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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 911, 21 January 1868, Page 3

Deserters. — The names, accompanied with full descriptions, of seventeen men, are given in the Melbourne Police Gazette, as deserters from H.M.S. Galatea since the 7th December. » ovel and interesting match has recently "been, played in Christchurch between tall and short ehricketers. The result was in favor of the former, who won easily with ten wickets to go down. Land Purchases in Southland. —On Thursday, December 31st, upwards of 8,660 acres of land in Southland were purchased by Mr. Matthew Holmes. The Southland Times says: — This will bring the land sold during the past* few weeks up to the very large total or 14,000 acres. Price of Sheep at Wanganui. — The Chronicle reports that three auction sales of sheep took place in Wanganui last week, but the prices realised were unsatisfactory. Messrs. Allan and Low sold a lot for Messrs. Sli uttlo worth and Iveson, on Wednesday, at 15s. Mr. Finnimore sold a number drafted from the flock of Mr. Lomax, on Thursday, at 12s. 6d. and Bs. And Mr. Lewis on the same clay sold a lot belonging to Mr. Edward Churton for 6s. aud 7s. The Mail Services. — The tenders sent in for the conveyance of the Interprovincial mails have been opened, and that of the N.Z.S.N. Company accepted for the following services : — From Manukau to Wellington, from Auckland to Port Chalmers, and from Porfc Chalmers to Manukau. The tender of the Panama Company has been accepted for the conveyance of the mails from Wellington to the Bluff, from the Bluff to Wellington, and from Wellington to Auckland. The Abyssinian Expedition. — The Imperial Government has authorised the expenditure of the sum of £8000 for the purchase of the most approved scientific instruments and apparatus for the use of the Royal Engineers employed in Abyssinia, including a complete set of telegraph instruments and wires, which will be laid down as the force advances, thus enabling constant communication to bo kept up with the reserve force afc the base ot operations. Present to the Prince. — Messrs. Alcock &Co., of Russell-street, Melbourne, the billiard table manufacturers, have presented his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh with a case of billiard cues, as specimens of the value of Australian woods, and the mode in which they are applied to ornamental purposes. The case is made of handsome grained blackwood, the edge inlaid with Huon pine, and the interior fitted up to hold two cues and ivory chalkholders. The compartments are lined with superfine billiard cloth, and the cues themselves are inlaid with a variety of carefully selected woods, viz: — Myrtle, Huon pine, rosewood (from Brisbane), musk, tulip, myall, red gum, and blackwood, the whole presenting a really beautiful appearance. The butt of one of the cues is mounted with a gold plate bearing the following inscription: — " Presented to _ His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, by Alcock & Co., Melbourne, 1867." Sheep Stealing. — Suspicions, says the Daily Times, aro entertained by several runholders that sheep stealing has been carried on very extensively in the country south of the Molyneux. Some years ago, in one season between shearing and the month of March, Mr. Clapcott lost at Popotuues about a thousand sheep ; and the numbers lost by Mr. Spooner and other runholders, if mentioned, would appear fabulous. At first, it was supposed they had died through eating the tutu plant ; but this hypothesis did not unravel the mystery, for no carcases were found. Extensive losses are this season reported in the Pomahaka and surrounding districts one proprietor having discovered a large deficiency for which he cannot account. At Kuriwoa, 43 wethers were taken out of a fenced paddock in one week, and a reward has been offered for information concerning them. The runholders aro proposing to enter into an association for mutual protection, and to offer large rewards for conviction of the thieves. Great assistance might be given to the police by shepherds, hotelkeepers, and ferrymen, supplying information of flocks driven across. If such wholesale depredations are continued, it may lead to the passing of an Ordinance requiring all stock owners, butohers, and others to keep a stock book shewing how and where their stock was obtained, the book to be open to examination by the police t