Local and General.

At the -Police-Court, Riverton, on Tuesday the ttflt December, a man named Hugh Swan alias "Sharky, washrought up before I). S. Lawlor iR. M. charged by the police with stealing a _orsa, the property ofthe Rev. Mr Clark. The •evidence was -strong, and he was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme •Court, at 'Invercargill. The following letter signed by ten Chiefs of the Otaki natives, has been published by request in *he Wellington papers .—" Otaki, 26th Nov., 1868. This is a notice to all the Hauhau men living at all places 7. in 7 this _ island, same at Wellington, same at Rangitikei. Listen attentively j ■all of you chiefs and common men. Do not •allow any travellers to be attacked on your roads } if yoa do it will be wrong, and you will have to bear the blame. And also to the Queen's Maoris — DE you attack travellers on the road you will be blamed for it. Do not think that by going over to the Hauhaus that you will save yourselves ; this will not do ; rather let the pakehas to deal with them (meaning the Hauhaus) thafc they may be punished, and it will be well. Therefore, do not commit any murder ; rather let the King be consulted with in any of these cases. Only do not commit murder." A novel mode of ' Raising the Wind" is thus related by the 'Panama Star,' of the 21st October: — "On Saturday some dozen native gentlemen' were invited to 'the Government House on important business, which they found on getting there was for, the purpose of borrowing from them the sum of 60000dols, refusing to lend which they were locked up for the night. Affcer turning the matter over: in their minds they all, except two, concluded -to comply wiih the request of the President, and on giving their, notes for the amount they wire set at liberty." Advices per lasfc mail (says the 'Daily Times') state "that : " the ship Socrates from Frederickstad, with a cargo of timber, bound to Otago/ was run down in the North Sea by the BTorwegian mail steamer Nordsjernen. All hands, saved. ' Mr Walter Montgomery/ the celebrated trage-dian,-who is at present ' playing ; a starring engagement atthe Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Melbourne, wfll likely visit New- Zealand in a -few weeks. The 'Home New*s' states that one ofthe Banks in Sydney, has returned to the shareholders one pound per share of their capital, being unable otherwise to profitably employ it. The notorious bushranger Garrett, has been found guilty at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, upon two charges of house breaking. He was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. The * New Zealand Sun,' '4th. December, in writing upon this subject says :— " The Judge intended tbe sentence to be one of life-long banishment from, the world. Twenty years of prison-life, added to the fifty-five years -which have already passed over him must at any rate bow down the strong frame' and deprivieits possessor of much of the power to do evil if the will still survives. And.so Henry Garrett passes to his living death, snd moralists may -vainly seek an explanation of the insatiable -disposition to crime he has displayed." . It is announced that men willing to join the Armed Constabulary force for . service at the front, must apply to Captain Harvey, Esk street. Referring to the appointment of Sir John Youngs/late of New- -South Wales, to the governorship of the -dominion of Canada., the London 'Express', .says:— " This appointment rises far above the sphere of party ' politics, and the selection of Sir John Young will probably give satisfaction to the thinkers of both sides. A trained official 5 a politician where Parliamentary career dates from theyear before the- passing of the first Reform Bill; a statesman who has : graduated in public business and in the art of governing men in the several offices of Lord of the Treasury, Secretary to the Treasuiy, Chief Secretaiy for Ireland, Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and finally as Governor of j New 'South" Wales, -Sirr John Young is well qualified to discharge the duties of his new post '-..-■ The ' Argus,' of the 27fch Nov., Bays.— "We understand that the active steps which have lately been taken by the Lands department to recoyer, and sell at auction for the public benefit, lands given years ago to religious and other Jbodies, r fpr._Bpecific purposes which have not been fulfilled, are about to be followed up by stringent proceedings in other parts of the colony." Colonel Gore Browne, formerly Governor of this colony, but more recently of Tasmania, if about to leave the latter place for England. It will be recollected that he was removed from his position in New Zealand for the zealous efforts he made to stamp out the Maori disaffection at its very commencement. The Rev James Leslie Randall, the new Bishop of New Zealand (says the ' Argus ' of the 20th Nov.) is the son of the Archdeacon of Berkshire, and brother of the newly-appointed incumbent of All Sain^-Church, Clifton. Mr Randall was educated at Jthe New College, Oxford, and became a fellow bf that college. He graduated B.A, 1851, M.A. 1855, and, therefore, is about thirty-eight years of age. He was ordained by the Bishop of Oxford as deacon in 1852, and priest in 1853, and was presented by the bishop in.1J857.t0 the rectory of Newbury. At the present time the income of the Bishopric of New Zealand cannot be stated. Appeals have been made in England for voluntary subscriptions,. The crops in the Northern part of Canterbury are, said to be flourishing, and an abundant' har. vest is confidently , looked forward to in consequence. ..;',•:" ,-.; rAt the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday,' 7th December, Mr" M. Cahill, of the 1 Provincial Hotel, was brought up before H. M'Culloch, Esq., 8.M., charged with having violently assaulted 'one John Burke, oh the previous evening. .From the evidence adduced, it would appear that a number of men visited that hotel on the night in question, when 'a disturbance arose that eventuated in the assault, of which the prisoner was charged. It was stated for the prosecution that the man Burie had been so seriously injured, as to render it Necessary for him to be taken to the Hospital, and he Was not now in a fit state to appear in Court. 'A remand for seven days was therefore asked! The remand was granted. Cahill was, on application, admitted to bail.

Gold in small -quantities is being obtained at Fingak. in Ta"sfriania. At one part of the goldfield two parties have been at work for some time past, and have obtained sufficient to pay wages, while at another, a party of nine men obtained 4oz. sdwt. during one week. All the men at work expressed themselves as being sanguine of doing better in a week or two. A new rush of some magnitude has taken place at Nelson Creek, near Greymouth. The gold is found in a terrace which is said to extend for four miles in an unbroken line. The excitement is described as being very great, and it was impossible to leave a claim for even a few minutes without its being jumped. The correspondent of the ' Grey River Argus ' says that in his opinion this will be the greatest rush which has ever taken place in the district, and from the extent of ground opened, every chance is afforded to new comers. Messrs Richmond and M'Lean, on the occasion of their recent visit to Wairoa in the St Kilda, arranged for a meeting with the Frendlies. The following account of it we take from the ' Hawke's Bay Herald' : — At this meeting, upwards of 500 friendly natives were presaht The chiefs were unauimous in their desire to crush the band of fanatics under Te Kooti. They only, they said, wanted authority to be given them, and they would speedily free the district of the pest which threaten to overrun it. A council of war followed, at which, it was supposed, the conclusiou was arrived at that a native force, unaccompanied by any Europeans, should start on Wednesday morning to find out the whereabouts of the enemy and attack him. The ' Herald' remarks, in connection with this proposal .* — The offer of Hotene and Ropata, on this side of the Island, and of the Wanganui frendlies, on the other, will doubtless have some influence upon public opinion. Should the Imperial Government, regardless of every principal of justice throw upon the colony the whole onus of quelling native disturbances, the colonists, in their present state of impe'cuniosity, must do it in the way likely at once to be the cheapest and the most effectual. Our native allies would do the work in their own way — which probabiy implies a defective knowledge, 'or at all events an imperfect recollection, of the laws of civilised warefare — but, we are persuaded, they would do it cheaply and effectually. Since this was written, an engagement has taken place, in which Te Kooti is said to have heen killed. Business is very dull in Hobart Town just now. The stores are glutted with produce, while on the wharves there are thousands of feet of timber of excellent quality, and thousands of tons of firewood awaiting a purchaser. A dark picture of the present state of affairs in Wanganui is given by the ** Grey River Argus' of the _4th insfc. That journal says : — " We learn that the town of Wanganui is at present in a most confused state, and alarm everywhere prevails. The streets swarm with settlers who have been driven from their homesteads, and friendly natives, who roll about drunk, with their rifles and ammunition. The Second Class Militia, consisting of married men, was to have been called out for active service this week. The men who ought to be at the front — the two companies of the 18th Regiment — remain in barracks in town, while the Militia and Volunteers do all the fighting. The ' Daily Times ' says : — A large and beautiful meteor was observed at Port Chalmers on Saturday evening, close to the group of the Pleiades. It shot in a westerly direction and disappeared. It was also seen very plainly at Dunedin. The 400 Friendlies who were recently disbanded at Wanganui were allowed to take their arms home with them. The ' Wanganui Times ' assert thafc if any attempt had been made to take ihe arms from them, bloodshed might have resulted. This assertion indicates a state of matters the contemplation of which is far from satisfactory. The ' Tuapeka Times ' states that at a public meeting held in Tapanui, on the 17th inßt., resolutions were passed to the effect that the Government should be memorialised to declare 30,000 acres into hundreds, and that the Tuapeka Land League should be requested to establish a branch in Tapanui to carry out these resolutions, which were unanimously agreed to. The new Presbyterian Church at Forest Hill was opened on Sabbath, the 22nd inst., by the Rev. A. Stevens. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the attendance was very good. Divine service in that quarter has been held, for some time past, in Mr Cainerons' dwelling-house, but so soon as the necessity for a more commodious place of worship was felt, the people belonging to the district entered heartily into the proposal to have one erected. Free sites were readily and generously placed at the disposal of the Committee of Management. The one considered most eligible was that offered by Mr Livingstone, on which there now stands a neat aiid substantial church, built by means of local efforts, along with contributions solicited from, arid kindly given by, parties at Invercargill and Winton, interested in the cause. The building is only partially finished — when completed it will be seated for about one hundred persons. The workmanship has been well executed by the contractors — Messrs Lindsay and Robertson, lt is likewise pleasing to notico that the church in its present state is entirely free from debt, and it is earnestly hoped that tho settlers connected with the locality may soon be in circumstances to enable them to raise additional funds, sufficient for completing what, in such a good spirit, they have commenced, and so far carried forward. We have been requested to publish the following correspondence on the subject of the Orepuki Mail Service : — " Invercargill, 24th November, 1868. — To the Chief Pos+master, Southland. — Sir, — I have the honor to forward ] to you a petition signed by 130 inhabitants of the Orepuki Goldfields and Riverton, .its outlet, praying for the establishment by the Government of a weekly post from Riverton to the Orepuki, and beg to urge its favorable consideration on the following grounds. The field has been established since January, 1866, and judging from the enclosed account of the receipts and expenditure to the 30th June last, furnished by the Warden, Mr Henry Rogers, the population has not decreased. From it you will gather that the revenue derived from 3rd July, 1866, to 30th January, 1868, has amounted to £3137 12s Od ; the expenditure during the same period on salaries, roads, pubhc buildings, and cutting tracks, conducive to the still further development

! of the field, to £1802 4s sd, leaving a balance to the credit of revenue over expenditure of £1335 7s 8d sterling. 2nd. The digging on the Goldfield may now be looked upon as a permanent industry, not an ephemeral occcupation, and the diggers a settled, not a nomadic population. I believe few who originally started there have left it, and of those who did — attracted by the allurements and supposed advantages of the Westland Diggings — mosfc have returned. But it is not merely as a diggings that this reproductive segment of the population ought to be looked at. The locality in which the diggings are situated is as you are aware well adapted for agriculture ; possessing good, level, well sheltered land, with a large tract of available bush, adjoining ; thus, when j the Goldfield Regulations, presently prevailine, I are altered to the more liberal ones of Otago, j agricultural settlement may be profitably under- | taken to the manifest advantage of the Jwhole community. To foster such a settlement in the i extreme western verge of the Province, and to encourage its progress ia, I would submit, so manifestly the duty, as well as interest, of a wise : and disinterested Government, that I have no doubt of the request of the petitioners being acceded to with thafc spirit of liberality which has invariably characterised the conduct of the General Government in its treatment of this Province. — I have the honor to be, Sir, yo^r most ] obedient servant, Waxteb H. r PEABBON." (Reply). " Poßt Office, Invercargill, 25th November, 1868. — To W. H. Pearson, Esq., Invercargill. — Sir, — In answer to your letter as per margin, I have the honor to inform you that a copy of it, as well as the petition from the inhabitants, as per copy, prayingfor the establishment of a weekly post between the two places, will be forwarded to the Postmaster- General by to-morrow's mail for his decision. — I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, Edtvabd D. Butts, Postmaster." ! On the evening of the 2nd ult., a few gentlemen desirous of getting up a Regatta, met at the Clarendon Hotel. It was resolved to entertain the project. Several subscriptions were promised, and a warm interest in the movement displayed. A sailing match was made between Mr J. G. Hughes and Mr Angus Maclean, to sail their boats Kiwi, and Petrel, on the occasion. It will be seen from our advertising columns that a meeting of those interested in the affair will take place at the Clarendon Hotel, on Monday evening next. The Riverton Penny Readings continue, and although the Ist ult. was wild enough to have ensured a failure, it was very successful. Mr Surman opened the programme with an incident of the occupation of Paris by the Allies — a well told and exciting story — well read and received. Mr Nicholson sang ' Land of the West.' The next reader on the programme not being at his post, Mr Hood was pushed up into his place, and recited ' Tell's Address to his Native Mountains,' which was encored. The song following was 'Work Boys Work,' by Mr Rogers. An I instrumental piece by Mr Schmidt followed, and lan interval of ten minutes. An introduction on the harmonium, consisting principally of National j airs, was played by Mr Wilson, and Mr Ireland came forward and read an Irish story, which, un- ; fortunately, was rather long, and conscientiously | read through without omission. Mr Lyon was warmly greeted as ho stepped upon the platform, and sung one of his own style of Lyrics, which was received with great applause, and an encore called for. The Rev. W. F. Oldham then came forward and announced that he was about to vary the proceedings by reading something ' dry,' and accordingly read an excellent passage on ' Example,' from Smiles' Self-help. He succeeded in stamping its fine lesson upon the memories of the audience, and closing the book before the firsfc yawn. ' The Death of Nelson ' followed, sung by Mr Aldred, who, in compliance with the wishes of the audience, sang ' Mother be proud of your Boy in Blue.' One more song depicting English, Irish, aud Scotch National character followed, sung by Mr Rogers, and loudly applauded, aud the evening wound up with ' God save the Queen.' We are informed upon good authority that several parties of miners are located on the Waiau. Some are said to be sanguine of success, but afc present no reliable accounts have been received. On the 3rd ult., the town was thrown into a state of painful excitement by the report that a boat known to belong to Mr Edward Hart, Invercargill, and who had only a few days previously completed a contract for the supply of posts for the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show Yards, had been found on the beach near the Kew Railway Station. It being known that Hart was working on the opposite side of the estuary, fears were entertained that, with the daring for which he was remarkable, he had attempted to cross while the gale was raging, and tha boat had upset, all on board being drowned. Messrs. Coutts and Campbell who first discovered fche boat, having communicated with the pohce, steps were taken to ascertain if Hart had left Fraser's Saw Mills in his boat on the previous evening. A party proceeded to that locality, when the worst feai*s were confirmed. They learned that Eart and four others had left Mr Fraser's Jetty on the previous evening in the boat that bad been found. The occupants of the boat were Messrt. E. Hart, Frank Bryson, Wm. M'Culloch, Wm. Nelson, and Henry Tremore. Mr Fraser stated that previous to the boat leaving he had remarked, "It was overloaded," to which Hart replied, he " Would rather have seven than five in it." Mr W. Tait, who was present, stated that he had watched the boat from the time it started until ifc was opposite j Capt. Thompson, (ship builder) yard, up to which time all appeared safe. A heavy squall then came on, and the boat was lost to view. A careful search was then made by the police and volunteers for other evidence of the accident. Mr Coutts found tlie oars at the breakwater on the line of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway, and Mr H. Pierce found, at the far side of the breakwater, Hart's cap, together with a black felt hat, which has been identified by Mr Vale as that worn by one of the missing men. Yesterday morning a swag was found on the beach ticketed with the name of M'Culloch, and another, which, asyet,isnotidenfied. The search for the bodies was continued during the whole of yesterday by the < police boat's crew, and three or four boats with volunteers, but without success. There Can be now no doubt but thafc the whole five men have perished, and- we regret to say that afc least two were married men with families. The search for the . bodies will be still prosecuted. Tbis sad accident has thrown a gloomy cloud over * the community.

It is stated that no less than £16,000 worth of 9ggß were imported into New Zealand during the past financial year. A Boston paper states thafc a new harvester, called the 'Young America," cuts the grain, thrashes, cleans and sacks it, at one operation. The inventor claims that, with two men and four horses, it will do, in a single day, as much work as 14 men and 19 horses in the old-fashioned way* Some of the surveyors in the province of Wellington, have formed a Volunteer Corps of Guides, and offered their services to the Government. According to the 'Advertiser,' the individual members would be posted probably to companies of militia and volunteers in those districts with which they are most acquainted. One of the results of the late occurrences in Hawke's Bay is, tbat a stop has been put to shearing on many ofthe stations, more especially those in the northern prrfc of the Province. The native shearers are afraid to remain in isolated ! places. From the Dunedin papers, we learn that the i West Taieri Bridge is now open for traffic. i His Honor Chief Justice Johnston, in his charge to the Grand Jury, on the opening of the Criminal Sitting of the Supreme Court, on Thursday, Ist December, thus alludes to the Friendly Natives : — " When, afc the moment of our deep humiliation, discomfiture, and dismay, we were looking around, almost in vain, for present help from otir own people, I witnessed the prompt, zealous and gallant manner in which the Friendly Natives of the neighborhood, leav. ing behind them their families and possessions, and abandoning the profitable employment of the shearing-floor, and over-looking annoyances which had but recently galled them, flocked to the port to embark for the scene of action, to assist in defending our countrymen against their murderous foes, and in cutting short the career of those inhuman fiends; when I hear how vigorously they have since acted on our behalf, and when I am informed that the recent conduct | of the Fanatics appears in the estimation of i many of the Maori people a scandal to their race, I cannot help fervently hoping, and emphatically expressing the hope, that the European Colonists will always appreciate and honor the services of our Native friends, and abstain from such a course of action as might seem a justification for their hostility or defection." Major Edwards (says the 'New Zealand Advertiser,' of 2nd Dec.) reports from Manawatu, under date 30th November, that he has talked with the natives, and that they had no intention of rising. The second Annual Show of the Molyneux Agricultural and Pastoral Association, came off on Wednesday, the 2nd Dec, at Balclutha. The show is reported to have been a greater success than the one ofthe previous year. Referring to the offer "ecently made by the Provincial Government of Otago to receiye a number of refugees from the North Island, the Wellington 'Post' says: — The Provincial Government of Otago have jusfc done a very generous act in a very spontaneous manner, proving thafc, notwithstanding all the talk aboufc separation, that part of fche South, at any rate, has no desire to leave the North Island in the lurch. The ' Leader ' (Melbourne) of the 28th Nov., says : — " There seems to be some understanding between the Governments of Australia that in future there shall be an Intercolonial Conference every year, each colony becoming the theatre of the intellectual tournament in rotation. Admitting that the first, which took place in Melbourne, was not an eminent success, neither was it a conspicuous failure, and ifc served the very j practical purpose of familiarising the representatives of the colonies to act in consort. The next conference will be held in Sydney, early next year. In this the initiative has been taken by the Government of New Zealand, by whom the invitations have been issued. No doubt the Government of Victoria will promptly accept the overture, not the less cheerfully because the chief topic to be discussed will be the best mode of promoting free commercial intercourse between the colonies, so far as regards their own respective products and manufactures." From a comparative return just issued of the gold exported irom New Zealand for the quarter ending on the 30th September last, we find that the total amount exported was 152,2210z., representing a money value of £597,355, being a decrease of upwards of 15 per cent, upon the amount exported during the corresponding period of last year. Of this amount Otago contributed 37,6620z., of the value of £150,648 showing an increase of about 14.88 per cent, over the corresponding quarter of 1867. She is, however, only the third on the Jist, being distanced by Nelson, with 50,2970z., equal to £201,188, and Westland with 49,4600z., equal to £197,840, notwithstanding the fact that the two latter exhibit a considerable decrease. Xh_ most remarkable feature of the sudden increase in tbe amount exported from Auckland, which, from £2938 in 1867, has risen to £42,723 in 1868 : this result being owing to the rush to the Thames diggings. The only other facts worthy of notice in connection with the return are, that while Marlborough exported gold to the amount of £1132 during the same period last year, this year her exports under this head are absolutely nil ; and that Southland also exhibits a falling off to the amount of nearly £6000, or about 60 per cent. The total value of the gold exported firom. New Zealand since the date of its first discovery in the colony, ia £16,404,673. From a return issued of the Customs revenue collected at the different ports of the colony during the auarter ending on the 30th September last, we find that, as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1867, there is a failiug off to the amount of £5016, or about 2.55 per cent. Of the 26 ports enumerated in the return, only 6 show an increase — viz., Auckland, Russell, Westport, Dunedin, Invercargill, and the Bluff; the rate of increase being 37.6 D, itj.B4, 14.29, 12.63, 5*07, and 177.77, per cent respectively. Though relatively the progre s made by the Bluff is the most striking, yet abs n utely the amount — £128 — is but insignificant, aud by far the greatest increase is shown by Auckland, owing to the development of the Thames Goldfield. On the other hand, the largest decrease in the returns of the more important ports is shown by Hokitika, being at the rate of 46*66 per cent ; while the lowest in the scale are the Chatham ..Islands, which contribute only £1 to the general total.

The Rifle Match between ten of the Riverton Volunteers and ten of the Invercargill Company came of at the Riverton Butts on Wednesday, the 2nd ult. The morning was boisterous in the extreme, and. we regret to learn that one of the coaches conveying the Invercargilliteß was upset on the road, the driver, W. Campbell, having a narrow escape of bis life, and all the passengers being severely shaken. The firing did not conimence until past noon, and the wind was blowing with intense force, consequently the scores on both sides are below the average, although some good tallies were made. The Invercargill men were again the victors by fifteen points. Particulars of the match will be found in our River, ton letter. From a private letter we have been permitted to take the following extracts, relative to the Orepuki Diggings :— " We have found gold in payable quantity, and have been out all round for the past few weeks looking for a good source of ! water. We have applied to the Government for : three acres, and are expecting the grant up every i day. It is deep ground and will not pay for | boxing but will do very well for ! ground sluicing. Ifc will take twelve months to get it into working order, so you see it will not pay in small claims. Our head race will be two miles long, through bush, eqaal, as regards its formation, to six miles on the open land, and our tail race will be 600 or 700 yards long, but most in the open gully, as our claim is just witiiin the edge ofthe bush. The tail race will be through swampy ground, and deep, and will have to be well secured with timber — another expense. When we do get to work, however, we shall be all the ' soup,' as fche ground will pay, and the working will last a long time. We have been busy lately planting potatoes, kc, kc, so you see we mean work, and work steadily." At the Resident Magistrate's Courfc on Saturday last., sth ult., Thomas M'Ewan, baker, Harrisville, appeared to answer an information laid against him by Mr John Hamilton, baker, also of Harrisville. From the evidence it appeared that M'Ewan had, on an evening some time previous, in the Governor Grey Hotel, Harrisville, used threatening language concerning Mr Hamilton, in speaking to one of his — Mr Hamilton's 1 — employes, and that subsequently, on the night of Wednesday, the 2nd inst., M'Ewan had dogged plaintiff's steps about town, following him first into the Southern Cross Hotel, then into M'Kenzie's Pie House, and back to the Southern Cross again, plaintiff having made tbe two latter calls for the purpose of getting rid of him. On leaving M'Kenzie's, plaintiff made an attempt io elude M'Ewan, and reach home, by flight, but found that defendant ran as fast as himself, and kept close on him. He (plaintiff) had consequently crossed the street, and, doubling back on his pursuer, took refuge in the Southern Cross Hotel, M'Ewan still close at his heela. On fche mattter being explained to the landlord, Mr Hamilton "was let oufc by the back door, without the knowledge of defendant, and thus gofc quit; of him for fche night. It did not apuear that any quarrel had ever taken place between the parties, nor had M'Ewan attempted any violence while both were in the hotel together. Mr Hamilton, however, declared himself to be in bodily fear of defendant, on account of the threats he had uttered against him, and his dogging his steps at night about town. The Bench bound defendant to keep the peace for nine months, himSelf in £50, and two sureties in £25 each. Mr M'Donald appeared for plaintiff ; Mr Russell for defendant. A short time ago, telegraphic information stated that, Mr Schafer had attempted suicide. ! The ' Auckland Weekly Herald ' thus relates the particulars: — " It would seem that fche troubles of the unfortunate little German traveller, Mr Schafer, have affected his spirits to such an extent that life itself has become a burden to him. His Thames difficulties will be fresh in the minds of our readers, and perhaps they have been the cause ofthe rash act which Mr Schafer attempted yesterday. For some time past this renowned individual has taken up his abode at the Auckland Hotel, and his general conduct, at all times extremely eccentric, at last became rather outrageous. On Sunday evening we learn that he made an abortive attempt to choke himself, having been frustrated in his attempt by some bystanders, after which he rushed out into; the night, and was next discovered by the pohce upon the wharf in a very excited condition andin possession of a dagger, with which he was apparently studying " Ajax defying the lightning." He was disarmed and taken to his hotel, where he . remained, apparently in his right mind. On Monday afternoon, however, Constable Clarke waa suddenly called from his beat in Queenstreet to Custom House Wharf by a person named Farrell, and on proceeding thither found Mr Schafer in a very exhausted condition,' having just been extricated from the water by two' seamen. He had, it appears, been observed by them purposely to jump into the water and endeavor to drown himself, and they, with laudible promptitude, at once leaped in after him and succeeded in dragging him out, although not„ until he had been partially suffocated. The unfortunate man was taken at once to the Thams • Hotel, and brandy was administered, in the meantime a messenger was despatched for Dr Nicholson. That gentleman, upon his arrival, apphed the usual remedies and restoratives, and Mr Schafer began to recover his strength, and was finally rolled up in blankets and conveyed on a stretcher to the police station. Here he was detained, in order to give an account of his extraordinary proceedings, and also in order thafc he might be brought before the Resident Magistrate charged^ with attempting suicide. Several papers ! have been discovered in the poor man's pockets, which have been taken charge of by the Commissioner of Police, and from the tenor of some of; them we understand that the traveller must have seriously contemplated self-destruction. The case has at last attracted the attention of the charitable, and he was released from durance, Mr Petschler and Mr Wm. Morrin having become bails to the amount of £50 each for his peacable behaviour for six months. We also learn that Mr Petschler, who entertains a high opinion of the talents of Mr Schafer, has invited" him to take up his abode afc his residence at Remuera, until the departure of the a.s. ;Hero, when he is to be sent homewards ." On the sth ult a search party in a boat succeeded in recovering the body of one of the five men 1 drowned on Tuesday night lasfc — that of Kenelly. 'It was found at low water, at aspotiinthe stream not far from where the accident must have | occurred. *■:

On Monday 7th, Dec. an inquest was held, btfota Dr Deck, Coroner, at the Hospital, on th» body of W. Nelson, one of the party who left 7^ra|i^ saw mills in Hart's boat, which was i*p_J*|k while crossing the estuary on Thursday lite-, A,' verdict of " drowned by the upsettingqC a-.t^cptf* was returned. We understand that ill the efio|M that have been made to recover tne.lM^el/wTne other occupants ofthe craft Have felled, u<j|u.tt nofc now expected they wiU bey until 7 Taintday from the accident, when it is hoped they may be found. Agricultural settlement has received a great impetus in Victoria, through the now celebrated 42nd clause of the Land Act. New regulation* came into force on the 2nd inst., authoriiing free selection on all land lying within a radius of thirty miles from any goldfield. Commissioners were appointed to provide against the land thus thrown open being seized by speculators. The rush for allotments is described; in the '^Anstralasian' as follows:— For the choicer plot* of land; which . were surveyed ■ in - blocks, .ranging from twenty to 160 acres, .the applications were eager and numerous, in some cases amounting to treble the number of lots open to selection. Oa Phillip Island upwards of 7,000 stares were taken up. In the neighborhood' of Winchelsea more than 8,000 acres, comprising two, extensive commonages, were allotted td 113 applicahti|^_Jle nearly 280 persons were disappointed. At Keilor, about 5,000 acres passed into tiie ha_d_ ot 68 allottees. At Rochester, 2,50 C acre* WeM taken up; at Bothwell, 7,250; and in various other parts of the colony there was a greater or less evidence of earth-hunger on the part ofjthe population, its intensity varying 'with t_j| quality of the land which had' been piroel^edeUglblfl for selection. - - v v ... ;, A valuable seam of coal is reported to hate been discovered on the Waihidiig»» 'Ai^'tMtf Westport. - , " L "'" Ii1 ' i The brig Jane, Capt. Fox, which 'iuxiittiX' a* he Bluff from Hobarton, on the 28th Nor,, brought a number of perch for the Acclimatisation Society. ' Eighteen were put on board, but four died during the passage. Capt. Fox also brought a number of kifcg_roc_'witlr__b_i_b_J-s---posal here. The same vessel brings six daye latter news, which will be found- in our other columns. ■:■■:•;) : ..-. , ; -. ■. A meeting of gentlemen favorable to the holding of a Caledonian Gathering on New* Years-Day, was . held :at, r the, .^ioni^ljd on Friday, the 27th November. It was^reioivad to carry out fche proposal, if possible, and i that 'the Southland' Agricultural and Pastoral -.- Association be solicited to grant .the use of ite'-yard bi the occasion. A number of gent-en-eU" 1 Subscribed towards the object, and Messrs Ferguson and Scott were 7appouited Seeretaries,^th*inebructio_i to make preliminary arrangements. * Acoording to the West Coiw- ?CE_i_ei4 there ie a great dearth in the labour marked ftWeMlaad just now,, the construction of Lyiajibafl Water-race having . been stopedin qonse|uen<». The * New Zealand. S|uti -V (Donediiij JJth Dee. says *. — "The-ktest account_froin___ie__|__aon Ponds afc thef- Waiwera is the fish, numbering be^een4()o and 500, are thfwing mosfc satisfactorily ; their averag*** length being now 3£in or^4in. — Mr G. JKincan, in his boxes at the "Water of. Leith, c htt .half f fine young salmon-^T-tt ; least equal „to, thoi^at the Waiwera, ,-•■.• : ■•;..-.• ,■.,-. ..... a. ; . ., AK The Show to. be, held ; in Dunedi under the auspices of the Agricultural Wd L ?asto^ £ SkMiety of Ofcago, is definitely fi jed; to j>e hetdon Thuriday, the 14fch January, 1869-rmflteAC^ of the 7th as originally agreed upon. „. .-..,.\ _ _- }< The next anniversary of New, Zealand will be the centennial, Captain Cook having landed oa these shores on the Bfch October^ .#69. Some of the Northern papers suggest that; ax, general demonstration should be- got jup.jtetr celebrate it throughout the colony in a suitable manner. V. The ' DAily Times,' of the, 9tfc inst^speakiag of the Panama Mail Service, says :— "Amongst the telegrams which appear in our columns thit morning is one which is fraught, withltfcejdeepeet interest to the entire colony. It statee that Mr MarshaU, the agent sent . out by the Royal Mail .Company to ivatchrtheir interests in thie Panama Company, on this side of the globe, had taken possession afc;Sydn*y : >jofv ,fchp latter company's steamship Mataura, w[hiish;Wai_adTer» tised to sail for London. The ' Sydney Morning Herald,' remarking upon this actjon 'thenar, of Mr Marshall, declared that .the RaJ^ .ybi^io^nTeyi the outward mail to Panama. this' month, would be the last vessel that woulddojso/'O'Hbpee, however were expressed in private letters received at Wellington that siich a,/cl^trouif^ul|inight be avoided by someo arrangement entered into for the .conveyance of the mails, the. Tararua being spoken of as ['.likely to -be jmt oa the line to meet .tiie emerg«^|r." From Dunedin papers -we learn that 1 the> Otago Provincial Government has received intelligence, through ifr, Warden Pyke, f pf the;d]BDgT^fy of a payable goldfield; •; It appears that t( Mr "William Green, of Tapanui, prospected I ,^ *for* E lrAfi_li, and succeeded in .finding good gjfpund^' Sfc Ahuley** run, on the Waikaka, near .the Pomahaka. In a letter to Mr Pyke' he say*:~!i^e>wholerof the ground is new, except some f few guUies which have been .cradled. l"wM iJ piros^_ctl_g the terraces, for. six^weeks, c and everyone that I tried contained payable gold^withr-wate» t <-fipoi-I *^ wm - We have, some, "first-clasi. groupdi- We have ground below our race wluch worked out for.twentyr years, although 100 meu wero employed at it every weekL-; jW^ are vaßoutitwentjr B_aes from Switzers " ' ; .*.* . The.SOth ult. was ttwjagt^ i^^fj^^toi hy the N.Z.S.N. Corfor the. seeding in of tendere ftr purchasing the wreck vdfi^e *5GPar-MJd.:i^: Not a single offer, however,*- was •receiyed.^i-j The Canterbury ' Press '-^ame out. on the let December in areduced form as a penny paper. The late rush to the 1 old Greenstone diggings, Westland, appears to have assumed large proportions, no less than 2000 men, according to last account, hieing on the "*^6i_id7"-~- =r:r= " The report that 1 - Hauhau Missionary had been for some time making converts among the 'Maories ih^^Otago^whicb^pifeaiped in-^.. Dunedin papers, has been iftdi^ri'antly deniea in a letter sent from the Maori Xjuk, and signed by fourteen of the head sym, 'sls^* jS'-^f^i" whioJl we find the followipg «mpha^"e*^ii^ap,:--- , " J Wo feel thafc there has been a jgreat.-dsv^east upon us-^-that a great cloud has coirie and we beg to -state that we utterly abhor tho -conduct of tbe Hauhaus in the North Island."