WAITAKI RACES, 1862.

Otago Witness, Issue 538, 22 March 1862, Page 2

WAITAKI RACES, 1862.

These races took place at Oarnaru on the 12th instant. The gatheiing was not so large as on former occasions, owing to the unusual height of the Waitaki having prevented the Canterbury horses from risking the passage of the river. Subjoined is an account of the raciug. : — MAIDEN PLATK. Value 25 soys., added to a sweepstakes of 2 soys., open to all horses that have never won public money, One mile and a-half. Two-year-oMs, Sbt.; 3, Ost.; 4, 9sfc. lOlbs.; 5, lOst. 41bs.; 6 and aged, 10at. lOlbs. Second horse to save his stake. Mr. H. Julius' g. g. Baronet, aged (R. Ray) „ 1 Mr. Poijrndestre's b. «. Shehna, aged (T. Casey) 2 Mr. Weedon's bk. in. Half-oastp, aged (J. Hagie) 3 Jfr. A. Baker's eh. g. Gulliver, aged (owner) ... 4 Mr. Hodgkinson's br. m. Woiski,"aged (A. Young) 5 Half-caste led,"closely followed by Shebua and the Baronet for half the distance, when the Bnronet took tho first place and Shebna the second, and in this po3iliou they arrived at the post. Won by a length ; two lengths between second and third. Mr. E. Julius' Small Beer was entered, but did not start. j OAMAI'.U CUP. ! Value 100 soys., in plate or specie, added to a sweepstake of 5 soys., open to all horses the bona fide, property of runholders south of the Raugitata ltiver. Two miles. Two-yeav-olds, Bst. b'lbs.; 3, Qst. 81bs.; 4, lOst. Gibs.; 5, "lOst. lOlhs.; b' and aged, list. Gentlemen riders. Professionals 7ibs, exti'C-. Second horse to save his stake. Mr. It. Julius' b. g, Kauri Ojiun, aged (It. Ray) 1 Mr. Poigndestre's b. g. Shtlina, aged ('I 1 . Casey) 2 Mr.fW, Jonen' eh, h. Rifleman, i yrs. (H, Cavr) dis. Rifleman, owing to want of condition, wa3 pulled up iv the first round. Won easily. SELLING STAKKS. Sweepstakes of 2 soys., with 23 added. One mile and a-half. If entered to be sold for L3O, Bst. : L4O, Sst.: LSO, Ost. lOlbs.; L6O, lOst. 81bs,; L7O, list Gibs.; LBO. 12st.; and Ist. extra for every extra LlO in 'value. The winner to be sold immediately after the race, The surplus to go to the Race Fund. Mr. R. Julius 1 eh. g. Jack, aged, LSO (R. liny) „ J i Mr. H. Julius' gr. g. Baronet, aged, LSO (W. Hourigau) . . ... .. ..2 Mr. I'oigniicstre's b. g. Shebna, aged, LSO (owner) 3 Mr. A. Baker's eh, g, Gulliver, aged, LSO (owner) 4 Mr. llodgkinson r s br. ni. 'Woiski,' aged, L3O (A. Young) . . . . „ . .dis. Tho JBaronet led. until within half-a-mile fronj home, when he was collared and passed by Jack', who won a good race by a length — three lengths 1 between second, and third.

SETTIKRa' I'dlSE,

Value 100 soys., added to a sweepstakes of 5 soys. Three miles. Oainaru Cup weights. Second horse to save his stake. Mr. it. Julius' hk. U. V"iiuon, 4 yrs. (T. Casey) 1 I'ir. "uiguiicstie s i). j\ Shc'i?, used (owner; . .Aw. Mr. E. Julius' bk. g. Tom Sajerj, aged (H. Uarr) dis. jiurdi n :iiCK. SweepstV.ies of 3 wi^i 50 a.lh-1. Tiroe miles, u\er 10 flight; o. hnr.lles. Tw.i-vejr old'!, Oat.; S, 10-st. 1U1b..; 1, lut. tilK: n, iUt. 1-211)5.; 0 and aged, 12sl. olb<s. Second horse i,o .save his stake. Mr. it. Julius' b. g. Ilol>. 6vrs. (R, Hay) . 1 Mr. Poi;,'tule-tre's b. g. Sheb:ia, aged _(J. S. Douglas. Es-j.) " .. ".. " ..dis. Mr. A. Julius' bk. g. T^po, aged (Houiigan) . .dia. Thcie being no hurdles on tho course, the hordes wont o\er the coiusc without them, in the onler given above. A protect by the o»vner of Jtob, claiming tlic .stakes, is under the consideration oi' the steward^. HANDICAP SWr.BPSTAKKS, Of 10 soys., h f., with KJit suns, addcl. Handicappers to be appointed by the stewards. Mr. R. Juiius' b. g. Rob, a»od, 10-st. (Hourigan) 1 Mr. Poi^ndestru's b. g. Shebna, aged, 75t. (A. Voting) ... .. ..2 Mr. E. Julius' bk. g. Tom Savers, aged. 7st. 101b. (H. (Jarr) .. .. .. ..dis. "Won eabily. CONSOLATION STAKES. Of 2 soys., with 20 added. Open to all beaten horse 3. One mile and a- half. Maiden Plate weignts. Second hoi'oc to save his stake. Mr. E. Julius' b. g. Small Leer, aged (11. Kay) 1 Mr. Weedon's bk. m. ilaif-easte. n^ed {J. Ilagie) "2 Mr. E. Julius" bk. g. Tom Sajera, ngvd (owner) dis. Mr. E. Jn'iiH declared to win with Small Beer, who, alter a closely contested race, won by three lengths. Ou the following clay three races for untrained horse*, for prizes of £10, £10, and £3, given by K. Julius, Esq., the winner of most of the, races ou the previous day, were won by Jlr. J. Lewis' cr. g. ;Dick, Mr. Wecdon's Halt-caste, and Small Beer respectively. WELLINGTON. (From the Daily Times Correspondent.) Wellington, 11th March, 1362. One of those amusing roundabout, papers with which Thnckery delights the readers of tlig Cornhill every month, ib '• The Two .Roundabout Papeis which 1 intended to write ;" I think I might almost follow Ills example, and devote my pro^eut letter to die reasons why I do not write on a subject ou which I had intended to write, but which for tiie very good and surticient cause presently shown is taken out of the category of news. I expected it would have been a very pleading taik to have had to chronicle in my present letter, thesayings and doings of Sir George Grey in Wellington; but, to the great disappointment oi us all, a in6»t unfortunate contretemps haAept his Excellency in Auckland. Wellington is not the only Province that has been disappointed, Hawke's Bay had prepared an address and weie making arrangements for a public welcome, and Wangauui is doing so at this moment. I told you in a former letter that the steamer from Napier was to reach here on the 4th or oth with the Governor on board. A notice from Government buildings set apart the sth as a public holiday, and the triumphal arches, carriages, order of procession, &c, were all definitely ai ranged the day previously, and arrangements entered mLo for sundry demonstrations during the week following. A S. li. gale had, ho .vever, sprung up on the Sunday pieviously, ami continuing to blow caused Wednesday the uth to pa-s by in the expectation that his Excellency was eicher at Napier or else anchored under the Kidnappers. Thursday passed away, wind still blowing from the S. but very gently. Friday also aud a calm. Saturday ; he would without doubt be heie, and everybody acted as though the steamer would eeilamly arrive some time during the day. But Satunlay wore away and no Governor. \Vith Sunday came the change of wind, aud on that afternoon the .steamer was signalled, but not with the pieeoncerted addition intimating that the Governor was on board. Very many thought it probable that Sir George had de-dred the steamer not to communicate his presence, because of a wWi to avoid a Sunday demonstration (not that there would have been beyond a cheer or two from thebystandeison the whan). Never did the steamer appear such a time before. At last she rounds the point, and every telescope is ceiitere I on her. In luilf-an-hour she brings up. The Superintendent and Major Dwjer immediately put oil', ,is do Judge John^un and a number of w atei men s boats ; and ac last we learn, not only that the Governor li.m not come, biit that he is still in Auckland. Tim Hun. Mr Fox (the Colonial Secretary) is, however, a passenger by her, Fortunately, it is no serious cause that keeps Sir Grey in AucKland, bub jusi one oi those illustrations of the truth of what Burns so aptly exprea-.es — " The hiat laid schemes of mice and men (i.ing aft a\*ee ; An 1 lea'e us nought but grief and pain For promised juy." And, because it is reported most industriously here, that there are disturbin,,' causes amongst the natives (really only the attempt by the "army" of 3D NgtimaniapoLos to bounce Mr Uurst, in tlie Jpper Waikati, of whkJi we heard by la-c mail,) I may as well give yon a full, true, and particular account of the cauoca ot iii-3 detention. 1 have already told jou that it was the Governor's, mtentijii to proceed in the " Fawn"' to the Bay of Plenty, Mid ride norn thence to Napier, where he would meet Air I'ox. On the 11th Mr Fox left tor Taupo, where it appears he was to wait ior the Governor, who was to leave Auckland un the 12th. Captain Oator, finding hi-, boileis in an huecuie state to steam, reported their cmaition not very long before the hour fixed for stinting; and His Excellency, not caring to chance the deUya oi'a sailing trip at this season, determined to aw ail a more favoraule oppurtmnfcy. Taupo is about live or six days' ride horn Aucklaud, and waa reached by Mr. Fox in due eoui.^j and while waiting theie, or lather while kororing with tlfe nati\ea,'recei\ed an intimation of the co/ttretanp.i .above detailed. The native proceedings at Taupo were, I am told, very satisfactory, — so much so that a Magistrate was appointed on the spot (a gentie.iuui oi the name of Law) —for whose rcbukjnee, a,c., the natives gave a piece of laud of about 6U acre.-.. The disappointment at Napier when Mr. Fox arrived bj himself was very gieat. The natives had made aD end ot one feast and were about to begin on another. The liawhc's Bay Heiahl, says there were present froua 1,000 to I,J|IO, und the short notice ot the meeting to which Mr. Fox was invited, is reported in that paper of the 11th March, which I presume you will receive by this mail. It was of a more satisfactory chai.icter than the report would appear to convey, at least, so I jiui re r 'c from what Mr. Fox said at a native dinner in Wellington yesterday, — " that it was the must satisfactory meeting of any that he had attended." The proposition to settle the Waitarj. by arbitration, and the aon-conseut to that course by tho Waikatoes (Upp*v), produced a most favonible_ cifcct ou the Governor's behalf. It is thought likely that the Ilawke's Bay Commissioner will be (Jolonel ltussel— formerly, when Captain, stationed with his regiment in Wellington, and much liked by both settlers and natives, lie had the cirilling of the militia here daring the last war of 1847, and put them through their lacings in fine style, making them drag a cannon up Mount Victoria, (450 feet), and exercising them across country, lie also superintended the making of the Porirua-road by the military, &c, and is immortalised by one steep portion of it being called to this day " llussol's Folly. 1 ' As there is a faint hope that the Governor may come in the 'Airedale' on the 14th, the triumphal arches &c., are left standing, and the programme ready to be carried out at an hour's notice. Like " London's tall column," one of the arches "lifts it> head and lies ;" the inscription '* there's a good time coming, Sir George Grey i 3 here," exciting no littie amusement. I sincerely hope the ( Airedale ' may bring Sir George, a3 the townspeople are a good deal disappointed, having eutered into the preparation for the reception with great heartiness. Ail but the bakera are done out ot a holiday, who, bavins* baked double batches on Tuesday, shut up on Wednesday. If the Governor does not come by the Airedale, he will probably not come before the Assembly is held J;ere in June, though it was very much his desire to liave visited aU the Provinces before that event takes ■olace. Our Aucklaud news is to the 26th February, there , is nothing of any consequence in the papers. J see that Captain W. J. B. Junoris appointed Adjutant of Volunteers in the militia district of Otago. "We have news from Taranaki to the Ist of March. The native news there is very conflicting, the rumors of one day being contradicted by the facta of the next. Now a letter is published from Wi Kingi ordering the mail route to be opened to Wangauui, and then we ftnd the next issue of the paper declaring that the Ngatai'uatfuis refuse to do so. W. King's letter also states the soldiers will not be allowed to make roads on Maori territory, but the Governor has declared his intention to make m roads in such districts without the natives ask for thorn. The following from Nelaon, in justice to the settlers ought to be published ." — (From the Nelson Examiner, Feb. 26\) The following passage is an extract from a sermon delivered by the Bishop of New Zealand, at CiiristOhurcli, Nelson, on Sunday, the lb'th instant. We have tiie best authority for skitiug, that in using these words, Bishop Selwyn had in Uis njiud tb.e' speech of Canon Stowell, at Douglas, which has been going the round of tho newspaper ; — " I must not be supposed to be speaking now of acts of violence, injustice, or oppression, of which Christian nations have been guilty, as if such charges lay at the door of this colony, Exaggerated statements drawn from other countries may have been

applied to us us if we had been guilty of the aame evil deeds. In defence of the colonist* of New Zealand, of whom I am one, 1 say most distinctly and solemnly that I have never known, since tUe colony bo_ in, a finsjle act of wilful injustice or oppre.-bioa commits I by any one in auunor'ty against a Ncv Zealaiider. It may have been dininnlt to persuade siiue fjw iivlividualb that the Natives were entitled i.» eijual rights, with ourselves, but in practice their ruhoi a;vl liberties have bc^n maintains I inviolate, and tlie re^uli id, that t'.e New Ze-ilandeis, almost to a m.vi, look upon it aa their higher privilege o be united with our>lves in one uith and in one law." Yesterday afternoon there was a giand spread in Wellington to nearly 2iW natives who had o.ue from t.io ea-t and we.t coasts, the Waiituapa, ice, t> mset the Governor : about 70 of \. hoiu witir their lnnv>c» have been wi'itin^ iv town nearly a week. The I'rjvmcial UuuiWil Chamber m 5m 5 closely picked, and w:h grit M.l by a guodly vprin'din^ — I w,i3 going to say thu Ttiin'r sox. but pdiha-jH if 1 s.iy of the r.iiftcr bex, io will be more nearly in accordance with fad. Of coutr-e the tables "groaned" under the v ei'^ht of meat, vegetables, and baked plum pudding, for when I tell you that all wai not eaten, you may be pretty sure thp supply must have been large. Tne rapidity with which the eatab'es became " small by degives and beautifully le-a," was only equalled by that of the talk, which, of thf ladies especially, w-is in a fair w.iy of becoming ilfafeninqf to thy number of Europeans who had .'^omblcd to witness the lions feeding. There were a great many speeches made, but unfortunately tho.-e ny the natives, bjmtr addressi'd principally to the natives, were not translated. Dr. Foatlierstone, tho Superintendent, presided, and iv a neat and appropriate speech, as I have .'io doubt the newspapers wiil say, piopoowi the h"idrh of th'i Queen, which, he remarked, they ought to drink more warmly tha.i they had ever done before, because she had sent then back Governor Groy. The cheering w.is vl .st uproarious, and with Tannin ltuupuralia asiualemeu, they t^ave "hip. hip. hooray" in fine style. The «''cond toast was — Governor Grey, which gave Mr. Fox an opportunity of telling the native what the Governor hail done. He told them that he had determined only tv visit those districts « hose people asked liim to do po, for this reason he had not visited the Upper Waikato ; but because he was anxious to know the truth about Waitara he wnsdeaiiou* that it should be investigated, and therefore sent him (Mr. Fox) to propose that it should be investigated by a European and two natives chosen by the natives, and the same by the Governor, and that according to their decision should the land be dealt with. They had evasively replied to this proposition in a letter written by W. Thompson, and the nath es at Hawke's Bay and elsewhere now saw that it was the Waikatos, not the Governor, who presented that cause of irritation from being finally settled. Six or seven native speeches followed, but all from We^t Coiist uativos, those from the Eiist Coast (the Ngatikahunu), who are looked upon as Kin»ites, or next door to it, maintained at fu»t a marked silence, which was nt last broken by old Hapuka, a most influential Chief of Ahuriri, — expressing compliments to all around ; just such a speech as my Lord Palmurbton wi.uld make at a Lord Major's dinner, — flowery but impenetrable. Afterwards, however, Manihera, and others of the same tribe, expressed their determination to maintain ordy two things, Christianity and the Queen's Government, thus altogether throwing overboard the Mauri king. No more healths were drunk, a glass of beer aud two half-glasses of wine being quite as much as prudence v ould sanction their being supplied with ; but complimentary speeches and cheers were given for the Superintendent and one or two others. To-morrow they will nearly all of them be on their way home. On Wednesday week (Veh. lib'), our newly returned from England llesident Maghtiate was. thrown from his hone on the Hutt road, but being a feather weight, fortunately suffered only a little stiftuet-s in consequence. A drove of sheep in the road threw the horje down. Wellington, Saturd y Mornin<r, ath March,' 18G2. The " Airedale" arrived from Auckland at 9 o'clock last ni»ht, and sails this evening via Lyttelton. I write per the " Wonga" direct, and a3 her mail clones at 11 o'clock, I cannot give you Auckland det.tils. They are not, however, important. Mr. Land «. 'aims Coininissiorier Bdl is a passenger from thu North, and as he is acting as Native Secretary, it is a proof that native matters arc, at any rate, quiet. The " Airedale's" arrival hat. put the stopper on our hopes of the Governor's arrival here, lie will noc now be coining until he opens the Assembly in June. All there i-; for us to do is simply to boar our disappointment as bust we can, and pay the coit of the late preparations for welcoming him. You may judge of their amount by the fact that the liuie lull of the livery stable keeper, who had the ex'tling up of the ammgem»uts connected with the c.irriagi; and •.ix for conveying His Excellency from the landingplace to Goveruincn House., amounts to no less thau Jt&o, , for alteration of harness, suits of livery for the postilions, &c, the carriage and throe of the horses being gratuitously found by the owner, W. Bowler, Ksq. The traimphal arches t.re being removed this, morning. Mr. Fox. after spending a few days in Wellington, ha 1 - gone for a little while to his estate, '• Wcstloc," in the Itauyitik'-i district, and intends returning to Auckland by the steamer ou the 2lth inst. The usual monthly nvetini: of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday afternoon. Some letteis w«reri.udfroui)MefiS!s. M'Meokau, Blackwood & Co., of Melbourne, and thvir Canterbury «g. n;s, oilcrinsr to hicrcitse the " AUliugaV voyage on to Wellmgu.n monthly for ±'3009 a-year, and stating ih.it Mr. Blnckwooii wnuld visit Dunedin about this date (loth March). There Ls no disposition hereto eut.-r into the contract at such a price. The amount is ntoi'c than the Piovince can alrbrcl for that one -L-rvice. For a moderate amount tiie Pro\ mm; would be ghd to enter into the airaiujement, or join with the Cork's Straits Frounces in running a steamer from Sydney. The prospect of bcins kno.-ked oft'the trunk lino is very distasteful to this meridian, A taruf lvport wnsnlso read, and the Provinces are to be nuiled to se,*k for an assimilation as near a^ possible to thru ot Victoria, lfcWj. Nothing further of extra local importance took place. On Wednesday the auniversiry of the hoisting of thu Kind's ila»- at Olaki was celebrated in that district. Tlie company was not s.) large m had beeu anticipated. Tlicie" were about 300 armed nathw wearing the King's white baud round their caps, taking part in the ceremony, which a-usl-ited of prayers, marching, war dances &o. Pleuliuil provision was made for the spjci.itorb, of which the Europeans were invited to paitnke with much courtesy. The llag which was run up in the morning would ue taken down again in the evening, but as my informant left there at mid-day, I cannot say what waa finallj done v. ilh it; probably it was put away, as it w.i^, last year, for a similar ceremony ou the next anniversary. Particulars will come in by to-day's mail — if anything worth opening my letter for has occurred, I will do so. Our town Volunteer movement i» quite at a standstill. No meeting for the elcctiou of otucers is to take place until tho corps numbers 40. The strength at present is only A very handsome gold watch is now in the hands of Mr. Marriott, the engraver, previous to presentation to C. It. Carter, Es{., 1v1.1E.1t., for the Wairarapa. It is from the Odd Fellows' Lodges in Wellington, as an aeknowledment of the professional services gratuitously rendered in superintending the erection of the Odd Felloes' Hall here, completed nearly two jears ago. I presume there will be a dinner or a rump steak supper on the occasion. A ca>e of rape by a settler on a Maori woman living in the Uppe- ilutt, accompanied by much brutality, ■nas brought before the Resident Majfiotrate yesterday, aud will no d^abt ultimately find its way to the Supreme Court. "* * The members of the Church of England are racking strenuous dibits io build a cathedral. When Bishop Selwyn first arrived, one of his plans wa.s "to build structures, not reminding us by their mediocrity that they would do for the present, but such as our forefathers delighted to build." They "wore to be buih pier-emeal, as funds were provided. So far as WellinL'tou is concerned, Archbishop Laud's emphatic " dune," cannot be written against this aud ian«y other plans, as the church at the Thonulon end of the town testifies. It was built in 18 1-t, always looked more like a barn than anjthini; el->o, and is iwv a very shabby affair indeed. The cathedral is to cost about £;3,<iO(J, one-third of which the Bishop of Wellington (Abraham) engages to collect amongst his personal friends, provided the parishioners raiso the other two-thirds. They have come forward very liberally, some twelve or fourteen of them having headed the subscription liot with £50 a piece. The subscription amounts to nearly £i,2UO, but I fear the collection of the remainder will be a work of much dinjculty, Tl)e members of the church of the other parish (St. Peter's, Te Am) have v. debt of 1400 on their very pretty edifice, which "cramp many and entirely prevents others of them from contributing. Writing about church debts, puts me in mind to mention that the Lyttelton church was entirely freed from debt last mont by a fancy bazaar ; not only was the debt (LSJO) cleared olf, but there was L7O over ! The site for the Wellington Cathedral is a most commanding ono, overlooking the harbour, ami adjoining the Bishop's " House" — folk have not yet got into the way of calling it " Palace," though I have heard llqman Catholics frequently desitjuate their Bishop's residence hero by that 'preteutioxis title. There is a pleasant little bit of' gossip anent tho way in which the .<dte above alluded to came into the Church's possession, which I may as well give you. About eight years ago, Governor Sir George Grey, Bishop Selwyn, and the hou. Mr. Tollemaohe Avere travelling in the Ahuriri, and had oue day been impressing on the natives the importance of providing for posterity by making endowments of land for Church and School purposes. Iv the night time, a deputation of natives visited their tent, woke them up> 4nd put sonic painted questions ns |o whether the teachors practised what they' taught. 'What Sir George and his companions answared, I don't' know, but they evidently felt the necessity of setting a good example— of setting .their caudle in a candlestick that it might give light to all around, for very shortly

SjmM.vicHW«s«.*» i^ i- >n*i-M*Dri-t J iJii.f f .■■<ir, 1 -i»i"''Si»^Jrt>-<^X-v»», afterwards Sir George purchased a piece of gc^vnd in Mulgrave-street, Welliagton, for a Church, only s&ipu]asinif for free seats for the Hospit U patiente clo.^e by. iii.-hop Selwyn bought a t >hee necfc to it an-l gave it for the was object, while ALr. ToHerjajiie itiatie over a ])''ije adjoining f>r a iiiMio^S resi ldu;e. 'Jne coiiibineil giro fonos a Li!o';k, acdib most valuable for the jjurpo^e-i jr.teisilt'l. (>n it v :;'e was e^ectet two yoa'S since, a ve^y isaranw iioro :• A suhatantial hoaso for the Oisiiop of \W-lJiu;;toa, .''l !.'-i9 er : t of 1OO')L, lurnished from the private pa.-oP of Bishop Selwyn. The Wuoleyans are making the changes dire- i.<sfl by the late Conferense iv Australia. Tho Rev. Joan "Warren, a talsnted preacher, who has o ily bdon here two years goes tj Auekitnd. His phic/i 1 - supplied by the Rev. John Allied of the Mutt, wlw=e tp!'/-*o is filied byVa young miui^tor from Auckland, the Rev. _ Mr. Crump. The Ilev. 2\\v. Viokers, wli =c {ir.-:t ii'troductiod 1o minis'ieri.'l life was in ihh l'covince, goes from Canterbury to Ot:tgo. When Mr. Reader Wood 'was hne, he did f>>r .:<j what he did for you— sanctioned the Buperiut-i •■ ", desire to erect a r.ow Custom Hoii^e a,-jd Post;., Tho rent no»v paid for the promivjb occ .pied Lytii.-.-e two departments is £250 ; they nee.l e-ilar'iii^/idid the new building will bo^i prove a public "convenience, being close to the deo^ water wharf now hei^g carried out, and give value to the reclaimed lanu in the neighborhood. The tenders are to be sens in on the 31st instant. The design is in the " severe -t [talian style," which means", I believe, a style as plain and devoid of ornament as it is possible to Ci~ sigu. Capt. Oarkeek, the Collector, is well up in astronomy and that kind of thing, and has induced the Governme.it to send home for n, tim» ball, for ships to rate their chronometers by, an astronomi^l cloo'c to give them the mean solar time, &c, i-c, and a^ they will hi placed under his charge, thoy will pit. ,-c of great convenience to shipping. I mention this vi jjd-iuips your Gosernment will "'go and do likewise." Each may learn soin&lhing from the oiuer. Y-u musn't _ charge me with the price of an ad . c: . isemeut if I give a reeommend.-.toiy notice of r Uustom House architect, Mr. C. M. Iggles.lo.t. tie is a young gentleman of considerable talent , •, an architect, and ha.s for some years been en^ed in tl.e Survey departmeut here. Several of the jn-ottie^t of our villa residences have been from Ms deigns, and he leaves by the steamer to-day to see what can be done in a professional way down south. Circumstances must determine vaether he stops at Cancerbury, or whether afcer looking about him there he goes on to Otago. If he visits you, make him pay handsomely for this complimentary notice. The painters are commencing to put the outside of the Government Buildings into the best trim their art will permit of. The Assembly will find everything in apple pie order when it visits us in June. It in now definitely fixed to meet here. It w;v3 only reported so heretofore, but Tuesday's Independent asserts, evidently "upon authority," that i& is settled by the Cabinet, and I see the Auckland papers take it for granted that it will certainly come here, prodded circumstances "over which* there is no control,"' as the phrase is, do not spriug up to prevent it. _ The Southern Cross has a little tall talk on the subject, but the Assembly will ceitainly come if possible. Rather a rich scene took place in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. A country settler, named Kellv, stepped into the witness-box in a. decided state '•>£ Martell's. The crier swore him as usual, while the Judge and counsel were preparing their papers. The Judge, noticing the state of the witness, asked him if he were ill, if he felt himself able to give evidence 1 to which he replied that he had kissed tke book, and that was enough. Judo;e : Are you in a fit state to give evidence ? Witness : Who bribed you to say~l waj druuk ? This was too much. Such an indignity to Juil»-e Johnston, of all the judges in the world, was sure "to be visited with condieu punishment, and witness was inarched oil to gaol for a fortnight, with the addition of a fine of £10, aud further detention until it 13 paid. On "Wednesday a jury was announced to try a case of lunacy. Dr. Alontoith, a resident here from the comracucement of the colony, and for several yeaia enjoying a large practice-Al tiring- the last few of which he was Provincial Surgi'oa — has for some eighteen months been ill, aud thongh so farrecovoied iis to walk about, had been obliged to be put umlw restraint. It became necessary to protect his property — hence the present enquiry. The jury foiin I him a lunatic— having, in a lucid interval, made a deed by which his property was vested in the management of his solicitor (Mr. Brandon) and of hi^ ■son. Thfa case wiil be painfully read by many of yonr readers, as Dr. Monteith was mo"re or le-a known to all who have resided here during the la>t twrnity years. It occurs tome to remark that t.ie mode of summoning juries needs revision. To compose this jury of twelve no less than thirty-six gentlemen were summoned — some from ten milps distance. Jury servitude is at all times felt to be a bore, and it Ls not wise to make the mode of summoning a moans by which it becomes unnecessarily irksome. The contract with the Marlborough Government and the \\ r .S.N. Company is lvnewed from next English mail. No date is agreed for, only from month to month. Thesttamcr funds the English mail iroi.i AVk->n at Picton, and convoys the return mail from Piefon to Nelson, for 70/. a month. On Wednesday evening Judge Johustou invited H of the principal chief;,, visiting Wellington to see Governor Grey, to dinner. Toast^ speeches, and nuHc combined to rouuer the meeting a very pleasant one. It wa-; purely a private aifiur, and ns such I cannot do move than just record it as an«» dit. Negotiations have been pending for sotne month or two past, by which it was hoped to secuie Crofton, the latd 1-^.idence of the hou. ilr. Fox, for a College. The negotiations have thio week been brought to a close, the property Laying changed hands for that purpose. It comprises a . large ho'ise, built some years ago in the most substantial manner, at a cost of nearly LI2OO, and stands on 14 acres of freehold ground, (sown grass and parklike bush) on the Powrua linad. about 3 to four miles distant from Town. The selling price was L7OO, about half of the actual outlay expended on the property by Mr. Fox. It has stood empty for the la'-t three years, and the well)knovn maxim of "sell and repent vathoi* than keep and repent," seems to have induced thu seller to submit to the sacrifice— a sacrifice, whic'i the holders of all property in and around town purchased five or six years ago, must to a smaller degree bj content to submit to if obliged to realise now — the uncertainty engendered by the Maori troubles of the past two yens, having exercised a most depressing effect on real property. A principal for the College lus bjr>n written for to England, and 1 am told that a itevd. Jlr. iirjughton is likely to be the gentleman engaged. He is said to be highly qualified fo* thf) post. An Institution of this kind has lonjj bes:\ wanted, aud if judiciously managed, arid at not too great an exusnse to parents, will, I should say, answer exceedingly veil. Apropus of Colleges, there was a fine block of land given by the natives of Torirua, for a College or Educational establishment of some sort, very many Years ago. The block is a peninsula very much resembling Mount Edgcumbe at Plymouth (England), only much grander. It comprises from boo to 800 acres, and is it magnificent spot, The natives are grnmbliug very much nt its not having been turned to the account for which it was given, and have lately beeu molesting the stock of Mr. Richards, who leases it from tho Trustees at LSO a year. The natives appear to have some grouud of complaint, and their action may perhaps bad to the Bishop taking measures to establish a school for the native children there. The Customs revenue for February lost was L3,78i Os. 4d. agaiust L->, 866 14s. 3d. The Land Saks for the last mouth comprise °1,C02 acres, and the total receipts, L 1,020., 020. Since my last report we have had, commercially speaking a quiet week. The high rate? quolel for Shellard'a negro-head, in our last ;ylvicea from Sydney, consequent upon' the rumoured : interruptioii of our amicable relations with tlie 'Northern' States 1 ofe America, has caused the exportation of a considerable quantity of that article, and 2s. 6d. is now the ruling price for what a fortnight ago might have baen purchased for 2s. ; but it is not improbable that our next advices uny causo as great and rapid a retrocession. The arrival of 10.001) bushels of wheat in tha " PhillU," from Adelaide, has caused a slight depressiou, though a, few small parcels of new wheat have been sold at 60. 6d., and well grown clean potatoe oata have realised b's. Good samples of malting barley would command 7s. (id,, and maize, Ss. Dressed flax is inquired for, and is scarce at L'2i. New Zealand cordage, L 45. Lines, o's. to 12s. ; and best do. 12s. (id. to 18s. per doz. Our native flax is almost lost sight of in the eager search for gold, runun^a meetings, &c. ; but it will turn out sometime or other one of our most profitable exports. Cattle are still in demand, an I graziers are anxions to charter on their own account, being by no means satisfied with the present low prices. Your tax on stock, &c, is much coiuplaiutd of, and the feeding ir prevalent that the 1 ant under which it is imposed ig decidedly illegal, aiid must ha disallowed. Two vea^ sels are loa ling, anl will sail immediately— -the '■ W. B. Dean" and '"' Bwordnsh.'" Iv the latter are a few mjlch cows. Both arc on the eve of sailing. The wind yesterday springing up from the south led us to fear that the " Ilermine." which left the day before, would be obliged to pub back, Fortunately the wind is round again to ths north. We look with anxiety for news of the " Tyra's" arrival at Otago, aafroni' her week's detention in Worser's Boy (just outside the harbour) it is feared that 1 her cargo,' 75 heiid of, cattle; and 200 sheep, Iriay suffer* much ■ loss from want of fodder. Shipping intelligence is inos,t scant, tho only departure to youv port being the barque " Hermine,' as abovo, vita 1-10 head of cattle ; and the arrivals from your port, nil. The " John Bunyan" is laid on for London ; to follow the " WiUDwiik." Watimkb Pijkpakations in EsotAND.— Quincy, Dec. 31, p.m. — The steamship Asia, from Liverpool, on the 3 1st December, arrived at Halifax to-day. ■ She brings 500 troqps. Warlike preparations continued unabated. 'The " Adriatic" and " Persia" have also 'arrived witli oroops. ■ The " Cleopatra" and "Parana" ar£ ' toked for to-day, • . • !