OPOTIKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1132, 1 July 1867, Page 3

OPOTIKI.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE,

Br the arrival yesterday of the s.s. Tauranga, we learn that nothing further had been heard at Opotiki of the fate of the two missing men, Briggs and Moore, up to Thursday last.' A most destructive fire occurred at Opotiki on Monday last, when the public house, store, and bakery, belonging to Mr. Kelly, were entirely consumed. The cause of the fire was unknown, and we have not heard whether it was insured. .

# SALES BY AUCTION.—THIS DAI". . Messes. Samuel Cochkaheand Son will sell to-day, at noon, at their mart, Fort-street, ai10t«.,,._: ment No. 5 of section 17, fronting West Queen- . street and a lano adjoining the William Denny Hotel; also part "of allotment 25, situate ui lower Albert-street; also part of. allotment al, section 18, in Hobson-street. . -, r .

1' Messrs. Huntrr and Co. will sell to-day, at the Newmarket Sale Yards, fat cattle, store cattle, dairy cows, fat sheep, fat and store pigs ; also, at 1 o'clock, two tootli half-bred Leicester ewes in lamb by a Lincoln ram, and three-quarter-bred Leicester hoggets. Messrs. Turrelii and 'lonks will sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, American pegged boots, cut tumfclers, raw oil, coir fibre, alkali, <fcc.

St. Matthew's Church. —Yesterday was a red letter day in St. Matthew's parish. The Ecv. David Jones, who had just returned from England, having been absent upwards of two years, officiated in the morning. Notwithstanding the threatening and unpleasant weather, there was a large congregation, delighted apparently, to have their own esteemed pastor once more in his own pulpit. Tho rev. gentleman happily took for his text an approximate passage from the 17th verse of the 4th chapter of Phillipians " But I desire fruit that may abound to your account." 3Troni this text the learned divine delivered a powerful and pointed discourse, in which he alluded to his long and happy connection with that church, and his earnest and trustful prayer that fruits of his labours might be yielded, which done, were the true bonds of affection between a minister and his people. In the evening his Lordship, the Primate, occupied the pulpit, when from 4th verse, 22nd chapter St. Matthew, "All things are ready," the truly Eight Beverend preacher delivered a most telling and pastoral discourse in his peculiarly impressive manner. In conclusion, his Lordship, in the most solemn terms, enjoined upon the members of the congregation tho practice, of mutual forbearance, and the encouragement of Christian love and friendship ; after which he gave his benediction. The church was thronged by a deeply interested and attentive audience. Cooke, ZoYABA, AND WILSON'S GREAT World Circus. —This popular place of amusement was visited on Saturday evening by a large number of persons, notwithstanding that tho weather was most inclement, but this adverse circumstance had no visible effect upon the performances, which were as spirited and effective as usual. The astonishing feats of La Perche, La Trapeze, and other exercises of strength and intrepidity were gone through, to the delight of those who were present. Tonight there will be an entire change of programme, comprising an equestrian spectacle, entitled the " Steeple Chase, or Harvest Home," with original effects, and in which we are promised a good deal of genuine comic scenes and incidents'. We observe that the stay of this company is likely to be confined to the present week, for the pavilion, containing 13,000 feet of timber, is advertised to be sold on Saturdaynext, without reserve. The undoubted merit and ability of the members of this company, both male and female, should entitle them to the largest measure of public support. McCaul t. Nisbet.—ln our last issue wc stated that an application for a re-hearing of this case was to be made by the defendant on tho ground that a material witness had turned up since 'the cause was heard, whose evidence would reverse the judgment in favour of the defendant, and that in such event we believed it would make a prosecution for perjury against a party in the cause. The notice was inserted by our usual police reporter, without having been personally perused by us, and we regret exceedingly that any reference should have been made to a charge of peijury. Mr. Joy, in giving notice of his intention to make tho application for a new trial, made reference to such a charge, and therefore our reporter made the allusion to it. It was not right, however, to have referred to it in the way stated in the paragraph, the publication of which we regret. New Zealand Agricultural Society.—The regular monthly meeting of this society will be held at the Criterion Hotel,to-morrow at 3 p.m. Business—" That a premium be given for the best essay on the question, can the agricultural interest of the province of Auckland prosper without an import duty on foreign grain, cattle, &c." Major Cooper's friends held a meeting in the Mechanics' Institute, on Saturday evening, to afford that gentleman, as a candidate for the vacant seat in the House of Bepresentatives for the Northern Division, an opportunity of stating his opinions. Owing to the arrival of lengthy and important intelligence from Sydney, we are obliged to hold over a full report of the proceedings. St. Mary's, Parnell. — A confirmation service was held in this church yesterday morning, by the Bight Beverend the Primate of New Zealand, when a number of young persons of both sexes were participants of this solemn rite. The address of his Lordship to the candidates was deeply impressive, and was delivered in the style of earnest solemnity which characterises Bishop Selwyn's ministrations. An impression, we believe, prevailed that the Bishop was to officiate at the morning service of St. Paul's. Auckland Band of Hope Union.—A juvenile entertainment, consisting of recitations, and dialogues, with music, will bo given by boys and others connected with the various Bands of Hope, in the Newton Hall, at a quarter to seven o'clock this evening. The Prosident, Mr. E. Le Boy, will take the chair. Thb Barqu* Cambodia. —This vessel is now advertised for sale by private contract. Since lier late misfortune at the Manukau bar she has been refitted at Onehunga, and is now said to be in good condition. Applications are to be made to Mr. John B. Treatt, Army and Navy Hotel. Tenders are invited by Mr. J. N. Wark, manager of the Auckland Gas Company, for the conveyance of between 250 and 350 tons of coal from Newcastle, N.S.W. Applications, stating rate per ton, freight, are to be made on or before the P l .h instant. A. V., No. I.—A meeting of this company will take place this evening at 8 o'clock -p.m., sharp, in Mr. Hazard's Bifle Gallery, Queenstreet, on business of importance. H.M. Gaol, Mount Eden.—Weekly state, ■ending June 29th, 1867:—Awaiting trial before Supreme Court, 4 males and 1 female; sentenced to penal servitude, 46 males ; sentenced to hard labor, 128 males and 6 females; in default of bail, 5 males and 2 females; detained for imprisonment, 2 males; debtors, 9 males and 2 females ; discharged during the week, 30 males and 6 females; received during the week, 18 males and 3 females; total in gaol, 194 males * and 11 females.—Thomas Young, Acting Gaoler. Educational.—The next quarter for the pupils of the Church of England Grammar School, will commence on Monday next, tho : Bth inst. Tenders are invited by Mr. B. Heals, receivable until noon of the 12th of July, for the

erection of a building for tlie Bank of New Zealand at Wanganui. Estate of Eeewin and Mendelsson. — A meeting of the creditors in this estate, is to be held at the office of Messrs. Jaekson and Hussell, on: Thursday next, by order of the sequestrator. Mobtheen Division Election.—The poll for the return of a duly qualified member to represent the above district in the House of Bepresentatives will take place to-day at the Pilot Station, Flagstaff, Worth Shore. Mr. Macfarlane's committee will meet at the stores of Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlanc at 9'30 in the morning, to superintend the polling during tHe day, and a notice appears in our advertising ; columns requesting voters in his interest to call at the above stores on their way to the steamer, in order to receive their voting cards. . Messbs. W. Huntek and G-. Dunnet give notice , that they have authorised Messrs. Arthur and Son to collect all accounts and; debts due to the late firm of Hunter and Co.

McCaul v. Nesbitt.—Mr. Joy made an application at the Police Court, on Saturday, for a rehearing of the above cause. The application was granted with tho consent of Mr. Macdonald. Thursday next being fixed for the day of hearing. Police.—For a wonder not a solitary drunkard made his appearance before His Worslrip, on Saturday last. John Casey, a genuine specimen of the gaol-bird species, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor, for stealing 1 a ladies* hat, from the shop of Mr. J. McLachlan, Queen-street; Patrick Doyle, was convicted on two separate charges of lar- . ccny, and was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment. John Bushnell was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor, for stealing an overcoat from the shop of Mr. Seabrooke, Queen-street. James Sullivan pleaded guilty to being an habitual drunkard, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor; .and, a warrant was ordered to be issued for the apprehension of John Tackabury on a similar charge. Mr. S. Furley, of Onehunga, invites tenders for building a new oven at Onehunga. Horribi e Massacre of French Prisoners. —The Bostm Journal of the 27th March says : —A despatcu stated a. few days ago that Escobedo, the Liberal General in Mexico, had ordered the execution of all foreign prisoners taken with arms in their hands in a battle which had taken place a couple of days prior to his issuing of the order. Later accounts state that this inhuman command was carried into effect, and that one hundred and twenty three men, French by birth, who had enlisted in the opposing army of Miramon, who had been taken prisoners, were marched out and executed in cold blood. "One by one," says the jreport, " the prisoners were shot, and each bloody body was left as it fell, for the next victim to look upon." "We are informed that but few of the victims faltered, and when marched out for execution most of them sang the " Marseillaise Hymn." The monster who ordered this cowardly butchery also ordered a grand ball in honor of the event; he invited one hundred and fifty of the chief ladies of the place, and was surprised to find but fifteen present. Whether he ordered the remaining one hundred and thirty-five ladies to be executed or not, we are not informed. Nothing more inhuman, more utterly infamous, than the above narrated atrocity has occurred within the history of modern wars. The Cession of Russian America. —A letterfrom St. Petersburg, in the JS'ord, referring to the cession of Russian-America to the United States, makes the following observations : —" In examining the transaction from the points of view of national interests and tho progress of civilisation in general, its importance can scarcely be overlooked. lii fine, Russia, on the one hand, and the United states on the other, are advancing, the first in the east, the second in the west, towards the Pacific Ocean, which is destined to become tho gieat highway of commercial relations between those two states. But before arriving at that important result Russia must fill up the immense vacancies in the population of Siberia, a work which will require a long time to accomplish. For Russian-America, to be of any utility to the mother country, all Siberia and the province of the Amoor must be sufficiently peopled for them in their turn to fend their surplus population on to the American coast. In the United States the situation is entirely different. They have already a compact population on the shores of the Pacific, and Russian-America touches that ocean. The colonising spirit of the Yankees will soon people all the coast as far as Behring's Straits. Where Russia would have been perhaps centuries in colonising a country situated at the cxtremceast of her possessions, tho Americans, who have it under their hands, will arrive at the same result in a few years. The consequences will be the immediate peopling of the two opposite coasts of the Pacific ; a great and beneficial influence will thus be exercised on the province of Amoor, the district of Ochotsk, and the peninsula of Kamscliatka,the commercial resources of which will become developed simultaneously with American colonization in the present possessions of Russia on the continent of the new world. We are there in exactly the same situation as tho English in India, and we consider it infinitely more desirable to have to do with citizens ofthe United States in the north of the Pacific than with Koloclies and Esquimaux, just as the English must prefer j to treat with Russians rather than the barbarous | and fanatical Government of Central Asia. The transaction is therefore an advantage to both countries, and, also, there is reason for hope, for the progress of industry, commerce and civilisation which it will realise."—European Times. How the Hussian Tbeaty was Ratified.— The San Francisco Bulletin, May 4th, says : — " The question of ratifying the Bussian Cession Treaty has monopolized public attention since the adjournment of Congress, and it certainly was a lively fight while it lasted; but Mr. Seward finally won under whip and spur by a neck. The first sentiment in the Senate would seem to have been one of hostility to the Treaty, and it required more diplomacy to disarm the opposition in that body, than it did to negotiate the purchase. The Tribune, which was.hot against it, charges Mr. Seward with exhausting underground appliances in order to manufacture public opinion in its favor, and states, among other means, that he sent a telegram of nearly 1,000 words, at a cost to the Government of 75 cents a word, to persons in California to work up a general Western approval of his bantling, and a demand for its ratification, and to furnish him with all the facts and considerations of a com- 1 mercial, industrial, and military character that might bear in favor of it."