COLONIAL ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5228, 21 November 1877, Page 3

COLONIAL ITEMS.

A man named Murray has been committed for trial in the Upper Bailer district, charged with the manslaughter of one Morgan, with whom prisoner had been fighting, and who died shortly after. The Tuapekit Time» eontradiots the information which it bad previously published, that two lives bad been lost by a boat accident on the'Pomohaka. The word two ” was substituted for “ no ” in transmission of the telegram. ' The Cromwell Argus’ of a late date says : The news from the Maortown reefs is of a very encouraging character, gold having been st-.-uok in three new claim* within the last fortnight, namely, in the Shamrock (Barry’s); Golden Gate (Sam Williams’), and Owens’ lease. A miner named Higgings was killed last week by a fall of earth in a quartz claim at Waitahuoa. The jury added a rider to their verdict, “ That they were-of opinion that all underground workings ebould be secured.” - It is announced that the consecration of the new Bishop; of Waiepu, the Rev B. 0. Stuart, will take place at Napiar at (he end of this month. Helena Robinson, a'little girl of tiro years, was burned to death in the Auckland district oh Nov 10. The mother had gone out to draw water, le »ying tfo children, deceased and a sister, four years old, in the house. The Auckland Star of Nov 12 says:—The Maoris of the Upper Waikato have been guilty of a singular exception to that quiet and orderly oonduot which has characterised them for many months. It appears that private telegrams have been received, stating •that large numbers of oattle have bean driven off European territory, and have been taken across the Punui into the King country. Apparently the act has not been countenanced by any authority from Tawbiao or hie chiefs, for the latest reports state that 170 head have been returned with apologies. . The land from which the oattle were driven bad been passed through the Court, so there ought to be no dispute as to. its ownership. Whelan’s Hotel, Waimeadistriotj Westland, wsb burned down on Nov 13,the inmates narrowly escaping with their lives. On the motion of Mr Stevens, a return is to bo laid on the table, showing the securities held against the Publiot Trust fbinds. The mover stated his belief that £900,000 of Trust Funds werffinvested in a variety of securities, but the whole of these were securities of the Colony, including Treasury Biii». v The Colonial Treasurer agreed that the system was objectionable. 3 In reply to Mr Fitzroy, Mr Sheehan stated that the Government could not agree with the Counties Aot Amendment Bill drawn up by the late Cabinet, but would introduce one of their own before the end of the seision. The following resolution hae been adopted by the Assembly, in reference to future rail way works in Otago ••--" That in the opinion of this House, the further opening up !of communication with the interior of the southern part of the. Soutb_ Island by an extension of the line of ( railway Tia Lake WAkstipu to Oromwetk, elaime consideration j tmd therefore that it be a recommendation! to the-Government that a survey of (he, above line be made during the recess, with a view of submitting the work to the consideration of the General Anembly at ite next session, . The Waikato Timet states that 400,0 w, of, the recently imported salmon ora wero taken up the Waikato by Mr Firth to be placed, in the Pudui river in the King,country. ; > . The following telegram hea been forwarded to the Chairman of. the Westland County Council:—"Sir Geosge Grey desires to > reply (hat a • Royal Oommisaion on Jackson s Bay., will ba appointed, but time to to consider composilioß of Oommisaion and scope Tate was drowned st kforoer, Waikato, on Nbv. 11, through the overtursing. 0t Tbe'citdha SfadLr understands that, ar ailway, to be built by a private company, jhas been decided upon, connecting Gore with ; the Elbow. This will then be the shortest between Dunedin and the Lake.dtotrlot. i Tho Own Correspondent of the Mtns» Herald records the death of a settler- named Giant through the bolting of d teank of horses. A hook in the gear oanght the clothes of deceased, and he was dragged- a.|»nsld«& able diitanoealong the rood, soaUinuig fatal injnms., . . .. - .. The Nspler Ooirporatlon ore about to. aseot offlO*».ftt acoet ot £W-Q ' . . • The Otago Diocesan Synod passed a ijoiolnlion to the effect that it wao the duty of the Church to aid in the support of hsnevotent mid kindred institutions, and that tW Bwhop. should be requested to urge upon the clergy : and. vestries in the diocese the dssirabilily of 'appointing aspeoial offsrtoryforthat purpose ! onoe at least in eaoh yean \* I , i The clergy of (he Sfolson ©ieoese rto 8 “«y presented the Bisbop with on address land qpurse of 25 •ovewigni towards the Bishopsdale Obapel. : A sum of £26,00ft has been placed .on the supplementary eitiautes lor harbour work* at Hokitika. J ffc . Rsspeotint ther political prospect, tno Auckland Herald says Judging from the tone of public feeling as it is now expressed, a dissolution of Parliament would, wethioX, give to Sir George Grey’• Ministry a , good working majority, and provide 11 popularity which would enable him to re office for a number of years. It » * e . *’ evident that the present oondition ot parties cannot long oontinue. and that a du.olution alone can olear the political atmosphere, aftae . the fashion of a sanitary thunder-storm V The R-torua correspondent of the Roy of iPhnty Timet say. t-The ment was hailed here as the. , i, return, of good times. IhwffjU,no^bt

foot of air George Grey/or ’ ll Kawaßl Ks'ft? head of affairs will tend very'much to remove a strong feeling of “ no confidence " that has taken possession of the Native mind. They have very greet faith id Sir G. Gray, and under hi* administration, surreys, Land Court*, and consequent settlement would japeedlly follow each other. The taihoa and i personal interests policy would then die. i A telegram to Auckland. , states that O’Oonmor bae been visiting Bewi, and that 11 he is working for the good' of thecountry and for the advantage of both races.” | His Honor Judge Weston, says a Westland paper, when recently shm acting up a case of 'assault in Hokitika; is reported to hare re* : ferred to one of the difficulties which beset a system of free, teoular, and compulsory education, in the following terms:—“Children of the wretched woman found their way to a certain local school, and mixed with the children of respectable parents. If that was to be tolerated, what could be the result ? Was it to be tolerated that these children should mix with other children, and contaminate their morals P It was hord to visit the sins of the parents on the children, but what could be done?’' From all parts of the country, says the Bruce Herald,complaints come cf the unusual dryness of the season. 'Where the country ia good the crops and the grass are coming away but slowly, and where it i« not of the best the crops arc much behind. There is very little grass,, and the consequence is that stock, especially on high country, is beginning to suffer. A great.many of the settlers in the Akatore district are losing their cattle from the latter taking to tata. The tutu, this weather, flourishes luxuriantly, and is proving destructive to the stock, which eat liberally of the tempting foliage. On Nov. 6 Mr Stafford draw the attention of the Government to She existing necessity, consequent upon the large number of harbour works in course of construction and proposed the appointment of a Marine Engineer for the Colony; The Premier said that the Government had the matter under consideration, and would shortly intimate what they would do in it. . On Nov 5, it was resolved by the House that, in consequence of the state of Mr Speaker's health, he be authorised during the remainder of the session, to call upon the Chairman of Committees to occupy the chair at such times as be may require him to do ao, without question being put. The Tuapeko County Council have received a communication from Under-secretary Cooper to the effect that the Governor will not be advised to constitute the districts of Teviot and Tapanui into a new county. The twenty-seventh volume of Mansard, and the fourth of this session’s oontribati.m was commenced on Nov 2; The reports of the speeches up to that date ' occupied 1993 pages. ~