Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 2000, 24 December 1863, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Fatal Accident,— The supposed case of ; drowning on the East Coast which we alluded to the other day, turns out to be correct. The deceased was named Robert ! Coleman, and was ) engaged with; Mr John ' Enowles' survey party near Akatio. On • the 21st of last month Coleman was sent to j Castle Point with two pack horses for provisions, &c, and on the evening of the same day Mr Enowles received information from a native that the horses were loose, the one > on one side of the river Oahunga and the i other on the other. Search was at once made and the natives were employed to continue the search, but the body was not found until the' 7th, when it was removed to high ground and buried. In swimming the river 1 deceased must have been washed off. — The • following paragraph relative to the best mode of swimming horses over rivers, may perhaps be the means of saving accidents similar to the above : — " The safe mode of ; swimming rivers on horseback should be held in remembrance of every one. Take off heavy boots, and heavy coat, and strap them to your saddle, take your feet out of the stirrups, throw the reins on the horse's neck, and by no means check him. If danger . is apprehended, slip off the saddle and hold firmly by the tail of the horse who will, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, carry you safely to terra jirma. When a horse is checked whilst swimming, his hind legs go under his fore, and he falls backwards, which usually terminates fatally to the rider and the horse also. New Unifohms foe Volunteebs. — By the Bombay the long expected supply of Volunteer uniforms has arrived at Auckland ; they are green with scarlet facings.

Excursion on Boxing- Day. — Christmas comes but once a year with all its association, of mirth and rejoicing. On the present occasion Boxing Day is to be celebrated by a steam trip to Lowry Bay, when the grounds of Gr. Hart, Esq., have been kindly placed at the disposal of the- excursionists. By an ar- N rangement with Mr Higgie, the p.s. Prince Alfred has been chartered for the occasion, and we have every confidence, should the Clerk of the Weather grant balmy airs and pleasant sunshine, that the excursion will be a great success. The Seat of Government. — The Marlboro' correspondent of the Nelson Examiner writes: — "There is a strong feeling of expectation among the public generally of this province at the present time for the arrival of the next Auckland mail, in order to ascertain the fate of the resolutions that were to be brought before the Legislative Council with respect to the removal of the seat of government. Many here are inclined to the belief that, under any circumstances, whether a Commission as proposed by Mr Leslie, is to be appointed, or some other plan adopted, in order to give an impartial decision on the vexed question of what port in Cook's Strait is henceforth to be made the seat of government, that Picton, among her other rivals, will stand a more than equal chance. The general impression here seems to be that strong opposition will be made against Wellington being selected, both by the Nelson and Auckland provinces, but whether such opposition can have the slightest effect will of course greatly depend upon the nature of the tribunal to which this question has to be submitted. In a like manner it is also thought that, if the Nelson province cannot obtain for themselves this naturally much wished for result, the voices of the people there will be all in favour of the younger province, for many reasons. It cannot of course be any matter of surprise that the re-opening of this question has caused considerable excitement in this province ; it is only natural that it should do so, when the great importance of the question, as regards the future prosperity and welfare of Marlborough is considered. The generality of those resident in this province would, I believe, think still better of their chance were the matter entirely in the hands of the House of Representatives to j decide, as it appears to be the general im- j pression that this province at the present time may be considered to stand as neutral ! ground, and that, rather than Wellington or Nelson should be selected, the partizans of both provinces would, if they saw no feasibility of their own province being selected, so far coalesce as to ' give their support to their younger rival. Time, however, the great disposer of events, will alone show what the result will be, whilst all parties must be perfectly willing to admit that, whichever of these three provinces may be ultimately I selected, the other two, although not so directly benefitted, will still feel the influence, and unquestionable advantages that will necessarily accrue from the fact of the seat of Government being removed to Cook's Strait." The Nelson Examiner itself says in reference to the change of the seat of Government : — i "We have never been of the number who think this a question intrinsically of the first magnitude. There are notable examples of capitals, which fulfil none of the conditions constantly urged on behalf of one spot or another as essential. Pew are central ; many are not ports at all ; several are by no means the most populous cities of the; countries to which they belong. In fact, to our mind, in discussing this question, the centrality of position is of importance, as a sort of caput mortimm, which always remains after volatising other opposing considerations in the crucible — a point arrived at as reasonable, if not of first-class importance, after weighing a number of conflicting claims. If Auckland says it is not essential to the interests of Otago to have government close at hand/ Otago may rejoin, with perfect fairness, that it is not essential to Auckland. If it is said centres of population are not necessarily the best points, nay, are even objectionable for the purpose, that, too, cuts both ways. And so on with a number of other arguments. And if the General Assembly is not the proper arbiter in such a matter, what authority under a democratic government should decide F Yet we find, from the report of proceedings on this question, the worst temper the worst logic, and the wildest self will that is to be seen on any question in the country. The truth is, argument has nothing* to do in the case. It is a simple case of wishing, as blind as the longing of ' children for cherries, and both sides are as I naughty at the idea of being thwarted, as the j. eager child when he is- denied cherries d 1 diserStion. We have threats of separation t from both sides, and a storminess that proves I the hollowness of the statement, that public and colonial good is the aim of extreme men on either side. We do not believe however, that the desire for separation is a strong, popular feeling. At all events, that should not frighten any one from his position. By evenhanded justice alone can the colony be saved from real disruption. It is not essential to have the seat of Government at any one spot in the colony. It is convenient to have it central. The Auckland press, and Auckland members are particularly rabid on this topic, but they show in their columns and speeches, nothing but the most moleeyed localism." Teial op the Peruvian Xidnappees. — We (Sydney Morning Herald) learn that the trial of the "Peruvian kidnappers on board of the brig M. A. de Wholey, had been closed at Tahiti, and that the Captain of the brig was sentenced to five years of hard labour, for the act of fraudulently enticing away some 150 natives of the Tuamotu Islands ; to 3,500 francs fine for violation the revenue laws under the French Protectorate, and to 15,100 francs fine for embarking the natives without permission from the proper authorities. The supercargo, as an accomplice in the above trasnaction, was sentenced to ten years of hard labour ; and the owners of the brig being held responsible for their agents, their vessel will be seized and sold, if needed, to defray the pecuniary punishment. Native Letter. — The following has been handed to us for publication. [translation.] Auckland, 9th Nov., 1863. Friend Tamihana Te Kauparaha,? — Salutations to you, — Mr Pox has seen your letter of the 22nd of October (1863,) addressed to Dr Featherston respecting your sorrow at the bad words against your Father which appeared in the Maori Messenger of the 18th July 1863. Friend, I heard of those bad words some time since and sought for the author of them. I found that it was from some ?aper from the South, from the other island, 'hose words were foolishly printed without examination. I heard of them, in the first instance, from Bishop Selwyn. I sought for, the origin of them. That is it above given by me. When it was seen that those words were not correct the Test of the Numbers were destroyed. The reason why this letter is written is that you may know that we condemn the writer andprinter of those words. From your friend. From Tjb Hoteeini, Native Secretary.