THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1314, 1 February 1868, Page 5

THE SOUTH.

The Lord Ashley arrived from "Wellington yesterday evening. We cull the following from Southern files:— Assistant Law Offices.—Mγ. ttobert Hart has resigned the office of Assistant Law Officer. It is said that his resignation is the result cf some difference between himself and the Government, arising out of a certain code of Civil Service regulations, which was lately published. The salary attached to the office is £GOO a-ycar. — Independent, January 28. The Wellington Gold-field.—We learn from the Independent, that Mr. Grcve has returned to town from his last exploring expedition, but brings no news of fresh discoveries of auriferous country. Indeed, the result of his explorations seems to be that there is a strip of auriferous country from Terawiti to Otarongo." Gas Wodks for Wellington. — The Independent says : —We have been favoured with a sight of some very complete plans for gas works, obtained by Mr. O. K. Carter during his stay in England. These plans and detail drawings— with a very full specification and estimate—were entrusted to Mr.Carter by the eminent engineer and gas work contractor, Mr, George Bower, of JN'eots, in the hope that, at a favourable opportunity, a local company might be formed, when Mr. Bower would b(T ready to supply the whole of the plant at manufacturer's prices, nnd also take a number of shares in the company, as his firm has done in similar cases in Jiussia and elsewhere. We believe that the same firm supplied the plant for the Christchureh gas works, which may now be considered a success. The works shown and described in the plans and specifications noticed above are calculated for a town of 10,000 or 12,000 inhabitants, so as to allow for the growth of Wellington. The total amount estimated as ti.e cost of the whole plant erected, is put down by Mr. I'owM- himself at £9000. "Wellington, the capital of the colony, is without gas works! >-vrn Auckland, with all its depression, ix before us in this matter. [•' Even Auckland," says our coleniporaiy, "is before Wellington in this matter. ' Is the Independent awn're that Wellington, though the capita], j K not larger, even if so large, as ou<> of Auckland's two suburbs, X'arncll or JN ewtou ?] j

LATEST SOUTHERN" TELEGRAMS. DuNKDiN, Jan. 24, 1.45 p.m. The Chamber of Commerce have passed resolutions approving of steamers and stores being sent to Auckland and Campbell's Islands, and communicated with the Coloniil Secretary, who replied that the brig Amherst would make search, and that next session a voto for a depot would be proposed. TheSyuod have discussed theßev.Mr. Simmons' lately-published anti-Presbyterian letter, but resolved on no action in consequence of his intention to resign the High School Rectorship. Mr. Simmons says that the promise of resignation was conditional. 10 a.m. The Amherst sailed on Saturday for the Aucklands, Campbells, Stewart's Island, &c., in search of the chief officer and sailors of the General Grant, tnking with her provisions, carpenters' tools, spades, seeds, pigs, goats, boats, compasses, and sailing directions, a portion of which will bo left on each island. Mr. H. Armstrong, a member of tho Provincial Government, Southland, accompanies the Amherst. A man named Geddes is committed for trial, for the rnuider of his wife at Tuapeka. The Fishing Company's cutter Kedcliffe has returned from her trip outside the Heads ; had large hauls, and took large quantities of English sole.