THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 315, 15 November 1864, Page 4

THE SOUTH.

Rv the arrival of the ' Wellington' we are placed in possession ol late files. Tito Wellington members of the Assembly, in answer to their constituents, who had called on them to state what action they intended to take in the coming session had, we think, vefy properl v declined to do so, on the ground that they could not define their future course of action until they had received the information which would be laid before the blouse upon the several points to be legislated upon. Tn the province of llawkes' Hay large tracts I of land are being sold to the Government by the Natives. Tlie jYrrahl of the 20th ult. states : " J!y the arrival of tlie Government schooner • Iris' from the AVairoa, on Wednesday lust, we learn that Mr. McLean has succeeded in purchasing, for the mm of.t'2ooo, a piece of land which may he roughly eslminted at one half the Mahia l'eninssla, including as it docs Hie southern side, that the northern side is »l?o under offer to the Government, and the purchase likely to ho effected, which will the whole of the Peninsula in the hands of the I'.uropratis. Our correspondent, in referring fo this negotiation, pavs that on the north-east side r of the Peninsula there is land of very superior qualify, with plenty of timber easy of access. The shipping accommodation is excellent. Tn olden times a very extensile trade was carried on by the Aneldand shipping with the whaling stations then established all along this part of the const. At the present time the north-east side of the Peninsula is a favourite placo of refuge for vessels during south-east gales—the water being smooth as a pond during the heaviest blow. Tliero is also, we understand, abundance of land suited to the purposes of the small holder ; the climate excellent, and the soil rich, with plenty of timber at hand. At "Wangawehi, on the noifh-cnst side, vessels of from .'!0 to 10 tens (an enter the river in any weather. "It is abo paid that the country extending from the Mahia to the Nuhaka is under offer, although in this case there are difficulties which ma}* protract the neirocmlion. The spirit of land selling is abroad." •Prom Nelson we learn that the vacancy causcd bv the resignation of his seat in the General Assembly by Mr. Alfred Saunders." has called forth (wo candidates —a Mr. J. G. Miles, an unknown and untried man. and Mr. Frodor Kelliug. who held a seat in the Assembly in 18110. Mr. .Kelling resigned his seat for the purpose of proceeding to Guernsey, as an agent of the Government, to organise a German legion of military settlers for the North. Unfortunately the then Government changed its intentions. and he was followed closely home by instructions superseding those wifli which he was charged on leaving the colony. Mr. Kelling has always possessed the esteem and confidence of (he people of the Waimca, and is likely to be the successful candidate. A numerously attended meeting was held at Dunedin on the 2nd insl., in promotion of the agitation ill favour of opening the ports for the importation of cattle. Resolutions were unaniI mouslv passed declaring that an unjust monopoly existed "to protect vested interests in cattle; that there was no monopoly on the part of the butchers: that (he proolaninlion of diseased districts ought to be withdrawn, as well as the ports opened ; and that a petition should be signed bv the chairman, and presented to the Superintendent, as from (lie meeting." The pleuro-pncumonia dodge seems to have been worked to some purpose in Otago, squatters realising immense prices for beef. The Daih; Time*, like many other Southern journals, estimates (oo highly the position of the Sunt hern Croxx in Auckland. "It is stated," says the JJaihj J'iwcx. " by the Southern Croxx that the Governor has received despatches from the Secretary of State, urging the prosecution of the war to a final conclusion. That no impediment may remain in the way of vigorous hostilities, the troops are to bo allowed to remain for a reasonable period longer." &e.. &c. We recollect our contemporary's inystcriously prophetic oracular announcement, the more so as we were prepared to expect something like the remarkable " Peace proclamation of blesse.t memory," which appeared a few days afterwards. In the Southern Provinces, however, the altered position of our eotcniporary is not yet understood, and the Dintcdiii Daily Timcx. in taking the Cmxx'x prophecy for a text, has been placed in (he position of the blind who was led by the blind. A serious (ire has occurred in Jnvercargill. It broke out in the warehouses formerly occupied by Messrs. Moses, near the Presbyterian Church, which, with an unoccupied dwelling house, the Globe Hotel. Mclvor's store, Mr. Goodwille's store, and the druggist's store of [Messrs. Hatch aud Hays, were destroyed. The origin of the lire, says the Jtaily Sews, is still enveloped in obscurity. The most mysterious part connected with it is that it. should have broken out in a store that, hud been empty for some months. An inquiry into the origin of the tire will be held this morning before the Coroner, Dr. Deck, at the Union Hotel, Tay-street, at It o'clock. Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the agents of the Insurance Companies was held at the oflices of Messrs. Morison, Law and Co., Esk-street. There were present :—Mr. Law, of the Royal; Mr. Xutter, of the Northern; Mr. Jfusscll, of the N'ew Zealand; Mr. Mitchell, of the North British; Mr. M'Pherson, of the Victorian : Mr. Brodric-k, of the London and Liverpool : and Mr. G. S. W. D drymple, of the Otago. .Air. Dalrymple was called to the chair. It was resolved to retain Mr. Macdona'd, of the firm of Macdonrild and Russell, solicitors, to attend the inquest on the fire, and watch the proceedings on behalf of the various companies. It was also deter- ' mined that the agents of the companies should attend the meeting for the organization of a Fire Brigade in order to cc-opcrate with such Brigade. Mr. Palrvmplc was appointed convener of all meetings of the agents. It was estimated that the actual loss to be met by the various Insurance Companies would be about £4300. This sum, of course, does not include the Globe Hotel, Mr. Goodwillie's premises, and the | house formerly occupied by Dr. Grigor, the whole of which were uninsured.

' L -- — L ; ——i The following statistics show tha names cf *Ui© insurer, tho amount insured, and. the names of" th& oiliccs in which the -insurances were oflccted, amj also whether the loss sustained was total or only partial.

The total amount of the insurance effected in each ollico by the- above-numeu insurer?, ia as i'ollOTra : — 1 I.ondon r.-nd Liverpool --lootVictoria Jtoyal ••••••' 1000" Now Zealand j}°o' Korlhem SOO - 1300' North British "SCO' Imperial At Duiiedirt, a charge of embezzlement hrSbeen brought against one of the clerks of tluJ3auk of IVew Xt'a , named Jolin Gibson. Skinner, who was in receipt of a salary of £400' a year. He was engaged at th? Punedin Agency as"the lilanager there. The sum' Alleged to havebeen embezzled nmounis to only X'.jOO.-

Jnsuranco Office. W fills § ! S !q —1—j J % £ ! £ \ £ £ Lr.ii'lon and Livoipool ........ 250' 50C| 800 — Victoria — I 500| — — Royal 500! 500 — — New Zealand — ! — — 300> Northern — i — ~~ Ota<*o S 500; 1000 — — Kortli British I — ! 500 — — Imperial ! — — —. Totals ...... Jl750|3500 SOO 300