Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2050, 19 April 1864, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

The Upper Hutt. — The daily mail running to and from the Upper Hutt for some time past, lias been most beneficial to the district, stimulating its trade and adding materially to the number of visitors, to most of whom it was a until recently terra incog. Taking advantage of a leisure day lately we rode as far as the Criterion, where to our surprise we found no less than eighteen vehicles, the occupants of which, like ourselves, were bent on refreshing with the best that host Brown could treat/them to. "We don't know whether fortytwo persons often sit down there together, but during holiday time that number of visitors was apparently calculated on, as there was enough and to spare. As our own experience of the Upper Hutt dates very little while back, we were ready listeners to the gossip and small talk with which the dinner was seasoned, and on finding that the nearest neighbors to the Criterion, when first established, were Buck's at the Taita and Burling's over the hill, we could not help thinking that the pioneer colonists deserve all that their industry and self denial may have enabled them to obtain. Mails in those days were unknown, and perhaps not fifty souls passed that way in six months, now the Jioyal Hutt Mail daily pulls up at the Criterion's door, and the Wairarapa mails for some time running each way twice a week change horses there also. Those who have not visited the Upper Hutt during the last year or two will be surprised at the improvement that has taken place, at the good road, the saw mills, and new churches, the extensive clearances, and the altogether improved and thriving appearance which the district presents. Chamber of Commerce. — The usual ''monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. The business transacted was not of particular importance, further than that some discussion took place as to the action of the Committee of the Chamber on the Panama question. We are obliged for the present to defer our report. Serious Accident. — Yesterday evening, about 6 o'clock, as a carter named Bamford was driving a cart up Willis-street, the horse, when near the Eagle Tavern, took fright and bolted up the street. When opposite Mr Anderson's store, the cart-wheel caught the end of some planks and pitched the driver into the road upon his face, the cart wheel passing over his leg. The untortunate man was picked up, and carried into the Auroro Tavern, when the wounds on his face were bathed with warm water by Professor Parker, and every attention shewn by the landlord Mr Thompson. Dr. France was sent for, and was quickly in attendance. The wounds on the face are not very serious, but the leg was broken above the ancle. A stretcher was procured from the police station, and Bamford was removed to his own residence. The unfortunate man met with an accident some years ago, when his right leg had to be amputated below the knee. All who know Mr Bamford will feel a hearty sympathy for him in this sad misfortune. The New Colonisation Scheme. — An esteemed correspondent takes exception to a remark in our leading article of Saturday, in which we expressed satisfaction "that the immigrants intended to be introduced by the Government were intended to be procured from England instead of Germany or elsewhere," thinking that thereby some slur is cast on the Germans. This is decidedly a misapprehension. We know from personal experience in the Australian Colonies as well as in the country districts here, that Germans make excellent settlers ; indeed for patient industry, frugality, and sterling worth of character, they are not surpassed by those of any other nation. But when it was originally proposed to establish a wholesale system of German Immigration for New Zealand, we thought our own countrymen should have thjlpreference and learned with pleasure that in the New Government scheme the Immigrants were to be procured in England. Still it would be well to have a moderate proportion of the German element, amongst the immigrants, and probably there will be. Military Settlers, — The Hatoke's Bay Herald oi t\\Q 2{h inst., says: — "We learn that Capt. Corfield proceeds immediately to Dunedin, wifch the view of enlisting a company of a hundred military settlers to serve in this province. We believe also that arrangements are about to be made for placing the cavalry volunteers on a more efficient footing." Native News. — Prom the Herald we also take the following : — " From Wairoa we learn from a correspondent, under date the 9th ult., that Mr Eustace Fannin, while driving sheep down to Petane from Waikokopu, when crossing the Wairoa at the mouth of the river, was unfortunate enough to lose by drowning upwards of fifty; some apparently drowned have been restored by the natives, but the loss to Mr Fannin I : should think, would be quite fifty. There has been lately a good deal of desultory conversation among the natives about selling this the south sicfe of Te Wairoa, but I do not placo any confidence in it. They have been talking about it for the last seven years at least. I think it very likely that Ratima Toha's death from consumption, of which I send you a notice, will give foundation for another charge of witchcraft ; already it is whispered about that he has been " done to death " by an old man named Eehana Kohipupu and a youth, Paora Onekawa. It is but whispered at present, hence I have sent you a notice of the boy's death, the appearance of which in the Waka Maori and the Herald will do much (particularly the name of the disease) to quash the recognition of the witchcraft."

Fieb. — A fire broke out last night amongst some shavings in the back shop of Mr Ellison, cabinet maker. Fortunately it was discovered before it had burst out and extinguished without any damage having been done. The Supreme Court House at Auckland as a Potato Store. — The New ZecTlander, of the Bth instant, says : — The civil sittings of the Supreme Court were on Thursday adjourned from the building known as the Supreme Court-house to the Council Chamber, as will be seen by our report of the proceedings in another colmnn. .From an observation which fell from the learned Judge in the course oi' the day, we may infer that; this wretched building has had its day, and will never again be used for such an exalted purpose. His Honor, in the course of the case Young v. Walters, seemed inclined to suggest that the Court-house should be employed for the future as a Potato Store, when he asked if the potatoes, which were the sub- , ject of the action, would have been good if kept in the Supreme Court-house during the time specified (eighteen days). Sib G-. A. Arney's Health. — The New Zealander remarks : — " We are glad to be able to state that our worthy Chief Justice was so far recovered as to be able to attend Church on Sunday. This was not, as our contemporary says, the first time of his leaving the house, for the Chief Justice has been so far recovered from his illness as to take open-air exercise for the last fortnight.