NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 13

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

A soap mamiEactory has just been established in .Nelson. Gold is said to have been discovered at Rapa, one of the Society Islands. Coal de- ! posits are also spoken of. It is reported that meerschaum has been discovered near Wollongong in New South Wales. ! A fire-bell tower and look-out statiou are in course of erection in Hokitika, in the rear of the Fire Brigade Hall. Father Larkins and Mr Manning, late of The Celt, have started on a lecturing tour. The latter intends to proceed to California, The first week we were out here it rained two days, which, rather delayed us, but we have had good weather for moving about since. I hope in my next report I shall be able to say we have struck payable gold. — I beg to remain, &c, J. Geo. Johnston, for Prospecting Paity. The exports from Westport during the last quarter consisted of 36,8900zs of gold, half a ton of horns and hoofs, one ton of bones, and six packages of ' curiosities.' A shoal of whales was recently seen off the beach at Newcastle, New South Wales. One or two of them are described as immense. A premium of L2O is offered by the Timarn I and Gladstone Board of Works, for the best design of a new wooden hospital, to be erected at Timaru. The race for the Randwick Derby, which was run on the sth inst., was won easily by The Duke, Ragpicker being second, and The Earl third, Mr Weld's return from Europe may ■hortly be expected. The Wellington Inde- I pendent reports that he is said to be in good health. One of the passengers to Auckland by the Phoebe, on her last trip, was Captain Francis, late of the Taranaki. He is said to be bound for the Thames Goldfields. We are informed that the gross returns, for the week ending 19th September mat., of the Phoenix Water Race Company, Wetherstones, amounted to L3l Is. A Cattle Show is talked of at Pomahaka. Thirteen gentlemen met to discuss the matter the other day, and collected L 45 among themselves for the purpose. Mr Eyre, who has earned so much celebrity by his alleged cruelties towards the Jamaica negroes, was formerly Protector of Aborigines in South Australia. Wellington Punch has joined hi the rush to Auckland. He published his eighth number on the 14th inst., and set sail for the North immediately after. Waipori is agitating for a public library. Speeches have been made on behalf of it at a public meeting, and a temporary Committee appointed, with Dr M'Lachlan as secretary. A pelican was shot lately at Yass, measuring nine feeb six inches from tip to tip of the wings, six feet three inches from the tip of the tail to the bill, and the bill six inches I *oog. J

The oyster-beds of the Hunter River have been nearly ruined by a practice prevailing in that district, of dredging for oyster shell* for the purpose of procuring lime for the brick-kilns. Complaints having been made in Auckland about the withdrawal of steamers trading between that port and Sydney, a Melbourne firm has placed a steamer on the Hue for four | months as an experiment. | A nugget weighing 120 ounces has been ; found in a claim in the Moonlight district. I The Grey River Argus relates thia discovery as an item of news which remained to be verified. Measra Coafces and Co. of Christchorchv have recently struck a couple of medals of New Zealand gold, for the Mandeville Farmers' Club. The design and workmanship are said to be very fine. According to the Lake Wakatip Mail, a local firm, Messrs Robertson and Co. have been ascertaining if they could procure suitable machinery and hands from the old country with the view of establishing a woollen mill at Queenatown. The Tasmanian Parliament, which consents to make use of Franklin Island as a field for acclimatisation purposes, has ungratefully declined to offer a vote of thanks co Lady Franklin, who made the colony a present of the island. Mr Cracroft Wilson, C.8., seems to have strangely forgotten himself in the House, while addressing it on a late occasion. He talked facetiously about the bones of the late trooper Smith, and was called to order by Mr Dillon Bell. A book has just been published under the title 'Two Thousand Years Hence.' It is supposed to be a collection of letters written in the year 3867 by William Robinson, Governor of Old London, to Professor Smith of theJUniveraity of Auckland. A second Woollen Manufactory is talked of in Geelong. The Advertiser states that a Company has bee.n formed to convert the " Union Mills" into a woollen factory on a large scale, combining tweeds, flannels, and blankets. The Hawke's Bay Steam Boiling-down Company are about to suspend operations for some months. This step has been necessitated partly by the sudden death of the manager and partly by the advance in the price of sheep, occasioned by the great demand for mutton on the Thames Goldfields. Certain landlords in Auckland have hit upon a happy idea. Many houses that had remained for a long time without occupants, have been taken down and removed to Shortland for re-erection. A whole terrace is said to have been removed bodily in this way. A private letter from California, quoted by the .Newcastle Chronicle, states that the general opinion in New York was that the wheat crop in California this year would exceed 20,000,000 bushels, and that breadstuffs would in consequence rule at a very low figure. Three officers of H.M.S. Brisk secured wives for themselves in Sydney, before the departure of that vessel for England. All naval officers who have visited Sydney speak well of it, and no wonder. Half the heiresses of New South Wales have been carried off in this way. A contingent to the Port Chalmers Naval Company has been formed in lower Porto* bello. There are already thirty -five names on the list, twenty-three of whom were sworn in by Captain Thomson on Friday evening last — after which some preliminary drill was gone through Red oxide of mercury has been discovered in large quantities on the Uudgegong, New South Wales. Applications were immediately made to the Government for authority to free select the land in order to work the mine. The mineral is a very valuable one. Mr and Mrs Steele (Miss Adelaide Bowring) who for so long a time have been favourites with the Theatre-going public, were passengers by the Alhambra, for Melbourne, on Tueday. Mr Ewen, of Messrs Sargood, King, and Sargood, was also a passenger by the same steamer. The question of presenting an address, from Otago, to the Bishop of New Zealand, on his appointment to the see of Litchfield, has not, we believe, been at all lost sight of. We hear that it has been suggested by His Honor, the Superintendent, that distinct action should be taken as on behalf of this Province, The Natives at Te Ngutu o te Mann are said to have received considerable reinforcements from the Taupo country and even from theWaikato. According to the Wanganui Chronicle, they mean to make the West Coast the scene of a regular trial of strength between the Maori and the Pakeha. Ingots of pure gold, weighing 31490z5, were recently exhibited at the Bank of Australasia in Auckland. They were shipped for Sydney on board the Lord Ashley, it in also Btated that 3001bs. weight of gold had been brought up from the Thames to Auckland by the Duke of Edinburgh, and delivered to the same Bank. The total area available for the depasturing of sheep in the district of Tuapeka, according to the Press, is about 32,000 acres. Of this, however, 14,000 acres (in the Waipori portion) are unfit for pasturage. The district altogether comprises 95,000 acres, thus {leaving 63,000 acres for the pasturage of I cattle.

' The population of "Victoria on the 30th of Jane was 670,148, showing an increase on the quarter of 5578. ' Mr Hugh Peck, who has for some time past been extensively advertising a lottery of freehold property in Melbourne to the value of L2(J,GOO, appeared at the City Police Court a few weeks ago, charged with disposed of a ticket for a certain lot tery. He was humorously defended by Mr AspinalL and got off with a fine of L 5 and L 5 5b costs. A Mr James O'Donnell was charged at Westport, on the Bth inst., with a breach of the Stamp Duties Act, in having signed an order for the payment of L 2, without affixing the necessary stamp. The defendant pleaded ignorance, but the Magistrate refused to entertain the plea, and fined him LSO, saying at the same time that the law gave him no power to inflict a mitigated penalty. With reference to the deserter Bent, the Wellington' Independent of the Bth states. as a current report, that Colonel Hassard said before he died, "It was that scoundrel Bent who shot me." The Bame journal adds : Thia renegade was observed among the natives at the recent affair at Te Ngntu-o-te-aaanu, where his disreputable and treacherous career was ended by a shot from one of our rifles. A curious testimony to the value of the sparrow is furnished by an American p*per — * Thu Cultivator and Country G-i>tiem;tn' — which states that in New Y->rk city. whejv these birds have ebtab'ished them-elves, thi j Btreets, which were almost iinpass.-ib c to ped scriiius on account of the iucfiworm drpending from the trtes, are now entirely clear oi these p^sts. When the broad strip of land was reclaimed along the edge of the harbor, the shore en! of the new jetty was not puled up, and. consequently, the filling there was only partial. The wood-work has now been removed ; the earth work has b^en made solid to the line of the wall, stuff from Bell Hill having been used ; and a few prisoners are now being employed in properly forming the lower part of Jetty street A party of men is. engaged in snaring opossums and preparing their skins for mar-k-t, in \ ictona. '1 he Geelone journal states they forwarded last week three bales, containing about 250 dozen each, to Melbourne, affording substantial proof of their continued Buccesa. We understand that those skit s are worth from 7s 6d per dozen wholesale, and those of the best quality are readily saleable at 12s 6d per dozen. The -woollen manufactories in Melbourne appear to be pushing operations vigorously. The Argus of the 4th inst. states that the Victorian Woollen Cloth Manufacturing Company have made purchases from the clips of the present season, and will next week produce cloths known as Oxford mixtures. This latest achievement will, it is telieved, surpass the company's previous efforts in the facture of first-class cloth. A lithographed portrait of the Rev. Dr Burns has just been published by Messrs Lister and Gresham, engravers, Stafford Btreet. The likeness is striking, and the whole style and finish of the engraving such as to reflect credit upon the publishers. We understand that this portrait is the first of a series which it is proposed to issue at short intervals of the various clerical and political celebrities of Dunedin,

The ship Derwent has recently been chartered for the transport of a flock of pure stud sheep from Tasmania to Victoria. The flock comprised 250 ewes and 210 rams, which were purchased at prices ranging from L6O downwards ; and were selected by some of the largest sheep-owners in the northeastern district of Victoria. This is the largest shipment of the kind that ever left Tasmania.

The Lawrence correspondent of the Bruce Herald states that the Chinese are now taking advantage of the large acreage allowed by the new Mining Regulations, and in every direction where they have been located (except Gabriels), claims of three, four, and five acres are beuu taken up. Waipori seems to be a favourite resort during the summer months, and numbers are leaving for that district.

We understand that, on the recommendation of Mr Hislop, the Provincial Government has given instructions for the engraving of a Map of Australasia. It will also show the Western Coasts of North and South America, with the usual navigation routes and the Polynesian Islands. A work of this kind will not only be useful to the schoolmasters of the Province, tut also to men of business and the general student.

A sum of L2O has been sent by the Ge-ne-al Governoiect to the widow of Major yon T'-mpsky. in' anticipation of her pension. This step appears to have been taken in accordance with the recommendation of Mr Graham, M.H H. The" Welling' on Independent very properly urges that something should be done by the public for the assistance of the widows and orphans of the men who fell at Te Ngutu o te Manu.

The Southern Cross arrived at Lyttelton on the 15th, bringing the trout and p-rch shipped at Uohart Town for the Acclimatisation Society. The Times says: — "On comparing the different modes in whioh tho ova were packed, a mi>st important advantage was perceptible in that where concave sponges had been used. Almost every egg was good in this instance, whilst in the others more than half were bad,"

The Oastlemarae Davy News has recentlybeen incorporated with the Mount Alexander Mail— the purchase money being LBOO. We now learn that a new evening paper has appeared with the title of the Castlemaine Advertiser, and in the course of a few weeks a third daily is to come ont, under the nan: c of the Daily News. The last-named journal will be conducted by the late editor of the Castlemaine Daily News, and will be supported by the Loyal Liberal party."

The House of Representatives has recently occupied itself with an attempt to regulate time instead of wasting it. A motion made by Mr -Reynolds to the effect that Christohurch mean time should be observed throughout the' colony, — amended on ; the suggestion of Mr Hall by the substitution' of New Zealand for' Chriatchureh — was agreed to on the 2nd inst. The Government is consequently called upon to introduce a Bill for the purpose of carrying out this proposal

A Mining Surveyor, saya the Westport Times, is to be appointed to the South- West Goldrielda of Kelson. He will be instructed to survey disputed claims, and will receive an allowance for travelling expenses in addition to a salary. Fees will be charged for his services, and when paid will pass into the Provincial Treasury ; the ordinary fees charged to the miners being reduced. Mr Commissioner Kynnersley insists on the necessity for such Surveyors, but the Executive does not acrue with him.

Our readers in the country districts of the Province w«>uld do wrll to note an ad-^rtis:-•ment in another column, from the Immigration Aeenfc ''he -ch'es.M^ Brd«. from Glasgow, is now 91 days out, :ind may be expeced daily. Sue ha.i 2(55 souls nn hoard, CiHisisti'ij.' of grown-up families, single men, aud domestic -ervants most of whom have been brought up to agricultural pursuit 1 , and were carefully selected to supply the requirements of the Province. Fanners and runholders should seize this opportunity of supplying themselves with good hands for their farms and stations.

The Hansard reporting staff are still subjects of complaint to members of the House of Representatives. We find in the Wellington papers, that Mr Fox protested against being held responsible for the reports of hi* speeches that appeared in Hansard. He had always two difficulties with the slips sent to him as reports of his speeches, the principal one being to correct the nonsense attributed to him Mr George Graham made a similar eomplamt. Major Brown said he had spoken to the Chairman of the Committee, who said there were a great many complaints.

Captain Wilson, lecturing in Christchurch on the recent earthquake, said that the effect of the shock on metals was to render them dia-magnetic, and to oscillate in the opposite direction to the current. The difference of t<me at which the shock was stited to have been felt must be due to variations of the clocks, as the shock must have been simultaneous. In referring to the recent earthquake wave, he did not think it had any connection with the earthquake, but that it was the resultof some enormous convulsion onthe West Coast of South America, or some intermediate point.

A correspondent, writing from Macraes, complains of the mauner in which the residents in that district have been treated by the authorities. He states that neither a Warden nor a Justice of the Peace has visited the district since the Bth of April. Summonses have been issued over three months, and the parties concerned have attended according to notice, but the Court has been adjourned month after month, to the great loss and inconvenience of parties seeking redress. The matter, as stated, demands the attention of the Government.

A meeting of the No. I Company, City Guards, was held on Monday, at the Drill Shed, for the purpose of electing a Captain in the room of F. J. Moss, Esq.. who has resigned in consequence of his departure for the Fijis Mr Paterson, formerly Captaia of the Naval Brigade, was unanimously elected to the vacant office, and next Monday was appointed for his> induction, and. for a leave-taking of Captain Moss. It has been resolved to present the latter with some token of the esteem in which he is held by the members of the Corps.

The earthquake felb in Taranaki on the sth inst. is the subject of the following paragraph in the Herald : — A. smart shock of an earthquake was felt on the morning of 'the sth, about 4 o'clock, and was more severe than has been felt for many years in this Province. There was an upheaving followed by a severe vibration of the earth; it woke everybody in town. It appeared to come from south-east to north-west. We anxioasly look for news from Wellington, where, no doubt, the shock must have been very severe, for a rumbling sound was heard by -many soma time before the shook was felt here.

A villainous practical joke, "which might have beea attended with serious consequences, was lately perpetrated at New Town, Tasmania. It appears that during a literary entertainment given by several gentlemen in the place, a packet of crackers * as lighted and thrown among the audience •he crackers exploded and danced about among the ladies' dresses ; the ladies pcreamed with fright, and the confusion became so general that the proceedings were immediately brought to a close. • During the uproar,, the culprits unfortunately managed to escape.

A Tconteinporary supplies 1 the following :— Hami te Hara, a Maori, has been tried at Auckland for the wilful murder o£ Charles William Sydney Smith, at "Victoria Valley. Monganui, in April, 1867, and, after a trial which lasted two days, v was foundugnilty. When asked in the usual form why sentence of death should not be passed upon him, he looked up and said in a quiet firm voice, "Naku tenei hara" — "Tois is my crime." Sentence of death was then passed upon, him.

The following memorandum was- published at the request of the Chief Secretary of • Victoria in the Argus of the Bth inst :— Authen-_ tic and authoritative information- 1 under the latest date, ,viz., 22nd Julyr-has been received from her Majesty's^ acting, consul at Tftji, in which he' states that the arrangement which i had then been entered into by Messrs Evans and Brewer, of Melbourne (on behalf -of a certain company about to be formed), with. Chief Thakombau, had been repudiated by the chief, and that Messrs Evans and "Brewer's proceedings had been protested against by him, the consul. I

A marketable specimen of English flax, with a bottle of oil prepared from the. seed, has been sent to the Lyttelton Times by a Mr Early, of Moeraki Downs. The flax; was grown on the Downs, and Mr Early states that from 400 to 500 bushels of seed have been sown this year. The seed is said to be worth from 7s to 88 per bushel in McL bourne. The Times speaks very highly of a prepared scedmen of IS'ew Zealand flax, sent by a correspondent signing himself .'Free Trade ' It is soft and silky to the touch, and not a particle of gum can be detected . * Free Trade' hopes to be able shortly to prepare the flax in large quantities for export.

Good pro_'re«s is made in the work of lengthening by 30tt the iron steamer Keeri — a work by f>r the most important of its kind yet attempted in New. Zealand. All the plates are in place ; and on the port side the riveting is . nearly completed, while a commencement has been made with the riveting on the starboard side. Messrs Kincaid, M 'Queen, and Co., the contractors, are, we understand, doing their work excellently well ; and we think that the new Keera.wiLL prove to be as smart and useful a boat as can well be desired. We hear that she will probably trade between Dunedin and Wellington, calling at all the intermediate ports.

On Sunday afternoon last a most melancholy accident occurred at the Taieri. Alexander Kerr. a boy not four years old, was playing with his brother on the bank of the river, when he fell in. The brother immed'afcely gave the alarm, and the child's mother, who was near, ran immediately to the spot, but the chid had disapppeared Search was made all the day for the body but without succpss, but on Monday morning Constable Carter, having obtained the use of boats and the assistance of a number of neighbours, recovered it. It nas been deemed unnecessary to hold an inquest. The father of the deceased, Mr John Kerr, has been m the employ of Mr James ?hand for some time, and great sympathy is expressed with him at his bereavement.

Oar correspondent " Semi Pakeha" writes us with reference to a paragraph in the Waikouaiti Herald of last week, impugning his statements on the subject of Hauhaaism in that district. He asserts that Mr Ross is not. as stated by the Herald, the schoolmaster at the Pah, nor is he the instructor or confidential adviser of the Maoris. He adds : " Since the inauguration of the new religion, great mortality has taken place amongst the Natives, some twelve persons having died during the last month. Mr Ross states that no European doctors have been at the village. This being so, the character of the distemper is unknown. The Maoris are desperately in want of spiritual and bodily comforts."

A patent has been extended to these eo'onies by Long and Co., of Melbourne, for a new stich in the Wheeler and Wilson's sewing machine. The new appliance, according to the Ballarat Star, consists of a plate for a third reel, by means of which three thread embroidery can be worked in any colors the, artist may select. But besides plain sewing, the lock stich, and the three-thread embroidery stitch, the machinist, by shifting a plate, can work button holes with rapidity. We understand that the several stitches, excepting the buttonhole, can be worked without shifting plates, bobbins, or reels. The machines with the new embroidery plate, cost L 2 more than th old ones, and those with the button-hole plates L 5 more.

The Provincial Government of Nelson has. reduced the wages of labourers employed in its service "from twelve to ten shillings shillings per week." They complain of this measure of economy as a hardship, especially ns they have to pay eighteen pence for the 41b-loaf . The Provincial Government is retrenching in all directions. ■ "No work of any description, however trifling, is to be undertaken before plans and specifications, have been sent up to the superintendent." The Westport Times, in illustration of this unpalatable ukase, mentions that a closet for the gaol, which was very much needed, was ab<>ut to be erected, but the works were stopped in compliance with the official notification. During the debate on the Want of Conn dence • Motion. Mr Vogel and Mr Stafford came into collision. The cr mpliments exchanged on the occasion are thus reported in the Independent : — Mr Vogel : The Hon. Colonial Secretary had said that only 200 Natives could be brought to bear on one

point. Mr Stafford: Itell the' hon member I.never -said that number. The hon, gentleman misquotes me. He continually misrepresents. Mr-Vogel : The hon. member's memory is defective. Mr Stafford : I have warned the hon. member before. If he refuses to retract an observation when told that it is incorrect, I for one will not be content to listen to him, and' l will walk out of the House. [The Hon. Mr Stafford left the House.]

Under the title 'Latest from the Front.' the Wanganui Chronicle reports. the following: — There is a stir and an unrest among •ihe-natives generally. It *was"reportad that the Pakakohe tribes were wavering in their allegiance, and Col. M'Donnell and Mr Booth considered it their duty to visit them. These gentlemen returned with the fullest assurances of amity, but as a per contra, the body of a man named Peake, missing from Patea for some days, has been found in the territory of these same natives, and the body bears such marks as leave no doubt that the ill-fated man has been, murdered by savages. We further learn that a Corporal Beck, undeterred by the miserable life of Kimbal Bent, has betaken himself to the enemy's pah, in consequence of some slight or punishment put upon him by his superior officers.

An extraordinary meeting of the N. Z. Steam Navigation Company was held on the 14th, when a resolution was carried After a short discussion, to the effect that Inspectors should be- appointed to inquire into the present condition and prospects of the Company, and to report as soon as possible. Mr Carter, as reported in the Independent remaiked : la the early days of the first , Com« pany, wh°n they had the Wonga Wonga, with two vessels the office expenses were about I 200 a year, the salary of.a Secretary ; now, with only four steamers, the office ex« penses were about L2OOO a year. Surely there was but little to do in the office—certainly not much in the way of "paying dividends — nor likely to be. As it was they never got at the actual state of the Company's affairs, and never would .without the aid of an impartial committee.

The local journal contains a graphic account of the recent raid on a Chinese gambling house at BaUarat. Some of the Chinese showed fight, and a very exciting scene was the consequence. The lights -were extinguished, the money snapped up, and the banker, with his cash-box, took a * header' through the window, carrying away the entire framework with him round his n°ck, but was captured . and relieved of his charge. The other Chinamen made a most determined resistance. One policeman was knocked down by the blow of a candlestick between his eyes, and another had his eyes nearly scratched out by the nails of an infuriated Celestial. At length reinforcements arrived, and a long rope was procnred, by means of which and a dozen pairs of handcuffs, fiftj'-four prisoners were secured and marched off to the lock-up.

The following is one of the regulations recently made by the Governor in exercise of the power vested in him by the Marine Act, 1867 :—": — " Any person taking a cart or other vehicle on any wharf or jetty on which carts, vehicles, or horses are permitted by the Superintendent to be taken, shall walk at the head of and lead his horse or horses, and remain by the same so long as the vehicle is on the said wharf or jetty, and no person shall ride on horseback on any wharf or jetty, but shall dismount and lead his horse. Any person infringing this regulation, or taking any cart or other vehicle, or any horse, on any wharf or jetty on which they are not permitted by the Superintendent to be taken, shall far each offence be liable" to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds." We are requested to state that the observance of this regulation will be Btrictly enforced at the Dunedin jetty.

Disclosures made in Melbourne regarding the voyage of the barque Dayspring, which arrived there from Hong Kong on the sth inst., after a protracted passage of 108 days, have created great disgust and indignation. The vessel left Hong Kong on the 20th May with two European and 96 Chinese passengers on board, and had only been a month at sea when scurvy broke out. among the latter. The first death occurred on August 10th, and since that date to the day of ,the arrival of the vessel, the Chinese passengers died off daily, twenty or thirty only surviving the disastrous voyage. The food supplied to the Chinese appears to have been not only disgraceful as to quantity, but actually too small in quantity to sustain life. An inquest was to be held on the Bth instant. ' When the news reached Napier that Major Fraser and his force were to leave that district for Patea, the bellman was sent round the town to call the citizens together, and in lees than an hour the Council Chamber was densely filled with townspeople. Resolutions were passed and carried unanimously, and among the speakers was an influential chief named. Hapuku. He came forward and said that, in the present position of native affairs, he thought it most inadvisable to remove Major Fraser and his force. Natives from Taupo or the Uriwera country might come down upon us at any moment. Wanganui, Patea, Wairarapa, Otaki, Rangitikei, and Wellington, had plenty of defenders ; but Napier had few, and of those few, a p >rtion was now being taken aw <y. The exigencies of war might speedily compel the Government to send them back again, but then it might be too late. We might all, by that time, be killed in battle, and oar women and children murdered.

In Mr G. P. Clifford's account 'of his trip to Tasmania, the closing paragraphs were accidentally omitted. In justice to Mr Clifford, and in acknowledgment of the kindness received by him when in Tasmania — we now supply the omiesion. Mr Clifford says:— "l- oannot conclude this without mentioning the very kind and hospitable manner in which I was received by every one in Tasmania? all who were able ts render me assistance vicing in doing so Messrs. M. Allport, X C. Reid, Dr. Officer, John Buckland, J. W. Graces, moreespecially; Captain Robinson, of the Free Trader, Messrs. Rapp and Davis, mates, rendered me every assistance in their power. I can only add 1 shall ever remember with pleasure my visit to Tasmania."

At a special general meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural Association, held on the 18th instant, a list 'of prizes 1 for local manufactures to be distributed at the next Annual Exhibition, was prepared and adopted. The list, according to the Lyttelton Times,' offers prizes for ale, porter, baskets, boots, cat dies, leather, malt, pickles, preserved fruits, rope and twine, -fibre, saddlery and harnessj soap, beetroot sugar, tweed cloths, wines, cornaa«ks, gunnybags and woolsacks, of Colonial manufacture, in every instance the price at •which the article exhibited can be sold in wholesale quantities, must be fixed for guidance of the judges ;' the judges in makxn« their awards to take the price into .consideration, to have discretionary powers in all cases to withhold, modify, or add to the number of prizes offered, and to deal in other matters not specially provided for. The prizes offered consist of silver and bronze medals, and of money.

CoL M'Donnell is not anxious to court popuhrity, judging from an anecdote related by a Wanganui paper. It runs thus :— The people of Patea are much incensed at a most unwarrantable stretch of power on the part of Colonel M'DonnelL Mr Bailie, a settler at Patea, for some offence — writing to the newspapers, we believe — incurred the displeasure of the Colonel, who sent for him to come to the block-house. As Mr Bailie had procured a substitute, who was then acting for him, he refused. A guard was sent for him, and without- even a court-martial, he was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. His hair was cut quite close, »nd other indignities inflicted upon him ; he was liberated, after being in prison a day- and a night. Mr Bailie had never been sworn in, and considered that as he had procured a substitute he had no right to serve. Mr Bailie is most respectably connected, and his friends are going to 1 commence an action against Colonel M'Donnell in the Supreme Court.

A striking illustration of the course adopted by the Government ■with regard to the Provinces at the present time, may be found in a telegram from Wellington published in the Grey River Argus of the 16th inst. : — The Treasurer finds that he has made a mistake in his calculations regarding the liabilities of Westland, by making the County liable to share in the liability for the whole of the Canterbury de t, whilst the Act only imposes a liability for debt up to 11th October, 1867 The member for th* Westland Boroughs communicated with the Ministry on the subject, and on Friday last withdrew his offer to accept L 15.000 on account of Westland, in the adjustment of the liabilities of the Provinces. The Government promised to give the case further consideration ; and Bince then they have offered to give Westland L 20,000, -which may be increased when the question of the adjustment of the Pro* vincial liabilities comes before the Hoase.

At a recent meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Bishop of Wellington read a Paper on " The Celtic Origin of the English "Vowel Sounds." after which, Mr Travers gave an interesting account of several rare species of fish found on our coasts. Among them is Bank's oarfish, One of these was cast ashore at Nelson, and is now in the British Museum j it in of an extraordinary form, fifteen feet in length, twice that width, and almost as tbin as the blade of an oar. Mr Travers also described some of the remarkable peculiarities of blackfish, which are known to occasion great sickness or vertigo to those who slaughter them when stranded. Some years ago, we quote from the Independent, two men were actually drowned whle cutting the throats of several of these fish in Massacre Bay, having fallen on their faces in a few inches of wat6r. Mr Mackay (who was one of the party) only saved his life by an extraordinary effort.

The following letter to Mr J. Hughes, M.P.C., from a member of the prospecting party at Mount Allen, has been handed to us for publication : — Mount Allen, September 12th, 1868.

Sir — In compliance with your request, I beg to report to the Mining Department that we are out here in this district prospecting. We put a shaft down on the northern base of the Powder Hill, on M'Gregor's run, t^ut did not bottom on the bed rock. We came on to a false bottom of pipeclay and lignite intermixed. It is the opinion oi one of our party — an old coal miner— that there is coal m the vicinity. We intend to sink on the south-east side of the same hill in the course of a week, after we have tried a gully a short distance from our camp. Parties out here have never been able to bottom it for want of the proper appliances. It is very likely the shaft will require Blabbing ; if so-, there is timber close to it. From information we have received, it jfl not likely to go deeper 20ffc, mmmmm4

At a meeting. of the Presbyterian Church. Committee, Alexandra, held in the Sohoolhouse on theeveningof the 18th inst., arrangements were completed for the erection of a manse for the Rev. Mr Ross, the minister of the congregation. A plan prepared by Mr David, Koss, architect, ot this city, has, we believe, been approved of ; and a tender by Mr James Armstrong, builder, also of this city, amounting to L 479, has been accepted. A church has not yet been erected in Alexandra, although an acre of ground, centrally situated, has been reserved for the purpose. At present the congregation meet at the school-house, where services are held once and twice' a day on alternate Sundays. Our informant adds that since the settlement of Mr Ross in this district, much laudable zeal has been manifested by the members of his persuasion, both for the social and spiritual welfare of the Church.

The Blue Spur correspondent pf the Tuapeka Press, writing on the 16th inst., gives the following account of mining operations in that district : — Mining operations on the Spur have been carried on energetically during the past week, the weather being all that could be desired. The ground m the locality is still on the move, and to get along the old road even on foot has become both dangerous and difficult. A share in the claim known as the North of Ireland party's has changed hands during the week for LSOO, the purchaser being, I believe, Mr Samuel Curregh. The late owner haa this evening left for that part of the old country from which the claim derived its name. Mr Monat ia said by the Tuapeka Press to have sold his one-seventh share in the Great Extended Sluicing Company, to Messrs Nicoll and Cormack, for L2s<). The Press considers that the mining prosperity of the district is satisfactorily settled by such announcements.

A very pleasing and [successful entertainment was given on Monday evening, under the auspices of the Dunedin Social Improvement Association, in the room beneath the Congregation Church, Moray Place. The hall was crowded, and His Honour the DeputySuperintendent, Captain Fraser, occupied the chair. In opening the meeting, the chairman congratulated the Association upon the support it was receiving and upon the good it was likely to effect, and he promised all the support he could give. Mr J. G. S. Grant read an essay upon Conscience," which was well received. A number of recitations and readings fo lowed, the gem of the evening being Mr C. White's reading of a scene from Shylock. Tn addition, several part songs and solos were sung by che members of an efficient choir, and Mr Sykes contributed much to the entertainment by 1 is brilliant performance upon the piano. A vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.

A common complaint with gold miners relates to the low price they are obliged to take for their gold. An Otago miner addressed us on this subject a short time ago, and the same grievance is reported from Gympie by a correspondent of the Brisbane Courier. He says :— A great amount of dissatisfaction is felt at the low price which our gold ia realising. Rightly or wrongly, the diggers believe the Jimna gold to be worth L 3 17s 6d at the Sydney Mint, while the price here is only L 3 6s 6d. Of course, the storekeepers get the blame for all this, but I think rather unjustly, for all they can get for it at Brisbane is L 3 6s ; and if they sell in Gympie, which place, by the way, is fast becoming the seat of all trade in this respect, they can only obtain L 3 8s per oz. When the loss of weight and the risk of carriage are considered, 1s 6^ psr oz. does not seem an unfair profit for the buyer, and few would like to take the trouble to buy at a smaller profit. But that some one reaps a much larger profit no one seems to doubt.

Our correspondent, writing from Alexandra under date the 20th inst , states that over 500 Chinamen have passed through that district on the way to Sc. Bathans, Mount Ida, and the diggings in that direction. These parties came, not only from the banks of the river in the neighborhood, but from the Teviot, Beaumont, and Tuapeka. The reason for this change, is not fully explained. The river is at present down j to its lowest winter level, and. no impediments whateve to the working of the banks exist at present. Moreover, it is well known that up to the time this movement commenced, the Chinamen ivere making a very good thing of it Their wages have been quoted at from L2 los to LlO | er week ; aud alihough, perhaps, it is only a very small number who realise the iast-n&ined amount, it is probable that the first-named is, if anything, below the mark. This migration is said to be the result of some private information received from the Chinese population at Mount Ida. They keep dropping off almost daily in parties of from ten to thirty, and are generally conveyed by dray ; the hire from themselves and swags being at the rate oi 20s each.

The Diocesan Synod of Canterbury met on the 16th instant at Christchurch, when the Rev. J. C. Bagshaw moved, " Whereas the Synod of this Diocese has on several occasions expressed its opinion that the Diocese of Christchurch should be divided, and a Bishoprio be constituted for the southern portion of the Diocese. And whereas the Rural Deanery Board of Otago and Southland has expressed a like opinion, and steps have been taken for raising an Endowment Fund for the proposed new Bishoprio. And whereas the Bishop of Christchurch and the Metropolitan of this ecclesiastical Province, have respectively assented to, and supported the constitution, of the spid new bishopric—

Resolvedj 1. That the Synod of the Diocese of Ohristchurch does hereby formally and expressly assent to the subdivision of this l)iocese, and to the constitution and foundation of the 6ee of Dunedin. 2. That the Diocese of Dunedin shall comprise the southern portion of the present Diocese of Christchurch, being the Provinces of Otago and Southland as now by law defined. " The Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch seconded the resolutions, which were agreed to without discussion. -.

Mr Reynolds, M.H.R. for Dunedin, is iadebted to the Wellington correspondent of the Nelson Examiner for the following : Mr Hall had occasion to make reference to the Customs duties of Otago, saying that a considerable sum was raised in that Province on goods consumed in Southland, whereupon the honorable member for Dunedin and Speaker of the Provincial Council of Otago, in direct violation of Parliamentary etiquette, which forbids that any interruption should be offered during the delivery of the Financial Statement, rose and asked to be allowed to make an explanation. The laughter which the honorable gentleman usually provokes when he rises to speak, was on this occasion coupled with indignant cries of " Order," from which, however, he seemed trt denve a certain degree of comfort ; j ;ers and groans apparently having the same eff-ct upon him that is produced on an ordinary mortal by cheers and signs of aoprobation. After receiving a well-merited rebuke from the Chairman, this Dunedin oddity resumed his seat with the self-satisfied air of a man who feels that he has completely fulfilled his mission.

Writing from Blacks No. 1, our special reporter states that 426 acres of land have been broken up, and the farmers are at present busily engaged putting in the season's crop. Although no estimate has been made as to the relative proportions of each, the crops being put in are chiefly oats and potatoes. As compared with the quantity of land under cultivation last year, the above shows an increase of over 200 *cres ; and had the Land Regulations been & little more favourable for permanent settlement, even that quantity would have been largely increased. Two parties, at least, desirous of investing a moderate amount of capital in the pmchasft of land, are spoken of as having left the district within the last few months, after spending some time in the attempt to secure a proper tenure for their selections ; and it is said that others, similarly situated, will be f ore long be compelled to follow their example. The soil is admirably adapted for growing wheat, but the want of a flourmill within easy access of the district, deters the agriculturist from making any effort to raise that crop. As to the fertility of the soil, the average yield is put down at about sixty bushels cereals to the acre ; and in one instance, at least, 4£ tons of root crop were taken off an acre of ground.

A graphic! sketch of a leading member of Parliament is contributed to the Nelson Colonist by its Wellington Correspondent He says :— I was walking along the street with a member of the House, when ''Ge. neral" Mete Kingi came out of a clothing shop, where he had been getting attired in a hlue coat and vest with brass buttons. He said he had seen me in Wakatu, and shook hands with my companion and myself, pointing in childish glee to his new coat and waistcoat. After some palaver, he said to the gentleman who accompanied me, " Makee me the lend five heren." "Ka hore the money, I have not a shilling in mv pnoket." was tie reply. What tien did this General do ? In the open street he proceeded to feel the pockets of the gentleman, outside and ia ! In downright astonishment, I ejaculated, " And this is the material to which Mr Stafford is indebted for his majorities — this, and Gaol Commissioners, and grateful friends J" I saw this same Mete Kin-n last night sneak up to the Government bench two or three times, and address the Native Minister in exactly the same manDer he employed when asking for ss. Whether or not he was tryin? to negotiate a loan I do not know, but at all events the Ministry know the value of these coloured members. I have heird that all four have been honoured guests at the table of the Native Minister, whose " pure love and affection for the race are proverbial."

Mr J. A. Ewen, of the firm of Sargood and Co., left on Tuesday by the Alhambra, en route to Europe. On the previous day the employes of the firm presented him with an addreae. It is very neatly and ar^stically engrossed and illuminated, and the style in which it is got up reflects great cvedit on the artist, Mr Weston* The following is the inscription : — Dear Sir — We take advantage of your leaving the Colony of NewZe&land, onavi«itto the Fatherland, to give exprps'ion to the esteem and respect we entertain for yon as an employer, and as a man. In the first capacity, we have ever found you all we could wish, stimulating to perseverance, and encouraging and rewarding merit ; in the aeoond, kindness and courteousneas to all has. been the nil* of your Hfe ; neither have we been indifferent witnesses of your public- services, and we feel sure we but speak the sentiments of many when we say that few men here have laboured more zealously to ameliorate the condition of the Buffering, the orphan, and generally of those not so happily circumstanced as yourself : while every institution that has for its object the good of New Zealand in general, and Otago in particular, haa found, in yon a warm supporter. We trust that the same Providence which has hitherto watched over you, may take you Home and bring yon bacfc in, safety, and

continue to you the same -welfare and pros* Eerity in the future which you have enjoyed x the past*

A rush haa taken place at Brighton in the Province of Nelson. Tha following particulars regarding the discovery of payable gold and the capabilities of the district, are given in a report recently furnished by the Warden, Mr Charles Broad, to the Government representative at Westport : — Some nine weeks ago, a prospecting party was fitted out by che towns-people, for a period of three months, to prospect the country lying south of Brighton towards the Razor Bac£ It would appear that though they have succeeded in finding the colour nearly every where they tried, it was not until Friday last they felt themselves warranted incoming in and reporting the finding of payable gold. The locality is to the south of Brighton some five and a-half miles, four and a-hilf of which have to be traversed along a very rough sea beach, involving the climbing over rooka, until a creek (known as Buttlers creek), is reached, and which has to be followed up for a mile through very rough country. The gold is found in about the centre of a narrow spur coming up from a sfceep precipitous second range. The greatest depth of sinking is 25 feet -, and there is a depth of from three feet to five feet six in-hea, of very rinh sand. A large number of miners have visited the ground, who all concur in fixing the amount likely to be yielded from Rochford's claim at from LI 5 to L2O per week per man. There is no extent of ground on the spur where Rochford has struck gold ; but there are a variety of second spurs adjoining, which will, no doubt, be thoroughly prospected. I have seen some of the sand from the claim, and can vouch for its richness

We mentioned a few days ago, that Constable Hunt and Mr Colclough had been stabbed by a lunatic at the Cardrona ; but that the wounds were not, in either case, likely to endanger life. We now learn that Alfred Motherstone, the Junatic, was a labourer, and had for some years lived alone, in a hut at Butcher's Plat. Of late, he had frequently threatened violence to those who approached his hut. The police were communicated with, and Constable Hunt was sent from the Arrow to arrest the man. On the morning of the 10th inst. Hunt, who was on foot, went near the. hut, being followed by Mr Colclough, on - horseback. Hunt called to Motherstone, who was in the hut, " Come out, I want to speak to you." Motherstone rushed out "like a mad dog," itissaid at Hunt, who struck h : m witb/a stick. Motherstone retreated, but almost instantly made a second attack, and again he retreated on being struck with the st'ek. Hunt fired his revolver twice over the mad. man's head, thinking so to frighten him ; but the man rushed on again, knocked Hunt down, and stabbed him repeatedly with a large knife, like that used by butchers. Hunt cried, " I'm stabbed ;" and then Colclough ran in, and, in attempting to ward off a blow aimed at Hunt, he himself received a wound 7m. to Sin. long, and very deep, on the fleshy part of the left arm. Some men who came up carried Hunt to the hut of a man named Kearns while others overpowered Motherstone, and handcuffed him. Hunt was very waak front loss of blood j and Colclough r led so freely, that he fainted from exhaustion while walking home. Tt wa3 found that Hunt had sis nasty wounds on the left side of the back. Some of the madman's blows with the knife were struck at Hunt in front ; but Hunt's life was nnst providentially saved by the knife striking his watch, -which was very thoroughly shattered —Motherstone is to be brought down to the Dunedin Lunatic Asy. lum.

The proprietor of the Taranaki Herald gives a tearful account of his sufferings by the fire which, originating in Saarland's store on the 6th iast., overtook his office :— - Our printing office was unfortunately t&e next building, aud although there was aa opening of about thirty feet between them, yet such was the intensity of the body of flame that the office was several times ocj fire ; and it was only by the almost superhuman efforts of those assisting that it was not totally destroyed j as it is, the damage done to the building is very considerable On arriving ourselves at the scene of the disaster, we found the printing office door had been opened, and that several persons were trying to save the plant ;y; y removing it from the building. The presses were all unshipped, cases full of letter, galleys af type, and the standing forms of the newspaper and jobg were re* moved indiscriminately. None but a printer o*n possibly conceive the destruction theplant has suffered by thiß removal. Whea we saw the cases full of type put on the ground with a jerk, and the type spring over the sides, we shuddered again. We arrived too late to prevent the presses being takent down, so, we fear that the bolts, ecrewnu,t», and other small pieces are distri- . buted about the pl&' e> and we have great doubt if half of them will be recovered. The persons who assisted to move the things from the office must not? thmk that we are throwing any blame on them alter their kindness; we are only describing the though s which would arieein the mind of any practical printer arriving on the spot and witnessing the plant of a printing office being removed by unskilful hands in a hasty manner Printers will understand our feelings when we tell them that we found, a sack, containing w&od letters, remains of packages, of. typa which had been tied irpv i column rules, sidesticks, fancy letter, a tin* of ink (opened), packs of printing cards* (new), &0., indiscriminately mixed,