Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 201, 30 October 1869, Page 3

Local and General News.

Nelson telegrams in the Post of October 22nd sa y : —“ Mr. Burnett brought to yesterday from Wangapeka, specimens containing several pieces of gold embedded in its various parts. There is a hitch amongst the miners, in consequence of auriferous land being purchased after gold was found. The miners protest against it, and with the strongest digging asseverations declare that nothing on or under the earth will induce them to give up their claims. A letter from Blue Creek, yesterday, says that the writer “ saw in Culleford’s claim quartz glittering like a jeweller’s shop.” The gold field has not yet been proclaimed. A Warden is going up to report on the questions in dispute. The miners have stopped the survey, and sent a deputation to Nelson.”

, Flour.— We observe by the Australian papers to hand that the flour market has a downward tendency, and understand that the price of our local brands will be reduced to-day. On Sunday last ilia body of Mr Solomon, who recently visited Blenheim with a quantity of furniture for sale, was discovered standing upright in the water under Compton’s wharf, Wellington, with his hat on his head, and his stick under his arm as if alive. An inquest was held, and a verdict of “Found drowned” was recorded.

Mr. Kiernan gave three entertainments here on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings, to very fair audiences. The dissolving view . were very good, and numerous, including i 1 i-j ra tons of Robinson Crusoe, fables, the Arctic regions, comic moving figures, and some local ones, of Blenheim as it appeared at the flood in February, 1868, the late Mr. Poynfcer, &c The Band played < ach evening, and the whole was interspersed with music, songs, &c. Monday next being the Anniversary of the Province will be observed as a general holiday. We do not hear of any public demonstration outside the Bazaar, till evening, when the Oddfellows will hold their Anniversary Dinner, at the Royal Hotel, which, judging from, what has reached us, and the parties who have promised to attend, is likely to be the most successful and brilliant affair of the kind which has occurred for some years.* His Honor Mr. Eyes will preside, and will be supported, we believe by all the influential persons in the locality. To say that 'ir. James is the caterer, will be sufficient to indicate that his department will be all that could be desired.

Borough Council. —The Council met on Friday evening last when all the members were present. The following is an epitome of the business entertained :—Tenders for printing from Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Millington were referred to a committee, Messrs. Hutcheson, Dodson and Litchfield.—An advance was made to the contractors for High-street.—A letter from Mr Pitt on behalf of Mr. Bomford, demanding £2 12s Gd, for attending'Court in a case in which he was the appellant, tlie Council i-efused to recognise.—A motion for repairing the bank of the Arthurstreet ditch, fell to the ground for want of a seconder.—Mr. Sinclair presented a petition praying the Council to pay for Bornford’s Bank ; and moved to that effect. The debate was adjourned to Tuesday next, when the Council will meet in the Superintendent’s office, on account of the Bazaar.

The Blue Ensign, with the letters IST.Z. in one corner, has been, since 1867, adopted as the New Zealand flag, and some discussion has been raised by the Imperial authorities as to the right of colonial vessels to fly it. A correspondence has taken place on the subject, which has resulted in the right to use the Blue Ensign being accorded to the Colony. By proclamation in a Gazette of the 23rd iust, the temporary badge, consisting of the letters N.Z., is discontinued, and it is appointed that the seal or badge in future to be worn as distinctive by all vessels employed in the service of the Colonial Government of New Zealand shall be the Southern Cross, as represented in the Blue Ensign by four five-pointed red stars in the fly, with white boi’ders to correspond to the colouring of the Jack ■ in the Jack by four five-pointed white stars on the red ground of the St. George’s Cross ; and in the Pendant by four stars near the staff similar to those in the Ensign.— Post.

Education. —The children attending the Wesleyan schools gave a recital in the Church on Wednesday evening, in aid of the Library. The following pieces were given, and some of them in a manner that reflected very creditably on both the scholars and their teachers :—The Village Blacksmith (R. Greig) ; We are Seven (David Wemyss) ; The Lost Day (D. Kitchen) ; The Birth of Christ (Mary Botham); The Dying Girl to her Mother (Margaret Herd) ; The Psalm of Life (D. M ‘Galium) ; Matthew, 28th Chap. (E. Thompson) ; Not Afraid (Ada Pike); My Choice (Walter Chuck); Isaiah, 53rdChapt. (J. Fulton); The Better Land (Dan Hyde); Heaven (Jane Craig) ; The Dying Girl to her Mother (Mary Gill) ; Old Father William (Arthur Farmar) ; The Spider and the King (O. Wall) ; The Day of Rest (B. Chuck) ; The Visible Cie.ition (C. Eyles) ; The Vaudois Missionary (F. Farmar) ; The Dog at his Master’s Grave (W. Chuck). Messrs. Hutcheson, Tirrell, and Worley addressed those present on behalf of the Sunday Schools, and strongly urged their value. F. J. Litchfield, Esq., Mayor, presided, and in his closing remarks stated that had he been returned to the Provincial Council, he would have advocated and tried to get passed, a provision compelling a portion of the new Testament at least to be read in the public schools every day or week. The collection amounted to £5 ICs. Id. Latest from the Front. —The following telegrams appear in the Post : —Napier, October 23. —Despatches just received from M‘Donnell, with news to the 20th. At last the whole force is in motion again; and from information just obtained fioni Taupo, from men who had surrendered, Kooti was close at hand in the bush, not far from the scene of the late fight. He had sent hia women and children further off, which looks as if he meant fighting. The place he is said to be at is called Puui. M ‘Donnell says all are in good heart, and he is evidently expecting to find the enemy. The supplies received were sufficient to enable the bush movement to be carried out.— October 24.—We shall not hear to-night; if we get news to-morrow night of the result of the movement on Te Kooti, it will be the earliest we can expect. You shall have immediate information on such reaching me. —Tiffen is back from Kaimauawa ; he says the specimens are not from reefs, but picked up in creeks. Several prospecting parties are there. The difficulty of feeding themsMves is great, and people goiugtbere should be warned there is no food to be got; they must carry everything. No one as yet has secured 0 e reward for a payable goldfield, and nothing to justify more than throwing open the district for prospecting exists. It would be premature to proclaim Kaimauawa a goldfield. Tiffen says there is no doubt there is gold there. The developing the field has yet to be done. All the specimens yer found are in the part of Kaimanawa situate in the Province of Auckland, and a considerable way from the boundary between Wellington and Auckland.—Te Heu Heu is detained in hopes that Nini will come in and ac company him down. — Ormond.”)

Herring. —We understand that some of ou fishermen had had splendid hauls of herring within the last few days. This we are glad to hear, as the last few seasons the fish have been very scarce.— Press. | Flax machines will shortly be at work at I Opunaki. Mr. Parris and another gentleman t have gone to arrange with the natives for a ) supply of flax. The Waitara works are now; | turning out over three tons of fibre weekly. \ Vinegar Point. —We learn that the newj cutting in the gorge is not nearly finished yet.-; It runs at some height above the bed of the'' river, on the eastern side. The general idea of those most interested in the success of the undertaking appears to be that it ought to have been on the western side, where it might have been cut much more easily and cheaply, i A large parcel of rough gold was yesterday fsold in Hokitika, having been brought in on the previous day. It is unknown from what part it was procured, but it is supposed from the ranges, and it was composed exclusively of nuggetty pieces, some of them weighing loz.-— Star. We (Auckland News) have frequently noticed of late the general prosperity of Auckland, but we must not overlook the fact that there is also a great amount of distress and poverty in the city. Sickness and other misfortunes abound at all times to a sufficient extent to create want and misery, and, as trade is now generally flourishing in all branches of bnsiness, we consider it one of the most powerful reasons why an effort should be made to relieve the unfortunate. Mr. Gdlly’s Pictures. —The following is a L list of the successful subscribers to Mr. Gully’s / Art Lottery, and the selections made according ] to the orders of choice ; —1.—Mr. N. Edwards—- ( View of Mount St Arnaud Range ; 2.—Mr. J. / Saxon—Cape Farewell in “ dirty weather”; 3, — \ Mr S. H. Drew—View of the Awatere Valley ; / 4.—Mrs. W. M. Stanton—A Bush Scene in I Golden Bay ; s.—Mr. G’. 11. Howdon (Dunedin) i. —View from the Dun Mountain ; 6.—Mr. T. 1 Garrard—Blind Bay from the Maungatapu ; 7. — , Miss Adams—The Devil’s Grip ; B.—Mr. C. C. ! Schaw (Hokitika)- —Dividing Range between Nelson and Marlborough ; 9. Messrs. C. Broad and H. Jmes (Charleston) —Ruapuhu and Tou- ( gariro ; 10.—Mr. J. 0. Eva (Dunedin) —The Great Godley Glacier, Canterbury ; 11.—Mr. H. ■ Redwood, pin., Coast View, Sunset ; 12. — Mrs. H. Martin (Stoke, Nelson) —Archway Island, Separation Point. The West Coast Railway. —We regret to find that, owing to the unsettled state of affairs in New Zealand, English capitalists have become shy of investing their money here, the consequence of which is that Mr. Morrison has, for the time being, met with a want of success in carrying out our railway scheme. A letter has been received from him by the mail just arrived, in which he says :—“The prominent manerin which of late, the affairs of New Zealand have been brought before the English public, has essentially prejudiced all enterprise in connection with the colony. The colonial securities have been likewise deprecated in value by reason of the unsettled state of native affairs in the North Island ; the public, refusing to distinguish that the Middle Island is exempt from such troubles, assume that the local disturbances in the North affect the whole country. It is, therefore, in my opinion undesirable, in the present state of matters, to press into notice the claims of the Nelson and Cobdeu railway ; but you may rest assured I will continue watchful, and be prepared to carry out wishes of the Government whenever a suitable opportunity offers.” We sincerely hope that no long time may elapse before this uneasy feeling of distrust wears off, and that the fresh inducements offered to the proposed company by the concessions made to their wishes, advices of which had not arrived in England when the last mail left, may produce a favorable effect, and that we may soon receive more satisfactory news on this subject.— Mail. A Warning to Nurses I—At 1 —At Christchurch, on October Ist,, an inquest was held on the bodies of Thomas and Walter Wales, two infant children. The nurse deponed : —On Tuesday last, the mother being very careworn, and I being very busy washing, I gave the deceased, in the morning, 2 drops of chlorodyne between them, and, at 3.30 p.m., I gave them another dose of 4 drops, and at night, between 9 and 10 p.m., I gave them 4 drops more between them. They slept heavily, and had a kind of hiccup in the morning. I found they were not wakeful, and I gave them a warm bath, but it did not seem to do them any good. I sent for Dr. Rouse, who attended the children, but they died at 2 p.m. The jury returned the following verdict:—“We find that the deceased Thomas and Walter Wales died from an overdose of chlorodyne, administered by Amelia Handley, and whilst they deprecate her conduct in using the medicine without taking; medical advice, yet they acquit her of any cul-j pability, having acted on her former experience.”. The coroner, addressing the nurse, said the jury! had taken a very lenient view of the case. He trusted that it would be a warning to her for the, future.— Examiner. i The details of the Poverty Bay Massacre, as i brought out in the evidence of the Maori widows at the recent trials, forms a tragic and affecting story, told simply and truthfully. No witnesses could have given their evidence in a more intelligible or straightforward manner, and no amount of cross-examination was able to alter it in the slightest. It was almost impossible, when hearing their description, to avoid vividly realising the scene on that fatal November morning, when the unfortunate survivors, spared, not in mercy, were compelled to stand by and witness their husbands, children, and neighbors butchered in cold blood before their eyes ; and, as to heighten the horror of the scene, the arch-rebel Kooti, announcing to his followers that Jehovah had commanded the death of the victims. Not the least affecting part of the tale was that which Maria Morris told, with tears in her eyes, of making her escape from Makeritu, and returning to Matawero, to bury her husband, whom she found lying where he fell, with a bullet through his breast. Ema Katipa’s face presents a fixed melancholy and passionless appearance, as if the great shock and sorrow she had undergone had dried up the spring of feelings, and left her nothing to hope or fear. She must have appeared to the murderers in the dock an avenging Nemesis, bringing retribution for their crimes,— Evening Post.

Mr. Rees, barrister, who a few days since was fined £lO by the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika for contempt of Court, refused to pay the fine, did not pay it, and dared any authority to attempt to compel him. And Mr. Roes was allowed to depart to fresh fields and pastures grgStt* Star. jSteamer for the Sound. —We are informed r that Mr. A. Beauchamp has purchased at Nelson the river steamer Moutoa, which lie purposes running between Queen Charlotte and Relorus Sounds. We trust that she will be well supported, and that Mr. Beauchamp will meet with the success he deserves. — Press.

1 Wool. —A meeting of merchants connected wttfl the wool trade held on the sth instant, at the Exchange, Sydney, at which it was resolved to appoint a committee to confer with the London wool houses with a view to introduce some improved method of seling wool in London. —A rr/us. It is said that the Home Commissioners are not to go before December but in the height of the news by the last mail, the general opinion is rapidly arriving at the conclusion, k that it is little or no use sending the Commisioners home at all, but only a waste of public money.—Wairarapa Mercury. The Ballarat, the first wool ship chartered in the Wairau, has arrived in Wellington, where she is discharging a cargo of coal from Newcastle, after which she will be dispatched to Port Underwood for the purpose of loading wool. The spirited charterer expects to dispatch her about the first week in January, as the whole of her loading is now engaged. One of our Auckland friends describes her as a splendid vessel, and likely to do credit to the district. The Wesleyan Bazaar is to be opened on Monday at noon* by his Honor the Superintendent. Many fair fingers have been engaged night and day for a long time past in preparing dainty articles for the occasion, and numerous presents of great value have been received from the sister Provinces of Nelson and Canterbury. A meeting of the Bazaar and Auction Committees was held on A.onday evening last, when it was unanimously resolved that the admission should be sixpence each person. Sunday scholars, on production of a ticket, to be admitted free. Properly Dealt With. —At Cobden, the other day a party of miners named Maloney, Clark, James, and o‘Longhlin were summoned before the Resident Magistrate, having left the neighborhood without paying their storekeepers’ account. They admitted the debt, but pleaded their inability to pay, stating that they were hard-up men. They were sent to prison for one month, the Magistrate expressing his sorrow at having to send poor men there. On being searched at the gaol, however, nearly £IOO was found in their possession. The amount for which ludgment had been given was deducted, and the men liberated. — Colonist.

Fort at Newcastle, Waikato. —Captain Young, of H.M. 18th Royal Irish and Military Secretary to the Governor, has been for some time engaged in erecting a fort tower, at Newcastle in the Waikato. It is situated on the right bank of the Waipa about 300 yards above its junction with the Waikato, and will command both rivers for some distance above and below the fort. The central tower of the fort will be of brick 34ft. Gin. in height. A ditch Oft. in width and 6ft in depth surrounds the outer parapet of the tower. The fort has been designed to be held by one hundred men, but half the number would bo ample to hold the work, and temporary shelter it is estimated could be afforded to 400 people. We learn that Captain Gordon, late of H.M. 65th Regiment, has just ridden through alone from Wanganui to Taranaki, stopping at Patea on the Road. He slept at native pas, and associated freely among the Maoris along the coast, whom he found uniformly kind, peaceable, and civil. From another source we learn that Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., is at Opunaki, arranging with the natives there for the erection of a flax-mill. The introduction of industries such as these will do more towards securing the permanent peace of the native country than a dozen regiments of soldiers. It would have been long enough ere we should have seen such progress under the aggressive policy of the Stafford Government. The natives quite appreciate the change of Ministry, and are fast turning their swords into pruning hooks. — Independent.

f Boat Accident. —Yesterday an accident happened to the Havelock mail-boat on its way to /the Grove from Picton. It appear that the boat j (which is far too slight for the trip in such ! weather,) left Picton with the mails for Grove, Mahakipawa, Havelock, and Nelson, about 10 30 a.m., the wind at the time blowing strongly into the bay. They had proceeded as far as Kaipapa Point when a sudden puff caught the boat on the broadside, and turned her completely over. Fortunately they were close to the shore, and managed to reach the land, at the same time saving the mail-bags. The boat drifted ashore, and the men, having baled her out, returned with the mails to Picton. It was fortunate there were no passengers on board, or the result might have been more serious.— Prrss.