NEWS OF THE WEEK. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.]

Otago Witness, Issue 876, 12 September 1868, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.]

The Nelson Financial Reform League, which has been languishing for some time past, expired a few days since.

Alarge " sea devil," which was captured off the mouth of the Totara river, has been exhibiting lately in Hokitika.

The steamer John Perm took 164 diggers to Auckland the other day, and was followed by the Airedale with 130.

The long-looked-for rain has fallen in Australia. On the 27th ult. there were some heavy showers, which are expected to do a great deal of good in the interior.

Among the claims settled at the Napier Compensation Court the other day, was one for "320 wethers destroyed by the Hau-haua, at 17s, L 272."

Hokitika is exporting native timber to Melbourne —red pine and lance wood having already been shipped for the manufacture of furniture.

A correspondent of the local journal wants to know why the 41b loaf should be selling for Is in Oamaru when the charge is only 9d in Dunedin.

Poverty Bay has been proclaimed a militia district, of which Captain Biggs is oreated Major. The militia have been called out for active service.

The weather in some parts of Canterbury seems to have been very tevere lately. At Oxford the ground was buried in snow to a depth variously stated of from three to four feet.

The Hobart Town Evening Mail states that a sow belonging to Mr Woods, near Bridgewater, lately gave birth to 23 young pigs, all in a healthy condition, and they are at present thriving well.

At the meeting to receive applications for -shares in the Otago Freehold Land, Building, arid Inveatment Society, held on Tuesday, at the office of theSeoretary, we hear that about 180 Bhares were applied for. Other meetings are to be held in different parts of the town for the «amc purpose.

John B. Mosely, a clerk in the employ of Messrs Lange and Thonemau, was brought ■before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday, charged with having embezzled Ll6 4s sd, the moneys of his employers. It appeared, from the evidence, that he was entrusted to collect the moneys, and had appropriated ■them to his own use. He had spent it in iihe purchase of jewelry. Since his arrest, the money had been returned by some one ■unknown to the prosecutors. The prisoner was committed for trial.

.The Supreme Court was again occupied x»n Tuesday, by a single case, the summing up in which was not finished until half-pas; live. the verdict being given at half past six o'clock. The case was, Rcnahan v. Waft, {Sheriff), the plaintiff, a miner, claiming LiUU for the alleged wrongful seizure and sale of a mare and some cattle. The affair toek place at Horse-shoe Bend ; and the defence was that the mare and cattle were really the property of Patrick Ryan, also a miner, and the defendant in the "libel case, Gecldrs v. Ryan, tried some months ago, under a fi. fa. in which action the Sheriffs bailiff seized and sold. The verdict was for the defendant.

Diggers are returning to the West Coast from their wanderings over Australian goldmines. "Scarcely a steamer," says the West Coast Times, " comes here trom Australia without bringing a greater or less num"berof returned diggers, who after risking health and wasting means at the ephemeral Queensland mines, hvre at last been fain to once more turn their faces towards the hills and dales of Westland, which with all her faults has never yet been known to refnse her children a livelihood. By the Otago, fifty-six passengers have arrived. Their number almost counterbalances those who left our shores the other day in the Otago — seventy in all."

A little geographical information about the "Fiji Islands will not be amiss at the present time. We may therefore inform our readers that they consist of about 200 islands, having.a total area of about 7,100 square miles, or nearly 4,500.000 seres. Two of the islands (Viti Levu and Vanna Levu) have each a circumference of 250 miles. There are several others of smaller but still considerable extent ; but the greater number are mere islets, rising abruptly from the ocean ; and, with the exception of some tracts on the two larger islands, but little level land is anywhere to be seen. The native population in 1860 was estimated at about 200,009.

The return of the Bishop of Christchurch was celebrated with a special service at church, followed by an address from the Dean on behalf of the clergy of his diocese ; and in order to make the welcome more public, the Town Hall was thrown opf n in the evening for a 'church gathering.' There •was a great supply of tea here, and when that had been disposed of, the public assembled to the number of six or seven hundred. Au address from the parishioners was then read to His Lordship, to which His Lordship replied. He subsequently addressed the meeting at great length, and the proceedings ■closed with the National Anthem.

Some time ago advertisements were published, calling for competitive designs for a proposed new church for the St. Andrew's Pr-.sbyterian congregation, at present meeting in a wooden erection in Walker street, under the ministration of the Rev. R. Scrimgeour. In compliance with this invitation, various architects forwarded designs, which were lately submitted to the Building Committee appointed by the congregation- The result of the examination was the adoption of the design by Mr It. A. Lawson, architect, Dunedin. A description of the proposed building will be given in a future issue.

A lecture on Benevolence was delivered by Mr Charles Smith, to a large and appreciative audience in the Port Chalmers Mechanics' Institute, on Tuesday evening. The subject, although a dry one, was well-handled by the lecturer, who interspersed amusing and interesting anecdotes throughout. At the conclusion, a vote of thanks to Mr Smith was proposed by Mr Feraie, and carried by acclamation. Mr Smith, in acknowledging the thanks, trusted that a judicious benevolent spirit would be evinced towards the Benevolent Institute, as he was aware that subscriptions would shortly be asked for from all congregations. The President, Capt. Thomson, announced that the next lecture would take place on the 22nd inst.

The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have recently received a gazelle from Panama. They have also added two curlews to their stock. At a recent meeting, it was stated that several of the tench had been sold for a pound a piece. The tench and perch had grown surprisingly. The long-lost trout had been re captured, and hopes were entertained that the third one was still alive. The stock of poultry has been reduced. Bishop Patterson promises to forward some cones of the Norfolk Island pine by the first opportunity. The Angora goat has presented the Society with three kids. It was questioned whether artesian water was not too pure for the salmon ova, but the objection was not confirmed. The propriety of introducing the silkworm into the Province was discussed, but the matter was held over for consideration.

The Post Office authorities o! South. Australia have recently commenced the issue of a new kind of twopenny Btamp, struck off from electrotype instead of steel plate, of which the following additional particulars are furnished by the Express :■— "The ne\r stamp is more distinct and ornate than the old, and is more secure from imitation. The ink is fugitive, so that the postal marks cannot be removed without >emoving the color of the Btamp itself ; and another safeguard against fraud is provided in the water mark, consisting of a crown, with S. A. underneath, at the back of the stamp."

We learn from the Hon. Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society, that Mr G. P. Clifford, the Society's Manager, when last heard of, was in Hobart Town. It appears that he has received every attention from the Tasmanians, who evince a disposition to make ths object of hia visit, which consiists principally in the procuring of a supply of trout »i v a, a successful one. It was Mr Clifford's intention to leave Hobart Town about the '2s'h Aucust, in the barque Southern Cross, which was loading for Lyttelton. and whose captain takes charge of a supply of ova for the Canterbury Society. If it can be arranged, the vessel will call at Otago Heads, and drop Mr Clifford with his precious freight. The Southland Acclimatisation Society has already received a quantity of trout ova from Tasmania, under the charge of Mr Howard. The ova have been deposited in the hatching- boxes, and a letter from Invercargitl states that the proportion of dead eggg was very trifling.

The opening meeting of the Dunedin Social Improvement Association took place last Monday, in the hall below the CongregationalChurch, Moray Place. There was an excellent attendance, and the chair was occupied by Mr John B^thgate as President of the Association. The Chairman, in a few introductory remarks, indicated the subjects which might appropriately be handled in the essays read from time to time, and alluded to the four great divisions of social improvement which command the attention of the annual Social Science Congress in Britain. He was followed by Mr Pope, who read an excellent and quaintly hujaorous e«say, on our predilection to discuss other people's faults and failings. The proceedings were varied by effective recitations by Mr Lakeman, Mr Park, and Mr Norman, a reading by Mr Tait, and pianoforte music by Mr Brown. Intimation was given that the next meeting of the Association would take place that day fortnight, and the proceedings were terminated by the customary vote of thanks and the finale of 'God Save the Queen.'

John Murray, a seaman belonging to the barque Bengal, was brought up at the Resdent Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers, on Monday, before Thomas Tayler, Esq. J.P. charged with unlawfully and maliciously stabbing Daniel M'Carthy, a seaman belonging to the same vessel, on Saturday last. Sergeant Mallard prosecuted, and said he did not intend calling any witnesses at present, but would apply for a remand. In the meantime, he would call on Dr Drysdale for a statement of M'Carthy's condition. Dr Drysdale, on being sworn, said that M'Carthy was in a fit state to be removed from the vessel to the Hospital. He had attended M'Carthy, and was of opinion, from the symptoms displayed, that the knife had penetrated the right pleura, and possibly the right lung. The wound was about one inch aud a-half wide, and five or six inches deep. The knife had entered over the right scapula He thought that in eight days the patient might be able to appear and give evidence, providing inflammation did not set in. In reply to the Bench, Sergeant Mallard said he had not got the knife, as it was hove overboard. The prisoner, after having been duly cautioned as to what he might say. said he had no statement to make. Serjeant Mallard then applied for a remand until Wednesday, the 16th iustant, which was granted. The patient, who was able to walk, was conveyed to Dunedin by the Golden Age at mid-day. The prisoner went in the same boat in custody.

A letter from an old Hamilton resident now in Japan has been published in the local journal. It concludes with the following advice to intending emigrants to that country: — "First and foremost, to all young; men who think of coming in search of situations, don't come. To business men, with moderate capital, don't come here. Why? Because, owing to the internal dissensions of flu) natives, and of civil wars, produce is prevented coming from the interior : thus the large mercantile houses are at a standstill, and are, and have been, discharging their clerks and assistants, having nothing for them to do ; and even when clerics are wanted, they are all sent specially out from homo. Those that are in business arealimeu of very large capital, and are able to stand a little reaction, taking into consideration the past prosperous times. As for tradesmen, there iB no^ branch of trade in which a Japanese or Chinaman cannot successfully compete with Europeans, as they can make anything from a pattern. A native tailor can make a pair of trousers equal to anything in Hamilton, for 2s 6d ; so you can judge from that. Living is very dear. Numbers of young men have been here from Melbourne, and returned in disgust, after •waiting here for months for a situation, backed up even with letters of recommendation to the first houses here. You cannot here, when hard up, take to digging, shepherding, splitting, or bullockdriviug, as in Victoria. There are none but mercantile pursuits open to white people, so that when a young man's money juns out, God help him."

During the month ending August 31st, seventy-three apprehensions we?e made by the Otago Police, the prisoners being charged with the following crimes : — Larceny, 14; obtaining money by false pretences, 1 ; wilfully destroying property, 1 ; disorderly conduct, 6 ; breach of the^peace, 9 ; vagrancy. 10 ; assault, 4 ; embezzling cargo, 8 ; breach of Merchant Shipping Act, 1 ; neglected children, 2 ; stealing auriferous earth, 13 ; cattle stealing, 2; house breaking, 1 ; stabbing with intent, 1 ; eight lunatics were ap. prehended, of whom seven were sent to the Asylum. During the month, 18 prisoners were discharged from the goals at Dunedin, Cromwell, JNaseby, Lawrence, and Queenstown.

The Weßtport Evening Star of the 24th ultimo gives the following account of some new leads which have been discovered in the neighborhood of that township :— Oh Saturday, one of the parties who have been tunnelling from Deadman's Creek, in search of the leads of gold on Giles's Terrace, struck one of the leads. Other parties are advancing satisfactorily with the work of forming their tunnels, and, in a short time, the leads will, no doubt, be thorouehly "tapped" at both ends— that is, at the southerly end, where Evans, Perry, Luke, and others are tunnelling from the Orawaiti, and at the northerly end, where the lead is cut off by Deadman's Creek. On the terraces beyond. Deadman's Creek, claims are being taken up, and we believe that for upwards of two miles north of the Orawaiti ground has been pegged off. Of course, it will be several months yet before all these parties can reach the gold, but there is every reason to believe that the ground is of such a character, that, after that is done, it will afford employment to a large population for many months, or several years. It may be that the leads will run out, but the striking of the gold from Deadman's Creek gives creat reason to think that such will not be found to be the case, and that the lead will still be followed for a considerable distance northward.

A meeting of the Waste Land Board wa3 held on Wednesday. There were present, the Chief Commissioner (Mr W. H. Cutten), the Chief Surveyor ( VJr Thomson), Mr G-. Duncan (Secretary for Land and Works), and Mr Hughes. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed- The application of the Rev Father Williams for leave to purchase Sections 5, 6, 15, and 16, Block 23, Palmerston, was granted. Mr Connell applied for a reconsideration of the application made by J. Yon Tunzelmann, for a depasturing lease at Wakatipti. The BoaTd resolved to adhere to its former decision. It was resolved to take into consideration an application made on behalf of Messrs Low and Macgregor for a lease at Mavora Lake District. Ihe Wardens of the Dunedin Hundred applied to ascertain -whether the Town Belt waa to be considered as tmfenced land within the Hundred. The Board declined to express an opinion. Mr Jack, on behalf of Mr Halston, applied to purchase a section in Alexandra. It was resolved to have a sale by auction. Mr Dodson asked for a license to occupy the Government Reserve, B. 6, Portobello. Mr Driver also put in an application for the same piece of ground. The matter was adjourned. Leave to purchase 20 acres of Bush JKeserve, Toi-tois, was granted to Mr Walter Robson. The consideration of applications from Mr Street for lease of Boat Harbor Reserve, Block 3, Ofcepopo ; and from Mr T. M'Kenzie for Quarry Reserves, Block 4, Otepopo, was postponed. The meeting was adjourned.

"The most important rush that has ever taken place in the New River District " is described by the l<-cal correspondent of the Grey River Argus. The scene is thus described : — When there, the first sight that meets the eye is the high, precipitous reef over the creek, nearly one hundred feet perpendicular ; and on the top of this vie to be seen the tunnels, wliich at once remind one of some of the gigantic works that are carried on in Victoria. I found all the men on the terrace iv high spirits, as on the previous day they had all been enjoying themselves at the christening of two golden claims. There is no doubt tha,t a very rich patch of ground has b^en opened here by Couch and Co . who commenced prospecting about the bfginning of February. They found payable gold on the edge of* the reef, and Miowed it till they were rushed, about St. Patrick's Day. Some time in June, they were taped off by Cavanagh and Co., and ultimately lost their tunnels through pegging in too much ground, as they had takentheir claims for sixty feet p^r man, supposing the ground to be over fittyfeetin depth, which, when it came to be surveyed, proved not to be the case. However, the ground which they have now bids fair to bo very rich, as they washed out of some three loads of stuff Bozs. 15dwts., on the day I was there, which I had the pleasure of seeing weighed. It is most difficult to describe the course that gold has yet been traced ; it must suffice to say, that, on the western point of the terrace, M'G-owan and Co. have payable gold ; the next claim going eastward, is Gafney and Co., who are reported to be on very good gold ; then follows Smith and Co., who, alao. report says, are doing very well ; then comes Cavanagh and Co., who cannot work, on account of an injunction, pending a suit between them and Couch and Co., for compensation for the loss of their tunneis, &c; Couch and Co.'s claim then follows, the prospects of which I have already spoken. Whelan's claim, (No. 1) comes next, which is favorably spoken of. These claims have all got gold by tunnelling from the high reef near the creek.

The police are wanted at Green Island. Our correspondent writes :— " Thieves have' been busy here of late. On Tuesday night, about 3cwt. of potatoes were stolen from a pit in Irvine's garden. Not satisfied with this spoil, the thieves set the milch cows adrift from the byre, tumbled a cart into a ditch, and played some other practical tricks. Two weeks previously, the same person, having left his cart alongside the distriot road, had the back chain taken away, and hi» coat relieved of its contents. On Wednesday night, a widow woman had a spade and billhook stolen ; and on the previous night, a robbing of MrAndrews's storehouse was attempted. No tools of any description can be left for a moment out of sight; they disappear mysterioualy. A wholesale destruction of ducks is carried on during moonlight nights. Last week, forty shots nightly, at an average, were fired. This is deeply to be regretted, as the birds are now pairing. In the bush, the slaughter of our scanty feathered race is going on. One of the acclimatisation birds is 6€en without a mate ; and it is more than probable that the other has been shot. It ia most lamentable that the noble efforts of the Society should be thus frustrated by scoundrels."

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Friday last, the Masibtrate, in giving judgment in the case Jones v. Orbell, said :— " I have considered the nonsuit point raised by the defendant's counsel ( M r Smythies), that no proof has been given by the plaintiff of any default of payment of mortgage money previous to sale ; and have come to the conclusion that the objection has no weight as regards the present action. 1 am of opinion that, should the deft-ndrmt feel aggrieved by the action of the plaintiff.is mortgagee, in selling the property without default having been made, his reme'ly is by a substantive action; certainly not by 'eating up such a plea as is expressed in the objection of Mr t-mythies, which is virtually, in my opinion, attempting to set off a claim for unliquidated damagep. My conviction is. that the o' ligation is the other way — in other words, that the onus of proof on the point raised is upon the defendant. Under tbe terms of the mortgageAeed, the mortgagee, or present plaintiff, must, I think, le presumed to have done right in the matter of the sale, until the contrary is shown ; I am clearly of opinion, therefore, that there is a case to answer." — Mr Smythies said the defendant intended to appeal, and no evidence to rebut the plaintiffs case would be offered. — Judgment was given for the plaintiff for the amount claimed — LIOO, and costs.

A case of stabbing, of a serious nature, occurred on board the barque Bengal at Port Chalmers, on Saturday. During the afternoon,f ternoon, three of the seamen, named M Cirthy, .Murray, aud Brett, had some words— M'Carthy challenging the others to fight ; Brett declined until after tea, and the men continued their work. Tea over, a squabble ensued, and Brett pushed M'Carthy down the hold, M'Carthy, on coming on deck, squared at Murray, and using bad language to him, Murray closed with him, drew a sheath knife, and staged M'Carthy over the back — the knife entering between the ribs below the right shoulder, and penetrating the right lung. Medical aid was at once sent for, and Dr Drysdale went on board, sewed and bandaged the wound. On Saturday night, M'Carthy was considered dangerous, and it was considered advisable to take hi 3 dying declaration ; but yesterday th<> bleeding had stopped and the only danger was thit of inflammation setting in. Information having been given to the police, Sergeant Mallard arrested Murray, and conveyed him to the lock-up. On being taken into custody, Murray admitted having stabbed M'C«arthy in a quarrel, and that he had thrown the knife overboard. M'Carthy and Murray were previously good friends.

Mr Warden Robinson, writing from the Dunstan, under d-ite August 28th, reports :—: — "The district has been visited during the month, with storms of unusual severity, and a considerable quantity of snow has fallen. The miners on the river banks and beaches have had the advantage of the waters being at a low level, and have in many cases been able to realise excellent returns for their labors. Mining enterprise continues to extend in the Upper Clutha country. A scheme of some* magnitude has been broached by an application being lodged at Cromwell, for a race from Coal Creek, a tributary of the Nevis, which it is proposed to bring iuto the Bannockburn basin with a supply of thirty heads of water. This race will require to be brought over a saddle of the Carrick Ranges. A project was lately set on foot at Alexandra to prospect on the east bank of the Molyneux for the main bottom, it being expected that the run of gold in the Frenchman's Point would be found to cross the river. A public subscription was raised for the purpose of assisting a mining company with plant suitable for the enterprise, hut the money has been returned to the subscribers, as the company prefer to undertake the work without assistance. At the Nevis work is still almost at a stand. At Blacks and at Tinkera and other neighbouring gullies, where work is not materially affected by the inclement weather, prosperity generally prevails. The miners have a good supply of water for sluicing purposes, and the large quantity of snow on the hills gives promise of a continuance of plenty of water far into the summer. The estimated population of the district is :— European mmers, 750 ; Chinese do, 300 ; f olio-wing othergoccupations, SSO ; total, 1900.