Local Intelligence.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 9, Issue 570, 27 December 1865, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Ensign Jenkins. —There is a melancholy pleasure in stating tliat the body of this young and lamented officer, recently drowned at Patea, was recovered at the end of last week and brought up to Wanganui, where it was interred yesterday evening. Military Movements. —It is understood that early next week. General Chute proposes making some decided demonstration from Patea against the rebel natives in that vicinity. Of course, the precise nature of the contemplated movements is very properly not known by tlie public. The New Zealand Steam Navigation Company. —A deputation, consisting of the Board of Directors and the Manager of this Company, has waited upon the - lion. Mr. Stafford, and represented the injustice which will be inflicted upon the Company if the mail steam subsidies are withdrawn from them in the manner contemplated by the Government.

Stevens’ Troupe.--The various members of this company made their first appearance before a "Wanganui public on Saturday evening. Their performances were fully up to the expectation that had been formed ot them. Mr Stevens is a host in himself, and seconded by his boys two inteiesting little fellows—perforins prodigies of acrobatic His dexterity in the handling of balls, knives, &c., is something to marvel at, wliilo his graceful agility on the slacK wire requiring such concentrated steadiness of balance and quickness of eye, is a display which requires to be seen to be properly appreciated. The two boys were general favourites, and their tumbling feats,, indicative of a training of the most careiul character, received much and well intuited applause. Pablo Fanque, a finely developed and athletic funambulist went through the usual evolutions on the tight rope. We do not think’, like the famous French gymnast, he could- cross Niagara on a bridge so perilously narrow, but he is a fair lepiesentative of his order, and as such his performance is at once a novelty and a sensation in these parts. Two of the company o-jxve a few delineations of tlie popular “ ni"uer” —probably as artistic a part of tlie programme as any other. The pertormei-3 seemed to the manner born, and their Downsouth jokes, and better still their Downsouth music, were in the best style of an importation, which is likely _ to get less common v.'itli tlie end oi American slavery. The troupe again performed yesterday evening. On both occasions there was a large number of persons present, who testified their approval of the several actois by frequent bursts of applause. A Deserter. —On the.night of the 20thjv-7 :^quaiißle- NJceirrfed ' amdng^koitte' of the - " military quartered at'Woodall’s Redoubt, in which an officer appears-to have been struck by a Private of Lis own company, the man was instantly arrested and conveyed to the guard-tent, and nex+ morning remanded for a general court-martial. On the morning of the 22nd, whilst, washing at the stream, under the charge of an escort, the prisoner managed to effect his escape. He was immediately followed by several parties from the redoubt including the escort who had been along with him, but ha eluded their search. Lieut. Dawson, tue officer in command, happened to be in Wanganui at tlie time the man ran away. On his return, several picquets wereturown out "in different directions to intercept the fugitive. One of these, which had proceeded in°the direction of Wanganui, perceived the prisoners between 10 and 11 o clock at night" approaching-their ambush. The sentry at once hailed him A and after a brief parley told him to stand for he would shoot him according to instructions. The picquet-did fire, and the poor fellow - was seen to fall, but he instantly got up again and pursued his course towards Wanganui. Tlie picquet followed, but, owing to the darkness of tho night, and the weight of their accoutrements, etc., they were unable to overtake him. Many men wounded as he was would have given in, but the deserter being a strong and determined man, held out, and managed to reach Wanganui without falling. There he was captured, and is now in Hospital suffering from wounds in the thigh and hand.