LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 421, 24 December 1859, Page 4

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

The steamer " Pirate," from Melbourne via the Bluff arrived here on Wednesday, after a passage of eight days, and has brought a number of passengers, also 21 horses, 700 sheep, 40 rams, and a general cargo. By this opportunity we have home news to the 18th Oct. ; she has brought on one box of the European mail, containing only newspapers ; unfortunately, too, the " Pirate" came away so immediately after the arrival of the mail that our agents had no opportunity of forwarding us duplicates of European papers; and although Captain Robertson obligingly placed at our disposal a file of Melbourne papers, yre have been unable to give our readers such full details of the news as we should have done had we been able to obtain a copy -of the. "Home News" earlier in the week— -a thing quite possible, as several copies were known to be in Dunedm ; but it is seldom any of the public, excepting masters of vessels, have the courtesy to supply' the local journals with a paper, however important may be the -news ifc contains, although it must be. well known that in such a case as the present .^we must he deprived of our regular files. Although we have

had a direct steam communication with Melbourne for more than twelve months, it is singular that we have never received by this means the European nnil; surely in this last instance there must hove been some unpardonable blunder somewhere, for if one box could be obtained, the whole ought to have been procured.

The Elections. — Our readers will observe from our advertising columns, that the writs for the election of Superintendent and of members of the Provincial Council have been received. The dates are as follow: — Superintendent's nomination, 3rd January, and the polling, if necessary, on the 7th. Provincial Council : — Dunedin district — nomination 4th, poll sth. Port Chalmers — nomination 6th, poll 7th. Eastern district— nomination 9th, poll 10th. Western district — nomination 12th, poll 13th. Northern district — nomination 20th, poll 23rd. Central district — nomination 28th, poll 30th. Tokomairiro district — nomination Ist February, poll 3rd. Clutha district —nomination 7th Feb., poll 9th.

Thr Natives. — We understand that his Excellency the Governor intends paying a visit to the Native Village at the Heads, for the purpose of personally ascertaining the social state of the natives ; and that he has contributed the sum of £50 towards the funds of the society for the elevation of the Maories.

Presentation to the Southern Postman. — On arriving at the Taieri Ferry on Monday evening last, Mr. M'lntosh, the southern postman, was waited upon by a deputation, consisting of Messrs. White and E. T. Gillon, who presented him with the sum of £6 as a testimonial from the settlers of the Waihola, accompanied by the following letter :—: —

Waihola, December 12, 1559.

Mr. James M'lntosh,

Sir, — We have much pleasure in presenting you with the accompanying testimonial, on behalf, of the subsciibers who have requested us to do so ; •and also to express to you their entire approval of the punctual and obliging manner in which you have acted during the time jou have carried the mail. - •

We have also to thank you for conveying out letters from the local post-office to our respective places of abode, and for the care which you have uniformly taken of everything committed to your charge.

In conclusion, we wish you evexy success in your future life, and remain, Sir, Yoms veiy sincerely, (Signed) William White,

Edward Tnos. Gillon. Mr, M'lntosh then thanked the gentlemen for their kindness, and the deputation retired. — Communicuted,

Otago, New "Zealand. — By the last Australian mail, we have letters and newspapers from Otago to the end of May. A great many applications had been made for rural lands ; and we were glad to sec among the applicants the names of persons who obtained assisted passages from the Government agents in this country. This fact of itself proves the prosperous state of the industrious working classes in that interesting colony. The census of the province to the end of 1858 is published in the May newspapers, and, comparing the totals with those of former }'car 3. the increase is not only considerable, but far beyond what might have been expected. Since 1856 the population has increased two-sevenths of the number for that year; and the land revenue alone amounted to £34,910, and the first quarter of thept esent year exceeded <£ 12,000. — Edinburgh paper^ August 20.