Local Intelligence.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 10, Issue 620, 20 June 1866, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

The sailing of the s.s. Wanganui for Wellington to-morrow afternoon, will afford another opportunity of posting letters and papers for the United . Kingdom, via Panama.

Fire Brigade. This body met last night and agreed to a code of rules, appointed a permanent secretary, named a hose company, and got through a large amount of necessary and practical business. Military Settlers. The p.s. Sturt came up the river last night with another batch of Taranaki military settlers, in charge of Capt. Wilson, for the Patea. There were upwards of a hundred of them. After coaling this morning, the steamer sailed for the Patea, leaving, however, a certain proportion of her passengers on shore, for whom Wanganui seemed to have attractions, for the time being at least, superior to the Patea.

Sale of Fruit and Forest Trees, Ac-—-Mr. Finnimore, on Saturday last, sold a large and very fine assortment of Fruit and Forest Trees, Shrubs, <fec., tlie property of Mr. Epps, of the Grove Nursery, Nelson. We took occasion to draw public notice to this sale as one of importance, and the wellwon fame of Mr. Epps as a nursery man drew .a large attendance of buyers. The sale realised over £2OO, and the prices were satisfactory to all parties. We understand there are still about 1700 sycamores on hand. Those who have not been supplied should not lose the opportunity. Financial Notice. —The following notice appears hi a General Government Gazette of date JunclS:—‘‘ln order that the financial accounts of the year ending on the 30 ch of June next, may comprehend and include all transactions relating to that period, it is requested that persons having claims on the Government will send in their accounts to the Sub-Treasury of the Province before the 30th instant. Collectors of revenue are inquired to pay in their collections promptly ; and officers holding advances under imprest must forthwith render their accounts and refund any balances in their hands.—E. W. Stafford.”

Wanganui Literary Society. —The first usual weekly meeting of this Society was held in the Grammar School on Monday evening, when there was a numerous attendance, there being upwards of fifty members present, and all seemed to enter into and thoroughly enjoy the proceedings. The Rev. John Hall, president, occupied the chair, and after the minutes had been read by the Secretary and confirmed, Mr. Thomas Waters, jun., was called upon for his Essay on “Capital Punishment.” Mr. Waters in a brief but argumentative paper contended that punishment by death ought not to be abolished. A long and interesting discussion for and against took place in which Messrs G. M‘Call, J. Green, J. H Murray, T. Scott, J. Morgan, and others' spoke on different sides ; at the close, a vote was called for on tho subject, when those who contended for the abolition of death punishment were declared to have a majority of two in their favour. The business for Monday next, the 25th inst., was announced to be a debate on the subject, “ Were the Maoris justified in having a king of their own ? ” The affirmative to be taken by Mr. It. Taylor Davis and the negative by Mr. George M'Call. The subject is one of considerable interest and will doubtless elicit a keen and spirited discussion. We may state, that as far as W'e know, the general public are welcome t.o he present at these discussions. Up to Monday evening members were' admitted on application ; henceforth they must be proposed at one meeting, and balloted for on the next, obtaining entrance by a majority of votes.

At the Criminal Sessions in Sydney, on the 21st May, Bertrand was placed in the dock for the third time to be tried on the charge, of murdering Mr. Kinder, when the Attorney-General applied fora remand until the next assizes. Bertrand objected to any remand being granted, and said that the Chief Justice on the previous trial had read notes without his (Bertrand’s) consent. The application was granted, and the prisoner was remanded to the next assizes. One of the .grounds on which the remand was granted was the absence of Mrs. Kerr, Bertrand’s sister, who is a material witness. It is said that the evidence of Mrs. Kinder, now at Hokitika, may be wanted at the trial.