Untitled

New Zealander, Volume XXIII, Issue 2579, 15 November 1865, Page 3

We extract the following from S. de Beer's Monthly Shipping and Freight Report (Melbourne) : —ln the midst of the general di-lness prevailing, it is pleasing to be able to state that the improvement alluded to in my last report as having occurred in our trade with the New Zealand ports, has not only been maintained, but consi lerably inoreased. For Hokitika vessels under 150 tons, and with a draught of water not exceeding 7 feet, which, however, are very scarce, command readily Lsto L 6 per ton. The several steamers to the above port have all been promptly despatched during the month, full of passengers and cargo, the latter at L 7 per ton, which they stood much in need of, the trade for a lengthened period having been far from profitable. The barque ' Golden Age ' left last week direct for Hokitika with about 200 passengers, and should the accounts of the goldfields there continue good, we may look to lose a considerable wumber ofturtoo limited population, with the uncomfortable feeling besides that a larije portion were brought out from home at the expense of this colony. A General Government Gazette, published on November 9, contains a warrant appointing ■certain polling places in the Province of Auck land. Copies of two Acts passed during the recent session of the Imperial Parliameit, setting at rest certain questions wbich have been raised an the Supreme Court of South Australia respecting the validity of colonial laws. The appointment of the following gentlemen to be justices of the peace:—Charles Nairn, Henry Redwood, jun., Borthwick Robert Baird ; James Charles Thompson, and John McKay, Esq*. The appointment of George Samuel Sale, Esq., to be Sheriff for the district <>f Westland.' The appointment of Henry Aidborough Stratford, Esq., J.P., and Robert Abbott, Esq., the former to be Resident Magistrate of Dunstan, ind the latter to be the Registrar of the Supreme Court at Hokitika. The -election of F. YVhitaker, Esq.. to the Superintendenoy of Auckland. The appointment of John Stephenson Smith, Esq., to be a Commissioner of Crown Lands at New Plymouth. The nomination of Thomas and Edward Pattento be the persons at Hokitika to lay informations under the " Arms Act, 1860." The certificate of the execution of William Andrew Jarvey. The Regulations for the open competition of 1866 for the civil service of India. The appointment of Francis Dart Fenton, Esq., to be Chief Judge of the Native Land Court. Several Militia and Volunteer orders. The recognition of the Rev. William James G. Bluett; James O'Brien Dott Richard Hoare; and Patrick O'Brien to be officiating ministers, the two former for the United Church of Great Britain and Ireland, the latter, for the Roman Catholic Church. Several Supreme Court and Joint Stock Company notices; and a notification, that Edward Daniell, Thomas Robertshaw, the representatives of James ■Clarkson, and the executors of Robert Jillett, are entitled to Crown Grants. Two political meetings took place in Canterbury on th» Ist and 2nd instant. Mr. Crosbie Ward convened the first .it Lyttelton, and in a long and able address, reviewed the proceedings of the late session, and condemned very strongly the conduct of the Weld Ministry, whose downfall he attributed to the combined opposition of Auckland and Otago, aided by the action of those •other members who disapproved of Mr. Weld's financial schemes. Mr. Ward declared his intention of supporting separation as the only *tieans of saving the South from ruin. Mr. Fiti«erald addressed the electors of Christchurch on Jhe following evening, and defended Mr. Weld's policy, asserting that the charge of financial extravagance was untrue. He insisted ••on the necessity of withdrawing the ireops and taking the management of native affairs into our hands, with the object of suppressing crime at any cost. He ■accused Mr. Stafford of ignorance, incapacity, and dishonesty in demanding so small a sum as &e had proposed for interna] defence, and urged *ipon all electors the necessity to remember the threat of dissolution without appropriation. Other gentlemen addresed the meeting, which was concluded by passing the following resolution :—" That this meeting, being deeply sensible -of the benefits conferred upon the country by Mr. Fitzgerald's labor', pledges itself to support him *t the next general election." We hear that it is contemplated to get up a public subscription on behalf of the widow of the late Captain Sleigh, who lost his life in the recent lamentable catastrophe in the harbor. As Mrs. Sleigh is left with two young children depending on her, we need not say we are sure our citizens will be liberal in their contributions on Bthis occasion.— lndependent, November 7.

The Council of the Northern Association is to meet to-day at three o'clock. The usual monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce will be held to-morrow, at three o'clock, in the room, Fort-street. The new Catholic Church, in Symonds-street, » being rapidly proceeded with, and is very nearly completed. We understand it will very shortly be opened with the usual solemnities on such occasions. We are glad to see that steps have been taken to fill up the sudden fall from the pathway in Symonds-streets towards the Catholic Burying Ground, to which we called the attention of the authorities some short time ago as being of a very dangerous nature to pedestrian?, especially during the dark nights. Men were yesterday engaged in placing a breastwork of scoria between the declivity and the, footway. The news from the West Coast Diggings, which we publish in another column, does not at all bear out the rumor as to the starving condition of the population there which was circulated on the arrival of the ' Albatross.' The London barque ' Sunbeam,' Capt. Lovell, cleared at the Customs yesterday, and will sail to-day for Napier. She takes part of her original cargo from London, and some transhipped ex ' Ida Zeigler.' The brig ' Princess Alice,' Captain Kiddy, arrived at Newcastle on the 24th ult. from this port, and was to return with a cargo of coal. Yesterday evening a detachment of soldiers belonging to the 50th Regiment left the Albert Barracks, in charge of an officer, on their way to Onehunga, for the purpose of proceeding down South, to join their regiment at Wanganui. They leave this morning in the ' Ahuriri.' After the long spell of fine dry weather which we have lately enjoyed, the rain that fell yesterday was exceedingly refreshing to all, and especially grateful to our parched and dried up gardens. It served, too, to lay the dust, which has been blowing about in clouds for the last fortnight, and did more in one afternoon for the benefit of the walking public of our town than the City Board could do in a mouth. Certainly, we think that an effort might and ought to be made this summer for the watering of our dusty thoroughfares, as is done in all other large towns in the colonies. An amusing scramble for oranges took place on the lower T of the Queen-street Wharf 3-ester-day. The 'Ruse,' from the South Sea Islands, laden with fruit, was being discharged, but before the oranges were landed they were sorted over and all those of a broken or damaged nature—and these amounted to not a few—were either thrown overboard or else up on to the wharf. There were dozens of boys upon the T, who no sooner saw an orange coming than they scrambled for it in a body, and in most cases it was squeezed to pulp before it came into the possession of any of the outstretched hands. But -vbat we would especially call attention to, was the fact of several boys essaying to pick up the oranges by sliding down the piles. In one instance a lad was very nearly falling into the water, and had he done so he must inevitably have been drowned, forjthe tide was running very strongly through the piles at the time. Mr. W. H. Eyes, member of the House of Representatives lor the distict of the Wairau, has been elected Superintendent of the Province of Marlborough, without opposition.— Colonist, November 7. The Canterbury Press says:—" A requisition is said to be in the course of signature, begging Mr. Weld to stand for Christchurch. We should be sorry to see Mr. Wilson out of the House, but if his election for Christchurch is likely to be opposed, it would be far better to select a man like Mr. Weld, who would probably not be opposed, and that Mr. Wilson should stand for the country district in which bis property lies, and where his sent would probably be secure. Mr. Wilson's meeting on Wednesday will probably decide his course." Mr. Sewell has determined to circulate his remarks on Mr. Stafford's budget, and with that object has had copies of the report taken by the Independent struck off,, and forwarded to the various journals of the colony. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy. We are glad to be able to announce that Lieut. Reginald Newton Biggs, of the Hawke's Bay Volunteers, who behaved so gallantly the othur day at the attack on Puketnaire on the East Coast, has been gazetted Captain in the New Zealand Militia. The commission to date from the 11th ult. Hokitika has once more had a very narrow escape from destruction by fire, the roof of the kitchen attached to the Shamrock Hotel being destroyed on Thursday last, the 2nd instaut, through a spark falling through from the chimney. We ■. West Coast Times) trust that this warning will have due effect upon the inhabitants, and induce them to ai once organise an efficient body of men to act as a Fire Brigade.