LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2334, 13 March 1866, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Our Summary.— A portion of our summary appears on page 3. The items of news wo refer to are the Napier Races, the recovery of the properl.)- stolen from the Colonial Museum, the Balance Sheet of the Land on Deferred Payments' Society, the Destructive Tiro at- Dunedin, and the City Elections. The Nathan Family.— Wo would remind our readers that the above talented family of gymnasts give their second and last performance to-morrow evening. Their first entertainment given last night was a great success. Inter-Provincial Cricket Match.— A meeting will be held at the Pier Hotel, this evening [ at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of adopting some meant) for the reception of the Picton cricketers on there arrival here on the 23rd inst. Absent Jurymen.— At the hearing of Special Jury cases yesterday, Mr. Walter Turnbull who hadbcen summoned to appear, and did not answer to his name on being bailed, was fined £5, in default of showing cause why he was not present on calling the roll of Jurymen. At the conclusion of the sitting, cause was shown, and the fine was therefore remitted. The Mail.— The sailing of the b.b. Airedale is detained till 4< o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, the 15th instant. Mr. Weld — A gentleman who arrived from Canterbury by the last'eteamer, informs us, that Mr. Weld's health is considerably better than it was during the earlier part of the year, but that his medical advisers put a veto on his entering the political arena until thoroughly convalescent. To hasten this much to bo desired event, Mr. Weld will shortly take a trip to thd mother country. The Early Closing Association. — The meeting of the above Association, which was convened for Friday evening, did not come off, owing to the paucity of gentlemen present, and now stands postponed until further notice. i The G-azette. — A General Government Gnzette published on Saturday afternoon, contains nothing more than several notices with re- ' fercnce to telegraph and telegraphic communication. The notices have little interest to the good people of Wellington at present, but when the cable across Cook's Strait is tin fait accompli, will . be eagerly perused. Band of Hope. — The City of Wellington Band of Hope met in the Wesleyan School room, Manners Street, on Friday evening. Ninety children were present. Mr. Isaacs was in the chair. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. McClclund, Sinclair, Godber, and M. Read. The amount collected at the Penny Bank was £9. The Wairarapa Races. — These races, to which so many persons have looked forward, as giving an indication of the merits of some of the " cracks " which will appear at our meeting at the Hutt, will take place at Grey town to-morrow and on Thursday. Capital sport is expected. The Rangitikei Election.— Tho polling returns have not yet been received, but our private letters per Storm Bird, state that Mr. Watt *has been elected by a majority of 30 votes over Mr. Pharazyn. We could have wished the result to be otherwise, though we had but littlo hope that Mr. Pharazyn would v be elected. Many insidous and secret influences were used against him, and he did not choose to fight the battle out with the Bttine weapons as his opponents, or he f might have secured a victory. As it is, Mr. Pharazyn retires from the contest — defeated, it is true— but with clean hands, and Rangitikei has secured a less able, but still, a very excellent representative in Mr. Watt. The Robbery at the Museum. — Yesterday evening, Private James Clavin, of the 2nd Batt,, 14th Regt, who, while prison cook, gave the information that lead to the recovery of the property stolen by the prisoner James Young, from the Colonial Museum, and from the stores of Messrs. Jacob Joseph & Co., was released from prison. We are glad that the Government have given private Clavin a free pardon, but think under the circumstances that they might do still more. Clavin's sentence would at any rate have expired within the next few days and ho is hardly recompensed tor fclie information -fvliiolx lie gave, by receiving his liberty a few days earlier than he would have done had he hold his tongue. We hope we shall hereafter havo the pleasure of announcing that ho has x'eceived a portion of the £100 reward. Saw Mill, "Upper Hutt. — Mr. J. H. Wallace sold yesterday at his sale-room, Lambton Quay, Messrs. Wagg, Robinson <fc Co.'s Saw Mill«nd plant, Upper Hutt, to Mr. P. Cotter for £575 ; bidding spirited and a very good attendance. At an early date it is Mr. Wallace's intention to oner for public competition, the valuable section upon which Messrs. Wagg & Co.'s Mill stood. Hutt Market. — Mr. J. H. Wallace sold, on account of the estate of tho late James Harrison, lease of butcher's shop, to P. Cotter, for £175, also horse and carfc £21, and on account of various properties, cows, at £4 15s. to £5 10s. ; bull, £6 ; horses, at £5 to £18. The attendance was good, and bidding spirited. Wo must, however, remark that tho accommodation for both buyers and sellers is so very imperfect that whatevor advantage the purchaser has — certainly the vendor of stock labors under every disadvantage. The proprietor of the market would do well, to prevent confusion, if he would erect proper pens for the sale of stock, for as .tho market is most disarranged no classification can be made. Bulls, i cows, and heifers, are indiscriminately placed to- ? golhor in tho same pens ; horses are sent without [ halters and put into pens ; scrows and sound put together, and the salesmen have tho greatest difficulty in proceeding with their business. The remedy wo presumo for all this is the speedy ap--7 pointinent of a Market Committee, who will issue proper notifications to regulate both buyers aiul sellers. There is great room also for improvement - in tho. Table d' Hole department, for tho barn » that hitherto has afforded shelter for numbers oi j * our worthy country and town sottlers Bhould alto . speedily be replaced by a better edifice.

Mr. SEWELL.r— Some time ago we announced that it was Mr. Sewell's intention to proceed to England, and tho other day we mentioned that he had changed his mind. Wo have now again to announce his departure to-morrow in the Wild Duck. On the writs being issued for the general election, Mr. Sewell signified to his constituents at Taranaki that itwasnothis intention again to solicit their suffrages, as ho was about toVisit the mother country. He then, as we mentioned at tho time took his passage in the Wild Duck. Since then his statements relative to the financial position of the Colony were called in question by Mr. Stafford, and he determined to stay. A numerously signed requisition begging him to enter the new Parliament as the representative of the town of Lyttelton was forwarded to him, and he allowed himself to be put in nomination. At tho last moment, Mr. Hargreaveß, a local man, and one of tho signers of the requisition also came to the hustings, and was elected. Mr. Sewell then reconsidered his former determination, and will leave to-morrow for London. His loss will be felt in the next Parliament, as he is an able politician, and one that has the true interests of the Colony at heart.

Rangitikei Volunteers. — Tho above corps have held a meeting, at which it was resolved that tho services of tho company should bo tendered to tho Government under the terms of the Volunteer Act, passed during the last session.

v The Wanganui Grammar School. — At a meeting of tho inhabitants of Wanganui, recently held for the purpose of taking into consideration tho present state of the above school and its future management, the following resolution was carried : — " That after due consideration this meeting finds that the present and future management of tho Grammar School of Wanganui require that there should bo a master, assistant-mnster, I and a female teacher, and that the Bum of six hundred pounds per annum, is required for salaries, viz : — First master's salary, £300 ; second assistant master's ditto, £150; third female teacher, ditto, £100 ; incidental expenses, £50 ; total, £600." Mr Bowden, the school inspector, was present, and gave some very valuable hints relative to tho management of scholastic institutions generally. Introduction op Female Labor into Nelson. — A meeting of ladies interested in the above subject, has been held at the Labor Mart, Bridgesi reet, Nelson. The following resolution was carried unanimously : — "That,consideringtheaearcity of labor in Nelson, it is desirable to assist Mr^ Flood to bring domestics from Sydney here, by subscription." It was then proposed " That a subscription list be at once opened to carry out the objects in the first resolution." Ok.vuita. — Tho Nelson papers give the most flourishing accounts of this new township on tho West Coast. Diggers in crowds are hurrying there from flokitika and Greymouth, and sonic capital piles aro being nmde. The beach is said to be far more auriferous than any ground yet discovered on the coast. Gold Escorts. — It is rumored that the Canterbury Government propose to establish a gold escort, by land, between Greymouth and Hokitika, with the object of swelling the exportation from the latter port, and thus securing the whole of the duty accruing from the gold found in the Grey district. An indignation meeting lias been held at Greymouth on the subject, and the determination is strong among storekeepers and gold sellers, there not to deal with the banks who resolve to convey their gold thence to Hokitika. They argue that smelting operations could as easily be performed at the Grey as at Hokitika, and they object to tho gold-producing character of the port of Greymouth being sacrificed to iced the exportation from Hokitika. CRIME IN THE GIIEY DISTHICT. — TllC Ilokitika correspondent of the Eyttellon Times suys : — " Tho Grey district is decidedly the worst on tho coast for crime. I cannot tell why most of the black sheep have made it their head-quarters, but they unquestionably havo. During the week four prisoners havo been forwarded thence to Hokitika gaol. Two of these aro committed for trial for garotting." ExroitT of Gold from Hokitika tor the MOiNTit of February, 18GG.— 42,391 ozs. 15 clwts; of the estimated value of £170,267, paying duty to the amount of £5,298 19s. sd. These iigures $o not include the exports of gold from Greymouth. Sale of the Steamer Nelson. — We learn from tho Grey Rioer Arffits, that this vessel, us she lies at tho Grey, was sold by public auction on Thursday week, by Messrs. M'Lean, Fisher & Co., tho purchasers being Messrs. Waite and Kilgour, of Greymouth, and the price for which she was said was £780. The cabins and other fittings wcro sold in separate lots. Mail Extravagancies. — At a meeting of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce recently held, Mr. Firth proposed tho following motion, which was carried unanimously : — " That this Chamber considers the amount of subsidies paid to the various steam companies aro disproportioned to the financial condition of tho Colony, more especially considering tho facilities for .making repairs and procuring fuel which now or will shortly exist in this part of tho Colony. Tho Chambor desires to see tho steam postal system re-modelled, with a view to effecting a great reduction in its cost ; and that a committee of three bo appointed to bring up a report on the whole question, with a view to tho Chamber taking action thereon at the next session of tho Assembly ; the committeo to consist of Mr. Clark, Mr. S. W. Hill, and tho mover." . Separation. — We extract from tho Nelson Examiner the following'opinion on tho question of local Separation : — "While wo disapprove of tho . I cry raised for tho political separation of Westland | from tho East Coast Provinces, wo ,aro friendly to any measure that would give municipal govern- , ment to Hokitika, Greymouth, or any other . centres of population, that nlay spring up there. , This is the real want of tho outlying districts, I and any government that could framo a scheme of local management to satisfy the reasonable ! wishes of these communities for tho aduiiniatra- ( tion of their own affairs, without inflicting on; thorn, all Iho costly machinery of Provincial Go- > vernmentß, would bo worthy of the highest praiae." ' i

Price of Flour in Chili.—" We {New Zealand Herald, of the 7th inst.) are requested by the captain oi the Annie Laurie to deny the correctness of the assertion made in tho Cross of yesterday, that he had stated that the price of flour in Valparaiso was £30 per ton. £12 per ton was the highest price at the date of the Annie Laurie's departure. We may also, on our own authority, deny tho statement made by the same journal that the Admiral Paroja had committed suicide. His death was a natural one. Ifc is curious that tho account of his suicide should have been taken from a paper of the 2nd December, published prior to the actual date of his death."

Military. — Major-General William George Gold, has been appointed to the Colonelcy of tho 32nd Light Infantry. The gallant officer served as Lieut.-Colonel of tho 53rd Regt., for many years, and was present with thatregiment throughout the campaign on the Sutlej, including the battles of Buddiwal, Aliwal, and Sobraon. He commanded the regiment during the subsequent operations. New Zealand and Australian Songster. — Wo (Lyttelton Times,) havo received a small pamphlet, written by Mr. Smnll, the comic vocalist, and published at the oflicc of the Evening Mail. It contains an account of his adventures on the Victorian goldAVlds, extracted from Ins diary. Some of the sketches o{ Colonial life and experience are curious and interesting. The brochure concludes with a reprint of some of Mr. Small's popular songs. The best of them aro those delineating Irish character, and, as might be expected, the author, like a genuine Emeralder, has omitted his first and best song, " The "Unfortunate Man."

Gold Statistics ot? Otago.— Tho total export, of gold from tho Province of Otago, from tho time of the discovery, of the gold-fields until the end of the year 1865, amounted to 1,875,053 ounces the exports for tho several yearß having been. — Ozs. 1861 ... s 187,695 1862 397,602 1863 580,533 1864 .- 455,927 j 1865 253,696 During tho month of January of this year, the export amounted to 13,990 ozs. 7 dwts. ; and since that time, exclusive of what may go this day by the steamers to Melbourne, 7,1040z5. lldvrts., have been exported, that quantity having been shipped direct to England. The amounts received by escort since the beginning of the present year have been — January 12, 3,725 ozs. ; January 26, | 5,5650zs ; February 9, 6,156. Representation of Riverton. — The election for Rivevton took place on the 26th ultimo, and resulted in Mr. D. Hankinson's favor without a contest, which was prevented by a mere fluke. ' The opposing candidate, Mr. Martin, was at the hustings at the appointed hour, but no proposer or seconder was there to nominate him. They had mistaken the hour. The Returning Officer said he could not legally stay the election, so Mr. Hankinson was proposed, seconded, and elected, without more ado. Dunkdin Nomination. — There are no less than six candidates in the field for Dunedin. They are — Messrs. James Paterson, John Millar, W. K. Reynolds, J. G. S. Grant, John Graham, and Thomas Birch. The show of hands, at the nomination, was as follows : — Paterson, 35 ; Millar, 22 5 Reynolds, 44 ; Grant, 79 , Graham, 37 ; Birch, 44. The polling- took place on Friday last, but the result is not yet known. Dunn the Bushranger. — That formidable outlaw, Dunn, having sufficiently recovered from the wounds he received in being captured, has been tried at Sydney and found guilty of murder. Sentence of death has been passed on him. Thk Late Finn in Dunedih. — Nearly £20,000 is sot down as the money value of the losses caused by the late fire in MacLaggan street, Dimedin, and the inquest which assembled to take evidence as to tho origin of the disaster, arc of opinion, that it is attributable to the intoxication of the cook ol! the Caledonian Boarding House, where tho lire originated. Troops for England. — Among those who wi'j shortly leave this country for England is Colonel Mould, of the Engineers, an officer who has won tho golden opinions of men of all classes, military and civil. He is the beau ideal of an English " officer and gentleman ;" one of tho genuine metal, admired and respected for his sterling worth, his courteous and thorough gentlemanly bearing. YOLKNER'S AND FtJJLOON'S MURDERERS. — The Maori prisoners charged with various murders on the East Coast, arc still in the Auckland gaol awaiting their trial, which is expected to tako place before Sir G-. A. Arney, the Chief Justice shortly. Other natives, not actually engaged in either of tho above murders, will be tried for piracy and burning the schooner Kato. Forged and Worthless Cheques. — Mr. Justice Johnston has often cautioned tradesmen and others against tho habifc, too commonly adopted, of receiving cheques as paymonts from strangers, and wo now see that tho Commissioner of Auckland Police gives tho same advice. A regularly organised system of sharping by menns of worthless cheques is being practised in Auckland, and some of the cheques which havo found their way into tho hands of tho polico are said to bo drawn up so informally, and have so much the appearance of being really what they are, tlnit it is a wonder that any person could have boen deceived by them.

The Waikato.— Tho news by our latest Auckland files from Waikato is very encouraging. Tho natives show no sign of again attempting to cross swords with tho pakeha. A large territory is thereforo free from their incursions. Every day | strengthens the position of the Ji'uropean and | wcukons that of tho Maori. What is now specially I wanted, is men of capital to purchase estates in that district, and go and settlo in it, so that they can give some labor to tho military settlers. There rs abundance of good land, capable of feeding herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, of growing in the open air the usual English fruits, as also the grape, the %, tobacco, together with maize, wheat oats, barley, and the usual root crops grown at home. •• . s