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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2192, 17 May 1870, Page 2

Gold Export. —The return of gold exported from New Zealand during the quarter ending March 31st, gives a total export of 157,3260z5, being less than the corresponding quarter last year by B,'J3Bozs. The falling off is principally in Auckland, '.Vestland, and Nelson, while there has been a groat increase in Otago and Southland. For the sake of compaoison we give both sets of figures, the first being the export tor the present year, the second the corresponding quarter of 1869:—Auckland, 30,008 -41 0(4; Marlborough, 48—166.; Nhlfion, 41,106 45,258; Westland, 38,893-13,258; Otago, 46,430—55,500 ; Southland, 835 -0.

Inquest.— An inquest was held at noon to clay on the hocly of the child picked up in Pelichet Bay, From the post mortem examination it appeared to have been born alive, but having apparently been in the water about si-c days, it was so mutilated by lish that it was impossible to say whether it was a male or female child. The jury returned an open verdict. The Port of Call. —Whether or not Wellington will be the port of call for Mr Webb’s line of steamers seems to be the question wbli the people of the Empire City just now. Of all the arguments used in favor of that being the port of call, there is none so original as that advanced by the Adnrliwr. Our wise contemporary, referinir to the gold returns, says : —“ this nseiul return nnde'dably establishes the central position of Wellington with regard to the goldfields : since Auckland figures for less than one twenty tilth, or 4 per cent,, of the. whole amount—the rest being all produced south of Cook Strait ibis startling fact should lv’vo some weight in establishing the claims of Wellington to remain the Seat of Government, and to become the port of call between Melbourne aud ban 1 raneisco. Wonderful ! Customs Revenue.— I The returns of the revenue collected at the different ports in the Colony for the quarter ending the 31st March last, have been published. The total amount collected was L199,G04, being an increase of L 10,075 over the correiponding quarter of 1809. Auckland shows an increase of L 4,077 over last year s quarter ; New Plymouth an increase of L 445 ; AV ellington, an increase of L2O ; Napier, an increase of L 790 ; Nelson, an increase of L 1,844; Westport, a decrease of L 1,230 ; Greymouth, an increase of L 1,478 ; Hokitika, a decrease of L 5,400 ; Lyttelton, an increase of L 1,455 ; Timaru, an increase of LIOO ; Oamaru, an increase of L 133 ; Dunedin, an increase of L 2,954; Invercargill, an inor-asc of L 302 ; and Riverton, an increase of L 207. Sheriff’s Inquisition. —At the Supreme Court to day, the Sheriff (Mr J. N. Watt) held an inquest for the purpose of determining whether or not certain lands situate in the Province of Otago, lately the property of James Bachman, late of West Taieri, farmer, deceased—namely, section 24, irregular block, West Taieri district, and 8 iction 21, block 1, Lower Harbor West dis trict, and containing together 03 acres 2 roods and 22 poles, have become the property of her Majesty the Queen by way of escheat. Mr J. Whitclaw was chosen foreman ; Mr Harris appeared on hoha f of the Crown; and Mr Stewart on behalf of one Robert Dow, a claimant of the property. The jury replied to the issues put to them as follows Was the said James Buchanan illegitimate ?—Yes. Did he die intestate ? Yes. When did he die ?—2nd April, 1809. Had he legitimate issue?— No. Did lie reside within the Province of Otago?—Yes. Has the property mentioned in the writ become escheat to the Crown ?—Yes. Rifle Match. —The match between the volunteers and fifteen cricketers was lived at the Kaikorai butts yesterday. A few of the volunteers fired, and the rest, we believe, are to five on Saturday. The following are the cricketers scores : 290 yds 409 yds 501) yds Tin-ton ... 13 18 14 M‘Farland ... 11 19 H lleade ... 5 9 0 Fulton, J. 0.... 12 10 13 Munson ... 11 9 2 Bedborough ~ 2 12 0 Lambert ... 13 12 U Kettle (subs) ... 0 9 9 Coxhead ... 12 9 0 1 Geddes ... 11 12 19 Draper ... 0 10 10 Peake ... 15 14 12 Allen ... 13 13 14 Shaud ... 15 15 7 Fuller ... 11 17 12 Mr Webb’s Line.—The folio wing is the resolution adopted by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce “ That tbc thanks of this meeting bo given to Mr Collie for Lis kindness in so clearly explaining the nature of the proposed scheme for the new route to England via ban Francisco ; aud seeing the very great importance to the trade of the gqlony of having a firm'y established line of powerful mail steamers between New Zealand and England as also the great advantages which "must accrue to the Ansi ralian colonies by a closer connexion with America —this meeting is of opinion that in the event of the non-fulfilment of the present contract, the Government of the colony should give the fullest favorable consideration to the scheme proposed by Mr Collie.” It was originally proposed that the “fullest - .Support ” should he given to the proposed iiuo, buf proposition was not adopted. Safety of Die Livingstone. —From a gentleman who left Natal about the eud of January, aud who arrived ip Auckland via Mauritius, the Cro-i-s received some important intelligence respecting Dr Livingstone. In the month of January letters wer ■ received at Natal from Dr Livingstone, dated about a month, earlier, stating that ho expected to reach Natal about the end of February or the beginning of March. Letters containing an account of his travels were published in the Cape Town papers, in which Dr Livingstone speaks of his discovery of the true source of the Nile in eight degrees south latitude. Dr Livingstone was tben making towards the mouth of the Zambesi which empties itself on the East Coast of Africa. Dr Livingstone expected that he would make liis way out on the East Coast, though it had been his original intention to come out on the West. In his letters he referred to the 1 hardships that he had undergone, and stated that ah his men had left him, so that lie was entirely depehdanj; upon the natives for assistaliee. He referred tq the assistance he had received from the natives in passing through the Tsetse fly country, where oxen and horses cannot penetrate. Our informant also states that the doctor’s lette s were published in tire Natal papers at great length, Bartinr a Fenian. Bartiue the acrobat—well-known in the principal towns of New Zealand for Ids cleverness in eluding his crodiiois—has been sent front India to Melbourne at the ex reuse of_ the India); Government, on suspicion of being a Fenian. He explains the reason in the following letter, published in a recent number nl' the Melbourne Harold “ Sir,— My visit to Melbourne at this particular time lias been forced upon me by the authorities at Ca'eutta. In fact, I have been transpo ted from there to this colony. Some time back, while on a professional tour in Western Australia, I met the liberated Fenians, Keneally & Co., aud was at times in their company, After closing my engagements there, 1 left the

Sound in the mail steamer for Calcutta. I performed there for a short time in connection with Abell’s circus, and during Prince Alfred’s visit to that place. I was about to leave for the purpose of fulfilling several lucrative engagements in the interior, when I -was arrested on warrant, signed By Earl Mayo, Viceroy of India, on suspicion of being a Fenian. I was allow'ed on parol to have my liberty, but only for a radius of one mile from Spence’s Hotel, where I was staying, but I was always under strict surveillance from the police.” After remaining in this position for some five weeks, I was, against - my will, convoyed on board the Isabella Brown, by Superintendent Lonningbam, and a detective, and she brought me to Melbourne, the Indian Government paying my passage and giving me a sum of money to quietly leave the country.—H. Bartine Release of Tricker. —The formal intimation that his Excellency the Govenior had been pleased to commute the sentence into imprisonment to date, was received by the Plnube on Tuesday night, aud as soon as possible yesterdy information was sent to the Hon. J. Johnston, chairman of the commit ee, stating that Tricker would be released at three o’clock. About a quarter of an hour after that time the warrant of release reached the gaol, and almost immediately afterwards Tricker, accompanied by the Rev. Mr Stock and Mr Gifford, left the gaol a free man. It is six years since he entered it a condemned criminal, and during that long period he had not been outside its bounds. Accompanied by the two gentlemc-m named, Tricker, who seemed much agit i ted aud absolutely dazed by tbc change in his position, came down Willis street, being eagerly gazed at as lie passed along, and, after obtaining afforu r necessary articles of clothing at Warmoll s, went on board the s.s. Wanganui, which immediately afterwards sailed for Wanganui, where Mrs Tricker and his family await his arrival.— lndependent, May 14. Mu Grant wishes the petitioners to meet him at noon, at the Octagon, tomorrow. We beg to acknowledge the receipt from the publisher, Mr McKenzie, Wellington, of a statement showing the claims of Wellington to he ma le the New Zealand port of call for the new mail line of steamers between San Francisco and Australia. It is accompanied by a map showing the various Pacific Mail Steam routes.