Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1813, 6 January 1863, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Wn hope not.— The rage for dress which now animates the whole female sex, and which tends to so much extravagance, debt and discomfort, is continually seeking new modes in which to expend, itself. The following is the latest from ' France. — " A recent letter from Biairitz gave an account of a hall at the imperial villa. "The toilets of the ladies," it is said, "were richer than ever. Hair-powder seems to be coming into rogue again, for many of the ladies used it on this occasion."

Customs' Revenue. — The Customs' Revenue for the Port of Wellington for thequarterending 31st December, 1862, amounted to £10,986 14s sd, while for the corresponding quarter in 1861 the amount was £7,398 10s 4d. Those sums do not include the duties collected at Wan-

ganui.

Whales. — The other day we noticed the fact that a shark hud been caught in the harbor close to the breastwork, and we have since been informed that Mr Edward France who keeps the signal station at Mount Albert, recently saw three large wbales spouting 1 close in shore. What a souice of wealth whale fisheries present for enterprise and capital in this Province.

"Monumental Tablets— We are glad to find fvora the Spectator that the remarks we recently made relative to the monumental tablets erected in St. Paul's Church, lying in a neglected state in the paddock adjoiuing, have induced an explanation ; but we regret to notice that the explanation is of a most unsatisfactory character, and reflects much discredit on the parties concerned. It appears, says the Spectator, that these tablets to the memory of Colonel Wakeiied, soldiers and sailors who lell in the war of '46, &cj were " thrown down in the earthquake of 1855, and wore then removed from the inside of the Church, and were never put up again for fear of a similar or worse ac cident. However, some time back, application was made by the Bishop of Wellington both to his Excellency the Governor and to the Superintendent, to know if they could be removed to any fitting place, and every facility was offered by both of those authorities. Bis Excellency was willing to allow them to remain in the Government ground neat the Church, and

fenced in ; the Superintendent was willing to allow of any necessary expanse in removing them or preserving them. But as there was then some hope and prospect of a new Church being built for St Paul's pariih, it was considered best to wait till that was done, and then remove them to the new site, and lay them on he floor under the tower, where they would not be trod upon and worn away, and yet would remain free from desecration." So because the Governor and Superintendent were willing to do all they were asked to do, the Bishop, Churchwardens, or whoever the parties are that have to do with these tablets, do nothing. It was scarcely worth while to ask the one for permission to deposit, and the other for money to fence, if on both readily consenting, no advantage of their consent was inteuded to be taken. However, as there seems little prospect of a new Church being built for some considerable time, we trust that now the attention of the authorities of St. Paul's has been directed to the subject, they will at once have the monuments fenced in. While on this subject we may mention that many years ago we recollect a marble tablet being erected ie the old toi-toi Wesleyan Church, to the memory of a once well-known settler, Mr George Wade, who was drowned at Kapiti. It also may perhaps be lying neglected somewhere, and if the Stewards of the Manners-street Church know anything as to its whereabouts, we hope they will bring it to light, and erect it inside their building as originally intended ; for as the Spectator very justly observes "all right-minded people are anxious about the private and public monuments of the dead, and a disregard for such things would argue a Idw state of public opinion and Christian principle.

" Drunk," on "Drunk and Disorderly." —The New South Wales Parliament has before it a very stringent measure for the punishment of drunkenness. A bill introduced last mouth by Mr Cowper, enacts that —

1. Every person found drunk in any highway road street or public place or drunk and disorderly in any licensed public-house shall on complaint thereof within one week by any person and on conviction in a summary way before any Justice of the Peace without the necessity for any formal information be liable to a penalty not exceeding two pounds or in default of payment to be committed to gaol and there kept in solitary confinement for any term not exceeding one month and if again convicted within three months next after any previous conviction then for the second offence to a penalty of five pounds and not less than two pounds or in like default to like committment and confinement for any term not exceeding two months nor less than one month and for the third or any subsequent offence to a penalty not exceedding ten pounds and not less than five pounds or in like default to like committment and confine* ment for any term not exceeding three months nor less than two months anything in any other Act notwithstanding. 2. Any person so found druiik or drunk and disorderly as the case may be as aforesaid may without warrant be taken into custody by any other person and conveyed to the nearest Justice of the Peace to bo dealt with under this Act. Provided that until he can be so conveyed he may be detained in' custody by any officer of police.

Cathedrals. — It is most refreshing to read of the way they do things at Canterbury. If they contemplate a wharf it is a hundred thousand pounder; if they want a new loan nothing short of half a million will suffice; or if they want a Cathedral they don't talk about spending four or five thousand pounds upon it, but forty oi fifty. Just now au appeal is put forth for the requisite funds to build the nave of the proposed Cathedral at Christchuich, twenty thousand pouud being the amount required for this portion alone. At present they have only £1800 towards it, £1,000 of which is a contribution from the Government, and £700 from England, but the subscription list, now to be handed round, will, it is confidently anticipated justify a speedy commeucetnent of the building already designed by one of the most eminentececclesiastical architects in England. The prospectus thus details the objects contemplated by a Cathedral, beyond those of an ordinary church :

" The purposes of a Cathedral are manifold. Amongst these are, that it is : — 1. A perpetual and conspicuous witness to the presence and majesty of the most Holy Trinity. 2. The church of the dioceso, where tho Bishop's cathedral or chair is placed, and therefore representing a branch of the great Christian society in its complete originization of bishop, clergy, and people. 3. A central place of worship for tho diocese and for strangers, where all the seats are free for ever and where none may feel that they are intruding on parochial rights. As the central church of the diocese, it represents the unity, and as open to all strangers, the universality of the Christian church. 4. A sacred edifice, adapted in size and dignity for the performance of specially Episcopal functions, such as that of ordination, and for the assembling together of largo nnmhers of the people on occasions of more than ordinary solemnity. 5. A sanctuary, where prayer may be daily offered, and the highest office of our religion weekly celebrated, that »o the fire of devotion may be rekindled from day to day, the incense of prayer and praise never cease to be offered up in the name and on behalf of the diocese at large, and while the Jinhabitants of tho city and neighbourhood may reap tho fruit of these blessings continually, the sojourner of a day or of a week may thankfully embrace the occasional opportunities, which nothing but this constant circle of holy services could with certainty provide. '

A Prolific Porker.— Animals of the porcine breed appear to increase and multiply in a most satisfactory rate in Lyttelton, as the following 1 paragraph from the Times will show: — " On Thursday, MrR. Waterlow^of Cashel-street was favored with a novel Chistmas-box. He has a sow in his possession of the Berkshire and Fisher-Hobbs breed, which presented him on the day named with a farrow of nineteen pigs, all alive ; but five of them have we hear since died.'

Gold Seeking on the West Coast.— The Lyttelton Times, of 27th December, thus alludes to an exploring expedition on the West Coast. — "It may not be generally kuown that during the last few months a government exploring expedition has been engaged opening up a track to the West Coast, and searching for gold: The expedition has been under the superintendence of Mr Howitt, who, we hear, is a near relative of the celebrated Australian explorer of that name. In the various colonies of Australia the Government and the press seem to vie with the people in giving publicity and doing honor to the deeds of those modern heroes, the explorers of unknown regiousr Here it appears to be altogether different. Exploring parties start on their perilous journeys, and return again unknowing and unknown. Their records, if they furnish any, are consigned, we presume, to the tender mercies of the executive, and are probably reserved for the pleasure of a still move august assembly. We venture to say that not one person in a hundred, white discussing the recent gold discovery on the Taramakau, had the smallest idea that a Government prospecting party had recently returned from that spot and handed in its report. Why are not these matters made public ? True, the effects of these discoveries may not be comparable in extent to those of Landsborough or Burke and Wills, but they are full of interest to the public nevertheless, and what is more to the purpose, they belong to them by right. As far as we can understand, in his recent journey Mr Howitt crossed the saddle dividing the east and west coasts, near the watershed of the Taramakau, and with the assistance of his party cut a bridle track through the bush leading down into the valley. We hear that he reports the country on either side of the Taramakau as exhibiting all the characteristics, of a gold producing district, the rocks being composed in great part of

rottep slate. We believe that Mr Howitt will start again early next week to continue his labours in that district, and that it is his intention to connect the moutlis of the Taramakau and Grey by a bridle track as soon as he has continued the present track down the river to the coast. By this means the rumoured gold producing district will be brought, within four days packing distance of Chrislchurch, sufficiently near to enable prospectors to visit it without any undue expenditure of labour or iconey, should further repotts confirm what has already been heard."

A Prehy Riddle. — A gentleman who was paying his addresses to a young lady, at leDgtb summoned up sufficient courage to ask if they were agreeable to her, and whether he might flatter himself with a chance of ultimate success. The lady replied " Stripes," telling the gentleman to transpose the letters so as to form out of them another word, which was her answer. The reader who can find out the word need never fear being non-plussed by a lady. Those who cannot decipher it deserve either to wait till they overcome the difficulty, or give up all thoughts of wooiug, nevertheless in merciful consideration of their limited comprehension, we present them with the solution of the enigma in the word Persist.

The Marlborough Case.— His Honor the Judge gave his decision on this case last Saturday. We hope to publish it iv full, from which it will be seen that Mr Eyes's claim to the Superiutendency is decided against. We gather that His Honor will recommend the General Government to dissolve the Council, and so refer the future Superintendent to the decision of the electors, who will doubtless make the question of support to Mr Eyes or Capt Baillie a cardinal point in the election of the Council members.

The Wesleyan Bazaar opens at 12 o'clock to-day, and will close to-morrow evening, we have no doubt it will be very successful. Shakesperian Reading. — His Honor Mr Justice Johnston will read Henry the Eighth at the Atheujeum to-night.