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Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 65, 18 March 1887, Page 3

All the sections save one at tho Herekino settlement are taken up, there being SO families on the block and 70 more to come. On Friday last tho Staffa wont up tho coast with the object of entering Whangapi harbour, with oleveo families on board, having been subsidised for £40 by the Government, tbe passengers paving another .ClO botween them. On ariival off the harbour, a stiff sou-wester was blowing, and Captain Johnson did not think it fit to venture in, and ran up off Ahipara, where he lay, too, all night. Next day he tried again, but it was still too rough, and he finally landed his passengers at Ahipara, by their request. Captain Johnson, who has lately personally surveyed the Whangape Harbour, is of opinion that it ia dangerous to enter with a sea on.

'On dit that Mr Nelson (formerly in the employ of Mr Heron) is fcho lowest tenderer for the Custom House contract.

Inspector Thomson had a consultation with Mr T. Hill, Collector of Customs, today, with reference to a Eeizuieof Auckland oysters at New Plymouth. It appears that a Taranatdgentleman now in this city, bought from Mr Bishop, oyster dealer, two sacks of oysters and forwarded them to his friend at New Plymouth. The oysters were seized by tho police, at the instance of the Custom authorities, and legal proceedings threat ened. Mr Hill is of opinion that the oysters are similar to those "Mangrove" oysterß brought from Mong^nui recently, and which were decided by the R.M. as not coming under tbe Act. Prosecutions at Mongonui and Auckland in charges of picking oysters were dismissed on that ground, and it is improbable further action will be taken in the present instance. Tho Act is evidenty very faulty in its dealings with oysters.

People are accustomed to speak of the convenient divorce laws of the United States and the expeditioua way in which the holy tie of matrimony can be cut in twain and a fresh knot formed; but it is plain that Australia is not far behind. At Melbourne last week, an applieition was made to Mr Justice Holroyd that he should hear a motion tomakeabsoluteadecreeHtsi granted by him on the 22nd November for tha dissolution of themarriageof Sarah Ann and Andrew Fuller Virtue. The statotory period of three months bad elapsed, and it was deeired that the decree might be made absolute as soon as possible. His Honor replied that he would appoint a day for the hearing of this and other applications, but nubeequently the petitioner's proctor appeared and asked that the motion might be heard without delay, as it waa a matter of great urgency ; his liont was about to be married in a day or two. His Hoaor : " What, before getting a divorce; she may never get a divorce. It does not follow because a decree nisi has been granted that it is made absolute as a matter of course."