LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1620, 24 September 1861, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Gold. — Yesterday, Mr. Woodgate, of Man-ners-street, shewed us some fine specks of gold, which he stated he had washed out of some earth procured from the Bank of the Waireka stream, near Terawiti. Jlr Woodgate found a party out there, with their tent already pitched. At first they were not veiy communicative, but on the Maories telling Mr. Woodgate ,\vere they had been working, they (the diggers) shewed him a small vial, containing about -n ouoce of fine gold. One of the party who had been out to Terawiti prospecting, came to Karori on Sunday last for his mates, having found gold in erery dish that he had washed, and returned the same evening with a long torn, tent, tools and provisions. The party had previously intended to proceed to the Otago Diggings ; but have now determined to try their luck at Waireka, before proceeding thither. It has been known for some time that gold was to be found iii that locality. About two years ago, Mr. Thomas Wilton washed out several specks of gold [or the natives, out of the drift mud at Waireka. He then told them, that if they were to sink and bottom a hole, they would find more. A few ounces were obtained by the Maoris, but there being no practical diggers amongst them, they gave it up. We trust the present party may be successful in their search for the precious metal ; »nd fiud it in paying quantities. Tub Gold Diggings. — Nothing like competition ! The Lady Bird having lowered her rates of passage to the diggings, the Storm Bird and Wonga have both made considerable reductions, charging only £3 for steerage passages, which, as they go up to Danediu, instead of discharging at Port Chalmers, as the larger steamers are obliged to do, is really very low. Wo shall be very glad when competition to all the ports shall cause a reduction in the enormously high rates charged by the Colemau vessels ; and if the diggings continue good we shall have this pleasure before long.

Chicket.— The Wellington Cricket Club commenced the season by an afternoons play yesterday. The attendance was not very numerous, and the wind rather too high for good sport. Tney meet to play again on Saturday next, at 3 o'clock ; and a general meeting of the Club will take place in the evening, after the play, at Botermund's Victoria Hotel. The Synod. —The Welliugton Synod will meet to-day in the Provincial Council Chamber, at 2 o'clock.

Mk. Mora's Lkctouis. — The Lecture on " Curiosity" intended to have beeu delivered at the Athenaeum by the llev. Mr. Moir three weeks since, but postponed on account of the weather, is announced for to-morrow eveuing, and will doubtless attract a good audience.

Expoutation of Dead Meat. — Our enterprising butcher, Mr. Ling, took down to Otago by a late steamer 37 quarters of beef. The butchers refusing to buy, be was obliged to find private customers, among [the Hotels and Lodging houses, the latter proved good customers, taking in one instance as much as a whole bullock. Tne meat realised 6d to 7d per tt> and left a small profit. Two or three score of live sheep were taken by Mr. Ling from Lyttelton and realised from 30^. to 375. (3d. The communication between Port Chalmers and Dunedin is very bad, and if our Olago neighbours do uot bestir themselves they will iiud Australian energy taking the lead, and reapingthe greater proportion of the advantages. Exroivr op Cattle to Oxaqo. — We have •'*. «r» , iuiihimtv to mention that the Provincial Government" or v/iago -nave—witu--drawu all restrictions against the introduction of cattle from the Northern Island, and if importers can only show a declaration, duly authenticated, that the cuttle have uot been imported from Australia, aud a clean bill of he-ilth horn the shipping port, they will experience do dilfioulty in landing their stock at Dunedin. If the rush to the diggings continue at the present rate, there will shortly be some 20 or 30,000 mouths to feed at least, and a good stroke of business could be done in the internal carrying trade by carts to the diggings. The roads are improving every hour.

The ENaLisij JVLvii,. — The July Mail from England may be expected in to-night or to* morrow early. The Prince Alfred would leave Sydney on the 16th, and as she has recently been put into good order, she will probably make a quick passage down, and enable the Wonga to leave Nelson last night or this morning.

New Appointment.— -The appointment of Inspector of mail steamers, an office which the last session of the Assembly sanctioned, lias been offered (according to the Lyttellon Times) to Capt Johuston of the Airedale, formerly ot the Lord Worsley. This latter vessel, while under Captain Johnston's command, was noted as the most punctual and best conducted vessel of the Compauy's fleet, and we may hope that he wilJ give equal satisfaction in his new office as, he has done (luring the period he has been in command on this coast.

The Melbourne bush to Otago. — Messrs. Bannatyue Sc Co. have politely favored us with the following extract horn a letter received from their Melbourne Correspondents, which shows in a strong light, the extraordinary excitement in Melbourne caused by the news from the Otago Diggings, and the certainty of an immense and rapid rush from Australia to that Province. From the Otago hive we may anticipate swarms will settle all over the Colony.

(Exlra;l of a Private Letter.)

" The last news fiom your Gold Fields, brought by the Oscar, is considered so good, that before this reaches you about IC,OOO of our population Will have taken shipment for them, and many thousands more will in all -

probability follow. The following are the names of vessels laid on in Melbourne for Otago: — Steamers— Aldinga, Oscar, Wonga Wonga, and City of Hobart. Ships:— Empress of the Seas, Lightning; Oscar,' Netherby, Tyra, John McVicar, Helen McGregor. Barques:— Hermine, Oscar, Benjamin Heape, Dnnedin, Success, Ellen Simpson, Atviveda, Pet, Indus. Brigs:— Content, Wave. Schooners: — Northern Light, Tamar, Commerce, Caroline, Active, Triton, Warren G-oddard.

Tne General Jessup with 40 passengers, and the Giant's Causeway, with 420 had sailed.