News of the Week. [from the daily times.]

Otago Witness, Issue 697, 8 April 1865, Page 11

News of the Week. [from the daily times.]

An official enquiry has been instituted at Auckland, into tie great mortality on board the ship Ganges, lately arrived at that port.

By the Susannah Booth we have late Sydney papers, and & few items of Melbourne and Adelaide news, which are acceptable, owing to the long delay in the arrival of a steamer from Port Phillip.

The " Provincial Government Gazette " of the sth instant, announces that the Escort from the Teviot -will be discontinued until further notice.

We learn that the Resident Magistrate has refused to admit to bail the prisoner John Riordan, who was committed to the Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to set fire to premises in Walker street.

On Thursday the investigation into tim charge asjainst C. P. Fox. of robbing tfaft Post Office, was continued at the Magistrate* Court. No decisive evidence vrtm ftdduced, and the prisoner, was remanded to Moftday next.

The "Southland Times" ot the 3tßt ult sajs :—": — " A gentleman, recently arrived from, the Nokoraai, speaks in glowing terms of tho prospects of that gold field. Very coarse gold is being obtained from some of the cliiims. Confidence in the deep lead remains unshaken."

Captain Schroder of the Rumena report* to our Port Chalmers Correspondent, that the contemplated war between the Spanish Government and the Peruvians, has resulted in an amicable settlement. Peace is to be restored between the two powers, the blockade of the Chincha Islands and other possessions abandoned, and this had so far advanced, when the Rumena left, that the treaty of peace had just been signed by the contending parties.

Mr Warden Beetham, reporting from the Wakatipu district, under date March 23rd, says — " The weather still continues fine. The late rains hive given good heads of water in the head races throughout the district. All the river claims below Deep Creek in the Shotover have filled up, and are now in full work. Sluicing claims on Moke Creek are also being filled up by miners from Uf per Shotover.-'

A few days ago (says the " Tuapeka Kecorder") a miner named Wilkinson, while working in one of the gullies in the vicinity of Waitahuna, met with rather a serious accident. The ground at which he was employed suddenly gave vray, falling upon him. When taken up he was found to have susUined a severe fracture of the left leg. Medical assistance was promptly procured, and the poor fellow is now reported to be progressing favorably.

Our Dunstan correspondence is to the Slat of March, but the intelligence is not of importance. Business in that district is dull, owins; to the great numbers who have left for Okitiki. There is every prospect of the banks ot the river being worked to advantage during the coming winter, as there is little snow on the ranges ; and it is probable, therefore, the level of the river will be low. The Rose Thistle, and Shamrock Company were engaged washing-up, with every prospect of a handsome return. A day's washing had given them two pounds weight of gold.

On Saturday evening, Mr C. Dillon appeared in " Belphegor," for the second time at the Princess Theatre. He was again eminently successful in stirring the feelings of the audience by the natural and deep pathos with which he surrounded the sufferings of the Mountebank ; and he was several times called before the curtain. The after-piece was "Used Up." Mr George Fawcetfc was exceedingly amusing as Sir Charles Coldstream; and his acting possessed the merit, or otherwise, of certainly not being after the manner of Charles Mathews in the sune character. Miss Cassy Matthews was the Lady Clutterbuck, and Miss Dolly Green the Mary Wurzel.

The " Lytteiton Times" records a prodigious crop of mushrooms near Christchurch : — " The old saying, 'as plentiful as mushrooms, 1 has been fully realized during the present season in Christchurch and its neighborhood. The quantity has been surprising, almost every paddock, and even the gardens, being filled with them. They have been collected by dray loads in the country and brought into town for sale. Along the banks of the Avon and in the paddocks at Papanui they have have been especially abundant ; one farmer describing his field as beingj ' white over' with them. A few days ago some persons went down the Avon in a boat ; landing occasionally, they obtained nearly a boat load. A fine specimen measuring 22 inches round and weighing a pound was recently gathered on a farm at Woodend. The late gentle rains, succeeded by warm sunny weather, have doubtless caused the growth of this delicate fungus in such amazing profusion. ' Row is the time,' as the almanacs say, for thoughtful housewives to make a stock of that appetising compound, catsup."

The " Lytteiton Times'' of the Ist instant says: — "There are now, in the immediate neighborhood of Christchurch, a large number of drays, capitally horsed, and driven byjmen of a very experienced and respectable class, who have brought their teams overland from Dunedin in the belief that a dray road had been formed, or would by this time be formed, over to the diggings. As this is not the case, the teams are in a great measure unserviceable, and the owners are perfectly at a loss what to do. Now, it is clear that a reward for finding a practicable road to the West Coast would convert this almost useless crowd into a number of exceedingly valuable parties of practical explorers, who would settle the question of a road or no road in the shortest possible time. Multiply the exploring parties by ten, and you get your information in onetenth of the time. And in the face of a rapidly approaching winter, time is tho question of most value. Perhaps by such a step more than one practicable pass might be discovered ; so much the better. But the Government have declined to offer any reward. They refused the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, and the carriers themselves yesterday. A deputation of these enterprising and intelligent men went to the Public Works office yesterday, and offered their services. They were received courteously, and told that the Government would have no objection to their following up the surveyparty, but that they must not expect assistance of any sort. The Chamber of Commerce, too, treated the same question with remark* able apathy.

The " Southland News" of the Ist April observes :—": — " It will be remembered that, on the Ist April, 1864, a grand banquet was held at tbe Prince of Wales Hotel, to celebrate our separation from Otago. We have not heard■whether, being what is popularly termed 'All Fools Day,' it is intended to-day to iold a similar demonstration. Perhaps, as the Superintendent is absent, it has been decided to defer it until his return with the xaoney, ia search of which he is supposed to hare gone."

The official inquiry at Auckland, into the causes of the excessive mortality on board the ship Ganges has terminated^ the presentation of a report to the Superintendent of the Province, from which we take the following passage :—": — " But the responsibility appears, from the evidence before us, to lie mainly ■with the several authorities in Great Britain, who permitted the ship to leave port with — 1. Too many passengers. — 2. Insufficient provision for ventilation.— 3. Deficient and, in some respects, bad stores ; and — 4. Considering the number of children, insufficient means of cooking and attendance."

We take the following from the " Southland Hews" of Saturday:— A man named Thomas CanDingham has been admitted into the Hospital, suffering from a gunshot wound in the left hand, inflicted under the following circumstances, It appears that Cunningham was riding on a dray near the Te Anau Lake District, when he incautiously grosped the muzzle of a loaded gun which was lying in the dray, and as he was drawing it towards him it suddenly exploded, and the charge of shot passed through the palm of his hand. Cunningham was brought on to the Hospital, and it was at first feared that amputation would have to be performed, but we are happy to state that there is now every probability that the patient will eventually recover the use of his hand.

Messrs Law, Scunner and Co. Seedsmen, Dunedin. have issued a " Calendar of Gardening Operations '' for New Zealand iti connection with their Catalogue of Farming and Garden Seeds, which is likely to prove very useful as a practical guide to the cultivator, whether professional or amateur. It contains fifty large closely printed pages of directions for the work to be performed each month of the year, in the kitchen, fruit, and flower garden ; and comprises instructions on the subjects of watering, mulching, manuring, transplanting, budding, grafting, &c. The culture of particular crops, such as asparagus, artichokes, beet, celery, spinach, etc., are specially treated in a series of practical essays, and these are followed by dissertations on manuring and other agricultural processes, as well as the various kinds of clover and grasses best adapted to improve our native pastures. As a guide to the farmer and gardener, this unpretentious brochure must prove an invaluable manual.

The election of a member to represent Bell Ward in the Town Board, in room of Mr George Howard, took place on Monday. The polling place was the Eoyal George Hotel, George street, and Mr Lazar, Clerk to the Town Board, was the Returning Officer. Throughout the day there was a considerable amount of excitement throughout the Ward, and a good deal of canvassing by the friends of the candidates. At four o'clock upwards of one hundred persons assembled at the Hotel, and manifested considerable interest in the result of the contest. When the doors were opened the rooms was speedily crowded, and Mr Lazar declared the result of the polling to be — Mr A. J. Burns, 121 ; Mr John Lovell, 120. He then formally declared Mr Burns duly elected to represent Bell Ward in the Town Board. An attempt, which signally failed, was made by Messrs David Miller, jun, and Mr Barnes, to get up a cheer, and Mr Miller, amidst opposing cries for the candidates, returned thanks in the name of Mr Burns. Neither of the candidates was present at the declaration. We have since heard that the result of the election was a tie — 121 votes having been polled for each candidate ; but this cannot be authoritatively stated.

At the meeting of the Town Board, on Tuesday, the Clerk reported that the result of the polling for a member for Bell Ward, was a fie between the candidates, Messrs Burns and liOvell, each having received 121 votes. The Board, as required by the Improvement Ordinance, proceeded to decide which of the candidates should be declared to have been elected ; and a vote taken by ballot showed four for Lovell and three for Burns. Mr Lovell did not take his seat yesterday ; and Mr Burns, or any friend on his behalf, maj claim to have been elected, and demand a scrutiny of the voting. The tenders for work to the amount of L' 25,000, deferred payments, were opened, but no decision upon them will be come to for a fortnight. The tenderers are Mr Benjamin Armitage, Mr William Pearce, and Messrs Anthony and Finlay, for the works generally, and Mr Henry Wilson, for metal only.

A day or two ago, we stated that the Resident Magistrate had taken the " dying deposition" of the wife of Mr T. Eobertson, a small farmer, in the Anderson's Bay District ; and that Mr Strode Jhad so acted in consequence of the statement of the medical man who had been called to attend the woman, for injuries caused by her husband throwing her out of the window. We were misinformed as to the last particular ; for whatever Robertson may have done to his wife, there is no "window in the house through which he could have thrown her. There seems to have been a quarrel, which is said to have resulted from Mrs Robertson's intoxication. Whether she suffered any injury, and, if so, whether that injury accelerated death, remains to be ascertained ; for the woman died on Sunday morning.

At the nomination for the Bruce election, the three candidates proposed, were Mr Henry Clnpcott, M.P.C., the Provincial Treasurer ; Mr J. C. Dyer, M.P.C. ; and Mr A. J. Burns, M.P.C. Mr Clapcott was not present. Mr Dyer and Mr A. J. Burns each addressed the electors present, after which a show of hands was taken with the following result : — Clapcott. 3; Dyer, 4 ; Burns, 7. A poll was. demanded on behalf of Mr Clapcott. and was fixed to take place on Saturday. Tbe result will be declared on the following Tuesday. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer concluded the proceedings. An advertisement in the Timce intimates that Mr 11. Clapcott has withdrawn from the contest for the representation of the County of Bruce, in the General Assembly.

We understand that the members of the legal profession practising in Dunedin, have, in furtherance of the steps taken afc the last sitting of the Court of Appeal, and ia conjunction with their brethren in the other Provinces, addressed a memorial to their Honors the Judges of the Supreme Court, upon the much_debated question of the Bar costume. It is as follows : — To Hi' Honor the Chief Justice, and their Honors tlie Puisne Juagas of the Supreme Court of New Zealand,

Siks— With reference to the lett2r addressed by the Bar of Wcw Zealand to jour Honors assembled at the Court of Appeal at Dunedin, in Octob r h*-t. "ou ( 'hicp: the costume of the Bar of New Zeal.-nd, ami' >our Honors reply thereto, We, the undersigned membes of t!-;e Bar, respectfully be? to inform your Honors that we propose (snVj"cb to jour Honor's approval) the adoption of the folio win !* costume, viz , that v ually worn by the Fnglish Bar, omiiting the pur c att-cbed. to the gown. Tro:n<is B Gillie* George Elliott Barton (Jeor/if- Cook Jijißes Sn.i'h Jv. Hov,o~tli James Pren'lenjast , W. J Demp«Bjr H. D Madclook 1 GD. Harvey Gibsoa K. Tuiton \ B. O. Hfirgit't D'Arcy Hagsjitt '■ D. P. Main Henry Howorth ,' ft'i-hvl K>'d3fon W. Wilfrid W il,on Matr. V. Hodae A. W. Smith J. A. J. Mscgregor Win. Johnston i An experienced miner, who arrived by the Alharnbra, on Tuesday evening, has communicated to ustlr" following information, which we publish at his request, and by the desire of a number of diggers from Otago, still there, who arc anxious thnt correct information should be disseminated as to the prospects of success. He arrived at Okitiki on Monday, the 13th March, and proceeded at once to the diggings. The ground oiiginally discovered was worked by parties who had taken a large quantity of gold out of it, but nothing fresh had been discovered of any value. No matter what direction is taken, the gullies and water courses have been tried ; but while in every case the color of gold has been obtained, I it has never been found in payable quantity. I Several rushes have taken place in < different directions. Our informant formed one of a party who went to one about six miles up the river on a washed hill, i A party had been working there for about j eight months, and had done a little good. There wt re also two or three other parties at work who, howevrr, would give no information as to their earnings. Hundreds of men prospected all round them ; but although all obtained gold, it was but the " color ;'" nothing payable could be found. A rush also took place to the Canary branch of the Okitiki, and great numbers went there, and also to a creek about three miles from Okitiki, but the result was the same in every instance — the "color" was obtained, but the quantity was not payable. The country for some distance inland is flat and low, and then there are a few slight elevations. Passing over these there are flUts and swamps, which extend apparently to the foot of the dividing range. The Okitiki and numerous small streams flow through these, and the country is liable to sadden inundations from rain falling for a compaiativeiy short period. On one occasion a working party with great difficulty saved their lives from a fkod occasioned by i the sudden rise of the Totara liver after a day's rain. En passant, it may be observed that this party had j ufc in a sluice box and obtained as the result of their first day's washing, from two to five pennyweights of gold. There is plenty of wood, but it is so i saturated with moisture that it is very diffi | cult to make a fire. The road to what is termed the older diggings — the Six Mile — lies along the Ov ea.n Btach, on leaving which the track ruins suddeuly into the bush ; on entering which a traveller sinks knee deep in slush which becomes deeper the further an advance is made Si, to the bush. This has to be crossed ! and recrossed in all conceivable directions, by j roots and trunks of trees, so as to render it i almost impassable. In addition to this inconvenience, the mud has a most offensive smell of vegetable matter in a state of de- j composition. From the water which is drunk | being" strongly impregnated with vegetable matter, it it. probably owing that dysentery and rheum Uism are so prevalent. Numbers of men who have been at the diggings are now in Okitiki, -walking about the street', waiting fur an opportunity to get away. Provisions are dear, bread being 3s per 4lb loaf at Okitiki, but at'the diggings prices are high in proportion to the distance from the township. Okitiki has every appearance of being under water in heavy floods. After one night's rain, about a fortnight back, one street in the township was completely flooded.

We heard on Wednesday that the police had ascertained that there had been a mistake in identifying the murdered German, " Charley," as the man Klauss who charged the prisoner Ford with robbing him. early last month. Klauss, it is now said, proves to be employed on board the Geelong steamer ; but we have not heard any particulars explanatory of the mistake which seems to have occurred.

Mr Warden Wood, on the Ist April, writing from Nokomai says :—": — " The rush to the West Coast is over for the present— some return letters stating that the best of the ground is taken up, and advising mates not to go, if they are doing anything, has niado the population more settled. I regret to say the Victoria Wheel Claim, which has bf-en at work since last May, hns 'chved in,' after sinking a paddock about 40 x 60 to a depth of fifty feet. The men arc, however, so sanguine of a good return that, at a meeting of the shareholders, it was decided to t-'end to Melbourne for a lift-pump. Moffat's claim, higher up, has been bottomed on good payable gold. There are now 11 wheels on the Nokomai Elver pumping."

Mr Warden Robinson reports from the Dunstan under date Ist April: — '• The past week has been very quiet. The Giey excitement has almost entirely subsided, and no new fever has taken its place. The weather has been fine, aad with a plentiful supply of water consequent on the late rains there has been a good deal done in the way of sluicing. The rain, while benefiting the sluicers, has put seme of the river parties on the Manuherikia to loss by injuring their dams, but repairs have been promptly attended to, and the works are not very seriously interrupted."

As illustrating a phase of brigandism in New South Wales, the Attorney General said, in moving the second reading of the Felons Apprehension Bill: — " The crime of harboring criminals was, if possible, the greater offence, contaminating whole families. These men made themselves quite at home, keeping company with the daughters and maid servants of settlers possessed of some property. On a recent occasion, it appeared that a ball was held in a country township. Two or three young women came into a store to buy crinoline dresses. These outlaws came up while the young women were buying their dresses, and invited them and the storekeeper's wife to accompany them to the head inn of the place. The affair had almost a ludiorous aspect. After dancing with the storekeeper's wife and these young women, making themselves agreeable to every one, they became excited by drink, wine, and love, and grew disagreeable and noisy. They adjourned from the hotel to the yard, and went lounging through the premises — no one interfering with them. At last an intimation was given that the storekeeper, Morriss, intended, if he could, to lay hands on the bushrangers. At this the cry was raised " Burn his house." The women joined in the cry. They lobbed the place, set fire to it, and for an hour or so these men, being within reach of a whole township, were amusing themselves in dalliance with these women, and setting fire to the store and house, in perfect reliance on the desire of the people to conciliate them by all possible means. Whether from fear, or from a desire to obtain advantage by the presents they distributed through the district, many assisted and countenanced them. This was the most dangerous feature of the case. And the mischief was getting day by day deeper and deeper. The best chance of getting rid of these men was to put it into the power, not only of honest men, but also of their accomplices, to shoot them, and so pub the seal of secresy and death on their own proceedings in association with them. He (Mr Darvall) hoped that a feeling of insecurity would possess those who had been harboreis of the bushrangers, and that their next step in viHany would be to turn on these men. Thus he hoped they would be able to arm the cruelty and treachery and infamy of one class against those who had ravaged the country."

Captain Schroeder of the Eumena has obliged us with particulars of the presumed loss of a Spanish man-of-war steamer — one of three or five, forming a squadron, ordered off for the definite purpose of taking full possession of the Chincha Islands, already blockaded by five large steam- frigates. The arrival of the reinforcement at Peru without the missing ship — described as a, fine new steamer — was in anticipation of a hot engagement — as shown by the formidable preparations for it ; but Admiral Prinson had left for Spain shortly before their arrival, returning with his despatches ; and the conditions appeared settled on by the Peruvians and the Admiral, as representative of the Spanish Government. The missing steamer was last seen somewhere in the neighborhood of Cape Horn.

A meeting of the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade was held on Thursday night in the room over the Engine House. Captain Hobbs occupied the chair, and there was a large number of the members of the Brigade present. The minutes of the last monthly meeting were read and approved. A number of accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. Foreman Hughes stated that the Fete Committee, ia aid of the Sick and Accident Fund, had met and finally arranged their accounts. The amount received was Ll6l 4s ; and the balance remaining to the credit of the members' fund, after paying all expenses, was LSS 17s. A vote of thanks was recorded on the minutes of the Brigade to Mr Holmes for his services as Secretary to the Fete Committee. The remaining business was of no üblic importance.

We yesterday mentioned that the prisoner John Biordan, who was committed to the Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to set fire to premises in Walker street, haa bsen admitted to bail. The fact was, that the Magistrate agreed to liberate the prisoner on bail, himself ia £500, and two sureties in £250 each. Two sureties were named for .the prisoner, and were accepted by the Magistrate, but the persons so named did not come forward, and the prisoner remained in custody during Tuesday night. Another effort was made to arrange the bail yesterday, but up to a late hour last night the prisoner was still in custody.

The Eesident Magistrate was engaged till a late hour on Thursday afternoon in hearing further evidence in the charge against Charles Pearson Fox, for stealing L 440 from the Post Office, Dunedin, in December last. Very little progress >vas made in the case, only three additional witnesses being examined 3resterday. The prisoner was further remanded till Monday morning at ten o'clock, and the M« gist rate intimated that in order to facilitate the taking of the remaining evidence, he would endeavor to arr.iiiire with some other Magistrate to hear tlie civil cases on the list for that day

The "Waikou'iiti Herald' 1 reports :—'• A" meeting of the School Committee took place on the evening of Monday last, in the Public Library. The following gentlemen were present, viz : — Messrs T. Whinam (in the chair), Woolley, Smith, Oxli-y, Burden, and Lxwson. The minutes of previous meeting were read and conflimed. A letter w;;s read from Mr Oxley, Treasurer to the Committee, resigning his appointment, but he was afterwards persuaded to alter his determination. The correspondence between the Secretary to the Education Board and the Committee respecting the interpretation of the Ordinance, as to the date on which the reduction of the Teacher's salary should take effect, was next read, and the Clerk was instructed to urge a speedy reply from the Provincial Solicitor, through Mr Hislop, on that point. Several small accounts were then passed, and the account for last quarter of Teacher's salary was ordered to stand over till the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor was obtained. The Committee then proceeded to the consideration of the applications for the Teachership of the school. There were nine applicants for the appointment, and no small difficulty was experienced by the meeting in deciding on the merits of the various gentleman. At length, however, the choice lay between three of their number, viz : Messrs Todd, Philips, and Fleming, and it was ultimately resolved that the Committee should appoint Mr Philips The Cleik was instructed to acquaint that gentleman of his success, and also Mr Hislop, as Secretary to the Board, with a view to obtain tho sanction of th.it body to the appointment. The meeting was then adjourned sine die.

Mr Warden Charles Broad reports from Hamilton, Taieri, under date April Ist, as follows :—": — " On Tuesday I visited M'Eae T s Flat, improperly called Murphy's Flat, situated about 14 miles from Hamilton and Wagner's lower station, an \ 4 miles from Douglas Alderson and Co 's Highlay Station, about quarter of a mile from the dray track between the two. I found a population of over 300, engaged in padlocking, the depth of sinking being from 12 to 15 feet, and washdirt averaging from 8 inches to 3 feet. The wash diit is gravelly, and impregnated with mica. This flat is about 5 miles long, by 1 mile wide s . and has been proved auriferous ; at present the only water obtainable is from natural drainage, but it would be quite possible to bring in the Stonebnrn creek. Wood is very scarce, but peat and lignite can be had in the immediate vicinity. The average earnings are a pound a. day. With a view to settle the population, I proclaimed the flat as a place for double area claims, and the miners appear to be getting into winter quarters. The cradle is the only method by which the field is worked at piesent. The gullies in the neighborhood are all partially being worked. The ruin Ins proved a great boon to the district generally."

The annual soiree in connection with the Wakari Distiict School, was held in the Schoolroom there, on Tuesday evening last. The object of this year's soiree was to provide a library for the use ot the children attending the school. The room was crowded to suffocation by the families of the settlers in tbe district, who turned out in force, and in their best attire for the occasion. George Hepburn, Esq., JI P. 0., was voted to the chair. After a sumptuous repast, consisting of tea, cakes, fruit, &0., &c, provided by, and at the expense of the ladies of the district, addresses appropriate for the occasion, were delivered by tho chairman, Mr Forsaith, John Gillies, Esq., and the Ksv. D. M. Stewart, the addresses being interspersed by music, consisting of piano-forte solos and duets, Sec, conducted by Miss Strieker, and Messrs Fleming, Allan and Marshall. The entertainment was cenduded at half-past nine o'clock p.m., &nd all the company returned to their respective homes delighted with the evening's enjoyment, and expressing a hope that a similar meeting may be of a yearly occurrence. Mr Shanks, in very appropriate and eloquent language, returned thanks to the ladies for the handsome manner in which the whole affair was got up.

Mr Warden Hickson writing from Upper Manuherikii, under date Ist April, says :—• "Mining operations have received a considerable impetus through the plentiful supply of rain which fell during the week ; at Dunstan Creek, the activity that prevailed amongst sluicers and others, afforded a marked contrast to the compulsory quiescent state of matters during the past dry weather. Water races in this district may be safely regarded as one of the most lucrative and permanent investments that can be entered into, ani offer every inducement to the capitalist and man of cnt-rprise. A share was sold this week — of no great dimensions — iacluding a share in a claim, for two hundred and twelve pounds, and was r- girded as a bargain at that price. Rock and party's race, terminating at Kildare Hill, brings in a revenue of eighty pounds a week for sale of water alone, and many others equally reproductive and beneficial could be named. At Blacks, M'Nally and party have applied for the construction of a race ten miles in length, and look forward to the most splendid results from this undertaking."