MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE FEBRUARY ENGLISH MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1314, 1 February 1868, Page 6

MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE FEBRUARY ENGLISH MAIL.

MILITAKT AND NAVAL. On the 23rd ult., the Auckland Eille Toluntcers paraded for battalioa drill. About 60 were present. On the loth ult., a general meeting of the Naval Volunteers took place, when Mes3rs. Fcaton and Le Hoy vrere elected lieutenants. It is rumoured that the Major-General Commanding intends sending two companies of the 18th back to Wanganui again. On the 25 th ult., another batch of some 20 time-expired men of the 18tli .Regiment reenlisted for a further period of service, and were sworn in before the Magistrate accordingly. Oα the 21th ult., a party of military and other visitors were entertained on board the French transport Chevert, Capt. D'Estienrie. The vessel vras decked out with evergreens and bunting ; during the evening the band of 11. HL. 18th liegiment discoursed some excellent music.

VOLUNTEERS.

The challenge recently thrown out by Mr. W. Sly, of the Scottish JRifles, Dunedin, to fire a friendly match with the best snot in the Auckland Kifte Volunteers, was accepted by Mr. W. if. Hazard, of No. 1 Company, and the match came off at the Butts, Point Chevalier, oa the 28th ult. The ranges decided upon wcro 300, 490, aid 500 yards, seven shots at each range, in any position. The following is the scoro with the points added: —Hazard, 42; Sly, 37. Mr. John Kelly has been gazetted cornet of the Bay of Plenty Volunteers; and Messrs. C. Stephenson, W. De Thierry, audM.C. \Vrigley have resigned. Ensign Mclntyre has been appointed lieutenant in ;io. 1 Company, A.R. V"., the vacancy caused by his promotion being filled up by the election of Private W. H. Skinner. The priae firing of j-the Auckland liifle Volunteers for the flagon presented by Governor Gore Browne, iu 13t>2, and the rifle presented by Mr. It. J. Fcltus, took place on the 14th ult., at the Kifle Kanges, Point Chevalier. Owing to the illness of Major Tighe, the command devolved upon (Japtam Batger, while Jinsign Gatlaud and Sergt.-major Haslem officiated as marker and signal-man. Dr. "Wilson (A.C.V.), was in attendance. The ranges were 300, 400 and 500 yards, with live shots at each. The shooting was not equal to former averages. The flagon was won by Ensign Morrow (39 points) ; and the sword rifle by Private T. Moore, No. 6 Company, (36 points). The preliminary competitive firing for the Government prizes, took place on the 21st ult.,- at the rifle range, Poiiit Chevalier. During the day a high wind prevailed from the S.rf.W., almost precluding anything like accurate shooting; i'nc number of competitors was nearly double that of last year, but we regret to say that tlio result of the firing leaves Auckland without a representative in the forthcoming competitive living for the Government prizes, out of a total of nearly sixty competitors, one has succeeded in scoring 50 points, the number necessary to qualify a member to compete for the prizes. The ranees ivere 400, 500, and 000 j'ards, seven shots at each, and the highest scores made were the following : —Lieut. Thompson, a.K.V., 42; J. C. iSoall, 3S ; Franklin, A.N.V., 37 ; J. W. Duff, 35 ; It. H. Garland, No. 6 Compßny, 33 ; Robinson, No. 1 Company, 34; Constable' A.JN'.V., 32 ; Messrs. A. Morrow and Hazard scored 10 and 40 respectively. There "were several others who did not make a single point out of the whole 21 rounds. We hear that the wind was so high during the firing as to render good shooting an utter impossibility ; and there certainly must have been some great drawback to account for such poor scoring. Wherever the fault lies, it does appear to us that the men have not hnd a fair chance in being compelled to fire under such very unfavourable circumstances.

A general armed parade of tlie Auckland Rifle VoluiUeers was held on the 16th ultimo, ia the iron stores outside the Albert Barracks. Major Tighe read the revised .volunteer regulations, which came into foTce on the Ist ultimo. Several important alterations in the uniform have been made,-'and lines imposed for certain breaches of discipline and minor irregularities. One object of the meeting laid been to ascertain the views 'of the men in reference to the formation of : the corps into a battalion, a proposition to that eiicct having como from Wellington. After considerable discussion, however." the men failed to arrive at any decision on the matter, and the consideration of tiie question : was postponed until a future date. The companies were inspected, and the arms and accoutrements found to be in a clean and serviceable condition. Tile total strength ot the. parade was as follows: —Officers. 13; non-commissioned officers, 10; privates, Ui). On the 13th ult, the n.s. Sturt sailed for the East Coast and the South with 100 tons ammunition, howitzer guus, &c., for the volunteers of Napier. VTellinßtou, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin: Aiajbr Von Tempsky has been appointed to the command of a division of the new constabulary force being raised by the General Government. Licut.-Oolonel McL)opnell will be the commandant of the force. An order, we are informed, has received from Wellington, by the officer commanding; the Volunteer force in Auckland, that ;io Volunteer shall absent himself from parade but on application to the War Office at Formerly when a Volunteer or J;i:m;»mnn thou-'nt' it necessary to ask for "leave before absenting himself, lie applied to the ofheer commanding in Auckland ; now he must appiy ro the .Minister of Defence at Wellington., even though he merely wish to Tisit the Thames gold-lield !

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

'/lie Tauranga Record states that a most remar'.cabk- monument has been liy the Armvas at Wuiotahi, to tbe memory of Wiremu Popata (the mailman), who was murdered with Mr. Bennett White, by the Hauhaus. It consists of a fantastically decorated idol, terminated by a wooden cross, bearing tho following inscripjj 01 ,.—■• Sacred to the memory of Wiremu fopata, who died at Waiotahi on his way to Op'Hiki." Tlic Hauhaus have since destroyed it. .Mr. K. C. Young has completed his araugelTK'iit with the Raglan natives, to which we lately nllitiled— namely, the leasing of an extensive,run of some 80,000 acres between .Raglan fir-d J'ort Wailcnto, i'or the depisturing of sheep. /Ihe n-iit of the run is, we understand, to bo about 2-J-.1. \>cr aere. Youus, we are told, intends iit'onee to put SOOO head of sheep upon ■ the land, and is now making arrangements for , the shipment of 2000 head. Other gentlemen, we are glad to learn, arc in treaty with the native owners for as many extensive runs. This looks as if the natives really desired to live in peace with us. ; On thr|23rd ult., Mr. Commissioner Clarke paid the Tauranga natives another instalment lor the Katikati block. On the following! day the whole of the Maoris, with a few exceptions, wen? more or less intoxicated; the men with their fists pummelling one another, whiles the women contented themselves with pulling each other's hair. There was no respect shown to persons, and the various chiefs, of whom there wi'n , many present, fell in for a fair share of "hammering." .... ' &ei tleaieut at Opotiki is going on but slowly on account of a number of Hauhaus prowling about the vicinity, liecently Messrs. White

and Rushton, who Lave been partly clearing the land in the vicinity of the Waioreka Gorge, saw fresh tracks, aad folio /red. them up, 'when they perceived," and were in. turn perceived by. a native, aad almost immediately another one came out of the bush ■to reconnoitre, and then, both retired. The two settlers deemed it prudent to return, thinking it not improbable that an. ambush was laid where they had been working on the previous day. A settler's house near the Gorge was burnt down on tlie night of the 13th ultimo. It had been unoccupied for some weeks. A public meeting was held at Tauranga, on the 3rd ult., to consider a circular from the Secretary of the Koyal Committee, Aucklaad; a resolution declining to co-operate with the Aucklaad committee was passed; and the fol- | lowing resolution was also carried, " That in case the Duke of Edinburgh visits this district we will endeavour to get up at least a spirited war-dance and canoe race on the occasion." . A; committee has been appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements, and subscriptions to the amount of £23 12s. 6d. were promised at the meeting. The survey of the Katikati block for the allocation of t£e remainder of the Ist Waikatos, is being satisfactorily executed. The natives offer no opposition to the survey. In the Waikato, this season, the wheat crop is stated to be excellent, but that of maize, ie very indifferent on account of the cold and wet spring we have had.

THE THAMES GOLD FIELDS

On the 25Ch ult., the s.s. Midge brought up 300 ozs. of gold from the Thames. The Enterprise also brought up 200 ozs. from the Kuranui claim (Barry's). The Star of the South claim recently crushed 50 lbs. of specimen stone, which yielded 35 ozs. of gold. ' : : The crushing for Tookey's party was finished 6n the 21st ult., at Groodall's. There are som'e47lbs. avoirdupois of amalgam—say about 200 ozs. of smelted gold. The gold is the produce of some eight (S) tons of quartz, more the result of fossicking in the claim during the Christmas holidays,'than of regular work. ' ' .Recently one of tne shareholders in Messenger's claim, Mr. D. Ornie, shewed us two speci. wen's of quartz taken out of it. The specimens are full of gold, one of them weighing_ about 2-£ lbs; : , and estimated to contain about five ounces of goldl About one hundred tous ; of quartz are ready to be crushed, which will be'put through Mr. Graham's machine when it is completed, in, about a week. iNone of the stoue'h'as as yet been crushed, but we have no doubt, if what we saw was a fair sample, it will realise a very handsome dividend to the shareholders:' ," v ' On the 18th. ultimo, ' some 20 tons of quartz put through at Goodall's ina'chihe, gave, rather less than half an oiinceT to the ton. This will hardly pay • the.;' : cost of crushing and hauling to the machine; in Victoria it would be a fair return. On the other hand, some stuff out of Barry's claim, which was being used to make a, roadway, was put through for a day's work as an experiment. There would be say ten (10) tons crushed. The result was sixty (t>o) ouuens of amalgam or, say, twenty ounces of j;old ! The road metal part of the business is stopped. j Our Thames correspondent writing on the 21st ultimo, says: — •'/ Mix weeks not ono-sixth of the claims I visited were known; now the men are talking of having some ten years' work on hand. The Carpenters', although a good, claim, did not strike me as quite maintaining all that has been said about it; but there is this fact to be considered —that seventy (70) ounces of gold have been got out of a claim which is nearly the furthest back of all the claims now in work on the line, of the Moanataiari Creek. In the Star of the South Claim, there is ' a I sandstone reef; it is just the sort of stone that . Dr.. Kochstetter and Dr. Hector say that gold ought not to be found in : but, nevertheless, the gold ■/* there. I should like to see more before venturing the assertion that this is the same line of reef that runs through Hunt's and Barry's claims, but from all I can uow see the inference seems a fair one, that it is the same line of reef."

A silver and copper lode has been discovered by Messrs. Williamson and Sinallman, at Waiomu. The lode is 3ft. wide; the mine is leased for a term of years. It is the intention of the proprietors to commence operations at oiiee 5 about SO tons will soon .be ready for shipment to Auckland, for the purpose of sending to Australia, in order that it may be tliorough.lv tested, &c. ; ■ ';.■ A party of gold prospectors hare left Auckland for Tairua, Alercury Bay, in. order to test the auriferous character of that district. On the 22nd -ult. the s.s. Taura'nga brought up 430 ozs. 17 dwts. gold from Barry's claim. Prospecting parties are out at in search of gold. Indications have been found, it is stated, near the Otara river. On the lGtli;Ult., the s.s. Midge brought up 37 ozs. of alluvial gold, from Tapu Creek. On the 29th ult., ti:o s.s. "Tauraiiga. brought up 1432 czs. of gold" from Huat and Oo.'s claim. Also 25 ozs. from Tapu Creek. The miners at the Tapir Greek, of whom there are between 800 and 1000 already on the ground, appear to be generally doing well and to be satisfied with their prospects. Large offers for shares have been refused. Stores and buildings are going np rapidly, and the place is rapidly increasing in size and population. A nugget weighing 20 ozs. has been found at Tapu Creole. Air. Alaekay, Gold-fields Commissioner, recently visited Tapu Creek, and reports very favorably of the district. A township has been, marked off there, and the whole of the allotments immediately sold. .. .• :.•■■■: A number of West Coast diggers are engaged prospt-cSintr in the , neighbourhood of the' Miranda. ]{edoubt. Lower Thames. We inspected, recently, a very ingenious contrivance for quartz-crushing. 'Die invention is by Mr. .Pratt; of Wangarei, and needs but little description. The principle Upon whichit works is thst of what is called the "recovery lever." The stamp; , r or weight is enclosed in a stout casing of wood. It may be increased to any weight, and made to cover any amount of surface according to the power which the machine is to be worked. J lie lever being depressed, the weight is, by means of a pulley, thrown over the opposite arnt and falls upon the substance to be crushed. Mr. Pratt calculates that a sGlb. weight will giva half a tou pressure, but as the average lift of an: able-bodied man would be, perhaps, one hundred weight and a half, of course the machine can be worked by hand, giving a ton and a half pressure. For this pressure, the machine can be worked constantly by a single hand, but o£ course two or more could be employed with incrofissd effect. Information has been recently received in. Auckland that the schooner Alice and barque Domingo had been laid on at fan Francisco, for this port, .both vessels are full of passengers, who are coming to try tbeir fortunes at the Thames gold-fields. A number of these passengers only arrived in Sau Francisco from. V ucklaud by the circular saw liners Kate and Constance.

LITEBARV.

On the 16th ult., the Kev. Jas Hill, President of the "Wellington-street Lit. rary Association delivered the opening Loci are of the Session iSf.B. ou the subject of " Phrenology, is it true or false ?" There was a crowded audience, who listened with unabated interest to the able and instructive lecture, from its eoinmoiu:ement to its cli'Se. AtiOi. Clark, iisq., M.Gr.A.., pre~ sided on the occasion.

DAI.LI-.1

The annual soiree of the " Auckland Improvement Society" came off on the 17th ult. Dr. Edd, LL.B., presided, and opened the proceedings with an interesting address. Headings and recitations were given by Messrs. Eastwood, Madden, Davis, junr., Douglas, and others, and some selections of music were nicely sung by a small party under the leadership of Mr. Brown, organist of St. Matthew's, who kindly presided at the pianoforte. The annual meeting of the members of the Onehunga Institute, took place on the 17th ult. Dr. Nicholson, M.P.C.. was elected President for the ensuing year. The report showed that the liabilities had been reduced by £17, and nearly £0 worth of new books added to the library.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

On Sunday, the.2Gth ult., the nnnunl rewards to the children of St. Matthew's Sunday School, were bestowed by the Hev. David Jones, incumbent of the parish, who delivered an interesting and appropriate address to them; 221 children were present. A meeting was held at the Thames on the 27th ult., to take into consideration the erection of a Church of England place of worship; Archdeacon Lloyd in the chair. A subscription list was opened, and the building will be immediately commenced. The iSative Chief, TV. H. Taipari, gave half an acre as a site for the Church. . A meeting of the members of All Saints Parish Church was held on the 11th ultimo, in the church. The Kev. E. N. Bree, the incumbent, occupied the chair. The present occasion was not the regular yearly meeting, but the churchwardens made a statement of the financial position of the parish for the past lialf-year; there was still a balance of £32 for the year owing to the treasurer up to the 30th ultimo, or a deficiency on the past half-year ot some £7. Messrs. Boardman and Heather were appointed to act on the part of the church members in conjunction with the church- j wardens. On a motion being made to engage | the services of Mr. l?ice as organist, at a salary of £35 per annum, £20 of which -was ti be guaranteed from the church funds, the re- j mainder being made up from the proceeds of a concert to be hereafter given, an amendment was proposed and carried to the effect that in the present financial state of the church funds, the meeting was not warranted in paying for th« services of an organist. Great credit was awarded by all present to Mr. Kice, for his valuable services during the past twelvemonths, and it was determined to assist in every way a concert about to be held, the proceeds of which will be applied to the remuneration of that j gentleman's services, given gratuitously since the j Church has been opened. It was agreed that i the annual soiree should take place on Thursday, the 6th of February, and that the proceeds should be handed over to the clergy maintenance fund of the parish. On the 14th ultimo, a meeting of the members of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was held, to hear the report of the work of the Melanesian Mission during the past year. The liev. Mr. Dudley addressed the meeting at considerable length. He said that the head quarters of the mission having been changed to Norfolk Island, the congregation would not have an opportunity of seeing Bishop Pattcson so frequently as heretofore. The reasons for the removal" of the head quarters were very strong. In the first place, the missionary farm was there, arid a saving of time to the extent of three weeks in the year was effected in the voyages to and fro. The amount of contributions" from the children of the congregation, was £10 16s 10d. Archdeacon Lloyd and Dr. MauDsell also addressed the meeting in support of the objects of the mission.

Oα the 14th ultimo, a musical soiree was given at Papakura in aid of the funds of the Presbyterian Church. The entertainment, consisted of speeches, recitations, and singing, and a very pleasant and agreeable evening was spent. After tea, the meeting was addressed by the Eev. Mr. Norrie, Eev. Mr. Wallis, Eev. Mr. Kccles, Messrs. Smart, Beveridge, and other gentlemen. A most efficient choir was in attendance, under the conductorship of Mr. G. Ought on, organist of St Andrew's. A Presbyterian Church i 9 about to be erected at Tutaenui in the Wanganui district. Preparations have been begun for the erection of the spacious and handsome stone edifice for the First Church of Otago, on the originally reserved site on Church Hill. It is to be in the Gothic style of the 13th century, built of Oamaru blue-stone, and anticipated to cost over £14,000. The "Wesleyan body have commenced the erection of a place of worship at Shortland, Thames; several Auckland merchants contributed valuable donations in the shape of materials, &c. The foundation stone of the new Wesleyan Church, in Wellington, was laid on the 6th ult. A social tea meeting was held in the evening, over which Dr. Bennett presided. The clmpel erected by Mr. E. S. Brookes, on his land, South Oruawharo (Kaipara), was opened for Divine Worship on the 29th December. The Rev. Mr. % Worker, Wesleyan minister, conducted the services morning and evening, and an address was delivered in the afternoon to the children by Mr. Cutler. The anniversary services of the Congregational Chapel, Newton (Kev. Mr. Booker's), took place on the 26th ultimo. The Eev. Mr. Laishley preached in the morning ; the Eev. J. L. Parsons in the afternoon; and the Bev, Gr. S. Harper in the evening. Collections were made in aid of the building fund. On the following Wednesday a soiree was held, when addresses were delivered by the Kevs. P. H. Cornford, Warlow Davies, W. A. Dean, and other gentlemen. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair.

The meeting for the reception of the Rev. W. J. Dean took place in the Primitive Methodist Chnpel, Edwardes-etreet, on the 28th nit., addresses were delivered by the Chairman (Mr. C. Arthur, sen.,) Mr. Booth, the Bevs. A. Macdonald, "Warlow Davies, Booker, and others. The various schools forming the Auckland Sunday School T aion had their usual annual gathering in the Wesleyan Chapel, High-street, en Sunday, the 12th ultimo. The lower part of the chapel was completely filled by these schools, -while upwards of two hundred children were seated in the galleries. There could not have been less than twelve hundred children present. Several ministers and a large number of the parents and friends were present. Mr. S. H. Smith, President, commenced the service by giving out one of the hymn?, which had been printed for the occasion., and then called upon the Bev. P. H. Cornford to engage in prayer. The Kev. G. S. Harper then addressed the children on repentance and forgiveness. The children were very nttentive and sang very nicely under the leadership of Mr. Glanville. The Bev. Warlow Davies closed the meeting by prayer, and the children separated in an orderly manner. On the 26th ultimo, the Eight Eev. Dr. Pompallier, E. C. Bisllop of Auckland, made a pastoral visit to Otahuhu. At 11 o'clock there was a high mass, presided over by his lordship, the celebrant being Eey. Father O'Hara, deacon ; Very Bev. Domiuick Galosi, 0.5. F., and sub-deacon ; Jlev. Francis Anthony Mahoney, O.S.F. On the occasion a number of persons were confirmed. The grand vocal and instrumental concert in aid of the funds for liquidating the debt on the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Mount St. Mary's, came off on the 20th ult,, in the Brunswick Hall, with great eclat. Amongst sn audience, comprising many of the most inil.ioatial and esteemed representatives of

every class and denomination in Auckland, we noticed—Bight Kev. Dr. Pompallicr, Bishop of Auckland ; Rev. Dr. McDonald, Vicar-General; Very Kev. Dominic Galosi, 0.5. F.; YeryEev. Walter McDonald, Private Secretary; Bev M. D. O'Hara, Rev. James Paul, Kev. P. -T. Hoyne, Rcr. James McEntagart, and Eev. P. O'Heilly; conspicuous by their brilliant uniform, vrc also observed Colonel Elliott, and many ofßcers of the 18th Regiment, as also Captain D' Estienne, and tho officers of the French transport Chevert ; Madame Cnrandini, the Misses Carandini, and Mr. Walter Sherwin were also among the audience. The presence of the splendid band of the ISth Regiment, contributed greatly to tho success of the entertainment. On the 14th ultimo, tho Sanctuary boys attending St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Church of St. Francis de Sales, and the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Mount St. Mary's, were indulged with a pleasant and entertaining trip to Hiverhead, chaperoned by the Her. Father Walter McDonnld. Captain Casey, with his accustomed liberality, had placed his smart little steamer at the disposal of the clergymen and pupils. The excursionists started on their trip at noon, ami on arriving at J?iverhead proceeded to Mr. Deacon's paddock, where- a very pleasant day was spent, refreshments being provided in profusion. The party returned to town at nine o'clock p.m., highly delighted with thoir trip, and grateful for the kindness they had received from Captain Casey and his crew, and Mr. Deacon.

POLITICAL.

Sir George Bowen (the new Governor) is expected to arrive in Wellington by the Panama steamer. Wellington papers state that it is probitble Mr. Fox will again take his seat in the Houso at the meeting of the Assembly. A public dinner in his honour is to be given at Wanganui, when it is expected that Mr. Wa't will announce the resignation of his seat for the district in Mr. 'Fox's fnvour. Mr. A. S. Atkinson (member for Omata) has resigned his seat in the General Assembly. His Excellency's Private Secretary writing from the Kawau, on the 6th ult., informs Messrs. Thornton, Smith, and Firth, and the gentlemen who signed the petition relative to direct steam communication with Sydney, that " it would be forwarded by the first opportunity for the favorable consideration of His Excellency's responsible advisers." The Provincial Government of Taranaki is following the suit of its more pretentious neighbours, by commencing retrenchment in the various departments of Government. TheOtago delegates who went to Melbourne for the purpose of requesting 11. R.H. the Duke of Edinbnrtrh to visit that Province while in >"ew Zealand, have returned bearing :i favourable answer. The Prince stated that he would, if possible, comply with their wishes. On the 13th ult, a meeting of the City Board was held, and a resolution passed desiring His Honor the Superintendent to bring the Municipal Corporations Act into force in the City of Auckland. The vacancy in the Provincial Council for the City East, caused by the resignation of Mr. Weaver, has been filled up by the election of Mr. J. W. Hurst. The poll ended thus :— Hurst. 163; Davis, 107 : majority for Hurst, oG.

The Provincial Council met on the 23rd ult, when the debate was resumed upon the " DavyCarleton resolutions," the latter affocting the existence of the present form of Government. The Council sat from three o'clock until a quarter past eleven o'clock, during which time a considerable number of the members spoke on the question. Eventually the Government were defeated upon Mr. Davy's motion by a majority of 2, the numbers being—Ayes, 13; noes 15. To Mr. Carleton's motion the Government moved an addition by way of amendment, " that the existing form of Government ought not to continue, with the view of giving effect to the repeated expression of opinion by the Council and the people of the province, for separation of the Northern Island from the Middle Island." Upon this amendment the Government were also defeated, the numbers being ayes 9, noes IG. Mr. Carleton's proposition that the present form of Government ought not to continue, was then put and carrird without a division. Mr. Carleton announced that it was not his intention to bring forward his other resolutions at present. On the loth inst., an influential meeting of the settlers of the electoral districts of Eaglan and Franklyn and the neighbourhood, took place at the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, to take into consideration the working of the Provincial Go'V ernment, so far as regards the interests of the Province. The following resolution was carried:—" That the present form of Provincial government having proved totally inadequate to maintain the progressive welfare of the country interests of this province, this meeting believes that the time has come that it should be abolished, and in lieu thereof, that the landed interests of the province should be governed by Acts of Parliament direct from the General Assembly, and carried out by the people themselves, divided into counties, shires, or districts, assisted by an officer and staff resident in the city of Auckland."

A numerously attended meeting of the residents of Onehunga was held on the 20th ultimo, for the purpose of protesting against the sale by the Government of certain allotments containing the " Onehunga Springs." The principal argument used was that these springs were " imperial reserves," and that the Provincial Government had no power over them. A petition to the Provincial Council was agreed upon, and signed by over one hundred names. [Subsequently the matter was brought forward in the Provincial Council. The Government have withdrawn the allotments from sale conditionally on a corporation being formed, to which they would be given as endowments.] Mr. Haughton, M.G.A., has been deputed on a special message to Melbourne, by the General Government, to make himself acquainted, for the benefit of the Penal Commission, with the system pursued at thePentridge establishment. Ihe subscription lists for a memorial to the late Mr. Orosbie "Ward are being speedily filled up in the Province of Canterbury. A uniform code of port regulations for the various harbour.? in the colony has been drawn up at Wellington, by a Commission composed of Harbourmasters. It will shortly be put in force under the Marino Act of last session.

Dr. Philson, Provincial Surgeon, has been appointed a member of the new Medical Board, under the Medical Practitioners' Act. The office is a most responsible one, and its term is for five years. A Papakura correspondent says:—"The work of retrenchment, it appears, is going on, and Papakura has come in for its share; the strength of its polioe is reduced to one-third of what it was, for instead of having three men we have only one now in receipt of Government pay, and the costs are reduced from £170 a year to £30. Captain Mellsop has retained Constable Norris, Queen's Redoubt, as bailiff to the Court, which, by the new Eesident Magistrate's Act, confers upon him all the powers of a constable. This, I think, is rather severe in a district producing about £400 in direct taxation, exclusive of its indirect. If the pruning knife be applied with as unsparing a hand in ail the Government departments, (surely the proyinre will soon get itself out of its difficulties."

Tlit , JS'.Z.S.K". Company have obtained the contract- for carrying the mails between the Manukau and Wellington, between Auckland and Port Chalmers, and Port Chalmers and the Aianukau. The Panama Company have also obtained three services, viz., from Wellington

to the Tiluff, from the Bluff to Wellington, and from Wellington to Auckland. The contracts are for six months, but the amount of subsidy has not transpired. Great complaints are made by West Coast journals at the inefficient measures taken by Government to ascertain the population of the West Coast gold-fields.

OFFENCES.

Tt is stated that illicit distillation is being extensively carried on at the West Coast diggings. The Customs' authorities appear to have become alive to the necessity of adopting strong measures in order to check the wholesale system of smuggling and defrauding the revenue now being carried on. It appears that suspicions had been entertained by the police in reference to the movements of a certain schooner which had cleared out with a quantity of goods under bond. These suspicions were communicated to the Customs authorities, and on the 24th a party of the latter apprehended two men, named James Miller a?id Samuel Wield, and lodged them in the lockup on the charge of a breach of the Customs regulations. Subsequently a dustom-houso officer, accompanied oy Mr. Parker and Detective O'Hara, went off from the Wynyard pier and took charge of a small yacht in which a quantity of the smuggled spirits had been i found. The prisoners were bailed out, and on the case being called on, on the 2Sth ult., at tho Police Coui*t, it was found that Miller had disappeared ; his bail (£SO) was accordingly forfeited ; Wile was sentenced to six months' imprisonment; and tho owner of tho yacht, Pillenger, was fined £100. The counsel for the latter save notice of an appeal to the Supreme Court.'

C>n the 25th ult., an incident occurred which serves to show how tho Customs are defrauded. A man went into the Scotia hotel, and offered a keg of rum for sale. Tho landlady, without intending to purchase it, proceeded to examine the ensk, and was about to draw a spile at one end of it, when the vendor hastily stopped her, and turned the cask end for end. Her curiosity was at once aroused by the proceeding, and though a small portion of rum was drawn from the end selected by the man, the landlady insisted on trying the other. This was effected without much difficulty, as the fellow was in a hopeless state of intoxication, probably having partaken too freely of the contents of the right end ! What was the astonishment of the woman on trying the other end of the cask, to find that it contained only water. The cask had been ingeniously divided into two parts, so as to contain about one-fourth spirits, the remaining space being filled with water. Subsequently both the fellow and his keg fell into the hands of the police.

The cutter Secret arrived on the 21th ultimo, from Wangarei, with 5 casks smuggled spirits, seized by the Customs' authorities lately nt Wangarei. The spirits were found on the beach. The schooner Tawera, which arrived in harbour on tho M-tli ultimo, brought up Mr. G. K. Heed, in charge of two bailiffs, who had gone down io Poverty Bay in the revenue cutter kingdovc. Mr. ii'ced was brought up at Die Supreme Court on the loth ultimo, and bound over to appear when called upon in the sum of £•5000. Mr. C. Davis and Mr. L. i\athan entered into the required recognizances.

It will be remembered that some time since Mr. IS T ewbold, of Victoria-street, reported to the police authorities that he had been robbed of a considerable sum of money, beside a quantity of jewellery, &c. Mr. S. K. O'Dell (the phrenologist), who lived in the same house, also reported that he had suffered in a similar manner to a considerable amount. On the 27th ult., however, a warrant was issued against Mr. O'Dell on the information of Mr. .Newbold, and at about half-past ■1, Detective Ternahan apprehended him at his residence. Mr. O'Dell is charged with stealing from the dwelling house of J. N. Newbold about £90 in gold, £5 or £6 in £1 notes, about £0 or £7 in silver, an 1.0. U. from Townley for £'(), gold wedding ring value 55., gold keeper value 45., and a silver pipe value Is., of the total value of about £120. On the 30th ult. the prisoner was brought up and remanded until Monda_y next. In the meantime a man named Francis Townley, alleged to have been an accomplice in the affair, was arrested at tho Thames gold-field, brought before the Resident Magistrate on the 31st ult., and remanded to the same date as the other prisoner. The Maori Inia, who some time ago murdered a military settler named Eoby, at Taranaki, has been recently tried in that province. A verdict of manslaughter was returned, and the prisoner was sentenced to penal servitude for three years. A min?r named George Burrows, has been committed by Mr. Mackay, K.M., at the Thames gold-field, to take his trial at tho Supreme Court criminal session for wilful perjury, while giving evidence in a "jumping" caso recently.

A man, named Henry Walters, has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, at Coromandel, for stealing auriferous qunrtz from the Kapanga gold mine. The practical joke recently perpetrated in the Brunswick Hall, and the consequent recontre in the gallery, have resulted in legal proceedings. The young gentleman said to havo been the perpetrator of the joke on that occasion is Mr. J. Bees, who is in the employment of Messrs. A. Clark and Son. An action has been brought against Mr. Walter Sherwin in the District Court, damages £100, and will como off in a fortnight unless previously compromised. On the evening of the 13th ultimo, about 10 o'clock, while a gentleman Tras on his way toPapakura from Auckland, near Ligar's bush, a man stepped out of the ti-tree and asked him for assistance, saying ho was hard up; the gentleman declined doing so, when the miscreant told him he would mako him, at the same time seizing the bridle; just at this moment another man sprang up from tho ti-tree. On seeing his danger the rider gave the fellow who held his horse a smart blow with his whip handle, which levelled him to the ground ; and the other man seeing the work was likely to be warmer than he bargained for, took to his heels.

ACCIDENTS.

An accident occurred at tho Thames on the 23rd ultimo, to Mr. Hugh Coolahan who was stepping from the top of an oven which is now in course of erection for him there, and while doine so, he trod on some loose bricks and fell. When taken up, it was found that he had two of his ribs broken. Mr. Coolahan was • immediately attended to by Dr. Hooper. A young woman, living in Bobson-street, had a narrow escape from drowning on tho 26th ult. She was bathing, in company with some other females, at Carr's Point, when, getting out of her depth, she was taken out by the ebb tide. A man, named Edward Lysnar, was passing at the time, and, hearing the alarm, he rushed to the beach and plunged into the water, bringing her to land, though not without considerable difficulty. On the 11th ult., as Mr. Major, of Wellesleystreet, was' riding down Shortland-street, his horse took fright, stumbled and fell, throwing its rider, and rolling over him. Mr. Major received some injuries, and was removed to his home in a carriage. Dr. P.ayner, of Papakura, recently received some severe injuries, by being violently thrown from ]iis horse. Tremendous floods have lately occurred at the Buller, three wharfs were swept awny, with piles, driving machine and monkey; tho damage is estimated nt £5,000.

The Superintendent of Marlborough narrowly escaped being killed recently, by being thrown from a dog- cart. The p.s. Tasmanian Maid was wrecked on the 16th ult., at Taranaki, by striking on a reef while running out of the roadstead. She went down in ten minutes, the crew and passengers being saved with difficulty. The vessel was partly owned by Capt. Souter, and uninsured. She rendered great service during the first Tnranaki war of 1860, and was employed as a despatch boat during the outbreak of 1563. As several fatal accidents have occurred at the Queen-street; wharf, the Government has made the following addition to the regulations : —-vessels hauling alongside the wharf must provide a suitable gangway, not less than 30 inches in width, for landing passengers; and also from / sunset to sunrise to keep a light burning to \ indicate its position. An accident occurred to Mr Alexander iMcniing on tho 29th ultimo. While coming into town along the Kyber Pass Road, a vehicle driven furiously along struck Mr. Fleming on the back, rolled him into the ditch, and severely crippled him. Dr Stratford was called in, and found that the integuments of the knee were much injured.

IFQUESTS.

On tho 11th ultimo, an inquest was held i in the Mount Kdon Gaol, on view of the body of William Miller, who died suddenly in the Stockade on the previous morning- The facts elicited in the evidence went to show that deceased had been complaining for some time past of difficulty of breathing. He had a quarrel with a fellow-prisoner, nnd both struggled for some time, but without striking any blows. A short time after he fell down, and was dead in a few minutes. Tho medical evidence showed that the cause of death was long standing disease of the heart accelerated by mental excitement. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence. Dr. Goldsbro' held an inquest on tho 18th ultimo, on the body of Hohapeta Wareru, an aboriginal native, who died in the Mount Eden Gaol, on Friday, the 17th ultimo. According to the testimony of the fellow-coun-trymen of deceased, he was kindly treated; the Provincial Surgeon attended him da.ly. The medical testimony went to show that the cause of death was dysentery. A post mortem examination of the body iras made by Dr. Philson and Dr. Fisher, and it was found that the whole of the intestines were highly inflamed, the mucous membrane being studded with red patches. Tho cause of the inflammation was described to be drinking cold water when heated after work. The deceased was one of the persons found guilty of receiving the stolen goods from the Kate from the Whakatane murderers, and was undergoing a sentence of three years'penal servitude. A bushtnan, named John Munroe, died suddenly at the Shakespeare Hotel, on the 2-ith ultimo. He had been complaining of severe pains in his stomach, but before Dr'. Goldsbro', who was called, had arrived, the mnn died, inquest was subsequently held, when after hearing (lie medical evidence, the jury returned a verdict that deceased had died froin heart disease-. Deceased had served in a nian.of-war under the name of Giller, and had deserted on tliis station.

A melancholy affair has taken place at the Tapu rush. A woman, named Catherine Brown, lately arrived from Sydney, attempted suicide 011 the 11th ult., in the tent of a man, named Taylor, with whom she was living, by placing r loaded revolver to her mouth and firing it. The bullet, after knocking out two of her teeth, passed under her tongue and lodged in the spine. Her lips were severely burnt by the explosion. Dr. Clarence Hooper was shortty on the spot and rendered all the assistance in his power. Her case was hopeless from the first, but she lingered on till the 26th ult. An inquest was held on the body on the 27th ulfc., when after hearing the medical evidence, the jury returned the following verdict: —" That the deceased, Catherine Brown, died from a pistol-shot by her own hand, on the 14th January, at Tapu Creek, whilo labouring under mental anxiety, caused by reasons unknown to the jurors." Before her death she made the following statement: —" My name is Catherine Brown; I am a married woman and a native of Sydney. I committed the rash net by my own hands—of my own free will." It is stated that she is the " Mrs. Brown," the paramour of Prank Gardiner (the celebrated bushranger), who figured so prominently when that worthy was put on his trial. On the 24th ult., a woman named Marie Lapine (a young Frenchwoman) was found dead in a tent on tho Waiotahi Flat. An inquest was held on the following day, when the evidence adduced proved that she died from disease, brought on by drink and exposure.

riEES

A fire broko out in Onehunga at about 8 o'clock on tho morning of the 14th ultimo, in a cottage belonging to Mr.. Thomas Givinin, who had left for Auckland about half-an-hour before tho affair was discovered. The house, which was insured in the Imperial for £100 was completely destroyed, and inquiries among the people living in that neighhood have failed to throw any light on the origin of the fire. A firo occurred at Eussell on the morning of the 16th ult. Two private houses and an hotel belonging to Mr. C. Moore, of Coromandol, were totally destroyed, and but for the entire absence of wind, the whole block of buildings adjoining must have been consumed. On the 20th ult., the hotel of Mt. Beeson, on Beeson's Island, Coromandel, was burnt to the ground. The following are the insurances in the Imperial Insurance Company : — Hotel, £400; dwelling-house, £200; furniture, £15C. A fire took place at Parnell, recently, in a shed the property of a person named Anderson, at present at the Thames. There was a considcrablo quantity of oats, hay, and other inflammable material in the shed ; two pigs were also burnt to death. Fortunately the cows had been previously turned out of the building. On the 28th ult., a four-roomed cottage in Sussex-strpet, Newton, belonging to Mr. Wm. Fleming was destroyed by fire. It was insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for £50. The hotel at Drury, lately in the occupation of Mr. Cronkshaw, was burnt to the ground on the morning of the 26th ult. It had been empty for some time. On the morning of the 31st ulfc., a fire originated in tho general store of Mr. Eobert Strong, in Short-street, just below Palmer's Eoyal Hotel, ending in the total destruction of the building. The hotel caught fire once, but by the exertions of one or two individuals, the progress of ignition was promptly arrested. Mr. Strong's house was insured in the Imperial for £300, the stock for £150, and the furniture for £100.

MISCELLANEOUS

There hare been slight shocks of earthquake in Hawkc's Bay and Canterbury. Great drought has been lately experienced in Hawke's Bay. Prayers have been offered in the various churches for rain ; everything is parched up, and bush fires are prevalent. The new steamer Jane made her trinl trip on the 30th ult., which was highly satisfactory. A speed of eight and a half knots was attained. She is intended for the Thames trade. The half-yearly meeting of the Auckland Mas Company was held on the 30th ult. It was resolved to declare a dividend of 10 per cent. The defalcations of the late Collector, Mr. Cotterell, were ascertained to be £498 3s 7d, which amount the directors expected to recover from the Guarantee Society. The report upon the whole was very satisfactory.

A Flax Hackling Association lias been formed at Opotiki. The settlers are determined to give the project a fair trial. & The fourteenth half-yearly meeting of the Now Zealand Insurance Company, was held on the 15th ult. when a very satisfactory balance sheet was laid before the shareholders ; the dividend for the half year being at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, to which a bonus of 5 per cent for dividend not paid for half-year ending .November 30th, 1566, was added. The re+iring directors, Messrs. James Williamson, Browning, aud Owen, were re-elected. His Honor Judge Moore held an adjourned sitting of the Supreme Court on the loth ult. for the hearing of petitions in bankruptcy. In the estate of J. M. Machattie (lapsed petition) an application was made to have the estate reinvested in the petitioner, which was granted, the sequestrator being relieved of his trust. The petition of S. Green was further adjourned until tl\e sth of February. C. Crisp and E. D. Lawrence were unopposed, and received their discharges, In th« case of J. T. Bedggood and J. A. Bcdggood, relief suspended for six months from the date of filing the petition. The case of H. P. Stark was gone into at some length, and adjourned until the sth of February, to enable the creditors to inquire into an alleged marriage settlement made by the insolvent to his wffe before commencing business as a publican at Onehunga. The case of Mark Somerville (partly heard) was adjourned until the sth of February.

Tho annual meeting of the subscribers to the Auckland Dispensary was held on the 21st ultimo, in committee-room, Mechanics' Institute. His Honor the Superintendent in the chair. The annual report, medical officer's report, and statement of accounts were read and adopted, and office-bearers and committee were appointed for the ensuing- year. The statement of accounts showed a deficiency for the jjast year of £9 9s. 9d, and the report expressed grave doubts as to the possibility of continuing the existence of the Lispensary for tho ensuing year. Tho amateurs of the Auckland Gymnastic Club gave a public performance on the 27th ult, Many of the feats performed would have done credit to professionals.

Tho Caledonian games were successfully inaugurated in Mr. Buckland'syards, Newmarket, on tho 29th ult., tho twenty-eighth anniversary of tho Province. Some 3000 persons were present. The fine band of the 18th Eegiment enlivened the proceedings b} , playing several choice selections at intervals during the sports. The Carandinis gave a most successful concert on the 31st ultimo, under-the patronage of Colonel Klliott, ISth Eegiment. Among the assemblage were Colonel .Elliott and almost every officer of the Garrison, those of the French transport Chevert, and the elite of the city. Tho band of tho ISfch ltegiruent performed choice selections of music at intervals.

A trotting match for a considerable sum of money came oft' on the 14th ult., on the 7ipsom Uoad from Onehunga to iN ewmarket and back, between two well-known ponies. They wero ridden respectively by the purser and steward of the Tasmanian Maid. After a close contest the steward arrived first at Newmarket, and on the return he had it all his own way, as he arrived at Onehunga some considerable time before his antagonist. On tho 13th ultimo, a school of small whales was driven on shore by Mr. James Foley, and some jVlaories, at Otumotai, near Xauranga. The former has refused £90 for his chance of the yield of oil. Tho half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of the Dnion Steam Saw Sash nnd Door Company (limited) took place on the 21st ult. The report showed, a net profit of £500 on the operations of the past half-year. It is stated in "Wellington papers that the reduction in the price of wool this season will cause a loss to the runholders of that province, of from £30,000 to £40,000.

The last concert of the series given by Mr. Beale and family came off on the 13th inst., and was attended by a numerous and fashionable audience. The performance was tinder the patronage of Colonel Beatson, commanding the forces, and Lieutenant-Colonel Elliot, commanding tho 18th. Captain Benson, general manager in the colony for the P. and A.N .Z. Co., returned from Sydney in tho Mataura. The new Masonic Hall, Wellington, was consecrated on the 6th ult., and the event celebrated by a banquet. The chair was occupied by Bro. P. M. Dransfield, (Pacific), the vice-chair by Bro. Poules, (Waterloo.) The hall has been erected to meet the wants of the two Lodges, who have built it conjointly. Settlers in various parts of the country are complaining of the destructive habits of the pheasant, and the ravages they are committing upon crops. The railway tunnel, on the line between. Christchurch and Lyttelton, was opened for rogular passenger traffic on the 9th ult. Over 700 person? were booked during the day.