[EXTEACTS FROM LATE EXCHANGES.]

Colonist, Volume XV, Issue 1496, 26 January 1872, Page 3

[EXTEACTS FROM LATE EXCHANGES.]

Fibk in Otago.—The stables of the White Horse Hotel, Tokomairiro, were burned down on Jan. 19. The loss is £600, of which only £200 is covered by insurance.

Railway pkom Gbeymouth to Hokitika.—The Westland County Council was opened ou Jan- 10. A railway from Greymouth to Hokitika is under consideration by the Council with the view of recommending its construction to the General Government. After a lecture at Greytown, Wellington, upon the Mutual Life Assurance, Mr. Short, of the Mutual Provident Society, received ten applications amounting to £7200.— Post. Eighteen hitndbed i>ound3 was offered by a gentleman in Chrisfcchurch (says the Wellington Post) for the receipts of Cagli and Pompei's Opera Company at Dunedin, and refused.

One of the Auckland butchers announces his intention of selling good joints of beef and mutton at 2d. per Ib. Lite Assurance at Gbeymouth.—The Argus of Jan. 17th states:—" Between the proposals obtained by Captain Baldwin and those previously obtained by Mr. M'Beath, the Postmaster, the assurances in the Government Department at Greymodth will amount, we believe, to nearly £45,000, whilst the Australian Mutual Provident is said to have obtained nearly £15,000. £60,000 for Greymouth is not bad.

Export of Iron Sand.—The bank of New Zealand has, we notice, shipped four casks of iron sand from Auckland by the City of Auckland, for London. This sample is being forwarded for testing purposes, and it is to be hoped that further experiments may lead to some cheaper method than has already been discovered for the preparation of iron and steel from this deposit, of which the Colony has such abundance.

Labge Fibe in Wellington Pbovincb.— Intelligence has been received by the police to-day of an extensive bush fire at Carterton, by which 11 houses in that township bavo been destroyed. We are glad to learn no lives have been iost. The whole bush is burning, and assistance has been sent. — Post January 23rd. On Jan. 12,12540z5. of gold were exported from Westport. Serious Loss, —Mr. F. Courtney, who is running an express between Reefton and Westport, had the misfortune on his last trip to lose notes, cheques, and gold to the value of £117. — Westport Times, Jan. 13. Drowned. —A man named Richard Ha worth, a brick maker, was drowned in the Clutha river (Otago), at midnight on the 9th January. Intending to cross over to the Island, he in company with a friend or two, was endeavoring to get into a boat, and slipping, fell into the river.

The Late Cabpentebs' Steikb in Wellington. —The Independent of 15th instant says:—After a duration of a week the strike in the building trade was brought to a conclusion on Saturday, the meeting of carpenters and joiners, held at the Odd Fellows' Hall, having decided to accept the final offer of the master builders as embodied iv the resolutions passed by them as the result of their interview wil'h the deputation from the men. The resolutions were : —1. That forty-six hours constitute the week's work. 2. That the employees be paid by the hour. 3. That 'the question of wages bo a matter of arrangement between each employer and his men. 4. That the number of working hours per day be eight, excepting on Saturdays, when the hands shall work six hours, finishing the the day at three o'clock. 5. That the foregoing rules be binding ou all the master builders in Wellington.

We are informed by the Lyttelton Times that a few nights ago a shocking occurrence took place in Christchurch. At about 10 o'clock laud screams were heard to emanate from a house occupied by a Mrs. Barnard, in Taylor's lane, off Madras street north, and it was fouud that the wearing apparel of the unfortunate woman had caught fire. Before the flames could be extinguished very severe injuries were sustained by Mrs. Barnard, and it is possible they will prove fatal. She was intoxicated when discovered, and when taken to the hospital, by the police, was quite insensible. Nothing is known as to how the occurrence originated.

Drowned Whilst Bathing.—We regret to have to state that another fatal accident has occurred at Manawatu, Wellington. A telegram was received on Jan. 21st, that Mr. S. E. Batt, of tho cutter Dwan, was drowned whilst bathing in the Manawatu River. The deceased had jumped overboard to have a swim, and was seized with cramp, and sank before assistance could be given. The deceased was a widower, and leaves ten children.—Mr. Moir, a settlerat Faltnentoo, was also unfortunately drowned ou Sunday, Jan. 21st, whilst bathing at Ngawhtikarau.— lndependent.

An extensive bush fire has been raging on Fine Hill for several days, and has done great damage to the fine timber in that district. We understand that two small houses, fortunately unoccupied, were burned to the ground, and ,a quantity of fencing also became a prey to the flames.— Otago Daily Times, January 13.

Missionaries and Native . Schools.—Mr. Karaitiana Takamoana, M.H.R., has peculiar ideas upon the subject of missionaries. Strange to say, he is not a believer in those self-denying men. In a recent speech at the opening of a native school in Hawke's Bay, "he wished it to be understood that this school was mainly established by their own efforts; the missionaries had failed principally from the fact that in place of endeavoring to instruct the children given over to their charge, they employed them as laborers on the stations. He was unable to understand why the Government should appoint an Inspector without consulting the Maoris. He was afraid that the Inspectors would be like the Bishops in the old missionary days, the Inspector will probably visit the schools and report that all is going on well, when probably the children are cultivating the land for the schoolmaster, as they were compelled to |do formerly for the missionaries.— Wellington Post.

Thi Univbesity.—We (Otago Daily Times) are informed by the University authorities that "Professor Black intends to deliver during next session two courses ot Lectures—one on Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry, the other on Geology and Mineroiogy. The earlier part of the session will be devoted to the study of Chemistry, beginning with the nonmetallic elements, taking up next the metals, and concluding with the chemistry of organis compounds. The latter part of the session will be occupied with lectures and demonstrations on Geology and Minerology, preparatory to a more extended course of Minerology during the following session. The lectures will be illustrated by appropriate experiments, the exhibition and examination of typical specimens from the Museum, and excursions to places of scientific interest in the neighborhood of Dunediu. '(frequent examinations—oral and written—will be held, and exercises in chemical formulae and problems will be prescribed during the session. Dr. Black proposes also to lorm classes for Practical Chemistry in the Laboratory, at such hours as will be convenient for intending students. In these olasses the students will work collectively. The course will inolude (he examination and detection of the ordinary mineral and organio acids, and the metallic buses. The Chemical Laboratory will be open throughout the day for instruction in complex qualitative and quantative analysis ; the analysis of water, soils, manures, rocks, ores, coal, and other mineral and organio substances; also tor original investigation and researoh." The jession, we may remind intending stttienti, will op«n <»t)MlatofM»7. .. 3

Mes. Colclottgh has been lecturing at Auckland on " strong drink and its victims," with success. A. deputation from Blenheim, consisting of Captain Baillie, M.L.0., Messrs. Dodson, Henderson, J. Wardf and Conolly who arrived by the Taranaki on Sunday, waited on the Government this morning, to urge the re-consi ieration of the appointment of Mr Eyes as Eesidenfc Magistrate, on account of. his unfitnees for the office and upon other grounds. They were courteously received by the Hon. the Premier and the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, who explained that no objection had been made to the appointment of Mr. Eyes as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the two offices must be held by one gentleman. Too deputation explained that the respectable people of the provinoe were not so strongly opposed to Mr. Eyes being Commissioner of Crown Lands among them, became it wag comparatively a private office, but they decidedly objooted to his being placed in the position of Resident Magistrate of the district. Ministers admitted that the obnoxious appointment had not bean gazetted, and desired time to consider the matter before giving any definite reply.— Evening Post, January 23. A Young Mak Dbowned.—An inquest was held yesterday at the Salutation Hotel, Sbortland, on the body of George William Rickards, who nas drowned in the Kauwaeranga creek, on Tuesday last. Deceased went to the creek in company with a lad named Oliver Dean, s telegraph messenger. Dean first went into the water, and a few minutes afterwards deceased followed him and swam for the opposite side^but on reaching the middle of the creek he became exhausted and sank. As he was going down he called on Dean for help. Dean swam to his assistance, and got old of him, when Rickards twined his arms and legs round him, and both went down. After a desperate struggle, Dean succeeded in freeing himself from the death grip, then swam ashore and obtained assistance. Messrs. O'Keeffe, Crick, and Flett, proceeded to the Bpot, and, whilst the two former went into the creek and searched, the latter paddled about and fait for the body with an oar. A Maori, who was with him, felt the body, and then another Maori went down the pole, and brought the body to the surface. It was taken on shore, and attempts made to restore animation, but without avail. The deceased was a fine young man, of about twenty years of age. Wb learn that Tito Kowaru has at last made a more, and with his people is now at Omuturangi, which is about eleven miles from Opunake. The Wanganui settlers are in a great state of alarm, we learn, and have magnified the few followers of Tito into hundreds. Some settlers from New Plymouth being at Oteo on business, were present when Tito Kowaru ariived, and had au opportunity of speaking with him and counting the number of his followers. There were thirty-four men (seventeen of whom were armed) and thirty-three women. Tito Kowaru said he wished to live at peace. He was not aware what the Government would think of his coming to the coast to live j but he did not intend to molest any one unless he was attacked in the first instance. He intends to clear a quantity of land for cultivation, and to put some into grass. Those from whom we have received this information state that Nuku (Tito's brother) treated them with the height of kindness, and bad refreshments prepared on their arrival. The natives are perfectly aware of the state of alarm the Patea and Wanganui settlers are in respecting their movements, and state that a watch tower has been erected, which lately has been heightened, to enable them te see Tito Kowaru and followers when they arrive. It is most amusing to those who have been travelling in native districts, to hear the exaggerated reports that are circulated at Patea and Wanganui respecting these much dreaded natives, who treat visitors with the utmost hospitality. —Taranaki Eerald, January 17.