NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XV, Issue 2064, 26 November 1869, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be hold this afternoon, at Messrs Wilson and Co.'s offices. This eveniug a meeting of the shareholders of the Eureka Gold Mining Company will bo held in the Oddfellows' Hall. A lecturo will be given this evening in the Avonside Schoolroom by the Key Canon Wilson. The annual mooting of tho Total Abstinence Society will take place this evening in tho Temperance Hall, Gloucester Btreet. The total quantity of alcoholic liquors on which duty was paid in New Zealand during the quarter ending on the 30th September last was 260,142 gallons, being at the rate of T147 gallons per head of the European population, or 4688 gallons per head per annum. The total quantity of revenue collected on these liquors during tho quarter was £100 645, being at the rate of 8s lid per head, or £1 15s 8d per head per annum.

We (" Argus") have Adelaide papers to the 9th inst. They state that the prevalence of the drought on the Peninsula has had such a distressing effect, that in the neighbourhood of Sturt Bay one of the settlers cut the throats of a thousand sheep and carted them into the sea. Gloomy accounts continue to be received from the northern portion of the southeast, as well as from the adjoining stations in Victoria. A good deal of country is being abandoned for want of water and feed; and in consequence of the inability of Bettlers to sell the sheep they are unable to feed, they are making arrangements for slaughtering them. Some very satisfactory yields are reported from the Almanda silver mine. On the subject of the approaohing harvest in South Australia, the "Register" says: —

"From many agricultural districts where a scarcity was at one time apprehended, the accounts are most encouraging. The southeast, it is estimated, will yield a mean of 35 bushels to the acre. In the south the wheat is looking better than it has for some seasons. The same remark will apply to various parts of the east and north-east. From the north, the principal cereal-field for the colony, reports are conflicting. It is stated that over a considerable area the yield will not exceed from five to seven bushels, but these statements are counterbalanced by tidings from other places where the prospects are exceedingly cheering. Altogether we may depend upon a fair average return, unless disease presents itself in more destructive force than it has hitherto. There were rumours of rust in different localities, bnt it has so far kept within narrow limits. The hay crop will not be heavy."

The announcement, says the " Argus " of the 16th inst., that Mr Redwood's thoroughbred racehorses Manuka, Peeress, and Misfortune would be submitted to auction, attracted a large number of persons to Kirk's Bazaar yesterday. Manuka is acknowledged by all judges to be one of the most perfect shaped horses ever seen in Australia, and as Mr Redwood had previously refused several very liberal offers for the horse, it was thought that the bidding for the Maori champion would be unusually spirited ; but after reaching 740 guineas, nobody seemed disposed to go beyond that price, and consequently he was returned unsold. Peeress, the winner of the Royal Park Stakes, was the next animal brought under the hammer, but she also was sent back without changing owners, though an exceedingly liberal price was offered for her, and Misfortune, a small weedy mare, was likewise unsold. A pure Arab, of very high caste, but who suffered considerably by comparison with Manuka, was then put up, but the bidding was so spiritless and the offers so small, that Mr Tattersall was forced to knock him down at a very moderate figure, but we believe the horse did not change hands. Lancashire Lass, a sister to Lancashire Witch, was also returned without finding a purchaser.

" The resolutions proposed by Mr * Higinbotham," observes the "Sydney Morning Herald," " as a defiance to the government of England, will probably draw after them those who delight in strong measures, and think that power is possessed wherever there is verbal strength. This gentleman has found that the colonial empire is governed * by a person named Rogers.' There seems to have been great aptitude in the announcement, since it won shouts of laughter from those who heard it. But this is only a very foolish artifice, if it be intended to produce more than a laugh. Every empire is governed by some ' Mr Rogers,' and perhaps the name is as respectable—certainly it is as musical, as that of Mr Higinbotham. If, indeed, we had to choose at all between the Government of Mr Rogers and the Government of Mr Higinbotham, we should certainly prefer the first; since, omnipotent as he may be supposed to be, we have no doubt there are limits beyond which his power does not extend. All the oppression and wrong done by the 'Downing street people,' so called, for the last 20 years, sinks into insignificance in comparison with the wrong done by Mr Higinbotham during the last four or five years. There is no misrule which it is possible for a man to perpetrate that he did not commit and defend with defiance. Of course, no resolutions passed by the Lower House of Victoria will be any authoritative interpretation of its constitution. If these views are entertained by both Houses, and are embodied in the forms of law, they can be remitted to the Government at home. They certainly would be rejeoted with contempt by any Minister of the Crown. To confer such powers as are claimed would be treason to the empire and to the colony. It would be far better to part with the sovereignity altogether than to hold it upon such disgraceful terms." The Adelaide correspondent of the " Argus" telegraphs on the 15th instant as follows :-— Public attention has been altogether absorbed to-day by the news of the arrival of the Gulnare from the Northern territory. She anchored at an early hour this morning. Mr Goyder, the Surveyor-General, with a

large number of men, landed, and came into the city, looking rcmirkably well tl ' . they had passed so many months in a l Utitude. They left 100 men at the .5„ "J the proposed township und.r the charge o Dr Pool, who will bo brought on by ™S, opportunity. Mr Go, dor the wholo survey of 650,000 acre* in chiding the extra area, was comnU i" on September 27. A township vS' surveyed near a good landin R .pl aC e, and ! jetty was almost completed when ho Two roads had been formed from t!, O town! ship to the table land. The climate, takin* the year round, was not considered ver? lint and the variations of temperature were not great as in Adelaide. For six month. f rai ! February to August, the weather was pWw and genial; tho rest of the year was hot Mm thermometer, however, never ranged above 105dep. Mr Goydor says the land is v, good for stock and cattle, though worked hard, did remarkably well, only one or two dying. Specimens of gold, iron, tin, llm i copper ores had been found and the minora wealth of the country is hkely to prove yerv extensive One casualty, unfortunately, occurred to the party. The natives attacked a small company of surveyors and assistants Mr Bennett, a draughtsman, was speared, and died of his wounds; another mm was eerio Uß l v wounded, but recovered. J

Our readers, says the «Independent " will bo interested to learn that tho story told about Te Kooti being shot in tho pa at Mohaka » not. altogether fiction. He was fired at as de scribed, but the bullet passed through hia clothes. When ho landed first, ho was at. tended by 163 men, escapees from tho Chat! ham Islands. Of that number ninetyono have been killed or died of their wounds leaving only seventy-two of tho prisoners' ahve. Unfortunately, the greatest scoundrels seam to have escaped. Tamihana Teketoke the murderer of Uartnetl at Waitangi; Miko ofTongoio; Tahau. one of tho murderers of Major Biggs; and Baker, the half caste, boine still alive and ready for any devilment. \ few TJriweras remain with Te Kooti, but all other tribes have left him, and his follower are not supposed to exceed 100 altogether They are believed to be at Waipapa, near the Wanganui river. Tho statement that 'h Kooti lost two fingers and a thumb in the last engagement ia verified; and it, is also stated" on the authority of To Heu Heu, that he hm in his possession a gold watch, part of tho plunder taken from tho houso of Major Biggs. J