News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 621, 24 October 1863, Page 4

News of the Week.

(from, the daily times.) In his report to the Superintendent, Mr iw-Kerrow, the district surveyor, thus remarks concerning the outlet of the Wakatipu Lake •— "It is plain that the Wakatipu Lake must liavo extended formerly over the low fertile track of country that extends east from Frankton to tho Crown Ridge. The summits of Peninsula Hill, Morven Hill, and perhaps some of the lesser elevations, would then be islets. The old channel of a large river leading away from the south end of the Lake at Kingstown, is very suggestive that then the overflow of the Lnke had passed away by it, and down the Mataura, to the sea. Examination of the valley, in which this old channel lies, does not readily explain the cause of this re-arrangement in nature, for no sudden upheaval has there dammed the waters of the Lake back f-om their ancient exit ; the old channel remains as distinct and as well defined as though tho change had only been a thing of a few years. The waters of the Lake have receded rather more than a mile in distance, and left the old channel high and dry. The very abrupt gorge through which the Kawarau (the present outlet of the Lake) flows, suggests that the change hns been brought about by the sudden erupting force of an earthquake opening a pass through the mountains lower than the level of the then Lake ; and that the present deep gutter-like channel of the Kawarau has been the subsequent slow and gradual wearing down of the' channel, by the rapid current that sweep 3 along it." The Xnvercargill Times says ;— " We are happy to be in a position to inform our readers that the enterprise g coach proprietors of this town, Messrs Bray ton and- Go.,_ha^c,cQmß-leied_jJheir arrangements for running a line of coaches tolhe Lake diggings, and that the first coach will start on the 20th of this month. We understand that Messrs Cole, floyt and Co., have resolved to discontinue their Line to the Lake, and have offered the refusal of their plant to Messrs Bray ton andCo."

The last of the Mataura's passengers ware remoyed from the quarantine island to-day and conveyed to town by the Gniden Age. They were principally married people with families, the young men and women having been previously removed. Mr Duke remains on tho island, having been appointed permanently as storekeeper or custodian^ aud it is probable Miat the Health Officer, whoever he may be, will in future be resident at Port Chalmeis. Dr Nevin, who was latterly in charge of the patients on the island, aud who was surgeon of the ship Victory, is understood to be at present tho Health Ofii'cer, his duties in connection with the ship Mataura having been temporarily fulfilled by Dr O'Donoghue. Though the management of" quarantine in the case ot the Mataura's passengers is believed to have been morej satisfactory than the first experiments with tho Victory it is alleged that much remains yet to be done to make the condition of any body of people placed on tho island what it ought to be, aud one of the first necessities is a more perfect separation and supervision of the younger paople, equal discipline being required as on board ship.

Sometime during the month of December tho Taicri Agricultural Society propose to try at a competitive examination, the merits of combined reaping and mowing machines, when prizes will be avatded. Further particulars as annouueed, will hi published shortly. Such trials, as that forthcoming, tend materially to arouse the emulative spirit of the agriculturist, and are fraught with good to the farmiug community of the district. It may appear ungallaut to speak harshly of the credibility of female witnesses in the Police Court ; but it is, unfortunately, too true that when housewives fell out and appear in Court, their accounts of the transactions which brought them there are generally as opposite as tiuth to falsehood. Male neighbors seem to live iv harmony in the good city of Dunedin ; or, at lekst, they settle their differences out of Court. But, with the softer sox, unseemly squabbles, vituperative—and too often, very gross— language are mixed up with tho accusations, as heard in' Court. It would appear that when lady neighbors fall out, the vilest name a woman can be called is the first that each calls the other, A gceat deal might be written on this subject ; but we will content ourselves for the present with expressing our wonder what children thiuk (and they are great thinkers) of such parents.

Nothing tends more to fix in the memory tho events of history, than scenic illustrations by which description is aided by an appeal to the eye. The stirring events of the war in America are familiar to every one, but by the panoramic representation of Mr Manly, a cleaver conception is obtained of the peculiar character- of the scenery, and of the material agencies by which this remarkable contest has been carried on, than could be had by any mere description however lucid. To a certain extent there is a sameness in the horrors incident to war— there are the wounded ftnd dying—the dismounted gnns TT-the • broken carriages— the death struggles of men nerved by desperate courage— the massing of troops— the triumph of the successful army, and the rout and flight of the defeated. Mr Manly though bound in faithfulness to introduce some of those details which invariably detract from the beauty of every battle scene, has wisely not made them too prominent, while the strange and unfamiliar forms of the Monitors and Merrimacs, and of the river steamboats, combined with the river and forest scenery amid which these contests have taken place, give an interest to the panoramic representation, that no mere event of fyar could excite. Many of tije scenes are well painted ; and though in some, tljo coloring is a little high, the exhibition is well calculated to please and to, instracj;. * ' ' "

The Provinpial Government Q(tz{>tte of yesterday contains a procknmtion by lug Honor the Superintendent, cancelling license number 131, to depasture stock over all Crown lands lying within the area bounded on Ihe south by the Leaning Rock Creek, on the east by the Walked • Creek, on the south and west by the River Clutha (Molyneux) comprised wUttfa the limit* of the J)una.tatt gold fleld, *

There appears to be every probability of a strong muster at the General Assembly* Our Wellington correspondent writes us that " all the Wellington members except Mr Fox and Mr Harrison intended going up by the English Mail steamer, supposed to leave Otago from 18th to 23rd. But as we feared all the Southern members would be in such hot haste to be there at the opening, and in even hotter haste to get the session over quickly, and therefore not in th humor at all even for the first week, tho Superintendent was persuaded to make his arrangements for going at once, and so he goes in the Lady Bird to-morrow (14th). Mr Fox and Mr Harri son were to go in the steamer originally intended to sail from Wanganui to-morrow, but the timetable has been so interfered with by the weather that the steamer will be certainly a week behind her time. All our other members will join the English Mail steamer here or at Napier, Of the Canterbury members Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Russell went up by the Rangatira." Another fatal boat accident has occurred in the New River. The Mokomoko correspondent of the Southland News on the 12th, writes :— '• Unfortunately I have to record another melancholy and fatal boat accident, which it is feared occurred near Bushy Point on Saturday last to two boatmen, known respectively as Tom Lang and Jack , who left Invercargill at about 1 p.m., and have not since been heard of. The crew of the boat Victoria picked up a monkey jacket, recognised as the one worn by one of the missing men when leaving town ; a crew in one of Mr Taggart's boats picked up a cap, a pair of oars marked Pet, and a rudder and yoke, which 'are also recognised as belonging to the missing boat. When the boat left town it was deeply laden with "iron ; and as there was an usually strong ripple at Bushy Point, it is supposed that the boat filled there and went down. " The Provincial Council of Southland comtuenced its sittings on the 10th inst. About forty horses, belonging to Henry Hoyt and Co. (Cobb's Telegraph Line), were driven into town in a mob on Monday evening, from the defunct direct Queenstown line. The regret previously expressed for the decease of this useful means of communication with the Lake district, will probably be increased in those interested in the progress of the inland traffic, when they learn that to-morrow a new line of coaches by the same enterprising firm will be dispatched to Queenstown from Invercargill, and that, as a consequence, paasengers proceeding to the Lake will most probably proceed through the sister province of Southland. Dr Hector's discovery of a route to the West Coast from the Wakatip appears to have created a profound impression at Invercargill, and is likely to materially interfere with the dream of the Southlanders— a railway to the Lake. The Canterbury Government have received despatches from Mr Townsend, at the Grey River. Mr. Sherrin and a party of two men have been searching at Lake Brunner for the bodies of Mr Howitt and his companion. No traces have baen found, except a piece of calico known to have bconged to Mr Howitt. The following interesting description of the Shotover River is from the pen of Mr M'Kerrow: — "The Shotover ranks next to the Dart, of the rivers that are tributary to the Kawarau. It takes its rise in the ice and snow fields of the Richardson and Harris Mountains, and as these are its principal sources, it attains to near its full size early in its course. That for the first 15 miles is S. by E., then eight miles S.W. to the junction of Stony Creek, then nine miles S. in a general direction to Arthur's point ; it there leaves the mountains, and at the same time bends to the east for three miles, and then agafe S. by E. for other three miles, before joining with the Kawarau. On its west side it receives the famous creeks— Skipper's, Stony, Moonlight, and Moke (under)— in the order named. The Shotover, during the greater part of its course, is so hemmed in by opposing mountains, that its banks are impassable in many places for either man or horse. The confined nature of its banks and the snow-clad watersheds, sufficiently explain the sudden and overwhelming floods that characterise it The incessant action of the river along one course for ages, has cut out its bed into an abrupt gutter-like channel. -This, mechanically speaking, may account for the rich auriferous deposits found in the bed of the Shotover ; for, as the river kept deepening, the banks would Blip into it as into a great sluice-box, where, coming under the action of so powerful a current, the gold would be washed out and deposited, while the lighter matter would be carried along." Captain Hall, late of the s.s. Ruby, who with a man named Aspinall, was drowned in Bluff Harbor a few days ago, was interred on the Bth lnsfc. The body of Aspinall has not yet been re•overed. The Southland News says ; — Rapid progress is being made with the railway jetty works both at the Bluff and the Mokomoko— especially at the latter place. There are, also, about 300 men now busy at work upon Messrs Davis's contract (No, 1) for earthwork and ditching along the route of the railway, commencing below Biggar-street, near Mr P. Dalrytuple's, and extending to No. 6 cutting, Mokomoko, about ten miles from Invorgill. Mr Davis has had his locomotive, Lady Barkly, transported by means of his stout drays and splendid horses to the works at the Mokomoko, and expects that she will be running on wooden rails, conveying materials for the construction of the railway, in about a fortnight from this time." The Hawke's Bay Herald says :—"lt: — "It would be difficult to over-estimate the efforts that are being put forth by the Waikato tribes to bring about a general rising of the native population. To this ■ every other consideration apparently sinks into insignificance. Emissaries from the Waikato country would seem to swarm all over the Island—visiting every pah and village, and using every means to organise a confederation the object of which would hz to drive the European into the sea and to raise a Maori kingdom upon tho ruins of the colony. For years, those messengers of mischief have frequented this district, either openly inciting to rebellion or insidiously poisoning 'the minds of the native population, as they considered would be the more politic course under the particular circumst-mces These efforts have not hitherto resulted ia any marked success — at least so far as the Europeans know — but there cau be no doubt that seeds of disaffection have been sown in a ready soil — to fructify, it may be, when a convenient season shall arrive." Our Dunstan correspondent draws attention to the inadequate working of the coal or lignite beds in that district, resulting in a great dearth of fuel in the township. According to our correspondent's statement, the contractors appear to have inefficient appliances for working the pit properly. We notice that the coaches of "King Cobb" have commenced running from the left bank of the Molyneux at the Dunstan, to the Kawarau township. We are glad to announce that there is every probability of Mr Ward arranging for a Panama service. As soon as the negotiations with the Imperial Government were over, an offer was made to Mr Ward by a company to do a slow service to New Zealand and Sydney for LIOO.OOO a year. The New South Wales agent was precluded from acting for the present, and Mr Ward. of course, could not undertake such a contract. Subsequently the offer was made to him for L 60.000 a year, the company to take the chance of getting a New South Wales subsidy. Mr Ward again declined, but intimated that he might be willing to guarantee something like 4^50,000. T}ie af&ir was still under con«ideratjon, and there was every likelihood of its being accepted. Mr Ward stipulated that the company should be properly formed, the ■hips satisfactory and that of the New South Wales subsidy a portion should go towards reducing that paid by the New Zealand Government. The latter was to receive the postage revenue, both in New Zealand and in England, the Imperial authorities agreeing to pay the same over. The service would only be at the speed of 8J knots, the ships were to be those of the General Screw Go's : the Golden Fleece, the Hydaspes, Indiana, Calcutta, and Queen of the South, 2000 tons, and 300 to 350 horse power. The Company was to bu left the choice of New ferniinus, and it was anticipated the selpption jyoiild fi&ll on Aydlingtori. It \s to be hoped siowgyer ? in the event of the affair going on, that the Otago Government will be able to pffer inducements to make Port Chalmers tfye porj of call. It must be distinctly understood that nothhg was definitely settled, that this is simply the outline of an arrangement under consideration, and which not improbably would be carried out,

The public will be glad to learn that Mr.S.E. R. Jones has succeeded in concluding arrangements with Mr. Marshall for a visit by the All England Eleven to this Province. We understand that three matches are to be playo , two at Dunedin and one at Christchurch. The matches will come off probably some time in January next. The revenue returns for the colony of Victoria, showing the estimated income and that actually received for the nine months ending the 30th of September last, and also the comparative statement of the nett revenue received into the Treasury and on account of the quarters and years terminating on the same date, are published in the "Government Gazette' of that colony. From these returns it appears that the actunl income for the past nine months of the present year is L 4 16,057 less than the estimated revenue, andL337,718 below that for the corresponding period in 1862. The nett decrease on the quarter as compared with the corresponding one of 18G2, is L 2 11,907, and the decrease on the year ending the 30th September lasf, as compared with that terminating on the same date in 1862, is that L 230,991. Mr John Thomas Smith hns been for the seventh time elected Mayor of Melbourne. Sydney news of the 6th instant says:—" Two agents have .arrived here from the Auckland Government, to arrange for the construction of two gunboats, whose draught of water shall be less than that of the Waikato ; and also to purchase horses for the troops." The recent discovery of the practice of opium smuggling by the Chinese Merchants in Melbourne, has Ud to some curious results. Chinese consignees of " general merchandise" are refusing as a rule to pass entry, and thus accept responsibility Jor their consignments. In this way a lot consisting of 1327 jws of " Chinese wine," has just been repudiated, the entries having been passed by Messrs Luker and Rumner, the agent 3 of the Sydney vessel, on board whicli the goods were tnmshippe.l from a Hong Kong trader. The prospect of liability to an import duty of tenshillings a gallon, on discovery of the real nature of the " general merchandise" had its effect. It is expected that other shipments from China will fall into the hands of the Customs Authorities, now that the recent smuggling discoveries have thrown a light upon prevailing practices. The Home Neivs says :—": — " It has been decided by the Government not to carry out their original intention of employing a force of Sikhs in New Zealand . The reasons for this change have nothing to do with the remarks made in the House of Commons upon the constitutional question supposed to be involved in the employment lof Indian troops out of India. It arises from financial considerations alone.it being found that, as a matter of direct economy, as well as financial symmetry, it js desirable to have the whole force in New Zealand composed of Europeans. Upon consideration, therefore, the Government have determined, and we think wisely, to substitute European for Sikh soldiers in New Zealand. It was originally intended to send General Cameron 3000 additional troops, and this number will be adhered to. The Indian establishment will be left for the moment short of a regiment by the diversion of the 50th to New Zealand, but this will not cause practical inconvenience ; and it is not intended to send out the 55th — the corps now standing first on the roster for foreign service. When these arrangements are completed, General Cameron wili have under his command the Ist battalion, 12th 2nd battalion 14th, 2nd battalion 18th, 4oth, 50th, 57th, 65th, 70th, and two battalions from India, making 10 in all, or a force of about 7000 bayonets." The New South Wales news continues to consist of little more than a record of bushranging outrage. The brigands appears to be gradually establishing and extending a complete mastery in the interior of the colony. The public streets of the principal inland towns are now chosen for the scene of mid day outrage— jewellers' shops being stuck up at noon, and revolvers fired off in bravado in the very face of the police. Meanwhile the Government presents a pitiful spectacle of helplessness. The whole affair is a deep and indelible disgrace to a British community. From an article in the S. M. Herald it appears that, unless the Government of New South Wales adopt some more rigorous measures for the suppression of bushrauging than they have hitherto done, the mere terror inspired by the ruffians, who for so long a time have been carrying on their depredations, will secure them from interference, and render their apprehension almost an impossbility. The extract we refer to is the following : — " The men who are now disturbing one part of the colony are well known, but have moved from place to place with marvellous confidence. They are seen by the settlers and obtain from them such supplies as they require. Why is it so ? We arc assured by those who profess to know their rounds that the sympathy with the criminals has yielded to fear of their spoilation and their vengeance. It is even doubted whether that sympathy ever existed to the extent imagined. It is said that the settlers do indeed cover the retreat and conceal the movements and supply the wants of these men, but under the influence of a dread from which nothing yet has been done effectually to relieve them. For example, a settler resides two or three miles from any other dwelling place. His wife and children are at the mercy of thebushrangeiy* They may come at night. They may destroy his property, and strip him of everything he possesses. But ff he observes silence and offers no obstruction to their fiee movements they permit him to remain unmolested, or only take from him such supplies as they cannot otherwise readily procure. The settler asks — what am Ito do ? A Government that cannot secure my property and f.imily from vengeance cannot expect that I shall pl.ice their lives in jeopardy in order to stop men too nimble, and too well informed, to be ensnared by the pdice." Mr Warden Worthington reports under date of October 16th, 1803. "I have the honor to inform you of the following particulars relative to the new rush at Boyd's run" : — Prospectors Gully takes it rise in a range running in a dfrect line from Fortification Hill, to the river Taieri, at a point distant from the fomer about 5 or 6 miles. The upper portion is very narrow, the spurs descending abruptly into the creek, which contains about one sluice-head of water. The prospector's claim is situated about one mile fiom its source, where most of the miners are also at work, and there are many instances of individual success, but the ground is patchy, and I estimate that so far as the original discovery is concerned, one hundred men will work ifc out m v week. A number of miners are, however, prospecting in the immediate neighborhood, and several small gullies have been opened, and I should imagine that the creek itself will be more or less worked to its junction with the deep stream, a distance of four miles. The gold is coarse, shotty, and generally found on a well defined slate reef, there being little or no wash dirt to speak of. The sinking is, however, shallow, averaging from one to four feet sinking, presenting an easy work to the miner. I estimate the population at about 1000 men, who at present are prinnipally located here ; but directly the misty weather clews off, I imagine that they will scatter themselves about in the numerous gnllies in the vicinity, where J trust something will be found, as great disappointment is generally felt at the small amount of payable ground as yet discovered. Provisions are very reasonable : flour, 5d the pound ; ham, 2s 6d, &c; and manuka scrub is obtained in a small gully about two miles away sufficient for the purpose of firing. I heir, also, that there is heavy timber at no great distance."— Mr Warden Williamson writing from the Upper Shotover under date, 13th October, 1863, says:— "I have the honor to inform you that mining matters at the bed of the Shotoyer haye been checked by the rising of the river. Rain set in on Monda evening, causing the' river' to be' considerably swollen during all the week, a considerabe amount of damage was done thereby to the river workings. From the rich yields obtained where parties have got to work; others who have not yet tested their plaims are encouraged J to proceed. The terrace workings are going on , successfully, many claims yielding good returns. Sluicing claims are also being extensively tak< j n up on new ground and old worked ground. Maori Point ia being entirely washed away to the ( bed rock. I despatched two parcels to Queenstown to be forwarded thence by escort, containing specimens of fossils and minerals. Be so good ns to inform me what the latter are. The fossils were found over one thousand, feet aboye the level ' of the river. I have sincje discovered others, they ' will be forwarded by "first opportunity." ' Some of the loading members of the Victorian i Bar, includiog Mr Michie, Q.a, and Mr Dawson, i haye, it is said, received very heavy special retainers to appear in the Adelaide Supreme \ Court as representatives of parties in the great i( Moonta Mines" case,

Amongst the rumours current in town with reference to the new Gold Field at the Taieri, was a statement that application hud been made to the police authorities on the ground to take charge of upwards of forty pounds weight of gold. Several rich finds are reported to have been made, but reliable information as to the true character of the new rush is still waited for. A meeting of the committee appointed to carry out the arrangements for bringing the All England Eleven over to Dunedin, was held at the Provincial Hotel on Tuesday atternoon. The whole of the members were present, aivl at their request Mr. Jones attended and stated that he had entered into definite arrangements with Mr. Marshall to bring the Eleven over, probably the first week in January next. The announcement gave great satisfaction to the committee, who complimented Mr. J-nes on the efficient aud liberal manner in which he had thus far conducted the negotiations. The Secretary reported that circulars and subscription lists had been forwarded to all the country districts, and tho mem I bers appointed to canvass the city were requested ' to renew their applications for support. The organisation of the Match Committee was placed in the hands of Messrs. Carrick, Davie, and Kissling. The second monthly meeting of the Horticultural Society of Dunedin was held in the Athenssum on Wednesday tyeains-, at 7 o'clock. The president (Mr Alexander Begg) took the chair, and notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, the meeting was numerously attended. Great interest was taken in some discussions which look place on subjects connected with Horticulture, and evidence was given of the advantage to bo derived from the meetings' of the Society, by the exhibition of some very fine , flowers. Mi* John F. Dobbic shoved a beautiful \ specimen of the flou er of the Magnolia Conspicua, i being the first plant of the kind imported into , the Pi (.vince ; and Mr Charles Dielil exhibited - somo fine double tulips, hyacinths, and jonquils , (named varieties) all new to Otago ; he also drew attention to a dried specimen of Auricari», found in New Caledonia in 1862, by Mr Duucan, being ( one of the finest plants of that species yet disco- ■ vcred. The whole of tho specimens produced were thought worthy of honorable mention by the 1 Committee. A vote of thanks was passed to the ( Chairman, and the meeting adjourned to the ( Wednesday next previous to the full moon. J The Rev. Mr Harding is announced to preach j at Oamaru, on Sunday the Ist November, and at £ Goodwood and other places on the way up, and j will return to Waikouaiti for the meeting on the , 3rd November, We understand that the contract for building t the new Wesleyan Church at Port Chalmers, has 1 been concluded, and that the church will ba com- t pleted by January next. 1 The following particulars of the force now in [ New Zealand are compiled from the Army and Navy Gazette :— Governor and Commander-in- i Chief, Sir George Grey, K.C.B. ; Aide-de-camp & Captain Francis B. Bulkeley ; Commanding the " Forces, Lieut-General Duncan A. Cameron, J C.8. ; Assistant Military Secretary, Lieut.-Col. W. G. Hutchings ; Aide-de-camp, Major John C. v M'Neill ; Major of Brigade, Major James Paul ; a Deputy Quartermaster-General, Lieut .-Colonel s ' D. G. Gamble ; Commanding Royal Artillery, a Captain H. Mercer ; Commanding Royal En- Igineers, Colonel Thomas Rawlings Mould, C.8. ; Garrison Adjutants. Lieutenants John Glaney ti and Ed. G. Halstead; Deputy-Commissary- j, General, Humphrey S. H. Jones ; Assistant- a Corarrissaries- General, Henry Bartlett, Henry h Maule, and James Bailey ; Deputy Assistant- r Commissaries- General, Alexander Clerk. William S l Henry Newland, Edward Cattle, Francis Innes, ft Win. Oakley Chislett, John Drazer, Edward B Dunn, aud George Jas. Neill; Deputy-Inspector- h i General of the Madras Department, James S Mouatt, C.B. V.C. ; Staff-Surgeon. James Hamil- h ton Buwsj Staff-Assistant-Surgeons, Morgan, h S. Grace, M.D., Alexander Thomson, M.D., 0 ; E. D. Tomlinson, and George Elmsly Will; tl Assistant-Superintendent of Stores and Barrackmaster, J. O. Hamley; Deputy Assistant Superin- „ tendents of Stores, William Marvin, A. R. Tribe, & and J. Rainsford; Purveyor, H. de B. Adams j a Deputy-Purveyor, George W. Warwick; Pur- ? ( veyor's Clerk, T. F. Gooch ; Chaplain, Rev, L. Par- f*' sly, R.C. Second Battalion of the 14th (Bucking- t( hamshire) Infantry, Colonel W. Wood, C.8., K.H , j'* Lieut.-Colonel C. W.Austen; Second Battalion U of the 18th {Royal Irish) Infantry, Colonel Sir J. F. Fitzgerald, G.C.8., Lieut-Colonel Alfred A, n Chapman; 40th (2nd Somersetshire} Infantry, i; Colonel R. Greaves, Lieut-Colonel A. Leslie, b C.8.; 57th (West Middlesex) Infantry, Colonel tl Sir J. F. Love, X.C.8., K.H., Lieut-Colonel H. c J. Warr, C.8.; Gsfch (2nd Yorkshire, North a Riding) Infantry, Colonel R. B. Coles, Lieut-Colo- V nel A. F. W. Wyatt, C.B. ; 70th (the Surrey) S Infantry, Colonel Sir G. TV. Paty, X.C.8., K.H., pi Lieut.-Colonel T. J. Galloway ; Royal Engineers, E 6th Company. — The Eclipse, 4, screw gun vji vessel, Commander R. E. Mayne, hns been doing C good service. She was off the Katikara river on N 4th June, and at Manukau on the 6th. — The c: Himalaya, 6, iron screw troop ship, which recently ti sailed for Ceylon, will, it is reported, on her ci arrival at that place, embark the 50th (Queen's & Own) for service in New Zealand. — Several men i e of the Ist and 2nd Batallion of the 4th King's « Own, 35th Royal Sussex, 19th and 81sfc Regiments at Chatham, have volunteered their services into the 2nd Batallion 18th Royal Irish, p 40th, 57th, 65th, and 70th Regiments, and also f; for the 31st, which regiment is ordered from China to New Zealand. A number of men from ? the diffeient depots at Colchester have also !" volunteered their services in the above regiments, • Deputy-Assistant-Commisssary-Gener«al Ivan R! "V C. C. Graham, lately serving at Guernsey, is under orders to proceed to New Zealand. j^_ The general meeting of the Dunedin Foottish f Volunteers, has been postponed until Monday a i nest. 7i Mr and Mrs Chas. Kean were received on the w boards of the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne, on the 30th ult., by a bo.ly of upwards of forty a] members of the dramatic profession. Mr R. L Younge road an address of welcome, iv which ho a j said :—": — " Less than thirty years pgo the unlettered „, savage walked in solemn dignity in his native S( wilds upon the very spot where now flourishes an elegant populous city, in which no less than n eight temples to the dramatic art have success- p fully arisen, and in which we now welcome the .j greatest living exponent of the greatest of all poets to the land where the kangaroo and emu but late held an undisputed sway. The poetry l which was then breathed by the voice of nature ft through primeval forests, and whispered through w the trembling foliage prophecies of the brighter tf days to come, now mingles with the grander j, eloquence of those utterances which stir men's d hearts and render them alive to the deepest and ai most endearing deration. In this new-born n metropolis, the liberal arts are beginning to find c j a fostering and permanent homa ; and we have c < the fullest confidence that, urged onwards by ], your example, and acted upon by your influence, i the day is not far distant when the stage of this country will be pointed at by other nations as a model of th,at excellence it should ever strive to 2 reach, and will assume th.at place among f* the powerful teachers of a people which b is accorded to it by all enlightened minds in advanced systems of society." In his reply Mr j Kean adverted to the circumstance of the presentation taking place on the anniversary of his first I appearance on the stage. He said :—" When I IT first appeared upon the boards of Drury Lane Theatre, a friendless boy, Melbourne had no ex- \.i istence. In the wilderness, as you have just re- v marked, where the kangaroo and emu, th,en sported, has arisen th,is prosperqus and enlightened *: city • and, the yojith, who, on, thVt day. trembled t] with the contending emotions of hope and fear, now looks back on long years of active service, while he receives, with honest pride, the congratulations * and welcome of his professional brethren in. this brave, new land, that has such wonders in it. 11 £ Regretting th.c inability of his wife and himself to *- protract their stay in Australia, Mr Kean said : — n '• To gratify a long cherished desire to see Aus- t tralia before our final retirement from public life, j obliges us to confine our visit to a simple welcome j and farewell. Within six months we must be again r, upon the ocean, retracing our way to England, there to conclude our professional career. But , even wero it otherwise, au only child at home— a daughter— demands a mother's care." The Gouernv\et\t Qa^ttp of Victo^a announces i the appointment of a Commission pf Jnquiry as to a the promotion of the Eine Arts in that colony, t The commission has been appointed for the pur c pose of " inqnring into the subject of the promo- a tton of the Fine Arts in Victoria, propounding a ( scheme for the formation, conduct anc} managefluent flf a, public mus&ura or museums, gallery or g galleries, and schools of art, and determining the v best mode of expending the sum of LIOOO in the v Gomtnencenwnt of & public gallery of arts.," s

A gentleman who returned to Dunedin the other evening from the new rush at the East Taieri ranges, informs us that in the second gully from the prospector's, which is about a mile in length the saw several prospects washed out — froni one to two pennyweights to the dish. Our informant has a share in one of the claims now being worked, and says that his party have averaged about 263 per day, for the past three or four days. He did not go to the old gully, but around those he visited, he did not sco many idlers, and is of opinion that the miners are spreading themselves oier the tributary creeks and gullies in that portion of the Taieri district. At present there is a moderate stock of provisions on the diggings, and several drays are on the road with "fre3h supplies. Notwithstanding the heavy rains of late, the road is not by any means impassable for traffic. The Tsiapeka escort arrived on Tuesday afternoon bringing 3444 oz 9 dwts of gold, which was made up of 376 oz 10 dwts. from Waitahuna, oz Tuapcka, and 353 oz 19 dwts from Tokomairho. Tiiis escort in charge of Sergeant Goldec left Tokomairiro at nine o'clock a.m., and reached the junction at Saddle Hill before three o'clooic in Lhe afternoon, from whence it started for Dunedin, after waiting upwards of an hour for the Dunstan escort. This is the first escort that has been brought to town on pack horses for a- considerable time. The eighth detachment of Auckland Volunteers from this Province, was despatched by the Lord Ashley, on Saturday last, under the command of Captain Keddell and Lieutenant Spiller. About thirty men were mustered at two oVlook ready for embarkation, but some delay occurring in the steamer's arrangements, a few stragglers missed their passage. At the present time the Otago Contingent numbers nearly 450 men, and lately, at Christchurch, more than 60 men were enlisted by Lieutenant Mitchell in tha course of a few days. Referring to the successful visit to Melbourne of Mr S. Jones, of this city, to negotiate a visit to New Zealand of the All England Eleven, the Age of the tOtli mat. says :—": — " Mr Jones has been warmly received since his arrival, and several cricketing friends entertained him at dinner last evening, at Marshall's Hotel. He certainly deserves credit for the enterprising spirit he has evinced in the undertaking, and it is to be hoped that it will terminate successfully. The cricketers are to leave England by the Great Britain, which is expected to sail on or about the 17th of this month. They will, therefore, in all probability, arrive hero about the middle of December, so that, after they have completed their first engagehere, it will be January before they will be ready to start for Dunedin." In addition to rendering himself responsible for the expenses of the engagement of the All England Eleven, Mr Jones has made airangements for the visit of several of the crack players of Victoria. We hopa the guarantee subscription movement will not be allowed to, flag. We understand that " the Eleven" will, in addition to their match games, play several games amongst themselves, singlewicket, &c., so that a rare opportunity will be afforded the lovers of this old national pastime ol seeing it in its most interesting phases. Steps are already being taken to put the cricket-ground in good condition for the tournament. Whilst the Sydney papers are full of narratives of bushranging exploits, the Melbourne journals contain a fearful catalogue of murders and other desperate villanies. Great excitement has been created by a case of burglary and outrage committed on a servant girl in Swanstonstreet during the absence of her master and his family at the Mayor's Fancy Ball. A man named Rhoda Forester has been murdered under revolting circumstances at Mounfc Macedon, At Sebastopol, Ballaarat, a woman named Dixon and her two daughters had been murdered by the husband and father, who had beaten in the heads of the three with an American axe. Jealousy of the wife is the cause assigned. The following is the paragraph in the Queen's Speech relating to New Zealaud :— Symplon's of a renewal of disturbances have manifested themselves in her Majesty's colony of New Zealand • but her Majesty trusts that by wise and conciliatory measures, supported by adequate means of repression, order and tranquility will be maintained in tliat valuable and improving colony." We learn, from the "New Zealand Examiner" (London) that the John Bunyan for Wellington is bringing a shipment of a very choice bull of" the Channel Islands breed— the Lord of the Isles. He curiiea with him first prizo cerHfieates obtained at the Agricultural Show in England in 1861; and we understand his descenda nt Young Lord, obtained similar distinction at the Society's Show, at Witham, this year. He is the property of J. W. W. Morris, Esq., of Chigwell, Eisex, who is sending him out to the colony under the care of Captain Allan, for sale. The Channel Islands' breed is, we believe, a novelty in New Zealand, and we never before heard of the exportation of a pure bull of that breed ; his certificate states him to be a pure Jersey, and as the cross with the shorthorn is much approved by dairy formers, the Lord of the Isles will, doubtless, be eagerly sought after on arrival in the colony. The subscriptions received at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, in aid of the Orpheus Relief Fund amount to L 4.310 6s 10J. To this amount there have been contributed by the inhabitants of Melbourne, Australia, L 440 43s 8d j by the inhabitants of Hobart Town, Tasmania, LIBO ; by the inhabitants of Auokland, L3OO. The allotments for the months of April, May, and June have been paid to 38 widows, 13 mothers, 2 fathers and 1 sister, and relief has be6n afforded to 9 wi-lows, 18 mothers, 8 fathers and 4 sisters. The allotments for the month of July were paid at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, on the 7th of August, when other applications for relief were considered. We believe it is quite on the cards that Mr j and Mrs Charles Kean will pay a professional visit to Dunedin, prior to their return to Europe, although we are not in a position to announce any definite arrangements as being yet made to secure this rich treat to the Olago people. Amongst other engagements which it is possible may be entered into by the Management of the Princess' Theatre, we may mention .one with the celebrated Lyster Opera troupe. At a genoral rapetlng of the Dunedin Building Land Society held on Monday evening, Mr W. M'Gillan, president, in the chair, the report was unanimously adopted, showing a profit for the last year of Lll7B 9s sd, equal to a profit of LI 5s 6d per share of L 2 }2s, lor the year. Mr Dalrymple tendered his resignation as Treasurer and Secretary to the Society, which was accepted; he at the same time receiving the thanks of the So ciety, for the careful and attentive manner he conducted the affairs of the Society while in his hands. Mr John Tennant was elected, tha new Treasurer and Secretary, Mr. L. R;eed Mackenzie, Manager of the New Zealand Banking Corporation, sailed with his family for this colony in the General Windham, bound for Otago. The term of the Government Escort from the Lake having expired, and that difficult and losing game having been taken out of the hands of Henry Hoyt and Co, what beneficial results have accrued to the public through Governmentaparsimony, to palliate or prevent which, memorials have been signed. In all quarters ? Wh.at an enterprising firm, could do in the depth, of winter, the Government oinployees one would think could do now ; but the result of the experimental trip has established a fallacy, and realised the worst forebodings of those desirous of maintaining the direct Une of communication with Queenstown. Three days was the period allotted for the ordinary mail service, five days have elapsed, and the Lake mail via D^nstr,n is still on the road. The fullest mail bags that ever left Dunedin for' the up-country districts were dispatched yesterday by Cobb's Line, and at a late hour in the day, they were in a coach at this side of the Taieri at Hooper's Ferry, awaiting some alterations or improvements in the • punt which connects us with the opposite shove qf the river. At a Jate hour \hc inexpensive e3cort l ia d not been hc^rd of at the Ferry, but news reached us that the pqnt had beph carried away by a flood and swept down the stream ; and this we should think, augers ill for the satisfactory a.nd speedy conveyance of the gold returns which are so anxiously expected. At the time when Hoyt and Co's pontrqet for. duo conveyance of mails to Lake Wakatip was allowed tq lapse, complaints were general j and this experimental trip of the Go vernment, evidences that here, as in most cases where they take a contract task upon their own Bb.auld.ers, they are decidedly wrong,

er _ From all quarters of the town oomplaints pour iri in about the neglected state of the streets dm ing m the present miserable weather. Some blame the th Town Board, 80313 its Engineer, and not a few ac the Government. Feasible excuses may be made it for all, when it is borne in mind that whatever \g may have been the shortcomings of each or all of jd the parties accused while rain was held in abeys. ance by the clouds, it would have been an unse warrantable waste of labor and expense to endeaof yor to make temporarily better the streets so 33 irreclaimably bad, while rain is pouring contir- nually. The accusations should not be levelled a at the responsible parties who represent things id as they are, so much as at those who did not, in > fine weather, calculate upon the causes and c, casualties during an anticipatory wet week or >r two. The streets should have been made safe at the outskirts of the town during the fine weather; p _ of that there can be no doubt, and if the City lg Engineer recommended such a course to the j Town Board, and his suggestions have been forn ' gotten or put aside for future consideration, that )f officer cannot be supposed to bear all the respont sibility. In fact all sorts of excuses might be c tendered for quietude on the part of the Town c , Board and contracting parties during the rainfall; t but public, bodies audjtheir servants should be ' equally on the gui y;»&wjJ:h the citizens to take n advantage of fine weather, if only for a day. c Yesterday it did not rain, and yet the street scrapers at the rear of the engine-house were idle. This betokens an apathetic spirit in the conduct 3 of some npson or persons, and furnishes a more 1 substantial cause of complaint than many others f hitherto brought forward. Roadmakers cannot t work long under a heavy and perpetual shower, ' and so it would be unwise to employ them in that 3 case ; but while the streets are coated with mud, I and the water tables and channels of the streets ) are choked, upon the finest day we have had , lately, contractors, laborers and scrapers should I have been put in requisition to convert some of r our thoroughfares from canals to streets. Mr Warden Robinson, writing from the Dun- * stan, under date 17th October, says :— " The most ; noticeable event of the week has been a heavy ! flood on the river Molyneux, which has not, how1 ever, been productive of the same distress as on former occasions, for the back claims having, as a • rule, been worked down to a low level, are, where not relinquished, held under protection for a 1 future season, while the claimholders seek a level elsewhere. Most of the workings are in full swing, and it is satisfactory to note the tone of settled industry which is its result. Some of the water races have been constructed at an enormous outlay of time and labor, and nothing but the steady work of years can have been contemplated by those who made them. A dredging machine, the property of a company, is now nearly ready for service, and great hopes are, I believe, entertained respecting it. Its construction is as follows :■— A moderate sized punt, built at the Wakatipu Lake and floated down the Clutha, « is decked over, a flush, and rail erected around it. < A smsll crane or derrick projects over the side, > the chain of which is made fast to a sort of scoop. < This scoop ha 3 a long wooden handle, is i of iron, and with its long handle forms a sort < of spoon, whence this style of dredge hns re- < ceived the name of the spoon dredge. The scoop * or spoon is merely a disc or ring of iron, with a i strong anout to it, and attached to the ring is a d long bullock hide to enclose the stuff scooped up 1 from the bottom. When in work the scoop will c be directed from the punt by means of the long s handle, and when the bag is filled it will be t hoisted up by means of the derrick. It will then $ be emptied into a sluice box on the punt, and at once washed by water pumped up from the river. One result of the rising of the river has been to a suspend the lignite working 3, and fuel is becoming { scarce. Mr Warden Croker reports, under date * 17th October, from Gabriel's, "The rush to the I West Taieri has caused a considerable demand ! for labor, which is likely to rule high < should the former continue. Previous to the rush mining lease applications on * Weatherston's were fully worked." From f the Arrow River Mr Warden Hickson *' writes on the 10th October instant :— "Work is a already begun, and the repairs occasioned by the late flood nearing completion. Certainly the miners of the Arrow River deserve great praise 8 for their untiring perseverance in the face of so D many mishaps. The Arrow is again turned, and v ten crates forming the embankment make a * splendid breakwater, likely, I am of opinion, to resist a very heavy flood. Some claims on the t; flat^expect to bottom in a couple of days. Ac- * counts are still good from the Twelve Mile and s Brackens. The claims up the river are turning out well. The weather is very fine and warm." tl Fl'Om Queeustowu, Mr Wai-aoa-Larotka!. Tlrmul writing on the 10th instant, says :—": — " I visited r Arthur's Point, and found the large population t! settled there briskly at work. Many of the claims a are yielding most handsome returns, and all the a men I spoke to seemed sanguine of shortly realis- j] ing the expectations they had formed regarding their claims. A party of six volunteers is, I am informed about to start for the West Coast with V the objeot of following Dr Hector's track, and !* prospecting as they proceed," •" The following nonsensical production appears i e in the Southland News with the sig- y nature of Mr. Carson :~" Sir,— -Having, C( just arrived in town after a careful f { examination of the auriferous character of iei c this Province, with regard to its mineral re- b sources, I may state in the first place that I have examined the country mentioned in Dr Hector's report to the Otago Government asnon-auri-ferous, and I maintain that suoh an assertion, w coming from a gentleman o.t his reputation, has ™ caused me to reflect a good deal as to how he S1 could arrive at such a conclusion, as I will stake P my existence to the contrary. I say, it this Pro- w vince is properly prospected, several good gold- *■ fields will be opened up, and one within " cooey M * ( of where Dr Hector formed his idea. I have also. visited and examined other portions of this Pro- a vince, which lam satisfied, contain payable gold ; S! and furthermore, J may tell you that your Go- t] vernn^ent are selling land which in one year from w ! now will cause, very likely bloodshed, as I assert t! that payable gold can be found on the land, w The only remedy I can point out is, for the miners v ' and those who have their welfare at hear!;, to petition the Auckland Government to suspend all p land sales, and thm put a stop to what I would fl designate a conspiracy to let parties' friends in P power get hold of the land, and thus cause mining on private property." E It is extraordinary how, in a short space of k time, pack horses can be trained to climb .and ,g, g descend the precipitous ranges of New Zealand in safety, or perhaps we should say it is wonderful g the feats of travelling of this nature which they v perform without any training at all, It is well C ' knowa that the horse is a very sensitive animal, p and highly apprehensive of danger, stijl with the rolentless whip in his rear, while he snorts with ° fear at the difficulties which may beset his course •= he strides pnward. We are disposed to think a ; that generally speaking, a horseis more frightened, fj at the sight of an u,nusual abject, ar a dead animal by the way side than o,t a rushing stream, or the a descend of a slipping footpath. One would v th.ink so at least, to see how cautiously, and yet how speedily the pack horse performs sometimes c without direction, his serpentine course up and down the apparently impassable bills and. spurs, ti in and around the gold fields. He seems to be I aware that the journey mustf ho accomplished, and c that the-sooner he gets rid of his uncomfortable I load the better. Some very interesting anecdotes tl no doubt, cQuld bo told of the intelligence and S docility displayed by this noble animal, in his ad- c venturous journeys over the mountain passes of p Otago, a.nd if anything would tend to make his driver kind and considerate, the share which he performs of the hardship in leading or following ? should have that effect, Some of the regular \ packers have frequently to. display the agility of a chamois huntgr, m running hither and thither to I find the mqst accessible paths, and their simple !. instructions, " Come here Captain," or "Go f back Tommy," frequently save the dumb creatures I from falling over a precipice. Perhaps, in a few years we shall have a new breed of horses specially ? reared for such arduous journeys, and we may t be able to detecttheir line of business by the word « of command, as of the whim hors.es on th.c road to the Ballaaraf faces. Practical jokers, when uotie- t ing a digger gallop past, would cry out " Turn*" x and the horse would respond to the familiar sound c and would pitch his rider off head foremost. >] These few notes were suggested to a witness of the t performances, of several packhorses climbing the -y Tajeri ranges on a recont occasion, whdh ho was t ; charmed, not only with them., but with their J hardy and experienced drivers. -, The opening of the Waikouaiti Wesleyan a Church is postponed to Sunday, the Ist Novera- * her, on which day sermons will be preached by the Rev. R. S. Bunn, of Port Chalmers. On the t following Tuesday a public tea meeting will be I held, at; six o'clock in foe e/rewo^ " \

it With reference to the unclfeoked progress of ig brigandage in the interior of New South Wftlea le Mr Chas. Cowper, the premier, recently took occuw sion in the Assembly strongly to condemn tue.conle duct of the police, to whicli he, in a great measure sr attributed the present state of the country, and of said that if a great change did not speedily tuke /- place the Government contemplated organising i- a special force for the suppression of bushranging. *- We learn from the Home News that the chief !° tans from New Zealand, recently paid a visit to l ' the Bishop of London at Fulham-palace, in pur- ™ suance of a wish to that effect expressed by his > 9 lordship. The chiefs, who were twelve in num- " ber, and were accompanied by two of their wives " and one single woman, arrived about five o'clock, • with the Government interpreter, Mr Jenkins. x The bishop and Mrs Tait had an afternoon garden '» party on the occasion, and, as many visitors had v arrived prior to the coming of the New Z?nlane ders, his lordship invited all to the chapel in the '" palace, where a short service was held. As it 1 was previously explaiaed to the bishop that the chiefs were acquainted with certain hymns and c prayers, and they could follow these by reading 1 the prayer books in their native tongue, hi 3 lord5 ship selected these particular portions. The ser- ~ vice was opened by the singing of the "Old s Hundredth" Psalm, after which a few prayers • and collects were said, and also the 33rd Psalm, D when the service was closed by the bishop pro•no"nfii HH r the benediction. After promeuadtng i the gardens fey some time, and entering into con- - versation with sev c ufi fc* th«, visitors, the New 3 Zealanders took leave of the bishop and, Mrs Tait c in the evening. t The very handsome new pile of buildings in Manse-street, erected on the site previously oc3 cupied by the business establishment of Messrs J. I Paterson and Co, will, we observe, be opened to- [ day as the new auction rooms of Messrs f M'Landress, Hepburn and Co. From the statement of Mr Charles Kean's engagements in Australia, made by Mr Coppin at ; tfie Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne, there appears 1 little ground to hope that Mr and Mrs Keaa will pay a professional visit to Dunedia. It appears that they are under obligation to return to England by the March mail. A Ministerial crisis has occurred in Sydney, the Government having been defeated on their financial policy. Their resignations had been accepted by the Governor, and they hold office • only until their successors are appointed. Mr Jas. Martin, Q.C., is expected to be the new premier. We extract the following from the Home News: " The Maori war and the transportation question are the two colonial subjects that now absorb almost exclusive attention. Nobody seems to doubt how the war will end, but eveiybody laments that it had ever begun. The situation has evidently been perplexed by circumstances arising out of what we may venture to call the double Government of the colonies. The war itself, sanguinary as it is, and likely to be productive of the most serious consequences to the future interests of New Zealand, is, after all, o comparatively minor importance. The ultimate considerations to which it inevitably leads, as affecting the relations of the dependencies of the mother ceuntry, are far graver than any immediate results flowing from the war. There must be much forbearance and calm judgment exercised on both sides; and as there is a mutual stake upon the issue, it may be reasonably hoped that the final settlement may be mutually satisfactory." While one of the Water of Leith cars was proceeding along George-street on Monday afternoon, and when nearly opposite the Royal George Hotel, the horse commenced kicking so violently that two females who were sitting in, the back part of the vehicle had a narrow escape from being seriously hurt. One of them was thrown on the footboard, where her clothes caught so that for some time she could not extricate herself, and finally she was thrown on the ground with much force. The other made an opportune leap into the arms of a gentleman who ran to her assistance and she escaped unhurt. The Rev. Richard Connebee, who has been some time expected, arrived from Melbourne by the Aldinga. He has accepted the invitation of the Congregationalist Church in Dunedin to become their pastor, and it is hoped will be sufficiently recovered from the effects of I the voyage to conduct the services, at the Odd j Fellows' Hall, if not on Wednesday evening, on Sunday next. The miners on the Dunstan are anxious that the Government should increase the term of rerivers, to which end a mectlngwlir^o^he?d <fa — i that field on the 31st inst. The notice is rather ambiguous, We presume the object is to ask for an extension of time in the registration clause of the Gold Field's Ordinance. On his journey from Queenstown io Dunedia via Dunstan, in charge of the Escort, Mr Dagleish experienced some escapades. At Eoaruig Meg, a prisoner in charge fell into the stream, and was rescued with difficulty. This man was left at the Dunstan, from which place Burke the late clerk of the Bench at Port Chalmers, was conveyed to town in custody of the troopers forming the Escort. They were five days on their journey from the Dunstan, the delay beiug caused by the bad Btate of the roads. We arc given to understand that a large quanitity of gold is taken from the province without payment of the export duty, and that this smuggling has been practised for a considerable time, greatly to the detriment of the provincial revenue. At a former period when it was suspected that gold was habitually being takeq away without the cognisance! of the Customs Authorities, the detective police succeeded by their watchfulness in checking the practice, and several convictions had the effect of giving a salutary warning to others. It would be well for the interests of the revenue, if some surveillence were exercised over the various vessels leaving the port ; one or two seizures of smuggled gold would probably put a stop to its surreptitious conveyance from the Colony. ' We may mention for the information of those who are in any way implicated that the forfeiture of the • gold upon which duty has not been paid, is one of the penalties involved. On the 9th proximo the anniversary ofH. R, H. the Prince*- of Wales, the sportsmen at Omakao (Black's diggings) intend holding a grand gala day. Horse and foot racing, supplemented by other British sports, are promised in the programme, and, as advertised, a bullock roasted whole and a oask of ale will be provided for all com,ers by the hospitable folks of Omakao. The entries consist of a Miners* Purse ofL3O, District Plate L7O, Hurdle Race LSO, Consolation Stakes of L 3.0, and a Hack Race of L2O. This is a very good bill of fare indeed for the lovers of sport, and betokens the true British spirit in its arrangement. The various sports will be under the auspices of the leading men in the district, and the occasion furnishes cause for reflection upon the loyalty of the Englishman no matter how far removed he maj bo from the supposed centra of civilisation. Who is responsible for the abominable condition of the footpath at the Post Office corner ? During the last few days, the causeway from the corner as far as the office of the Gold Fields' Department, has been in a state little better than the ro dway, the mud being several inches thick. Surely it is an easy enough task to keep the causeways clean, however difficult it may be to preserve the loads in good order. The new diggings at the Taieri seem to be going ahead in earnest, and our information of the findings there being well authenticated, we feel much pleasure in reporting favorably of tho mining news from that quarter. Our aim has been not so much to retail individual or party successes, as to give a general and reliable report of the doings of the majority of the miners there congregated. It has come to our knowledge that application has been made to the police authorities by several parties at the West Taieri Rush, to escort gold to Dunedin in parcels varying from, four to forty pounds weight each, and in compliance with this desire, Mr. Commissioner Branigan dispatched four constables to the Diggings on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Sub-Inspector Sincock proceeding thither on Thursday morning. There seems to be now very little reason to doubt that a rich gold field will bs found in this district. Whatever may be thought of the truthfulness of the statements made by the original prospectors, the effect of the rush to which those statements led, will, in all probability, be a most valuable and fruitful addition to the auriferous resources of tho province. The sale of town aeotions in the Government township of Oamaru, and in tho township of Herbert, near the Otepopo Bush, will takeptaWL in> d«y, • - t -' -