LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2591, 31 October 1867, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

. ■& Ministerial. — Tho lion. Colonel Haultain, , Minister for Defence, sailed by the Lord Ashley, on Tuesday, for Napier, on his way to Tauranga and the East Coast. He wag accompanied by , Captain Hunter. The only members of the Colonial Executive now in town are Messrs Stafford and Fifzherbort— Mr Hall being at the ' West Coast ; Mr Richmond at Nelson ; Messrs Richardson and Harris at Otago. We hear that Mr Stafford will shortly accompany the Governor ' to Auckland in order to meet his JLioyal Highness tho Duko of Edinburgh there j and that Mr Filzlierbert will proceed to England on business connected wi'.h the loan, as soon as certain legal < formalities have been complied with, the nonperf'orinanco of whiwh prevented his leaving by i the last Suez mail. ( G-KNERAL Govj?RNiTE.\T Accounts. — Some of ( 1 our renders may perhaps remember Mr Hall's righteous indignation in The House of Representatives, at the conduct of one of our local conleniporaries, who meekly hinted that the General Government would confer a favor upon trades- ' men if it showed a littlo moro alacrity in pa} ing ! their accounts. It is true Mr Hall did not dony ' the charge; but his melodramatic utterances wouLi •' have led most people to suppose that the Govern- ' incut was quite incapable of such carelessness. ' Much to our astonishment, therefore, wo read tho ' following paragraph in (he Bruce Herald, of Oct. ' 23 : — " We recently called attention to the laxity " of the Gene) al Government in paying debts duo ' by it ; and we cited certain tradesmen's accounts ! due in Lawrence. A certain tradesman there got a verdict in tho Resident Magistrate's Court for £1O clue to him, and has recenilj been compelled to take £9 10s in lieu of the £1.0, :\s well as to be out of pocket the costs of suit. We should liluto know whether Mr Stafford and his crew cul! . this honesty. Wo call it by a loss euphonious appellation." Inquest. — An inquest wnsheld at Pahautanui. ; Foriruu, on Monday, the 23Mi inst., by Frederic!; John Knox, voronev, on view of the body o' William Turner, a native of Hamburg, by trad.' a ship carpenter. The deceased had been in t.h< employment of the Messrs carter at the Stean. Saw Mill, Duck Greek, for about a fortnight, and had bc-en at Mr London's store on Saturday, 2(jfh inst. Ho hud availed himself of an opportunity of riding back to the saw mill on a led horse. 1 belonging to George Leo, also in tho service of the Messrs Carter, and had just left London'.- : stove when he fell off the horse on the hard metalled road, and sustained a fracture of the 1 skull, indicated by profuse hemorrage from the I right ear. He was immediately carried back to j Mr London's, and every attention paid, but life 1 ceased almost immediately. The evidonco showed that the deceased had been at work at the island ■ of Kapiti some time ago, repairing a vessel called 1 tho Follv, Captain Nelson, in which vessel he ] sailed fram Kapiti to Wanganui, then to Welling- 1 ton, and Justly took employment from the Messrs < Carter, at tho Duck Creek. As tho Messrs I Carter did not appear nt the inquest, considerablo difficulty was experienced in iden- , tifying the unfortunate man. A juryman, ( however, volunteered to give some information, ( nnd from his evidence, it appeared that Turner was well known and respected in Wellington, 1 1 and hud sonic considerable sum of money 1 owing to him by Captain Nelson of the Folly, . and others. In the meantime he has been buried ( at Pahautamii, at the public expense, ns a t pauper. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." Benevolent Socif.ty. — At the weelcly meeting : of the Benevolent Society on Tuesday thore were present — Mr J. C. Crawford, R.M., in the chair, Hev P. H. Maxwell, Captain Benson, and Mossrs Levy, Knowles, Woodward and Lewis. Thebusi--ress was ofthe usual character excepting in 0110 reapeta — several cases of distress were brought forward and relieved or otherwise dealt with, 1 but no new subscriptions were announced. OpriCK Seekkks.— Mr Stafford is gradual'y billettiug his friends. Mr John Hyde Harris . 1 (the Hon.), as we noticed the other day, has got the Solicitor-Generalship, and now it is rumored I that Mr Haughfon, (lie general toadeater for the : ' I Ministry, is to receive tho appointment of official agent of the* General Government in Westland. Debating Society. — The member of tho De- ' ■ ' bating Society held their usual weekly meeting at 1 tlit) At henrouin yesterday evening. Thcwholeof the i ! evening was occupied in passing rules for the pro- < per conduct of business ; and in tho consideration I of a motion, brought forward by Mr Mowbray, ' providing that admission to the society should bo < gained by ballot. This motion was fimlly shelved I by being ordered to be read that d^y six months 1 I Next. Wednesday an essay will be read on " The ' I advantages and disadvantages of Debating So- 1 , oieties." I

Voitoteer News.— The first parado of No 1 Company W.R.V. is ordered to tako placo at half-past six oYlock to-morrow evening, on the green near the Albion Hotel. — A meetirg of tho intending members of the Veteran Corps will bo held at Mclntosh's the eaine evouing at eight o'clock. Penny Readings. — A very agreeable evening's amusement will be offered at the Odd Fellows' Hall to-night, by a number of geutlomen, who have promised to read selections from the works of several standard authors. This will conclude the first series of penny readiugs which have been given in Wellington. Acclimatisation. — Tho Raknia brought from Panama a deer of a species nalive to Central America, sent by Mr Or. Moore to Dr Featherston. Customs' Revenue. — The Customs' revenue collected at this port; during the last two days amounted to £292 16s Id. Appeals against Rates. — We beg to remind the ratepayers of tho town, that the Commissioners of the Board of Works will meet at the Board offices, Lanibtsn Quay, at twelve o'clock to-day, for the purpose of hearing appeals against the assessment made for the year 1867-8. WnAKP Isipuovement. — Workmen were yesterday engaged, under the superintendence of Captain Halliday, Harbor Master, in erecting a signal stuff on the outer T of the Queen's Wharf. Its height from the top of the wharf will be between forly and fifty feet, and a powerful light, of which we gavo a description some time ago, will bo fixed upon it. The light -will be of such a character as to servo as a beacon to vessels entering the harbor by night. • The Waibarapa Coacitks. — The Wairarapa coaches, which have passed from the hands of Mr Davis to those of Mr Ilastwell, will commence running under the new proprietor on Saturday next. The booking office will be at Willeston's, on Lambton Quay, instead of at Osgood's, as heretofore. Sale by Auction. — The Criterion Hotel, at the Upper Hutt, with twenty acres of land, laid down in grass, was sold on Tuesday last, by Messrs W. Hickson and Son, on account of the proprietor, Mi* James Brown. Tho purchaser was Mr John Martin, who paid £900 for the lot. The stock and fixtures vfovo taken at a valuation. ■Resident Magistbate's* Court.— ln tho Resilient Magistrates' Court, yeslorday morning, tho Bench was occupied by W. It. E. Brown, Esq. I. P. John Council was fined 20a for having committed tho offence of drunkenness, or in default, forty-eight hours' imprisonment with liard labor. Tho money not being forthcoming, the offender was locked up. There wore no other sase.s on tho list. Muedkes IX Otago. — By telegram we learn that a man numud Vincent Fiddeshasbeen found strangled near Switzer's dicing;*, and that a father and son, of the name of White, have been irrested on suspicion. It is supposed that the bloody deed was committed for tho purpose of robbing the murdered man. The body of a Chinaman, named Ah Han<r, has been discovered ut Kawarau Gorge, near Clyde, under circumstances which leap to the suspicion of his having been murdered by his mate, Ti Ah Clung, who has absconded with a sum of £200 belonging to Ah Hang. Wastk Land Board. — Thw members of the vWstc X/nnd Bonrd met at the Tmnd Office on L\iesday afternoon. There were present — Messrs W, Filzherberti (chairman), Ludlam, aud Ilickjon. Upon the minutes of the last meeting being: -.•cud by the clerk, tho application of Mr Robert laylor referred to at the last meeting was reconsidered, ami :>fter some conversation on the subject, the Board cmno fo the eonehii-ion thai they should decline to confirm tho minutes of that meeting, bo far us they related to Mr Taylor's ipplication tlu-n placed before the Board, for the following reasons, viz — -That the Board having been distinctly informed by -Mr Robert Taylor that the piece of land in question, which he wished ro re-select, wus unoccupied, whereas it had since come to the knowledge of tho Board that the land which he wished to acquire was already occupied by Mr .Sherwood, under ofliciui and proper sanction ; that considerable improvements Dad been made on it by tho luttei-, and that they (t.hc Board) had reason to believe that Mr Taylor was aware ©f the fact of s ich previous occupation, and of existing improvements having beeu made. Under the circumstances, tho Board declined to permit Mr Taylor to re-select the block o,f land referred to, and requeated tho ehnirtnan to inform him of their decision in the matter. Tho remainder of tho minutes of the 1 ist meeting were then confirmed. This being the whole of tho business fur transaction, tho Board adjourned. Colonial Mix3eu.ii. — 1 wo or throo useful geological maps have lately beon added to tho other objects of interest on exhibition at tho Colonial Museum. One is it geological sketch map of tho Province of Wellington, by James C. Crawford, Esq., Provincial Geologist. Another map contains four sections of tb.it> province, also made by Mr Crawford. Tho first section etaows the country from Whangnnui through Ruapohu and Kaimanuwn range, and is drawn to a scale of 1 inch to 6,500 feet vertical, 1 inch, to 4 miles horizontal. The second is a section ol' the country from Whanganui to Akitio, tho scaln being 1 inch to 2000 feet vertical, and X inch to 4 miles horizontal. The third section shows the country from Manawatu to Castlo Point : soulc 1 inch to GOOO feet vertical, 4 miles to 1 inch horizontal. The fourth section exhibits a line drawn from Ohariu Bay on tho West, to Toawaifce run on the East Coast, drawn on a ecalo of 1 inch to 3000 feet vertical, 1 inch to 2 miles horizontal. Tho mechanical execution of these maps does great credit to the d»aught6man. A third map displays a section of tho province- of Wellington from Taranaki to Castlo Point ; tho authorities for its accuracy being J. O. Crawford, Esq, and Dr Hector. A would-be Mayor. — At fho kto contest for Muyor in Hokitika, a little lawyer called Button, one of tho candidates, seerus to have been making a ridiculous exhibition of himself, by reading election squibs on his knees at a public meeting in !.h« Prineo of Wales' Opera House. The best ol ihe aqixihs, which was directed against himself, purported, to be a model lawyer's bill, Mr B. is supposed to have sent to a client. Poihaps Mr Button w.is conscience-■rt-ricken at his own high charges, and therefore dil penance on lub knees. Luckily the. Hokiiika people wero not so foolibh as to elect Mr JButton.

Tiie .Weather.— Tho fino weather which had i prevailed for some time was broken on Tuesday evening, when a heavy rain set in, which continued during the whole of that night, and at intervals during yesterday. Tho wet will no doubt be acceptable to the farmers and to persons in town whose water tanks need refilling; but, generally speaking, rainy weather is a time of great discomfort to residents in Wellington, as apart from the orthodox mud common to the streets of all cities, they have to contend with tho nauseous effluvia arising from numerous cesspools and other depositories of filth whose contents are disturbed by the rain, and which abound in all quarters of the town. It is needless to remark that these unpleasant smells are simply the outward manifestations of an invisible and deadly enemy, who will speedily assert his power unless checked by those precautions which it is the duty of the city authorities to take. Mokoa Road District — Wo learn from a correspondent that a meeting of tho ratepayers of this district, duly convened, wa3 held at the Moroa Schoolhouse near Grey town, oh Saturday, October 26, when the following gentlemen, after being duly proposed and seconded, were unanimously elected members of the Board of Wardens for tho said district, viz :— D. Barratt, D. Cameron, J. Hodges, T. Kempton,jun, and R. Wakelin. A rate of sixpence per acre was imposed. Mr W. H. J. Jones, and Mr McLaclan were chosen auditors. At a meeting of tho Board hold the sumo clay, Mr R. Wakelin was unanimously chosen Chairman of the Board of Wardens, and Mr John Hodges the Treasurer thereof. Mean M.P.'s. — Members of Parliament do very mean things. In Melbourne they are allowed to get postage stamps free in tho Library of the House, the understanding being that they will only be used for letters referring to public business. The quantity taken by some, members has been so enormous that the Librarian complained to the Library Committee, and some measures are to be devised for checking the practice. Mr Fawkner, during the discussion, said it was pretty well known with regard to tho postage stamps that some members of Parliament took a luvge share, while others took scarcely any. He submilted that it was not right that ono membor should take 1000 or 2000 stamps in ono session. The Bulujr District. — A miner who has made a lour of the Mohikinui, Waite's Pakihi, and other i^laces, informs the West Coast Times that Wai to' s Pakihi rush is an utter failure, and that the diggers are leaving it in hundreds with their faces turned northwards in the direction of tho newly discoverd Mohikinui field. Small comfort, however, awaits them there, the worth of tho place having been entirely over estimated, and scandalously false reports propagated concerning it ; for, instead of tho one and a half miles of payable lead said to bg, opened there, the claims on gold arc confined to ono moderately sized terrace, and do not number more than from fifteen to twenty. Akw ot them are reported to be very good, and are expected to turn out from £500 to £600 per man, and tho remainder, whidh of course constitute the majority, will pay fair wages. The country about the Mohikinui is excessively broken, and may bo likened to a large plain sown broad-cast with a number of low hills and terraces all densely wooded. Fxsir. — Tho mouth of the Grey River has beon swarming with codfish, which havo boon caught in la.i*ge numbers and. in capital condition, irx ttaat locality. Whitebait is now very plentiful in tho Uokitika River, and wo hear that tho River Avon, in Christcluirch, is literally alivo with this delicious fish, which is hawked about at less than sixpence a quart. Introduction" op Caup. — The efforts at acclimatisation made by settlers in tho Wanganui and itangtlikei districts are in tho highest degree praiseworthy. A supply of about sixty carp has been received at Wunganui, and purchased principally by Messrs W. J?. Russell, and W. T. 1 Owen. Tho Wanganui Times says : — Mr Russell divided his share of the importation with Mr Rosd, who has placed his in an artificial pond on his estate in the Upper Rangitike i ; and we understand that the rest are destined for tho Waitofarn. Mr Owen turned his loose in a lako at tho Wangaehu. Brn Nevis Farm. — On Wednesday last Mr Chad wick sold this fine property, consisting of , 400 acres of lund on the Bonny Glen rond, near [ Turakina, with farmhouse and outbuilding, for tho sum of £2100. The farm produce and stock fetched other £300. BELTi.oir's Tin Aii. — The trial of Richard B*ellamey, on the charge of poisoning hi3 wife at Melbourne has been postpouod till tho next Criminal Sessions of tho Supremo Court. Tho postponement was granted on tho application of the prisoner, who alleged that ho had not sufli- -• cient money to pay tho expenses of tho defence j 1 and that an uction had been commenced to recover a sum detained by one of tho banks, where it hud been lodged in his deceased wife's niune. RAOfiiioiiSKS. — In noticing the arrival from Nelson at Wanganui of tho racehorses Hermit and Corsair, the Evening Herald remarks : — One of the ooi/noscenli thinks Hermit a dangerouscuatomer, and should not like to take any horse against him. Ho is one of the most likely horses in the district, and barring accident', will make short work of some of the entries. The long expected Clydesdale entire cart horse, imported by Mr Moore, of Kai lwi, will como overland from Wellington, where ho arrived a few days u^o, per Electra ; he is expected to arrive here in about a week, and will stand, wo believe, at Walker's, Aramaho. l ; . ... „■".: "'V 1 " ;