The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3043, 27 April 1867, Page 4

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOBO, NON TTRO. " If I h»T» bean exiingoiihtd, yrt thu* tin A tiiouiand be»coni from tht iptrk I boxo."

SATURDAY, APRIL 27.

By the arrival of the s.s. ( Wellington' yesterday, we have our Southern exchanges in an incomplete dtate. There would appear ; to be great excitement in Dunedin, owing to some obnoxious appointment by the General Government, as noted in a telegram which we publish elsewhere, but we are unable to. find out any cause for this beyond a Gazette announcement, that a Mr. Bradshaw had been appointed agent for the General Government on the Otago Gold-fields. This person is said to be most incompetent, and of questionable antecedents. However, we rather think the outburst of popular feeling was •aused by the action taken by the Government recently in disallowing certain Provincial Ordinances of Otago. "We find in the papers the report of a public meeting, held at Dunedin, on the 7th, the Mayor in the chair, " to consider the position in which " the City is placed by the aotion of the " General Government relative to the City " Reserves Ordinance ; and also to take into " consideration generally the relations of the " Provincial and General Governments." At this meeting, Mr. Vogel moved the following resolution :~— ' * That, in the opinion of this meeting, the action of the General Government, as communicated by last mail, is highly injurious to the interests of Otaga generally, and to the city of Dimedjn in particular, and that it is quite opposed to the integrity of provincial institution*." He said that the General Government had taken advantage of legal points, in order to interpose difficulties in the way of the progress of the province ', and went on thus ;— » The disallowance of the Railway Ordinance wag altogether an unnecessary proceeding; and the reasons given for it were altogether frivolous. The principal alleged reason was that the Ordinance conflicted with the provisions of the Southland Debt Act, which prokibited the contraction of loans, by a province, without the sanction of the Assembly, But it could not be rationally contended that * guarantee, such as was proposed by the Ordinance, came, in the category of loans. There was this broad dis-. tinction— under a guarantee, the province was liable for the payment of a certain rate of interest for not more than a stipulated number of years, and was* not in any way responsible for the repayment of the principal money j while, in the case of a loan, there was a liability to pay interest and to repay principal. The guarantee proposed in this oase amounted to nothing more than an extended appropriation—an appropriation of £32,000 a-year for fifteen years j and nobody oould pretend that suon a province as Otago was not justified in making such an appropriation for an object which the community believed to be for the public good. The Ordinance that had been disallowed did not, o* itself, entail any absolute liability ; for it wa« limply an amended Ordinance, not increasing the liabilities of the province beyond those authorised to be incurred by the Ordinance which it was sought to amend. That Ordinance provided for a guarantee of 8 per cent, on not more than £400,000 for fifteen years; the time within which the guarantee might be given to a Company being eighteen months, from April, 1866. The amended Ordinance did not increase the amount, the rate, or the period of guarantee, but it extended the term within which the guarantee might be given, and for the giving of it in a way which would be more likely to induce investment. In the letter of duallowance, it was said of this amended Railway Ordinance, that "no adequate provision for the prate* tion of the public interest is provided." But that was a consideration of public policy : to admit that the General Government was entitled to interfere on such a ground was to admit that whatever was done in the province was amenable to revision by the General Government ; while, at a matter of fact, the objection was altogether vmfonnded. There waa in the Ordinance an express stipulation that the Superintendent should make such terms, conditions, and provisions with the Company as he deemed necessary to protect the public interests ; and, therefore, the objection stated was no more than a gratuitous insinuation, "Though you have the power to protect SSpublic intereste, you will not mie the necessary provisions." There was another m^ *[™°J" objection, that the guarantee was to be JP«J fora nurelv private purpose, and was, therefore, opposed to Sat Jrovtsion of the Constitution Act which said that moneys should be appropriated for public purposes only. Mr.Vogel, who is also Provincial Treasurer, next alluded to the disallowance of the Beserves Management Ordinance, of which our members know something. The Government introduced a bill last session to settle the matter, but it did not become law, owing to the non-attendance of some members of the Upper House. The Ordinance embodied the principles of the Government bill, but the General Government now disallow it, and assign as a reason that they intend to test in the Supreme Court the validity of the grant which they agreed in recommending, and the existence of which they had formally recognised. Another cause of complaint against the General Government was their inter-

ference with the side of the -rafts. Mr. Vogel thus explained this matter : The effect of what had been done by the General Government could be .horfcly >t»ted £.. T he sale of 2T™ ft JT 1 ut °V?*d, «nd the Provincial SfKffSf^*!! 8811 de P, ri ™ d «* from £12,000 to S^v^S^ X J? t7 J rmdA P rol »bly have rewired !™ »J ™ <f 8t L °PP*?«- Some three month. XLSLSI? 1? * he 1 *? Ow W of the Prorincial Government that, alth^gh Scry liberal provision, had beens m.de by >Woh licenses could SdA l V m •"» Wakatipu^Urtrict-the payment wwl a .D-^p a y ew ._, n a although 860,000 acres were av^i]^,, f or the p^pog^ t ne annual amount •owning to the Government wa» but £115. Inquiries made, and it was found that the revenue was being defrauded in a wholesale manner, by persons running sheep and not paying anything for ao doing. The Government considered that 350,000 acres was far too large an extent of country to be dealt with as commonage ; and that it would be far more to the interest of the miners that the country should be properly stocked, and food thus ensured to them at a low price. It was also considered by the Government, that to leave ao large a tract without any tiling like control from legal ownership was likely to be a great inducement to cattle-stealing. The Government thought that if 100,000 acres were left as commonage, the leasing of 250,000 acres as runs would be thoroughly justified, io that the country might be fairly atocked, and a revenue for the province secured. The Government made provision, under the Goldfields Act, absolutely to protect the mining oommunity : every holder of a miner's right was to be allowed to run a horse, or a cow ; there was to be no interference with prospecting, nor any with respect to mining leases, and the holders of agricultural leases were protected. The runs were announced for sale. Meanwhile, a great many applications were made to stop the .ale, in the interest of those who had been running cattle without paying for them; bnt the Government, he thought very properly, took no notioe of them. Then some one was despatched to Wellington— and the sale was stopped in the most offensive way. Intimation to atop the sale was sent direct to the auctioneer, and The General Government had no more right to stop that sale than had any person then present. This at least shows that Auckland is not the only province which suffers indignity and wrong at the hands of the Wellington Government. Mr. Vogel concluded thus : — He thought the meeting would agree with him that, with respect -io-these runs, the interference of the General Government was purely gratuitous and molt insulting ; and that there were strong grounds for complaining of such a procedure, which had deprived the province of a large revenue which it had a right to expect to have received. He thought he had shown that the resolution he had proposed was moderately worded, and might well have been much stronger in its language. If the General Government meant to fight the province, let them say .o in a bold andf outspoken manner. There ought to be nothing but indignation with respect to any attempt to subvert the province by directly injuring its institutions. (AppUuse.) If the General Government were determined to insidiously try to ruin the province, there was no course that could be pursued in opposing them which would be too strong. (Applause.) The resolution was unanimously adopted, after having been seconded by Mr. Millar, M.P.C. His concluding remarks are worth quoting : Next to this attempted annihilation of municipal institutions, he did not doubt that the design was to swallow np the Provincial Governments which now existed. It could not be said that the Government bad prepared them for deglutition, like the boa-con-strictor. Fair warning had been given, and it was now for them to hoist, not the flag of discord, but the British ensigu, and under it fight the battle as it should be fought. Let their aim and object be the one great necessity— Separation from the North, which already swallowed up so great a proportion of the revenue of the country, and whose ultimate object it was to have, with other revenue, the land revenue within its power. The following resolutions were subsequently passed, the speakers using language more or less decided against the centralising policy of the Government, or continuing to contribute to the maintenance of government in the North Island :—: — "That the said action is as much opposed to the spirit of the Constitution Act as it is subversive of the principles of local representative government. That it indicates a course of policy which if persisted in must inevitably produce results the very opposite of those which the General Government professes to aim at in the despatches referred to." "That the only constitutional remedy against the evils complained of is Separation between the Northern and Middle Islands of New Zealand, and that, pending the accomplishment of such Separation, this meeting looks with confidence to the Superintendent and Provincial Council just elected (representing, as they do, the mind and wish of the people), to take such steps as may protect the interest, of the province, and uphold its independence." f " That, while deprecating to the fullest extent anything like an empty threat, this meeting deems it due to the exigency of the occasion, as well as to the General Government itself, to declare that there is a limit beyond which the people of this province will not aubmij; to have its resources alienated, its progress retarded, and its best interests set aside as they have hitherto been by an Executive in which the mind of the province is not represented, and which to all interests and purposes is hostile to the advancement of the Middle Island." " That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded by the chairman of this meeting to the General Government." If anything were wanted to prove the imminent danger provincial institutions run at the hands of the General Government^ it ■will be found in the following extract from the last summary edition of the Lytielton Times : — ■ The Government has given noindication that it intends to bring forward any special measures, if we except a bill for the purpose of giving municipal powers to outlying districts within the several provinces. It is generally supposed that this meaaure aims at the integrity of provincial institutions, and the opponents and supporters of the present system are beginning t» range themselves on either side and burnish up their arms to fight out the battle of Centralism v. Provincialism, The bankrupt condition of the province of Auckland, and its virtual desertion by Mr. Whitaker, will throw additional strength into the hands of the centralists, and perhaps enable the General Government to carry any moderate measure in the direction of superseding thoie provinces which are dependent upon it for their existence. This intelligence ought to stimulate the members for Auckland, and her public men, to increased exertions in the good cause of insular Separation. The position of Auckland is not so desperate as the South would appear to imagine. "We have but to retrench, and keep quiet for a short time, and Auckland will soon right herself. Canterbury estimates her own indebtedness, general and provincial, at £1,621,000. True, Canterbury has great resources in land and gold ', but she derives little good provincially from the gold-fields. Westland is, in fact, a separate province. But her railway undertaking is incomplete; and the difficultiesfin the way of completing the Lyttelton harbour works are apparently enormous. Moreover, Canterbury has pretty well exhausted her lands, and although* she derives a very large revenue from her runs, still Auckland, with peace established, and free trade in native land, ought not to fear entering the lists against her, weighted as we are with debt. "We require a firm and skilful hand at the helm, however, and moderation and prudence in the Council. Moreover, Auckland is not nearly so badly off as her neighbours, considering the relative resources of the provinces. Hawke's Bay is overdrawn some £9,000, and has "an empty chest." Taranaki obtained an advance of £10,000 from the Bank, on the strength of being able to sell, land to that amount on a given day. The land -wa* unsaleable^ the Maries

are in arrears ; and there is no immediate prospect of amendment. All this looks bad enough ; and "Wellington is not much, if at all, in a sounder financial condition. But were the cost of government reduced the country would soon resume its vitality. At all events, the coming session will decide the fate of the provinces,

I By the arrival of thes.s. 'Wellington' we received incomplete files of Southern papers. None of the "Advertiser oame to hand from Wellington ; and we were dependent on the kindness of the captain of the ' Flying Buck' for the only issue of the Otago Daily Times which we received. We take care to forward complete files to all «ur contemporaries. We regret to find that several flocks of sheep in our Southern district are suffering severely from disease. A post mortem examination has been made in one or two cases, but with no result as to the nature or cause of disease. We place but little faith in a few hurried dissections, however. We would Buggest that two professional gentlemen, of known scientific ability — one holding a diploma from the College of Surgeons, aud the other from the veterinary College — should make a careful examination of a number of diseased sheep in various stages, with a view to determine the true nature and remedy of the disease. From what we can learn, it is not unlike fluke, which has hitherto but rarely been reported as existing amongst the flocks in this colony. The disease may, however, be j novel, and produced entirely by local causes, as so many diseases in. sheep are. It is chiefly reported over the sooria lands. By a paragraph quoted elsewhere from the Wellington Independent, it would appear that the shareholders of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company are at issue with the Directors. The latter want to wind up the Company : the shareholders desire to try the merits of improved management. The meeting was adjourned. A loss of nearly £7,000 on the half -year, in addition to the loss of the steamship 'Queen,' it a pretty fair hole iv the capital stock of this company, and speaks volumes for the management. The state of this concern is another illustration of the fate that awaits companies managed by men utterly ignorant of the duties they undertake ; and the shareholders are scarcely to be pitied who embark their money in such crude adventures. Colonel Balneavis, the Returning Officer for the electoral district of the Northern Division, notifies that the nomination of candidates for the representation of the Northern Division in the Provincial Council will take place on Tuesday, the 7th proximo, at noon, at the Pilot-station. North Shore, and the poll, if necessary, on the 14th of May. The Hawhe't Bay Herald and Wellington Independent contain long and interesting narratives of the great native meeting at Wairoa, alluded to by us in yesterday's leading article. Mr. Commissioner Naughton has despatched Detective Crick to Mongonui to obtain information as to the wilful murder which has been perpetrated, in which Mr. Charles William Sydney Smith was the victim, as reported in this journal a few days since. The detective officer, who left by the ' Rob Roy,' schooner, is well acquainted with the district, having been previously stationed there ; and we trust he will be successful in his mission, and that the perpetrator of this brutal murder may be discovered and brought to justice. We are glad that the Commissioner of Police has taken prompt action in the matter. We have pleasure iv directing attention to the announcement elsewhere in our columns, that the Rev. Dr. Maunsell is to deliver a lecture on the celebrated book, " Ecce Homo," on Monday evening, |in the Young Men'g Christian Association rooms. We trust there will be a large attendance. Dr. Maunsell has spent the greater part of his life in critical studies, principally in the translation of the Bible, and is well qualified to deal with the very remarkable book, which has awakened a feeling of profound sympathy and inquiry throughout the Christian Church. The death of the Rev, J. L. Poole, Australian and New Zealand Agent of the Colonial Missionary Society, is announced at Melbourne, on the 27th ult. Mr. Poole made the tour of the colony in 1863. C. 'Haselden, Esq., Inspector of Orphan Schools, paid an official visit to St. Mary's Orphanage, North Shore, yesterday. After making a thorough examination, including all matters relative to the health, comfort, recreation, and tuition of the children, the Inspector expressed himself highly gratified, and warmly congratulated the manager, Mr. H. Mcllhone, upon the very successful result of that gentleman's exertions in behalf of the children under his charge. A very favourable report has, we understand, been transmitted to the Provincial Government, and to the manager of the institution. An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Waihau Gold-mining Company (Limited) was held yesterday afternoon at the Company's Office, Fort-street, at which over six hundred shares were represented. Mr. S. Cochrane presided. Mr. R. Schultz read the minute*, which contained the resolution passed at last meeting to wind up the Company, which were confirmed. On the motion of Mr. Abbott, seconded by Mr. Edmonds, it was resolved to dispose of the machinery, plant, &c, by auction as advertised. The advertisement states that they are to be sold at Mr. Oochrane's mart at 12 o'clock to-day. At the Police Court, yesterday, the three charges of breach of the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1862, preferred against Marceau. Hautrive, were withdrawn in consequence of the absence of a material witness, named Hollo way, and the prisoner was discharged. Edmund J, Cox was formally remanded until Monday next, on which day the two charges against him for larceny and forgery will be heard. The prisoner will be defended by Messrs. Wynn and Beveridge. Jesse Cole, charged with embezzlement, was remanded until Friday next. On Tuesday morning last, Mr. Quick and Mr. Corbett, postmaster, started for Ngaruawahia, in a four-wheeled vehicle, and arrived there at six o'clock in the evening. This is the first time, we believe, a vehicle has gone such a distance to the Waikato in one day. The Nathan Juvenile Troupe gave their second entettainment last evening, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and met another enthusiastic reoeption at the hands of Auckland public. Notwithstanding the counter attractions elsewhere, the hall was filled with an appreciative auditory, attracted by the wonderful talent exhibited by these petite artistes. The applause bestowed upon the troupe throughout the evening was far beyond that usually extended to public caterers, and indicated the amount of interest excited by the juveniles and tbeir entertainment. The Hibernian burlesque, from " The Happy Man," an original composition by Mr. Small, was excellently adapted to display the talent of the troupe, and especially the embryo talent of the fascinating little Marian, who is the gem of the company and the admiration of every patron. The musical and terptichorean melange which follows is well arranged, and in keeping with the character of the entertainment ; but the original burlesque upon i colonial characteristics by one who knows what he is writing about is remarkably clever, and serves to exhibit the inimitable talent of the Misses Selma and Marian. The picture is so life-like and so exquiaitely rendered alike by the composer and the artiste that the audience are thoroughly enraptured with it. " Dancing Mad," with which the entertainment closes, serves to show the cleverness of Mr. J. Chambers, by whom the ballet is arranged and sustained throughout with so much ability. The programme will be repeated this evening. We regret to have to record the occurrence of an accident, on Thursday afternoon last, to Mr. James Hunter Crawford, Registrar of Deed*. Whilst getting on his horse in Symonds-street he accidentally touched the animal with his spur, causing it to jump on one side, and was thrown to the ground. It was found that he had sustained some injury to the | thigh, but fortunately it was not broken, and it is expected Mr. Crawford will be able to resume his duties in a few days. The Southern telegrams give us the following items in addition to the sensation news about Bradshaw :— Mr. Benson is advised that arrangei ments have been made for booking passengers to and from Southampton vift New York. — West Indian boats, oonveying colonial passengers, are always to call at Virgin Island instead of St. Thomas, out and home. — The Wellington provincial eight per cent, loan for £50,000 was negotiated on the 30th January, at six to eight premium. One firm tendered for the whole at 105$> — A man, named Williams, has been committed for arson at Dunedin. — A requisition has been forwarded to Mr. Pateraon, asking him to resign his seat in the House of Representatives.— The Otago champion riflemen have {been [entertained at a soil So and balL The Superintendent was present.— The Hon. John Johnston has resigned his seat in the pabinet. ." Tfle ostensible reason given is Ijba.t of private affonr,

We have been requested to direct the attention of unemployed fishermen and other* in Auckland, who may be desirous of forming a fishing station, to the announcement of "Beta," in another column, who will provide, for suitable parties, a boat, •mokehouses, salt, &c, at the Great Barrier laland. The advertiser oan be seen at the Koyal Hotel to-day at 2 o'olook, and on Monday at the same time. A coroner's inquisition on the body of John Sturch, who was drowned by the recent boat accii dent at Mangawai, was held on the 17th instant at Mangawai, before J. Ryan, Esq., J.P., and a respectable jury aworn for the occasion, of whom Mr. Thomos Webster was foreman. After hearing evidence, the following verdict was returned: — "That the said John Sturch came by his death by drowning on the bar at Mangawai, on the 10th April, 1867, accidentally. The jury are of opinion that all vessels entering and leaving the port of Mangawai should carry life-buoys. The jury also are of opinion that the proper authorities should direct a fresh survey and new soundings to be taken of said bar and harbour of Mangawai, as in their opinion same has bpcome absolutely necessary." In consequenoe of a further communication which has been received from the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, the rate of postage on newspapers sent via Panama, specified in the notice to the public, No. 24, of May last, will be reverted to — the reduced rate of Id. each newspaper, which has been levied since September last, being insufficient to cover the cost of the transit of the newspapers across the Isthmus of Panama. In future, therefore, newspapers for New Zealand or Australia, sent vi& Panama, will be liable to the following rates of postage, which must be paid in advance : — For each newspaper duly registered at the General Post-offioe for transmission abroad, not exceeding 4 ounces in weight, 4d. ; above 4 ounces, and not exceeding £lb., Bd. The amateurs of H.M. 12th Regiment reappeared at the Odd Fellows' Hall last evening, before a good house, and gave another of their interesting theatrical and musical performances, under the patronage of Major-General Chute, commanding her Majesty's forces in New Zealand. The proceeds were for the liquidation of a debt on a church built by the soldiers of the regiment at Ngaruawahia. The comedy by Mr. Charles Selby, entitled " Boots at the Swan," so well known in connection with amateur theatrical representations, was put on the stage, followed by the very interesting programme of the Waipa Minslrels, which included 'many choice new selections, and concluded with the popular "Nervous Cures." A public meeting was convened by advertisement to be held in the large room of the Royal Oak Hotel, Onehunga, on Thursday evening last, at half-past seven o'clock sharp, " for the purpose of taking into consideration the desirability of petitioning his Honor the Superintendent not to dispose of One-tree Hill, as it is the only means now which the old and infirm pensioners have in gaining an honest livelihood." The advertisement purported to be signtd by B. Stack« pole, James Coffee, and J. O'Keeffe; but those persons attended at the place named, and denied signing the copy of the advertisement, or authorising any person to attach their signatures. There was a large attendance of persons present, but no business was transacted. The Rev. S. Edger will deliver tyro sermons tomorrow, at the Parnell Hall— that in the morning, on " The Lord's Prayer— its meaning and uae j" and in the evening, "On Sacred Truth." The monthly meeting of the Papakura Association is to be held on Wednesday afternoon next, at the Papakura Hotel, immediately after the cattle sale. A meeting of No. 4 Company Auckland Rifle Volunteers was held last evening, at the stores of Mr. Hassan, for the purpose of taking into consideration the style of the new uniform to be adopted by them. After much discussion, it was decided to have a blue uniform with scarlet facings ; and after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman (Captain Tole), to Mr. Hassan, for the use of his room, and to Messrs. Hampton, Saunders, and Bowden, for their kindness in * forwarding suits for inspection, the meeting separated. It will be seen by advertisement in another column that Mr. Crombie, photographic artist, of Queen-street, has determined to continue the reduced scale of charges for one week longer. It will be recollected that about a fortnight ago a number of blankets were stolen from the stores of Messrs. Cruickshank, Smart, and Co. From information received, a man named William Richards was arrested yesterday, in a tent at Mount Eden, by Detective OHara, on the charge of having stolen the property. He will be brought before the Bench this morning. The 15th anniversary of the High-street Congrenational Chapel will be celebrated on Sunday next, when two sermons will be preached, — that in the morning, at 11 o'clock, by th« Rev. J. T. Warlow Davies, and in the evening, at half-past 6 o'clock, by the Rev. Dr. Wallis. The shareholders of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company held their ninth half -yearly general meeting on Thursday afternoon last. The meeting, as might have been expected, was a very stormy one, and the subjects brought under debate were of so important a nature that the afternoon was spent before all the business could be disposed of, and the meeting adjourned until Wednesday ;next. On the chairman moving the adoption of the Directors' report, Mr. Bishop* laid two resolutions before the meeting, the first; being a formal rejection of the report, and the second a proposition to re-construct the Directory, by reducing the number of its membets. The chairman decided that the second resolution could not be put till the question of the adoption of the report had been disposed of ; but permitted the first resolution to be proposed as an amendment. After a long and acrimonious discussion, the amendment was put and lost by the casting vote of the Chairman. The motion for the adoption of the report wat then carried by a majority of three. In each of these division!, however, several shareholders who were present did not vote, and many others had previously left the room apparently wearied by the length of the discussion. Mr. Bishop was to have proposed a third resolution, a sort of corollary to the second, but did not bring it forward, owing, we believe, to the turn which the discussion took. The main question to be decided by the shareholders next Wednesday will be nothing less than whether the Company is to continue in existence or not — a motion in favour of winding np the affairs of the Company having been already proposed by Mr. Pearce, on behalf of his brother Directors. If the motion be lost, tbe Directors stand pledged to resign. — Wellington In' dependent, April 20. Prayer-meetings will be held at the Young Men's Christian Association-rooms this evening at half -past 7 o'clock, and to-morrow morning at 7 o'clock * Tne members of the Auckland Jockey Club are convened to attend a meeting this afternoon at 2 o'clock. A meeting of the creditors of George Gingell, clerk, will be held on Tuesday afternoon next, at 2 o'clock, at the office of Mr. Macdonald, solicitor, Queen-street. A sign that the u good old times" have not yet been restored by his Honor Mr. Moorhouse and all his adherents, is the enormous number of summonses for small debts being served all over the country. The business of bailiff is now taken up by many new hands, in order to supply the extraordinary demand for their services. We are informed that one Justice of the Peace alone was called upon to take about thirty affidavit* of service of summonses on Saturday, and fifty- one this morning. Upwards of 200 ' cases of small debts were for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. — Canterbury Mail. . A prospectus has been issued for the establishment of a Brewery and Distillery Company. Attached are several influential names in the publican interest, among others, which goes to . prove there will be every facility offered for the sale of beer when made. Brewing experiments enough have been carried on, in all conscience, to obtain the all-coveted elixir of simple, wholesome table beer, and it is to be hoped the new projectors may at last be successful. — Lyttdton Times. The first traction engine imported into this colony was to have made its trial yesterday. This engine was constructed at the Reading Works, Berkshire, and seems to be an excellent piece of workmanship. It was imported by Messrs. Hawkes and Strouts, to the order of Messrs. Brown and Hamilton, and is intended to travel with a thrashing-machine. The engine started from the Railway-station about one o'clock, and proceeded capitally for a short distance, , but in endeavouring to turn a corner the steersman locked the wheels of the front carriage, and the engine got off the road on to the grass, and could not be extricated. The feed-pump not acting well, the pins were drawn and the engine left for the night. We hear, that another attempt to bring the engine into Christchurch will be made to-day.— Canterbury, Prut, April 13.

We are informed that, at the date of the departure of the last mail from London, on the 2nd of February, the Bank of New Zealand was about to offer for sale the -whole amount of the Canterbury debentures as yet unsold. Tha Bank, we understand, act in this matter as agents of the province, for the special purpose, and the directors have shown a wise discretion in selecting the time for testing the market; to the best advantage. But it must be remembered, in the first place, that the amount is large— not less than £300,000 ; and, secondly, that a parcel of provincial debentures — province of Wellington — realised just previously no more than 106, though bearing 8 per cent, interest, while the Canterbury debentures are but sixes. We oannot, therefore, be sanguine that the whole loan will go off at prices which the province would be "willing to accept. By the next mail we shall have full particulars. — Lyttdton Times, April 15. - | "EcceHomo" is exciting wide-spreai attention among the educated Hindus. The Calcutta organ of the Brahmo-Somaj hails the appearance of the work, and affirms that the views of the school which it represents, and those of the author, are substantially the same. — Evangelical Christendom, February 1. $ The Lyttdton Times says a parcel of mushrooms of extraordinary size were recently submitted to us for inspection. The largest was 12 inches in diameter, and the remainder averaged about six inches. These mammouth mushrooms, which were all sound, were grown on the land of Mr. Gunnion, near the Avon. Mr. W. Kohler will give a grand ' entertainment at the Mechanics' Institute, Onehunga, on Monday and Tuesday evening. Mr. Alfred Buckland advertises that he will sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the Haymarket, hones, colts, fowl feed, bloodhounds, allotments, &c. The band of the 12th Regiment will perform in the Albert Barracks at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. C. Stichbury will sell, this morning, at 11 o'clock, at his stores, general merchandise, potatoes, furniture, stout, &c. Mr. George Sibbin will sell by auction, to-day, at 1 o'clock, on the wharf, timber, in lots to suit purchasers, chains, &c. Mr. Henry Hidings will sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the Market Auction Mart, potatoes,, onions, turkeys, furniture, piano, Ac. Messrs. Jones and Co. will sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, beef, pork, potatoes, maize, cheese, nails, &c. Mr. L. W. Eaton will offer for sale, by public auction, at 2 o'clock, on Custom-house-street, 20,000 feet kauri boards and spantling, in lots to suit purchasers. Messrs. C, Arthur and Son have received instructions to sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the store of Mr. J. F. Clark, Queen-street, the remainder of his stock of groceries, oilmen's stores, glass, earthenware, &c. Messrs. Turrell and Tonks announce their intention to sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, earthenware, potatoes, tea, rice, sugar, furniture, drapery, &c, Ac. Messrs S. Cochrane and Son have received instrucbions to sell to-day, at half-past 10 o'clock, at the Princes-street Commissarait Stores, hops, biscuits, rum, bran, &c; also, at 12 o'clock, at their mart, the whole of the machinery, buildings, plant, stores, Ac,, of the Waihau Gold»mining Company; also New Zealand flax, butter, ftc, Mr. George Sibbin will sell to-day, at his stores, at 11 o'clock, potatoes, bacon, onions, wines, and sundries.