PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 54, 6 March 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

The Evening Post says — A quantity of Taranaki steel sand, procured by Colonel Haultain, arrived by the Sturt. It is intended to be smelted at the Government armoury, and the steel employed in the construction of breech-locks for the rifles which are being converted into Sniders. The parties who, for a considerable time past, hare been prospecting for gold in Stewart's Island, appear at length to have hit upon a promising reef, from which they have extracted fourteen ounces of rough gold. Their success has induced a gentleman from Invercargill, accompanied by a party of practical miners, to start for the island with a view of properly testing the reef.— Grey River Argus, The Melbourne police have received information that Mr Alex. Johnstoue, a „ clerk in the service of Messrs Nat. Edwards and Co., Greymouth, New Zealand, had absconded, having embezzled

moneys to the amount of £200. He is supposed to have left New Zealand for Melbourne by the Eangitoto and is described as a smart business man, and about twenty-five years of age. — Evening Post. The correspondence carried on some time ago in the Christchurch papers regarding the length of sermons, led to a suggestion being offered that arrangements should be made to allow people to leave the church ere the sermon commenced; From the Press we learn that this is now done at St. John's Church, where a short voluntary is played between prayers and the sermon. — Grey River Argus. Mr Travers has published a letter respecting the late loss of men iv a peach grove at Waitotara. He wants to know whether it was a duly organised foraging party, or men on their ' own hook.' He aays the case demands investigation, and i that it is remarkal le such disasters occur to men under the command of» Colonel j M'Donnell.