THE OTHER PROVINCES' NEWS

Colonist, Volume XIV, Issue 1385, 3 January 1871, Page 5

THE OTHER PROVINCES' NEWS

We are glad to hear that the hon. Mr. Fox has almost entirely recovered from his recent illness, which was not sunstroke, as reported, but an attack of bronchitis.

Boat Accidents at Auckland. —Sixteen Lives Lost.—The Southern Cross of December 17, says :— "By the arrival of the schooner Sunbeam, from Whangaroa, yesterday, welearn that on 12th instant, a number of natives (14) left Whangaroa (which place they had been visiting), with the intention of returning to, their homes at the North Cape. When some three or four miles outside the heads, the boat capsized, and before assistance could reach them they were all drowned. At the time of the accident a strong wind was blowing, and a very heavy sea running.—Yesterday intelligence was received in town of a boat accident, by which two Europeans are supposod to have met their death. It appears that the two men, who were sawyers, left Ngururu for Matapoa, \a short time back. The boat has since been picked up near Ngururu, but nothing has, from the time of starting, been heard of the two men, who it is feared have been capsized, and so met a watery grave." On December 17, during the stay of the steamer Auckland at the Bay of Islands, Auckland, a serious accident occurred to Mr Edward Halcrowe, ifejjatswain of that vessel. Whilst superintendin|||the shipping of coals into the Auckland, he fell fronrthe gangwuy into the hold of the vessel from which the coal was being taken, and fractured his skull. He expired early the following morning.

Fatal Gttn Accident. —At West Taieri, Otago, a few evenings since, Mr. Reid, a blacksmith, who has been residing in that district during the past nine years, placed in his mouth the barrel of a loaded gun, the nipple of which was obstructed, and which he was attempting to clear. On placing the barrel in his mouth, he blew into it, and then placed a lighted candle close to the nipple. The charge exploded, and entered his mouth, passing through the back of his neck, causing instant death.

Ropama Antonia Tukubangi, a Maori prisoner, died from consumption, at Dunedin, lately.

Mr Justice Gbesson, in his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, at Christchurch, stated that he believed that it is inteuded to make a careful and complete revision of the law of bankruptcy during the next session of the General Assembly.

A telegbam from Napier, dated 30th November, states :—" A report having reached Poverty Bay that Te Kooli had attacked Tokomaru, Henave Potae's people started off in pursuit of him. The report proved to be false, but it occasioned the breaking up. of the sitting of the Native Lands Court."

Poisoned by Tutu.—Eleven bullocks have been poisoned by tutu, at Ashburton Gorge, Canterbury. Seven belonged to a Mr. Bland, and four to a Mr. Boulton.

Killed.—A man named Thomas Graham, has died at Masterton through being thrown from his horse.

At Kaihiku, Otago, a child two years old, fell the other day into the machinery of Mr. Doull's flour mill, and was dreadfully mangled.

Sad Effects of Drink.—The wife and child of a bullock-driver named Tie, living at Waipori diggings, were found dead in their bedroom early on Sunday morning. The mother, who was rather a heavy woman, was lying on the top of the child, which was in its cradle by the side of the bed, and both were quite dead. The woman is said to have been addicted to sfrong liquors, and had been the worse for drink on Friday, though not on Saturday nighl. — Otago Daily Times, November 30. Jurisdiction of the Disteict CoihSt ovbe Infebiob Magisteates as Witnesses.—A case occurred at Greymouth of which apparently the last has not been heard. According to the telegram : — " Mr. Warden Schaw was summoned as a witness in an appeal case at the District Court. Instead of appearing, he sent a letter to the Judge, which his Honor considered was a contempt of court, and he fined Mr. Schaw £10. His Honor ordered the appellants to take action against Mr. Schaw to recover all cost 9of adjournment. The case of appeal was adjourned to the 6th of December." No doubt the District Court has properly large jurisdiction, but suppose ajudge of the District Court were summoned as a witness before the Supreme Court, on the day fixed for holding one of his own Court sittings, what then ? This might be the case with a warden, and at the least it would be awkward.

At the opening of the Criminal Sessions" at Wellington, the other day, Jud«e Johnston in his charge to the Grand Jury commented, on the unsatisfactory arrangements for the punishment of crime at present existing in the Colony, and expressed it as his conviction that the majority of the 250 prisoners convicted of indictable offences last year would emerge from gaol in a worse moral condition, and more dangerous to society, than when they were committed. The proportion of crime to the numbers of the population was as great in New Zealand as in Great Britain, which, considering that there were fewer inducements to crime in the Colony, disclosed a very unsatisfactory condition of affairs. MaJOE Kiohabdbok, it is positively stated, will be » candidate for the Superiotendwqy of Qtago. It

Rtott GrßOUtfi>.-sinhere and Ppulter*a ptafy h|f obtained eighty pounds weight of gold in a terrade at the Sbotover, Otago, recently. An illicit still has been seized by the authorities up the New River s the Grey district. . At Port Chalmers, a man named Thomas Rburt, has been drowned while endeavoring to swim off to his boat. He leaves a wife and family. The late Province of Southland is to be represented by seven members in the Council of the Province of Otago to which it was lately united. The Canterbury Provincial Council have voted a honorarium of £500 to the widow of the late Mr. Selfe, agent for the Colony. Labge mobs of wild cattle are being captured near the Wairarapa district, Wellington. One of ninetyfive head was lately secured and lodged in a paddock. Picton and Blenhhim Railway.— The Press presumes that public meetings will shortlj be held in Picton and Blenheim to discuss the probability of their railway being constructed by an Australian company, and to give publicity to the liberal conditions of the guaiantee offered. Anotheb of the escaped prisoners from Napier gaol (Henry Williams) has been captured. Ttie Maoris caught him and brought him to Napier. Only one *)f the escaped prisoners now remains at large. At Taranaki, the crops of carrots, mangolds, turnips, and onions have been destroyed by black slugs. Cbiminal Libel. —At Wellington, Mr. T. W. L. Travers has lodged a criminal information for libel at the Resident Magistrate's Court, against Mr. J. E. Nathan, of the firm of Jacob Joseph and Co., of that city. Mb. Geoege Shabp, a travelling photographer, has been drowned in the Kakaaia river, Canterbury. He was washed off his horse.

Up to December Ist, the subscriptions for the sufferers by the disastrous fire at Lyttelton, amounted to £1712 16a. 2d.

The late Mb. Jollie. —The Lyttelton Times ga y B .—We regret to learn that Mr. Francis Jollie, of Mount Peel, died on November 30th. No particulars as to the cause of death have yet come to hand. Mr. [ Jollie was one of the leading pioneers of the settlement of New Zealand, having first resided in the Nelson province. He was at one time Nelson agent for the New Zealand Company, and has always taken a prominent part in the public business of the Colony —having been for many years a member of ths General Assembly. Mr. Jollie always took a great interest in the active duties of a settler and his farm at Wakapuwaka, in the Nelson province, was considered the model farm of its day. We believe he was also the first cultivator of the hop in New Zealand, and from the beginning be made, the Nelson hops have already obtained a name in the market. ' Appointments.—From a la'e Gazette we take the following appointments :—H. E. Kenny, Esq, to be Judge of the District Court of Taranaki; C. E. Rawson, Esq, to be Clerk of the same ; Captain Robert Scott Machell, late 62nd Regiment, has been appointed Assistant Private Secretary and Extra Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency, vice Capt. A. M. Smith, resigned; Amelius Morland Smith, Esq, has been appointed Record Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office. At Wanganui, Peter Brown, a fisherman, has been fined. ss. and costs, for mending his net on a Sunday. The Herald remarks—lf Peter Brown did not mend his net on Sunday, he could not catch fish on Monday, aad would lose his day's gains. A horse is saddled and bridled and hired out on Sunday, why does not that disgraceful law which fined a poor fisherman for mending his net on Sunday, take notice of the other equally harmless act ? We think Peter Brown's conscience is considerably easier than his informer's. Refoeted Rush in Maelbobotigh.—A correspondent, writing to us on Thursday last, says:— " Tuere is a report of a rush to the Kaituna Valley. Two men are known to have sold 22 ounces of gold in Blenheim. They are supposed to be working in one of the gorges, but the precise locality is not known. There are severe! parties out in search of them. At Rock Ferry one party is doing well. As they descend the gully, the sinking becomes deeper. There are several shafts going down, and hopes are entertained of them. At Rutland Reef, they are going to commence operations next week to fetch in a water-race, which is necessary for the working of machinery shortly expected. — Press, Nov. 30. HoßTictrLTr/BAi Show at Napier.—The Napier Horticultural Show, held on the 29th November, was a decided success, notwithstanding that it rained all day. Mr. Tiften's citrons, the Bishop of Waiapau's strawberries, Mr. Begg's loquats and show of cherries, were marvellous for this season of the year. The show of vegetables, also, was splendid. Mr. Kinross's show of roses was much admired, although a single rose exhibited by Mr. Kennedy gained the prize. The Bishop of Waiapu's collection of ferns attracted much attention. The prize for the best hand bouquet was awarded to Miss Steduian. The Volunteer Band attended during the day. Was News Extra of the Otago Daily Times were sold in several cases by outsiders at Port Chalmers for 2s. 6d. and 3s. 6d., the latter price included Is. for bout hire. Fatal Accident. —A Mr. Alexander Grilliespie has been drowned while trying to cross the Stoney Gully, near Southbridge, Canterbury, wWi a horse and a dray, when it was flooded. A Wanganui Stkameb, —Mr. Hewson has nearly completed a little steamer at Wanganui, which will carry about thirty tons. She is fifty feet long, and her engines will be capable of being worked up to seventeen h.p. Thompson's Road Steamee in Otago.—The Otago Daily Times says:—A large American waggon, tightly packed with men and boys, was yesterday evening tackled to the road steamer, which drew it with ease from the Rattray-street jetty across the reclaimed land, through Gaol-street, into Stuartstreet, thence from Moray place to Great King-street. Along the latter street the steamer with the waggon in tow ran as far as the Water of Leith. The steamer was occasionally driven at a speed of about seven miles an hour ; but its speed was slackened on passing horses, some of which appeared not to notice it, while others, tightly held in Beemed inclined to run away. On the return by the same route, the iron sheating which protects the India-rubber, fell off one of the wheels. It was removed out of the way of the wheel, and the steamer then continued its journey to its destination. The power of the machine was severely tested by dragging seven of the large trucks used on the tramway for the removal of Bell Hill, each of which, we understand, weighs about two tons. Notwithstanding that the trucks were crowded with people, the steamer moved over the natural surface of the ground even more steadily than if no load had been attached, When the great weight and friction are taken into consideration, the test cannot but be regarded as ci most satisfactory one. In a paragraph commenting on Mr. G-illies's roadsteamer, the Bruce Merald (Otago) says :—" We see no reason why steam-power should not be employed upon the ordinary roads for the more speedy conveyance of passengers, and we believe there is every reason to believe the experiment will soon be tried. We are informed that a company is being got up in this district for the purpose, and the prospectus will shortly be issued.

Wellington Peovincb is in. great tribulation. Its Superintendent is absent in England 5 its trunk road laborers are in arrears of pay lor some months 5. its bank account is overdrawn some £8000 or £10,000; its sole source of revenue is its wharf j and it has been helped by the General Government to the amount of several thousand pounds, besides the police and other necessary officials, excepting merely Provincial officials, having been provided for by the Genera] Government. The General Government, however, did not, on this occasion, when the Province applied for some £2000 more of an advance, and on Wednesday the General Government informed the Provincial authorities that it could see no reason to warrant any further advances. This is an unfortunate position. Can anybody annex Wellington, and would they if they could ? Death of a Loyal Chief. —Epeini, an old chief at the Hutt, died a few days since. Deceased was for thirty y«ars a staunch friend of the settlers, and he was much respected. On the day of his funeral, the banks and publio offices in Wellington were closed. The Volunteers attended on the oocasion, and jprsral old WetUogtQn lettlen aottd m pallfc«w«iv': : ■"'-■:' -••■■.:■■'■

■ Mil. Johk ChabliES, a publican, of Napier, dropped down dead a few days ago, at Waimarama. Tebx fexr flax mills are now at work in the Province , of Canterbury. • By the s.B. Alhatnbra for Melbourne, 69330z5. of gold were shipped at Greymouth, on the 17th Deo. ' Auckland's Giass-Wobks are being enlarged to enable the manufacture of bottles being carried on. | Two practical glaßs-blowers lately arrived there to assist in the works. ' Emeaoedinaby CHABGE.-rThe woman, Keziah Bolton, who disinterred the body of a child which had been buried for six weeks in the Drybread cemetary, (Otago) and strove to pass it off as that of a child of which she had just been delivered, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment. Destbuotion of Pastuse Lands. —In Canterbury, at the present time, some small pale-brown beetles with scaly heads, are proving very destructive on pasture lands. Immediately before dark a loud humming sound, similiar to what comes from a collection of bees, may be heard on grassed land. On examination, it will be found to emenate from these beetles, whose larvse destroy an immense quantity of grass by eating fiway the roots. The larvse of the beetles have a dirty white appearance, and they wofk entirely amongst the roots of grass and clover. Fowls eat the insects very readily. As illustrating the necessity for protection of native industries, Mr Fitzherbert the other night stated that (says the Southern Cross) the steamer in which he returned from Melbourne recently had amongst her cargo 200 casks of butter for the New Zealand market. While anchored at Hokitika, another of the same line of steamers arrived there on her way to Melbourne, and her captain came on board. To an wasquiry as to what he had on board, lie among other things mentioned 200 casks of butter, which he was taking from Canterbury for the Melbourne market." His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and Governor Bowen arrived at Tauranga in the Luna on December 12th. They visited Rotorua, Lake Taupo, and also the hot springs. It appears that the hon Mr Vogel addressed the second meeting at Dunedin, the other day, in compliance with a requisition from 700 residents who expressed their entire disapproval of the disturbances which took place at the firsb meeting held by that gentleman. In the Provincial Council of Otago, Mr. Taylor said he could have convinced any animal with less dignity than a horse, but had failed to convince Mr. M'Dermid. The natives in the neighborhood of Alexandra, in the Waikato district, complain bitterly of the damage done to their crops by pheasants. The settlers kill as many pheasants as they can, but the nuisance continues. Salmon for New Zealand. —Tho following is from a Wellington pnper of December 6: —We understand that Mr. Neilson, the Confidental Agent of the North Pacific Transportation Company, has made an offer to the hon. the Colonial Treasurer to introduce salmon into the rivers of New Zealand for the sum of £5000, to be paid when the full grown salmon return from the sea to the rivers where they have been hatched. The salmon on tho West Coast of America are represented as being the finest in the world. The Gas Company's Manager at Wellington exhibited gas burning in the street of that city, a fey/ nights ago; from a small test apparatus. The experiment was successful. The coal used was New South Wal^s coal. The Otago Daily Times says lhat proposals have been received from Melbourne to construct the railway from Dunedin to Clutha on the Provincial guarantee, or to hand over £400,000 to the Provincial Government to construct it oa its own account. The Timaru Herald reports that a blight, very similar in appearance to the ordinary cabbage blight, has made its appearance in the wheat and oafc crops on the Timaru downs. In some places, especially in the oat crops, it is very bad indeed.

TITOKOWAEU. —The Wanganni Herald of a late date says:—"^lntelligence has been received in Wanganui that twelve armed men belonging to Titokowaru's tribe have been seen at Te Ngaere, by a member of a local force, who was hunting in the bush. This person, whose name is in our possession, was interrogated by the Hauhaus about what the Armed Constabulary were doingrat Waihi and when he replied they were building blockhouses, Tito's men said the pakeha might live between the bush and the sea, but that they, the Hauhaus would have the bush. They also said that Tilokowaru was living near Ngaere. A gband Maori wedding took place at Raglan recently. A large number of natkes and about sixty Europeans were present, and the moat complete harmony prevailed throughout. An alarming quantity of provisions disappeared, but grog was tabooed on the occasion. The bride was dressed in white muslin, all the stores in the place having been vainly ransacked in search of silk.'

An accident happened to Captain Robert Dyason, at the Kaipoi regatta, in firing the signal cannon for the Challenge Kace. The powder in the vent had not exploded, when, iv placing some fresh powder, the piece discharged some of the powder which had not ignited through being damaged, forcing it into Captain Dyason'a face, which besides, was severely scorched. A piece of powder, the size of a wheat grain, penetrated into his under lip. The wounds are very serious, and his face will bear the marks for some time.

A Defaulting Teeasueee. —The members of the Wellington Fire Brigade laid, a few days ago, an information at the police court against their Treasurer. Morton Quin, for appropriating a cheque for £19 that he had received from the insurance companies.

Two MEN, Wm. King and Cristian Jorgousen, were killed yesterday at Woodstock (Eight Mile), where they were working an hydraulic claim, and a laud slip also took place by which another man, Charles Quinn, was seriously wounded. An inquest was held to-day, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

The Stewart's Island Maori Reserve Survey-party report finding two skeletons at Port Adventure. The natives suppose they are men who deserted from a whaler at P.gasus nine years ago, when one man, exhausted with forty days travelling, reached the Maori settlements. Photographs and coin were found near them, but no writing.

A daring robbery afloat was perpetrated in Auckland last Saturday week on board the Southern Cross, mission schooner. The thieves broke into the cabin by the means of the cook's axe, and made off with a quantity of articles, comprising navigation books, clothing, instruments, and charts. The ship Keeper was on board at the time, but he was asleep.

Wheok .of the Cutt£B Supply.—During a gale on December 6th, the cutter Supply went ashore at Pencarrow Head, Wellington. The Advertiser of the Bth, cays:—" We learn that the cutler Supply, whose mishap on the Pencarrow beach we have already announced, is now lying close to lighthouse a perfect wrjck. The cause of the accident was sheer carelessness, and her owner has lost his all, the vessel being uninsured. A subscription has, we understand, been started for his benefit." The vessel belonged to Nelson.

The schooner Ocean Wave struck a sunken rock, five miles from shore, when leaving Mercury Bay, on December 10th. The cutter Agnes piloted her to Mercury Island, water-logged, but working so well that the captain intends sailing her to Auckland.

Gaedens at the West Coast are giving undoubted evidence of the fertility of the soil. The fruiterers' and greengrocers shops in Hokitika fully prove .the fact. New potatoes are hawked about, and early vegetables, as well'as fruits, are abundant. Cucumbers are exhibited which measure ten inches in length, with proportionate girth. The display of strawberries, of Hokitika growth, is extraordinarily good, many of the berries weighing fully an ounce, and all being perfectly ripe, and of excellent flavour. Strawberries and cream can be got in Hokitika—the fruit and cream of local production. Few of those who were present at the settlement of this place, a few years ago (says the Westland Independent), would have expected such an announcement at this date. Theatbical. — Herr Bandmann is a'r. present giving Shakeeperian entertainments at Auckland— Madame Halle, anew eopyauo has «l«o made tar appewancft iath*t oity v

MR. H. Dodsok has been elected as. Mayor df Blenheim for the next year. Suicide. —A youth named Bailey, hat hanged himself at Christchnroh.

Gold tuom Ar/oKiiAND. —On Dec. 2nd, the s.e. James Paterson took to Sydney from Auckland, 3481 ounces of gold. • New Industby.—A leading firm in Auckland have forwarded for oui? inspection a number of articles, consisting of men's and women's hats, table mats, &c, manufactured from the delicate undeveloped leaves of the nikau tree. They are the work of Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Cashell of the Mauku, and really are excellent specimens of plaiting work. — New Zen* land Herald.

Mttbdebous Attack.—Mr. Dennis _ Foley, of Tauranga, who is thought to be insane, murderously attacked his wife the other day with a billhook. The poor woman was seriously wounded on one of her arms.

A Woman Kiiied by Lightning.—At Panmure, Auckland, the other day, a young woman named Mrs. Connor, the wife of a small farmer living at Panmure, was killed by lightning. It appears that the deceased has been employed lighting the fire to get the dinner ready in.'' preparation for her husband, who was working close at hand, when the thunderstorm burst with in all its; fury. The husband was looking towards his home when a vivid flash of lightning seemed to enter the roof of his house, and at the same moment the chimney fell shattered on to the ground, having been struck by the electrk-fluid. Mr. Connor at once entered the house, when the first sight that presented itself was his wife lying dead in front of tho &c- Her little boy was playing near the body, having fortunately escaped the shock. Mr. James Geeen, of Waiapu has lost a store, £300 worth of goods, and £70 in money by fire. There was no insurance on the lot.

Mb Bbadee Wood, in the course of a recent speech, stated that as Colonial Treasurer he had sanctioned a loan to the Province of Auckland of £500,000, which had resulted in " the Tamaki Bridge, a leaky Supreme Court House, a half-finished Lunatic Asylum, a very gloomy Post Office and Custom HoJjse, and the ruins of the railway below them."

Southland Agricultural Show which was held afc Invercargill, a few days ago, proved a great success. The weather was fine, and over 2500 persona were present. There were several exhibits of New Zealand flax ; and Mr Cruickshank took the first' prize for machine-dressed fibre. Three cottages were destroyed by fire, a few mornings since, at Newton, Auckland. They were partially insured in the New Zealand and Imperial Insurance Offices.

Sale op Statiok Property.—Mrs Knyvett's run, on tbe north bank of the Eakaia, Canterbury, has been sold for £9000, the value for that being 9000 sheep, and 18,000 acres of run, without any improvements except fencing. Proposed Cultivation of Tea in Otago.—A Chinaman living in Tuapeka is prepared to grow the tea tree, and make a marketable commodity of it, if any encouragement is given to him by the Governor any capitalists. He believes the Dunstan climate and soil well suited for the cultivation of the ten tree.

Further Surrender op Urkweras.~A telegram from Napier, dated Dec. 9, states :—"Wheunnuiu and Raefau, two Urewera chiefs, with thirty-four followers from Waikaremoana Lake, arrived here by, the Wairoa. A dozen of them b»ve died, they say from fever. Mr. Ormond has placed them uuder the surveillance of Chief Tareha. This is the last remnant of the Urewera who had not surrendered."

Missing.—Two girls, mined Annie Whit taker or Wvnham and Annie Byrnes, disappeared ■ very mysteriously the other day, from their homes at Hokitika. Both were about 14 years of age. Wynham has fair hair, slight cast, in one eye, full features and large mouth. Byrne is tall for her age, with dark hair and complexion. She wore a light pluid drees with small cape. Dark hat, trimmed with spotted ribbon. A Rare Case in the Bankruptcy Court.—The Southern Cross publishes the following :—An interesting fact came to our knowledge, which deserves to be placed on record. A bankrupt's estate, which has been for some time m process of winding up, has actually yielded a dividend, above all costs and charges, of twenty shillings in the pound. This is an event which occures so rarely that it may be compared to the " white crane" of the Moari—only seeu once within the lifetime of man.

The exports from Kaiapoi (Canterbury) for the nioflth ending 30th November, were—279 bales wool, 176 bags flour, 7777 bushels oats, 6000 bushels wheat, 33f tons potatees, 25 kegs butter, £ ton cheese, 2 tons and 5 packages general sundries. The other day, the steam dredge, which has lately been employed in cutting a new channel below Black Jack's Point, Ofcago, sank at her anchors owing to a faulty plank in her trunk way. It has been placed in the floating dock for substantial repairs. The steamer Waintji has been subsidised by the Otago Government for a year to run to the Molyneaux, Catlins, Waikara, Toi-Tois, Bluff, and Riverton, fornightly; to Martin's Bay, thrice a year. The steamer Tairoa has been subsidised to convey passengers to Martin's Bay, Otago. The subsidy— which amounts to £150—is paid by the General Government as an equivalent for the services of the Luna, promised some time ago. The subsidy is paid on condition that the Tairoa takes passengers at rates not exceeding the following -.—Cabin passige, £6; steerage, £3 3s. Export of Gold.—The Gothenburg, which left Greymouth, for Melbourne, on Bth December, took 5187 ounces of gold. She also took from Hokitika, 1086 ounces. Total, 6273 ounces.

Lately, a thief stole the Bible out of the witnessbox in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Wellington. It is said the officers of the Court supplied the deficiency for the nonce by a copy of Johnson's Dictionary. James Alexander, Postmaster, Kaiapoi, pleaded guilty the other day on two charges of embezzling two cheques of £5 each. He got an excellent character from the Chief Postmaster and Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, who said he believed the defalcations arose more through confusion of accounts than dishonest intention. He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor. The Superintendent of Otago lately resigned Office in order to obtain a dissolution and a new election of Superintendent and Council. There will be an extended Council, its members including both- Otago and Shortland now united.—Mr. Macandrew advocates the Superintendent being the direct political head and responsible for the efficient administration of every department, and concludes with a sweeping condemnation of the action of the Governmentmajority ofthe Council in the matter of the public works. He «xpressed a belief that the Province is in favor of the prosecution of these works, he therefore proposes the question should be immediately submitted to the constituencies, and hence his resignation aud immediate dissolution.

Government have sent South for the use of the Volunteers in Cbristchurch a 12 pounder armstrong gun, and for those in Dunedin 4 cohorn mortars. A.veex serious accident oicurred on Thursday week, to Mr. Redwood's mare XXX. Messrs. Stafford and Redwood's horses were being shipped on board the s.s. Phoebe, at Ly telfon, and whilst the mare was in the box, and being hoisted on to the steamer, the flooring of the box gave way. When released, the mare seemed to be very much strained, and walked lame. Mr.Redwoodfearsthatsheisruined.

Recently an old resident at S witzera, Otago, named Thomas Crerse, but who is better known by the soubriquet of Dublin Tom, was found to have disappeared suddenly, and his hat being discovered on the banks of Carin's dam, it is generally believed that he had fallen asleep on the bank when, under the influence of liquor and fallen into the dam. Mr. David Hastings, the second engineer of the s.s. Stormbird, fell amoug the machinery the other day. while the steamer was off Patea, on her voyage from Wanganui to Auckland. Death ensued instantaneously.

A recent fire at Christchurch, destroyed a house in the occupation of Mrs. Hossack, Cashel-street. The building was totally destroyed, but was insured for £300. The furniture was uninsured.

The latest from the Province* will be found un&rthe head « News of tb© day."