QUEENSLAND.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 301, 18 July 1868, Page 7

QUEENSLAND.

RocKHAiiPTOir, 19th June. An inquiry has been commenced by the authorities into the conduct of the turnkeys. Grant and Lee, to the former of whom Griffin, executed for the Clermont murders, disclosed the place where he had planted the stolen notes. Lee, who was head turnkey, was told from time to time by Grant what Griffin divulged.; and the inquiry is with a view of ascertaining how far they were culpable in not having informed their superiors, before the execution took place, what Griffin had told Grant. A new rush has set in to Morinish. at which prospects have 'been obtained running four dwt. to the dish. The Valentine Quartz Company.have crushed fifty tons of stone, which yielded 1£ oz to -the ton ; but from the Frenchman's Reef stone has 'been crushed which yielded 3Joz to 'the ton Crocodiles abound in the creeks in the neighborhood of these diggings. 25th June. The latest news from Gympie diggings is to the /effect that the quartz reef's are yielding satisfactory returns. Intelligence has> been o-eeived here that abundance of srain : had fallen in the country bordering on the Gulf of Carpentaria, and that :the country was looking splendid. Maryborough, 25th June. Eive new leads have been discovered near Kikivan. The average depth of sinking is 30 feet. The prospects obtained range from two pennyweights to two and a half ounces 'per load. The quartz reefs are looking uncommonly well. One machine crushed seven hundredweight of-stone, and the result gave 1300 ounces df gold,, but the stone had all been picked out as specimens.

In the Gazette, of the 22nd of iJime, appear the appointments of J. Bonar, Esq., of Hokitika, and W. 11. "Nurse, Esq., of Southland, to seat in the Legislative Council. It has heen currently reported in Wellington that the Solicit or-Greneral ship will be given to Mr. Russell, of Auckland, with a seat in the Legislative 'Council. It is also stated that Mr Gfillies, of Auckland, will he goffered a seat, with the 'reversion of the solicitorship, if Mr. Russell declines.

The Bay of Islands' correspondent of the Southern Cross gives the following account of the circumstances that led to the healing of the quarrel between the Ngapuhi and Rarawa tribes in the North:—" Mr Commissioner Maekay has, as usual, behaved pluckily and well, but he has been much asssisted by circumstances. Ngapuhi were mustering stronger and stronger —a3 many as 600 had gathered ; Rarawa were still divided, and likely to remain so. Most fortunately a story got up, and spread like wild fire, that the Grovernment had enlisted 300 xlrawas on the East Coast, and had already sent a large quantity of arms and ammunition to the Bay. The Rarawas came to the conclusion that the Grovernment was in earnest (as indeed I hope they really are), took a panic, and gave in. The former surrender is now known te have been entirely a sham. A hundred men were posted in ambush at Nimmd's, where the J.P.'s were to have had a hammering, "which they only escaped by what now turns out to have been a lucky chance. I am not quite sure 'that Commissioner Maekay himself has not been nearer a i>r>kenhead than he knows of. The question of fight or no fight was for some time trembling in the balance, until the story about the arms turned the