LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2217, 10 June 1865, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

, I The City of Dunedin. — Moro sfci'ongly to j point out, the mistake made by the Advertiser in ! i commenting on what it pleased to term the culpable neglect shown by His Honor Dr ' i Featherston in tho mat tei* ol" the ill-fated ship, 1 we hasten to publish a letter whicli appeared in ' ono of the last issues of the Caul erbury I're.t.?. The following is tlie lei ler referred to .- — " Deai*. ' j Sir — As the fate of the steamer City of Dunedin ' : is of so much interest io many others besides 1 myself, I take permission to acquaint you for general information that every effort ia being : made tliat can possibly suggest itself to ascertain I the cause of the mysterious disappearance of this boat ; but everything, I regret to say, leads to the conviction that she must have .struck on one i of those many rocks extending out into the ■ Straits from CapeTcrawiti, and that with such force 'as to cause her io sink instantly. Various pori tions of hor wreck have been washed on shore, ! but up to this time, no bodies. Tlio authorities i hero evince every sympathy towards tlio.se interested in tho fate of this unfortunate steamer. The- Sandfly has again been despatched to cruise along tlie shores on both sides of the Straits. My companion in trouble, Mr Joseph Beswick, i.s with the Sandily, aud I am doing all 1 can here and in the neighbourhood to collect intelligence ; but, alas, there does not appear a doubt as to all on board being lost. I wish to record my grate- ■ ful thanks to tlio authorities for the kind assis- ' tance I have received from them in my melan- ! ■ choly duty. I am dear sir, yours respectfully, — C. W. Bishop. — Emj-h-e Hotel, Wellington. — ; June 3, 1865. j AppnoAcnn-ro Land Sale in the Rangitikei. —-Any traveller through the Rangitikei, cannot 1 fail to be struck with the progress wliich that I district has made during the last two years, in ; material prosperity. A little village hids fair to ' spring up shortly at Bull's accommodation house, and a metalled voad now connects it, with Turakina, fourteen miles further on. Closely abutting i on tins road, in fact with two lines of road run--1 ning through it, is situated, some very valuable ' land, the property of Captain Daniell, 3000 acres ,of which will shortly be open for sale. It is in • everyrespect an eligible spot for small capitalists to ' settle on, as it possesses all the advantages of wood, j water, a rich soil and close vicinity to the Wani ganui market town. We have no doubt should J any intending purchasers visit the district, that Daptain Daniell or Mr James Bull, will afford them every information that they may desire. The Representation of tub Wajbahapa. — It is now generally understood in the Wairarapa that Mr Carter, tlie member of Assembly for that district has resigned, a report of which however we have no official notification. Two candidates are B]joken of as likely to come forward to solicit the suffrages of the electors, Samuel Revans, Esq, of Woodside, and Henry Bunny, Esq. The former is oue of our eai-liest settlers, possesses great ability and is well known as having done past good service alike in the Provincial Council and the General Assembly, the latter has also gained some reputation as a leading opposition member of the Council. New Buildings. — We notice that the space between Mr Steinhoff's cigar shop and Mr Robertson's stock and sale yards is bein built upon, and (he edifice now in course of erection is, wo understand, the property of Mr Rowley, who intends opening it wheu completed as a Hair Cutting and Shampooing saloon. Babes rsr the Wood. — On Thursday last, Sergeant Crowder of the City Police, brought two little children, a boy and a girl, the oldest of whom was 8 years of age, into the court, and mentioned to the Resident Magistrates that they were always to be found straying about the streets at night. Their name was Ellis he believed, and many persons had remarked how utterly forsaken the little pair appeared to be. The father and mother were sent, i'or, and after being told by the Resident Magistrate how heartlessly anti unnaturally they had behaved, were warned, that unless they ibr the future adopted measures to prevent their little ones wanderingall over the city, Ihey should be severely punished. TOTAL ABSTINENCE. — On Wednesday evening a meeting of the Alma Total Abstinence Society was held in the school house, Karori, Mr Macaiah Read, in the chair. The meeting was addressed by Messrs Harding, Prince, Fawcett, and Isaacs. T HEATHE Rostal. — The performance last night, consisted of the two two favorite pieces, " Used Up," and " The Toodles," and were sustained as well as when first presented by Messrs Towers to a Wellington audience. There was a good house, and everybody appeared to sympathise with " Toodles you brute," and went away greatly pleased at the performance. This evening, ihe " Streets of London" and "Slasher and Crasher" will be produced. New Zealand Gazette. — A Gazette published on Wednesday, the "7th inst., contains a proclamation under fho " Natives Reserves Act, 1850," and the "Natives Reserves Amendment Act, ' 18G2," ordering George Frederick Swainson, Esq., to pay over ail sums being the produce of Native Reserves to the person or persons appointed by the Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, to be used for thepurposeof erecting, fencing, furnishing, &o. of the native house about to be built in Molesworth Street. A proclamation revoking all commissions authorizing the purchase of lands on behalf of the Crown from the aboriginal inhabitants of the Colony of New Zealand, and proclaiming that the Native Land Purchase Department will be done away with and cease to exist. A proclamation dividing the Aorere district into three districts under " tho Marriage Act, 1838." A proclamation under " fhe Registration Act, 1858," ordering the same diversion of the Aorere district. An ordor in council. proclaiming Central Waikato to be a district. Another order under " the N.Z. Settlements Act, 18G8," proclaiming the Onewhero, Wangapo, Kupa Rupa, Rangoriri, and Mangawhara blocks set apart us sites for settlements for colonization. An order iii council under " the N.Z. Settlements Act, 18(53," that sufficient land should be set apart for roads and public purposes, for the location of military und other settlers introduced by the Government, and for compensation to persons in lieu of money compensation. Au order in council declaring the Mangare, Pukaki, lhumatau, and Kcri Keri or Pukekiwiriki blocks, to be set apart and reserved as sites for settlement and colonization. .An order in council varying the boundaries of the East Wairoa Block. An order in council under " the Arms Act, 18G0," suspending the operation of certain provisions of the Act. Major Von Tcmpsky's oilieial report of a skirmish with the rebels. The recognition of E. Quick, Esq., as Danish ViceConsul af Auckland. A notification that Henry Sewell, Esq., is elected to the House of Representatives for New Plymouth. Another that the same gentleman has resigned his scat in the Legislative Council. The appointment of David Johnston, jun, Aorere ; liclmund Jennins, Buller ; Edward Patten, River Grey, to be Registrars ol Births, Deaths, and Marriages for tlie districts opposite their respective names. The appointment of 11. A. 11. Monro, Esq., of Auckland, to be a Justice of the Peace. The promotion and appointment of various gentlemen inthe Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, and Napier Militia. The appointment of the Hon. J. L. C. Richardson, to be Honorary Captain in the Dunedin Riflo Volunteers. The accepted resignations of the commissions held by Major Campbell, Captain Wynyard, Captain P. Ross, Lieut. Hoben, Lieut. Owen, Ensign Carter, and Ensign W. Bowler. A postal notice eonstiluting the Post-oflice at Hokitika, a money order oflice. The appointment of J. R. Glendon, Esq, to be Acting Collector of Customs at Hokianga. The like appointment of Stephen P. Brown, Esq., at, Mongonui. Tbe like appointment of 11. B. Aubrey, Esq., at Wangari. The like appointment of G. M. Mitford, ICsq., at Russell. The licensing of Samuel Stephenson Russel to aot as Custom-house agent, at Russell. Returns of the Custom's revenue at the several ports of New Zealand during lire quarter, ended 31st December, 18G-A. A like return of the value of imports for the same period. Alike return of exports, aud a return shewing the number, tonnage and crews, of vessels cleared outwards for the samo quarter from the several ports in tho colony.

| Market Hall. — Diving the week a good show | of vegetables have been exposed for sale in the Market Hall in Cuba -street, and a largo business liar- been done by retailers. t An Impeuiai. Military Claim. — Some weeks ago, we incidentally learned tliat an application had been made by certain officers ofthe Imperial army, for a share of the proceeds that might arise from the s,.ile of eoniiscatcd land in New Zealand, but scarcely credited the report. From the English papers, we now, however, notice that (he following occured in Uie House of Commons on the 23rd March : Mr Kokewieh asked the Under Secretary of State for War, whether the commanding officers ofthe various corp3 in New Zealand had preferred any claims to the proceeds arising from the sale of lands captured from the enemy ; and whether tho Government had any intention of paying them a part of thoso proceeds as prize money ? The Marquis of Hartingfon said it was a fact that an application had been made by some of fhe troops in New Zealand for a share in the prize money that would arise from (he sale of fhe lands captured by the troop 3, but j he was not aware of any circumstances under J which land captured by military forces had been considered convertible iuto prize money. Therefore, if any recommendation to such effect came from the. colony, it would not be complied with. t D rsTiNGCia he d Aku ival. — The TaranaM Herald says : — By ( lie schooner Excelsior, from Manakau on Sunday last, arrived that distinguised j member of the Maori nobility of Taranaki, lioera Pirere, otherwise called Big Joe. It will be remembered that he was wounded and taken prisoner at Sentry Hill — was sent up to Auckland and escaped with the celebrated 200 from the peaceful retreat of the Kawau. The Excelsior was chartered by the Government to bring ionic of tho Waikato ' prisoners' to Kawhia, and then oame on here with our old friend, who looks much broken down. Wakamarina. — The Marlborough Press observes : — lntelligence has reached us that the late heavy rains have oneo more flooded out the whole of the river claims. This has driven fhe miners to try now ground on the terraces, but we hear with no great suecoss. As is usual on most of the Now Zealand diggings a few only are doing well, and the rest merely making scant wages. Ricii. — An Auckland paper remarks : — We see by the census return that there is one pig more in Wellinglon than in Auckland. In tho former proviuce the number of pigs arc 13,073. while in the lal ter there are only 13,072. We are not informed whether the pig whicli constitutes this excess in favor of Wellington is a porker or brood sow, but we are sorry to see that Auckland allows Wellington to go 'ahead of her, even fo fhe amount of a sucking pig. We strongly suspect that there is some chicanery of the Weld Ministry at the bottom of this, for it never could have happened by fair moans. We know how unscrupulous that Ministry is, and we believe it would not have fhe least scruple to " go the whole hog" in favor of Wellington. Sheep on Terms.— Very recently, Mr C. Elliott, the respected proprietor of the Nelson Examiner, and also an extensive runholder, was compelled to call his creditors togethei*, owing to the heavy fall which had taken place in the price of stock. 'The case is chiefly of interest from the light it throws Upon sheep agreements — a form of investment which has been in considerable demand in this province. Mr Justice Johnston seemed very clear in his opinion, during the bankrupt's examination, that, where sheep placed on terms are not branded as the property of the person so placing them, they must go to the creditors in the event of the holder becoming insolvent. Death of Captain Moore of THED-irNTLErss. — The "New Zealand Herald" announces tho death of this gallant seaman, which occurred on the Ist inst, at the house of Mr Hooper, on Smalc's Point. Captain Moore had been suffering since; his arrival at Auckland, and was carried off by a severe att ack of interniiltent fever. The Fiery Star was not the only vessel succoured in his lust voyage by Captain Moore. Tlie captain of the Liverpool ship Phcenix when in great distress in the Bay of Biscay being also greatly indebted to him. The Sandfly and Prince Alfred for Sale. —We notice by our Aucldand files that flic e.s. Sand ily and Prince Alfred arc offered for sale by fcho G-ovoriimenf. The Southern Cross says: — The Defence Minister invite,*-, tenders to be sent iii, on or before the loth instant, for the purchase of the colonial paddle steamers Sandfly aud Prince Alfred. The Lenders are to be addressed to the Superintendent of Steam Transports, Superintendent's Olllee, Nolson, and fhe vessels will be delivered to tho accepted tenderer or tenderers freo sf charge."