BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2678, 6 September 1870, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Wellington, September 5 th.

I The Legislative Council have passed the Immigration and Public Works Bill with several amendments, one of which limits the amount to be spent on immigration up to the 31st December, 1871, to L 150,000, the amount to be spent after I that date to be voted by Parliament. The other amendments are not very important, and Mr Vogel hasintimafcedhis willingness to [accept them with one or two slight alterations. The prorogation is not expected now to take place until to-morrow week. i The business transacted in the House to-day was unimportant. The municipal nominations to-day caused some interest, two out of the three seats being contested. The Secretary of the Customs has received the following telegram from Havelock :■ —" The master of the schooner Canterbury reports an unknown rock about three miles outside Chetwode Island. The schooner was on it for seven hours, but eventually got back to Pelorus Sound, much damaged. The master was unable to take compass bearings, but will try to do so by boat. He thinks the reck is situated about five miles from the mainland, and two from Chetwode Island. He could see part of Ketu Bay from the rock. The rock was a small one, with about thrae feet of water on it at low water spring tides, and deep water all round. The schooner struck on it at about half ebb.—W. Whitehorn, Officer in charge." Auckland, September 2nd. Via Napier, September sth. Judge Munro, and a large party of suitors and visitors to Ohinemuri, proceeded thither in the steamer Challenge on the 30th, to open the Native Lands Court, but returned to Shortland next day. They landed the chairs and other paraphernalia for the Court, but Mere Kuru and her women reshipped them and requested the parties in charge of the steamer to leave at once. They waited over night, but Mere Kuru was determined, and the Court consequently could not be opened. Great disappointment and dissatisfaction are felt at this result. The chiefs whom the bailiffs are after for debt, are still at large. A Native meeting is to be held at Tokangamutu shortly, and is expected to be a very large one. 200 Arawas as well as Tito Kowaru with a party of followers will be there. It is reported that King Tawhiao has left it to the Ngatimaniapoto to decide whether the telegraph shall be aUowed to pass through Maori land or not. Long Drive shares, which were at L 9 yesterday, reached Lll to-day, but a downward tendency is again visible.

Shares in the Caledonia claim, which were selling at LlO last week, are at L2O to-day, it having been reported that the GcddernCrown reef had been struck in the Mr G. W. Binney reports that wheat is scarce at 4s 9d to ss, and oats firm at 3s 8d to 3s 9d. Flour is at Ll4 Cheese is at 9d, and butter very dull of sale at the same figure. Bacon is firm at 9d, and hams are quoted at lOd to lid. Oatmeal is scarce at Ll9 10s. Christchurch, September sth. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened to-day. Margaret Todd, for obtaining money under false pretences, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment; Frank Heston, for stealing a mare, &c, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment; Edward Smith, for stealing from a dweUing was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment ; and William Freeman, for larceny, wa3 sentenced to two years'imprisonment.