SUMMARY FOR Europe and Australia.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1739, 11 July 1862, Page 5

SUMMARY FOR Europe and Australia.

Wellington Independent Office, Friday, July 11th, 1862

The steamer via Otago and Melbourne, having been notified to leave here on Monday morning — a full day earlier than usual, and the risk of losing the homeward mail thereby very greatly diminished, we have delayed our Summary for transmission by that opportunity, instead of preparing it for the steamer which sailed for Sydney on Wednesday last. We have done so in the hope that we should thereby be able to transmit the speech of His Excellency on opening the General Assem bly. but for the reasons to be now staled, that hope is not reulised.

The Assembly stood prorogued tc the 30th June, but on that date only a few members bad arrived. The White Swan from the North, with the Ministry and a large number of Auckland members, and the Lord Worsley from the South,

* j with the Otago and Canterbury members, were both due ou that day, but did not arrive ; nor did her H.vl.S, Harrier with the Governor. At two o'clock on the 30ih June, the Assembly was therefore opened, pro forma, by the Speakers taking their chairs at the hour appointed. In the Upper House the only member present from other Provinces was the Hon. Mr. Cuifihld, of Taranaki, wno, with the lion. J. C. Crawford aad J. Johnston, comprised the whole of the atteudance. Having waited for about a quarter of an hour, and there being no quorum, the Hon. Mr. Bartley, the Speaker, adjourned the Council until hext day at 2 o'clock, In the Lower House, there were only seven, members, four belonging to Wellington, viz : — Messrs. Brandon, Carter, Feathei'9ton and Rhodes, and three from other Provinces, viz: — Capt. Atkinson of New Plymouth, Mr, Eyes of Marlborough, and Mr. Mantel! of Southland. Dr Monro, the Speaker, read the usual prayer and was declaring the adjournment of the House, when Captain Atkinson suggested the Speaker's incompeteucy to do so, inasmuch as bis counting the members and declaring the House adjourned was " proceeding to business," which uuder the circumstances he was not competent to do. Mr. Brandon differed ; there not being a sufficient number of members to form a quorum, there could only be one proper course for the Speaker to pursue, and that was to adjourn. After a few words from Mr. Mantell, supporting Mr. Brandon's view, the Speaker declared the House adjourned until the next day at 12, as the course which the authorities he had consulted led him to adopt as the right one. i Next day the Houses again met and adjourned, and in the afternoon information was received of a further prorogation to the 7th July, having beeu gazetted at Auckland. Previously to the hour for opening on the 7tb, all the members intending to be present at the beginning of the session had arrived ; but the Harrier with the Governor had not made her appearance, nor has she up to the hour we write. We have information of her leaving Auckland od the Ist, but as the wind has been for the more part adverse, tho cause of the delay is easily explainable. The Assembly since its second opening on Monday last, has met daily, but no business whatever has been done, — the foundation for the work of the Session, His Excellency's speech, being in the first instance desirable.

In the meanwhile we are able to attempt a sketch of the topics which it is generally understood will be alluded to in His Excellency's speech. After sympathising with Her Majesty on the death of her husband the Prince Consort, Sir George will probably express his satisfaction at the progress which New Zealand has made, under the working of the New Institutions inaugaratedjust prior to his leaving in 1853, aud regret that amidst so much cause for congratulation so much that is unsatisfactory should have grown up in relation to the native population. In attempting to restore the friendly relations formerly existing, his Excellency will probably express need for the hearty support of the Colonists, both morally and by placing adequate resources at his disposal, assuring them that he is fully aware of the necessity for not permitting the progress of colonization to be unnecessarily obstructed. The Governor will then probably refer to the mass o( printed documeuts to be laid upou the table, as indicating what his plans for native government are — what measures he proposes, iv order to continue the attachment of the already friendly and restore the confidence of those who have been unhappily alienated — and as showing that as far as this has yet been done, it has been done under the powers conferred by Acts passed by the Assembly in 1858. The absence of all necessity to employ the military force since hia arrival, will probably form a subject of congratulation, and the advantages of military roads be alluded to. Thanking the Military for what they have already done, it is probable that the Governor will propose raising £100,000 by way of loan, tor the further construction of such works, charging the amount proportionately on the provinces*in which it is expended. The organization of Militia and Volunteer forces will probably be encouraged, and the Auckland Volunteers publicly thauked for their performance of garrison duties during the absence of the troops in road making. The rapid development of the middle Island will probably lead to the announcement of an intention to locate a portion of the Executive there, and to maintain rapid communication by means of an efficient steam postal service. An expression of thanks to AlmightyGod for the preservation of the; lives of the passengers per White Swan, will undoubtedly occupy a place iv the speech, as also to Mr. John Moore for the hospitable care he evinced towards them. The Estimates will probably occupy the next paragraph, and the House of Representatives will be referred to the correspondence with the Imperial Government, and asked to state its views on the pecuniary question relative to the late military engagements at Taranaki. After alluding to the progress which the Census reveals, His Excellency will probably conclude his speech by invoking the direction of the All-Wise on their uuited efforts to secure the peace and advancement of this Colony.

The steamer White Swan was wrecked on the East Coast, at daybreak on Sunday morning the 29th June, having struck on a reef which lies a few miles off the shore, southward of Castle Point, a long way inside the ordinary track of vessels. The intelligence was brought

into town on Tuesday afternoon. — Mr. R. J. Duncan, of Wellington, accompanied by Mr. R. Graham, M.H.R., of Auckland, having ridden in to procure assistauee. The excitement was necessarily \evy great, as the Swan had on board upwaids of ninety persons, including the Ministry, the Chief Justice,

many members of both Houses of the Assembly, officers of the Government, &c, &c. The steamer Storm Bird was immediately despatched to the scene of disaster, and brought the whole of the shipwrecked passengers and orew into port early on Thursday morning. In our shipping intelligence will be found a carefully prepared narrative of the occurrence. The following letter hurriedly written by Mr. Graham on his arrival, so as to enable us to satisfy the public anxiety, gives a graphic account of the principal circumstances. Wellington, Ist July, 1862. It is iny "painful duty to inform you of the loss of tho white Swan steamer, on Sunday morning last off Castle Point, all hands saved. I being a passenger on board, will give you a brief account of our trip from Auckland. The regular day for the sailing of the White Swan from Auckland was Tuesday last, but owing (o the non-arrival of the mail, she was detained by the Government until 12 on Wednesday. Passengers got all ready, but to their great surprise saw a card otuck up, informing them that in consequence of the fog, she would not sail until the following day Thursday ; but the real cause, in my opinion was, that one of the compartments was nearly full of water, and the pumps were obliged to be kept going the whole day until 4 : p.m.,when she floated. A survey was held upon, her and the result was a favorable report. The Captain stated that a suctiou pipe that feeds the boiler had been turned into the fore compartment by mistake. At half-past 10 a.m. on Thursday, we left the wharf, with three cheers from the crowd. With a fair wind and fine weather we reached Napier at half- past 8 a.m, on Saturday ; and left at 5 p.m., same day, with eight or ten additional pas sengers. and at six o'clock on Sunday morning, we apparently struck on a reef, very slightly, the Captain believed it was a log of wood. Immediately afterwards the foro compartment liilled, and she appeared to be sinking. \Ve steered for tho shore. We were then, 1 should think, a mile or a mile and a half from the shore. J will not attempt to describe the feelings we all then had on board. I should think five minutes brought us to tho beach. There was a heavy surf on the beach, but we found a good place to land not far from the wreck, were we were all landed in safety and most of the luggage ; but I regret to say, that most of tho public documents are lost or damaged. The passengers got into Mr Moore's woolshed.

r went with Mr. Duncan to Mr. Moore's houao at Waikaraka, (a terrible journey wo had). Mr. Mooro immediately sent a bullock dray, and horses with side saddles, &c, for the ladies and a number of gentlemen, who were glad to avail themselves of his kind hospitality. A messenger was despatched to Castle Point for die Storm Bird, which was to loave Napier on Monday forenoon and to touch afc Cattle Point , while Mr. Duncan, Mr. G. Moore, and myself came on to Wellington forth© purpose of forwarding a steamer in the event of the Storm Bird not arriving at Castle Point.

Tho White Swan had on board, tho Chief Justice, -4lio..Tnin;aHui/ T - .ami _a._gfeat ...number £Ljthe_ members of the General Assembly from Auckland. There were also four or five ladies on board. I may say for tho satisfaction of those who had friends on board the ill-fated steamer, that I 6aw all sale and in good health in the wool shed at 1 p.m. on Sunday last, when prayers were offered up by the Chief Justice fot our safe doliverance for so miraculous an escape. The surf was then breaking over the wreck, and I believe she will go to pieces where she now lays. We arrived in Wellington this afternoon at 4 p.m., and the Storm Bird will be despatched this evening at 7 p.m. to the scene of the disaster, and bring the passengers on to Wellington. Being fatigued from tho long ride and the heavy state of the roads, will sufficiently account for the brief description 1 hava given of the loss of the ill-fated steamer. I am, Sir, Your's &c , ROBERT GRAHAM.

An All-merciful Providence thus prevented the calamitous result which the ignorance or carelessness of man was so calculated to bring about. The circumstances attending the wreck of the White Swan are of such a nature, that we cannot but shudder at the contemplation of what would have been the consequences had the accident happened almost anywhere but where it did. For a considerable distance along that coast, there is no other bit of sandy beach on to which the vessel could have been run, and in ail human probability the sacrifice of life must have been awful. As it was, some of the passengers escaped only with what they stood upright in — every particle of their baggage haviug been lost. Captain Harper has requested the public to suspend their judgment until the result of the investigation he has asked for shall be declared, but until it is declared to the contrary, the jeopardy in which the lives of some ninety -three persons were placed on Sunday morning, ought not to be attributed to the ordinary risk incidental to the sea, inasmuch as the passage hence to Napier has hitherto been performed in such safety as to obliterate all thought of danger. We wish carefully to avoid imputing blame, to any particular individual. The excitement that prevailed at the time the ship struck leads to the most contradictory statements— some believing that, the Swan was so near the shore as to be only five minutes afterwards in reaching it while others narrate events that oocurted in the interval, which make it more probable that she had an offing of fully fivemiles. The whole matter is for calm enquiry, and where the blame is due, the future welfare of the public demands that it should fall heavily.

We are happy to say that owing to the quantity sent down by previous opportunities, the loss of public documents is not so great as was at first reported. There were twelve cases belonging to the Government and legislative bodies, and

when got up from the hold were too waigh (y to be entrusted to the boats in the heavy surf. As to leave them ou deck would be to lose them, the CapUia advised their being thrown overboard for the chance of some of them at least being washed ashore; which was accordingly dune. When the ship broke up not many bours afterwards, some of her contents washed ahsor, but only two of the cases of documents were recovered. The bulk consists of books, statutes. &c, for reference, and a portion of the printed papers intended to be laid before both Houses, of which the copies reserved for the blue Douks are at Auckland. Among the original documents lost, there are a letter book or two, some recent correspondences, the audited accounts, aud a few other papers of no very great practical value— nearly everything that is lost can be replaced, apd the Assembly will probably not be put to much greater inconvenience than having to a*vait the Lord Worsley's arrival from Auckland, with duplicates of all the printed aud substitutes for many of the other documents. Fortunately, the Lord Worsley was within a few hours of starling for Auckland when the uews of the accident to the Swan reached us, and the Speakers took upon themselves the responsibility of directing the offices there, to use every exertion to supply the anticipated deficiencies by the Lord Worsley's return on Sunday next, the 14th. We are careful to slate these particulars because we are desirous of removing auy impression that may be excited to the prejudice of again holding the Assembly in Wellington — both the damage which the Colony has sustained by the loss of the few public documents, aud the inconvenience to members will be comparatively so small, that the accident can really form no handle for the production of any well founded complaints against the Assembly again meeting in Wellington. We do not ihink it necessary to anticipate that the Njrthern Journals will chuckle over the catastrophe, as some suppose they will do. We are williug to give even the Southern Cross credit for sufficient acumen to see how much more dangerously any such course will cut against Northern intorests, than it will against ours. On every side from which the accident may be viewed, the policy of preventing future risk to documents by removing the head -quarters here, is more likely to be the legitimate conclusion arrived at, than that the members should incur the risk instead; so that if our Northern cotemporaries are wise, they will not be over anxious to attempt to turn the wreck of the White Swan to political account.

We noted last mouth the hasty departure of Sir Georga Grey for Auckland, mainly in consequeuce of information reaching him relative to the probability of his baing able to acquire the Coromanclel. District. The importance of acquiring it did not arise only from its value as a gold field — real or presumed ; but also Iraxni h« daily increasing possibility that the diggers assembling there might commit some acts which might produce serious results. The Governor called at Coromandel on his way to Auckland. The principal owners are To Hira aud an old cheiftainess named Lydia. The former was away, and daily being subjected to the persuasions of emissaries from Waikato, with a view to making the laud over to the Native King. Mrs. Lydia had, however, determined to sell ; but as •• woman is at best a contradiction still" it is not to be wondered at that Sir George found her

Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, And variable as the shade By the light quivering aspen made ; The New Zealander says " On landing (Wednesday, 4th June) His Excellency sent for Lydia and her people, and again endeavoured, at first in vain, to convince them that the course which they were pursuing was a foolish one ; it was only when Sir George was about to leave appearently in dudgeon with their obstiuacy, that Madame Lydia aud some of her people rushed into the water, drew the Governor's boat back to the shore, and there promised him that all should be done as he desired."

The influence brought to bear against Te Hira to keep him out of the way and make over the land to the King, is believed to have been successful and the hope of purchasing Coromandel for the present has been abandoned. In a subsequent iuterview between the Natives and Governor Grey the purchase was not again alluded to, and an arrangement was entered into, to which it is said Te Hira will agree, for leasing the land. The district, except a few burial, places cultivations &c, has now been thrown open, and proclaimed a gold field.

The three hundred miners who have been waiting to test its auriferous value are now eagerly prospecting, Notwithstanding all that is written to the contrary, it is not expeoted that a paying alluvial field will be worked. Gold will certainly be found in patches but not to the extent which some have prognosticated. The quartz will however, it is expected on all hands, turn out very good.

The Kaipara feud is at end. This has been accomplished by the personal influence of Sir George Grey, who having summoned to his aid Waka Nene and another influential Chief of the Ngapuhi tribe, visited the contending parties. As the, result of their mediation the fighting flags of both parties were speedily and simultaneously lowered.; the men in Tirarau's camp, at the instant of this hauling down, falling^ion : their knees to

offer up thanksgivings for peace. The, i dispute is to be referred to arbitration next October. We quote the following comment on this affair from the New Zealander, as removing a misapprehension that exists very largely among the friends, as well as foes, of the attempt now being made to introduce the " New Institutions " among the Natives. There bas been a great deal of noise made in certain quarters about this land quarrel between two parties of Natives who have been fighting about the same subject for generations. It was no doubt a useful bit of political capitalparticularly in the hands of those »vho were unscrupulous enough to insinuate that it was in some way an illustration of the Governor's Na- . tive policy, suppressing the fact that it occurred in a district where that policy had not yet been introduced. The manner in which His Excellency has disposed of the affair will perhaps not be very satisfactory to some of these gentlemen, who would have preferred that "vigorous prosecution" sort of intervention, which, beginning with a great demonstration, ends in the destruction of a European settlement and, in demands on the Imperial Government for an " unlimited expenditure of blood and treasure."

From Taranaki we hare nothing of a cheering character to report, excepting that there is still a hope that its valuable iron sand — millions of tons of which lie scattered along its coast— will yet find some one to turn it to account, fifty tons having been ordered by an English firm to be shipped, on trial. There is a moveraent going on, having for its object an emigration elsewhere, and those who are at the head of it are in communication with Governor Browne, with a view to find a home in Tasmania. We canuot feel surprised at this, as having been ruined by the Governor's hastely rushihg into a war for which no preparation was made, the Taranaki people have the strongest claim, on every practical method of sympathy which the now Governor of Tasmania cau possibly show. We quote our correspondent's last letter.

The dark uncertain state of our position is so overwhelmingly great, that an attempt has been made towards organising a migration to other shores where peaceful homes may be raised. Colonel T. Q. Brown, C.8., of Tasmania, has been addressed on the subject, and a gentlemanly answer promising to forward whatever information it may be in his power to give, has-been received. The local papers look upon the movement as a political strategem. I can sssure you it is no such thing; and those men who have agitated the idea have not the slightest wish or thought of casting any slur on Sir George Grey. I will grant they have no detailed plans marked out for their future guidance, and have grasped at the idea of leaving only as a drowning man would at a straw. In imagination place yourself for a moment in the position of one, who to make the requisite improvements on his property has, in the days of his prosperity, raised means upon mortgage, and now finds year after year passing, and with it all claim to his once happy home, from his 'being unable to meet the interest. Will three shillngg& sixpence a day for bieaking stones on the roads find a shelter for his numerous family, when peace shall again sued her blessings over the land. Can you, or any one else, wonder that men who see .their property thus mailing—- aa__ iLmma — irom tneir grasp should do something in their desperation. This very endeavour to help themselves shews a healthy feeling, and, furthermore, is an earnest of the effort that will he made towards the re-attainment of independence when the happy period shall at last arrive.

A visitor to either Chelsea or Greenwich hospitals is oftimes surprised to hear a very great amount of grumbling from the pensioners; this arises not from any deficiency in the supplying of their wants, hut that their energy of mind— that craving for something greater so natural to man, remains unsatisfied, They are to all intents and purposes " Linked like a plant to one peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rofc.'' Is it to be wondered at that men who have seen the giant forest trees succumb to their sturdy blows and give place , by their own unaided efforts, to homes, around which their cattle, sheep, and horses have increased and multiplied", and the golden corn bent its graceful head to the gale, should now complain at finding no definite hope to gladden their future — 0 ! worse than this j no home to shelter their declining years. I have written thus much trusting to convince you that the question of emigration from Taranaki does not owe its origin to political intrigue, but to that of " hope deferred maketh the heart sick." and indeed it is sickening to pass over the once beautiful and fertile pasture lands, to the farms that have cost many pounds to sow with grass, now overrun with thistles. Nofcwithstand ing all this, there are some who will wait ou trusting that all may yet be well. Our Iron Sand is still considered of value, fifty tons, at the request of a large manufacturing firm, is about to be sent to England. The weather for the last two months has been excessively tempestuous and wet. Now that you have the seat of Government removed to Wellington, do not forget through your colums to speak an occasional word in our behalf. W. I. G.

Fro,s Otago there is no particular uews. There are reports constantly life of fresh diggings being discovered, but the weather is too wet and cold to work them. From all that we can learn there will be a regular flow into Otago from all parts as soon as spring commences, and next summer will probably wituess equal results witn those of last year. Should the Coromaodel district prove a success, the inducements to the arrival of a large population both in the north and south, will open a very wide field for the enterprise for all the intermediate provinces, and thus materially benefit the whole colony.

We lately reprinted from the Government Gazette, a letter addressed by Mr. Green, of Bank Buildings, London, relative to the construction of railways, &c, as an euclosure to which* was a letter from a Mr. Bridges Adams," complaining that Mr. Fitzgibbon, the Engineeer to the Dun Mountain Railway, had pirated his prospectus. Mr. Fitzgibbon, whose reputation as. an Engineer stands high in New Zealand, o^n, account of the successful construction 1 of the railway above mentioned, has addressed tbo following letter to the Nelson Examine^ which in justice to that gentleman we? insert in to-day's issue.

Sir— My attention has been directed to a correspondence relative to Colonial Tramways and Eailroads, published in the Government Gazette, in which is included a letter from Mr. Bridges Adams, of London, to the Governor of New Zealand wherein the former gentleman states that the paper which I published in October, 1861, on the subject of an improved description of railroad suitable for the colonies was, in effect, pirated from him. I have to ob:erve that the paper in question contained a d;~c iption of the Dun Mountain 1 Railway, recently constructed, witli which Mr.' Adams never has been directly or indirectly connected, and of which he knows nothing more than that he has gathered from my published description, which Mr. Adams ne\ ci ilieless makes use of in his letter to Sir George Grey, thereby Strengthening his application for the adoption of a light description of railroad in New Zealand, and for the supplying of the materials required for the same (through him and his Triend, Mr. H . Green, of London), an object which he seems to have had chiefly in view when addressing his Excellency.

In publishing the paper referred to, I laid claim to no originality, nor can Mr. Adams. There is nothing new in a light description of Tailroad ; nothing which has not been in use in Wales, in America, and elsewhere years ago. The first rolled rails made weighed no more than 80 lbs. to the yard, and the first locomotive engine constructed in England in 1830, the Bockefc, Weighed only nine tons. The publication of my paper would have been, out of place in Europe or America, where light railroads are well known and appreciated; but was, in my opinion, calculated to be of service in New Zealand, where such a kind of road is unknown.

Nor would I have written any thing upon the subject, had I not the Dun Mountain Railway to point to as an example of what may be done by adopting a light and inexpensive kind of railroad. I cannot accuse myself of borrowing ideas from Mr. Adams, because he has advanced nothing Dew upon the subject of light railroads, and nothing which has not been before treated of by Mr. Charles Light, Sir E. Denison, Mr. Burns Mr. Train, and other authorities in their publications.

I shall, however, be very glad to see Mr. Adams or any one else succeed in extending railroad conBtructiOxi in New Zealand, and shall always be prepared to forward undertakings of such undoubted utility bo far as lam able ; and. inasmuch as example is better than precept, I hope Mr. Adams will shortly be able to point to another Dun Mountain Railway, constructed under his own supervision. I am, &c, A. FitzGibeon, Engineer and Manager to the Dun Mountain Company. The extension of the money order system to New Zealand is a great boon. At present it is only between the colony and the mother country, but we may expect that it will not be long before it is extended so as to meet internal requirements, and the want of a ready means for transmitting small suras from one part of New Zealand to another be thereby supplied. The commission charged here on orders on any Home Post Office is,

Not exceeding £2 Is. Od,

Above £2, and not gxceeding£s 2s. 6d. Above £5, do. £10 ss. Od,

The session of the Provincial Council was brought to a close on the 19th Juue, roguing it sine die. There was nothing in the closing speech of sufficient special interest to the home reader to require extract

Our last monthly summary contained the report of an important trial before the Supreme Court, Bowler Son & Co,, v Pearce, (agent for Matheson and Co. London). An application for a new trial has since been made by the defendant, but the judge refused it on the ground that there was sufficient evidence, though of a conflicting character, to enable the jury to come to a decision thereupon.

The past month has been unusually replete with public entertainments suitable for all tastes. A company of Minstrels ala Christie have been drawing good audiences at the Olympic Theatre, while the usual dramatic Company at the Lyceum have been equally successful. A Mr, and Mrs. Hyde, ne Miss Harriet Gordon, have given some charming entertainments at the Odd Fellows Hall of a semi musical character. The Choral Sociey has contributed a concert ; Capt. Wilson has commenced a series of Elec-tro-biological seances; and the Athenaeum which has sprung into new life under the presidency'of Judge Johnston, has had its hall well filled ou two occasions — the Judge lecturing on " the immortal bard" and the Bishop on "our mother tongue.'

The steam saw mill at Pahautanui, belonging to Messrs Hurley and Carter was burnt to the ground on the 27th June This was the most perfect mill in the province, and much of the machinery was the invention of the proprietors, and admirably adapted to economise labour. The mill was only partly insured, and though the enterprising owner had long straggled against adverse circumstances and were only just beginning to recover themselves, we are happy to find that there is every prospect of the mill being again at work so soon as machinery can be obtained from Australia. The saws were cutting 4,000 feet a day, and the timber was finding a ready market at Otago.

Mr. Kennedy, tbe Inspector of the New Zealand Bank, with several of the Directors are in Wellington just now, and have fixed the site for their pietaises on a portion of the newly reclaimed land near Noah's Ark. The site is a capital one; two of the sides commanding large frontages, one on Custom House Quay and the other on Lambton Quay. W. R. Boyle, Esq., lately Accountant to Messrs. Johnston & Co., has been appointed Manager at Wanganui.

• The Triton has brought us two red deer, a present from Prince Albert. There were three put on board, but one of the two hinds died on the passage.

These are the first imported into this province, and the stock yard of Messrs Bothune ami Hunter, in whioh they have been temporarily placed, lias consequently been a scene of attraction for our young people. All our European and Australian readers, who may have at any time re- [ si-lad in or visitod Wellington, will read with pain the notice of the death of Dr. Monteith on the Ist instant. For the last year ho had been almost totally laid by, and from the eomniancemsnt of his illness his mind became so seriously affected as to render the presence of an attendant constantly necessary. Dr. Monteith was a very old Colonist, one of the pioneers, having arrived in the Duke of Roxburgh in February 1841, as a passenger — Dr, Healy being the Surgeon Superintendent. In the early days, when the number of medical men was out of all proportion to the requirements of the settlement, Dr. Monteith kept the Freemason's Tavern, but resumed his profession some fifteen years ago, and for many years enjoyad a very large and lucrative practice. On the death of Dr. Dorset in 1856, he was appointed Provincial Surgeon, which office he resigned in October last, the duties having been for many months prior to the date of his resignation, been performed by Dr. France. Dr. Monteith was also at one time Medical Attendant to the Lunatic Asylum. As an old and vrell known Colonist, and intimately connected by his profession with a very large number of the families of Wellington, the announcement of Dr. Monteith's death was received with much concern, although the melancholy position in which both his body and mind have been placedj must cause it to be looked upon as a release from an unmitigated and hopeless suffering.

Our Shipping this month reports several casualties, additional to that of the White Swan. We regret to add that information has been received that the Pole Star from Napier to Auckland, ior whose turning up no expectations are now entertainod had as a passenger, Mr. Charles Baker, formerly of Otago, but then on bis way from Napier to Auckland to enter upon the dulies of a Resident Magistracy, in a Native District of the North, to which he had been only recently appointed. Mr. Charles Baker is a near relative of Mr. E. Baker of the Native Department, Wellington.

We have also to report a most melancholy accident, causing the death of Capt. Petrie of the cutter Morning Star, which sailed from this port on the 23rd Juue for Queen Charlottes Sound, When about 14 miles from the Heads, Capt. Petrie went aloft to overhaul the running -t^ouu^ojid -while doing so must have missed his hold, and fen overboard. There were only two persons on board the cutter at the time of the accident, namely, accident, the vessel going through the water at the rate of five knots an hour, but shortly afterwards the wind increased to a gale, and she was thrown nearly on her beam ends, the deck being three planks in the water, and all that Fleet could do was to drop the peak of themaiusaii and trice the tack up. She lay for some time in this condition; but afterwards righted and it was with some difficulty that Fleet succeeded in briuging the. cutter back to port. Petrie has left a widow and two children totally unprovided for, the eldest being 8 years, and an infant blind from birth. We are happy to find the public of Wellington are taking steps for making provision for the family thus suddenly deprived of their only earthly support.