BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 98, 30 March 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

[from our own correspondent.] Christchurch, Thursday, 3, p.m. The mail from Hokitika has arrived. The Okai'ita rush still continues. The Grey Beach claims are yielding heavily.

Oamaru Election. — On Friday last the election of a member to represent the district of Oamaru m the General Assembly came off, and resulted m the return of Mr. Campbell. The numbers were : Mr. Campbell, SO ; Mr. lugram, 43.

Holiday. — On Monday next, being Easter Monthly, the bank m this town, aud all the principal stores will be closed.

Flour Mill Company. — A public meeting of the farmers and others interested, will be held at the Crown Hotel, Tiuiuka, on Saturday, the sixth April, for the purpose of organizing a Company for the building of a flour mill m the Arowhenua district. Such a step has been rendered necessary by the fact that there is only one mill m the district, which is found now to be totally unable to grind the wheat raised m this part, thereby causing an exportation of wheat, and an importation of flour. The farmers interested have taken the matter m hand, which is a guarantee of its being carried out.

Water Supply. — It will be seen from the report of the meeting of the Municipal Council, m another column, that the contractor for boring an artesian well has been compelled to give np his contract, after having gone to a depth of about ninety feet ; throngh the non-supply of proper apparatus. The strain upon the very small rods, when driving through hard rock, was found to be too great ; and the Council have therefore issued another advertisement calling for tenders to sink a well 300 feet if required, with a bore of two and a-half inches.

The New Landing Service. — On Monday next we believe that the Government propose to take charge of the landing service at Timaru, and to place it under the management of Captain Beswiek, the Harbour Master. Captain Gibson, the Port Officer for the province, is at present m Timaru for the object, we believe, of formally taking possession of the service on behalf of the Government. We liear that no reduction is at present to be made m the lauding charges ; and the Government intend to appropriate the revenue derived from the service as general revenue. But it would scarcely appear from the manner m which tlie service is to be worked, that much profit will be made from it. AYe shall, however, be able to give more particulars of the new service m our next issue.

Taranaiu Loat.ven. —We take the following paragraph from tho 'J'aronoki lhuald — " Duncan Camerou and the crew of the late mail boat left yesterday by t'ae Airedale for Timarn. having been engaged by the Provincial Government of Canterbury for the boating service m that place. Taranaki has lo.st and Canterbury has gained a good and reliable boat's crew."

Representation of the West Coast. — In a recent article ou the return of Mr. Moorhonse for the West Coast, the LyUdion Time* gives the following: — "It is announced that Mr. Moorlionsu's j'lace will be sought to bo supplied by a resident m tho district itself, so that Mount Herbert will actually sntfer no injury by the exchange ; while the East and West Coasts will be cemented together, the cry of Separation averted, tlic Westlaud people represented by an able, experienced, and influential member, and the province as a whole advantaged by tbia expression of mutual confidence."

Election Intelligence.— We believe that we are correct m stating that Mr. A. Ornisby will be put m nomination for the representation of the Geraldine district m the Provincial Council, ai)d that it is not probable that he will be opposed. Major White having preferred to represent his present constituency again, the Oxford, a requisition has beeu signed by the electors of Waimate. asking Mr. M. Studholme to represent that district. Air. Stericker has been named as the representative of the Seadown district.

Petroleum m Tahanakt. — Xews has been received m Nclsoa that the men engaged m boring for petroleum m Taraimki have succeeded m finding o'l, a sample of which m its crude state has been forwarded to Mr. Powell of Nelson. The spot from which it was obtained is the Sugar Loaves, Taranaki, whore, it is said, the large amount of 5000 gallons is being obtained daily. The owners of the well are three labouring men, and tbey have already refused the offer of £10,000 for their property made by the agent of a Melbourne firm.

Strange Fatality.— lt will be seen from the list of passengers' names m the ill-fated steamer "London," that a Mr. and Mrs. Wood and three children, are mentioned ; also two step children named Clayson. These passengers were well known m this district, having resided at the Arowhenua for a number of years, and having left there about twelve months ago to proceed to England. A singular circumstance is connected with the loss of this family. They had engaged their passages, and actually embarked on board the ship Victory, which our shipping columns announce has arrived safely m Lyttelton ; but when the Commissioners at London examined the Victory, they ordered off Mr. and Mrs. Wood and family, as the cabin accommodation was I'ound to be insufficient. But some of their luggage was left on board the Victory, and has arrived at Lyttelton. In consequence of not being able to come to Canterbury by the Victory, Mr. Wood agreed with the owners. Money, Wigram and Co., to proceed by their next vessel j but as that firm happened not to have one on the berth for New Zealand at the time, arrangements were made for the family to proceed by the "London" to Melbourne, and thence to be brought on to Canterbury. The Home Neion says of Mrs. Wood, that she, with other female passengers " read the Bible by turns m the second cabin." Mr. Wood has a sister residing at Timaru, and also a brother at the Arowhenua. The following remarkable reason for the payment of members is given m the Melbourne Age, ofthe2Bthult. :-Mr. M'Lellan, intheAssembly, last night, gave a rather original, and certainly, if true, a very cogent reason for payment of members. This was, that from his own experience, he found that when a man had sat, as he had, m that House for seven or eight years, he was of very little good for anything else.