THE BULLER.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 623, 13 October 1863, Page 2

THE BULLER.

DEAD BODY FOUND IN THE LAGOON. On the morning of the 3rd September the dead body of a man was found in the Lagoon near the mouth of the Buller river^ by a shooting party, consisting of Messrs. Greenfield, Walmsiey, Jennins, and Walker. In a report of the circumstance by Mr. Greenfield to the Superintendent, it appears that /after crossing the river and entering the Lagoon in a canoe, Mr. Walker and Mr. Jennins landed, while Mr. Greenfield and Mr. Walmsiey paddled up the Lagoon. Mr. Walker called from the shore that they had found a dead body: and those in the canoe pulled ashore and went to the body, which was lying above high water mark, and examined it. "It was," says Mr. Greenfield, " the body of a slight made man, about 5 feet 9 inches high, and clothed as follows :-^ Bedford cord trousers (small cprd),flannei under-shirt, blue woollen-knitted waistcoat, light half-Wellington boots; elastic belt; the shirt and waistcoat were washed over the head. In the pockets we found a leather covered meerschaum pipe, and an old pocket knife. I removed a portion of the shirt from the face to see the state of the features, and found them very much knocked about, the nose being smashed in; and the face altogether beyond recognition. Wecameto the conclusion that the man had met his death by drowning, and that the body had been in the water about three weeks or a month. . We re-crossed the river and I engaged a carpenter to make a coffin and bury the body. The burial -took place about five o'clock, Mr. W. A. Blundeli reading the burial service." There is no news of interest. Post-office Appointment.—We learn that Mr. Wm. Gray, of Nelson post-office has been offered and has accepted the appointment of secretary to the Post-office of Otago province. This is a newly-estab-lished office, and the appointment of Mr. Gray is a considerable step in advance to that gentleman. His selection by the General Government is a proof of their judgment and appreciation of his deserts, with -which the public of Nelson has now been long familiar. We do not know who his successor is to be, but it will tie no easy task for him to fill the vacancy which Mr. Gray's removal creates in Nelson. The Nautilus.—This smart little schooner, built at Riwaka, some twelve months ago, and at present belonging to Mr. Greenwood,. and whose sailing qualities we have previously noticed as being very creditable to our colonial ship-building, has unfortunately been cast ashore in Palliser Bay, Wellington. During the night of the Bth, she got so far inside that at daybreak she was unable to weather either point through losing some canvas at the moment that she appeared to be succeeding in doing so, and the anchor shortly after parting she drifted on the beach. Captain Holmes, who is one of the most careful masters out of this port, together with the crew and passengers, succeeded in reaching the shore in safety. The hull of the vessel, it is said, may possibly be recovered; in the meantime Captain Holmes awaits in. Wellington the instructions, of the shipper. She was laden from Canterbury with wheat, which was destined for Wellington. We believe that the vessel was not insured. Nsw Zealand Plumbago Mining Company.— The prospectus of this company, with a concise but fully explanatory report of the works by Mr. Charles, Wiesenhavern, the manager, has been published in our advertising .columns. We have seen some samples of the " black lead " with the effects of its polishing on ironmongery. Ar* brilliant polish is produced, emulating Day and Martin's brightest blacking. * Pencil lead has also been discovered, of consider* able fineness, and from the nature of the lode, the ■ deeper the shaft the finer in quality the lead becomes. From a large box of the puddled ore broken into small loose pieces, we selected at random four small' nuggets, and tried their quality on paper, and found them excellently adapted for the rapid writing which newspaper men frequently require to practise. With one of these the manuscript of this paragraph is written with ease, rapidity, and clearness. The ore from which these specimens are taken is not given out as pencil lead, and therefore we may expect some very excellent samples on a careful selection from the finest lots obtained. A considerable number of the shares are already taken up, and- the provisional directors are sanguine of the success.of the company, and the rapid purchase of all the shares. . Otago Volunteebs »b Auckland and Tabanaki.—The Airedale, which arrived here from Canterbury, Otago, and the Bluff, on Saturday morning, brought with her 39 additional volunteers from Otago, on their way to Taranaki and Auckland. This detachment fully warrant the enconiums which have been passed on the Otago volunteers. We understand that Captain Lockett has obtained a body of 28 volunteers under the recent ordinance granting land in addition to pay for a period of service. Captain Lockett proceeds with his contingent to Taranaki and Auckland in the Airedale this evening; and we - are informed that 15 of the men will take service at Taranaki, and the remainder will proceed to Auckland. — Coloniat, Sept 15. . . ' The Volunteers to the Colonial Dirno - Force.—The Nelson contingent to this force, collected by Captain Lockett here, joined the Otago,. body m the AiredaleonTuesdaynight. They numbered < about thirty men who have volunteered under the recent Defence Force Ordinance. They were accompanied from the town to the beach by the Rifle Volunteer Band. A large crowd collected and went . down the Haven-road with the Volunteers, who wen received on the wharf with cheers which were echoed : by their brother volunteers on board the Airedale.' - After some little time for refreshment they proceeded ? on board, where some slight difficulty was experienced _.' in making the muster roll coincide with' the numbers present, the vessel was got under way, and with % - parting cheer steamed out of the harbor. Captain Lookett has gone with the men to the Nortii,'