WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9164, 20 September 1888, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Wellington, Wednesday. A prospector named Killeen, employed by Colonel Fraser, M.H.R. for the Thames, reports havinsr discovered another auriferous reef at Mahakipawa, about a mile distant from the " Terrace claim." Colonel Fraser was in Wellington to-day, but left in compliance with a telegraph message from Killeen, requesting him to visit the ground. MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson arrived in Wellington this morning by the s.e. Rotorua from Auckland. THE MEMBER FOR THE NORTHERN MAORI DIVISION. It will surprise his admirers to learn that this aboriginal statesman has given up in despair. He is disgusted with the House of Representatives, with the Committee on Native Affairs, and with certain portions of the Maori race. His voice will be heard no more in the House. He will give a silent vote, but will not again venture upon the thankless peril of stonewalling. The Post, in a cruel way, compliments Mr. Taiwhanga on his resolution. THE MONGOOSE AND THE RABBIT. I remember last session a strong recommendation being made to the Government to introduce the mongoose as tho true " natural enemy " of the rabbit. Amongst the letters of the Agent-General is one on this subject, enclosing a letter from Dr. Morris, the Assistant Curator of the Zoological Society, who had lived for eight years in the West Indies, where the mongoose had been introduced. Dr. Morris says the mongoose might destroy young rabbits, bufc its own powers of increase are 80 enormous that it is most difficult to destroy him when he is once established in a country, so that he would become a greater nuisance than the rabbits. A large male mongoose is very tenacious of life- and difficult to be killed, even by a good-sized collie dog. Where the mongoose is established it is impossible to raise poultry, for he feeds both on the eggs and chickens. He is the most fierce and rapacious member of the riverridae. He will attack lambs as well as rabbits, and he is more likely to take the lambs. In the West ludies he is an. unmitigated nuisance. TUB SHIP PLEIONK. This vessel, lately wrecked on tho Waikanae beach, was hauled oil' the patent slip to-day. She sustained but little damage while lying on the beach. The rivetting of a few copper plates had started.