The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1864.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 15 September 1864, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1864.

The Memorandum of his Honor the Superintendent, of the 2nd inst., to the Colonial Secretary, on the subject of the loans of the Province of Otago, and its present and prospective financial position, is a masterly paper, and being now published in the Gazette, lays before the public a clear and precise statement of the resources of the Province, while it shows how its present difficulties are to be overcome. No one who carefully peruses it, can now say that he does not understand the state of our Provincial finance; and all those who have a deep interest—as the inhabitants of this district have—in the just and equitable appropriation of the revenue to the wants of every portion of the Province alike, are able to see that expenditure of late has been restricted from necessity, and are led to expect that wise and well-considered measures are in progress, which will soon enable the Government to provide for those public works which are essential for the development of the resources of the Province, and to satisfy the just demands of those who have taken up their

abiding place in it for better or for worse, who have all entertained the fond hope

—let us not call it an illusion—that in resorting hither from the country of their fathers they have come to a land where, with a reasonable degree of encouragement, they will be able to better their circumstances, and by industry and perseverance to leave a heritage to their children.

The Superintendent sets out by showing that from the date of the first settlement of Otago in 1848, until the year 1861, when the discovery of gold was made, its progress had been so gradual that the Government did not feel itself at liberty to mortgage its capital and future revenue to any great extent to carry out public works; but that when gold was produced in large quantities, and an enormous increase of population followed, public works became necessary, such as in all probability in the normal condition of things might have been distributed over a period of

15 or 20 years. The consequence was the necessity of making the increasing revenue available by anticipation for the wants of the Province. In the six years from 1856 to

1862 inclusive, loans were authorised to be raised to the amount of £685,000, tho larger portion of which, known as the half-million loan, was authorised in 1862 ; but various causes—such as the stringency of the English money market; the known existence of a serious and expensive war in New Zea-

land ; the announcement that a loan of three millions had been authorised by the New Zealand Parliament, and the knowledge that that loan would create a preferential charge on the territorial and other revenues of the colony—deterred tho committee of the English Stock Exchange from recognising merely Provincial loans as marketable securities. The consequence is that only £80,000 of Otago debentures have been sold, and that there remains a balance of debentures to be disposed of, of £605,000.

The present financial position of the Province is this : —The estimated revenue for the half-year ending 30th September, 1861, is

£199,694 12s. Bd., and the estimated expen-

diture during the half-year then to conclude is £222,529. There is consequently an immediate necessity for a supply of money until the debentures aro recognised and realised, which is met by an application to the Colonial Government for a temporary loan of £40,000. The general financial position is thus stated :— ASSETS. Loans (valued at par)— £ s - <1 Otago Harbor Loan, 1801-2 50,000 0 0 ~ Loan, 1801 -2 (for gen ci al purposes) €50,000—less debentures sold, £7,000 43,000 0 0 „ Public Building-. Loan, 1861-2 50,000 0 0 ~ Loan of 1862, £500,000—less sold, £38,000 462.000 0 0 £605,000 0 0 LIABILITIES Debt to Bank of New Zealand in London 212,000 0 0 9 0 do in Duncdiu 75,000 0 0 Balance of £35,000 Loan of 18*5G to bo repaid 16.000 0 0 Probable deficit on account of half-year ending 30th September, 1804 40,000 0 0 £313,000 0 0 Showing a balance of £262,000 0 0 "To become available out of existing loans, " which amount the Superintendent considers "sufficient to provide for all immediately- " required public works, railways excepted." The Superintendent is of opinion that the claims of the Province of Otago to paiticipato in the benefits to accrue fiom the application of a Colonial guarantee of its existing loans, are based upon nothing le&b than bare justice. During the past two yeais its contiibutions to the general revenue from customs alone amount to £286,000, while the contributions thereto by the whole of the Northern Island amounted, during the same period to only £212,71-4 ; and it may be affirmed that the advantages it lias derived from the expenditiuo of the general revenue have been small compaied to the Large exactions to which it has been subject. Fuither, a large proportion of the New Zealand Loan of three millions sterling, to bo raised upon the ciedit of the whole colony, is specially destined to promote the colonization of tho Northern Island; while the lemainder will be absorbed by a war in which the colonists of the Middle Island possess no local interest, and from which they will derive no appreciable benefit.

On an assurance boing giyen that a guarantee Bill will bo intioducod to the Absembly by the Government, the Supeiintendent believes that the Bank of New Zealand would be enabled to negoeiate the Otago debentures upon favorable terms ; or failing to do so, that they would, instead of allowing them to bo sacrificed, wait until the Guarantee Bill had become law; anri by affording such temporary advances as may be required by it, the Province will be relioved from the possibility of its credit being endangered.

There can bo little doubt that in order faiily to developo the resources of the Province and promote its colonization, railways must be constructed to aflord that cheap, certain, and rapid communication between the centres of commerce and the more remote districts by which alone a remunerative occupation of the interior of the country by a large settled population can bo effected. These works would involve not'only a great outlay, but also considerable risks, if viewed from a purely commercial point of view. It is not likely that any satisfactory arrangement could be made for their construction by either a public or a private company. The works would therefore necossarily devolve upon the Government, and can only be effected by means of extensive loans.

As other Provinces are, equally with the Province of Otflgo, interested in this important subject, the Superintendent is of opinion that it is exceedingly desirable that some general principle should be adopted, by which all further loans for Provincial purposes should be regulated,

He is of opinion that in all cases the following conditions should exist: -

Ist. That the Province desirous of borrowing should show sufficient security for regular payment of interest, and for the repayment of principal, within a certain limited number of yenis. 2nd. That the purposes for which each Province shall be allowed to borrow shall be clearly defiued, and that the woiks to bo undertaken shall bo in all cases such as are calculated to dovolope tho resources of the Province, and piomote its colonization. The reply of the Colonial Secretary is in favorable terms. He recognizes the necessity of the important subject of Provincial loans being considered and settled, and he recognizes the claim of the Province of Otago to a temporary loan of £40,000. He says — The Government is also ready freely to acknowledge that having regard to tho liabilities which tho Southern Provinces are readily incurring for objects more paiticularly affecting tho Northern Island, they establish a substantial claim to any assistance which can be prudently rendered, by affoiding them tho use of tho credit of the colony to raise money for great public objects, which could not bo otherwise obtained, or obt lined only at a soiiously onlumced cost. The impossibility of negociating the Piovincial loans which havo been authorized by the Provincial Legislatures of Canterbury and Otago of course pre&ses tins portiou of tho subject Btrongly on the consideiation of tho Genoial Government.

He concludes by saying that the Government is of opinion that it is the interest both of the colony at large and of the Provinces that the po ver to borrow mouev should be confined to the General Assembly, and that the credit of the colony should be pledged for such money as the Assembly may consent should be raised for the use of the several Provinces—for which purpose a Government bill will be proposed in the next Assembly. For the security of the colony it would of course be necessary for the Provinces to provide in such manner as might bo arranged. After a vast deal of discussion and the expenditure of much valuable time, this difficulty appears to be approaching a solution, and we may venture now to hope that the Province will at an early date be in a flourishing financial condition, and able to meet all equitable claims upon it—among which let not those of Oamabu be forgotten.

A deputation waited upon the Superin

tendent on the 10th instant, to request him to exert his influence with the General Government, with the view of obtaining a suspension of the new Land Regulations Act. It appears to be admitted that the Act referred to is a very bungling piece of legislation. Many of those who passed it are now regretting deeply that they took such a step, nor is it irrevocable ; but it was impossible for the Superintendent to return any other

answer to the deputation save the one which I he gave—that he could not interfere with its operation The operation of a measure which has passed the Council, and become law, is somewhat beyond control, unless it shall be modified or repealed. It is, theiefore, unconstitutional to tiy to interrupt the law, while we ardently desire its recision. The meeting of the Assembly and Council s>re at hand, why not bring the matter before them ? The efforts of the deputation in the meantime serve to attract public attention to the subject. The cause is a good one, for the law is bad ; the legislation must have been hasty and inconsiderate, and the speedy repeal of the measure is to be hoped for. They impose a tax of two shillings per acre on all land purchased, and it is said that the effect intended is to compel the purchasers to cultivate and improve their land. We consider this quite fallacious. In order to force a poison to improve his land, they drain him of his capital, and deprive him of the meaim which he would otherwise use in its culthation.

Again, we are at this moment anxiously looking for some measure to encourage immigration, and amoug the most valuable immigrants are the hard-working agricultural laborers of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who possess only a small capital in money, but bring to a new country incalculable wealth in skill and industry. Our land regulations here already are somewhat stringent, the pvice of land is high; and it certainly is not the best way to encourage settlers of the class referred to, to impose a tax of two shillings per acre, payable on the land which they purchase, on occupation. Whether the tax is to be retrospective or not, does not seem to be known ; all that is certain is, that pm chasers of land now will have to pay this impost. At the meeting referred to, the evils which the measure alluded to would entail, were broadly stated. It will probably, unless retrospective, increase the value of the land already sold; and, if so, it will give the present landholders an undue advantage ; but it will certainly, for a time at least, operate as a drag on the further sale of lands. If

this should be the case, it will necessarily curtail, instead of increasing the revenue, and will hinder districts like Oamaru from being so speedily occupied as they would otherwise have been. This looks like " killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," and it reminds one forcibly of the new ar-

rangcment by which double postage is imposed on letters from Europe to this colony, which, instead of increasing the Post-office revenue, is much more likely to diminish the number of letters. It would be almost as wise a step to tax such a commodity as wool, and thus stunt the infant growth of that commodity. There is no subject more important than the encouragement of the growth of crops, in order to render the colony independent of the importation of bread-stuffs and other necessary supplies, which the soil and climate of this colony so well fit it to raise for itself; but a tax upon land will most undoubtedly cripple this species of industry, and the consequence will be that the country will continue slavishly dependent on importation for the very staff of life itself, and will still be compelled to pay for fiour and such-like supplies the prices which the rise or fall of foreign markets may necessitate, and to pour the treasure into foreign hands which ought to remain at home, and promote

the progress of this colony itself. In fine, a more injuuicious measure than the imposition of a tax on land in a young and rising country, can scarcely be imagined. If taxes must be imposed, we would say rather tax income, or anything else that is tangible and realised ; but to tax the soil which the settler is about

to cultivate—not, be it remarked, from which he is deriving some profit and advantage, but on which he is about to bestow arduous labor, and on which he is prepared to lay out his hard-won earnings, that it may in the future become productive for his benefit and that of

the community—is simply monstrous. There was an attempt at the meeting to defend the measure should it be modified; but for our

part we cannot see anything in such a tax, in whatsoever shape imposed, but an odious

mpost, which will restrain immigration and

prevent what is most wanted here, the cultivation of the soil. As applicable to run-

holders, if meant to apply to them, it is still more anomalous. Being meant, as it is said,

to promote the improvement, meaning of course the cultivation, of the land, it is difficult to see bow it can apply to their holdings; and yet they are not excluded, while it ap-

pears impossible, in the nature of things, for them to comply with the conditions implied.

The new law, therefore, in every point of view appears to be absurd, and we presume it will be for the Legislature, when next it sits, to undo the evil; and it is fortunate that an early opportunity will be offered for so a work.

DuniNG the last session of the Provincial Council, the claim of this town to have the moderate sum of L3OOO voted for its requirements, was brought forward but not acceded to. Towards the end of June, also, a memorial from the inhabitants was addressed to the Superintendent, and presented to him by Mr Ilassell, urging the same claim. His Honor's reply was. that he was sorry that the great scarcity of money during the past session, compelled the Council to negative the vote for Oamnru as well as for other districts. I-Ie fully concurred in the prayer of the memoii il, and hoped to be in such a position by the next meeting of the Council as would enable him to carry out the views of the memorialists. As the Provincial Council's next session commences on Ist of October—only a fortnight hence—we deem it right to remind the inhabitants of the district that the time i<? come for agitating this important subject. We need scarcely remind our readers of the arguments formerly adduced, by which their claims to obtain a small of the public money is borne out. Oamaru, as a seaport town, is second only to Dimedin; and were proper harbor accommodation provided for it, would be second to none. During the past twelve months, at least 7,000 tons of goods have been landed here, and during the past season over 5,0J0 bales of wool have been shipped, besides farm and other produce. Lands have been sold in the district to the amount of it is cipaMc yearly of producing a laige sum from the same source ; but from the revenuo raised by these and other means, not one-tenth has been returned in shape ot improvements; and we are, in the face of this, making a struggle to develop the resources of the district to some extent ; but are

now in such a position that assistance is absolutely necessary for fui ther adv met nifnt. What we ask fro.n Government is only a small portion of what belongs to our*elve=. Why should our money be laid out on the improvement of other portions of the Province, far apart from us, while all aid is cleni* d to oursehe* ?

We are of opinion that the district, looking to the terms of the Superintendent's reply to their memorial, should again address him, or memorialise the Council at its next sitting, on this subject, and also communicate with our representative, who we have no doubt will support our claims, being fully acquainted with all the cir-* cumstances, and knowing that these claims are just. The L3OOO asked for is, however, a small instalment of what the district requires. Harbor accommodation is absolutely necessary to develop its resources; without that, the town languishes, and the district is condemned to a state of stagnation which is most unnatural to it, since it is

well known to be highly promising, and, were anything like justice accorded to it, would soon be densely populated, and would contribute greatly to the prosperity of the Province.

Mr Balfour the eminent engineer, who has been selected by the government to survey and report upon the harbor of Oamarn, arrived here yesterday evening by Cobb's Coach, his assistant having arrived by the Geelong on Tuesday night. Hia arrival 'has been anxiously looked for, as his report -will be required foi

the information of the Government and Council, wheH the estimates for the next six months come under their consideration.

A numerously attended meeting of ladies took place at Parkfield, the residence of Mrs. Lemon, to set oa foot the proposed Charch of England Auction and Fancy Bazaar. It was determined to have the bazaar at the time (10th November) of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual show, and as near the

scene a* possible J and as the exact locality for thatj exhibition is not finally fixed upon, no step hns at preJ sent been taken for providing a placo for holding thd

bazaar. The co-operation of a number of persons has

already been secured, and the following ladies:—]

Godfrey, Mrs "Wait, Mrs Koxby, Mrs "Ward, Mrs Filleul Mrs Lemon, and Mrs Gifford are to have baskets placed in their hands for the reception of contributions of either fancy or plain needlework, &c. On the day ol the Bazaar it is proposed that Mrs Gifford, Mrs Filleul, Mrs Lemon, Mrs Charles Lemon, assisted by othei ladies, be requested to sell the various articles that may

have been contributed to the different baskets. Contributors are to be requested to aflix the value of their pieces of work, kc, and at these prices the articles wil be offered for sale. For obtaining a small sum of monej for the purchase of articles to meet juvenile tastes, it was proposed to invite sixpenny deposits for a moneybox, to be placed in the hands of Mrs James White. A stall, to partake of the character of a general store, and to include a refreshment table, is to be another and aj

interesting feature of the occasion. Ife is to be hoped that these endeavors to effect pleasantly a good end, without adding to the burden of dull times, will be well received, and the ladies and all interested be rewarded with every success.

The Provincial Council of Marlborongh met in the Council Chamber, Picton, on sth inst., to elect a Superintendent in the room of Thomas Carter, Esq., resigned, when Henry Seymour, Esq.. was unanimously elected Superintendent of that Province.

In the latest intelligence received from the North "byl the Lord Ashley, it is stated that Auckland has quite: regained its peaceful condition, and is now in a statej strikingly contrasting with the disorder and warlike; tumult formerly prevailing. A number of our troopsj

are now to be withdrawn from the Auckland district: The 50th regiment was to proceed to Taranaki, and it was expected that General Cameron and staff would also proceed to that district. The Criminal Session! were sitting, and the Chief Justice's charge on opening the Court lasted three hours. In the Episcopal Church here there will only be one service—at 11 o'clock—on Sunday first. On Saturday last, the 10th inst., a deputation consist ing of Messrs. Charles Traill, of Qiraiaru, John Jones, of Waikouaiti, J. H. (on behalf of Matthew Holmes), J. Douglas, F. Fulton, James Fulton of "West Taieri, and Mr. "Wright (of Wright, Robertson and Co.; waited upon the Superintendent for the purpose of

urging him to postpone the operation of the new Land Regulations. The discussion was a lengthened one. His Honor noticed that the Act was passed in terms of reso lutions of the Provincial Council, with some slight

modifications, and said that he could not interfere with

the operation of the law; adding, that should it turt out not to be workable the public would soon cry on* against it and ask for some alteration. The A(r, referred to is one of great importance as affecting th" sale of lands, imposing as it does a duty of 2s. per acr 3 on all land purchased, from the time of occupancy. This cannot fail to restrict the future sale of land, an' to enhance the price of land already sold. It is looke: upon, however, as too sweeping, and will probably be i subject for reconsideration in the Provincial Counc. and General Assembly.

It is remarkable that possessing, as we do, such excel lent soil, in plenty, vegetables are always scarce here, As this is the season for laying out gardens, we would advise that not a single bit of allotment should be le.'i uncultivated. If not required for family use, vegetablci can be sold at a good price. It is to be regretted thrl no one thinks of raising vegetables for market, as ;t would pay well to keep up a constant supply. To shoi the capabilities of the soil, we may mention that not-v toes hare been raised here weighing one and frvro pounds each. The subject of markets generally is an important one. "We should have a market for garden produce, and for poultry, eggs, butter, and all ordinary supplies; and it h high time that we began to speak o establishing a weekly market, like other country iownt Our contemporary, the "Otago Mail," lately informed its readers that " coal has been MADE in Marlborottgb by Messrs. J. Symms and Rd. "Wyston," and furtha enlightens us as to the fact that the former gentleman was one of the earliest West Cost explorers." TVi should add in explanation that a valuable discovery o coal has been made in the sister Province by Mr. Samud Symms and R. de Burgo Wigstrom, both of whom wen lately connected with the newspaper press of Dunedin. The earliest explorations of the "West Coast of Otajc were made about the time Mr. Symms was born. Thai gentleman lately made a gold-seeking expedition to thai coast, the result of which was that it turned out to \* only a cost so far as he was concerned- Perhaps ovu contemporary knew this and was attempting a foggj sort of joke at his cost.

The coach competition on the Tokomairiro ro?<!, although producing very low fares, cannot be very co:nfortable for passengers, nor can it last. The usual ft re between Dunedin and Tokomairiro, by Cobb'B coaoh tr.a, till recently, 30s. Mr Barnes started an oppositioa coach at 125., since then, the following fare» have b€« charged.—On Monday sth inst., both charged 10s.; or Tuesday Barnes announced 7a. 6d. Cobb and Co. immediately employed the same man to cry their fare v Cs.; and on the Bth the bellman proclaimed Cobb aac Co.'s fare as 65., or anything lower that suited. This ii about 2d. per mile. The annual public meeting of the owners and occa» piers of land, and householders, :n the different Educational districts, for tho election of District Schio Committees for next year, will be held in the Schoo House of each district, on jlonday, the 10th day d October, 1864, at half-past six o'clock p.m. It is admittted on all hands that the past winter hal been ihe most severe which has been experienced foi several years. Accounts from all quarters speak of violent gale? at sea, and in the interior there have bee* severe enow storms. To show the comparative upproachableness of our coastal ports, it is worthy ol note that, three times out of five, the City of Dunedia was obliged to land the Timaru mails and passengafl at Oamaru, 50 miles south of their destination, readers will remark that no change a* yetiiU made on the postage from this colony to Europ*. That on letters sent here from England was doubled 'a July last. Whether the change will be made on ihk side also, remains an open question. It cannot b< doubted that the effect of doubling the postage will b< to decrease the number of letten, instead of increaeini the Post-office revenue. I We have heard a report that a little sheep shearing already going on in this district —Mr Ferens, I station, having commenced to iheer hi« wether*.

f Having made some enquiry regarding the demand for i Oaroaru stone, wo are enabled to state that the approximate quantity quarried during the last three monthe exclusively for use in the district, including Otepopo. is 12,000 cubic feet equal to COO tons, of which about 4000 feet have been conveyed to the Otepopo district. The price of the stono is 7d per foot delivered at the quarry, This stone can bo obtained in blocks of any required size, as is proved by a block shown to us i short time sinco, quarried by Mr Chalmers, owner of the White Rock, in this neighborhood, whioh was of the following dimensions:—it was 24 feet in length, foot broad, and 1,-} feet deep. The stone although quite soft when quarried and capable of being cut with the common cross-cut saw, and worked generally with joiners tools, becomes hard when exposed to the air, and the exposed sui face loses its porosity. A largo number of now houses are being built in town almost exclusively of stone, which is chiefly now to be the material employed for erections hi this district, the difference of price between a houio of that material and one of wooa being only 10 to 15 per cent. Aβ the season of the year U come for building operations, greater activity may now be expected to prevail. The list of district subscriptions for tho New Zealand Exhibition is now closed. The amount is not a large one, but when subsidized by an equal sum from tho Provincial Committee, will facilitate the labors of tho District Committee, and assist in tho preparation of specimens of our district productions. Our Hawkesbury Correspondent states that a public meeting wa«s hold at the Royal Hotel, on Wednesday eveaing, the 7th instant. The meeting was convened by Mr Waymouth, Secretary of the Exhibition Committee of Otago. There was a full attendance, and J. Orbell, E<q . J.P., wai in the chair. In order that the district be adequately lepresented at the forthcoming Exhibition, the following gentlemen wore elected to carry out that object :--Mc<Jsrs A. Mackenzie, J. P. Hepburn, J. Lawson, Thomas Whinan, G. G. Orboll, W. F. Hull, »nd M'Leod Orbell. The latter gentleman was also elected Secretary to the Committee.

Eight more applications under the Debtor and Creditors' Act were gazetted on the 7fch instant (of whom five' iro innkeepers), viz :—John Davidson , , hotelkeeper, Tokomairiro; William Roebuck, licensed victualler, Invercargill; Shadrach Edward Robert Jones, hocelkeeper, Dunedin; John Woods, carrier, Tuapeka; John Henry Lawlor, contractor, Dunedin; Louie Cramer, publican, Invercargill; Jamee Turner, hotelkeeper, Green Island; and Samuel Bell, merchant, Dunedin.

A petition, bearine; the subscriptions of the mercantile houses and the influential settlers and inhabitants, has been forwarded to the Postmaster-General, asking him to make a change in the Post-office hours here to suit the arrival and departure of the mails.

We hear that the Medical Board Ordinance has been luallowed by the General Government after having xen partially put into operation, and just when the

ntility of it was being recognised on all hands. It is said to have been beyend the powers of the Council to enact, put it is to be hoped that some remedy for the evil will

foe devised,

On Bth inst. before the Resident Magistrate, Henry filson was brought up under the Town and Country

Police Ordinance, for detaining some property belonging io Amelia Sprayson, and ordered to deliver it back. On )th inst. John Burns was sentenced to ten days imprisonment with hard labor, for stealing fat from the daughter yards of Sutherland and Parsons.

rWe obsorvo that the Dunedin, Captain Stewart, sails to day for Lyttelton carrying 40 tons of lime-stone and tl bales of wool. This is the first cargo of lime which Übeen sent from this to Canterbury, all previous ex»rt has been to Dunedin. If our harbor appliances [fired, any quantity of free lime-stone might be shipped from Oamaru.

By proclamation in the " New Zealand Gazette," inder date August 22nd, the native title to the Waiotara Block of Land in the province of Wellington, rhich is estimated to contain about 40,000 acres, is dolared extinguished. This land is in the new Wanganui

wince. Tho "Dunsfcan Times" reports : -" Mining operations re extremely prospei ous in the neighborhood of the Hanuherikia and Molyneux rivers. At the Frenchman's !«ch great activity prevails, both the Frenchmen's and Jarp of Erin claims being again in full working order. lie latter sustained a far greater amount of damage by he late flood than they calculated upon, and it was only n Monday, tho 29th ult., that they regularly got to rork. Like the Fienchmen, they have dispensed with he pump, and have substituted a eet of levators, which keep the water under admirably. The otal cost of getting this claim in order and repairing amages was £170. The lignite pit of Carter and Co is <\ capital working order. The shaft ia built up with labs from the coal to some distance above the reach of irobablo floods, and a supply of coal may now be calcutted upon with safety. The seam is a very fine one, at ast ten feet in thickness, eolid throughout, while the oal in of a first-class quality."

The Provincial Gazette, of the 7th instant, contains a lotico calling upon all persons liable to nerve as militiaien in the districts of Dunedin, Tokomairiro, and Mha, to send in their names to the Militia Office, itmedin, on or before the Ist October next, in accordnce with the Militia Act. The Superintendent haa received the resignation of iederick Thomas "Walker, Esq , as M.P.O. for Lindis; to, of David Pike Steel, Esq., as member for Clutha ; to, of John Lillic Gillies, Esq., as member for Tokonairiro. The election of William John Dyer, Esq., for he latter place is gazetted. The Gazette notifies that the Dunedin Savings' Bank nil be open for the receipt of deposits and general iMinens, at the office, Farley's Buildings, Princes-street, a Monday evening, between the hours of 5 and 7. bpies of the rules can be had on application, gratis. Mr. Maddock, solicitor, Dunedin, is a candidate for he representation of Lindis in the Provincial Council. In address will be found in our advertising columns. he number of electors is very small. The election is ted for Ist October. We observe tltat Mr. Waymouth, secretary to the xal committee of the Exhibition, is still actively eniged in visiting the different districts. All who mean i send contributions should bear in mind that in less g4 four months the Exhibition will be opened. Auckland will soon vie with Otago for tho number of J papers and periodicals. A now weekly journal the Colonists' Family Herald " has been published at the Southern Cross" office, and Mr Varty brings out ono, died " Entertainment," next week. The " Mail" says :—" A rumor reaches us from -bristchurch that tho General Assembly will meet early October in that city, and that tho preparations which »re being made for the meeting are being urged on ith additional vigour." The '• Daily Times" says :—" A serious fire occurred a Friday, on tho promiees of Mr Joseph Culling, Silver ireatn. The fire commenced among some loose straw, ad there being a brisk breeze blowing at the time, in a v minutes the whole stackyard was in a blaze. "With Iβ exception of a few bags of wheat, the whole of last ttr , ! crop was consumed, the value of which was toghly estimated at between £400 and £500. Luckily t wind blew the fire away from the buildings ot the tm, thereby rendering the loss lighter than it would ivo keen. Mr Culling was, we are eorry to say, tally uninsured. It is not known how the fire origiited; but from the circumstance of both » man and a iy, who were working near, carrying matches, it i» sectored that a spark had fallen from one or other, id to caused this serious low to their employer."

r Pursuant to advertisement, the ploughing match for the plough given by Mr, Joseph Ogilvie, came offyesterday on Mr Turnbull'e land at the White Rock. There wore five competitors, viz,, Mr. Peter Orr (&elf, owner),

— M'Fariane (M. Holmes, owner), Colin Campbell (R. Hunter, owsier), John Orr (R. Hunter, owner), Andrew Gray (J. Hassell, owner). As these aro some of the picked men of the district, the work was very superior, but it was pretty evident that the prize lay between the first and last named, and the judge's decision wus anxiously waited for. It was at length given in favor of Andrew Gray, amidst great applause. Ho, our readers will remember, took the fust prize at the Annual Ploughing Match on tho 16th ultimo. After tho ploughing contest a jolly and pleasant party, consisting of 17 of tho ploughmen and their friends Bat down to supper in Baker's Hotel- Mr Sutherland in the chair, nnd Mr Campbell, vice—and appeared to enjoy themselves to their heart?' content.

We have just learned that Messrs Arnott and Co.'s tender of £1400, for the erection (in part) of the Presbyterian Church here, was accepted at a meeting held by the Committee last evening.

We beg to call attention to the advertisement in today's issue by Mr J. Y. Ward, auctioneer and commission agent horo, offering for sale a number of town sections and houses for sale and lease; also for lease, farming blocks situated in the vicinity.

Wo call attention to an advertisement in our present issue, by Messrs Stephen find Laing, licensed customhouse agents, accountants and commission agents, Dunedin. They aro known to us as onterpriamg men, newly started, and any business which they have tiansacted for us bar, given satisfaction.

We understand that the Sacramental Fast-day of the Presbyterian Church, at Olepopo, is to-dny at 11 o'clock a.m., and that, on Satuiday fiist there will be a Sort '"c at half-past 2 p.m. On Sunday fast, the services v, ) commence at half-past 10 a.m. At Hampden, the Fab

day service will be to-day at 2 p.m., and on Sunday, alsQj at half-past 2 p. m.

jf The following Invercargill items are gleaned from the Southland "Daily News."—Two vessels have airived from Great Britain, one from London with railway plant; the other from Glasgow, with 200 immigrants. Tho Superintendent has postponed the opening of tho railway until 3rd October. Trade has been very languid of late, and a large proportion of the population have left the town. The proprietor of the Theatre has closed it till better times come. A distressing accident occured near town, whereby, a little girl two and a half years of of age lost her life, tho child, it appears, was playing in an unfenced section where she fell in an open well, and was found, after she had been mis&ing about ten minutes, quite dead.

Another paper has been started in Marlborough called the " Wairau Record," of which the first number has reached us. That Province is just beginning to develop itself, and will be aided materially by intelligent advocacy, such as this paper promises to afford.

The continuation of the series of <?ketche-! commenced in our last, entitled " Uhafc about Trifles," is po&tpoued, owing to prose of matter.