NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS.

Colonist, Volume XV, Issue 1502, 16 February 1872, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS.

Timber ebom Hokitika.—During 1871,2,161,000 feet of timber were exported from Hokitika. Tns Tararua took from Greymouth a few days since, 331G ounces of gold. The ship James Niohol Fleming left Port Chalmers, for London, on January 22nd, with 5491 bales of wool and 811 pkgs meats. Gold and Silteb fboji Auckland.—On Jan. 18th, 84700z5. of gold were exported from Auckland for London and Sydney, and 19 bars of silver. The golfl was valued at £25,370, and the silver at £4900. Wai. M'Caw Nelson, solicitor of Blenheim, has been appointed a Crown Solicitor for the Nelson Judicial District. JS tew J. P.S.—M. J. Malaghan and Wm. Warren, both of Queenstown, Otago ; A. Or. Duff and Wm. H. Hoskir.g, both of Ross, Westland, have been appointed Justices of the Peace for the Colony. Toxbeb in Auckland. —A correspondent writes th-' 'milding timber is selling in Auckland and Grahamstown at 14s. per 100 superficial feet; and, he adds, that this price would pay to import timber from the Pelorus Sound. The Moa Flat Land Sale.—At a speoial meeting of the Otago Waste Land Board on January 15th, tho Moa Flat sale to Clarke was agreed to, excepting only 1950 acres. Mr. Clarkn intimated that he ■would not accept an acre less than the area surveyed. Discovebx of A Plot.—A plot was discovered to burn down the gaol at Napier, on January 18th. One of the accomplices informed the gaoler of it, and so enable him to take etepß to frustrate the design, and arrest the incendiary in the attempt. Laboeebs Wanted. —There is a scarcity of laboring men at Ross, Westland. An advertisment in the local papers announces that fifty first class men are wanted at Cassius's claim, and constant employment is offered at £3 per week for eight hour shifts. Life As3UBANOe at G-beymouth.—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 G-rey-modth 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. Expobt or Ibon Sand. —The bank of New Zeaand has, we notice, shipped four casks of iron sand rom 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. Large Fire in Wellington Pbovince.— Intelligence has been received by the police to-day of an extensive bush fire at Carterton, by which 11 houses in that township have been destroyed. Wa are glad to learn no lives have been lost. The whole bush is burning, and assistance has been sent. — Post January 23rd. 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. Dkowned.—A man named Richard Haworth, a brickmaker, 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' Stbike in Wellington. —The Independent of 15th January 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 in the resolutions passed by them as the result of their interview with 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 —.'—l_—«^ D .«L....».p:Uyo!«__. a n<Lhiß man.. 4. That the number of working hours per day be eight, excepting on Saturdays, when the hand 3 shall work six hours, finishing the the day at three o'clock. 5. That the foregoing rules be binding on 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 loud 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. ishe was intoxicated when discovered, and when taken 1o ibe hospital, by the police, was quite insensible. 1: othin£ is known as to how the occurrence originated. Duowned 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. Batfc, of the cutter Dwan, was drowned whilst bathing in the Manawatu River. Tho 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 settler at Palmerston, was also unfortunately drowned on Sunday, Jan. 21st, whilst bathing at Ngawhakarau, Wellington.-A young inuu namdd George William Rickards, has met with the same fate, whilst bathing in the Kauwaeranga creek, the Thames, Auckland. An extensive bush fire has been raging on Pine Hill for several days, and has done great damage to the fine timber in that district;. We understand that tvto small houses, fortunately unoccupied, were burned to the ground, and> quantity of fencing also became a prey to the flames.— Otago Daily Times, January 13. MISSIONAEIES 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 thi3 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 ia 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. Thh Univebsitx.—We (Otago Daily Times) are informed by the University authorities that "Professor Black intends to deliver during next session two courses of Lectures—one on Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry, the other on Geology and Minerology. 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 organic compounds. The latter part of the session will be occupied with lectures and demonstrations on G-eology and Miner°l°gy> preparatory to a more extended course of Stinerology 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 Dunedin. 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 form classes for Practical Chemistry in the Laboratory, at suoh hours as will be convenient for intending students. In these classes the students will work collectively. The course will include the examination and detection of the ordinary mineral and organic acids, and the metallic bases. 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 organic substances; also for original investigation and research." The session, we may remind intending students, will open QAth^UUfM^ '

Death tbom Sunstboke.—A man named M'Gurk, las died at Cambridge, Auckland, from the effects of l sunstroke. r| Sad Destruction of Fiax.—We regret to hear <j ;hat over two thousand acres of flax on the ground eased from the natives at Opunake, has accidently jaught fire and been destroyed. The cause of the {, tccident, we believe, arose from some natives engaged 0 "encing having lit a fire in too close proximity to the r , lax. The fire extended two miles inland, and iestroyed some of the beat of the green leaf, and it j will be some two or three years before it is again fit {■ 'or manufacture.— TaranaJci Herald, Jan. 17. f Gold 3JBOM THE Thames.—On January 10th, J SOOOozs. of gold, and on January 16th, 8933 ozs. t •eaohed Auckland from the Thames. a Donati, the far-famed one-legged dancer, has v irrived at Auckland. This extraordinary dancer 1 created a great sensation in London, throughout Europe, Sydney, and Melbourne, indeed, where- v aver he has appeared. o Fatal Accident—A young man named William 1 Reynolds, has been killed at Tamahere, Auckland, j through his horse falling on him, whilst drafting c some cattle. Over 100 settlers on horseback, attended i his funeral, he being well-beloved in the Cambridge i district. Political. —There is a likelihood of the Beat in ] the House of Representatives for the electoral district . of Rodney becoming vacant, by the resignation of ] Mr. Farnall, the presnt member, who, it is said, has received an appointment in connection with the t emigration scheme. Mr. J. Sheehan, Goldfields' j Secretary, has offered himself as a candidate.— South' ~ crn Cross. ; The Malay at Wanganui. — Direct trade , between this port and England was publicly inaugu- , rated last evening by a dinner given to Captain , Peters of the barque Malay, now lying alongside the wharf. W. F. Russell, Esq., of the Bank of New '. Zealand, occupied the chair, and J. P. Watt, Esq., occupied the vice-chair. The Odd-Fellows' Hall wa3 the only room large enough to accomodate' the number, between 60 and 70, who sat down to dinner. — Herald, January 20. A deputation from Blenheim, consisting of Captain Baillie, M.L.C., Messrs. Dodson, Henderson, J. Ward, and Conolly who arrived by the Taranaki on Sunday, waited on the Government this morning, to urge the re-consideration of the appointment of Mr Eyes as Resident Magistrate, on account of his unfitness 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. The deputation explained that the respectable people of the province were not so strongly opposed to Mr. Eyes being Commissioner of Crown Lands among them, because it was comparatively a private office, but they decidedly objaoted to his being placed in the position of Resident Magistrate of the district. Ministers admitted that the obnoxious appointment had not besn gazetted, and desired time to consider the matter before giving any definite reply.— Evening Post, January 23. We learn that Tito Kowavu has at last made a move, 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 iato hundreds. Some settlers from New Plymouth being at Oteo on business, were present when Tito Kowaru arrived, and had an opportunity of speaking with him and counting the number of hia followers. There were thirty-four men (seventeen of whom were armed) and thirty-three women. Tito Kowaru said he wished to livo at peace. He was not aware what the Government would think of his coming to the coast to live ; 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 Herald, January 17. A Maobi Romance. —A native woman, the wife of Marsh, a natire policeman, h»s had a little intrigue with Takere, one of tho sons of Lydia of Coromaudel. Yesterday (January 15), the gay Lothario conveyed to his lady fair a billetdoux, stating that he was going to Coromandel, and if the lady would accompany him he would be happy, " leastways almost happy." The lady " saw it," and started after her lover. A relative of the lady found the Mercury who carried the love letter, in the shape of a tall Maori, and made a thrust of a spear at him, which only escaped boing fatal by the man using his hand to ward off the thrust. The man's hand was pierced through. The name of the native who used the spear is Wynyard. A great native trial is now going on about the matter, at which nearly all the native populution is present. — SoutJiern Cross. The Dbought is Auckland.—The New Zealand Herald of January 13th, reports :—" We learn that the present long-continued drought is producing most serious consequences in tho country districts. From both Northern and Southern agricultural districts we have lamentable accounts of potatoes of tho size of filberts, of wheat which will not be worth the threshing, of grass not worth the cutting, of cattle falling off in flesh, and every other kind of agricultural horror. A visit from the caterpillar is alone required to render the distross complete, although in some places ifc seems by no means certain that the caterpillar, if "he came, could pick up a living." A LiBEBAii Leadee.—We are informed that Major Ropata has acted really handsomely in his method of dealing with the well-earned £1000 reward paid by the Government for the capture of Kereopa. It is usual for the leading chief who may sell land, or otherwise obtaim possession of money, to appropriate all of it, or as much as he possibly can, for his own exclusive benefit. Upon receiving the £1000, however, Ropata divided it evenly between himself and followers, every member of the party receiving as arge a share as their leader. The Natives and the Telegeaph. — From information of the most reliable character which we received last night, we learn that the intelligence we gave our readers last week of the cutting of the telegraph line within Tauranga is. an undoubted fact. A chief called Enoka, a relative of the Nga te Rangi tribe, at Matamata, but an infatuated character, has long been living isolated within the purchased block of Te Puna, and Katikati. The lands upon which he and a handful of disaffected characters have for some time been living and digging gnm, belong to the Crown, and on all occasions when Government have been disposed to do anything with the land they have been threatened by these people. When Captain Turner, with his staff, went to survey the line for the road to Katikati, threats were made by this people, but no one took any notice of them ; but the decree has been made by the King and his Executive that telegraphs and roads are unlawful, and must be forbidden. Hence the cutting of two telegraph poles at Te Tahawai, a few miles south of Bowentown, Katikati, by Enoka and his people. Our informant, who slept at the settlement of those people, says that during the night they frequently gave vent to feelings of indignation at the treachery of Government in inducing the TJriweras for filthy lucre's Bake to aot in the deceitful manner they did to get hold of Kereopa j this is the reason they assert—a vent of their wrath for the Kohuratanga of Kereopa. We are further informed that the King and his Executive have called a meeting of all the Ngaiterangi natives, to be held at Te Whakamarama; but we are assured from our informant thatTauraDga natives are not any longer to be cajoled by the intrigues of the King, much less those of his emissaries, amongst whom is Hania, his secretary, who stopped our overland mail last year, and who was present prompting Enoka to out the poles.— Thama Quardian, Jan. 17,

Chbistchubch has now 629 artesian wells. Nine Houes a Day.—The attempt to make the " •ailway laborers in Auckland work nine hours a lay, has caused much indignation there, and meetings lave been held to condemn the movement. 6 A oabpentee named David Smith, cut his throat *• n Invercargill the other day, while under the influence a >f drink. He was taken to the Hospital, and is •ecovering. *■ Labge Shipments ov Rails tbom England.— * [information was received by the General Government *■ by last mail, to the effect that shipments of rails for ;he Clutha Railway had been arranged for. The ■* Fessie Readman, from London, brings 250 tons; She Margaret Galbraith, from G-lasgo«v, 150 tons; i mdthe Euterpe, from London, 300 tons. These vessels were to leave in November and December.— Otago c Daily Times, January 18. t Fiee AT Wellington.—An excursionist informs 5 us that at 10 o'clock p.m. on January 23rd, a fire occurred at Wellington, when the general store of Josephs & Co., situated on the reclaimed land, was ' partially destroyed. The amount of damage done, l our informant was unable to ascertain. It was reported that a man, who was assisting at the fire, met with a severe accident, and had a leg broken. Gbatitude.—Messrs. J. Joseph and Co., of Wellington, have presented the two Fire Brigades of that city with £50 each, for saving their store from being burned down on January 23. Wellington Regatta.—Swamping of a Boat and Nasbow Escape.—A correspondent who was in one of the boats writes as follows:—" A northwesterly gale completely broke up our regatta on January 22nd, and ono siz.qared.boat was swamped iv a tremendous sea, at about a couple"oTTluMrea yards from the wharf. We picked up two of the men in our racing gig, which was in its course in the same race as the sinking boat, and the four other men and the coxswain swam for the boats and hulks about. It was absurd of the committee to have allowed us to start in such weather, for we should never have got round the course at racing speed, because it would have forced the bows under the waves. Our best boat has both her gunwales broken, and a few more seas would have broken her back ; but we got some credit for saving the men, one of whom couldn't swim a stroke. The excitement on the wharf was at the highest pitch, and they were plucky fellows in the boat that foundered. She split right down the middle as soon as the men were out, and then capsized." Proposed Flax Manueaotobt in Auckland. — The Soutliern Cross says that during a debate in the Provincial Council relative to the contemplated Industrial Exhibition, at Auckland, a statement was made by an honorable member that cannot fail to be received with deep and general interest. It was stated that an English company is in process of formation, having for its objectthe preparation of phormium) and its manufacture into the various fabrics of which it is capable. It appears that the enterprise—which is already so far advanced that the requisite machinery is in course of construction —will be sustained by a subscribed capital of £50,000, and will have the seat of industry on the Wairoa, within this Province. It was even stated that a portion of tho machinery is at present being made in Auckland. The Southern Cross of the 18th says:—The stone used for the ornamental work at the front of Supreme Court House is, in parts, rapidly crumbling away. Portions of it, on being slightly rubbed with the fingers, drop to powder. The sculptured work is also sharing the same fate. One of our eminent English Chancellors has had a blow on the nose; and a cherub has a dimple on the forehead,a part where cherubs are never dimpled by sculptors of any artistic taste and pretensions. Queen Victoria is quite losing the roundness of her face, whilst Prince Albert, who appears to have been carved with a crick in his neck and a cast in his left eye, is looking gloomily at her out of a comer. It is possible that some preventive means could be adopted to prevent tho stonework from going further to decay. If so, the soooner the attempt is made the better. Royalty, cherubs, and Lord Chancellors ought surely to be treated with respect and consideration due to the exhalted positions. Dispute about the Hokitika MayobXlty— ; Scenes intheßobough Council.—There was a great field-night at the meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council on January 12th. The Town Hall, says the Times, was crowded to excess, the seats were thrown down by the pressure of numbers, and even the sacred precincts reserved for Councillors were invaded upon. Several times the turmoil was so great that it was quite impossible to catch what was said. Mr. J. B. Clarke had seemingly been invigorated since the last meeting, and, being supported by the presence of the Borough Solicitor, defied every attempt to move him from his position as Mayor. Towards tho close of a stormy debate on the subject, Cr Jack said that ho would have supported the Chairman in his election for Mayor, but for the way in which he had acted, which was anything but right, and the manner in which he had taken possession of the chair was a low, mean dodge. The Chairman (Mr. J. B. Clarke) said that he might have been guilty of mean dodges, but he had never burned his partner's books. (Groans and hisses from tho crowd, and cries of " Put him under the pnmp." " Chuck him into the Lagoon." " Kick him.") The majority of the Councillors then left their seats, and there not being a quorum, themeeting was adjourned. Tho proceedings, it is said, " were concluded much in ho style of an entertainment, interspersed with laughter, applause, hiases. cat-calls, and other noises too unseemly to describe." [At a meeting on January 18th, intimation was given of Mr. Clarke's resignation of the mayoralty and his seat in the Council, and Mr. Wm. Todd was'elected as Mayor.] Destbuctite Fiees on Mablbobough Runs. — The Uarlborough Express of Saturday, January 20th, reports:—We learn with much regret that extensive fires are raging in the Southern districts of this Province, the glare of which was plainly visible on board the Falcon off Wellington Heads. The fires commenced at Starborough, Awatere, on Monday last, and the irjury done to several runs must be enormous. We are informed by persons who arrived last evening, that the Cape Run is entirely burnt out, and in fact the whole district between Templeton's and the sea as far as Flaxbourne. At Starborough the homestead was in great danger, and during Thursday evening a staff of twenty-five men were engaged cutting off the turf and blazing the ground to stop the conflagration. Our informant says that dead Bheep are lying in all directions, uuable to escape from the terrible heat, and large mobs have been literally roasted alive. Unless checked by speedy rain, it is impossible tq say where the ruin will stop j as it is the feed over very many thousands of acres is entirely burnt off. Bush and Other Fibks in Cantebbubt. — The Canterbury Press of January 20th, stated :— We are informed that on Saturday last the grass on the Acton station got on fire accidently, and about 80,000 acreß have been completely cleared, and about 300 sheep were burned. The fire which occurred on Wednesday resulted from the sparks of a fire lit in Camp Bay, and we are sorry to hear that a number of sheep , have been burned. Mr. R. H. Rhodes' house at Perau had a near escape of being burned down. About 200 yards from the house the fire was stayed, but it continued its course up the bush, the fire making its way towards the pilot station, and the pilot-men and their families had a narrow escape. The rain which fell on Thursday night checked the fire considerably. The ranges present a very melancholy appearance, not a blade of green grass is to be seen; nothing but black charred tussocks. Another serious grass fire occurred yesterday afternoon in the Heathoote Valley. It appears to have originated somewhere on Mount Pleasant Station, and burned rapidly in the direction of the Ferry bridge. From thence it speedily ,ran over the spur, setting Mr. Evans' fences oa fire. When our informant saw it last it was working towards Sumner. The hills from Mooi'liouse's cave to the bridge, were one blackened mass. Grass fires are stated to be very prevalent in the Southern districts, and in some instances considerable damage has been done. A fire occurred at the Waihi Bush Steam Saw Mills, which was fortunately extinguished before any material injuries had beon caused.—On Jan. 14, a fire occurred on Mr. Curdale's farm, Lawford, Canterbury, whioh destroyed property to the value ofl £700. / ;

One of the Auckland butchers announces his' intention of selling good joints of beef and mutton at 2d. per lb. ..... Eighteen hundred pounds was offered by a gentleman in Christchurch (aays the Wellington Post) for the receipts of Cagli andPompei's Opera Company it Dunedin, and refused. 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. Fire 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. Mr. John Henry Shaw, L.L.8., of the University of Melbourne, has been admitted and enrolled as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.— Otago Daily Times. 3Uilway prom Greymouth to Hokitika. —The Westlau^ County Council was opened on 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. At a meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on January 26th, Mr. Hammer, the Curator, stated that he estimated 2000 trout had been hatched in the society's ponds during the present season. There are no fewer than 142 rivers, streams, and streamlets, between New Plymouth and Wauganui. They are a capital feature of tho country, but rather expensive in a road-making point of view. A Dunedin telegram of January 28th, states : — "The Heart of Oak and Star of the East claims, in the Carrick Ranges, have cleaned up ; the former has 338 OUugm fro=» XOi. *„,„, iha Wfro* 9.9/7 nnnnna from 104 tons. Timaru experienced a shock of earthquake on Jan. 24th. The shock apparently travelled from east to west and was of sufficient strength'to cause windows to rattle, and in some houses, furniture to move. The motion seemed to be more upwards than lateral. A natite rumor says the party which burnt Mr. Dolbel's place had made for Rangi Kapua, a natnrally fortified pa in the Uriwera country, said to be accessible only by means of ladders. An old tradition says that it can never be taken.— SawTces Bay Herald, Jan. 26. Railway Laborers on Strike.—The men employed on Ihe Waikato railway have struck, in consequence of an attempt to introduce tho ninehours' system. Mr. Brogden refused to give way. Some one fired several shots at Mr. Tfcomas Russell's windows; no one was hurt. Tue navvies have held a meeting and expressed a determination to hold out. They knocked down and kicked a man who expressed oontrary views. Bush Fires at Akaroa.—As we reported in a former issue, fires of the above nature have been raging about Akaroa and its district. The heaviest fire was in the neighborhood of Balguerit and Grehan valleys, extending over the ranges toward Long Bay, considerable damage being done to pasture and bush land. The settlers in Grehan Valley were the heaviest sufferers.'— Lyttelton Times, January 29. The Lath Fires in Wellington.—A correspondent, writing from Carterton, appeab to the public on behalf of the sufferers by the late fire. He says that the " cattle and horses are scattered and mixed; paddocks are not to be recognised ; a vast amount of fencing has been destroyed ; not a blade of grass is to be seen, and starvation stares the inhabitants in the face." Our correspondent adds that " many have lost their all, aud have neither shelter for themselves and children, nor a crust of bread to eat."— Post January 30. Discovery of Coal in Otago.—A seam of coal, which is said to be equal to the best English coal, has been discovered at the Islay station, near the Mataura. It is (says the Otago Daily Times, of January 5.) within eight miles of the line of the Southern Trunk Railway, and should it prove equal to present appearances, there is no doubt an important discovei-y has been made. We have requested that a specimen be sent to us, in order to be submitted to Professor Black, who has kindly consented to analyse it. The Government have succeeded in effecting an amalgamation of offices and a reduction of expenditure in Weatland. Mr. Harvey, Crown Prosecutor and County Solicitor of Westland, has been appointed District Judge of the Westland judicial district, and also Examiner of Titles under the Land Transfer Act. We believe that for the offices of Judge and Examiner combined Mr. Harvey's salary does not exceed £600 per annum.— lndependent. Selling Spurious Gold.—That" Heathen Chinee" has been victimising the banks in Southland to the tune of £500, Bays the Dunedin Star. The perpetrator of the swindle is named Kee Chang, and haa several aliases. He was acting as " boss" of a mining party of his countrymen at Orepuki, for the last three months, and disposed of spurious gold on these seperate occasions • —the first was to a Mr. Howell, buyer for the bank of New Zealand, who purchased a cake of amalgam weighing 27ozs ; the next day he got rid of a cake of 25ozs to another buyer from the same bank ; and subsequently disposed of a cake of lOOozs to tha agent of the Bank of Otago. Chang has decamped. Two men have been arrested as accomplices of Chang, and the police found £38 on them, and succeeded in intercepting two letters of credit for sums amounting to'£3so. The Coming Inter-Pkovinoiai, Boat Eaoe.— Tho Wellington Evening Post of Jan. 31st says : — " The interest in the approaching inter-provincial race increases as the time for the event draws near. Our crew will go down to morrow by the Rangitoto, unless the Wellington is by then telegraphed as being within a duy's steam of this harbor.j By this arrangement, they will have a clear fortnight Co practice on the course over which the race will be pulled. The Auckland crew and boat are coming down in the Wellington. The former average 12 stone lib., and their gig weighs 941bs. Our men average 11 stone 2lbs., and the weight of the gig is 821bs. The Lyttelton crew, which probably will be the heaviest of all, average nearly 13 stone, and their gig weighs 1141bs. The weights of the Christchurch and Kaiapoi crews we have not yet learnt, indeed, up to the date of the last advices, the crews for the Christchurch clubs had not been selected. It is believed that nine entries will be made for what should be the finest race ever pulled in this Colony. The gigs are equal to any, new, and built in London, Sydney, Melbourne, and this Colony ; while the crews are picked men. A well contested race between nine such crews in the boats that have been built for the occasion, will be an event wcrth going to see and remembering." The ceremony of naming the two new boats recently imported by the Canterbury Rowing Club, was performed (says the Lyttelton Times) by Mrs. Rolleston, at the boat sheds on Saturday afternoon, the 20th instant. The boats comprise a four-oar, built by Clasper, and a pair-oar from the yards of the no less Salter. The four-oar received the name specially selected by Lady Bowen during her recent visit, being " The Ilyssus," and the pair-oar that of " The Cam." Distressing Occurrence.—The Southern Cross of a late date records the following distressing accident which took place at Maungakaramea:—The other morning the wife of Mr. James Miller awoke about 3 o'clock and found the house in flames. She immediately ran to two of the children, who slept by the side of the chimney, roused them, and pushed them out. She then took the child that slept with herself, and told her husband to take David, a little boy who slept in an adjoining room. Mr. Miller who is advanced in years, and afflicted with deafness, appears to have been bewildered by the oalamity, and went out without the boy. On finding out the omission, he called, " Where are you David ?" " I am here dada," a voice replied. Mr. Miller then wentto the boy'd bed, put the clothes together, and thinking the boy was in the middle of them, carried them out. But the boy was not in them, and the house was then enveloped in flames, so that no further effort could be made. From the position of the charred remains, it would appear that David, instead of going out when called, had turned into an adjoining room, where, it is supposed he had been suffocated. One of his little hands was held up in an attitude of defence as if fighting off the flames. It is somewhat remarkable that, when Mr. Miller was aroused, he bad been dreaming that a dray had passed ovjr the house, and that one of the wheels had crashed and killed David.

Mrs. Cololough has been lecturing at Auckland on " strong drink and its victims," with success. On Jan. 12,12540z5. of gold were exported from Westport. The potato crop of Canterbury is likely to be a complete failure. The Wellington Water Works have been commenced. At Tuapeka races on January 26, 2000 persons were present. On Feb. Ist, the Alhambra took from Greymouth 2175 ozs. of gold for Melbourne. Mb. 0. Davies and Mr. T. Carter have been elected members of the Wairau County Board. The terrible bu9h fire at Coromandef was still raging on January 24, and had then caused damage to the extent of £20,000. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen visited Picton on January 25; Blenheim on the 26th ; and Havelook on the 29th. The total number of prisoners committed to gaol at Dunedin during the year 1871 was 583, of whom 432 were males and 151 females. Killed.—A man named Johnston, a laborer in the Sawyer Bay tunnel, Otago, has been killed by being struck on the head by a stone in a blast. Mb. Samukl Johnson, the proprietor of the Marlborough Express, has been elected a member of the Marlborough Provincial Council • for Lower Wairau, beating Mr. Henderson by 42 to 3 votes. Corn Exchange for Canterbury.—The Provincial Council of Canterbury have voted £500 towards the erection of a Corn Exchange at Christchurch. Colonel Breit is trying to induce the City Council to give another £500, and to raise £500 by same. We learn from Wanganui that Mr. M'Lean has finally closed with the natives for the purchase of the large block of land lying between the Turakina! and Kangitikei rivers. The purchase money will be paid on Tuesday next, and thus a large stretch of country will be open for settlement. Sharks. —Some fishermen caught a shark off Pipitea, on Jan. 25th, 9ft. Bin. in length. He is a formidable brute, with a tail resembling the thrasher or foxtail species. The skeleton is to be placed in the Wellington Museum. Sharks are also becoming vtry numerous in Lyttelton harbor, Chinese on Goldpields.— Mr. Blowitt, the Government interpretor, in his half-yearly report to the Warden for the district, deals mainly with the steps taken by him to enforce the taking out of miner's rights by Chinese residing in the Tuapeka district. Mr. Blewitt says: —" I have on some occasions summoned over twenty Chinese in one day, most of whom were fined more or less ; but I regret to state that, unleas very strictly looked after, they will not take out rights." On a visit to Dome Pass, thirty Chinese were summoned before the magistrate for having no miner's rights, and all fined more or less, and about £50 collected that trip.— Dunedin Star, January 20. Busy Times in Wellington.—Eoads, bridges, tramways, and jetties form the subject of advertisements in the Wellington papers (says the Independent of Jan. 29), and in none of the branches of industry affected by each of the descriptions of work named is their any superfluity of labor at hand. The ;■ prophecies of a prosperous era uttered previous to the commencement of the year, have not waited long for the reality. In all portions of the town, but chiefly in the central positions, extensive erections are being proceeded with. Change por the Better in the Taupo District. —A wonderful change has come over the Tanpo district. Instead of it being a theatre of war it was during the Christmas and New Year festivities a scene of hearty amusement. Cricket matches were played, and a rope-walker essayed his skill on a wire stretched from some place "below the redoubt" across a ravine. A coach now runs regularly to this once sealed up spot, and " is now," says the correspondent of a Napier paper, " looked for twice a week, "just as if we had been accustomed all our lives to seeing vehicles of all descriptions come and go. It is only a very little while ago that a bullock dray was a wonderful thing to behold in this district. — Independent. Bush Fires in Hawke's Bay.—A telegram from Napier dated January 26th, reports :—" The cut timber on each side of the road through the SeventyMile Bush is on fire, right through, but the line is not damaged. The timber on 300 acres at Tahiariti is on fire, and likely to be entirely destroyed. There are also fires raging at Waipawa, Waipukarau, and Wallingford, all doing more or less damage. Station Property Sales.—Messrs Driver, Stewart and Co., of Dunedin, have sold the " Rugged Bidgea" Station, situated in the Waitaki district, 60,000 acres, with 26,438 sheep, for the sum of £16,500, to Charles Nichols Esq.; also, the "|Stotfold" Station, situated in the Oamaru district, 26,000 acres leasehold and 2740 acres freehold, with 18,000 Bheep, for the sum of £12,100, to Philip Oakden, Esq.— Daily Times January 25. Canterbury Railways.—The traffic returns on the Canterbury Railways for the month of December have been published. On the Lyttelton and Christohurch line the total receipts amounted to £3011195. 6d., compared with £2989 16s. 3d. for the corresponding mouth of 1870. On the Great South line the receipts were £973 Is. 4d., as compared with £877 lie. 2d., for the same month of 1870.— Press. Technical Education.—The Canterbury Provincial Council has voted an endowment of 100,000 acres of land for the school of technical science and other educational purposes, contemplated by the Canterbury Museum Ordinance. : Good Work. —We learn from the Clyde paper, that on a recent date, a horse named Tommy, owned by Mr. John Mellor, was trotted over a distance of eight measured miles —from Blacks to Drybread —in 26 minutes 40 seconds, or at the rate of a mile in 3 minutes 21 seconds.— Dunedin Star. ■ Fires. —An extensive fire has occurred at Hororata, Canterbury, the run ofthehon. John Hall. It is reported £2000 worth of damage was done. —Langley's ■White Horse Hotel stables, at Tokomairiro (Otago), have been destroyed. A mare was burned. Damages about £550.—The Waipahi Hotel, on the main road from Balclutha to Tapanui.has been totally destroyed. —At Clyde, a fire -has occurred on Mr. Barlow's premises, and the Hartley Arms Hotel stables were consumed. A brisk wind was blowing at the, time, and the people had to work hard to save the town.—One hundred acres of bush at Fairfax, Tokomairiro, have been destroyed. The Canterbury Provincial Government, while appropriating £20,000 beyond the estimated revenue of the present year, and while increasing the salaries of the Executive, have taken a shilling a day off the wages of their policemen. The nett saving effected amounts to something less than £200 out of t»n expenditure £270,000. : Stabbing.—A serious case of stabbing occurred at the Half-Way-House Hotel on the Ferry Road. At the Magistrate's Court, in the morning, a civil case, John Young v. E Whittington, had been decided in favor of the former, for whom a son of Mr. W. Parish on the Ferry Road appeared as a witness. In the evening Parish and Whittington met accidently at the Half-Way-House, and a disputo arose between them respecting the evidence given in the case. From words the disputants came to blows, when Whittington stabbed Parish several timos in the arm and once in the body. Whittington was arrested. Parish is doing as well as can be expected. Terms Offered to Tito Kowaru.—We have been informed that the Civil Commissioner has at last been authorised by the Government to offen terms to Tito Kowaru. We cannot state definitely the exact nature of the instructions. One condition is that his people are to give up their arms, and forfeit their land, but they will be allowed a block to, settle on. These conditions Tito ought to be glad to oiccept; they are lenient, but we know of no middle jcourse. between this and commencing a disastrous war. Peace is intelligible and so is fighting, but a Beniijstate of existence—neither peace or war—is as unintelligible as it is unsatisfactory to the settler. When the terms were made known to Tito he did not reply, but wished to have a meeting of Maoris and Europeans to talk matters over. To this the Civil Commissioner would not assent, stating that it was for the Government to decide matters of this nature, and not meetings of natives and Europeans. Fron another source we hear that Tito observed, subsequently, that he would give, up old and young men, but not his gxua.—Taranaki . M*raldjM.2t ,

A private escort brought 24000z5. from Boh to Hokifcika on January 29. These large whales hare been driven ashore opposite Mr. Joseph Herbert's residence, Tautari, Cape Turnagain. Stjbscbiption lists hare been opened both in Cbristchurch and Wellington for the families of those who were lost in the schooner Rifleman. There has been a report in Hokitika that an auriferous quartz reef had been discovered in the immediate viciniiy of Long-Ford. A twbnty-fite stall stable is being erected in the gully immediately below the East Taieri Church (Otago) for the convenience of ohurch goers. Labdi's tramway at Totara Flat, (the Grey), together with the receiving stores at both ends, have been rented to Messrs Alexander Montgomery and Co.. for twelve months, at £25 per month. Goed at Whangabie.—Q-old is reported to have been discovered at Whangarei, and a specimen was brought up to Auckland for analysis. It is reported to run eight ounces to the ton. The ship Agnes Mttie, from the Tail of the Bank, Greenook, arrived at Port Chalmers on January 23rd, after a smart passage of 83 days. She brought over 100 passengers, the whole of whom enjoyed, good health throughout the voyage. A tunnei 3700 ft. long and costing £20,000 is about to be constructed by a public company through the Cape Colville Peninsula to connect Coromandel harbor with Kennedy's Bay. The tunnel will, it is said, not only open up a large extent of auriferous ground but make an excellent means of communication from the Coromandel mines to the crushing batteries. TtorvannKD. A. dauglita* nf Mr. Stephen Rftff, of Greymouth, aged two years, has been drowned in a waterhole.—Thomas Vernon, driver of Quick's coach, between Ngaruawahia and Cambridge (Auokland), has lost his life in tke Waikato river, through getting on a quicksand. The Auckland Evening Star, congratulating itself upon having completed its third birthday, says, " that at Sierra Leone, where death is the rule and the continuance of life the exception, survivors on anniversaries look on themselves as a species of curiosity, and wonder how on earth it is that they are alive. We have some such feeling to-day as we look back at the past and reflect on the mortality of journalism. The climate of Auckland is evidently an unhealthy one for literary effort, but thank goodness we enjoy rare health. We have assisted in this city at the obsequies of the Auckland and Thames Leader: the Morning Advertiser the elder; its offspring, the Morning Advertiser the younger; its twin brother, the News of the Bay; the Tomahawk and Motley, which died of laughing; the father of the evening press of Auckland, Evening News ; and its ambitious offspring the Morning News. We have also heard'^ the bells tolling for the departure of the Thames Timet and the Coromandel Argus. All these have lived and died during the short period of two years, which has made up. the term of our existence hitherto ; being on an average almost one paper defunct for each two months. The Jewish Synagogue at Wellington was broken into a few days since, and a number of articles of value stolen. Wholesale plunder seems to have been intended, as many of the valuables were found carefully packed together ready for removal. It seemed also that it was intended to set the building on fire, as the floor was saturated with kerosene. Evidently the thieves were disturbed and made off with what was conveniently portable only.. . , -■: Dbought and Bush Fibes in Otago.—The Otago correspondent of the Grey River Argus writes on Jan. 29th: —" The drought still continues, though the heat has not been quite so great for two or three days back. The bush fires had gone down consider* ably, and the settlers in the neighborhood had begun to breath freely, when a stiff sou-westerly breeze set in, increasing in strength to a gale. This had the effect of fanning the Qames into strength once more,' and great damage has been the result. In the neighborhood of Port Chalmers, some whole sections have been swept of everything that would burn, houses,, barus, fences, and crops, and the lives of the occupiers only saved with difficulty. On Pine Hill, the fire still burns, slowly creeping up to the top of the hill, and down the other side. Only heavy rain will put a stop to the progress of the fire." A pbice has been arranged between the Auckland Provincial and General Governments for the land and plant of the Auckland and Drury Kailway. The land orgihally cost the Province £37,000, and is to be handed over to the General Government for £20,000. For the plant the General Government will pay £6000; its cost to the Province was £13,000. The return of gold for 1871 for the Lake district, Otago, was 44,000 ounces. The population representing this yield is 19,000 Europeans and Chinese, or afc the rate of twenty-three and one-sixth ozi. of gold per head. This valued at £3 17s. 6d. per oz., gives the average earnings of the populace at £89 10s. 6d. per man/ Important to Bankbupts.—ln Chambers at Cbristcburch, the other day, his Hon. Mr. Justice Gresson announced a decision of some importance— to the effect, as we understand, that it will no longer be necessary for a "creditor desiring to have the power to arrest'his debtor, to obtain the order which has hitherto been usual, withdrawing his protection during the suspension of the order of discharge. The protection will henceforward be taken to be; withdrawn by the fact of the suspension of a discharge ; and it will in future be necessary for debtors desiring to avoid arrest during the time of suspension to get a continuance of their protection endorsed upon the order. Fibes in Different Pabts oe New Zealand. —Near Stokes' Point, Auckland, afire has devastated about four square miles of country. —At Howick, (Auckland) a pretty seven-roomed house has been destroyed by fire, ft was unoccupied.—The Shotover (Otago), Ferry Hotel has been burned down.—At Tauranga, (Auckland), a house belonging' to a Mr. Patterson has been destroyed by the same element.— The bridge crossing tha Arrow river, Sawpit Gully (Otago), has been partially burnt.—At Maungakaramca, Mr. James Miller's house has been destroyed, and his son burned to death.—On Jan. 15th, the south side of Moroa Plain, Wellington, was on fire, and for some time threatened the destruction of Battersea farm and homestead. On the eastern side of the plain fourthousund acres have been burned and two miles of fencing destroyed.—A serious bush fire has occurred iv the Whangarei district, Auckland, and has destroyed fences and othor property owned by Dr. Sissions, to the value of £150. The fire was originated by a settler burning off. —A paddook of wheat and a haystack, valued at £150, have been destroyed by fire on the old' Great North Eoad, Auckland, through the carelessness of a smoker throwing away a lighted match.. Exciting Foot Eace at Gketmottth.—One of the closest and most exciting races that have been run on the West Coast, or even in New Zealand, was the one ran yesterday (says the Greymouth Argus, Jan. 24) between Vaughan and Pat Twohill, at the race-, course, for £50, a-side, for one mile. AtsJtjbe la»t; Christmas sports, it will be remembered, holla i Vaughan and Twohill ran together in the mile race, Vaughan beating Twohill by a few yards, having given him 35 yards. Pat Twohill, who is undoubtedly one of the best short-distance runners on the Coasts was not satisfied witlfnis defeat, and hence the challenge to Vaughan, who, hitherto, has been reckoned tbe best' mile runner in this part of the globe. Vaughan gave Twohill 50 yards start. Betting was slightly in favor of Twohill. Both men got away at the start at the same time, the ground being very heavy in consequence of the' wet weather. For the first .three-quarters of a mile Twohill lad, being nearly 80 yards in front; but from this time Vaughan began to overhaul his lengthy opponent, and about 50 yards from the winning post they were running neck and neck. The excitement here became intense, and the ring that only a few seconds before were offering 20 to 1 on Twohill looked rather blue at the prospect. About 12 or 13 yards from the winning post, Vaughan's shoe gave way, and he struggled on leading to within a few feet of the winning post when he fell, and Twohill, who had just taken a step in advance, fell also—" exhausted nature 'could no farther go;" and here, so far as running was concerned, was the end of the race. The running was i all out of either of the competitors, and it is a matter of discussion which won the race; bat th* umpir% gttit tht noe in fcm of TwobUU

A Cbomweu, publican has been fined £5 and costs for being intoxicated on his licensed premises. Ths Germans of Canterbury have subscribed £300 towards the erection of a Lutheran Church in Canterbury. The cutter Pioneer, with a cargo belonging to Reuben Waite, has been wrecked to the north of the Karamea. The b.B. Keeba met with a heavy gale off Castle Point, on January 19. Her bows dipped under, and 50 cases kerosene were washed off the deck. The Champion Regatta, which is to be held at Christehurch on the 29th of February, will comprise six events. These are—a Four-oared fiaee for Youths; an Inter-colonial Four-oared Race, the first prize £150; a Sculling Race; Champion Scullers' Rhco. any description of boats, two miles, wiih a ■traight course; Pair-oared Race, three miles, straight course, prize, five crystal cups. The various Christchurch boating clubs are atnagamating to select one crew to compete in the Interprovincial race. The clipper ship Cabbick Castle, left Port Chalmers, for London, on January 18, with a large and valuable cargo of wool, meats, gold, &c, and eight passengers. The ship Urrr of Auckland, Captain Ashby, was to leave Auckland, for London, on January 17. She takes 40 passengers, and a cargo valued at £44,244. Amongst her cargo were 28 pieces of mottled kauri timber, shipped in its rough state. This kind of timber, so much admired in cabinet-work, would no doubt be in demand if sufficiently known. The graving dock at Port Chalmers is completed, and has been handed over to the Chairman of the Dock Trust by the contractors. The formal opening will take place on an early date. The prospectus of a new morning paper is published in Wellington. It is to be on a company basis with • capital of £2000 in 2000, £1 shares. Its name it to be the Daily Advance, and, says the Post, its " motive power," as editor, "is to be Mr. Edward Jerningham Wakefisld." The Southland Acclimatisation Society has voted £50 to defray the expense of an experimental shipment of salmon ova on a new plan, namely, that of packing the ova ia wet moss in a tin case placed in another case, the space between the two cases being filled with sawdust.— Oreymouth Star. Banks and Fibe Brigades.—ln the publication of tbe balance-sheet of the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, the list of subscribers to the maintenance fund is headed as follows: —

Mortality, from aggravated diarrhoea, has been great among children at ChrUtchurch. During the last week the,same disorder has been somewhat preTalent in Nelson. Three are.eight denominational schools in Christchurch, attended, according to the Lyttelton Times, by about 600 children. Deaths iboh Poison.—A groom named Robert Green, at Leithfield, Canterbury, has died from drinking poison, whilst drunk, in mistake for soda water. —At Cuurtenay, Canterbury, a daughter of Mr. Geo. Bedford, aged 4 year*, has d'ed from drinking whisky and eating tobacco, which Mr. Bedford's children found in the harvest field. Mb. Cbkiohton, M.H.8., has become the Editor of the 2V«o Zealand Herald, (Auckland). Whaling.—The natives between Opotikt and Te Eaha are successfully engaged in whaling. The oil is sold at Auckland. English Birds.—A large number of partridges, thrushes, blackbirds, goldfinches, redpoles, starlings, hedge-sparrows, &c, have been brought out to Canterbury, by the ship Charlotte Gladstone. Eleven men have had a very mi-row esrape of being poisoned at Upcot station, Awatere. By some accident, a quantity of arsenic became mixed with the flour, and all hands having eaten it, there was no one able to go for medical assistance. Ten of the men have now recovered but one is still ill.— lndependent. Severe Loss.—Two thousand sheep have been destroyed on Mr. G. Lee's run, Oxford, Canterbury, by a grass fire. A hush has taken place *o the kauri gum diggings at Mercury Bay, Auckland, and nearly all the miners lißve forsaken their claims to look for gum. About £1000 worth is being obtained weekly. At Westport, George Low, carpenter, has been •eriously injured. He was assisting to demolish a building, a portion of which fell on him breaking one of his legs. It is feared also that his loins are leverely hurt. Otago Ebcobt. —On February 6, the Otago escorts brought to Dunedin, 13,626 ounces of gold. This is considered a large quantity considering that the drought had almost caused mining operations to be suspended. Breach of the Abms Act.—Samuel Solomon, ironmonger, was committed for trial at the Hokitika Police Court on Wednesday, for having in his posession more than 101 bs of gunpowder, not being duly licensed to sell that article, the offence being a breach of the Arms Act. The penalty is something tremendous for a breach of this Act. The punishment on conviction of a misdemeanor under this Act is imprisonment with or without bard labor for a term not exceeding three years, with a fine not exceeding £500, at the discretion of the Judge; and for a felony—that is, selling gunpowder, arm?, &c —penal wrritude for a term not exceeding six years, and not less than three years. — trrey River Argus, Jan. 26 The Maitngatua (Otago) Fasting Gibl.—A correspondent of the Otago Daily Times of Jan. 18, writes: —"Ou Wednesday I embraced an opportunity, long wished for, to pay a visit to this now celebrated person. The drive to the place is associated with the clitubing of mountains. This is, however, a mistake; a level and well-made road leads directly to the house. The distance from the West Taieri bridge to Mr. Boss's house is about seven miles. The drive, between waving corn fields, green meadows, and neat cottages, and partly through a cluster of bush at the West Taieri, is very enjoyable. The house, which is in close proximity to the Waipori road, is composed of sod, and roofed with rushes, in the true Highland style, with a cluster of blue gums in front. The apartment where the girl lies is well ventilated, and has no manner of ornament beyond a few photographs, and boards with texts of Scripture pasted thereon. On entering, the visitor's first impression is that he sees before him a young woman in the enjoyment of good health, so ruddy is the face in appearance; but ere long a different impression is received —the weak voice and occasional contortions of the face indicate internal suffering. The leftside and hand are completely paralysed, and the heart has a different beat from that of a person in ordinary health. She has been lying in the same position for two years, being of that time seventy days and nights in a trance, during which, "rcording to the testimony of her parents, she was wii lioufc any kind of nourish-n.-nt; and since she has awakened, her whole diet c. nsisted of halfacup of tea or coffee, with a very b h »11 crust of brtad. I delivered Professor Macgregor's message to her parents, to the effect that if she were sent to the! ;Hoßpital he would give the case his most special attention ; but manifestly the would be unable to stand' the journey. She herself said that she was willing to go if the journey could be performed with safety, but her parents are against it. There is no doubt the case is a most extraordinary one, and well worthy the attention of the medical profession, and one visit will convince the most sceptical that no deception whatever exists. The parents are from Boeshire, Scotland. I conversed with them in their native language, and intimated that a suspicion existed that their daughter received more food than was stated. Their candid replies and indignation at such being hinted, were sufficient to convince to the contrary. Miss Boss is visited by large numbers from all parts, a« many as 120 being there one day last week. She converses cheerfully and intelligently, and when the' visitor is departing she invites him back again. She has no expectation of ever being able to rise out of her present position, and speak-, of departing life with hope and.resignation. Oi u.o Bey. Mr. Giiließ, who it Terj^ind^to ,her,^ andtvifita, her frequency,-»he. ipeskt with affection. Altogether, to thote who have the time at their disposal, and who wish to see oa how slender a coid life hangi, a visit to Mill

The ship Glenmabk left Ly tfelton, for London, on Febuary Ist, with a full ca^go. The Wanganui riflemen have beaten the Tatanaki men in a match. A NEW church (St. George's), wa9 opened by the Bishop of Auckland xt Grahainntown, on Jan. 28. At Auckland, a Volunteer Gazettt and Colonial Farces Record is now published. Tub chief Major Kemp (says the Independent) is verj ill just now, suffering from iufhuioialion of the lunga. Maize.—Between OpoHki and the East Cape (says the Hawke's Bay Herald) the produce of maize for this season will ba about 15,003 bushels. Thb Waikouiiti brewery (Otag>) lias been burned clown through over-heating the kiln. It was insured for £200 or £300. Dbowned. —A man named George Inwson ha 3 been drowned in the Waiohine river, Wellington, by falling from his horse whilst trying to cross the stre.un. Fourteen sharebroke's have taken out licenses at Auckland, under the Sharebrokers Act. The licenses amounted to £350. Fibe at Kaiapoi.—The town of Kiviapoi, Canterbury, was visited by a fire on Feb. 2nd. Tin total loss will amount to about £1200; and £675 will be covered by insurance. , During last year the Bank of New Zaaland at Auckland refined 300,0000z3. of gold, from which they obtained IOO.OOOozs. silver, thereby saving the duty of2s. 6d. per ounce on tie latter amount —a very considerable saving.— Southern Cross. Thbek enterprising Auckland farmers, namely, Messrs J. Bainbridge, H. Vercoe, and Eobert Bradley, have suffered severe losses by having haystacks (valued from £50 to £100 ench) burned down. Newspaper Kindness. —On January 18th, the third page of the Southern Cross (seven columns) wa9 broken, or knocked into "pye." The Herald kindly came to their aid on the occasion, and lent them matter. Fatal Accidents.—A child named Ada Floss Bryant has been killed at Auckland, by a coach running over her.—A. man named Andrew Christian Thyxhan has been killed by the falling of a rree on the road between the Kanieri and Ross, and about two and a-half miles from the latter place. Thb ship Celceno, 702 tons, arrived at Wellington, on Feb. 2, after a passage of 02 days from London, with 74 passengers. On November 26, Phoebe Corke, a steerage passenger, nged 52, died. Incendiaeism at Auckland. —On January 30th, a cottage was burned down in Wakefield-street, Auckland. A man named John Cartwright has been apprehended on the charge of wilfully setting fire to the building. Mobe Chinese pob Otago—On February 6th, the barque Seagull arrived at Port Chalmers, after a passage of 51 days from Hong Kong. She brought 120 Chinese. The ship Chablottb Gladstone, 1302 tons, arrived at Lyttelton, from London, on February 2nd, aftt r a passage of 89 days, with 22 passengers and a lar^e number of Government immigrants. Amongst the passengers were the lady and family of Mr. A. Saunders. The barque Cyrene, from London arrived at Lyttelton, on February 2, after a passage of 107 days. She brought a few passengers and a cargo principally of timber. Death by Poison —On February sth, an inquest was held at Parnell, Auckland, on the body of John William Harris, who had died from the effects of morphia. After a deliberation of a few minutes, a verdict wa3 returned that the deceased had died by taking poison ; but whether with intent to kill himself the jury could not say. The verdict was virtually an open one. Deceased was 64 years of age, and waß an old and respected settler. The Pbemieb at Westpobt. — A Westport telegram dated February 6lh, states: —"A congratulatory address ha 9 been presented to Mr. Fox. A deputation, headed by Mr. O'Connor, complained of the neglect of the disirictby the Nelson Government, and urging the withdrawal of the Superintendent's delegated powers, and the separation from Nelaon as the only remedy." [Creedat Josephus Eugenius /] Incendiarism has of late been so frequently perpetrated in different parts of this Colony—particularly in Auckland—that it is satisfactory to hear of some of the fire-raisers being caught and punched. At Duneilin, a man named John Grey, lias been convicted of this crime, and has been sentenced to three years' penal servitude. The Volunteers in Auckland are to be utilised as firemen in case of need. Two companies will be told off fot this duty each month, and as a return for these semces the Insurance Companies will offer several prizes to be shot lor. Gold Expobts.—The following table shows the quantities of gold exported, and the value, from New Zealand during the years 1871 and 1870 :—

Balance in favor of 1871, 185,149 ounces, and in value £630,995. Maoei TitiAir at Ohinemuki. —A correspondent at Obinemuri informs U3 that the natives have been bpguiling the time by upholding the majesty of justice in their own peculiar way. One Maori was accused of the heiuous crime of rape upon a little girl. Ihe indictment was not framed in any delicate way, but at all events the accused was solemnly arraigned before Mere Kuru and Te Hira, and a prolonged examination of witnesses took place, with a view to a summary conviction. Not having details, wo are unable to say that they are " unfit for publication." The judgement was in favor of a full acquittal, with a proviso thut accused be ordeied to "shout" for all round —court, jury, counsel, witnesses, and spectators. This order wa9 fulfilled forthwith. Another Maori was charged with assaulting a woman by seizing her by the throat. This case occupied the Ohinemuri Supreme Court for a considerable time, the defence being that the prosecutrix was abusive, and that ihe assault only " served her right." Prisoner, however, was found guiliy, and was ordered to purchase Mere Kuru a pair of boots! How the Court came to the conclusion that Mere Kuru shorld have a pair of boots because another woman bad been assaulted we cunnot tell; but wo suppose the chieftain stood in the place of the Government, to which, with us, the fines go. It might be agreeable and convenient sometimes to resort to the some procedure in our Resident Magistrate's Courts, but of course dignity must be kept up. This sudden accession of crime in Ohinemuri is owing to the fact that a few days ago the natives had some £70 or £80 (how obtained we cannot says), which, of course, they proceeded to " knock down "in the orthodox Maori fashion. How gratifying it is to reflect upon the onward march, of civilization !— Thames Advertiser, Jan. 19. Onr Wat of Tbeaxing a Debtor.—At the Re»ident Magistrate's Court at Camptown, Nelson South West Gold fields, on Eridaf, 26th January, a case of extremely summary jurisdiction, with immediately threatened execution, came before the Court. A man named Shanahan was charged with assaulting ono O'Connor by ducking him in tho pellucid waters of Nelson Creek. The complainant was leaving the district without bidding a friendly adieu to his creditors, and the defendant, who was one of them, got on his Irncks and overtook him. When they mot a conversation took place on the general state of the country, and the complainant expressed an opinion the operation of whitewashing was the newest way of paying old debts, whereupon the defendant seized him and carrying him to a wuterhole in the creek, threw him bodily into it. When the plaintiff was in the water the defendent imparted tne consolatory intelligence to him that ho would " drown him if he didn't settle hiß account," and as the defendant looked like a man of his word, he (ihe plaintiff) paid the money, end went his way to the Court for redress. The case aiforded adeal of amusement, and, ut its conclusion, the Magistrate said that although the defendant had received some provocation, he was not justified in taking the law into hit oirahaacU, gad fined him 20i.,

, New Bushes on the Wkst Coast.—Extensivt rushes are reported by the Qrey River irgus, ol i January 29th, to have taken place to Teviot Creel not far from it» junction with Brandy Jack's, anc to Maori Creek N\>. 2, No To vn. The ground, in both loca'itiv'B, is reported to be good. ' Two OaNORS TO THE Ton.—The crushing of 104 tons of stone from the Star Reet at Cromwell, Olago, I has yielded 227 ounces of gold. A teleg-ium from Port Chalmers, dated Jan. 24ih, statss:—"A large bush fire is raging at Ulueskin. Mr. H'tclicoi-k's premises have been burned. His wife and daughter were carried through 1 he flames in an exhausted stute." An Auckland telegram cf Jan. 22nd reports: — " A heavy bush fire at Coromandel destroyed part of the Tokatea tramwiiy, sever.il diggers' huts, Hallugan's store, a butcher's chop, and other property." Breach 01? the Gaolkhs' and Phisonbrs' Act, 1869:—A week ngo, at Dunedin, Mr. T. H. Goodsir, a surgeon, was fined £20 and costs, or in default to be imprisoned for three months, for riding along the r.xid and dropping plugs of tobacco for the piisouers who were working in the vicinity. The New Zsiland Gizette announces the appointment of C. R. Dudley Ward, Esq., as District Judj»e for the District Court of Tim iru and Oatnaiu, the District Court of Tokomairiro and Clutlm, .and the District Court of Western Otago. Also, the appointment of G. W. Harvey, Esq., barrister, as District Judge for the j'istricfc Court of the County of Westland and the District Court of Westlaud North, vice C. D. E. Ward, Esq. Me. Fairfax Johnson's residence at the Wairoa, and many valuables, have bean destroyed hy fire^ Fatal Cab Accident.—At Auckland, John Crosbie lias been killed through jumping out of a cab, whilst the horses were boltirg. Attempted Murder.—At Timaru, a few days ago, a man named J. Kennedy wa3 lying asleep on a bed in a house of ill fame, when another man named D. Adam, having first tied Kennedy's feet together with a scarf, procured an axe and inflicted some severe wounds on his head. Fortunately for Kennedy, he contrived to get his feet loose, and made his escape. Both the would be murderer and bis victim, it appears, were drunk. Deaths in Auckland City.—A correspindent writes that no fewer than 53 deaths of children, under two years of age, took piace in the City of Auckland, during the month of January. The increase is attributed to the long drought, and the want of a supply of water. The amount of Customs' duties collected in Auckland during the month of January nmouuted to £14,254 3s. 3d., and at the Thames to £1294. The Ballabat left Napier for London on the 24th instant with a cargo, including 2997 bales of wool, valued at £77,000. We hear that Captain Yorke owner af the sahooner Canterbury, of Havelock, has in course of erection at Wanganui, a new vessel of about 100 tons burden It i salready in a forward state, and will be launched next month — Marihnrouah ExnressBoat Accident—An accident which might have been attended with fatal results occurred to a boat belonging to the ship Chile. It appears the boat in charge of the first mate was coming to White's Bay under sail, and as is usual, mistook Robin Hood's for it. After going into the latter place, the boat resumed her trip, but when clearing Robin Hood Head, a squall struck her and she capsized, the crew of five men sticking to her; luckily, she being a lifeboat, there was no danger of sinking. One ot the hands got', caught in some way under the sheet, and was only extricated by the mate with difficulty. Some of the crew swatn after and secured oars, &c. After two hours stay on top of the boat they were observed by Mr. Thorns from Rotin Hood's, who at once put off to their assistance and towed them back to shore. The only injury from this contretemps occurred to one of the men, who was struck in the eye by the mast, which effectually put the dead light on his sky-blinker, and caused him most emphatically to see fireworks. A very plucky and cool thing was done by one of the crew. He remembered ha had dropped a valued meerschaum when the boat went over, so he slipped off into the water and took a swim to the epjt where the accident occurred (half-a-mile distant) and after a good search he found fhe article. He then made trucks to the boat regardless of sharks. Great praise is due to Mr. Thorns for his prompt and valuable assistance. This is not the first time by many Mr. Thoun has rescued persons under similar circumstances. — W kite's Hay Bag (Mii paper) Jan. 27.

Bank of New South Wales Bank of New Zealand Bank; of Australasia Union Bank of Australia £ 0 0 0 0 s. 0 0 0 0 d. 0 0 0 0

1871. 1870. Nelson ... Westport Greymouth Hokitika Okarito ... Lyttelton Dunedin... Invercargill Aucklaud Picton ... Wellington Ozs. & Ozs. £ ... 10,799 ..; 43,196 ... 12,292 ... 49,168 ... 47,846 ... 191,384 ... 74,557 ... 298,228 ... 86,874 ... 347,496 ... 100,592 ... 402, 68 . 91,020 ... 364,080 ... 99,857 ... 399,428 7,137 ... 28,548 ... 4,819 ... 19,276 5 ... 20 ... 243 ... 972 ... 150,652 ... 602,608 ... 162,694 ... 650,776 4.288 ... 17,152 ... 2,458 ... 9,832 ... 330,326 ... 1,188,708 ... 85,534 ... 319,141 1,082 ... 4,328 ... 1,804 ... 7,216 30 ... 120 730,029 2,787,520 544,880 2,156,525