SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume X, Issue 674, 13 December 1853, Page 4

SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

"WELLINGTON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, October 29. His Excellency the Governor diiects it to be notified for general information that the undci mentioned Departments at New Phmouth weic transferred to the Pio\mcial Government theieof, on the Ist instant, fiom \k lucli date the officers of the said depai t-meutsha-\e been instructed to receneordeis from and make reports to llis Honour the Superintendent of the Pi ounce of New Plymouth, viz.: — Road Depaitmcnt, Harbour Dcpaitmcnt, Police Department, Gaol Depai tment. His Excellencj the Goicinor has been pleased to appoint — William Guise Button, Esq., to be a Commissioner of Crown Lands for theProiince ot Canterbmy, vice Lt.-Colonel James Campbell. Lieutenant-Colonel James Campbell, to be Regishar of Deeds for the Province of Canterbuiy, -\ice William Guise Bnttan, Esq. Henry Boyton, Esq., to be Inspector of Natn c Machinery, S.c, in New Zealand. Charles Simeon, Esq., to be Sheiiff of the Distnct of Canteibury. Cliailcs Logic, Esq., to be Collector of Customs of the Pro\ince of Otago. Edwaid Hugh Enes Blackmore, Esq., to be Collector of Customs of the Province of Nelson, and diaries Chailes Champagne Dcs Vcout, Esq., to be Rub-Collector of Customs at the Port of Wanganui, in the Pi ounce of Wellington, vice DaA id Stark Dune, Esqmre. Messrs. Charles Stutfield, Geon;e Hiuvkinq, John Cliarleq J.\mc% and James Webster, to be Tulewaiters in the Customs' Depai tment at the Poit of Wellington. Manihcraof Wanaiapa, in the Province of Wellington, to be an Assessor of that Distnct undci the llesid. Magistiates' Oidmanec. Henry William Peter, *nd Robeet Stokes, Esqmrei, to be Inspectois of the Wellington Branch of the Colonial Bank of Issue.

(From the Nelson Examiner, November 5.) The address of the Superintendent delivered at the opening of the Pnmncial Council, on T hui&day last, ■will be load with great interest. The information which the document conveys of the condition and pio^pects of the Province, is highly giatiiying. The financial statement shews a balance of cash in hand of £2,423,

and this after paying 2,000 towards the recent purchase ot the Pelorus and other districts, and leaving a debt of only £3,000 against the land fund. With the exception of D'Uivillc's island, the native title has been extinguished to the whole of the land in the Province, ■which comprises more than one-fomth of the island, so that we may confidently look to a considerable _ land fund acciuing as soon as' the compensation scrip is absorbed, which is in the way of being quickly done. The a alue of the Exports for the last nine months show the lapidly increasing trade of our port, and as these now exceed in \ alue the Imports, the wealth of the Province must be fast augmented. The various topics upon which his Honour proposes to legislate, we shall discuss on another occasion, and shall content ouiselvcs at piesent by saying in general terms, that the measures, as far as they_ go, are needed by the public interests. The addiess itself is a clear and able production. We yesterday paid another visit to the Brook Street Valley Coal Mnie, wliich we found looking more promising than we expected. The mouth of the mine was securely tnnbeicd, and everything in readiness to commence woiking the coal, which forthwith will be in the market. The seam stands neaily -vertical, and wears an improved appearance ; its thickness is about four feet six inches, andiiscs in height as the mine is opened — at present theie is about twelve feet above the level of the ground, which can be worked without trouble of drainage. "We shall very soon therefore learn the value of the seam ; and if it proved a veritable field, and one which can be worked, its discovery could not have been made at a more opportune time. Great complaints are made by the men engaged in the work, at the injudicious meddling of persons who ■s isit the mine. A tew mornings ago, at a veiy early hour, some persons t cry imprudently removed a sort of pillar of coal, which had been left standing to support the loof until it could be timbered, by doing which the woiks were greatly damaged, and the safety of the persons who were guilty of the indiscretion was placed in great jeopai dy. This thoughtless act cost an entire day to repair the damage which was done. The Superintendent entertained the Members of the Provincial and General Legislatures at dinner, on Thursday evening. The dinner was prepared by Mr. Sullivan, attno Odd Fellow's Anns, in most creditable style.