LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1770, 23 September 1862, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION PRIZES.

Yesterday, we had an opportunity of looking over the list of exhibitors to whom have been awarded medals and honorable mentions. The list occupies a large octavo volume of 460 pages, and contains.no less than forty names connected with this colony. There were sixty five juries in uil, and from, the determination of the Commissioners to award only one class of medal, they were saved the trouble of deciding the respective merits of competing exhibitors, and had only to reward excellence wherever they found it. "As the woik of the Juries advanced, (says the report) it was ascertained that many articles possessed excellence of a kind which deserved a special mention, without, however, entitling them to a medal ; and although it involved some departure from the principle that had been originally laid down, yet the Cowncil of Chairmen acceded to the wish of the 1 Juries, and permitted such cases to be classed and published undei the title of " honorable mentions." The Juries and their assistants consisted of 612 persons (325 EBglish and 287 Foreigners), and they had to examine the articles of 25,0QQ exhibitors. They were able to accomplish their arduous task in about a couple of months. The number of Medals amount to nearly 7,000 and the honorable mentions to about 5,300 of the farmer thirty one have been adjudged to New Zealand exhibitors, and nine of the latter, as per particulars hereunder. MEDALS. Bank of N. Z. : For valuable series of. the varieties of Gold from Otago Gold fields. HeapEy, C. : For his collections, and geolocical map of Auckland, and his drawings of volcanic rocks and hot springs, Nelson Government: For their collection, and the production of the geological map by Dr. Hochstetter. Holmes, M. : Interesting collection of gold specimens, and views of local scenery. Memo, D. : Excellent sample of oats. HUNTER, Mr. : Eastwold fleeces of fine quality. MOORE, G.: Leicester fleeces of fine quality. Morgan, Rev. G.: Mixed breed fleeces of fine quality. Baigent, (sen.) of Nelson: Fine logs and labs of the trees of that colony, including a uschia trunk, 9 ft. high and 1£ iq diameter. Blearzard, 8. . Machine made buckets from Kaikatea wood, varnished with kauri gum varnish, Blick, bros. : For hinau bark used for dying brown and black. CLIFFORD, Sir C. : Collection of the ferns of the colony. Coombes and Daldy : For very five specimens of kauri gum. Commissioners for Auckland • Collection of thirty nine woods of the colony in the form of boxes, containing the leaves. Elliott, Chas. : For a tea-poy of native woods, well carved.

ELLIS, Mr.: Cotton stand aud vase turned in native wood.

Home, Dr. : Collection of the ferns of the Colony.

King, W. : Cotton wool, grown by the exhibitor in theOralau, Fiji Islands, value Is. Id. per lb.

Lloyd, Neil : Prepared New Zealand flax. Manakau Saw Mills: Fine slabs of the timber of Auckland.

Mason. J.: Loo Table, excellence of workmanship.

Matthews, W. : Door m its made from Native basts.

Nattrass, Luker Specimens of N, Z. flax prepared for paper making. Probert, J.: Prepared N. Z.flax. Purcbas 8c Ninnis : Machiue dressed N. Z flax.

Ring, C: Magnificent plank of tbe mottled kauri. ,

Scott, A. : Remarkable specimens of kauri gums.

TAYLOR, Rev. R.: Malting bags of native materials.

Voelckner, Rev. C. : Mat and baskets, and a collection of natire manufactures of N. Z. flax, chiefly native dresses.

White, W. : Carving in hard wood. WOODWARD, JONAS: Collection of the ferns of tbe colony. HoNOBABLE MENTIONS.

Cadraan, J. : For an interesting series of tbe rocks of tbe colony.

FOX, Mbs. : Drawings of N. Z. flora; " Home, Dr. : Ferns. Redwood, H. juu.-: Wheat. Gooduass of quality. Coouibes and Daldy : Coffee. New production.

Morgan, Rsv. J. : Totara bark for dyeing red.

Nelson Chamber of Commerce: Collection of specimens of prepared N. Z. fhx, by different producers.

Taylor, Rev. E. ; Collection of textile fibres. Crombie, J. N. : Photographic views in the colony.

The exhibitors distinguished by capitals, belong to the Wellington province. " Lt. Colonel Wakefield. — We notice in the obituary by the present mail, the name of Lieut. Colonel J. Howard Wakefield, Retired List Bengal Army. The deceased was, we believe, the last surviving brother of the Wakefield family, and had spent nearly half his life time iv India. He retired from the Army some six or eight years ago, and had at one time an intention of settling in New Zealand. He died at Barnsbury Park, Islington, on the 2oth June, aged 59.

Coroner's Inquest. — An accident happened in the Wai-nui-o.naata, District last tnontb, particulars of which have only just come to pur knowledge. A mau named James Riddels, who came out in 1840 from Counaught, Ireland, in the sihp Bengal Merchant, met with bis death under the following circumstances. He had been engaged some little while doing odd jobs for Mr. Hugh Sinclair, and appeared at times to be weak in his intellect. ,On the morning of the 11th August, he went out to work in the bush, and not returning in the afternoon, one of Mr. Sinclair's children went in search of him, when the unfortunate man was found dead having been killed by the falling of a tree. The tree he had been cutting down had evidently been caught in the fork of another, and while the deceased was engaged iv clearing it, it must have fallen before he was prepared, and so crushed him. Dr. Boor, the , Gerouer for the Hutt, held an inquest next day; ; verdict of accidental death was returned;

We shall be very glad if country coroner* would favor us with a note of (be joquesti they

hold, as otherwise the circumstances sometimes do not reach us, and it is very desirable for the 6ake of relatives in England or else wh cue, that deaths of this character should be recorded. In this case s the deceased was at one time a land holder in Wellington, Rangitikei, and Wanganui ; whether lie was so at the time of his decease we do not Vnow.

The s.s. Queen, Captain Pole, from Otago via Lytteltoi), arrived in this harbor on Sunday afternoou, with the European mails. Tbe mails were conveyed to Otago by the s.s. City of Hobart, which arrived at Port Chalmers on the 18th inst., with about 300 passengers The Daily Times says:— "A. large number of vessels were being laid on at Melbourne for Otago. The Lightning is reported as being full, having 700 passengers on board. The Blanche Moore, of nearly 3000 tons capacity, was on the berth.

The rush for Otago from all parts of Victoria is described as being very great indeed.

Mosic and the Duama. — It is a very long time since the lieges of tbe Empire City have had an opportunity of witnessing an entertainment of such a high class as that which Miss Harriet Gordon and Mr. Hyde have lately been nightly presenting in the Odd Fellows' Hall. On Saturday evening, the petite sketch, " Locked out," was produced, which amusingly pourtrays the dilemma of a young lady and gentleman, who through attending the Theatre have been excluded from their respective domiciles. The dialogue was spirited and amusing, and after being kept up for a considerable time between the pair, the difficulty of their position is happily solved by a mutual resolution to get married, being arrived at. An interlude of Scottish music followed, in which Miss Gordon charmed and entranced her audience by her exquisite rendering of "jYe Banks and Braes," which was sung v\ ith more than usual simplicity and effect. During the evening various other aongs were given, amongst which " John Anderson My Jo," created a great sensation, while the ballad]of *jAuld Robin Gray,' 1 was given with an amount of power aud (eeling that created a furor of applause. In Loves Disguises, Mr. Hyde, as Mr. Wyndhaui, sustained the character with his usual success, and Miss Gordon was equally happy in her protean impersonations. Last night the entertainment was good and despite the unfavorable weather secured a fair attendance.