OUR HOME LETTER, PER THE JUNE MAILS (VIA SUEZ AND PANAMA.)

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 121, 14 June 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR HOME LETTER,

PER THE JUNE MAILS (VIA SUEZ AND PANAMA.)

This mouth the long-talked of Panama Mail Service is to be commenced, and the advantageR of more frequent communication with Britain and the continents of North and South America brought within the reach of our distant islands, after much negociation and delay. The undertaking is a great and n bold one, but we think the Colony will soon be enabled to say she has no reason to repent the step she hns taken. Her position hitherto has been a most anomalous one ; she has been farther removed from the nearest marts of commerce than from the most distant. But Panama, the great entrepot of traffic from both sides of the American Continents, will put us in direct communication with some of the richest countries in the world, and, should the service be carried on in the spirit of enterprise and liberality necessary to render it a success, we cannot fail to reap | benefits which can yet be but imperfectly imagined. We hope, therefore, to see verified the prediction that closer intimacy with these countries will lead to greater attention being bestowed on our Colony, to the development of its yet comparatively" untried resources, and to its more rapid settlement and prosperity. Although New South Wales assists New Zealand in the carrying out of the enterprise, the latter has to be congratulated on having given it birth. She undertook the difficulty of its inauguration, and to her will belong the credit of its success, for which we can bespeak the heartfelt wishes of all truehearted colonists here. The mail company have made a good commencement. The voyage of the first steamer, the Kaikorai, shows that their vessels will be noted for speed. This vessel, which left Plymouth on the 8th of March, reached Hobson's Bay, Victoria, on the 6th of last month. She remained four days at the Cape De Verde Islands, and nearly three more at Table Bay, her speed, moreover, being considerably diminished by the breaking off of one or two blades of her On proceeding to Sydney, she was placed in the dock and the necessary repairs made ; so that we may reckon on her performing her first voyage across the Pacific as satisfactorily as she did to the antipodes. Some little consternation was caused in commercial circles a few days since when it was announced that the time of her departure from Wellington had been postponed to the 23rd of this month, but it has subsequently been explained that this arrangement is intended for this month only. The dates of departure in future will be, as we stated last month, as follows : — From Sydney on the 1st and from Wellington on the 8th of each month. Very little of political importance has transpired during the month, but we are everyday the more induced to think that the forthcoming session of the Assembly will bring about a great change in the administration of the affairs of the Colony. Parliament meets on the 30th of this month, the followng being a copy of the proclamation summoning our " collective wisdom :" — G. Gret, Governor. To the Legislative Councillors of the Colony of New Zealand, and the Members elected to serve in tho House of Representatives of the said Colony, summoned and called to a meeting of the Geneial Assembly of the said Colony, at the City of Wellington, on the twenty-eighth day of the month of May instant, to have heen commenced and held, and to every of you -Greeting : Whereas the mepting of the General Assembly stands prorogued to tho twenty-eighth day of the month of May instant, nevertheless, for certain causes and con sideration«), I have thought fit further to prorogue the same to Saturday, the thirtieth day of the month of June next, so that neither of you on the said twentyeighth day of May instant, at the City of Wellington, are constrained to appear : Commanding, and by the tenor of these presents, enjoining 3 f ou and each of you, and all others in this belmlf interested, that on Saturday, the thirtieth day [of the month of June next, at the City of Wellington aforesaid, personally, you be and appear for the dospatch of business, there to take into consideration the state and welfare of the said Colony of New Zealand, and therein to do as may seem necessary. Given under the hand of his Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of tho Bath, Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, at the Government House at Wellington, and issued under the Seal of the said Colony, this twenty-sixth day of may, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtyE. W. Stafford.

God save the Queen ! There can be little doubt that the ensuing session of the General Assembly will be one of the most important that has been held since New Zealand ceased to be a Crown colony, and became invested with constitutional rights and privileges. Not only will the relations which are, in future, to subsist between the provinces of the two islands be defined, but those also which are to connect the outlying districts of a province with its centre. The New Provinces Act sprung into existence under the guardianship of such men as Richmond, Stafford, and Weld, and owed its origin to the fact of the land revenues of the remoter portions of a province having been expended solely for the benefit of a provincial centre ; and thus it was that Otago lost Southland, Wellington was deprived of Hawke's Bay, and Nelson was shorn of Marlborough. The last session of the General Assembly removed the power of constituting new provinces, upon petition, from the Executive Government to the General Assembly ; or, in other words, made that which, under certain circumstances, was a matter of right to become for the future dependant on the humour or passions of the members of the Legislative Assembly. We have now only to recognize the fact, and to eudeavor to remedy the evil. In looking over the addresses of the candidates for the representation of the various electoral districts, our attention has been arrested by some remarks which fell from Mr Dillon Bell, when offering himself as a candidate for the county of Wallace, in the province of Southland. Mr Beli, is one of the oldest statesmen of New Zealand, and, as he speaks the sentiments of at least

two of the leading members of the Ministry, Mr Staffokd and Mr Jollie, the outlying districts may reasonably entertain hopes that they will no longer be ignored, but that their rights will be respected. Mr Beli, expresses himself so clearly on this point, that we think we cannot do better than quote his words. Speaking of the possible formation of a Middle Island Colony, he says : — " The danger is, | " that if you had a new Government for the " Middle Island, and Provincial Governments " were swept away, you would have a similar " expenditure of public money round a centre " for the benefit, of that centre ; exactly the " same result which caused the separation of " Southlnnd and Otago — the taking away of •' the Land Fund of the outlying districts for " the sakp of the land around the capital of " the country. I do not know how you are " to avoid this, unless you make human nature " very different from what it is. The tempt- " ation to make the expenditure near the " capital is so great, and the power of metro- " politan members is always so great, that, " unless you can instil a greater amount of " public spirit in this country — where public " spirit abounds — you cannot get the benefit " you would seek. In my place in Parlia- " ment, I have ever been an unswerving " advocate of the rights of outlying districts. " In company with Mr Weld, Mr Jollte, " Mr Stafford, and many others, we formed " ourselves into a combination for the main- " tenance of the rights of these ontlying " districts. We have never been able to " succeed in inducing the Governments of " the large provinces to see there was any " justice in our advocacy. — The land revenue " should be absolutely localised by law. The u fund subscribed by the purchase of land by " any particular district should, subject to " fair deduction for the expenses of Govern- " ment, be absolutely devoted to the require- " ments of that particular district." We need not say that we coincide with these sentiments, and believe that they form the only basis on which the relations between the various portions of a province can be justly established. In order to make clear to our readers that the grievance which Mr Bell complains of is no vain shadow, we have been at the trouble of compiling, from official sources, a table indicating the amount of land revenue received from each district in Otago, and the amount of expenditure on roads within the same. We have grouped the districts with relation to the three natural centres to which traffic would converge for export and import — viz., Oamaru in the north, Dunedin in the centre, and Molyneux in the south. The only doubt in our mind is, whether we have not done an injustice to Oamaru in not including Moeraki within its division ; had we done so, we should have added £48,419 derived from land sales in Moeraki, and also added about £15,000 to the expenditure on roads.

GOLD FIELDS. Gold Export Duty £242,332 Miners' nights and Licenses 75,81)0 Gold Fields Towns-Sales of land 7,163 £325,391 Expenditure on roads to September, 1865 £135,460

pastoral districts. Sales of land £6,722 In another portion of this issue will be found some further remarks on the subject of outlying districts, to which we have to direct your attention. It may be appropriate to mention here that the Oamaru petition to the Assembly on the rights and wrongs of this district has been extensively signed, and will shortly be entrusted to the hands of those gentlemen who are to introduce it to the notice of the two Houses. It is difficult to predict the result, of course, but all ai-e sanguine that our importunity in this matter will bring forth good fruit. The present Government, we confess, is strangely constituted. We have, at the head, Mr Stafford, wellknown as being disposed to curb the powers of Provincial Governments, and we have Mr

Paterson, tbe Postmaster- General, who is a strong advocate of increased powers. Quite lately, it has been strengthened by the accession to office of Mr Jollie, a staunch friend and advocate of the outlying districts. As we have reason to believe, now that the Ministry aref .veil supported, we have to augur very favorably of the fruits of the session. The good folks of Canterbury are busily engaged in electioneering, in consequence of the recent dissolution of their Provincial Council. The election of Superintendent took place on the 30th of last month, when Mr Moorhouse proved himself the favorite amongst the electors. He is a tried man, and it is generally believed that the choice is a good one. The results of the poll at the several polling places are as follows ; —

Majority for Moorhome, 731. The returns yet to como in cannot possibly affect Mr Moovhouse's certainty. Later particulars of these elections will be found in another portion of this issue. We have to report the appointment of n Civil Service and Income Tax Commission, the duties of which are defined as follows : — j " To inquire generally into the clerical strength and efficiency of the several departments of the public service; and especially as to the numbers, ages of admission, rules of advancement and pi"omotion, and remuneration of the several clerks and higher officers of the said departments : and to report such improvements in the organisation of the same, by way of consolidation or otherwise, as may, in the opinion of you, the Commissioners hereinafter named, promote efficiency and economy; also to enquire and report on the subject of retiring and other allowances and pensions ; and especially whether the same should be provided by a contribution from the clerks in the nature of a benefit societ) r ; and if so, whether the said contributions should be compulsory, and therefore general, or only voluntary ; also to enquire and report as to the manner in which an Income Tax might be raised, and the most effective and economical mode of raising the same, especially what proportion the cost of collection would probably bear to the gross amount of tax collected. The Commission is composed of the following ; — C. Knight, Esq., Auditor of Public Accounts (chairman) ; W. Gisborne, Esq., Under Secretary ; William Seed, Esq., Collector of Customs, Wellington ; and Major J. Spence, of the Victorian Civil Service. The murderers of the Rev. Carl Volkner, and of Mr Fulloon, the Government Interpreter, were executed at the Mount Eden Stockade, Auckland, on the 1 7th ult. A few minutes before eight o'clock, two of the five murderers, Horotnona Poropiti and Mokouioko, were handed over to the executioners. At eight o'clock the Sheriff went to the cells, and Horomona was brought out in his charge. Pie i was rapidly pinioned, Dr Maunsell reading prayers beside him the while, and he making the responses. The same was then done with Mokomoko, and both stepped out of the corridor. The Prophet kept praying in a steady, monotonous tone, but Mokomoko, as soon as he got out, cried excitedly, " Teno koutou, ua pakeha !" Then turning to the range of cells in which, were the prisoners whose sentences have been [commuted, " Hei konei ra, e te iwi !" He "then looked around on the green slopes of Mount Eden that were lighted up with the morning sunlight, and said, " Hei konei ra, e te ao mamma !" (Salutations, pakehas ; I leave you, my people ; I leave you, world of light.) Both then walked quickly to the scaffold, Horomona praying earnestly. When they had got on the scaffold, Mokomoko continued to speak to the assembly, " Tena koutou, na pakehas." Horomona stopped in his prayer, and turning to his companion, said, " He aha koe te inoi ai ?" (Why do you not pray ?) Mokomoko answered, " Hei aha tena !" (What is the use of it ?) and when Horomona resumed his prayer, Mokomoko cried out loudly, " He aha ! he aha !" Then calming down somewhat, he said, " Hei konei ra, pakeha ma ; tenei ahau e mate hara kore ! kahore i tika taku matenga!" (Farewell, you pakehas ! I die without a crime: it is not right that I should die.) The first two being executed, Heremita, Hakaraia, and Kirimangu were conducted to the scaffold. When they got on the scaffold, Hakaraia bowed repeatedly to the people, saying, '• Teua koutou, na pakeha." Heremita followed his example, and bowed several times. Kirimangu shut his eyes, and seemed in some danger of falling from mere weakness, swaying to and fro while the rope was round bis neck. When all was ready, Father Macdonald presented the cross to Hakaraia, who kissed it eagerly, as {did Heremita. The Father then presented the cross to the pallid lips of Kirimangu, and stepped off the drop, which almost instantly fell. Hakaraia and Heremita, being heavy jnen, hung lifeless in a few seconds, but Kirimangu, from being so light, struggled for five minutes. The hangman was sent for, and extinguished life by three vigorous pulls on the legs of the unfortunate man. The other prisoners have been dealt with in the following manner : — 12 have been sentenced to penal servitude for life, 5 to fourteen years, 3 to four years, and 1 to

one year's penal servitude. Thus have the last of the 35 natives concerned in those outrages been dealt with. Of those executed, Horomona and Mokomoko were Protestants, and HeremitJi, Hakaraia, and Kiriinangu Roman Catholics. The Petition of a number of the inhabitants to the Hon. the Postmaster General for a daily mail betwixt this place and Dunedin, has evoked a reply to the effect that it has been considered advisable to obtain the sanction of the General Assembly for the expense before establishing such a service. The reason assigned for this course is that when tenders were invited for it some time ago, the Postmaster General was precluded from accepting them, owing to the exorbitant charges asked, and it is not thought likely that any material reduction would he made in the rate demanded if tenders were again called for. We are given to understand that the election of the first Mayor of Oamaru will take place on or about the twenty-first day of July next, and that of the Councillors on the first of August. There will be no dearth of candidates for the honorable post of Mayor. Those now mentioned are Messrs S. Giobs, W. F. Ingram, J. C. Gilchrist, J. S. Wait, M.D>, and W. Luke; but it remains to be seen how many of these will really go to the poll. The number of citizens enrolled amounts to 225, but a considerable proportion have not made any claim. It may be deemed rather illiberal from your point of view, but it is the opinion of the majority here that the Mayor for the first year at least should not be allowed any salary. The reason given, however, is a pretty valid one, being a scarcity of funds; and it is therefore hoped that " filthy lucre" will not enter into the calculations of nor a want of it deter, any good and qualified person seeking office. The question of the Mayor's salary, however, has to be determined by the Councillors, whose election will take place subsequent to that of the chief citizen. The Mayor elect will therefore be in the dark on the point till the 1st of August. As relating to the affairs of the place, we may mention here that the Governor has signified, by proclamation in the Gazette, his assent to the "Oamaru Town Reserves Management Ordinance," passed at last session of the Provincial Council. The Oamaru district during the past month has earned the credit of taking steps to establish the first Ram Fair in New Zealand. It was decided, at the annual general meeting of the members of the Northern Pastoral and Agricultural Association, that this fair will bo held on the first Wednesday in the month of February next, and that our Annual Stock and Implement Exhibition will take place at the same time. The fair will be conducted on principles similar to that of the great Skipton Fair in Victoria, where the best results have flowed from the establishment of such an institution. Oamaru being in the centre of one of the most favored districts in New Zealand, in respect of^ soil and climate, is peculiarly eligibly situated for the holding of such a fair, and it seems to be the opinion of those competent to judge that the undertaking cannot but be successful, should only a fair amount of energy and intelligence be employed in managing and directing the details. At the meeting referred to, new officebearers of the Association were appointed for the current year, as follows : — President : Mathew Holmes, Esq. ; Vice -President : Robert Campbell, Junr., Esq., M.Ii.R.; Committee : Charles Meyer, Esq. ; M. R. Miller, Esq. ; F. D. Rich, Esq. ; H. Campbell, Esq.; James Gardiner, Esq. (Maerewhenua) ; Win. Black, Esq. ; James Gardner, Esq. (Benlomond Station) ; Edmund Gibson, Esq. : W. II Teschemaker, Esq. ; M. S. Gleeson, Esq. ; N. C. Wade, Esq. ; John Allan, Esq. ; R. Hunter, Esq. ; James Hassell, Esq. ; Alex. McMaster, Esq. ; E. A. Julius, Esq. ; E. S. Lees, Esq. ; Dr Webster; George Buckley, Esq. ; and P. Aitcheson, Esq. Secretary : J. Locke, Esq. It was also proposed to hold an exhibition of wool at the same time, and agreed upon that the sample bales forwarded should be sent to the universal exhibition of wool in London next year. This step was resolved upon, because it will be interesting to learn on what points the judges here and in London agree and differ. On the awards of the latter being known, it is to be expected that our flockowners will bestow attention on the growing of wool which has been considei'ed by them to be the most profitable, and therefore the most valuable. There is, accordingly, no small degree of interest attaching to the I awards to be given in London. The wool market report is a powerful agent out in these colonies. For a long period now the price of wool has continued steadily advanciug, until it has reached what is really considered a high figure. Times are therefore prosperous with our runholders, who are recovering from the effects of ihe great depreciation of stock which took place a year or two ago, Large numbers of sheep have been purchased on account of Otago and Southland runholders from the flocks of Canterbury during the past three months. When we mention that neai'ly one hundred thousand have in this manner been introduced you will be enabled to judge to what extent the " good old times" have returned. On the morning of the 21st of last month, a man named John Bell was found drowned in the Waireka Creek, about 12 miles from Oamaru. He was a native of Cumberland, and about 35 years of age, but it has not been ascertained that he had any relatives in this Colony. He was a comparative stranger in this district, having been but three days in the service of Mr Rainsforth, a settler in the Waireka Valley. From the evidence adduced at the iuquest it was found that the unfortunate man was partially of unsound mind, if not altogether incapable of controlling his actions ; and it is believed that this sad state was brought on by excessive drinking. On the evening previous to his being found dead in the creek, a disastrous fire broke out in the stackyard of his employer, which resulted in the destruction of about 1500 bushels of oats and 600 of wheat. It is believed by some that the deceased was in sonie way or other connected with the origin of the conflagration, but, if he had been, no one thinks that he had acted so intentionally. His employer firmly maintains this view of the case; indeed, that he was in no way concerned in the fire. The origin therefore remains, and pro-

bably ever will remain, a mystery. Much sympathy has been expressed for Mr Rainsforth's heavy loss. The mining intelligence of the month is destitute of interest. New rushes are occasionally reported on the West Coast of Canterbury, but there have been none of any great importance since we last wrote. The old fields continue their satisfactory yields. In this Province miners are reported to be doing well, and the escort maintains its average. The Paihi diggings in Southland are still popular, and give remunerative employment to a considerable number of minors. The Coroniandel diggings in Auckland are growing in favor. The Kapanga Company have just paid 37 \ per pent, on the paid up capital (L8 10s. per share), making about L9 per share profit for the past eighteen months; or over 100 per cent. Digging for gum is also being successfully prosecuted by both Maori and pakeha in the same Province. The usual quarterly Sesssons, of the Supi'ome Court commenced at Dunedin on the 1st instant, and lasted but a day or two, the calendar being unusually light. Only one case was sent from this district, one of alleged watch stealing at Bcnmore station. The prisoner, a man named Hamilton, was found "not guilty," in consequence of the insufficient identification of the article. He brought forward very good testimony a" to his previous character, and the presiding Judge, Mr Justice Richmond, in that case confessed himself the less sorry that he had been freed by the jury from the imputation of the crime of which he was accused. The neighboring Province of Southland, which has long been in an unsatisfactory state as regards its finances, is once moie lifting up its head. During the past month sales of laud to the extent of one hundred and seventy thousand acres have been effected at 20s. per acre, which will go a considerable distance in reducing the liabilities to the General Government and the Banks for previous advances. The railway from Invercargill to the Bluff is nearly completed, and should, if economically jyet efficiently managed prove a great boon to the settlers in the transport of goods aud produce to and from the port. A portion of the Oreti Railway has been worked for sometime, but as it ends at but a thinly populated district, eight miles to the north of the capital, no great results have yet been achieved. Speaking of Railways reminds us that the Canterbury Provincial Government has given instructions to the contractors to proceed with the construction of that portion of the Great Southern Trunk Line between Rollcston and Selwyn (nine miles), without delay. This Province, we believe, in undertaking this line on a most expensive plau, has committed itself to the execution of a work which is much too costly for the requirements of the Province for many years to come. A greatly less expensive line would have served every good purpose, and averted the depression of the Provincial funds which may be regarded as quite inevitable. The increased revenue from her recently discovered Goldfields must be hex mainstay in any emergency. Southland's painful experiences before her eyes hod no effect upon the sanguine minds of her Councillors and Executive, so the] prevail ing " carriage and pair" policy reigned predominent. Otago too, thinks, now that she has something to her credit in bank, that she may raise nigh half a million for the construction of sixty miles of railway from Dunedin to the Clutha, but it is to be hoped that before works on such a gigantic scale (considering the population of the Province), are constructed by the Government, a little serious attention may be paid to the " safety, honor, and welfare" of the country, " so that all things may be ordered and settled by their endeavors, upon the best and surest foundation, that peace and happiness, truth and justice," &c., &c, " may be established among us." Everyone, of course, has the most implicit faith in the marvellous agency of the " iron horse," but until the Province is more densely populated, this same " iron horse" will transform itself into none other than the proverbial elephant of which we have all heard. Light tramways are now recognised, in places where the administration of public affairs is carried on with wisdom, as preferable to expensive lines ; by the time they are worn out the country is in a position to construct railways sufficient for a large and heavy traffic, while in the meantime it is found that they can be more economically formod and maintained than the ordinary roads. But " preaching according to your stipend" is as yet but very rarely practised in our Colony. Despite all drawbacks, however, it is gratifiying to think that her material progress is something unprecedented in the history of nations. Closely connected with the progress of the district, is a proposal for bridging the river Waitaki. A plan has been shown to us of a temporary bridge, which it is estimated will cost not more than L5000 ; but it is questionable whether a really serviceable one can be built for anything like the money. However, science works wonders. We have pleasure in reporting a welcome addition of valuable books to the library of our Mechauic's Institute, and the prospect of a series of Lectures and Readings for the long winter evenings which are now upon us. Rational and intellectual amusements are sadly at a discount in Oamaru, and we accordingly hope that the endeavors of the Committee of management in providing such will meet with an encouraging measure of support and success. An attempt is being made to establish a Philharmonic Society here, but as a large number of voices are requisite for the formation of a really good one, it is to be expected that for a time at least little more pretentious than a Glee Club will be attempted. Our Volunteers, having got over the novelty of the thing, show signs of flagging. This undesirable state of matters, we fear, will not be remedied till they can have practice with the rifle. The Company has not got this length, although a very good range is at their disposal. The providii g of targets is the stumbling-block iu their way, the Government not thinking it incumbent upon them to offer more than L30 towards the object. In this, as in many other things, wo are too far removed from the capital. There the Volunteers have money lavished upon them, the Mechanics' Institutes ure libemlly endowed, and the towns presented with

princply grants, but all that is *" neither hcid nor there," as your late lamented Thackeray was wont to say. As becometh true and loyal subjects, wo must not omit to spenk of the Anniversary of the Queen's Biitlulay. This was kept throughout the Colony with the usxml demonstrations on 'the part of the inhabitants. In Duuedin and Christelulrch the Volunteers mustered strongly, and kept holiday in their customary manner. At the latter place there was aUo some stceplechasing of a rather impoitant character, drawing crowds of spectators, desnite anything but Queen's weather. The chief event was the grand Provincial Handicap of 250 sovs. — a four mile race, with 1 i competitors. The chestnut mare Jessie, the winner, ran splendidly all the way, and camo in first very cleverly, taking all her leaps well ; but had Musician's rider been equal to holding him in, the tables stood a great chance of being turned in his favor. The two horses are to be tried on the same course in a few days, when Musician will doubtless make a better appearance at the finish of the laee. Other events of minor importance followed the Handicap, and the holiday proceeding wcro, at usual, wound up with the inevitable Ball. k Oamaru was quiet on the Queen's Birthday, but wo attubute this entirely to eccentricity on the part of the cleik ot the weather. It is probable that you would receive, per last mail, telegraphic intelligence of the death of the Prince do Conde, at Sydney, on the 24th of la«t month ; but the following particulars will doubtless be interesting: " He left Southampton on the 4th of February last, on a tour which Mas to embrace visits to all tlic colonies of Australasia, to Singapore, Java, Japan, China, Calcutta, Lahore, and other celebrated cities of India, and having passed through the country to Madras, he intended to leave theie for England. The time his father had arranged for his absence was eighteen months. During his stay in Sydney he caught a cold whilst out late on a fishing excursion, but had evidently recovered from the effects, as subsequently ho was in comparatively good health, rusticating among the Blue Mountains. It was whilst returning thence that he first received intelligence of the death of his giandmother, Marie Amelie, ex-Queen of the French, and this produced a physical prostration from which he never recovered. On his deathbed he was attended by the Very Key. Arch'loacon M'Enroe, who bestowed th*e extreme unction, and gave full absolution. His Excellency paid a visit to the hotel yesterday, and in a spirit of condolence granted his aid in facilitating some of the proceedings incidental to the occasion, and in making arrangements for communicating the event to the bereaved parents. Arrangements were also made, for embalming the body. The father of the deceased Prince is now residing at Twickenham, but the family vault is at Weybridge, where lie the remains of Louis Philippe. The deceased received tho title from the Duo de Bombon, Prince de Condo, father of the unfortunate Due d'Enghein, some years after whoso death the Prinoo bequeathed his title nnd prnporty to the eldest son of tho Due d'Aumale. Deceased was born on the loth November, and on that day ho would have reached his twentyfirst year. He has a brother twelve years of age, to whom the title will descend."

Fight with a Siiakk. — The " Grcenpoit (Long Island) Watchman " says :— At about 9 a.m. on Sunday last, the schooner Catherine Wilcox, of Lubec, Maine, was proceeding down the Sound, and, while becalmed o/F that port, about eight miles off shore, the captain, and a young man 17 years of age, namdo Peter Johnson, belonging to Maine, formerly a soldier, and now working his passage homo, stripped off their clothing and jumped overboard for a swim. Johnson swam a few rods from the vessel to pick up a small piece of wood, and, while returning, a huge shaik, judged to have been 14 or 15 feet long.dnrtcd toward him, and seized him about the middle, and instantly disappeared with him, dragging him down, as he says, about 30 feet deep. He struggled and fought with the ravenous monster, fearfully lacerating his right arm in the effort, finally succeeded in grasping tho shark by the head and gouging one of his eyes, at the same time dealing him powerful blows about the head, he succeeded in wresting himself free. He then swam to the schooner pursued by the monster; being a man of remarkable physical strength and pluck, he finally succeeded in driving him off, and got on board of the schooner, pulling himself up by the foretopsail-clue-line, which hung overboard, but not until the tcrriblo teeth had left their mark in many a. ghastly wound, so that he was one mass of gore. There were some 34 distinct wounds on his person. The abdomen and groin of the right side was fearfully mangled, tho flesh bciii"* torn off and left hanging by the skin only, nothing but the thin lining membrane of the' abdomen preventing the entrails from, gushing out ; the femoral vessels were laid bare, and tho nerves completely exposed. On the left side of the abdomen was another wound similar in character but less extensive ; the right thigh was very badly torn and gashed. Nothing but his indomitable com ago and physical vigor enabled him to escapo alive. The shark must have been of tho species known as the " man-eater, " which are common in low latitudes, but are rarely seen in shoal water. The common shovolnoso shark of our waters seldom, if ever, attack mankind. Johnson is still living, and, although in a very precarious situation, there is yet some hope of his ultimate recovery.

Amount malised Hundreds. & 4 H Acreage Sold. to 31st March. Rural. Town. Maerewhcmuv \wamoko iakanui 42,880 48,640 51,840 87,040 53,760 29,204 20,395 13.406 60,644 18,247 £ 29?204 20,599 13,403 103,426 24,276 £ 1- 12,887 J Damavu 3tepopo 284.1G0 147,896 190,910 12,887 Total sum realised Expenditure on roi ids to Sep >tember, '. £203.797 L865 30,980

NO. 1. OAMARU CENTRE.

Amount realised Hundreds. si Acreage Sold. to 31st i March. Rural. Town. £ Mocraki Hawksbury Waikouaiti Dunedin East Taieri WesfcTaieii Waihola N. Tokomairiro...3 S. Tokomairiro ...| 65,920 71,040 25,600 72,320 73,600 60,160 70,400 52,800 52,800 32,365 19,006 5,715 43,389 35,309 25,118 18,329 23,748 18,378 £ 48,419 23,415 8,291 34,948 23,867 17,963 14,414 16,227 13,335 200,879 1 )■ 64,862 J 544,640 221,357 64,862 Total sum realised Expenditure on roada to Sop tember, 1 £265,741 865 359.0G7

NO. 2. DUNEDIN CENTRE.

Amount realised Hundreds. o 4 to S Acreage Sold. to 31st March. Rural. Town. N. Tokomairiro ...1 S. Tokomahiro ...J East Clutlia WestClutha Popotunoa Fotnahaka Waitahuua £ 5,409 4,445 24,282 34,539 19,274 19,893 12,895 £ 17,600 17,600 46,720 53,760 60,100 46,080 40,960 282,880 7,916 6,126 28,82$ 47,337 17,930 14,573 11,458 - 6,460 134,163 120,757 6,460 Total sum realised Expenditure on ror ds to Sep teinber, I £127,217 .865 20,961

NO. 3. MOLYNEUX CENTRE.

Loorhonse. Lance. Travors. Christchurch Lyttelton Governor's Bay Papanui Kiccarton Ferry Road Lincoln Road Prebbleton Kaiapoi Rangiora Scfton Woodend Oxford Timaru Hokitika Akaron. Durauchelle's Buy Pigeon Bay Oknin's Bay Waipara Kaiapoi Island Leeston Ross's Woolshed Ford's Ehodea' Ashburton Jollie's Geraldine AroTrhenua Tlie Levels Sheath's Waiinate Waitangi 577 136 , 18 88 29 105 43 47 58 76 51 15 46 102 11 24 15 20 25 2 2 18 10 4 5 4 0 5 23 8 2 36 0 295 33 1 37 50 35 28 25 5f> 50 31 15 13 17 2 44 2 5 3 21 8 28 10 7 2 9 3 3i 17 1 4 5 3 79 3 1 1 3 9 2 0 31 6 2 2 2 31 O 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 7 0 0 2 0 1601 870 190