OTAGO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1491, 25 January 1861, Page 4

OTAGO.

Bt the Lord Ashley, we have received papers from this Province up to the 18th inst. The late S.E. gale appears to have been severely felt at Otago, but not to that extent that it was at Wellington. The coasting steamer Ada bail beeu wrecked on the Clutha Bar ; but foitu nately no lives were lost. The brigantine Munford had been driven ashore from her moorings and running 01 ter anchor, it had dii/en ah 0 -* in her bottom. Tbe weather had been cold and wet ; but the crops had not suffered much and there was every probability ol a good harvest. Large importations of sheep from Australia had taken place, viz:— By the Sultan, 3000; Armin, 3000; Cassar Godeffroy fft 3ooo ; Lizzie Spalding, 1700; Pirate, 1000; and Omeo, 2100 ; being a total of 13,800 in a few days. The ship Chili arrived from London on the 24th, with a large number of cabin and other passengers, and witb a full general cargo. She is laid on as the first wool ship of the season from this port. The Witness says : — The Provincial Council has closed its labours for a time, after a session of 23 days the unusual nature of its business in the early part of the session in having to institute an enquiry as to the state of the public accounts, has precluded it from attempting any legislation. The whole ofthe business of this kind having been postponed on the assumption that tbere will be another session in tha course of a few months. Although nothing has been attempted beyond the Committee of Enquiry and the Appropriation, the session has been for us an unusually long one. The total sum appropriated for six months is £126,293 of which £42,233 are to be expended on roads and bridges, and £23,089 on public works and buildings. A very considerable addition has been made to the expenses of the Engineering Department, which it is to be hoped will put it ingood working order, aud save the expenses which has so constantly been incurred by changing the direction of roads and leaving partly finished works as a monument of our engineering errors. A sum of £20,000 has been appropriated for immigration, but as this must be effected with borrowed money, nothing definite can be arranged as to its expenditure until an Ordinance, authorising the raising this sum by debentures, has been passed. Our Steam votes are as usual, although it is hoped that a saving may be effected on the contract for communication with Melbourne, or that the service may be rendered much more efficient. If this latter position is taken, it will be done in conjunction with the' Province of Canterbury, with whom there is a proposition afloat to subsidize tbe Coleman company, who will put on to the line two of their most powerful steamers, the " Victory" and the " Prince Alfred," which will have the effect of giving us a bi-monthly com* munication with Melbourne; and as the steamers will make Otago an intermediate port of call, we shall have the opportunity of three days I between the receipt and dispatch of mails to I reply £o our letters,