uninjured. Mr Louisson likewise sustained uo injury, but the shaft and lamp of the buggy were smashed. The quantity of gold exported from the Colony for tho quarter ending 31st March last, amounted to 104,123 ounces, representing in value the mm of L402y523,

"We are requested to intimate that Messrs G. B. and H. R. Parker, of Waiho Station, Upper Waitaki, have forwarded to Mr Black, of this place, the handsome sum of £13, collected by them in aid of the City of Dunedin Wreck Relief Fund. The building occupied by the Bank of New Zealand's branch at Charleston, Maori Point, was destroyed by fire last week. All the valuables were saved. "We have just received a copy of the " Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance, 1865." but want of space compels us to withhold a notice of its provisions till next issue. We understand that Messrs M. S. Gleeson, Fordyce, and Leggatt, of Hampden and Moeraki, have collected a sum of nearly £30, in aid of the City of Dunedin Wreck Relief Fund. "We are indebted to the "Dunedin Herald" for the following : — The cost of the Imperial Government for provisioning tho troops in New Zealand stands thus : — Nett cost, after deducting stoppnges from officers and men for 1864-5, L1J55,O51. Estimated cost for 1865-6, L92.798. This is more than the whole cost of the home establishment of Great Britain and Ireland, which only amounts to L84.853, and nearly three times the amount of that paid to any other colony, the Cape of Good Hope and Mnlta being the next highest, namely, L29.260 and L29,187 respectively. The cost of forage in New Zealland for 1864-5 was L103,325, being more than one-third of the entire home establishment, and more than four times the cost of any other colony, tho next highest to New Zealand being the Cape of Good Hope, which stands at L25.00O. The estimated cost of forage for New Zealand for 1865 6 is L40,000, being a reduction of L63.325 on the former year. The amount realised from the sale of Rural Lands in the Province in June was £T,068 2s. 6d. In last week's " Gazette," the returns of sales of Rural and Town Lands for October, 1864, are also given. For what reason, is not stated. The suppression of the Maori rebellion has cost the Colony, from 1862 to 31st March last, Ll,014,876 18s. 9d. This amount, added to the cost of public works, location of settlers, discount on debentures, reinstalement of Taranaki, &c, makes up a total of LI, 578, 143 8s. 5d. The Dunedin journals at present are almost entirely filled with reports of the proceedings at election meetings. The following gentlemen have been appointed by the Hon. the Acting-Superintendent of the Province to be Trustees for the formation of a Provincial Museum, viz. : — Edward Holme, Esq., M.D. ; F. H. Richardson, Esq., M.R.C.S. ; and James Beverly, Esq. A Parliamentary paper just issued shows that the relatives of the following officers, killed in New Zealand, have received compensations, viz ; — L711 to the Rev. F. R. A. Glover, father of Captain R. C. Glover ; L457 to the same gentleman, on account of his son, Captain F. G. E. Glover ; L254 to the father of Lieutenant W. L. Murphy; and LI 144 to the father of Captain J. S, Phelps. A supplemental "New Zealand Gazette," under date 12th July, noti6es that Messrs J. B. A. Ackland, of Cliiistchurch; H. J. Coote, of Wellington; H. J. Miller and J. Prendergast, of Otago ; J. C Richmond, of Nelson ; J. Holland, of Clutha, Otago ; A. P. Seymour, of Picton ; A C. Strode, of Otago ; and J. P. Taylor, of Southland, have been summoned to the Legislative Council of New Zealand. * This day, the 27th July, is set apart by Lieut. Saxby as one of " his own." t