LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 402, 13 August 1859, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Gou>.— Since our last issue, in which we notified the claim made oT the reward offered by the Government for an available gold field, we understand that another claim has been made for the reward by a Mr. Lee, who has found gold on his own land in the Tomahawk Valley, near Anderson's Bay, about 3 or 4 miles from Dunedin. The notice in this case was given so soon after the discovery, that no time had been allowed to work the field even for a sample of any moment ; but some washing stuff was produced which contained a small nugget of about a dwt. The earth was stated by an experienced digger to be veiy likely stuff, and there was a very considerable quantity of oxide of tin (usually called emery) mixed with it. The discovery was stated to be accidental, and to have occurred in the following manner : — Mr. Lee had dug a hole in what was apparently an old water-course, for the purpose of affording water for his cattle. The cattle, in coming to drink, had punched the earth into the hole and filled it up, and upon digging it out again, the sample of gold was found. Another sample of gold, mixed with quartz, has been shown to us by a person who visited the spot, and who has had experience on the Melbourne gold fields •, and he states that he never saw a more likely prospect. The gravel in old watercourses is said to be quartz, information which we did not expect ; but should the discovery turn out to be worth anything, we have no doubt that gold will be found all over the peninsula on the east side of the harbour. The value of the field is to be really tested ; cradles and other necessary instruments we believe are being manufactured, the discoverer being determined to give it a months' trial. It is stated that £50 were offered to an adjoining proprietor for a quarter of an acre of his land, which was refused.

The Service of Plate lately Presented to the Key. T. Burns. — Two ladies of Mr. Burns's congregation, disappointed of an opportunity of contributing to the late token of respect to their minister, and resolved, at the same time, to carry out their own generous purpose, have presented him with a very elegant library -chair for his study. As these two ladies have withheld their names, Mr. Burns avails himself of this medium to acknowledge so kind an expression of personal regard for himself, and of consideration for his comfort.

Town Lauds. — A sale of town lauds was held in the land office Dunedin on Wednesday, when 71 lots were sold, realizing the sum of £1268 10s. 7d., being an average of £17 17s. 3d. per section. The highest price given for a section in Port Chalmers was £44, and a section at Oamaru fetched £30. The attend-

ance was large and the biddings spirited. The improvements contemplated at the Port had evidently the effect of raising the price of sections, and the sale was an improvement in point of price on the previous one.

Melancholy Accident. — We have to record a melancholy and fatal accident which occurred between 10 and 11 o'clock on Wednesday evening last, by which Richard Petrie, captain of the " Avonvale," lost his life. An inquest was held on the body on Thursday, and from the evidence adduced, it appears that the deceased, who was coining to Dunedin in the " New Era," fell overboard and was drowned. The " Pirate" that afternoon had towed the " Avonvale" inside the Heads, and the deceased elated with the successful termination of his voyage, had apparently indulged rather freely.' On coming on board the '* New Era" he was tipsy, and laid down to sleep. When he awoke he felt very sick, and rose and went on deck. Mr. Mills followed him, and asked the captain of the " New Era" if he had a life-buoy on board, and being answered in the affirmative, Mr. Mills returned to his seat in the cabin. He did not know whdt had prompted him to put that question, but he had scarcely sat down when the cry was given that deceased was overboard. He had gone close to the rail, which is 2£ feet bigh, and losing his balance, fell over into the water. The life-buoy was immediately thrown to him, and he was shouted to to lay hold of it, but did not appear to see it. Singularly enough, the body never sunk, but from the difficulty of speedily turning the steamer, it being a screw, some 15 to 20 minutes elapsed before the vessel reached the body, which on being taken from the water, life was apparently extinct. Efforts were made to resuscitate it, but they were of no avail. All steam was put on, and the steamer reached Dunedin in an hour after, when Dr. Burns was immediately called, who applied the remedies used in such cases, but without the least success. The witnesses were agreed, that if there had been a boat attached to the steamer, the deceased could have been picked up in two or three minutes after he fell overboard. The Jury gave a verdict of " Accidental death," and strongly recommended that both steamers should have a small boat attached. Captain Petrie was the owner of a very considerable part of the " Avonvale," and had friends in this Province. He was a young man, and is stated to have been of sober habits, and was highly respected by the passengers whom he had safely landed on the shores of their adopted land. The deceased, we learn, leaves a wife and two children to lament his sudden loss, to whom, on the day before his death, he had posted a letter, rejoicing over his safe arrival at Otago.

The recent news brought by the " Pirate," has induced the Union Bank to raise its rates of Exchange on England, as advertised, from 2 to 4 per cent, for bills at 60 days, and from 2£ to 4£ for bills at 30 days.

The last advices from Melbourne by the " Pirate," has caused the farmers to raise the price of wheat, and to ask 10s. per bushel. The bakers have raised the bread 2d. per 4 lb. loaf; the price being 14d. iv place of Is. as beretofore.

We learn that Mr. T. Kingston, late mate of the "Thomas and Henry," lias been appointed Assistant Pilot for Otago.

It will be observed, by advertisement, that a public meeting is to be held on Tuesday evening next, to form a society for elevating the Maories located in this province. Draft rules for the government of the society, agreed to at a preliminary meeting, and published in our columns, will be submitted to the meeting on Tuesday evening.

A Local Bank fob New Zealand. — Of Local Banks founded upon capital raised in their districts, managed by local directors elected from among the residents, all we (Canterbury Standard) can say is, that the colony has already had experience enough in the North. The whole of the Shareholders' Capital was jobbed away among four or five directors, who agreed to endorse and then to discount each others paper — a specimen iv its own way of the Royal British Bank. At Adelaide just such another case occurred. We all know that the Bank of Australia founded similarly at Sydney, on capital locilly subscribed brought to ruin in 1847-8 all the best of the leading gentry of New South Wales. We have no faith in such establishments. We believe that English capital, English resources, and a management properly independent of local influences that might be exerted for jobbing purposes afford the surest guarantees that a small community will be safely tided through its period of commercial difficulty.