WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1093, 19 October 1869, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(From the "Independent," October?.) ■ „\ Mr. Fox's Retuen.— The Hon. the Premier arrived in town on Tuesday afternoon by coach from Rangitikei. ' Mr. Young landed his distinguished passenger in town at half-past two p.m. from Manawatu, a feat which has never before been ' accomplished since Cobb and Co. started on this line. Schneider Rifles foe the Colonial Forces. — Bills of lading were received by the English mail of 2000 Schneider rifles and ammunition shipped per Electra for the Colonial Government. The Taranaki.— This vessel is alongside the Queen's Wharf, and her cargo is being rapidly discharged and conveyed to Messrs. Owen, Smart and Co.'s stores. Of course, all the soft goods are saturated with water; but beyond that, are in a much better condition than could have been anticipated. A cask of spirits was tasted, and it was found to have been much damaged by its immersion. The goods will be sold by public auction at one o'clock to-day, by Mr. Edward Owen, at the stores of Messrs. Owen, Smart, and Co. The Taranaki is being scraped and cleaned, and when she receives a coat of paint, will look quite a different vessel. f Saxby's Predictions. — The sth Oct. has come and gone, and Saxby's predictions, so far as Wellington is concerned, have not been verified. Yesterday, the 6th, which is equal to the Sth in the Northern hemisphere, was a most enjoyable day. The day was beautifully fine, with a light air from the S.E., just sufficient to cool the atmosphere, and make it pleasant ; ; and agreeable. The tides were no higher than ordinary springtides, but were much, lower than usual, at low water. The Wanganui Union Gold Mjnino- „ Co. — The Wanganui Times of the 6th;* instant, gives the following report of this company : — At a meeting of the directors of this company, held yesterday in the office of Mr. E. Churton, legal manager, some important business was transacted. The directors resolved, that a meeting of the shareholders should be convened for to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of taking into consideration the, advisability of increasing the shares and capital of the^ company, and transacting any other business that may be brought forward. — In connection with this com- ' pany we may state that Mr Hogg, District Engineer, is now in town by request of the directors, and arrangements are being made to send out the road party under his superintendence, and accompanied by native guides who have, for the last twenty or thirty years, frequently travelled by the most direct inland tract between Wanganui and Taupo. The prospecting party is being organised by a subcommittee of directors consisting of Messrs J. W. Robinson, J. Duthie, and the legal manager of the company. Time is an object, and a commencement should be made as soon as possible, but the directors of the Union will take no very important step without the consent of the shareholders, and therefore it is necessary that every shareholder should put in an appearance. Cadet Corps. — We are pleaesd to find that the present Government have not followed the example of their predecessors r in discouraging, or at least failing to encourage the formation and sustenance of cadet corps. The advantage of thus training our boys to arms is so self-evi-dent that we cannot conceive why so little attention has hitherto been bestowed upon this important subject. The Hutt and Taita Cadets have been reorganised and supplied with carbines and belts for the purposes of drill until a more suitable class of arms and accoutrements can be obtained for them. A capitation grant is to be given, which will be sufficient 'to' supply the boys with a uniform, and there is every reason to believe that an impetus ! will be thus given which will go far to counteract the ill-effects of past neglect. Agricultural. — The weather, so far, has been everything that can be desired by the farmers and market-gardeners of the Hutt Valley, and the early crops of potatoes, peas, cabbages, &c, are coming on remarkably well. Much less rain than usual has fallen this spring and that principally in gentle showers ; indeed, the violent gales, so common at this season, have been hitherto few and far between. The early crops last year were in most cases a failure, and we can but rejoice at and congratulate agriculturists on so good a prospect now. , . Wi Tamabaeo, the Mubdeeee and Suicide. — A cast of this ruffian's head was by leave of the authorities taken after death by Mr. Jenkins, modeller, of this city. We understand that the cast shows a most extraordinary phrenological development. It is to be seen gratis at Mr. Jenkins' Herbert-street, next to Mr. Owen's. Peospects of the Faemee. — " It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good;" and much as we regret the prospect of a bad harvest in Victoria and Adelaide, which all the Australian papers foretold, it is well that our farmers in this more favored climate should be stimulated to take as great advantage as they can of the probability of an unusual demand for agricultural produce during the coming season. In the Melbourne agricultural report of the Leader it is stated " there is „ serious cause to fear that in the warmer parts of the colony the harvest will be. lamentably short, and it will be short also in the cool districts unless rain come -' speedily and in quantity." This was written on the 25th of September, and on the 28th we learn by telegram that " the continued drought is causing great uneasiness," and that a special day is set apart for prayer for rain. At Adelaide, so serious were the fears entertained of the consequence of continued drought that special prayers for rain were offered oa the 23rd September by large congregations. Prices of flour and grain have been, for some time past gradually rising, and by the last quotations flour had risen to £18, for large parcels. Wheat is up to Bs. 3d., and New Zealand oats have been in demand at 6s. 6d. Hay is £9 a ton in Melbourne, and is likely to be in demand, as owing to the frosts as well as, to the want of rain, green fodder has been very scarce.' ;•• - Electric Telegraph on West, Coast., . —By Cobb's coach on Tuesday we learn that the work of the telegraph, is now rapidly progressing, the natives having discontinued aU opposition.