Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 149, 19 December 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

Glory. —The arrival of Whitmore at Wairoa was notified by inscriptions on the principal buildings, announcing that “the grave-digger had arrived.” The powers of the Governor and Colonial Secretary, under the Lunatics Act, 1868, has been conferred on the Superintendent of Marlborough by an order in Council. The Melita, now 118 days .out from London, is daily expected at Wellington. The Wild Duck, under Captain Bishop, 84 days out, is expected about 10th January. The steamer Osprey is to leave Wellington this evening. Her delay was caused by the Government Inspector requiring an additional valve before giving a passenger certificate. The Lyttelton arrived from Nelson on Sunday last, and during this week has made three trips with wool to the Hera at Port underwood. She leaves this morning with a cargo of fat sheep for the Buller direct. The notice in our columns of the wool ■washed on the sheep’s back by hot water batteries, at Dumgree, has excited considerable attention to the subject, and a variety of opinions arc expressed. Some persons consider too much of the yolk is extracted by the hot water.- Mr. Guilford has left with us some samples of hand-washed wool for public view. • * Appeal Court. —By a telegram received last evening, we learn that the case of M ‘Bae, appellant, v. the Waste Lands Board of Marlborough, respondents, had at length been decided, after having been reserved on the 11th instant till yesterday, when his Honor gave final judgment. The appeal was dismissed, on the ground of the want of particularity in the boundaries", as given in the original lease granted to Mr. M‘Bae.

A .requisition id published, signed by ICO persons, addressed to IST. Edwards, Esq., requesting him to stand as a candidate for the representation of Nelson in the Assembly, in opposition to Mr. Shephard. From private sources, we learn that there can be little doubt of Mr Edwards’ success, if his platform be as liberal as is expected from his known principles. He consents to stand, . but reserves his declaration until the day of nomination. The Indefatigable’s mail service from Nelson, i via the Kaituna Valley and Havelock, will terminate with his next trip, after which our regular communication will be monthly only. A requisition ought to be presented to the Government, requesting its continuance. Last trip, Wednesday, the Storm Bird left Nelson at 3 a.m., and Lewis’s man at 8 ; the steamer’s mail arrived here on Thursday afternoon, while the man reached 1 here on the evening of Wednesday, the saraedav J j on which .he started.

Breach. —Mr. Balfour Colonial Surveyor for the Colony, arrived By tile Falcon, on Sunday evening last, accredited to the Provincial Government by Mr. Stafford, in accordance with a promise made to Mr. Eyes during the session, that he should come over here prior to going to Auckland. On Tuesday, accompanied by Mr. Wemyss, Provincial Secretary, Mr. Clarke, Provincial Surveyor, and Mr. A Dobson, he visited Spring Creek, and traversed the north side of the Wairau to the Breach, and then went on to the Rock. On Wednesday, the same party visited the south side of the Wairau, examining all the overflows and deviations at McCallum’s, Thompsons’s, and near Adam Jackson’s, proceeding as far as the Rock again. On Thursday, Mr. Balfour remained in the Survey Office, and, assisted by Mr. Dobson, examined plans, sections, and levels of the district visited on the preceding day. Yesterday, Messrs. Balfour and Dobson examined more minutely the deviations caused by the February flood, in the neighbourhood of Barnes’ sections. To-day, the party intend visiting the junction of the Waihopai, the position of which greatly affects the Wairau, and supplies a large proportion of the water which floods that river. Of course, nothing has yet transpired as to the nature of the report which Mr. Balfour will make to the Government; but we learn that he considers it a more serious river than he had been Jed to believe before viewing it. A person who accompanied the partyinforms us that they found the river divided into two streams, of about similar proportions, above the site of Fitzgibbon’s dam, one of which ran down the old bed of the Wairau, and the other to the Opawa. At the creek recently cut, they found a considerable flow of water passing down it, so much as to be almost beyond the power of the horses to stem it. The actual levels taken show the fall from the south to the north end of the creek to be only five feet, while the north bank of the Opawa is 2ft. Gin. lower still. Below the cutting to the Grove Road, there was no overflow of the banks on the north side, till near McCallnm’s Another gratifying fact is the discovery that there is a tendency throughout the whole distance for the idver to cut itself a straight course through all the bends. We fear, however, that any' extensive works at the Breach are, and will be for some |time, impracticable for financial reasons. We yet incline to think that the original scheme of relieving the Opawa by opening out Kelly’s ditch, will prove the most likely mode of relief for the river.

A very rich specimen of gold-bearing quartz baa been discovered at the White Cliffs, Taranaki.

The Countess of Kiutore, under the command ■of Captain Petherbridge, arrived at Auckland on Dec. 7, after a smart passage of SO days from the Lizards, bringing 55 passengers. The Blenheim Dramatic Society was initiated on Wednesday evening lust, when about 10 persons joined, and a committee was appointed, who will report to a further meeting to be held on , Wednesday next, at Ewart’s Hotel.

We learn that Dr. Featherstone has lately acquired great influence over Sir George Bowen, who witnessed in Wanganui his popularity with both races, and knows his colonial experience, and hence the result.

Mr. W. Whitehorn, favorably known for some considerable time as officer of Customs in charge at Havelock, is about re-assuming his former duties at that port, to which have been added those of warden of the Wakamarina goldfield. Mr. Whitehorn is a most efficient officer, and he will also take charge of the Telegraph and Post Offices.

The well-known (at. least to Provincial Government officials) Mr. Jonas Woodward, late Paymaster for Wellington Province, has resigned that office, and is promoted to be ReceiverGeneral, while Mr. C. T. Batkin is to he Pay-master-General. If we are not greatly in error, this change will be hailed with great satisfaction in more places than in Marlborough. The “Lord Ashley” claim at the Thames Goldfields is reported one of the richest in the district. Its owners are Colonel Babieavis, of Auckland, Mr. Posseniskie (a well known tailor of the same city), and five other gentlemen. ' It was first discovered by the late Major Von Tempsky, and the shareholders have now kindly resolved to set apart one half share for the benefit of Mrs. Von Tempsky and children. One of the largest nuggets that has been exhibited in Melbourne for some time past, was shown about a fortnight ago in the window of Messrs. W. H. Cooper & Co., of Collins-street. The nugget, which is broad and flat, weighs 286 ounces, and is valued at about £llOO. It was purchased by the agent of the Bank of Hew South Wales, at the new rush at Berlin, ten miles from Kingower, and was obtained in five feet sinking one morning before breakfast, by a man said to be a shepherd.

The Postmaster General has entered into a contract with the Panama Company for a monthly interprovincial mail service, from the Bluff to Auckland, calling at Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Napier, and hack. Also from Port Chalmers to Manakau, calling at New Plymouth, Nelson, Picton, Wellington, and Lyttelton, returning same route. To commence Jan. 3, 18G9. A private letter, dated Apia, 12th September, gives more details of the destruction caused by the tidal wave on the 15th and 16th of August, at Navigator Islands. The writer says the tide rushed on the shore eight different times, sweeping several villages away, with their inhabitants. A spacious church, built of solid materials, was levelled to the ground. A catholic priest was surprised by the terrible flood whilst visiting a station, and was placed in imminent danger, haying had to climb a tree for refuge, and afterwards to abandon that precarious shelter and ascend a hill.. His coat provisions, and sacredotal vestments, and chalice, were carried away at the same time.— Post.

During the recent session, in reply to Mr. Eyes, the Member for the Wairau, the Hon. J. Hall, the Postmaster-General, stated that the usual shipping notices, advising the arrivals and departures of vessels, should be sent to the Telefraphic Station here for public information, ince that time, in all, some half-dozen arrivals and departures have been exhibited, but so rarely and irregularly is this done as to be useless. Ever since the Blenheim station was opened, we have over and over again been assured that these notices should be given, and yet we do not get them, while in Picton, where they are practically useless, all the shipping telegrams are posted. The consequence of the omission is the frequent despatch of messages to other ports to know when there are vessels leaving, and to inform us to like effect. If the Postmaster-General means his promise to be more than a soothing reply, and not a delusion and a snare, he will ascertain why his orders are not complied with. The now somewhat notorious Captain Thomas, who had such a narrow escape from the Hauhau prisoners at the Chatham Islands, when Te Kooti seized the Rifleman, is expected shortly in Wellington on a prolonged leave of absence. This officer, besides being captain of the guard (?) and Resident Magistrate, holds also numerous appointments which will lapse during his absence. There is no probability of any further want for the services of a guard at the Chathams. The greater portion of the Maori population left for Taranaki some time ago, where they landed in the barque Collingwood, as reported by telegram in our columns. It is said that the migration of these early conquerors of the soil will not prove beneficial to the Islands, Before leaving, the Maoris leased—mainly to old residents and white settlers —the whole of their lands, and parted with their stock and other property. They also made arrangdments to secure at regular intervals the due payment of their rents. f The enterprising spirit shown by our neighbour, Mr. Charles Redwood, deserves universal acknowledgement. Now that he has got a steamer to tow the Falcon, there can be no doubt but that the bulk of the passenger, &c., trade with Wellington, already large, be greatly increased, if it does not absorb the whole of the traffic between this district and Wellington. The Falcon will be able to run at least four times a month, while .the mail steamers via Picton only come once a month. We only express a pretty general opinion when we say that Mr. Redwood might be very advantageously subsidised to a small extent, which would have the effect of bringing the Falcon to time, and render her almost as servicable as a steamer. When the increase of traffic requires such an extension of means as a steamer would give, we have no doubt but Mr. Redwood’s enterprise will supply the desideratum. We are exceedingly proud to have men like the Redwoods in our vicinity, and trust they will meet with a suitable pecuniary return.

Honors for the Wairau. —A Gazette, issued on December 7th, states that the Gov'ernor has been pleased to appoint Christopher James Whitney Griffiths returning officer for the district of Upper Wairau, for the election of members of Provincial Council. ' - 'A man, who has been at work upon the Wakamarina district quite lately, arrived a few days ago at Wellington, and, we understand, communicated to some friends there the fact of his having discovered a payable quartz-bearing reef, at no great distance off the Forks, ami near the river. He purposes, we are further informed, returning with a few mates to thoroughly prospect the alleged discovery. Foley’s Juvenile Troupe. —From the Sydney Morning Herald of the Bth instant, we. learn that this troupe are playing to crowded houses at the Prince of Wales Opera House at Sydney. Mdme. Anna Bishop had just concluded her engagement at the Victoria Theatre when they arrived, and the other theatres were closed on account of the large houses the “juveniles” were drawing. Ridiculous as the fact may appear, there is no doubt but that the few natives located near Picton have of late become imbued with some indefinite kind of martial ardour, prompted doubtless by the account of Titikowaru’s exploits. A gentleman, upon the creditibility of whom we may confidently rely, informs us that one of those Maoris, having asked the price of a pipe in a store at Picton, and being answered by the shopman, emphatically remarked that it would not be very long before he got whatever pipes lie wanted without paying anything for them. A strange infatuation, common to the Maori race, is even shown at the present moment in the other Island, where a handful of men badly armed and fed, sustained only by fanaticism, still persist in ignoring what the result of . this hopeless struggle must be for them. The Swallows are beginning to arrive, two or three having made their appearance here this week.—A refugee from Wanganui arrived here on Wednesday last, being one of a party of sixty who arrived at Havelock by the schooner Fawn, on Sunday last. He reports Wanganui to lie in a fearful state. A complete panic prevails there. No money is to be had, even the pay of the Militia being withheld for a long period. The streets swarm with country settlers, driven from their homesteads. The entrenchment of the town is completed, and the settlers and their families around Manawatu and Raugitikei are being brought in by every available opportunity. The present party escaped during the night, paying £5 per head for their passages.

APromistng Young Man-. —Colonel Herrick, left in command of the Wanganui District by Colonel Whitmore, was promoted to that high post in a very short space of time The same Gazette contains his nomination of major and colonel. A few weeks before he was made a lieutenant, and a few days ago a captain. This young gentleman served some years ago as ensign in an Imperial regiment for the space of a few weeks, when, beardless, he retired, and proceeded to New Zealand, where ever since he lias been upon a sheep-station. What his experience in the “art of war,” or the command of men is, Colonel Whitmore probably only knows. The extraordinary manner in which Colonel Haultain (whose experience, by the way, is exceedingly limited, having once been a lieutenant in a marching regiment) deals with public money while pulling those wonderful official strings by which “ armed constables” galore are raised, paid, and officered, has, however met with the approval of Mr. Stafford, who told the Wanganui people the other day that he highly appreciated Colonel Haultain’s policy— i.e., giving up to the enemy some sixty or seventy miles of open country, until the flourishing town of Wanganui is daily at the mercy of Titokowaru. New Zealand Americanism.— The number of majors, colonels, captains, et hoc genus hontne, now swarming in the North Island, is said to be prodigious. There are no less than five colonels at the Wanganui front just now. Majors are as plentiful as blackberries, and the intricate manner in which military etiquette has confused all ideas of rank is such that colonels are now and then serving under the orders of majors and even captains, Major Turner, late 65th Regiment, who won this grade by his gallantry in the field, and has a military experience second perhaps to none in the Colony, was offered some weeks ago by Colonel Haultain the office of Quartermaster of the forces on the West Coast, becoming thus second in command to Colonel Whitmore, He accepted the offer, simply providing that he be given the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, in order not to “play second fiddle” to colonial youths who held a similar title. The request, however, was refused, and Air. Herrick was appointed in his stead, over the head of every captain in the colonial forces. The amount of zeal for the service, and incidental patriotism prevading our forces may consequently well be imagined. An exceedingly silly piece of malice has been perpetrated this week at our expense, and to the public detriment. As most persons know that in preparing copy for a newspaper much valuable matter, of interest to some among the general public, is met with by the sub-editor, but usually wasted. Recently we conceived the idea of utilising much of this matter, and for that purpose had the paling adjoining the front of the Express office removed, and replaced with new wide boards, upon which we caused the cuttings in question to be pasted up as they accumulated, thereby amusing and interesting great numbers of people who stood to read them. This arrangement we named the “Blenheim Free Press,” and one of our friends painted up this inscription above it. The project answered our expectations ; the latest news was posted up, as well as sundry notices. On Tuesday evening, or early on Wednesday morning, some foolish ass with a mixture, apparently of soot and kerosene, smeared it over the inscription in question, defaced a large quantity of interesting information, and utterly spoiled the appearance of the boards. We regret that we are not at present in a position to indicate the author of this diabolical mischief, but hope soon to do so, as we have offered a reward of £1 for the information, which one of our neighbours, looking upon it as an outrage, through us, upon the public, kindly offerd to supplement with a reward of £2 in addition. We should scarcely have thought any human being would be guilty of such a piece of wanton mischief.