ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1608, 13 August 1861, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor oj ihe Wellington Independent), Wairarapa, sth August, 1861.

Sin, —There are several little matters that I want to ask you, and as Editors are supposed to know everything, it is only leasohable to expect an explicit answer, believing that your courtesy will hot be greatly outraged in the matter.

Question Ist. — Are Postage Stamps available as cash, if remitted to auy part of the Colony, or Colonies, or to England ?

;The writer is induced to ask this question from.the great facility that such a means oj remittance would be to the colonists, who have occasion to transmit small sums under one (£1) pound, and as something of the kind is available in Great Britain, it is to hoped tbat its advantages are or will be conferred. upon this colony.

2nd question, — In your account of the serious disaster, that occurred in America at the "drilling of an oil well,". are your readers to understand that oil is found in the. body of the earth, aud by its artesian force was propelled forty feet above the surface? The article reads to tliis effect, and having been asked by many persons if it is the case, and being no wiser myself than those who, have applied to me, you "will greatly Oblige by a little further information upon the subject,— ras' we in this district are not yet in the possession of a public library, lo refer to, in such matters of interest and utility. • We have important news here that the 'Press' says nothing about, true or false it has caused a sensation. Before the mail arrived last week it; was notified tliat martial law is about to be proclaimed in this district, — the militia are at once to be enrolled, — and tbe people can be detained under martial law from leaving the Province ; and this seems to be the ostensible purpose of the proclaiming martial law, or the ground upon which is founded the rumour. We are also informed that 200 left Wellington last week iv a steamer for the diggings at Otago, and lQOare tosailthis week in the Storm Bird for the same golden regions. This may be all news to you, but here there is a slight move going on ; several have already left here with the intention of giving the diggings a trial, and it is true that many others are preparing to take their departure, mostly the sons of settlers, who meditate returning when their pockets are well lined with gold, or their curiosity and enterprise are exhausted.

There' is less talk now of an irruption from the maories ; perhaps the cold weather has tended to cool a little of that rebellious ardour (hat has been most sedulously infused by Taranaki and Waikato emissaries. It is said that a couple or more of these officious gentlemen are now in the valley,and that they visited the Pa, at Riri nui borangi last week, and the Maories there, although Kingites, have declined takiug part with the Waikatos or Tara nakies in the expected fight with the Pakeha. If this is true, and it is to be hoped that it is, the want of auxiliary aid may tend to lessen the confidence of these rebels as to a general rising; but any statement fiom the Maories, especially Kingites, may be received with caution ; yet their conduct in many instances is far more just, and less overbearing than the few here, who profess to be loyal Maories, whose expectations are really incredible as to what they will receive in reward for their loyalty. Youi's respectfully, Wairabapa.

[Postage stamps are not a legal remittance anywhere, but being of a fixed value and in constant demand, they form an easy means of remittance and would probably be received in payment by any merchant or storekeeper in any part of the Colony. The Postal Regulations state that "No person other than a Postmaster shall, unless specially licensed thereto by the PostmasterGeneral, sell\ Postage labels, under a penalty of Ten Pounds (i>10)." They are no use elsewhere than in New Zealand, as each Colony has its own kind of stamp. Our correspondent is right in his supposition as regards oil wells. The bii springs up in ordinary wells at about 200 barrels a day. The phenomenon is not confined to particular.districts of North America, as oil wells have recently been bored in Canada. The first marketable value of the oil* is we think about fifteen pence per gallon. Therei \% no intention to call . out the militiay unless greater necessity should' arise than exists at present. This wo have been assured of. As to the proclamation of martial law, we need scarcely observe that such a thing is absurd without hostilities are commenced or actually threatened.

•The Lord Ashley, took under forty diggers, a coaster five or six, and the Btorm Bird fifty, exclusive of those from Napier. About 100 have therefore gone up to this date. Veiy many are talking of going, but if they are wise the majority of them will hang back until the spring weather sets in.— Ed. W. L]