OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 353, 1 July 1869, Page 3

OTAGO.

met accused, who asked for some money owing to him, and when complainant said " What money" he struck him in the face. Complainant's wife corroborated her husband's evidence, stating also that accused struck her. Complainant said he had previously met with similar treatment. Accused, in defence, said complainant struck him first. A mate was with him at tho time, but being in Lyttelton, he had not called him. His Worship said the Bench would have heard any evidence called for defence, but there not being any, the balance of proof was. decidedly against accused. He would therefore be fined 103, and 3s for a scarf lost the assault.

«> CFrom the Otago Daily Times, June 28 and 29.) We are informed on good authority that a Joint Stock Company ia in course of formation, having for its object the erection of a new Theatre somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Octagon. The building is to be of brick, in the modern style, and with all the latest improvements. . An auction bazaar of " numerous and miscellaneous articles," was held at Naseby, on Monday and Tuesday last. The merriment, says the Chronicle, was occasionally extreme. At one time a pair of lady's gold earrings was offere 1 for competition ; the next article being a live pig in a sack, whose squeaks gave abundant evidence of its vitality ; thfa would be followed by some article of lady's apparel, to be succeeded, perhap3, by a b>g of coal, a dead sheep, a bundle of wool, and so forth. The amount realised exceeded, we understand, £150. XThe'late earthquake shock appears to havg, been very severe in the Duns tan district. The local journal slates that at Alexandra, Cromwell, and other places, the vibration or the earth was most painfully perceptible, and created great consternation. At Clyde the whole of the wooden buildings rocked and swayed to a great extent, in a number of instances shaking the crockery and buttles off. the shelves, and otherwise doing damage. The workmen on one of the dredges on the Molyneux represented the shock as being very severe, the vessel swaying and straining at her anchors in a most extraordinary manner. — The shock was likewise felt at Naseby, but no damage is reported to have been occasioned by it. The cheap meat movement has been attended with marked success in Arrow town Mutton now ranges from 2d to 3d per pound, and beef from 4d to 6d. As a consequence of this state of affairs, the Dunstan Times correspondent states that the consumption of sheep in Arrowtown has enormously increased. Fifteen sheep per week was the number consumed under the old prices, now two butchers are killing seventy each per week, the third being too aristocratic to deal in mutton. With respect to beef the consumption has increased almost in proportion to. that of mutton. The baker 3 also have followed the lead of the butchers, the same authority stating that they "are even civil now, and will deliver bread at the doors of their customers." Bread is at 8d to lOd pur 41b loaf. Particulars regarding the late earthquake are coming in from the country districts. At Tokomairiro, according to the Bruce Standard, the direction of the motion was from south-west to north -east. It was more or. less experienced by nearly everyone in the township. In some places it was rather alarming. Mr Donaldson, who resides in the Manse, near Fairfax, says that the building creaked a good deal, and a bucket of water on the floor of the kitchen was nearly upset, while stirrup irons hung on the side of ihe wall were swaying about like the pendulum of a clock. A • correspondent in the Taieri writes to the same journal that the earthquake wa9 sensibly felt there at exactly the same time, viz., 11.20 a.m. At Lawrence, the Tunpeka Times states that a slight shock was experienced about 1 1 25. The motion was from a northerly in southerly direction In Mr Harris's store, the buckets, billies, &c, suspended from the roof, wero swayed violently to and fro, and a similar commotion was observed among the saddlery in the shop of Messrs Low and Sons. Down several chimneys a gust of smoke announced th« occurrence of something unusual. Strange to cay the shock was not felt further up Peel street than Messrs Low's store, although it was quite distinctly felt at the Police Camp on the summit of the hill. About three "weeks ago a whaling company was started at Otngo Heads, the plant consisting of two whale boats and gear, one to be stationed at Waikouaiti ani the other at this Heads, both being manned by Maoris under the leadership of George Iloberston, a half caste. The conditions of association were that each boat shuuld proceed to sea every morning under a certain penalty on each of the crew, who all work on shares Communication is kept up by signals by day and fires by night. The company being thus started, it is gratifying to learn that their enterprise has been rewarded in the capture of a large whale. The whale and her calf, the latter about a week old, were observed off Waikouaiti South Headj at noon on Friday, both apparently playing in the water. Chase was immediately given by both boats, and after a smart row, one of the boats aucceeded in fastening to the cow, which was afterwards lanced and killed in the short space of two hours, when it was towed under the North Head of Waikouaiti, and moored.^While capturing the whale, an exciting Bcene occurred on board one of the boats, which was attacked and had her bows stove in by the calf. One of the Maoris, in fright, jumped overboard, but was smartly caught by Kobertson, by the hair of the head, and in this position towed for six minutes before it was possible to take him on boajrep Tho calf was lanced, but got away. It is 7 however, supposed that it will yet be caughjt. .On ther return- of the Geelong from Waikouaiti .with the whale in tow, the was fol-

lowed by a large shoal of porpoises, which evidently wanted a feast ou the dead monster — their gamhols were the admiration of all on board. One rashly ventured within re.ieh of Robertson's harpoon, and 'was captured. It is calculated that tea tuns of oil will be gwt out of the whale. Rumour, says the Waikouaiti local journal, has been busy during tho past week respecting the result of a proselyting visit of a nuniher of the Northern Maoris •to their brethren resident at the Kaik here. Though it is believed that these visitors were chiefly from the Moeraki and Timaru districts, vs c have good reasons for stating that several were from the North Island, and that from the province of Wellington. We regret to say that there can now be no doubt that the pernicious doctrine of Hau-hauism has taken considerable hold of the minds of the hitherto peaceable and remarkably well-disposed Ifaoris at thie Kuik ; and that instead of devoting themaevea to tilling the soil as heretofore, they have ahsolutely done nothing this season towards securing crops — neither planting nor sowing — and it is positively asserted that they do aot intend doin^ either. To give an instance of the rapidity with which the aboriginal mind can relap3e into its old barbari:\nis*n3, we are informed that a well-known and highly-respected aged Maori, whose wife recently died, under the influence of the teachings of those inculcating the doctrines of Hau-hauisin, as well as in accordance with ancient Maori customs, burned down during the past week the house in which she had died, containing everything in the shape of furniture nnd cooking utensils, which his habit of associating with the Europeans hid given him a taste for. On Friday last a number of Maoris went away, but we understand in about two months there ia to he a large gathering, from all the Kaiks, in Southern Canterbury. There is no doubt that regular correspondence is kept up by disaffected North Island Maoris with all the Southern tribes, and though not in the least alarmists, we think that storekeepers should be very careful whom they supply with ammunition. We may mention that we hear the name of Uoromona P->hio (who is a Maori magistrate) mixed 4ip with the doings of Southern Island Hau-hau prophets in a way that ehould at least cause au investigation to be made.