News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1082, 24 August 1872, Page 14

News of the Week.

Skylarks are reported to be spreading in Canterbury, Steps are being taken to establish a co* operative store at the Thames. The miners at the Totara Lagoon, Greydistrict, are making from £6 to £17 per week, each. Between 35 and 40 of the navvies employed on the Picton and Blenheim railway are on strike. The Sons of Temperance are receiving considerable accessions to their numbers in Canterbury. At the Moeraki Downs, Canterbury, a child has died from sucking the heads of lucifer matches. A female ziphoid whale, believed to be a new species, was caught in Lyttelton harbour the other day. A pumping engine of 300 horse-power haa been erected by the Imperial Crown Company at the Thames. Mr Curtis lately expressed it as his opinion that the Lunatics Act " was drawn by one of the lunatics themselves." The Arrow Observer understands that a branch agency of the Bank of New Zealand will shortly be opened at Cardrona. It is gazetted that, ' on and after the Ist September, the post office now known as; " Tokomairiro " will be called "Milton." The Ovens Company, near Alexandra, are malting a massive stone breakwater in the Manuherikia river, to divert the stream from their claim. The citizens of Christchurch are agitating for a reduction in the price of gas. The Mayor is to be asked to call a public meeting to consider the subject. Mr Pox is now one of the Vice-Presidents of the United Kingdom Alliance, as also is Professor Rolleston, a brother of the Super* intendent of Canterbury. A seam of coal, 17 feet thick, has been discovered in some land purchased by an English company, and situate at Maramara, in the Province of Auckland. Mr Reynolds, according to a statement made by Wi Parata in the House of Representatives the other day, is of opinion that one European is equal to three Maoris. Six or eight restless spirits, lately engaged in mining on the banks of the Karamea river, on the West Coast, have left for the South African diamond fields. The number of men in New Zealand under military training is set down as follows : — Militia, 4,263, Volunteers,' 6,568; Armed Constabulary, 724 ; total 11,555. We notice that the first show of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society of Otago will be held in the neighbourhood of Dunedin during the last week of December. The post office at Westport has been removed on rollers to another part of the town, beyond the reach of the sea. The gaol is shortly to be removed in like manner. The first meeting of the Kaikorai Road Board under the new Ordinance was held on the 15th inst. Mr William Barr was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Curtis declared in the House of Representatives the other day that Mr Fox, during his visit to the West Coast last autumn, "consorted almost entirely with publicans." A miner, named James Wilson, fell down a shaft 60 feet deep, at Half Ounce, in the Grey district, a few days ago. He escaped without further injury than a severe shaking. It was stated a few days ago in the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, that* that city was guarded by one policeman during the' day, and by two constables and a sergeant at night. The Independent, in noticing " another important return " called for by Mr Murray, says that he has been placing " a vast mountain of statistics" within the reach, of hon. members. A great many lambs have died in the Tokomairiro district during the late snow storm, and stock of all kinds which have been exposed to it in the paddocks have suffered severely. According to the Press, at no time in the history of Christchurch has there been such activity in the matter of building — both of private residences and mercantile establishments — as at present. The unfortunate little infant, Eccles, who, at the early age of seven days, was accidentally struck by its father in a drunken scuffle between him and its mother, is now out of danger, and is doing favourably. His Honour the Deputy-Superintendent has appointed Mr A. It. Eva to be Collector of the tolls, dues, and wharfages at the several jetties at Dunedin and I>ort Chalmers, vice Mr George Grant, resigned.

John Christie, who escaped from Invercar* gill Gaol on the morning of the 10th inst., Was captured in the Crown Ranges, near the Mataura, on Sunday evening last, by SubInspector Fox and Mounted-Constable Purdue. We learn with much pleasure that an order for several pieces of ■ Mosgiel tweed and Mosgiel plaidings has been received from Britain ; and also that a Glasgow house sent for patterns, which were despatched by the last mail. A correspondent of a phristchurch paper writes :—": — " To give an idea of the severe frost at Akaroa on the 2nd inst., I may state that the steam-launch Pioneer had to cut through about half a mile of ice on her pas* sage to the head of the harbour." In the passenger list of the Alhambra we observe the name of Dr Paley, the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums of Victoria, and who has come to New Zealand at the request of the General Government, to inspect and report upon the Lunatic Asylums of the Colony. The number of applications for passages for nominated immigrants made during the twelve months ending on the 30th June last was 1514, of which 613^- were from the North Island, and 900£ from the Middle Island. The number of applications in Otago was 419. A man named Palmer Bass got his left leg broken, at Catlin's River, about two weeks ago, by a slab of wood falling upon it, in a saw-mill. The leg was set by Dr Manning, and Bass was brought round to Dunedin, and admitted to the Hospital. He is now doing well. The small-pox (says the Age of sth August) has been" rather an expensive thing at Sandhurst. The city has been put to an expense of nearly £1000 in its attempts to stay or eradicate the disease. The Government will be asked to recoup Sandhurst for this outlay. A concert was held at the Blueskin Schoolhouse on Friday evening last, hi aid of Robert Sutherland, whose right arm was severely injured some time ago by the scutching machine at the flax mills. The entertainment was a success, and about £40 was raised for this benevolent object. The son of a farmer near Leeston, Canterbury, was standing close to an oat-crusher a iew days ago, when his coat was caught in it, and before the machine could be stopped •one of the boy's arms was dragged into it and mangled in a fearful manner, "the bone bare almost from wrist to shoulder. " At the close of the regular business of Xoyal Alexandra Lodge, I. 0.0. F., on Wednesday, the photographs of the officers of the Lodge for the past term, enclosed in a handsome frame, were presented to the members by P.G. Bro. Clifford. The Secretary was instructed to forward a letter of thanks to Bro. Clifford. The Provincial Government of Hawke's Bay, we learn from a Parliamentary paper recently issued, have reserved a block of 10,000 acres of bush, land abutting on the Ruataniwha Plains, for a special settlement, and instructions have been sent to the AgentGeneral to send out 100 families of Highlanders to take up the block. We publish in our present issue telegraphic summaries of the Public Works Statement of Mr Ormond and the Financial Statement of Mr Vogel, both of which were made in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. It will be noticed that the House agreed to the proposed reduction of the stamp duty on receipts to a penny. Accounts from the Marewhenua goldfield are very encouraging. Water is plentiful, and the miners are all hard at work, and have good prospects. Several races are hi - course of construction, and another hotel and . store have been erected. Under these cir- • cumstances it is not surprising to learn that :all on the field are in good spirits, and full of ".hope. The Press says, with reference to the Premier's abandonment of the Education Bill : — "It seems that under the present system nearly 20,000 children in New Zealand are growing up uneducated, and we certainly do not consider that a result which warrants the congratulatory tone assumed by Mr Fox, or with which the Colony ought to rest contented." In opening the proceedings of the District Court at Invercargill a few days ago, Judge Ward had to express regret at being unable to appear in official costume. He rode overland from Clutha— a journey in which the •conveyance of official paraphernalia was impossible ; but " the present state of the roads ( •would scarcely tempt him to repeat the experiment." According to Inspector Brohara, of the Auckland police, the Province of Auckland J can boast of more vagrants and drunkards than any other Province of New Zealand. | As, however, many of these persons have j become insane or have died from the effects i of intemperance, the Inspector looks fora reduction in the returns of vagrancy and (drunkenness. The number of votes given for the respective , candidates at the Caversham election lor the Provincial Council was, at the official declaration of the poll made on Monday, declared to be :— For Robert Stout, 148 ; Henry Smith Fish, 109; Richard Henry Xeary, 90. Mr Stout was declared to have been duly elected. Mr Stout attended and thanked the electors. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company, trading between San Francisco and Japan and China, has apparently become alive to the superiority o£ iron over woodeii steamers. From, a late number of the San Francisco bulletin we learn that the Company in ques.

tion is having three iron steamers built for it at Glasgow, at a cost of 249,290d015., or £50,000 hi round numbers, each. Referring to Ewing's case, the Drybread correspondent of the Tuapeka Times says :—: — " Residents in Dunedin can have little idea of the annoyance and expense that European miners are put to in protecting their property from the pilfering Celestial. Since their appearance here, the tail-races have all to be watched at night during the process of washing up, at great expense to the owners." A correspondent writes: — "Fashions in bonnets are 'continually changing, to suit empty heads and for the good of trade. So thpy are hi medicine. Do you know that the latest out in the treatment of stomach diseases is the administration of raw meat sandwiches ? While, in veterinary medicine, sick dogs are treated with well-cooked meats and their sores are poulticed with beef tea." The skins of 17 Norwegian birds and two animals were received at the Museum a few days ago, being in exchange for a number of similar specimens of New Zealand birds sent to the Museum at Christiania, through Mr Graff, late of Dunedin. Some of the birds are of rare beauty, and will, when stuffed and mounted, form an additional attraction to our local exhibits. The animals are the Lynx and Lemur. The Kaikoura Herald denies that pleuropneumonia exists either in that or in any other district of the Province of Marlborough, as was lately asserted in a paragraph that went the round of the Press, appearing in our columns as well as those of many other journals. Our contemporary calls upon us to contradict the statement, and we therefore have pleasure in giving publicity to his denial of its accuracy. A large brass plate, bearing a ver}^ artistically engraved inscription, has been fitted into the Cargill Drinking Fountain. It is, we believe, the largest piece of engraving in brass which has been done here. The letters are beautifully formed, with numerous flourishes, and are filled hi with blue and red enamel. The work was executed by Mr James Brown, who is now engaged in engraving another plate for the fountain. A recent number of the Canterbury Government Gazette states that during the I quarter ending June 30, the total number of Government schools in that Province was 56, besides 16 aided ones. In these schools IIS teachers were employed — 78 being male and 40 female. The highest number of scholars on the books was 5237 — 2952 boing male and 2285 female. The average attendance was 3578 — 2054 being male and 1524 female. A serious accident occurred to Mr Irving, Waste Lands Board Ranger, at Green Island, at about 6 o'clock on Tuesday evening. As he was riding past the Kaikorai Hotel at a rapid pace, he was thrown from his horse. Some men who perceived the accident came up, and found him to be insensible. They took him to a house, where he was attended on Wednesday by Dr Inglis, who found that he was suffering from concussion of the brain. We take the following from the Wellington Independent of the 14th inst: — "We understand that Mr Alfred Jackson, who for many years past has held the position of manager of the Dunedin branch of the Union Bank, has been appointed to a similar post at Wellington, in room of the late Mr Alexander Kerr ; and that Mr William Jamieson, the branch accountant, who has been locum tenens at the Wellington office during the past two years, will resume his former duties of accountant." The flax, hemp, or phormium industry, by whichever name it is to be called, appears by the official returns to have fallen off greatly in 1871. In 1870 there were exported 5470 A tons of phormium, of the value of £132,57S,~whereas in 1871 there were exported only 4248^ tons, of the value of £90,611. It is not in the aggregate amount only, however, that a decrease is apparent, but also in the average value per ton, which in lS7owas £24 4s Sfd, and in 1871 fell to £21 6s 7 id. The case of Burns v. the Otago and Southland Investment Company, heard in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, was an appeal from the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin. The respondents were plaintiffs in the Court below, and claimed £75 interest on a loan. The Magistrate allowed the claim. The defendant below appealed against the decision. Mr Barton appeared for the appellant yesterday, and Mr James Smith for the respondents. After argument, the appeal was dismissed, with costs. The Nelson Colonist reprints from our columns Mr Hawthorne's recent letter on the New Zealand University Scholarship examination, and in doing so makes the following remarks by way of preface :— " In the face of such a charge, and in justice to all concerned, we deem the publication of the marks imperative ; and we trust the examiners will lose no time in satisfying a desire which is very reasonable and very generally felt. We are authorised to state that the College masters are unanimously of this opinion." The Evening Post of the 9th inst, says :— "It is evident that the greatest looseness prevails in the transaction of the business-.of .the Colony. Repeatedly Ministers have to excuse their incorrect statements, and want of knowledge, by saying that important papers have been lost. Only last evening, Mr Vogel made such an admission, and MiReeves yesterday afternoon confessed that, though he bad given instructions six weeks ago to an officer under him to make certain surveys, he was unable, to say that the .work had been begun yet."

A meeting of the ratepayers of Leith Ward was held at White's Hotel, Albany street, on Monday, to consider what steps should be taken to have the old Botanic Gardens _ put in order. After discussion, the opinion generally expressed was that | the reserve should be*" made over by a Crown Grant to the Corporation ; that a deputation consisting of Messrs Leary, Grant, Meenan, Sherwin, Harrop, and Williams, wait upon the Mayor and City Council to present the petition, and to request them to urge the matter upon the Government. The usual monthly parcel of magazines for the Athenaeum came to hand by the late mail, by which also the following books were received: — The fourth volume of "Middlemarch " ; " Erewhon, or Over the Range " ; a translation of Gotthelfs, " The Soul and Money"; Mark Twain's "Roughing it," "Innocents at Home," "Innocents Abroad," "Jumping Frog," and " Screamers " ; Bret Harte's "That Heathen Chinee," and other poems, and " Stories of the Sierras." Californian literature, it will be seen, is very well represented in this month's importation. Speaking of Mr C. R. Carter, who appears to be Dr Featherston's chief emigration agent in Britain— at all events he gets the highest salary — the Evening Post says that he "immortalised himself by the hopeless blunders he made over other such public matters as he has been engaged in." Mr Carter appears to be likely to maintain this reputation, for it was he who passed the navvies recently imported by Mr Brogden, and who have done nothing but get drunk and cause disturbances since they 'landed in New Zealand. One of them is at present serving a sentence of two months' imprisonment for endeavouring to dash a man's brains out against a stone. The following is an analysis by Professor Black of a sample of coal found on Mr James Baird's property, Deborah Bay :—": — " Specific gravity, 1.31; coke, 40.72 ; fixed carbon, 37.81 ; volatile hydrocarbons, 35.75 ; ash, 2.91 ; sulphur, 2.09 ; water, 19.78. This is j a hard, very compact, brownish black coal. It possesses considerable lustre ; breaks j with a splinteiy conchoidal fracture. Its | powder and streak are nearly black. The ash is red, owing to the presence of the | higher oxide of iron, derived probably from oxidised iron pyrites. The percentage of water reported was expelled at 110 centigrade (230deg. F.) The specimen analysed was not, previous to analysis, subjected to any drying process." A startling statement was made by the Hon. Captain Fraser in the Legislative Council on the 7th inst., in the adjourned debate on Ministerial Offices. We quote from Hansard : — " Recently, at the Dunedin Gaol, had it not been for the behaviour of the gaoler, and the loyalty, good conduct, and extraordinary bravery of the traitor Tauroa, the chief of a tribe confined in the Gaol, the j well-swept and clean apartments of that Gaol would have been deluged with blood. The danger that had been so happily averted, | and to which he would not more particularly allude, had been caused by the proper channel of communication between the Gaol authorities and responsible Ministers not being properly defined." We have been shown a number of very fine pearls, obtained at the pearl fisheries off the coast of Western Australia, and sent from a neighbouring Province to a gentleman in Dunedin. They vary in size, from the dimensions of small shot to those of a goodsized pea, the largest of the collection being a truly beautiful specimen, and, to all appearance, quite worth the value put upon it — between £30 and £40. The fisheries are at present carried on by means of native divers, but we believe that this clumsy mode is to be superseded by obtaining a European diver with complete diving apparatus. The native divers are in considerable danger from j the attacks of the tiger sharks," who, we suppose, will be somewhat astonished at the I outre apparition of a European diving dress in their. dominions. The Green Island Mohawks have been at their tricks again. While a respectable resident, named Pringle, was going to church on Sunday night, he was set upon by three young ruffians, knocked down and kicked in a savage manner. The man, who gallantly defended himself against such odds, recognised among his assailants a notorious character who has been engaged in frays of a similar description on other occasions, and whose identity was easily detected by the [ vileness of the language he employed. The scoundrels hearing assistance coming, scampered off, leaving Pringle with sundry marks of the treatment he had received. We should be glad to hear of these valiant youths being forcibly employed in breaking stones in the Botanical Gardens, instead of breaking heads at Green Island. A concert in aid of the prize fund of the Green Island Day School took place there on Wednesday, hi the schoolhouse, which was filled to excess. The chair was occupied by Mr Thomas Howarth. The programme con» sisted of vocal music, readings, and recitations, which appeared throughout to please the audience. The greater parb of the work fell on the Dunedin Tonic Sol Fa Association, who seem to be ever ready upon such occasions to give their services. The Assoc iation was conducted by Mr GeorgeTSrown- ' lee, A.C., and several pieces were sung in a highly creditable manner. The parts were well sustained, the members being well regulated. The friends of this system of musical notation seem determined to spread its influence, so far as it is in their power to do so, and are apparently meeting with success. The meeting separated a little after ten o'clock,

The total strength of the Armed Constabu* lary at the close of the financial year, on the 30th June last, was 724, of whom 37 were officers,, 93 non-commissioned officers, and 594 constables. These figures include the Auckland police. The number of horses belonging to the force on the same date was 132. During the year, ]58 men were enrolled for the force, and 200 were struck off its strength. Of the latter no less than GO were dismissed for misconduct. High as this latter figure is, however, it is considerably less than the number similarly returned during the previous year, which was 104. The occupations of the force are of a very miscellaneous character, varying from chasing Te Kooti and performing ordinary police duty, to sawing timber, mowing hay, sowing grass and potatoes, building huts, prospecting for gold, making roads, driving drays, fencing grave -yards, &c, &c. The Mount Ida Chronicle of Friday week reports: — " Since our last issue, snow and frost have been the predominating influences, thereby depriving the miner of his opportunity of washing-up, and suspending all mining operations. On all sides we hear of coaches delayed, passages lost, and hairbreadth escapes from suffocation, in consequence of the depth of the snow. Cobb and Co.'s coach arrived here on Tuesday evening fifteen hours behind time, and was unable to proceed till next day. How Nettleford managed to plough his way through the snow we have yet to learn. In connection with the present bad weather we have full authority in stating that a miner, resident hi Speck Gully, on his return home, was unable to find his ordinary domicile, the whole affair being buried in snow. A favourite dog was, as we are informed, left chained up to guard the hut, and was also buried up in his kennel. His fate we have not yet ascertained. " A deposit of coal, which is said to be equal in quality to that of Newcastle, has lately been discovered between Catlin's River and Brothers Point. Our informant, Mr John Baxter, an old resident in the Province, saya that there is a good harbour at the spot, with an entrance 66 feet wide. On getting inside, out of danger from the sea, the channel narrows between a reef of rocks, but if one rock were blasted, it would leave a clear channel of 30 feet. Past this point the channel expands and spreads out into a bay 200 yards wide. The seam of coal commences about 200 yards from the entrance in the cliffs on the starboard side, close to the beach, and is of a hard nature. It may be within the recollection of some of our readers, that coal was brought up from Waikava about 13 years ago in the Oberon schooner, by Captain Henry and Mr John Baxter, and that they reported at the same time the discovery. There is sufficient water in the harbour for vessels drawing 7 feet. It is situated six miles north of the Brothers. A sad and fatal accident occurred at Wickliffe Bay on Thursday week, by a little boy of only 'six years of age accidentally shooting his young sister, only two and a half years old. They were the children of Mr William Garrick, a settler. Both parents were absent from home at the time, the deceased and another sister being left with the boy. The father had left an old fowlingpiece loaded, but not capped, in an outhouse, so as to be out of the way. The boy, however, by some means or other, got hold of the gun, and not knowing that it was loaded, went to his father's drawer, put on a cap, and fired at his little sister, Clementina. The gun went off, and, being loaded with shot, its contents entered the left side of the abdomen, and came out above the hip-bone on the right side, making a hole of about two inches in the partition of the cottage. The mother, who was not far distant at the time, hearing the report, at once rushed home, only iv time to see her child breathe its last in her arms. An inquest was held on Saturday, by Dr O'Donoghue, Coroner, when a verdict of " Accidentally killed by a gunshot wound " was returned. The Wellington correspondent of the Wanganui Herald writes as follows: — "Mr M'Lean, in reply to Wi Parata, has promised to elevate two Maoris to the Upper House. Hurrah ! There is some hope for this branch of the Legislature after all. The Ministry would do well to go a little further if they desire to deal impartially with both races. How is it that no Maori wahines are elevated to the Council, while so many of our own old ladies are there ? There is a rumour that the two Maoris who are to. be appointed will join the Ministry, and 'that Mr M'Lean has ordered the usher of the black rod to lay hi a stock of rum and tobacco I for the appointed dignitaries ; but I am inclined to put these stories down as canards." i A somewhat unusual case of gratitude is related by the Nelson Examiner as follows : — "A worthy J.P., resident not ten miles from Nelson, was lately accosted in the street by a respectable-looking individual, who, on the good magistrate failing to recognise him, merely said, ' Don't you recollect you gave me two months ' at such a place and such a time ? On the explanation which followed, it turned out that the interlocutor had been brought up before the magistrate as a runaway sailor, and that during the consequent incarceration, he bad! resolved on mending his ways, a resolution he had practically carried into effect, as manifested not only by his comfortable appearance, but by his grateful recognition of his judge and quasi benefactor." A bullock in a hotel bar is about as much out of place as it proverbially is in a china shop. The other day an unruly bullock, which had just been landed from a steamer, ruslw4

at a man named James Thompson, near the Thames Hotel at Shortland. The Thames Advertiser thus relates what followed :—: — " Thompson fled into the hotel for refuge, but was pursued by the bullock, before he could get over the bar the animal pinned him against a partition. One of the horns wounded Thompson severely on the neck, and for a second or two it seemed as if there was no chance of saving him. Mr Rose, the landlord of the hotel, seized a "bucket of water and dashed it in the animal's face, and besides distracting it from the man this caused it to slip on the wet floor. Thompson at once jumped over the bar. A considerable number of bottles were broken before the beast was secured by ropes. It was at length thrown down, secured, and killed." We regret to have to record the death, on Wednesday week, of a very promising young man, John Inglis, eldest son ofjMr James Inglis, settler, Tokomairiro. It appears that on Tuesday, the 6th inst., while driving a pair of horses in the horse power attached to a chaff cutter, and while sitting upon one of the arms, one leg of his trowers caught between the main spur-wheel and the pinion. Before the horses could be stopped, his leg was dragged between the wheels, and very severely lacerated, some of the boues being abo broken and crushed. The doctor was shortly in attendance, aud did all that medical skill could do under the circumstances, It was feared that the lad might be lame for life, but no more serious consoquehceß aeem to have been apprehended. For aoine time the patient seemed to progress very favourably, and to suffer but little pain) although his mind was frequeutly affected. In the beginning of the week, however, mortification set in, but no immediate danger was anticipated. On Wednesday n'ght Dr Ferguson dressed the log, and was in the act of explaining the treatment to be adopted the following day, the patient being quite sensible and speaking to his friends, when he suddenly expired. His death is deeply lamented by all who knew the deceased. The funeral took place on Saturday, and was the largest ever seen in the district. We have been shewn by Mr Nuttall, a gentleman from Melbourne, the plans and specifications of a sub-marine boat and apparatus, designed by Mr Villaine, for digging nnd sluicing under water, and intended to be used ftir that purpose in the gold-yielding rivers of .New Zealand. Judging from the opinions of several engineer.-; in Victoria, including Messrs A. K. Smith, 11. O. Christopherson, W. Blxck, and J. Arnott, we should say that the principle is sound, and if properly carried out, the invention will fully answer the purpose for which it is intended. It might also be advantageously used in the removal of obstructions to navigation and other submariue work. We learn from Mr Nuttall that experiments of a very successful nature were made with this invention in the dock of the Melbourne Gas Company, on ■which occasion several eminent engineers and gentlemen interested in the enterprise descended in the boat and pronounced it a perfect success. Another experiment was alao made in the Yarra River, below the Falls Bridge, in the presence of His Excellency the Governor and a large number of influential gentlemen. All were highly pleased with the success of the invention. The apparatus consists of an iron boat, air and water-tight, capable of being sunk and raised when required, containing compressed atmospheric air sufficient f»r the support of three men for six hours, fitted internally with thirty feet of sluice, and all the machinery necessary for working the vessel and conducting the mining, at any depth down to eighty feet. We certainly consider the project well worthy of the consideration of our miners and others interested in river mining enterprises. A correspondent, writing to the Wakatip Mail from Cardrona, 'under date 12th inst., says :—": — " Since I last wrote from here work has almost entirely been suspended during five or six weeks, but ia now being resumed in all directions. We have never expe- • rienced so long and cold a winter. The deep lead looks very promising. Messrs Halhday, Wigmore, and party, have recently struck gold on the high reef — about 30 feet | sinking — aud have sent to Victoria for trucks and suitable plant to wdtk the claim. With this exception — there are no fresh finds of late. Messrs Allan, Lawson, and party (the great water pioprietors), are aboiit commencing their first washing-up of their new speculation — the Atlanta sluicing claim, Branch Creek — which they formerly purchased from the Chinese ; let ua hope the result will exceed their expectations. Messrs Bouiton and party, of Branch Creek, are also on the point of washing-up, with very good prospects before them. Messrs Colclough and Macuonald's, Cruffel, has not, I believe, quite realised thfiir expectations, and they are rather inclined to jib. 1 may mention that provisions are a little more reasonable than they were. Messrs M'Dougall and Smith— an enterprising Arrow firm — having purchased the business of the late Mr Patterson, have started on a very extensive scale. The want of a good storekeeper has been felt here for a long time past. Mr Bond has erected a commodious building on Butcher's Flat, which is intended, I believe, for a hotel. We experienced a very heavy fall of snow, which will stop the traffic between here and Arrow for a few days. The snow polos on the Crown Range are like angels' visits, few and iar between."

Hare hunting is to be commenced in Auckland as soon as bsaglcg for the purpose CW be obtained,