WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 35, 17 January 1852, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY.

At a meeting of this Society held on the 28th November, the Secretary read a correspondence from the Government on the subject of an alleged discovery of gold at Otago, and accompanying three specimens of quartz. The following is Dr. Ralph's reply to the communication :—: — New Zealand Society. Wellington, 27th November, 1851. S IRj — In reply to your letter, which I have this day received, accompanied with three specimens of quartz rock from the Otago district, and supposed to be auriferous. I beg to state that I have examined portions of the same, both privately and in company with two members of the New Zealand Society, and have not succeeded in detecting Gold in them. Being desirous of making as careful an examination as possible, I have, conjointly with the analysis of the mineral, made experiments to ascertain the purity of the tests employed, and I find that I can by means of them, detect about the 200 th part of a grain of gold. lam unable to obtain even a trace of the metal in the specimens which have been transmitted. I have the honour to remain, Sir, Your obdt. servant, Thos. S. Kalph. Secretary.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Some specimens from the Hutt were also tested at the meeting, but not the slightest trace of gold was perceptible. — Spectator. Pottery. — Captain Watt, of the " Governor Grey," has brought to Wellington a jug manufactured at Wanganui from clay found in that district. Neither the material nor the execution would do any discredit to Staffordshire itself; and from the nature of the clay it would seem to be well adapted for making large pitchers, milk and wash pans, &c, for which there is a great demand, but which, in consequence of their bulk and brittleness, at present realise high prices. We hope a pottery will soon be established in this district, which we believe will not only prove a profitable speculation to the parties who may embark in it, but also a great benefit to the people generally, more particularly to dairy farmers. — Independent.

Barley. — We have been shown a first-rate sample of barley grown at Wanganui, which appears to be exceedingly well adapted for malting purposes. Forty bushels of it have been sown this year; and as the soil in this district seems to favour the growth of barley, we are glad to learn that the people are turning their attention to its cultivation, and from the prices it realises we have no doubt they will find it a very profitable pursuit. We are happy to learn that a flour mill is about to be erected, on one of the many streams flowing into the Wanganui River, by Mr. Field, who brought out with him in the " Simian"' the whole of the necessary machinery. — Ibid.

About a fortnight since five sperm whales were captured by the whalers at Hawke's Bay, and a seal was clubbed by a boy belonging to Cameron's station, which turned out eight gallons of oil. — Ibid.

A statement of the Revenue and Expenditure of this Province for the quarters ending the 25th June, of the years 1850 and ISSI, has just been published. The increase of the quarter in 1851 over that of 1850 is £4436 10s. Bd. The expenditure has been nearly double that of the same quarter in 1850. And while the revenue exhibits an increase of £4335, the expenditure has been increased nearly £5000 in one quarter alone ! There is an increase in the Customs alone of upwards of £1250. During this quarter debentures amounting to £132 16s. ■were issued to Mr. Charles Grace in compensati?|| for his ejectment from his property under Crown Grant to Mr. David Scott. Otago has been omitted from this return, the necessary information not having been received.

At the opening of the Supreme Court on the Ist December, Mr. Justice Chapman made a few remarks upon the case before the Grand Juiy, and said it would be necessary to adjourn the Court for a fortnight, there being two cases expected from Canterbury. He would also embrace the opportunity of making a few observations on the state of crime in the Province : — On referring back to a statement he had made on a former occasion to the Grand Jury, it would be found that the average number of criminals tried in that Court was 21 ; or 106 for the five years ending with 1848. At that time the population, of the Southern Province certainly did not exceed 10,000, and probably not 8000. The settlements of Canterbury and Otago were not then formed, and the settlement of Nelson was not then so large as

at present. Although the business of the, Civil Court had increased, not from any spirit of litigation, but arising out of a more prosperous state of circumstances in the community, crime had diminished in a still greater ratio, the number of persons tried in this Province, including two to come from Canterbury, will be sixteen for the whole year — namely, six for Wellington K four for Nelson, and six for Canterbury ; at Otago there have been none since the formation of the settlement. The population is now about 10,000. If the amount of crime had increased in proportion to the amount of population, the average number would have been 40 ; and I consider the fact indicates a considerable degree of prosperity. I may also allude to another circumstance. A very large amount of the military had been discharged and absorbed in the population of this settlement ; I believe that in the selection made by the officers, certainly the best and steadiest men were retained in the regiment. It might have been expected that an increase of crime would have been occasioned under these circumstances, but the result showed how a man's character altered and improved by having a stake in the country. I mention this as very creditable to these men, many of whom have proved to be excellent servants and labourers, and of those believed not to have been the best men in the regiment, very few were found charged with crime in this Court.