News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.]

Otago Witness, Issue 803, 20 April 1867, Page 11

News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.]

Parties driving sheep on the North Ros3 are cautioned against camping or depasturing tb*m on the Government Township, Hawksbury, as it is considered infected with icab.

We are authorised to state that, in consequence of the Easier Holidays, the Civil Caws set down to be heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday next, will be adjourned until Wednssday.

We see it announced that a company is about being formed for constructing a line of tramway from the Buller to Charleston (Pakihi ) The capital is fixed at L 20.000, and the Nelson Government have offered to make a grant of land along the line, and survey the line free of charge.

A notice apppears In the " Provincial Government Gazette" that it is intended to make application, at the next session of the General Assembly, for.leave to bring in a Bill to amend the " Otago Southern Trunk Railway Act," for the purpose of making certain necessary alterations in the route between Dunedin and the Ttieri, and to construct a terminus near the southern side of High street, about 7 chains eastward from the Custom House.

The Grocers' Association held their ordinary meeting on Wednesday, in the Athenaeum Hall. There was a full attendance of the members, and the debate was entered into with more than ordinary zest and spirit. At the close of the meeting the Secretary announced tbat the majority of the Grocers had consented to close their places of business at 6 p.m., dnring the winter ; and at 9 p.m., on Saturdays, commencing on the Ist May. At the next meeting, an eseay on "Love" will be delivered.

The inquiry into the wreck of the South Australian was concluded on Thursday. Mr Macassey made a long and able address oa behalf of Captain Mackie (of which we have given the substance elsewhere), and called two or three witnesses. The Magistrate declined to agree with the view urged by Mr Macassey, that the opinion of tbe Court shoird be at once expressed ; but he said that there would be no delay ia reporting to* the Governor, and no doubt the report would be made public in the " Gazette."

It is understood that, in a short time, the business of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Port Chalmers, will be conduct): d in the Custom House, instead of the Masonic Lodge, as at present Already, and within the last f v: year?, the busioess of this Conrt has been conducted in the Custom-house, in the" Masonic Lodge, and in the origins! Wesleyau Chapel ; and it is to be expected that as the Cu«tcm-houßa is again to b* resorted to, it it will become something like the permanent place in the Port, for the dispensation of justice. The building is not altogether the most suitable for the purpos 5 , but by a radical change in the interior arrangements, it may be made to serre the purpose which has hitherto been so well served by the use of the Masonic Hall.

The quarterly meeting of No. 1 Company of Volunteers, was held on Thursday at M'Cubbin's Hotel, Rattray street, Capt Moss, presiding. Ihe minutes of the last meetting were read and confirmed, after "which the ca oitation allowance of L7O was appropriated. The following member* were chosen as & team to meet the West Taieri Volunteers to-day, at their butt: Lieut. Davies Ensign Wales. Sergeant Donglas, Corporal Speight, Corporal Treseder, Bugler Statham, Volunteers Wilson. Wedderspoon, M'Gregor, Hugarins and Geddes. Captain Mo3b presented to Corporal Treseder the Company's Cup, won by him this year, by a score of 67, from Sergeant Hislop. who took it last year with a score of 57 points. Volunteer Wilson received the second prize. Sergeant Douglas, the third. Captaia Moss announced that it was intended to form a Volunteer Committee, to watch over the iateresrs of the force, and to advance Volunteering generally. The promoters will hold their meeting next week, after which the Committee will be elected, representatives being chosen from each company. The proceediogs then closed.

In an article on immigration, the Melbourne " Argus " Biys : — A.t the present moment the skilled laborer receives from eight to ten shillings for eight hou-s' labor ; the farm laborer from eight to twelve shillings a week, with board and lodging ; the day laborers from five to seven shillings a day ; and female dome&tics from L 25 to L3O per annum ; while bread is sixpence the four pound loaf, and n eat about sixpence a pound. There has been a steady decline in wages during the last twelve or thirteen years, but this appears to be mainly attributed to the gradual cessation of immigration. "It is a remarkable fact, writes the RegistrarGeneral, that the rates of wages in Victoria have always been highest when the number of arrivals has been great* st ; and in years when immigration has fallen off, there has been a corresponding depression ia the remuperation paid for labor." The reason of this is intelligible enough. The new arrivals' must be fed, clothed, and housed. They 'othwith become producers, and as their contribution to tbe common stock is greater than the proportion they draw from it -or, ia other words, as they create more wealth than they consume — the surplus is pro tanto an addition to the capita] of the couatry, and, as such, available for reproductive employ* ment. .-__,

A during burglary has been committed in Auckland, the premises entered being Mr BTitchbury's Auction Mart, Queen street. The premises were securely fastened when business was concluded, and were discovered shortly a^er twelve o'clock by a ni.ht watchman to have been broken into at the rear. The work has been carried out apparently in a very hystematic manner. A number of bricks ha been removed at the ecith side of the jamb of the door, sufficient to form a manhole; but htre an unexpected • obstacle was metvithin the obstructive position of «ome dry packing cases. The difficulties in the way ot effecting an entry to tho premises were, however, overcome by the burglars being enabled to reach the crose-bar fastening to the folding doors, which was easily disengaged at one end, and the doors then forced open sufficiently to admit a person passing through. Property of the value of about L7O lras stolen.

The old Government Offices were sold by auction on "Wednesday ; but there is still a good deal to do in preparing the quarters in the new buildings for some of the departments. It, may be useful if we state briefly where the departments will be located within tt<e new Building. Entering from Princes street, the Saperintendent's private room will be found at the end oi the corridor, to the left. Thie room has windows to the Terrace,and there i 3 an en trance from the Terrace to the corridor. Next the private room will be the Executive Council Koom ; and then will follow rooms for toe Clerk to His Honor (and Storekeeper), and for the Immigration A<jent and his clerk. The last nimed department will have the first rooms from the landing. On the right- hani side of tie landing, tbe room corresponding to that of the Superintendent v<ill be occupied by the Provincial S- cretary, next to it beina the under Secretary's, aDd then the clerks' rooms. In tHe Central Hall, the Treasury will have the first division of counterspace to the left ; and the rooms extend ing behind that and the second division. The Deputy Treasurer's room will be that at the back of, and in direct communication with, the counter-space; and two or three rcoms, for clerks and for the Sheep Inspector, will divide the deputy's apartment from that of the Provincial Treasurer. The second division of tounter-space is not yet appropriated. The counter aciOas the upper tn»l of the Hall will be for the burvey Dep*rtm nt, to which several rooms are also allotted. There will be a screen mn across a short dista r ce behind the counter; thus leaving a passage thence to a strong-room on the right-hand side, where the Record Maps, &c , will re kept, wj ile behind the screen there will be a long table for draftsmen. The chief draftsman will have a room to the leit, adjoining the Treisurer's, and a small window will be put in soaa to enable him to see and communicate with, the clerks and draftsmen. The Surveyor's room will be next that of the chief draftsman, and the room for the lithographing section of the department will be on the opposite side. To the right, on entering the Hall, there will be counter space and rooms for the business ot the General Road Board; and the second division of counter will be for the Roads and Works department. The G >ldflelds will not have any counter-space ; the rooms appropriated to the Secretary being entered from the Hal I ', between the Roid Board and Roads and Works. The Waste Lands salesroom, will be that at the top of the main staircase, the room being lighted from the Central Hall. From the corridor to the left of the staircase, will he entered the Land Receiver's and the Andiior's rooms, and also those ot the Lands Commissioner and his chief cleric, the Secretary to the Education Board and Inspector of Schools, and his assistants. To the right of the staircase, there will be rooms tor the Crown Grant section of the Land Department, a smull staircaie, c ose to them, leading to a strong room in tbe basement storey (under the Koad Board's part of the Central Hall) The draftsmen to tbe Road Boar-S will be accommodated near tbe Crown Grant room ; and there are some a>idkional rooms in this quarter which are not only not appropriated, but are not yet plastered. The room cor'e?ponding with the Land Sales Room forms part of the accommodation for the Survey Department. There is a strong room for the Treasury, under its Hail Bpsce ; and there is a third strong room (undtr tbe Survey secoion) which will not be used at present, not being needed. We shall not refer in detsil to the two Courts for the Resident Magistrate, with the private room?, cle:ks' offices, bailiffs' offices, messengers' room, &c, connected therewith, which are under tbe Provincial Council Hall, and form, therefore, part of the Bond street section of the Buildings. We have indicated how the Government departments will be relatively located, when they get settled in their new and permanent quarters.

In referring to the attempted escape of the manager of the Bank of Auckland, and the winding up of the concern, the ' Southern Cross" of the 3rd instant says :—": — " Ie is diffi cult to siy why Mr Jones should have attempted to leave the place, except tnat over anxiet}' in other matters affected him. He bad only L 6 in his possession. He is not in any way, bo far as we know, indebted to ttie Bink. *He was anxious to do a large business, and perhaps presumed too much on the truthfulness and honesty of his constituents. At all events, the rash step he took has precipitated matters. The Bank of Auckland ■will wind up, we trust, with no loss to the shareholders — and 'Local Enterprise, No 2,' will have gono to the wall. Mr Jom-s made hmself personally liable for L4ooooa account of the Thames Saw-mill Company, payment of which vrus pressed jesterday."

The pro raised trip of the Golden Age to the Maori Kaik at the Htads to-morrow ia Kfcely to be a very enjoyable one. In addition to other arrangements for rendering it attractive, M. Fieury has announced that his band, during the voyage, will perform the following beautiful compositions :— " The Volunteer Artillery Slow March ;" '• The L'ttle F.iiry Quadrille ;" " The Corn Flower Waltz ;" " My Daughters" (schottische) ; "The Storm March Galop ;" " Mcilian" (selection) ; " Pietro il Grandi ;" " Dream of Childhood" (wahz) ; " Tbe Good Bye at the Door ;" an<l a Selection of Scotch Airs The splendid scenery, the voyage, and the coaccrc, cannot fail to render the trip delightful. We take from "Brown and Eagle's Circular" the following statement of the Importation of Colonial Wools into Great Britain iuririg the last six years. The figures refer to baits : —

Mr R. W. S. Grieve, who has the contract, at per yard, for dredging channel to the jetties, will probably start work during next week. The apparatus which Mr Grieve is preparing may ba thus described : — A por'abl.j engine, which will work up to 12-horse power, has been put on boa-d a strong and shapely punt. This engine will drive a small Bhaft on which is a iOin rinion, in gear with a 3 f t wheel, which will give motion to a bng shaft stretching across the boat, well towards the stern. The long shaft will huve affixed to it a drum or tumbler, over which will be worked an endless chain, carrying 11 buckets, each capable of holding l^ffc cubic of stuff. A gallows projecting over the S'de of the beat, will give support to the iron-ladder, along which the chain of buckets will be worked ; and the gallows will also eff :>rd means of regulating the dip of the ladder, so that the buckets will dredge down to a depth of 14Et. The rise and fall of tbe tide is -tated to be 7tt; at low water, there is an average depth of 2ft of water from the ends of the jetties to the deep channel; and the jetty channels are to be dredged to a depth of not less than sft. We have stated that there will be a chain of eleven buckets ; but tbe apparatus otherwise will be such that the number of buckets can be increased, if it Bh<vu\! be found necessary to iacrease them. The bucket", as they turn over the drum or tumbler, will throw their contents into a hopper, whence it will pas 3to a punt alongside. Three punts are to be prepared, each capable of holding 14 cubic yards or about 20 rons of stuff. Tbe barges will have movable combings, to facilitate the dtectnrgo of the dredged stuff— an operation which will consist siraplv of Bhovelling it out, within the small basin which is being formed to the north of the Rattray street pier. [ Thf basin will ba bounded by the pier to the south, by the reclaimed land to the west, aud ny an earthwork angular jetty, formed from Bell Hill debris, on the north and east. After a while.ifc will, of course, be impossible to completß the filling in of this basin with dredged s*uff, except by runniag it from the punts in hand-barrows; but this is a kind of work with I which, as we understand, Mr Grieve has not j anything to do, under his contract. Two men will be required to be on board each punt, and one on shore to as»ist them in petting in and out and discharging ; while on board the dredge there must b* at least an j engineer, and two men to work the windlasses by which the necessary (almost con- j stant) motion wi'l be given to the dredge. Tbe iron work necessary f>r fitting the dredge is being done by Mr Wileon, of the Otago Foundry. Without risking a specific statement of what Mr Grieves little dredge will be capable of doing daily, we think that it will make short work of channels to the jetties; and we sre sure thit its operations wiil be noted with interest. Mr Grieves contract is to dredge channels or shave off | banko, as may be directed by the Harbor Master.

The ess* of Hertsktv. The Superintendent, which wae heard yesterday, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, was of some interest. It was a claim for salary due, a-d a month's pay, for dismissal wirhout notice from . tbe situation of c'.erk in the Goldfields Office ; the defence bejrg,a jusiification ot the dismissal, it being alleged that the plaintiff was, on the 5 h January, incapab'y drunk while at tne office The Magistrate deferred judgment until the 24th inst — Theie were also two charges of *' sly- grog-selling" heard yesterday; and, for the first; time, tbere was preferred a charge against a cabman of driving, on a Sunday, past a place of worship, At other than a walking pace. The defendant, under the circumstances, was not fined; but tho Magistrate said that he considered the clause vi der which the information was laid to be a very proper one.

We aTe indebted to a correspondent for the report of proceedings ac a Dinner and Ball, held at Por obel'o Bay, to celebrate tho eie> tion of Mr James Seaton to represent the district in tbe Provincial Council. Mr Joseph Yoime, of Hooper's Inlet, was the Chairman ; aud after the usual loyal toasts, Mr Seaton's health was drunk. In acknowledging it, that gentlemen referred to the late election, and some of the incidents of the coutf st, to his length ot res-id ence in the district, and to tbe motives thai; led him to seek to represent it. He complained of the neglect r»f the interests of the district by prtvious Councils, which was known by the fact, that during nineteen years there had not been one mile of properly formed road ia it. This, he thought, he could be th^ means of rectifying, although his opponents bad taken evory opportunity to proclaim him incapable of either statins: the case of hi * constituents or hi? own. But it was not advisable to nurture tha feelings in |j ducei by the late confrsfc, and for his part, be wou'd be equally reaiy to serve those who had I opposed as those who had assisted him ne lr>ped, since the benefit derivable from united action had been manifested in securing his return, every man would put his shoulder to the wheel, and, 'sinking minor differences, would ', labor for the public good. Mr A. Burns responded to the toast of "Tho Provincial Council " After o'her toasts, which were acknowledged by Messrs Wilson and Tiley the room was cleared for dincinj?, which was kept up with great spirit to a late hour. In the course o^ the evening, several songs were civen by members of the party in very good style.

Fox's and the Pakihi diggings, says the " Grey River Argus," have done a gr-at deal towards depopulating the Grey Goldfields. as well as those on the southern coast line. Up the Grey, the diggings are almost; entirely deserted, and what were once bus/ flourishing townships now wear an aspect of sa.l and melancholy idleness painful to behold. Empty stores, closed hotels, and idle horses, afford a, strikine example of the fluctuating character of gold mining as an industry. The correspondent of the " VVest Cjrss Times" says : — ■" hhould the rush of people cor.tin -c at the present rate for even a short time, I believe tbe P.ikihi will be abl-s to boast of a larger population than the rest of the entire Province. The rush is nofc confined to the mi'iers : Charleston at present fairly swarms with men of business on the look out for bmin^s sites. To all that intend coming here. I can only repeat my former warning — that the place is entirely over-rushed r-oth by miner* and business men. Indeed, there are enough miners here at present to take up a lead reaching almost from here to the Buller. Prospecting around the Pakihi is vigorou-ly carried on, the bu*h for many miles being fairly swarming with prospectors, whose suec Q33Q 33 up to the present has not been very encouraging; nevertheless, hurdlyadav pusses without one or more parties ob'aiuing payable ground. Very few remain at Fox's, as the terraces are mostly taken U P» besides the sinking is expensive and deep, aQ d the shafts have to be s'abbed. The mi^rs, therefore, alt come here, an the ground is easily prospected, being both shallow aud dry, indeed, sjme nf the bi st claims are not more than five or six feet deep. I can easily foresee the wave of p pulatiou will flow north for * certainty, there being over 20 miles of very likely-look-ing country between here aud the Bullt-r." The latest news is that some good ground has been opened about midway be tw een Fox's and the P.ikihi-, and that a rush his occurred to a place a few miles from Westport. Mr Commissioner Kjnnersley, when at the Pakihi, was applied to fora prospecting claim in fie locality mentioned, where prospects of from 18gr. to ldwt. to the shovel were Baid to have been obtained. Mr Kynnersley proceeded to the Buller Jto make full enquiries into the matter, and he felt justified in granting the extended claim. The diggings at the Karamea are also turning out successful beyond all previous expectations. Mr Commissioner Kynnersley warns tbe miners that at present there is nothing to warrant a rush.

During the Easter Holidays, which commence on the I9tlsnst. aud emlc on the 23rd inst , the offices of the Supreme Cjurfc will be closed.

Mr Sholl reports the following returns :— Blackstone Hill Water Race Co. for the fortnight ending 13th inst, L 25 8s 43 ; expenses, LIO 10s ; nett, Ll4 18s 4d. Dry Bread Water Ritce Co, for the iortnight ending the 6th inst, L 27; expenses, Ll4; nett, Ll3. O.P Q. Co. — The crushing for the fortnight ending the 10th, yielded 3Ooz. from 70 tonß of mixed stone and inulloch, removed to clear the stope. The new shaft has been sunk about 140 ft, and will be flnUhed in a month or five weeks. Canadi Quart z Mining Co. — Crushing continues, and cleaning up will take place in about ten, days. Owing to the scarcity of water, five heads only are being worked.

1 His Hoflor*"the SufterTaumdent; has appointed Mr .George Dunc*n to be a nonofficial member.of the Executive.

The Town Council of Port Chalmers, although not in possession of any large amount of funds, are gradually effecting some material improvements in and around the t iwnsbip. They are giving their attention at present to two objects somewhat opposite in character, but both, requiring improvement—the cemetery and the recreation grounds. The cemetery is, in many pnnts of view, very wrongly situated, and the sanitary ol jections, which may be made to it cannot fail, in a few years, to idult in its being declared a nuisance aod in its being closed up. In the meantime it has the minor objection of being exceedingly inaccessible, and, pendinsr any arrangements for the procuring of a new burial-ground, the Council are imjj proving the approaches to it by the fo:mition of a sofficiently wide road, branching off from the road leading to the public recreation ground. With this facility of approach to the cemetery gate, funeral parties can bury the dead w ith some more decency and decorum than were possible whea it was only with a struggle that the pnll-bearers could manage co ke.sp their footing along the slippery footway, and to convey the cofßo to the grave. The cemetery it. s e!f is kept in creditable order, tmd some tombstones and monuments, ot tasteful design, have lately been erected in it— among others, a marble slab above the stoue-buile tomb of Cnpt. Ridley and his son, who were lately drowned ; /md a carved headstone, '• Erected by the Maoris of Otago, in memory of their minister, the Rev, J.F. Keimenschnieier." The facilities which the Council fiave afforded at the places of public resort for recreation, consist of a number of s rong and well-constructed seats, in situations frum which good views of the picturesque surr mndiogs of the Port are obtiined. Immediately behind the township there are walks and " lovers' lane 3," commandiDg some of tbe finest views in Otago Htrbor; and the panorama from Observation Point is by no means to be despised. With, improved road ways aad resting places, such as are now being provided, they are likely to tecom.9 places of more general resort, both by inhabitants of the Pore and by visitors. Another improvement which is at present being at present being carried out in the remetalling of the main street and of the roadwiy from the Junction Hotel — i necessity in connection with which there is, without any eqially apparent neeestity, an anuunt of carelessness in the disposition of the heaps of stones, which might involve serious consequences to travellers by night, and a series of damages to the contractor or whoever may be responsible for the same.

The " Grey River Argus" gives the following substance of an article in the " We»t Coast Times," announcing the death of Dr Alexander Hunter, late of this jity, giving an account; of his career, and a description of his death, which occurred at Hokitika on Saturday morning last, from bronchitis. His decease appe&rs 10 have been somewhat sudden, although, as he had been for many years past subject to chronic bronchitis and congestion of the longs, it was not altogether unexpected. We are a^le, from personal acquaintance, to cordially endorse the high opinion of his great talents enunciated by the/ writer of tne article, who considers him the grea'est surgical opeiator wo have ever bad in the Colonies. ' His. death was evidently hastened by thestunning effect produced upon him by the melancholy death of an ijolised son, who was on his way out to join his paren r , in the ill-fated London, which was lost at the beginning of la?t year, on her voyage to Melbourne. This eoa was of great promise, having taken high. University honors, and the unhappy father so took his loss to heart as to have never thoroughly recovered tho shock it occasioned him. Dr Hunter leavesa widow, who will receive from lm Edinburgh scholarship a pension of L2OO per annum. She wa-j formerly Miss Hanoasyde, sister of the late Lord Advocate of Scotland, and was married to Dr Hunter in 1843. The iate physician had left behind him many attached friends to deplore his loss, and very few members of his profession to supp'y his place. Tbe " West Coa9t Times," noticinghi, luueral, says :—" Shortly before three o'clock yesterday afternoon, the mortal remains of the late Dr. Alexander Hunter were conveyed to the cemetery. He wasfollowed tei the grave by most of the medical men of the town, and a few of his more intimate friendtß. Drs Young, Dermotr, Ryley £ Berndfc, and Rosetti, walked next to the corpse, and behind them came the other mourners ; amongst whom «^e observe d the Rev Mr Gow, Mr Gumming, Mr Harvey, the Town Solicitor ; Mr Bianey, and Me Knox.'*"

A man named Robert Lyndsay, formerly employed by Mr Christenson, as a goldsmith, is xeported by the " Grey River Arjiua" tobe missing under circumstances that lead to the supposition that he may have come to hisdeath from intoxication, as when last seen he was suffering und r the terrible effects o£ " delirum tremens." He has been sought for both at Gre) mou'h and Hokitika,but hitherto without ttie slightest clue being obtained tohis whereabouts.

The " Oamaru Times" of Friday expressea surprise that " none of the Cantei bury papers have yet notified the reappearance of '• Jim,'* supposed to have been murdered by the Chinese lately ia Canterbury, as it is currently reported at Oamaru that he was seen two days afrer he U-f c the Chinese, 20 miles nearer Cnristchurch. He there changed one of his "boots lor another, his foot having got better in the interim. We may state that webave no reason for doubting the authenticity of the report of ' Jim's' reappearance."

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