JIEW ZEALAND GAZETTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1516, 3 October 1868, Page 5

JIEW ZEALAND GAZETTES.

General Goyebxhent Gazettes were published on the 24th and 25th ult. The first contains the appointment of Charles Dudley R. Esq., to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zpaland during his Excellency's pleasure. The second contains a proclamation declaring certain parts of the provinces of Taranaki and YY ellimxton a militia district, under the " Militia Act, IS6salso a proclamation bringing the said district under the " Public Houses Act, 1868," which has been recently passed to enable the Government to close public houses in certain districts.

We understand that Sir George Arney is about to proceed to Wellington to-day, and that his absence may be prolonged for a month. Highway Boards. —The annual meetings of the various Highway Boards in the province of Auckland will be held on Tuesday next, at the various times and places mentioned in the several advertisements. Auckland Institute. —The last meeting of the season is to be held in the Museum on Monday evening next, at 7.30. Lecture. —The .Rev. T. Hamer will lecture Oli astronomy on Monday evening next, at the [Newton Hall, at 7.30. St. Mart's Church, Earxeli.. —The.Bishop of Nelson will preach to-morrow morning, and the Bishop of Melanesia to-morrow evening, at the above Church.

Dtjnedin Ale.—Mr. H. S. Meyers, merchant, of this city, is prepared to sell Burke's double and treble X ale. We understand that tie quality of both these liquors is extremely fine.

Pbixce of Wales Theatre. —The Theatre is to be open to-night with the play of the "Marble Heart, or the Sculptor's Dream." There is a very powerful caste of characters, and no doubt the house will be crowded, as most people will be extremely anxious to inspect the extensive improvements and alterations that have been made. The Theatre is now so thoroughly comfortable that for the future we anticipate that it will become quite the fashionable resort.

Quartz Crushing at Taptt.—A gentleman connected with the Full Moon claim, Tapu, informs us that they had one ton of quartz taken indiscriminately from their reef, which, when crushed, yielded 4oz. retorted amalgam. It was thought that this yield was less than the appearance of the stone indicated, and the manager brought to Auckland a quantity of the tailings. These tailings were taken to iMr. Smith, assayer to the .Bank of iNew Zealand, and tests wece made of three separate portions. In the case of each test the result was that the tailings contained gold at the rate of 13oz. to the ton. This claim has 170 tons of similar stone ready for crushing, on which, but for tJiis discovery, there would have been a loss of over 2,000 ounces of gold. The Bev. Mr. McNieoll, of New Plymouth, will, we understand, preach in the now vacant congiegationof St. -James', Presbyterian Church, Wellington-street, on fc'abbafh, both morning and evening. Development or Thames Claims. —We are glad to observe from our advertising columns that the Thames Gold Mining Company, limited, are attempting to organise a plan by which the poorer portion of the l hames mining population will be much benefitted, and the resources of the goldfield more extensively developed. This Company, possessing numerous interests in various claims, is desirous of obtaining men to work these interests on terms somewbat as follows: — The Company propose to pay a sufficient weekly sum to enable the person working the share to live, and besides this to hand over as it were to him a specified interest in that share. In proportion, therefore, as the value of the share becomes developed, so will the interest of the man working it increase in value ; and so of course each person who undertakes a share on such terms, will have a perpetual inducement before him to exert his best endeavours, by dint of persevering labour, to enhance the value of that share. This is, we are convinced, a move in the right direction, and we trust that the advantage ot the system may be apparent to labouring population of the Thames district. The poorest man will, by such a plan, be enabled to participate in the success of hia richer neighbours.

His Honor the Superintendent has appointed Mr. Henry Wrigg, 0.K., Provincial Engineer and Chief Engineer and Surveyor of the goldfields in the Province of Auckland.

Ecclesiastical. — The Church of England Synod will commence its session on Monday next, at three p.m. It is expected to last more than three weeks.

Commebciai. Tbeaties.—Mr. Vogel has given notice of the following motion for the Ist inst. —" That in the opinion of this House it is desirable steps should be taken to ascertain the position which the colony holds in relation to the commercial treaties made by Great Britain with foreign countries, and especially that authority should be sought to enable New Zealand, in conjunction with other Australasian colonies, to enter into negociations with the United States for the free admission to that country of wool, the product of those colonies." The Wairoa correspondent of the 11awTce,s Hat/ Herald, tells the following amusing story. —There is a story told by a gentleman in Poverty Bay about the Lieut.-Colonel, that is'so extremely racy that you will forgive the time wasted in the reading it. Before starting in pursuit of the ex-prisoners, the Colonel said bluntily, " Ah ! I look upon these men as slaves —my slaves ; I conquered them at Omaruuui; when they haar 'my ' name, they will funk ;it was a different thing their defeating Westrupp, fee., &c." After the repulse at Puketapu, the same gentleman met the Colonel, and said somewhat "Well, Colonel, it seems they didn't funk, eli ?" The Colonel's countenance fell a little, but, quickly recovering, he said simply, " Tell you the truth, don't think they knew ' I' was there." Bishop of Nelson.—We are authorised to mention that Bishop Souter, of Nelson, will preacli at the Church of the Holy Sepulchure on Sunday evening next. Resident Magistrates' Cottkt. — A special sitting of this Court was held yesterday at noon when the case of Combes and Daldy v. Seward was heard. The claim was for loss resulting from leakage of tho contents of a qr-cask of rum. Mr. Jas. Russell appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Beveridge for defendant ; and after a great quantity of evidence had been taken, the Court gave judgment for plaintiff for £10 12s 6d, the full amount claimed. Gbowth of Hops.—We observe that Mr. Wren, Nurseryman, of Mount Hobson, advertises a quantity of hop sets for sale at 5s per hundred or 40s per thousand, and also a few one year old plants at 20s per hundred. There can be no doubt that hops would succeed well in this Province, and would form an important item in our agricultural produce, were they properly cultivated.

Peek v. Bsyant.—We arc informed that in this case which was heard on Thursday last before the Bench of Magistrates, the complainant has wisely determined to let the matter remain as it stands, and|lias destroyed the indentures, thereby settling the matter without further legal proceedings. PBOPOSED .-lITEEATION IN THE PANAS!A LINE. —A recent number of the Sydney Herald contains a leading article on the proposed alteration of the Panama terminus from Wellington to the Bay of Islands, and cordially approves of the alteration.

The Bishop of Melanesia is at present intending to return to Norfolk Island by the Fiery Cross, on the schooner's nest trip but one to that Island, which will be in all probability about the end of the month.

We understand that the Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield will probably lenye Auckland by the s.s. Hero, which vessel will probably sail hence from Sydney about the middle of this month.

His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield will conduct Divine Service tomorrow morning, at St. Mark's Church, Eemuera, at a quarter-past eleven o'clock. Oxehtjnga.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, there were only two civil cases set down for hearing, both of which were settled out of Court. A case of nonpayment of highway rates, laid by the rate Collector of the Mount "Wellington district, was also settled out of Court. Informations were laid against two persons for assault, and the case will be heard on Wednesday next.

The Late Me. Andbew Baxter.—The Hawke's Bay Times has the subjoined notice of the decease of Mr. Baxter, who left India to settle in the province of Auckland, and who for some time was a settler at the Tamaki, and subsequently before proceeding to .Napier resided in Parnell: —We regret (says the Times) to have to record in this morning's issue the death, from paralysis, of Mr. A. Baxter, at the Provincial Hospital, Napier. The deceased for a quarter of a century served with honor in the army, and fought in the Indian and Chinese wars. He joined the army in 1825, at the age of 17, as a drummer in the 26th Eegiment, and gradually rose to the rank of color-sergeant. In one of the fndian battles in which he was engaged he saved the life of Lord Gough (now Field-Marshal), for which that officer presented him with a valuable gold chain. He also obtained a medal for good conduct, and afterwards one for bravery in the war in China in 1842. On the 13th January, 1847, he received the commission of lieutenant in the 86th Kegicnent. In the year 1851 he sold his commission for the purpose of settling in Ne<v Zealand, and in January of the following year arrived in Auckland. He settled at the West Tamaki, where he resided for several years, when he was attacked by paralysis, which deprived him of the use of one side. In the year 1863 he came to Napier, where after a short residence he suffered a second attack. He was then received into the Provincial Hospital, where he has since remained. On Wednesday last, about 8 a.m., be was suddenly seized with a fit, and remained unconscious 'till his death, which occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday, 27th September—a fortnight after the completion of his 60th year. The Waikanae Natives. —We learn from

the Wellington Independent, the following particulars of an outrage committed at Waikanae, in the Wairarapa district, the other day by the natives: —" Mr. Jenkins, who has two half-caste

daughters, was ordered to give them up to the natives by one Solomon of the Puketapu hapu, Ngatiawa. threatening, in case of refusal, that they would burn the place. On his declining to accede to this modest request, they proceeded to carry their threat into execution burning the frame "of a new building in the course of

erection and a quantity of timber. This was at Huruki, and the land belonged to his children, having been inherited from their mother. Mr. Jenkins' own pJace at Waikanae was not meddled -with. He states that the natives who committed this outrage were Hauhaus, and had no claim to the land on which the building was being erectcd, Mr. Jenkins having had the undisputed occupation of the land for the last 30 years."

Police CounT.—The business of yesterday morning, consisted merely of the punishing in the usual manner of three drunkards. The Ex-Pbisonehs. —The Independent of the 26th ult., says :—" Intelligence has reached .Napier that the escaped prisoners from the Chatham Islands appear ineilned to take up their permanent abode at Pukutapu, as they are now busily employed in clearing the bush for cultivations. The Uriwera are, in the meantime, supplying them with provisions." The Wanganui JNatives. —The Advertiser of the 28th ult. says " The Wanganui natives declare their determination to proceed to the Front as soon as they have planted their early crops. They state that Eeweti, who was killed at Te Ngutu-o-te-manu, was a great chief, and of higher rank than Titokowaru, and that [ the attack on Taiporohenui lias damaged the triumph claimed by the Hau-hnus for their 1 success at TeNgutu-o-te-Manu.

We are informed that the- Star of Taranaki claim is looking well, and they have recently struck: another fine leader running from the Pretty Queen claim ; gold is to be seen in the stuff every day, and on washing the mullock, splendid prospects are obtained. It is a six men's claim, and they are very sanguine as to their future prospects. PfiEVAEICATION BEFORE A SELECT COMMITTEE. —The Melbourne Herald, of Monday last states that James Baughtman, tho witness accused of gross prevarication before the Dominick Dillon Committee, and ordered to be incarcerated by the Legislative Assembly, was arrested in Ballarat on Friday afternoon by detective Hyland, under the Speaker's warrant, and conveyed to Melbourne in the custody of a poliee constable. He will remain in durance vile probably until tho close of the session. .liujiouuED Diamond Finding.—A rumour has reached me (says the Finniss Yale correspondent of the South Australian JRt(] inter) that a very valuable diamond has been found at the Square Waterhole, Port Elliot, and that a great number of people are engaged in making further researches. I cannot vouch for the exact nature of the discovery, as it has not come through a direct channel; yet it seems to be fully believed in several quarters. The report goes that the finder has already been offered .£SOO for it; but if tho account of its supposed size is not exaggerated it must be worth a sum very far exceeding that amount.

A person named Lowndes, for whose arrest a warrant was received from Taranaki a few days ago, was apprehended at Shortland and brought to town late last night by Constable McGinn, of the Thames polico. Lowndes will bo forwarded to New Plymouth this morning by the s.s. Airedale, in charge of Capt. Kennedy.