BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Timaru Herald, Volume II, Issue 70, 16 September 1865, Page 4

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

[from our own correspondent.] Christchurch, Friday, 5 p.m. Fighting on the East Coast. Hauhaus defeated, with a loss of 18 killed and several wounded. The debate on the Separation of the two Islands has taken place, aud on a division being called for the Ministry had a majority of fourteen. 1 Tnere was great excitement before the debute came off. The Hokitika mail has arrived. The news from the goldfields is most encouraging. Two pounds weight (21bs.) gold amongst three men per day, on the Totara not uncommon. Arnold and Grey turning out well. Mr. Walmsley, m the employ of the Bank of New South Wales, has been stuck up and robbed of 820 ozs. gold and £1000 m notes. A reward of £400 has been offered for the apprehension of the robbers. There is a new channel m the river.

The Roads.— Out roads, or rather we should

say tracks, are again m an almost impassible state— and the Road Boards can do very little to repair them, for want of funds. The Levels .Road Board propose to close the bridge over the Otipua creek— on the main South road— it being now m a dangerous state ; because they have no money to pay for repairs. The Government promised to pay for the repairs of the bridge iv question, but now repudiate the promise.

A Whale Washed on Shore.— On Tuesday morning last, a man named Hicks found a large sperm whale, measuring about forty feet m length, stranded on the beach alxmt two hundred yards south of tlie life boat shed. The monster was m a mutilated condition, and appeared to have been dead some time.

Oamaru. — A correspondent writing on the 13th instant, says :— " I hear that our Government will subscribe £50 towards a reward for the discovery of an available pass, either by the Wanaka or Ohou. Cannot you induce your Government to offer something. lam sure we could raise £100 here by subscription. Of course you would only give the reward for a pass up the Ohou, or m some other place m the Mackenzie Country. I conversed with a man the other day who has resided m the Mackenzie Couutry for four years, and he told me he should start immediately a reward was offered.'*

Timuka. — We learn that the temporary foot bridge over the Timuka has again been washed away, and that the work of driving the piles for the new structure has been stopped m consequence of the high state of the river.

Arowhenua.— On Wednesday evening last an entertainment took place at the Crown Hotel by the Amateur Dramatic Society of Tiraaru, for the benefit of the school now forming m this township. The programme of the performance was of a varied character ; the first part consisting of recitations, songs, &c. ; the second, the laughable farce of " Boots at the Swan," terminating with the Christy Minstrels. The inimitable Tnglis more than excelled himself; the irresistible Brown convulsed his audience with laughter; and Massey performed his part admirably. The brothers Knight played a duet on the violin exceedingly well, but it was only appreciated by a musical few. The kindness of these gentlemen m giving thew gratuitous services for so worthy an object as to aid the funds of a school, was, at the termination of the performance, acknowledged by Dr. Rayner, who was deputed to publicly thank them m the name of the School Committee for their kindness, and for the great entertainment afforded that evening, which could not be excelled. The audience testified their concurrence m the observations of the Doctor — when a vote of thanks was proposed to the members of the Amateur Dramatic Society of Tiraaru— by giving several rounds of applause. The room was uncomfortably crammed, several persons not being able to obtain admission.

Dramatic Entertainment.— An entertainment, entitled * Matrimony,' was given at the Mechanics' Institute last evening, by Miss Rosa Cooper and Mr. Lionel Harding, and was ajgreat success. Notwithstanding the very un favourable state of the weather, the Hall was quite fulL The late hour at which the entertaiment closed precludes any lengthened notice m our present issue, but we may state that no better evening's amusement could reasonably be desired. The second and last performance is to be given to-night.