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New Zealander, Volume XVII, Issue 1638, 28 December 1861, Page 3

the “ Rebecca” which arrived iu the Maon Tuesday afternoon, we have received papers to the 16th ultimo. .there

veiy little news of general interest in either the commercial or political state of that Province, the question of separation is opened up with unremitting perseverance by the Otago piess. Iho Native difficulty, looked at from a purely Southern view, is to be solved not by diplomacy and tact, but iu the rough and ready stylo, by villainous saltpetre. Truly, how easy and natural it is for those in the rear to cry out to their less fortunate comrades in advance, to push on! How pertinaciously wo stickle for the nicest point of honor, when the battle is to be fought for us by proxy, and the stones and missiles which are rattling about, threaten, not our own, but our friends’ windows! Some of our old settlers have returned by the “ Rebecca” and from what we could gather from one, an old Victoria digger, who had given the Otago fields a month’s trial, we are led to believe that the character of those diggings remains still much the same as before. There is a large population on the diggings themselves and the increase in yield of gold Ims kept pace with the increased population ; but from the very fact of the readiness with which men, live hundred in a body, are led away by every foolish report of a now field however distant or unlikely, as in the case of flic “Perkins” hoax, it may be fairly concluded that* a very large number of miners can find no fixed remunerative field for their exertions. The returns by the Escorts of the 22ml and 28th of November and of the sth of December were 21,000, 15,000, and 14,000 ounces, respectively. The price of bread has fallen to 2s. and 2s. (id. the 4ib loaf, potatoes (id., and beef and mutton, Is. and is. 2d, per Jb. Owing to the resignation of his seat in the Executive by Mr. Cut ten, the Superintendent had called together his Provincial Council on the sth ultimo. On the 10th a resolution, containing an oxpressionof want of confidence in the Executive, and a request that His Honor would recommend to the Governor a dissolution of the Provincial Council, was carried by a majority of 2. In proroguing the Council on the following day, the 11th, the Superintendent, Mr. Richardson, in relation to the above, replied that “ the resolution of the Council shall be duly transmitted to His Excellency accompanied with the expression of my dissent.” H’aituhuna has suffered severely from (lie Blue Mountain hoax. “ The rush to this place, headed by “Sam Perkins,” had resulted in proving it a heartless hoax, and he has met with a »ery mild but just reward. The miners, in number about 4 or 5 hundred, arrived here on Thursday, and a deputation ot U) men were sent with Sun to where he was to point out the new El Dorado and the land of glory. Upon arrival at a small gully he said, “This is the place.” No gold was to he found.. Ho then told the men to shoot him; but they brought him Sack, and tried him hy a jury, found him guilty of misleading them, and was sentenced to two dozen lashes, which he there and then received, and had his hair cropped off 1 believe he received one dozen lashes this morning, but about 8 o'clock the Southland troopers came up. and took him into ilieir charge, intending to deliver him to ihe first constable they could meet for transmission to Tuapeka. The miners behaved very quietly and orderly and are now in full retreat.’’ From the Olatjo Witness of the 30th November we extract tin* following paragraph relative to the newly established National Bank. The Bank of New Zealand has become the possessor of the largest nugget yet found on our Gold Fields. It is a pretty specimen and worthy of an examination. We understand the Manager. Mr. Larkworthy, intends to forward it to Auckland, but in the meantime will exhibit to any one who may he curious in the matter. Would this not he a good contribution to the Great Exhibition? The New Zealand hank opens on Monday first for business under most favourable auspices. The Otago shareholders are a numerous body—the share list varying from 5 to 1500. Double the number of shares have been applied (or, and it is a pity that ilie Hank cannot supply the demand. Tie assurance of support from a large "body of colonists and merchants must be very gratifying to the promoters of this national institution. In Auckland we understand tic success is great, most of the business of the capital of New Zealand passing through their hands. His Excellency Sir George Grey takes great interest in the Bank, and has become a shareholder, and opened Ins account there.