LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Abeival op His Excellency. — It will he seen by our shipping report, that the s.s. Lord Ashley, Captain Worsp, which brought down Sir George Bowen and suite on Thursday morning, experienced somo very tempestuous weather during her prolonged trip from Auckland.

The Addeess in Reply.— The ceremony of presenting the address in reply to tho Commissioners' speech on opening Parliament to his Excellency tho Governor took place yesterday afternoon at half-past 3 o'clock, in Government House. In order, it may be presumed, to add greater dignity to the proceedings, a carriage had been hired for the conveyance of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and tho mover (Mr Edwards) and seconder (Mr Swan) of the address ; hut an unfortunate mischance entirely spoilt the effect which might otherwise have been produced by by this arrangement. Immediately upon starting, one of the horses became restive, and dragged the carriage on to the sloping lawn in front of the Government Buildings, the horses at the same time falling, Mr Swan jumped out, and in so doing, hurt himself,.thoughnot severely ; but the other occupants of the carriage — Sir David Monro> Mr Edwards, and the Sergeant- at- Arms, retained their seats until assistance was rendered. No particular harm was done, and the mace, thanka to the affectionate caro of its lawful guardian, is quite uninjured. This little contretemps necessitated a more humble mode of transit ; and the Speaker, in company with a number of the members, proceeded to his Excellency's residence on foot, and presented the address. The Governor's reply was, as usual, merely formal.

Gold.— Mr J. F. B. Wright, of Goathurst Farm, ha 9 shown us a fine specimen of Gold of over a penny weight, procured by one of his men at Otorong, near Terawitti. The man informed Mr Wright that the last prospect he washed was over a grain to the dish, and that ho never saw a prettier wash in all his digging experience. The man has been ten years on the Melbourne diggings, and feels confident that the district is rich in gold.

The Velocipede. — We were somewhat amused yesterday to observe this machine at work in Willis street. The owner and maker Mr Fitchett, of this city has designed this machine less for actual speed, than for eaee and comfort, and he himself trotted along in the vehicle in a capital way ; but some amateurs came to grief, inasmuch as one of them could not manage tho steering apparatus and got into tho gutter, while a long lad was capsized through tho eccentricities of this late mechanical achievement. Mr Fitchett intendSj we understand, to introduce the velocipede more generally here. If the opposition coaches do start — woe to the livery establishments of Messri Sommerville and Prosser.

Accident. — On Thursday evening last, as the mate of the s.s. Lord Ashley was standing at the combings of the main hatch, he was struck by four bags of wheat which' -were being taken on board as cargo, and seriously injured. Wo are glad to learn that he is in a fair way of recovery.

Shacks. — Some Maltese fishermen employed in our waters, were rather startled -when hauling in their nets near tho Heads, yesterday morning, to discover quite a shoal of young sharks in the meshes. They were of course quickly despatched and many of them brought to town for sale to the Maoris, whoso taste for this sxicculent and recherche food is well known.

Books and Libbaeies. — People in Wellington often complain of the great difficulty which they experience in obtaining good and readable books in Wellington, and in truth the complaint is not without foundation. It is true that there is the General Assembly and Provincial Council libraries and the Athenaeum, but the first two are practically inaccessible to the general public, while tho laßt, very useful and well managed, does not possess the funds to obtain a regular supply of new books. Private enterprise, however, has helped to supply this want, as, for some time, Mr Farmery has kept a small but well selected library of books, chiefly new works, which novel readers and others would do well to look through. Talking of books reminds us what a large number of illustrated serials are published now a days. " Punch," " The Tomahawk," " Fun," " Banter," and several others are well worth a half-hour's inspection. The cartoons in tho " Tomahawk" are both effective and artistic in their execution. The whole of these papers can be obtained at Mr W. Lyon's, Lamb lon quay.

Police Court. — There was only one case brought before the Bench yesterday morning. C. Cooley, one of the crew of the s.s. Lord Ashley, had threatened to commit an assault on the master of that vessel, but Captain Worsp declining to prosecute the case was dismissed. There were several civil cases adjourned for hearing till next week.

Mebchant Shipping Act.— lt -will be very gratifying to shipmasters pn the coa9t of New Zealand to observe that Government has at last taken action in this matter and adopted the Imperial Act, which will relieve them of much disngreeablo duty ; arid at the aame time be instrumental in settling disputes between masters

and crews in a large measure, without appealing to police courts. It is notorious that masters of sailing vessels in New Zealand have hitherto had to employ agents in each seaport town, whose services could only be secured in furnishing seamen at heavy expense to the ships, but this will now be obviated by the adoption of the act in question, and the interests of seamen will thus, ikewise, be secured.

The Wairau Monument. — Thursday the 17th instant was the anniversary of the death of twenty-two of our fellow colonists at the Wairua, just twenty-six years ago. We are glad to find that the Government have authorised his Honor the Superintendent of Marlborough to replace the slab on themonumenttbatwasiucorreetly inscribed, by a larger one allowing more space for the names according to a carefully corrected list. We have been courteously furnished with a photograph, and are glad to furnish our readers with some further information on the subject. The stone, which is six feet high by 4 feet ten inches wide, is let in to the inclined face of a pyramid built of brick and cement ten feet square at the base and ten feet high, surmounted with, a stone capping and a cross. The pyramid is immediately behind the graves, and overlooks the great plain of the Wairau. The monument and the graves will bo surrounded by an iron railing surmounting a brick and cement wall. It is now some three years since that a reserve of eight acres was fenced in around the graves, partly for a district cemetery, and partly as a site for a school house ; and the arrangement has been found very convenient for the neighborhood. The whole reserve will be planted this season with two hundred pine and other trees, liberally given for the purpose by Messrs Epps and Hale, the miserymen of Nelson.

Action fob Damaged Goods. — Messrs A. P. Stuart & Co. brought an action against Captain Lyall, master of the barque Memento, from London, in the Police Court on Thursday last and sought to recover the sum of £118 2s, the value of certain goods consigned to them per this ship. The damaged goods were sold by auction after survey, and realised £80 0s 6d— the difference being the real amount sought. After a very long hearing the Bench decided in favor of defendant with £3 7s costs.

The Hutt Election. — The election of members for the Hutt to the Provincial Council, took place yesterday. At the close of the day the state of the poll was asfollows : —

Fagan 79 Milne 79 Ludlam 78 Wallace 49 Allen 45 Coulson ... ... ... 12 Messrs Ludlam, Fagan, and Milne have therefore been elected.

Water Supply. — It will bo observed by a perusal of the Town Board proceedings elsewhere, that Mr Beck, who now supplies the shipping with water at the Queen's Wharf, submits a scheme by which the residents of certain streets may have the pipes luid on to their dwellings from his reservoir. Mr "Beck also purposes to Bupply water of high pressure to the Fire Brigades of the city in case of fire. We presume that the present reservoir will require to be very much enlarged ere these extended operations can be satisfactorily carried out. We wish Mr Beck every success in this important scheme, and trust no one will presume to throw cold water upon it.

Primitive Methodists.— The Primitive Methodist congregation of Sydney Street will worship next Sunday in the Odd Fellows' Hall, where the Eev E. Ward will preach in tho forenoon and evening. -The Schoolroom in the rear of the chapel is undergoing an enlargement, so as to accommodate the congregation during the erection of the new church.

Wang-anui Election. — We learn from Captain Linklater, of the s.s. Wanganui, that at the time of his leaving Wanganui, the polling for the Provincial Council elections was still going en. There were four candidatesin the field for the three towh seats, viz. Messrs Watt, Hutchinson, Finnimore and Taylor. It was anticipated that the first three candidates would be returned.

Gold Prospecting. — A large and vory influential public meeting was held at the Athenaeum, on Thursday afternoon, to consider the best steps to be taken for developing the mineral wealth, which is very generally believed to exist in the province of Wellington. Specimens of quartz and gold from the district of Terawiti were submitted for public inspection, and the belief seemed prevalent that the Makara district, which abounds in quartz reef, is also auriferous. After some desultory conversation, tho chair was taken by W. B. Rhodes Esq., who explained the object for which tho meeting had been called. It was his firm belief that a gold Geld existed in the neighborhood of Wellington, and that it only required the efforts of the people to developo it. The rich gold reefs of the Thames district had been suspected to exist for many years previous to their recent actual discovery. He did not require to point out, how tho working of those mines of wealth, had raised Auckland from a condition of absolute prostration, to one of almost unexampled prosperity; and he (Mr Rhodes) wished to give the people an opportunity of determining at that meeting whether a payable goldfield under similar conditions might not surround us, and even be within our immediate reach. Ho would call upon Mr George Hunter to address the meeting. Mr Hunter on rising stated that his attention had been called to the undoubted existence of gold near this city so far back as 1862 — but little had been actually done in the way of exertions made to discover it in payable qnantities. The Provincial Council had granted a sum of money, which with subscriptions raised clsewhore, amounted to £287 — but expended without avail. He trusted that some eiibrts would be made to developo the quartz reefs, now known to exist in the Province. Mr. Edward Owen said that he himself had been out to Terawiti for a fow weeks, with four others, on a prospecting tour. They had fuund gold in small quantities, .and ho trusted that by combined effort, tho people might yet find a payable goldfield. Mr Liardot beged to say that gold hud frequently been found in " poverty quartz," that the opinion of judges were not- immaculate. Messrs Hart nnd Johnston next spoke upon the subject, and in tho same hopeful strain, and Mr ILvans stated that lie had discovered a qunrtz reef, about six feet wide, near Makara. Mr M'Kenzie read a letter from Mr Ledger, now on the Thames. That letter suggested the propriety of a few tons of Wellington district quartz being forwarded to tho writer for crushing, and testing its wortln Mr M'Kenzie thought the idea was a very good and kind one. Mr Hunter stated that one of the Bank managers intended introducing a Berdan machine on an early day. Mr Owen suggested

that the moßt practical way to go to work would be to form a committee to raise subscriptions for developing any existing goldfleld, and this being placed as a motion was passed unanimously. After a vote of thanks had been given to the Chairman and Mr Hunter, the meeting closed. Yesterday morning a party of six gentlemen proceeded to Makara for the purpose of seeing what j steps had been taken, and what advancement made by the party of miners now prospecting for auriferous quartz reefs in that locality. The conveyance took the excursionists as fj.r as No. 11 se'etion, South Makara, where a son of Mr Seivas, kindly guided the party to the locality of the works — the road being up precipitous hills, and through dense bush. The minors were found at work, and the shaft and drive into the mountain top were descended. The reof is not yet altogether uncovered, but it is supposed that they have reached it at three feet wide, and it looks very well. The men are down eighteen feet, have all the necessary tools, windlasss, tent, &c, of the genuine digger, and seemed strong, hardy, hopeful fellows, at present independent of all aid. The excursionists inform us that when on the top of the mountain, the prospect of Bea and land was truly majestic. The Otorong valley on the one hand and Omari valley on the other formed a magnificent picture, while to the southward the sea opened out like a sheet of eilver, and Cook's Strait looked only like some mighty river rolling at their feet. The Kaikoura snow clad summits, the Straits islands, and the distant Wairau valley, upon which dwelling houses could bo distinotly noticed, made up a panorama so gorgeous that it will not readily be forgotten. Our excursionists after visiting No. 15 section (which also abounds with quartz on every side) returned to town last evening after spending a very tiresome but at the same time a very delightful day.

Rifle Shooting. — Arrangements have been made for a rifle match next week between the Wellington and Wairarapa Volunteers — twenty men on each side. Each side may fire at any time during the week it; chooses. The Wellington Volunteers will fire on Monday.

Riots at Paris — 366 Killed and Wounded — 500 Persons Aekestbd. — The following items were received by the mail steamer at Melbourne, having been forwarded to Messrs Greville and Co. after their usual telegraphic messages were posted fiona Galle : — London, 14th May. Received at Galle 18th May. Very serious disturbances have occurred during an electoral meeting in Paris, at which Mr Emille Olivier delivered an inflammatory harangue. The police restored order in Paris : and, up to date, tranquillity prevailed elsewhere. A sanguinary collision, however, occurred in the streets between the rival parties, and the troops suppressed the disturbance, in which there were no less than 366 killed and wounded. Five hundred persons were arrested for complicity in these disturbances. An animated debate was initiated in the House of Lords by Earl Russell on the state of Ireland, as evinced by tho continuance of aggrarian outrages. Lord Grauville replied on behalf of the Government, and declined to disclose any particulars of the facts which had come to the knowledge of the Government, or the mode in which they intended to meet the present state of affairs.

Mastebton. — The Eev. J. C. Andrew was yesterday returned for the Provincial Council without opposition. Wairarapa East did not evince, any enthusiasm on occasion as there were only a few persons present. — Mr Hookor's heavily ladon timber waggon got capsized into the river Wainghawa yesterday, when one of the hor-es was drowned." Wanganui Distbiot Elections. — The electors of Wanganui commenced the work of polling their Candidates for Provincial Council honourß on Thursday 'morning at 6 a.m. From private advices we understand that Messrs Watt, Finnimore, and Hutchison will be the successful candidates. The Manawatu nomination will take place at the Court House there on the 24th current, and the polling on the Monday following. Thursday, the 241.h June, is appointed for the nomination of Rangitikei Candidates, and the poll (if necessary) six days afterwards. Kai Iwi will return one member to the Council. The nomination took place yesterday, and the poll (if necessary) will be held today. The Wangaehu valley also returns one member to the Council, whose nomination will take place on Monday first, and the poll (if necessary) early on Tuesday morning.

Old Times. — The "Wairarapa Mercury" of Thursday, complains of the manner in which the hustings were erected there on the occasion of the recent election there for the Provincial Council. "An old handy case, a form, and Jthree half-inch boards, are alleged to have' formed the Returning Officer's platform." The same journal referring to the election in the Valley, says " that Mr Bunny alluded in his speech to a contractor who had executed several contracts for the Provincial Government, and hitherto had not been paid. He has been summoned by the men he employed, judgment has heen given against him, and we understand three distress warants have been issued. At the same time the Government are indebted to him some hundreds of pounds." The " Mercury" also states that the maori quarrel is not likely soon to subside, and adds " the number of maories at Otaraia had iucrensed to about one hundred and twenty on Saturday last, more were expected to arrive. Maniera took a lot of arms and ammunition down publicly, and expressed his intention to hold his own by force if necessary, The *whole were behaving with a considerable amount of bounce, and one told the possessor of the Otaraia station that notwithstanding his objections ho should put his horse in the paddocks, and dared him to impound it. It is to be regretted that the Government does not follow Mr Wardell's advice, and arrest those who dare to say they won't obey the law."