News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 620, 16 October 1863, Page 5

News of the Week.

(VKOM. THE DAILY TIMES.^

A Waitalmna correspondent writes : — This place two years ngo was a lively spot, cradles rocking an 1 long to.p.s at work over the flat for two mites in length. Oae after another ths hills and points wore lonnd rich in gM, and we>.e worked in the then primitive way. The present system 01 working is tho box shticG and the ground sluice, at which there are a good number employed, with generally fair returns. The Waitahuna yiuicinsr Company's race, v.-hich was commenced about threa months since, is coming nearer to ns ewry div. They have about eirrht miles cut, and expect to have it at the head of Tucker Gully in. six week;, or seven at most. High in the rang 5 at the hwid of this gully they inttnd ei\ cling their dtvn, which is one cf the most commanding and central positions that co.ild be found on the digging*. The site is so formed by nature that lour men will be able in a week to throw a bank across the gorge that will back water over four acres of giound, and its depth will helrom twelve to fourteen feet in the centre. The f-ouipany expect to have two heads of water for sale ; this nlong with what they use themselves, will be a great benefit to the i'iat this summer. It 13 also their infen- | tion to bring in 11 greater supply — which they can ! do by adding a few miles to their present race, which they have cut p'ltposely large — if there is a demand, which no doubt there will be. The entire length of tho 1 ace will be about fourteen miles ; a tunn"l of 200 yirds in length brings the water through the dividing rans™, and is now running through the diggings, which will save many claims from short sup:;ly. Tne company deserve gi eat praise for their spirited enterprise and we wish them success beyond their expectations. The owners of the Yankee Race, which was formed s^mc eighteen months ago, are i actively employed ground sluicing Richmond j Hill, and aho sluicing on tho flat, with very satisi factory results. At the Win bridge or River Flat, there are a good number at work, and it is considered that this locality will give steady rcmuneratire work for years to eorae. Though not very rich, still as much as .£25 per week a man lias been netted. The system of working is die box sluice, at which returns may be had varying fromL4 to L 8 per week. Tlie lower part of the flat is know to be rich, but until it is drained by a flood race the ground cannot bo worked. The channel, cut about two years ago by a company for the purpose of working the river bed, has been the means of making available for work a large extent of ground during the past winter. From the effects of this it may be judged what benefit would result from the formation of a channel to cliain the fiV, which extends about one mile below the biidge. The road which has been in course oi formation for the last few months between the bridgu and post-office is approaching completion, and will bs a gi cat convenience to the district. It was very much wanted, for during tho past winter the catt track between the two place 3 was almost impassible. Our Waikouaili correspondent writes under date, 9th instant: — The annual meeting of ratepayers wa3 held in tli3 schoolroom on Monday evening, for the purpose of electinga new District School Committee for the ensuing year. The late committee, in giving an account ot their stewardship gave a favorable report of the progress of the school. There was but a small balance of funds in hand but the meeting felt assured there would be little difficulty in raising the required auuunt for the incoming year, and passed a resolution to the effect, and that it was of opinion tho salaiy of the teacher .should be increased, it being at present less than in any other district school in the province. The Rev. Mr Dasent, our new app uuted clergvmin in tlie place of Rev. Mr Fenton, arrived by the Gcelong; lie left England but a few months since to take charge of this cure. His arrival has bpen anxiously awaited since tho departure of Mr Fenton, and it was with deep regret we learnt the cause of his prolonged stay in Cuiistchurch, We anticipate in his new homu he will gun thtf affections of his parishoner3,and secure to himself many friends. Though many thousands of acres in this neighbourhood — in fact nearly the whole — have been been delartd into Hundie 's, no Wardens at present have ben appointed. I know not with whom the power of their election rests, but for miles aiound farms have sprung up, nearly every man in the place running cattle and horses, everyone as a matter of course distmbing his neighbour's herds, during them in all directions, sometimes selling, sometimes killing — hard to say whether wilfully or ignorantly — other people's stock, and yet no one to interfere. If such acts are to be allowed in the Northern Hundreds, it had been better they remained in the hands of the licensed runholders. Ifc is essential Wardens be soon appointed in this district, or we may chance hear of Lynch law b°ing practised. There have been several cases of parties selling cattle that did not belong to them. The other day the Court was engaged in a case, when a person was charged with illegally detaining a bullock. The prosecutor who had previously sold the beast to the slaughterman, stated that he had purchased cattle bearing a certain brand, which had been lost by a party driving stock through the country, and concluded this was one of them, the brand being somewhat similar. The de'endant in disproof of the charge against him, brought several witnesses, who, on oath, identified thanimal as the property of the person who ga\ c him (the defendant) authority to detain the bullock, ana clearly proved the legality of the detention. The prosecutor was obliged to relinquish his claim, and was informed by the Resident Magistrate his case was dismissed, and the defendant, on application for his expenses, &c, that he woul ! have to sock thrm elsewhere, and thus ended tho matter. Much unpleasantness would be avoided by tlie presence of Wardens. I conceive their appointment is by the residents in the District. If such be the case, I would suggest they at once bs elected ; but as is usual here, public business is treated with such lukewarinnes3 that most trivi il matters are often allowed to lapse from the want of proper organisation, and it is cxtremelyjj lifficuit to achieve a purpose without application. I mentioned in one of my previous letters that several parlies were d'gging on the Stonebourne. From 100 to 150 still remain there, and are miking rename rative wages. From the auriferous nature ot" the locality, ifc is expected during the summer months an extensive gold field will be discovered in the approximate country, so little prospected at present. Tho Wahatip Mail says: — There is reason to believe tint another deplorable accident has taken place on the Lake, resulting in all probability, in serious loss of life. The Pride of Tymore, a wellbuilt boat, trading regularly to the head of the Lake, left Queenstown on Saturday heavily laden, and conveying four passengers besides her crew of two mcii. She not arriving within a reasonable time, her consignee came down to Queenstown to ascertain the reason, suspecting some accident, when he of course learned that she had started on Saturday. No trace of the boat has since been discovered, and there ii every reason to snpposa that she went down duri"g the heavy gale of Sisturday night. A cage of pin, an oar, and half a bag of flour has been picked up near the Twelvemile, which have been identified as belonging to the missing boat, the fate of which is therefore little dou'/tful. We have received a letter from a resident in Dovling-slrei't complaining of the carele3s manner in which unexplcd'; I cartridges and caps ] arc permitted to lie ab'mfc the floor of the voluu tcer drill shed, and thence swept out into the street to b' come the dangerous toys of the boys in the neighbourhood. It appears that the boys are in the habit of hu-ning up these dangerous articles and exploding then on fin 3 or otherwise, greatly to tlie risk of both thermal t-es and passers by. . Our correspondent justly complains of the carelessness of the volunteers, the more so as one of his children had been very severely burned ' about tho face in consequence. Oiir informant has in his possession one of these unexploded cartridges, which was picked up near tho door of the drill shed, ,

The Invercargill Times of the 7th inst, say->: — " We understand that the Helenslec has brought out for the Provincial Government, some binls and game for acclimatisation purpegps. Amongst them are a goldfinch, a blackbird, a nare, and half a dozen rabbits. Those will no doubt be handed over to the Accliinftiisatioa Society, on proper application being made." Mr Cameron, who loft this Province a few <Uy.s ago to recruit men in Southland for the Highland Blithe of volunteers for service in Auckland, is reported by the Southland journals as having met with considerable success. The following is from onr Tokomairiro correspondent :—lt: — It is much to be regretted that tlie Gentlemen of the Road who recently " stuck up " Mr. Valpy, have not yet been captured, as t'.i>\v do not yet appear to have been discouraged by their ill-success on that occasion. On the following Sunday nighr, about eleven o'clock, an attempt was made 10 enter the house of Mr, W. Duff, at Waihola, Mr. DafTo -house is situated in a most lonely place, on the range leading from ToVotmiriro to the Waipori, and it was somowhere in the vicinity of the latter place that the attack on Mr. Valpy was made ; there is ovory reason to suppose that both outrages were the work of the same persons, Mr. IX.ff was aw leaned by hearing some ona trying toi op>:n the door leading from the lean to into the house, and on looking about him he saw a man with a blackenel face looking in at his bedroom window. He at o .co aroused the other inmates of the house, and on entering the leanto it was found tint an entrance had been elll'Ct.'d through the kitchen window and an attempt made to force the door communicating with the main portion of the house. Of cw.so, by this time the midnisht intruders had djpai'ted" and left no trace behind them ; but Mr Dtift's suspicions were directed to a couple of men who had sljpfc in one of his outhouses on the Saturday night, and information having been given to the police, these men wcie tiaced to Moiyneuxand arrested. When brought before the resident magistrate here, however, they proved an incontestable alibi. Il being proved beyond a doubt, that they had slept on Saturday night at an Inn in Tokomairiro, and that they were there at the very moment the attempt wa« made on Mr Duff's premises. The men were of course discharg d, and nothing has since transpired as to the real Simon Pures. The annual general meeting of the Tokomairiro Cricket Club is to be held in the Whits Horse Hotel, on Monday evening, for the purpose of electing a committee for tho ensuing year, and making arrangements for the season which is likely to prove a most eventful one, if the negociations for a visit from the All-England arrive at a satisfactory termination. Subscription lists n aid of the fund towards defraying the cost of their visit, have been sent to this district, and I think that a fair contribution will be raided. It is to bs hoped that the Tokomairiro Club will be represented in the New Zealand twenty-two. A number of persons have recently been fined in the R. M.'s Court down here for not having the owner's r.arne painted on their drays. Although the police reports in the newspapers for the last six months havo been full of convictions for this offence, it is really quite astonishing how many plead total ignorance of any such regulation. The bridge over the Taieri River is progressing satisfactorily, and if there be no delay as to the drawbridge, a portion will, I think, soon be complcded — a consummation most devoutly to ba wished. Milton Hill was last week occupied by a Mr. J. H. Hume, who gave several lectures on Phrenology and other scientific subjects. The establishment of the Tokomairiro Post Office, as a money order office, will be a great convenience, and was much %vantcd. The new Post Office now in course of erection, is, however, a ridiculously small place and totally inadequate to the requirements of the district. The last honors were paid to the remains of Sergeant Garvey oa Saturday afternoon. In the neighbourhood ot the Police Barracks, in Princes-street, several stores had colours half hoisted, and at three o'clock the procession which conveyed the body to its resting placo in the Cemetery, comnieneed its march. Sub-Inspector Sincock, with a firing party, led the van. Next were the Provincial baud placing the solemn funeral monody " The D.ad March." The coffin, borne by four of the deceased's comrade.-*, followed, and his now riderless horse, led by two policemen, w.is the next in succession. Tho poiice, accompanied by A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M., and Mr. Commissioner Brannig.in, followed, and a number of civilians who, notwithstanding the unpleasant weather, evinced their respect and sympathy by joining the procession , brought up the rear. From the fueling which pervade I all classes in regard to the circumstance which led to the death of the unfortunate St rgoant, no doubt but for the copious showers which fell during tho day frequently and the slushy state of the streets, many more would have been present than those who attended the funeral. In our Dunstan correspondence will be found reports of two public meetings which have lately been held at the Dunstan. One was for the purpose of hearing from Mr Brodie, M.P.C. and M.H.R., an account of his proceedings at the recsnt session of the Provincial Council, and of organising a testimonial to that gentleman oxpres=ive of the approval of his constituents of the manner in which he had represented them. The other meeting was a complimentary one to Jaekj; son Keddell, Esq., lute Warden and Resident Magistrate at the Dunstan, who has accepted a captaincy in the Auckland Militia. TII3 inhabitants had subscribed a purse of 100 sovereigns, and the cost of a ban lsome sword, which htler had, however, not arrived from Sydney in tim« for presentation. The proceedings were of the most enthusiastic character, and indicated tho high position in the regard of the inhabitants Mr Keddell has earned by his faithful and painstaking discharge of the onerous duties of Warden ot that important district. j An accident, attended with severe personal injury to Mr Mining Surveyor Coates, occurred on Tuesday last. Mr Coatcs, accompanied by Mr Warden Robinson, Captain Ked Id!, Mr Brodie, and Dr Jucksou, of the Dunstan , was pro ceeding from the Dunstan township towards the Kawarau for the purpose ot settling an important mining dispute. Mr Coates was riding slightly in advance of the party, when his horse suddenly shied at the dead carcass of a horse lying on th roadside, at a point of the road where a shar angle occurs. Mr Coates was encumbered with thf^o iolite, which was strapped on his back, and by other surveying apparatus he was carrying ; and the sudden movement of his horse caused tlie saddle — the girths beiag slack — to slip round, throwing Mr Coates with considerable violence to the ground. As he fell, the theodolite inflicted a severe blow or thrust, causing injuries to the organs of the chest and spine. Assistance was promptly afforded, and it is to be hoped the injuries may prove of a lesa serious nature than was at first supposed. Mr Farley, the enterprising proprietor of Vauxhall Gardens, lm enclosed a considerable area of ground as a rabbit warren. At a great expense rabbits have been procured from Victoria and pla;:es in New Z 'aland, and although a grea,t proportion of the animals died before reaching their home, a sufficient number has been preserved to hold out a prospect of stocking the warren. Mr Farley may ba able, while accomplishing his own more directpurpoaes to effect something in the cause of acclimatisation, and we would raeonimend him to add to the habitants of his enclosed ground, pheasants, of which a suitable number for breeding purposes could be easily procured from Auckland, in which place these- bird 3 have, in a few years become exceedingly numerous. Speaking of the discovery ot copper ore at Moke Creek, the Wahatip Mail says :—": — " While on the subji cl of raining, wo may mention that the report of the copper lode at Moke Creek, ] turns out to be an established fact, a survey having been mide by the mining surveyor of the district, Mr. Wright, The scene of the discovery is a gully, the reef cropping out on each side, and passing under the bed of the creek, which flows between; an I the percentage of copper is estimated at from 23 to 30 par cent. Tho chief difficulty that will have to ba contended against is the carriage, packing being at present the only mode of conveyance, which wo need hardly state is out of the question when anything inferior to gold itself is concerned. It ii with great pleasure, therefore, knowing the peculiar weakness of our Government in relation to roads, that we learn that a tramway can be laid down with scarcely any difficulty to the v^ry edge of the Lake, thereby reducing the ost of carri ag 3 to a minimum. Already, disputes have arisen as to who is to have the honor and profit of the discovery, no less than six separate parties laying claim to it. All that t is wanted is a few men only half as active and I persevering as the miners of tho Shotover and p Arrow, to open up this new source of wealth and j prosperity."

A graat denl of exc^Oinsnt prevails at the WaUatip relnUv.: to D . Ikctm's cVscovery, and r.lr nJy the local journnl speculates on the establishment of a ommereul port on thn West Coast. Not content to v.-nir, for D.\ IK-ctor's levd.itions, parties are ]>einc» orgunsed to tr.ire out tho tr.ick of Hio explorer, with ths hope of following it down to tho coast. Complaints arc made in the Wahilip '[ail of tho defective postal communication between QdGenstbwn and tho Kivraran township", letters it is stated, havirg first to co.ne to Duneiin before reaching their destination. Onr readers are probably aware that, for some time pa a t, a punt on a novel priuciyle h:is been in course ot construction for the Moiy.imv River, according to a. design of the Piovhektl E: giiuer; t-> suparsede the one which has been tic source ot so much annoyance, and the eau-e of so ninny accidents lately. The comparatively gigantic proportions of the new punt rather st it fled many of the oil settlers and others who had /.ot ha ' the opportunities ni 1119asarina or appreciating the re-ource* of v.vvlem science-, the funeral imnre-sion wi'.i, th.it inasmuch as the o!d punt (which is aocufc one quirter the size of tlie now one,) had been found to strain tlia gjiding cable too severely— tlm ueee^ary consequj'ncri of attaching tlis new one wou'd be, to either brca'c the '.-able or strain it so rmi.ii ;isto render the whole aliiur unworkable. We:i"<?, however liii.jpy to be able to state, on the .iiiihot ity of the Provincial Engineer (Mr Sw\cr) th.it all doubt as to the efficiency of tlie slrivture is now set at rest. .On Friday l.isf, the flcli insl , an assistant from the Provincial Engine r's dqnrtmenc was de^patclwd ia onljr to EQ3 that the works in onncction with the punt, jcrtif-s and guiding cables were in such :i statj of cfiiciancy that they iiv^'il with safety he handi-tl over to the ferry lessees. Thn following quotations will speak for themselves, .irid it is ;\ sublet of congratulation to Had thut tho enginosi's pian? have been carried out so satisfactorily. Mr Mirasus Mr Swyer's assistant) reports :— " Sir, — I have the hotiir to inform j'ou that i'nmedtate'y m my arrival I made a trial trip with tho new punt, and the result was everything that could be desired. She answers her helm admirably, ! and is so entirely 1111 ler control that f-he 1 can he brought alongside the jetties without so much as (to use Captain Wood's expressive phrase) bruising your finger. We stopped her in the middle of the current, and turned hor head any way wished, the strain on the attaching chain beinsr so slight that it can ba slackened with the hand. Her spaed is quite equal to the old punt, but is not so apparent, there being no feeling of danger. You will ba glad to hear that I have receive 1, on your accouufc, the congratulations of the Marine Engineer (X[r Balfour), and the Harbor Master (Captain Thompson). Mr Bilfour expressed, in tho most unqualified terms, his appreciation of all the arrangements. Major Richardson was on the punt at the time and acknowledged that the whole affair presented a most gratifying appearance. I shall hand orer the works to Messrs Thomas and Wood tomorrow. * * *" We understand the Government are enclosing a new weighbridge on the north side of the river, which will greatly facilitate the arrangements for the passage of heavily loaded drays. We understand that the man Lawson, who was so seriously injured by being run over the other day is progressing favorably, and that extensive, and severe as are the iajuries he received, there are some hopes of his recovery. The withdrawal of the subsidy to the line of coaches to the Wakatip is strongly resented by the inhabitants of that district. The Wahatip Mail thus comments on the suicidal policy that has been allowed to prevail :— " After all that has been said and done to prevent Southland obtaining possession of the best gold field in tho Province of Otago, we find the Government following a course which might well ' astonish the natives,' and make any sane person wonder whether the authorities had lost their wits entirely. Having some time since arrived at the determination that it was expedient in any and " every way to thwart the rival province, and to prevent Invercaigill superseding Dunedin, which 9ha promises to do, our rulers considered the bast means to arrive at that end w.is to remove the possibility of communication between tho Lake and Dunedin, and therefore announced that the subsidy granted for tho conve3'anco of the mails would be removed, which would effectually stop the line of coaches. When the subject was brought before the Council, the Provincial Secretary tendered an explanation which is a gem in itself — that ths State having saved considerably during the winter mont!i3, when the road was next to impassable, in tho conveyance of gold, they thought it was a graceful act, :uid one th.it would be appreciated nut less by the public than by the contractors, if fiey were now to carry the gold themselves, and save the subsidy, overlooking the fact that tho unfortunate coach proprietors had lost £3000 during the winter, and naturally looked to i he advent of summer to reimburse them for fiuir loss.'S. The oOiiducfc of the Government in this alFiir is a remarkable in srruica of t'uir c insistency and determination. They first established an escort, then destroyed it in favor of a coach service, and afterwards reestablished tlie escort at the expense of those who r-licd upm the iroo.l faith and public spirit of the Government. Ths reason given is no doubt sufficient ; but there may yet he a doubt existing in the n'inds of men unconnected with tho Government, whether tho profit of the Stite at the txpinse of a private indivi lual, is a gain to the community. Last year there was an attempt made in tho General Assembly to alter the boundaries of Southland at the expense of Otigi, which was not defeated with such flying cnl >rs as to ensure the latter Province against a second attempt, which would to a certainty prove successful, when backed by the unauimous pr.iyer of the miners in this district. Both polic/ and f\irness should have induced Otago to continue the sarvice —in policy, t> preserve the tradn of the Dike, if not possession itself, and in fairness to the contractors and the public ; but unfortunately for us, tho policy of our Government is a ' penny wis2 and pound foolish' oue, and as for fairness, that h quite a second iry consideration when th'av is h question of ' bawbees.' In other countries—Victoria, for instance— enormous sums have been paid to secure the advantages ofclvap and ra;iid communication ; coaches havo alwayt been considered as substitutes for railways ; and as railways would not pay at first it io obvious that subsidies are necessary." We have received a variety of reports concerning the the naw rush near the Taieri River, of a j conflicting character. We give them as presented to us, but must caution our readers against draw- ! ing deductions from them favorable to tho extent | or pcrnunenco of the new field. Until more definite intelligence is i ecdved, we cannot too strongly recommend the public to exercise great caution | in crediting the highly colored accouut3 which i are always promulgated afc the first of anew rush. We hope in a day or two to give full and accurate details ot the new diggings, having made arrangements for obtaining 1 them. The following are thy particulars which reached us from various sources yesterday. Two gentlemen returned from the new diggings on Tuesday and •vpresscd a favorablo opinion of tho prospects, stating that in several instances they witnessed excellent results obtained. In one claim gold was picked out of the clay without washing, and a tin dish carelessly scooped into tlie wash dirt was found when washed to co 1 tain about a pennyweight of goki. This fto'd was shown to us and it is coarse shotty and heavy. Another informant, a person in whive veracity we place confidence, tells us that the prospectors' gully is very narrow; a few parties were doing well; saw 5t dwld, washed from one tin dish of dirt, and many other instances of from 1 to 3 and 4 dwt, but the average was much less-, the gully had not been fairly tried ; from a gully in the vicinity of the prospectors' gully some good prospects have been obtained. A person named JiVnzer, who has been working some two or three months had washed as . much as au ounce to tho dish, and obtained good prospects in other gullio3. Our informnnb expresses tho opinion that a good goli field has been opened, not perhaps very rich; and siys that a good proportion of tbose on the ground wero satisfied with tht-ir prospects. We may add that we have heard numberless reports which are altogether suspicious and unworthy of credit. Mr SubInsocctor Siucoek returned from the field yesterday, and from what we learn from him and other sources, we are strongly inclined to doubt whether the new discovery is of such gieat value or importance as many person* would imagine. As wo have before stated, we have taken measures that will enable us to place our readers in possession of full and reliable particulars in a day or two at frrtheat.

The Melbourne Argus of the 23t'i uH., con'.uiiss tho following notice of the Divorce Suit ins ituteil by His Honor Mr Justice Molesworth, against his wife, in which the Lite Attorney General of Victoria is correspondent. "The "tlivoico case aiolcsworth v. Molesworth was before the Supreme Court on Saturday. A jury lui<l been summoned to try cci .'am issuis," tho fmding of which would have to be d alt with afterwards by the full Court ; but counsel for the respondent (Mrs Moleswoith) submitted that b fore the jury were sworn, proof should be given that a copy ot the petition was lodged with the Attorney-G-ener&l on the day that the original was presented. It was urged, in reply, that this proof though necessary before tlia Court minle a decree, was not indispensable at the present stage of the enquiry. The Court ruled that on the ground both of convenience and uniformity of practice, tlie proof should ba given forthwith. In the ! absence of better evidence, two clerks from the Crown law offices were called to prove the day upon which a copy of the petition vras lodged with the Attorney General. They produced a book containing an entry to the elLet that it was received on the 12fch November, 1861. This, it was held by counsel for the respondent, was not a compliance with the Bivorca Act (25th Viet. Nn. 125,) inasmuch as {the petitio J was dated the 1 lth November, and the 15th section of the act provides that ( every person presenting a petition for dissolution of marriage shall ou tho day of presenting the Fame di liver a copy thereof to a law officer.' In answer to this, coun s^l for the petitioner contended that tho petition j was not accepted by the Judge until the 14th November ; and fclrnfc therefore the presentation had not terminated on the 12th November, but was ' going on.' A majority of the Court (Mr Justice Barry and Mr Justice Williams) decided that the objection was fatal. Counsel for the petitioner next, applied for a short adjournment, in order that the course pursued in the case of Curnaby v. Carnaby, of ascertaining whether the Attorney-General was satisfied with the service, might be aJopted ; but the Court declined to entertain the application. Counsel for the petitioner then moved for an adjournment of the case to the next sittings, by which time they expected to be in a position to adduce further evidence. This was objected to, on the ground that no additional evidence would show that the petitioner had complied with the act. In the course of the argument which followed, attention was called to the f.ict that there were two petitions — that in the first there was no co-respondent, and that in the other Mr E. D. Ireland was made co-respondent ; and it was urged that, as the first petition did not comply with tho 14th section of the act, which required that in a petition by a husband the alleged adulterer should be mad? a co-respondent, the fault could not be remedied by an amended petition presented subsequently. On this point the Court ruled that when amendments were made, it was not necessary that the amended petition should bepiescntfcd denovo to tho Judge. The motion for adjournment was granted. The arguments lasted from ten a.m. to four p.m., durii;g the whole of which time the court was crowded with spectators." The enlisting officog for Volunteers for New Zealand had been re-opened ia Sydney for another fortnight. The latest telegram from that place states that in the Council tlie qntß'ion wag asked what steps had been taken for the departure of the military to New Zealand. The Chief Secretary replied that the troops were at the disposal of Major Bowdler. Considerable surprise was expressed that they were not off before. The Tasraanian papers of (the 3rd inst. contain a few items from Melbourne journals, of which files to the 30th ult— six days later than our own advices had been received. The prospect of the renewal of transportation on an enlarged scale to Western Australia, was engaging much public attention. A very influential meeting ha 1 been held in Melbourne, convened by the Mayor, to protest against the recommendations of the English Commissioners on Prison Discipline. The meeting was held in St. George's Hall, which was crowded, the number of persons present being estimated at about 1500. The Mayor presided and was supported by the leading public men of the colony, including the Chief Justice (Sir W. F. Stawell), members of the present and late Govern ments, and a 1 irge gathering of members of both Houses of Parliament. The Dean of Melbourne and various clergymen were present ; and the mercantile, trading, and other classes of -the community were strongly represented. Resolutions, expressing astonishment and indignation at the recommendation of the Commissioners were carried. A petition to her Majesty was also adopted, and an Anti-Transpoitatioa Association wis formed. The news from New South Wales is full of bii-hranging items. Gilbert and his gmg were causing gsent apprehensions in the Bufchurst district. One night they robbed Stephen's store, at Caloola, taking away a quantity of goods, and destroying the remainder of tho stock. They shot horse in a piddock. Government had ordered additional police to that district. The police have discovered a '• plant," containing 2,000 notes belonging to the Joint Stock Bank, which Lowry took from the Mudgse mail. Cumminus, Lowry's companion, had bean convicted of bushrancfing. Gilbert, O'Meally, Hull, Burke, and Vane had subsequently stuck-up three troopers near Carcoar, and taken their arms, horses, and accoutrements. Troopers, were specially sent to capture them. AMr Wilding, of Borrowa, had shot oue bushranger dead and mortally wounded another, who attempted sticking him up. Jumieson and Daley, bushrangers, had been convicted at Gonlburn. It is not often that the old ada«e " Flonesty the best policy," receives so forcible an illustration as is supplied by the following item ot news contained in the telegrams :—": — " John Jamieson, tho bushranger, who has beon sentenced to fifteen years on the roads is heir to £22,000 by the recent death of his father. The money will pass to the Crown," It appears that Mr and Mrs C. Kean are expected to make their first appearance on the Coioniiil Stasre on Saturday next, at the Havmarket Theatre, Melbourne. They have selected for their debut, not as might have been supposed, a Shaksperian play, but the tragedy of The Gamester. Mr Cathcart appears with them. The Argus reports that scarlatina is raging with much persistency in the Melbourne suburbs, several deaths having occurred, principally of young children. j Charles Kestring, the German arrested at Picton on suspicion of being the murderer of the man " Yorky," at Miller's Flat, was brought up on remand before Mr. Croker. the Resident Magistrate at Tuapeka. William Medwin, the proprietor or the Flag Staff Accommodation Home, at whoso. I place the murdered man had called on the 20th March, and who was afterwards joined by a man with whom ho was ovHoutly intimate, and who is now supposed to have been the murderer, positively stated that the prisoner was not the man who was in company with "Yorky," nor had he (witness) ever seeu the accused to his knowledge. David Evans, the proprietor of another Accommodation house, at whose place he said he recollected on the 23rd March, a man calling at his place at about 11 o'clock in the evening leading a pack horse, with a pack saddle on ; after arriving he hobbled the horso and tethered him to a post. He noticed the mm particularly, and he seemed to be very uneasy ; the horse he led was a stout bay one, but did not know its brands, and he had never seen it since. H<j positively swore that the prisoner was not tho man, never having to his knowledge seen him before. Tho man that had the horde left his place about 7 o'clock the next morning. Peter Robertson, tha keeper of an accommodation houae at Lawrence, also remembered a man calling ut his house on the 23rd March, leading a bay horso with a pack saddle on. He had heard the night previous of the murder of " Yorky," and he suspected the man who called to bo the murderer from the close observation he took of him, and the description ho had received of the auspected man afterwards. He positively swore to tho prisoner not being the mnn. Tho Magistrate said ho lmd not the least doubt that the police were mistaken as to tho ide-itity of the accused, but in order to prove his itmoeunee moro satisfactorily, lie would Hko fco hear the evidence from Millor's Fiat, and would adjourn the enquiry for tint purpose. Tho case wa3 to be resumed yesterday. We understand that sheading has commenced, and tho average weight of fleece is fully equal to that, of former years. The season has been most tavorabh for lambing. YounJt grass is now coming out, anJ ifc is expected that there will bs few casualties. New Zealand is peculiarly fitted for sheep breeding. "There is," says Mr Hursthouse, in his work on New Zealand, "a raie combination of natural gifts, creating marked exemption] from disease, great prolificaess, fat and early button, fine wool, and heavy fleece,"

A mating of the Com nittee of th* "' Hone j Mission " was held at Wesley Chmvii on Thurcrlav evening last, R>v. I. Harding iv t'hs chiu. I Tl.auks wero vote I to ths propn tors of flu Daily Times and of the Ovil;/ TJcjntph fo»* their insertion of tho Home Missioa "<Jireu ir"' I f.cc of clsarga. The Cnairnun reported ill it tin I missionaties wore received inistnrly all instr.c< t with cordial respect and hoipimliry not only 1 1 private houses .md s'atfons, but in many cibPS «& hotels, thus rendering tho irav;U ; ng exji-us t comparitively light to the sseisty's fund-*. At the Arro'v the congregations had lven c-tnil!,a-> 1 the diulculti^s during the whiter grcit, t ie floods having produced heavy lossts and ran h suffering. A sum of LSO was voted to aid the cause the-e. An application from the Dmisb.u for a missionary was respo ,ded to, and Mr Whiting is to be stationed thery. where ho will have a very wide and important sphere for his labors. A conversation ensued on ths impsrttuio of obtaining other missionaries from Victoria, b i-; at prtrMjnttue funds are not sufficient to warraal-, thsexnenditme. The Secretary was authorise I to solicit subscribtions in aid of tho funds of th.i society. We lsarn that work upon tho West T-ifen Bridge, at Hooper's, is now entirely saspeade !, and in the mean time great inconvenience is experienced through the very slow and da'igews method of crossing teams'" Tho punt is not at idl adapted to tho work required, being far too sho-t. Teams have to bo " duubled up," a practic 1 whi ih i 3 attended with very considerable danger. It U said thai there is plenty of blue stone re.^dy <ut for tlie bridge, and ifc might, if tho neccs.ssry energy were used, be completed in four months. The excuse for not proceeding with the work is that the water is too high. On Monday last a person lost a purse containing L 97 in noes, between the Taieri River and the new ru&h, Nicol's Gully, He offers a reward of L4O for its recovery. The following is the " division list" on the question wl.ich involved tho fata of the Fox Ministry, and to which reference is made in our leading article .-—Ayes, 22, viz.: Messrs Ball, Brandon, Carter, Eyes, Featherstone, Fitzgerald, Fitzherbcrt, Graham, G. Graham, It. Harrison, Henderson, Fox, Munro, (V Rorke, Renall, Rhodes, Saunders, C. J. Taylor, W. W. Taylor, J. Wil liamson, Wood, Ward (teller). Noes 22, viz.: Messrs Atkinson, Butler, Colenso, Curtis, Dick, Gillies, Jollie, Mason, Moorhouse, Mantell, Nixon, O'NeiU, A. J. Richmond, J, C. Richmond Russell, Wilson, Jas. Williamson, Weld, Wells, Watt, Richardson (teller). The Speaker gtva his casting vote in favor of the " Noes." Mr Carktoii (aye) paired with Mr Domett (no). The Western portion of the Otago territory 19 full of interest to the lover ot science, so many and varied are the circumstances in cosmtction with its physical and geographical peculiarities. Mr M-Kenow, in hi 3 report of the survey of tho Lake districts, thus remarks concerning the depth of the Lakes :— "The depth of the Lakes h mi interesting consideration in connection with them. I had not the means of determining it ; but that ' I their depth may be reckoned by hundreds of feet, I have almost no doubt. Oa leaving the shore, and at the distance of a boat length or two, the bottom may be seen down through the clear water at a depth of 20 or 30 feet : then very often there is a sudden dip, and there begins the deep blue waters through which tha eye can no more penetrate. Up the Fiords of the Te Anau and Manipori Lakes there are many places where there is no beach, at all ; but where the rocks rise perpendicularly out of the water for hundreds of feet, there it may be said that there is a precU pice above and a precipice below ihoLakd. If the waters of the Lakes were suddenly to dry up, tha present shore live would, I believe, appear ia most places to be the ledga of a precipice. Oa tho Wakatipu Lake, oue of. Mr Rees's boatmen tried the depth of the Lake near Queenstown ; by means of a weight attached to tho end of a ro'po, two hundred (200) fathoms of line were let out before reaching what was considered to be tha bottom ; similarly, on tho Wanaka Like, seventy (70) fathoms were let out. These results, although they cannot be relied ou as precise, are of. value as showing how vevy deep the lakes must be. Soundings of the Lakes, carefully taken with deep sea sounding apparatus, would aid in the solutiou of the problem -< By what ineana the Lakes were produced?'" The remains of Mr Malcolm Graham, whose premature death at the early age of twenty-eight we had occasion to announce a few days b-ick, were on Tuesday followed to tho grave by a large body of citizens, numbering between 200 and 300, in addition to hU immediate friends. As a mark of respect to his memory the Government Offices were closed during a portion of the day, and the meeting of the Town Boaid was postponed until to-day. Although a very young maa Mr Graham had been many years in the Province, having arrived here at tho age of fourteen. He has left a widow and two children to mourn for him. Adelaide has long been able to boast of a crack rifle marksman, in tho person of the Hon. G. C. Hawker, Esq., the Speaker of: the Legislative Assembly. This gentleman has again distinguished himself, having made the extraordinary score of forty-seven in fifteen shots at 1000 yard/, being four points in excess of the hi^hust score at the same range at Wimbledon last July. The deposits in the English and Scottish Manufacturing Districts Relief Fund box, from September 16 to October 12, amounted to £1 Is 2sd, and seventeen tokens. A fatal boat accident, attended with the loss 1 of two lives, occurred at Bluff Harbor on Monday week. Tho following account of the melancholy afl'uir is given by the correspondent of the Southland iVews :—": — " A boat belonging to the Ruby, and containing Captain Hall, with Mr Aspinwnll, and two others, was capsizod, and only the two strangers were saved. The body of Captain Hall was recovered, and every means used by tho doctor of the Hirwood and others to restore animation, but althougii their efforts continued nearly two hours they did not succeed. Great praise is due to tho boatmen and others, for their promptitude in rendering assistance. Captain Hall belonged formerly to the Southland Pilot Service, and was universally respected and be loved for his sterling qualities as a seaman and gentleman ; he leaves a widow and three children to deplore the loss of an affectionate husband aud father. A subscription was raised on the spot for the benefit of the widow and orphans, Dr Hoskins acting as treasurer, and Sergeant O'Kccfo as secretary, and by the following morning the amount received was about L6O. JDr Murray and Mr M'Taggart are also collecting at the Mokomoko, and have already received about L2O, and expect at least LSO or L6O as the result of their efforts." An inquest was held on the Bth inst , and the evidence tended to the presumption that the boat had b^en capsized by the tide rip, which was very strong at the time; the boat having by some means got broadside on to the seas. The ,< Captain of the Ruby, was steering the boat at the" time. We learn from the agricultural districts that oats, of which an unusual breadth has been sown this season, are coming up well. Bat little land is, this year, under barley and wheat. Tho farmers are now chieny occupied in plautiug potatoes, and it is oxpseted that there will ba a considerable increase of cro,». The first of a course of lectures to bs deliverol bafora the Young Mens' Christian Association will ba given by Major Richardson, on Jfrid'iy, the 16th inst." (to-day), in the room of tho Association, m Stewart-street. The subject of the lent uro will ba "Infidelity; its difficulties, it, dangers and discomforts." Further information will be found in the advertisement ia another column. Tlie Committee of tho Danediu Cricket Club give notice that the season will couintenua on Saturday, the 3lst instant, when tha members are requested to meet on the ground foe practice. Tho regular meeting* for play during the season will be held every W'ednes lay afternoon at four, and every Saturday at two o'clock. Messrs Iloyt and Co having found it necessary to discontinue running their coaches from Danedin to Like Wakatip, tha inhabitants of these two places are now almost cut off from communication with each other, aud tho circuimtvuco will result unless immediate steps are taken to prevent it, in driving tho trade ot the Lake district into the hands of the Invercargill merchants, The Southland Gbvemtnent is using every available mean 3to improve tho comamuicadou between Invercargill and the Lake, and private enterprise appeaw to find opportunities of assistitvgin "that object, which do not obtaiu here. We notice that oa and after the 20th imt.', Cobh and Co. will run a line of coaches regularly from lavercargill to the Lake.