Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 219, 25 January 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

!| %Appointment. — Mr J. E. March has been appointed Assistant Immigration Officer. The Late Visit of the Governor. — We have been favoured with the following telegram from Sir G. F. Bowen by She Superintendent: — "Pray let it be publicly known bow deeply sensible I am of the hearty reception given to me by your Honor, by the Provincial Government, and by all classes of the community in Canterbury. Commodore Lambert also wishes to send his grateful acknowledgment of your hospitality." Suicide. — On Saturday evening, ', young man, named Thomas Cook Martin, committed suicide, by poisoning himself, at the Devonshire Arms Hotel. He had been in the employment of Mr Hart, as barman, for a considerable tpn^. He wa3 noticed to be in low spirits on Saturday, and was standing I in the kitchen, about six o'clock, when he ! fell suddenly to the ground. On enquiries being made as to what was the matter Avith ! him, he stated that he had poisoned himself, and Dr Iliffe having been sent for he administered an emetic, and ordered deceased to be conveyed to the Hospital. Deceased was placed in a cab with the utmost despatch, but he expired on the road. An inquest was held at the Hospital this afternoon, and the jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide whilst in a sfc»±e of temporary insanity. \^ Seiuous AccipENTS.*-On Saturday last, about 1 1 a.m., Maurice Maloney, of Rangiora Bush, was endeavouring to place a rope around the neck of a bull for the purpose of tethering him, when the animal became infuriated, and rushed him, ripping his breast completely open, and exposing his heart and other organs. Mr Tripe and Mr Bourke were called, and pronounced his case hopeless. Mr Pi >: os saw him on Sunday, and gave but very 1 title hope of bis recovejjjl About the same lime. Wm, Cooper, farmer, Moeraki Downs, met with a sad accident. He was in the act of reaping with a horse reaper, and upon going over some rough ground was thrown from bis seat to the front of the knives of tbe machine. One of his jaws was cut off, and his face otherwise lacerated. He lies in a/very critical condition. Concert. — Madame Bishop and Mr Lascelles gave a most successful concert at the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, on Saturday evening, to a large and appreciative audience. Madame Bishop sang remarkably well, and was in excellent voice, her " Casta Diva" was excellently sung, and the " Dashing White Sergeant" elicited a hearty encore, to which she responded with " Come Home, Father." This was exquisitely sung. Mr Lascelles was successful in the ballad " Robin Ruff," and " The Good-bye at the Door." A new duett, " Sunset," which was very nicely sung, brought the first part to a close. In tbe second part may be noticed a pianoforte solo on popular airs, and Russell's " Ship on Fire " by Mr Lascelles, and a pretty ballad of Harvey's, by Madame Bishop; the concert being concluded with an operatic duett, which was ably sustained and heartily applauded. Madame Bishop will give her farewell concert in the Town Hall this evening. The prices of admission have been very considerably reduced, and the programme includes some of Madame Bishop's choicest mofceaux. The second part will consist of a grand scena from the last act of the opera of "La Sonnambula." Madame Bishop will appear in character, and will sing the celebrated rondo finale " Ah non Guinge," and Bellini's M.S. brilliant variations, as sung by her only. < Nafiei.— By teleg ams from Napier, dated Jan. 14. 1 p.m., w*e {Wellington Advertiser) learn that the late news from Wairoa contradicts the report that the Hau-haus had been in force at the Waiau. Mr Fox.— None other but the Government organ at Wellington could publish the following : — Mr William Fox is about to visit Wunganui, and, judging from the tone of the press in that town, the event is not considered second in importance to the arrival there of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. It is wonderful how energetic the VVanganui papers are in their efforts to pass off the political nostrums of political quacks ! How determined they are in endeavoring to influence the minds of the settlers in order to promote their own ends. Mr Fox may visit Wanganui and other places, but he will require to be born again before he inspires the legislature or the country with confidence.

Gold. — The Wellington Advertiser of Jan. 20 says: — We were yesterday shown a small flat nugget of waterworn gold which was said to have been found on a farm in the imme diate vicinity of this town. Several gentlemen talked of going to inspect the locality, and some we be'ieve did so, but we have not heard of any new or further discovery on the part of these amateur prospectors. Crops in Otago.— The Bruce Herald of Jan. 20 says : — lt may be reasonably expected that a lise in the price of oats will soon take place, if the markets here can be influenced by the probable results of the growing crop::. We have seldom seen the oat crops at the present season have so miserable an appearance. In some favoured soils, it L true, that a fair average will be I reaped, but generally speaking, on the plain, and on all the fields adjoining the main road to Dunedin, in a large proportion of them it will require some consideration, whether it will pay to reap their crops, or to cut iheni for hay, or probably to eat them down with sheep. The weather latterly has been favor- [ able, so far as heat is concerned, but (he crops have never recovered from the scorching winds, and rain is now much wanted. We understand that there are several instances of the aphis attacking the gram crops, and it is quite apparent that the turnips are to suffer severely this season from the blight. We obcerved that Mr MKay, of Dunrobin, East Taieri, commenced, on Thursday last, to reap about four acres of oats, quite ripe, and well filled, and we believe he his about twenty acres more ready for the machine. In another fortuight the reaper will be pretty generally employed in *;he Taieri. Marlborough. — The Marlborough Press of Jan. 6, in a summary for England, thus sums up the local news for the past month: — Christmas passed by very quietly, but the entry of the new year appeared to put fresh life into the hearts of most people. On New Year's eve the band turned out and enlivened the inhabitants of most parts of the town by playing some favourite airs ; and as there were a large number of our country friends here ready to take part in the regatta. Picton presented a lively appearance. The regalta which usually takes pluce in November, came off on New Year's Day with great sutjcess. The racing was first-class, and the attendance was very fair, and would have been still better only for a flood in the Wairau stopping the communication. The day was beauiifully fine, and everything passed off with great satisfaction, and without accident or disturbance. The sports at the Ferry on New Year's Day we hear passed off satisfactorily. The timber trade, which for the last month or so we have not mentioned, is still in a prosperous state. From the return just to hand we find that close on 400,000 feet of timber have been shipped from Messrs Brownlie and Co's and Messrs Dive and Gaby's mills at Mabakipawa during the past month, and we are informed that the mill owners have large orders on hand. Gold Prospecting in Taranaki. — The Herald of JaD. 16 says . — Since the Christmas holidays the several prospecting parties have again proceeded to the ranges to continue their mining operations. They are most sanguine of finding gold, and are all working with an energy which is well deserving of success. The quartz the parties have from time to time sent into town is similar to that which we have before described, and contains great quantities of a peculiar silvery looking medal. Latterly they have come upon sulphur, and the further they are penetrating into the drive, the more difficult becomes their work from the fumes that evaporate from it. Oue of Hughes' party has been obliged to return to town through his eyes becoming sore from the sulphurous fumigation. We are unable to say whether the quartz that has baen obtained contains gold, there being no means of testing it here ; but a quantity has been sent to Auckland by Mr Hughes for that purpose, and by the steamer which is expected to-morrow he no doubt will get some information respecting it We have heard of a specimen of quartz being brought in from the Waiwakaiho, which is sai^ l to contain gold, though some who have seen it, are of a different opinion. We are glad that those engaged persevere in their pursuit for gold, and trust they will not be discouraged in any way by not coming upon it in payable quantities at once. They have ooly to bear in mind that the existence of gold in Auckland has been known since 1853, yet it has taken fourteen years to discover that it could be obtained in sufficient quantities to entice 20,000 people to the spot.