LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2658, 7 April 1868, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

-«»■ His Excellency the Governor. — By our summary of latest news from .Auckland it will be seen that her Majesty's representative has met a most loyal reception in the North, where he will remain for some weeks longer. His Excellency has been on a visit to Sir George Grey at !Kawau. Volunteers.— Major Edwards, R.M. at Otaki, late a lieutenant in the 2nd battalion, 14th Regt., haß been elected to the command of the Pahautanui Volunteers.

Osgood's.— Wo understand that Mr Osgood having some time ago disposed of the " Empire," relinquishes possession to-day, in, favor of the new proprietor, Mr P. Sfcrelitz, recently of Dunedin, who in future intends to carry on the business. We shall probably have occasion by and by to say something of the excellent manner in which Mr Osgood's establishment has been conducted, but at preseufc -we simply announce the change which has taken place, and wish the new proprietor every success in his undertaking. The business will be carried on by Mr Strelitz in the old style, but one new feature will be added. It is intended to transform the large hall into a suite of rooms, which will bo used as a private family hotel, with a separate entrance. The rooms will be fitted up in the very best Btyle, and be replete •with every appliance for the comfort of visitors and their families. As " Osgood's" is one of the most noted houses in Wellington, wo think ifc well to record the change in its proprietorship, and to express a hope that the success which has attached to it in the past will bo equally realised in the future. Wellington and Wairarapa Railway. — Wo are pleased to hear that the subscriptions for the survey of this important work are still flowing in. The Hutt and Wainui-o-mata districts have acted in an earnest and spirited manner, by sending over £100 to the fund, which, with the liberal collections already made in Wellington and Wairarapa (only very partially canvassed) will make up a sum of £350, to this has to be added I fcho equivalent promised by the Government making in all £700 ; all, therefore, that is wanted to forward speedily the undertaking, is energy on the part of the Sub-Committee, so that the survey may be commenced forthwith. We know that many are willing to subscribe most liberally, if, as they say, " the work was only begun." The Hon. Mr Stokes, who is here just now, was always an ardent and strenuous advocate for railways — we think the Committee would act wisely to request his able co-operation in the matter. The Address to the Duke of Edinburgh. The Mataura, in which the address of the people of Wellington to his Eoyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was despatched, had not arrived in Sydney when the Rakaia left. We may mention that Captain Benson, Manager of the Panama Company, with his usual courtesy and kindness, despatched orders to Sydney to the effect that if the Mataura was seen within twenty miles of the land the Rakaia was to be detained so that his Royal Highness might have an opportunity of sending by hor a reply to the address of sympathy forwarded to him from this city. Unfortunately, the two steamers crossed each other, and it is very probable that his Royal Highness will not receive the address till hia return to England. More Troops for Wellington.— On Sunday evoning, H.M. s.s. Falcon called into this port bound to Hokitika with a strong company of the 18th Royal Irish under Captain Dawson, which were en route to the West Coast. The Government, however, having received telegrams stating that Larkins and the other leaders of the procession in honor of the Manchester murderers had been committed for trial and that no disturbance had ensued, at once ordered the detachment to bo debarked here. Early yesterday morning, the man of war moored alongside the Queen's Wharf, and the company, numbering 75 rank and file, under Captain Dawson and Lieutenant Bates, wore sent on shore. The Falcon then hauled off to coal, and to-day sails for Westporfc and Hokitika. Yacht Race. — A capital though not very well contested sailing match took place in this harbor on Saturday between the yachts Try, Hind, the Fraus Schartau, and the Sandfly. Tho course was from the outer T of the Queen's Wharf round Soames' Island and back to the starting post. The wind was blowing fresh from the N.W. and, although hazy, tho day was propitious. Punctually at tho appointed hour the four boats were started and for a time kept well together. By degrees, the Hind, splendidly managed by Mr Holmes, Assistant Harbor Master, forged ahead, leaving her rivals to follow la a cluster in lier wake. With all sail set, the little Hind, so named after a vessel in the Royal Navy, kept her position, and working well to windward, came in an easy winner by several minutes, the time occupied in going round tho course— which was fully 12 miles — being only one hour and forty-five minutes. The remainder of the yachts were nowhere, and ere the second boat came in, the crew of the Hind were ashore, where they were vociferously cheered, and the winning boat made snug. The credit of getting up the half-holiday amusement is due to Capt. Johnston, Capt. Mclntyro, Mr Walter Gray, Mr Buchanan, and Mr Thirkell, all of whom we hope again Bhortly to see making efforts to show the rising generation 'how to handle boats under sail in this really beautiful harbor. The Banks. — By a statement published in a Government Gazette published on Friday, : we learn that the following are the assets and liabili-: ties of the different banks in the colony: — Bank of Australasia, assets, £469,947 17s lid; liabilities, £115,324 2s 3d. Bank of New Zealand, assets, £2,576,018 10s sd ; liabilities, £1,663,416 6s 2d. Union Bank, assets, £1,262,440 11s 5d j liabilities, £874,533 15s sd. Bank of New South Wales, assets, £1,213,696 12s 2d; liabilities, £922,005 4s 2d. Land Sale. — Messrs Gudgeon & Co, of Wanganui, on Saturday afternoon submitted to public competition, at Osgood's Hotel, a -number, of highly valuable properties, situate in the Wanganui, Patea, Waitotara, and Rangitikei districts. There were not many bidders present, and al^the lots were withdrawn. Tho auctioneer, however, intends remaining in town till Thursday, and hopea in tho mean timo to effect; sales by private treaty. Dissolution. — It has been publicly notified that tho partnership between Messrs Mitchell & Gandy of this city has been dissolved since the commencement of tho month, and that the business of tho firm will, for the future be carried on by Mr W. J. Gandy. Superintendent of Canterbury. — The salary of Mr Moorhouse has, at his own desire, been reduced from £1500 to £600 per annum. Clerical. — The name of the Rev. Father Hiekie has been added to the list of priests of the Roman Catholic religion in this colony. Bookbinding.— Mr Robert Burrett of thiß city haß been appointed bookbinder to the Government for the current year. I

1

I The Nathan Family.— -Our old friend Small has armed in town, as the fore-runner of these talented juveniles, the Nathans, who -will give one or two entertainments prior to leaving the colony. All who have had the pleasure of seeing little Marion, will doubtless do so again, and all who have not, had better seize the opportunity about to be offered. Provincial Phizes.— The Artillery |£l at the Adelaide Butts yesterday for the PrOTrooial. prizes. The day was all that could be desired, but the shooting was very bad, the highest score made being 32, by Gunner Mitchell, Debating Society. — After a long recess, the meetings of this Society will be resumed iv the Athenamm to-morrow evening. Patea. — Iv a recent General Government Gazette, it is notified that Mr James Hirst, Postmaster tit Patea, has been appointed official distributor of stomps at that place. Appointments. — His Excellency the Governor has* been pleased to make the following appointments .—John Charles Bethune, Esq, of Christchurch, to ,be a Deputy Commissioner of Stamp Duties. The appointment to take effect on and from the first of March, 1868. Robert Abbott Esq, of Hokitika, to be a Deputy Commissioner of Stamp Duties. The appointment to take •ffect on and from the first of April 1868. Firewood. — The tender of Benjamin Reeves, of this city, for the supply of firewood to the General Government has been accepted. The tender is as follows : — For two feet lengths, per cord, £1 7s. Coal. — The tender of Messrs W. Hickson and Son, for the supply of coal required in the public offices for the current year has been accepted. The tendor is 45s per ton for Newcastle, and 60s per ton for English coal. Her Majesty's Customs. — Captain Bough, Collector of Customs at Nelson, being about to retire from Government employment, his appointment will be conferred on Mr David Johnston, Customs Collector at Greytown. The Gold Seekers. — " We learn, says the Wairarapa Mercury, •' that Mr Grove's party are prosecuting their researches between the sources of the Euamahunga and the Waingawa, wherethey have found some quartz reefa. Our informant states that they are not gold-bearing; but that the party are still sanguine of success, should the weather prove more favorable. Cold weather and rain hus greatly impeded their progress. A Centenarian.— The venerable chief Eruera Patuone — who haying when a boy seen the vessel of Captain Cook off the Bay of Islands is believed to be about 106 years of age, has been introduced at Auckland to his Excelleny the Governor who conversed for aouie time with the old man, through Mr G. Brown, of the Civil Commissioners' Office. Sir George Bowen referred to a book kept at Government House wherein the names and other particulars about the principal chiefs are kept,, and asked Patuone about Heko and the war in the North, and also as to' the Maori King. At the same time expressing a wish to see peace restored, and both races living on terms of amity. " Are you going back to Wellington ?" asked Patuone. " Yes I shall have to go back by-and-by," was his Excellency's answer. " Then" said Patuone, "how do you expect to do what you have been speaking about if you go down where we cannot see you ? — But when this son boy of the Queen's comes, I will snap him up and take him off to the Bay of Islands. A Fenian Efpusion.— Mr D. M. Luckie,. editor and proprietor of the Jtfelson Colonist, has received the following effusion from some " Patriotic Irishmen" : — " Nelson, 24th March, 1868. Sir, — This is to inform you that we have perused some of the leading Articles of your Newspaper (Colonist) and have detected in them a very Malignant Spirit displayed towards the Fenian cause and in many cases a disregard for truth has been Manifested. We have Noticed that any newsconcerningFenianism.youhaveenlargeclupon and made it appear worse in a tenfold degree. Now you must understand Mr Babbler that this City is not without some who are patriots of Ireland and are at any time ready to resent such uncalled for remarks on fenianism as have appeared ia your paper. We would aho caution you Vagabond, for the future fo be wary and more moderate in your remarks, or by Heaven ! Rascal and Crawler, we will have your "Rookery Crib" about your ears. We say again Beware ! " deceiver of the people" for we have the means at hand to accomplish our ends. We remain in ernest, — Patriotic Irishmen." The Alfred Hospital.— On Friday, the 20th, instant, a public meeting of the citizens was belcl at the Exchange in Sydney with a view to inaugurate a movement in favor of raising a suitable testimonial of gratitude for the recovery of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. It was determined to establish a grand Public Hospital. The meeting was very largely attended. The movement continues to make an active progress. It evidently falls in with the views of all parties in this community. Admirable speeches were made on the occasion adverted to. The hospital is to be called " The Prince Alfred Hospital." O'Farbbll's Condemnation.— ln commenting upon the trial of this man, the Sydney Morning Herald remarks : — " The case was clear ; it was that the hand of the prisoner had inflicted the wound, and that it had been inflicted by a weapon deadly in its nature, and under circumstances which rendered escape from death in the highest degree improbable ; that it was accompanied with exclamations and movements which displayed a stoady and resolute purpose to kill. This was all so clear that nothing could shako it. Nor was it at all doubtful that the prisoner was influenced by passions having a political coloring. He himself declared the object and character of hisoffence; and no probable motive can be alleged for the crime, but such as may be traced to the poison of political animosity, — whether the deed was specifically suggested to the perpetrator, or whether it sprang from the working of evil passions and false ideas ofintorest or duty in his own breast. We discard entirely all the professions of " the prisoner, that he was the instrument of others, by any special commission. It would bo highly improper to entertain any fixed opinion upon such assertions — especially such as might direct a general suspicion without substantial proof. Our own opinion from the first has been that the deed was tho act of the prisoner alone, and that he had no other accomplices than such as may be assumed from the moral support and newspaper encouragement." Fenian Outbage.— A correspondent of the Brisbane Courier supplies the following outrage on St Patrick's Day, at Leyburn :— lt is nowjusfc one week since the patron saint's day of Ireland was commemorated ; and I have to tell you, as an Irishman, that at the time the neighbouring communities were sympathising and deploring 1 the cowardly and murderous attack on the iife of the Duke of Edinburgh by a designing assassin, a most disgraceful and outrageous scene was enacted in Leyburn, in the broad daylight— l may B»y under tho eyes of the police. On the day referred t 0 — the l^th of March — tke proprietor of the Royal Mail Hotel caused the Union Jack flag to bo hoisted in front of his bouse, and durinjtibe afternoon of that day the flag was drawn (Rn, trampled upon, and finally burned in the prmoi« pal thoroughfare of the town. During tho commission of this act, the most seditious and treasonable language was used towards her Majesty, and regret was expressed that the Prince was not shot dead. I have said, before, these disgraceful soenes occurred almost under the eyes of thepolice.

4» Deowning op the Bishop op Graftow and Two Others.— The Sydney Morning Herald of I the Ist instant, contains some fuller details of tin's lamentable accident. The survivor _ Creighton states about ten minutes after the service on Sunday night last (after 9 o'clock) the Bishop his eon, Mr. Brown, Mary Hogan, Sarnh Southgate, and witness, left the parsonage, at Q-vafton, in a boat to proceed to the Bishop's residonce. The Bishop after getting clear of the beach ordered the jib to bo hoisted. Just as they were turning in from the point of the island witness saw the light of the bishop's house, told him, and desired him to steer for it ; the Bishop steered a little •while in direction of the light ; then her head I was directed down the river, and afterwards, witness thinks that the Bishop pulled the wrong rope, and the boat's head went towards the island; this brought the boat broadside on the wind, and a sudden puff caused her to capsizo ; when the sail filled witness thought that both the females stood up in the boat j the centre board was down ; all the persons in the boat. wore thrown out ; after the boat turned over the first inquiry witness made •was, -where is Hewley ? 'witness believed none of the party could swim ; witness then went to the stern of the boat to look for the bey, but did not see him ; he saw the Bishop struggling at the Btern of the boat, and requested him (the Bishop) not to lay hold of him, and he would save him ; witness laid hold of him by the shoulder and tried to get him on the boat ; Sarah Sonthgate had then got across the boat's keel ; if she liad kept there she would have been safe ; she then slipped off the boat while witness was struggling to save the Bishop, and cried to witness, "James, save me, save me;" she fell off the boat towards witness, and grasped hold of him by clasping him round the back ; the Bishop then got excited and grasped witness with both hands, and all three went under the water together ; witness then had to free himself the best he could ; he felt that ho was going and struggled to free himself ; if he had not, he would also have been lost ; ho then ■ got to the boat and watched for the Bishop and the servant ; the Bishop and the girl then enmo up again to the surface ; they then sank again ; Mr Brown was then hanging on the side of the boat, and the girl, Mary Hogan, was holding on | to the sail ; witness told Mr Brown that the Bishop was gone ; the boat was then on its broad- ' side ; he then called out " help ! a boat i" they ' remained on the boat about half an hour before help came to them ; a boat at last came to their assistance with Messrs Selmnn, Gibson, and Man- j ton; the girl Mary Hogan left the mast, and then the boat turned keel up. The Yass Murder. — The Yass Courier says : — One of the most atrocious and bloodthirsty murders it has ever been our lot to record was perpetrated at a part of the Southern Eoad, known as Conroy's Gap, about, sixteen miles from Yass, on the night of the 17th March, or early on the 18th. Not fewer thnn five persons in succession fell victims to the inhuman monster, who was a shepherd, and who for the past six months has been in the employ of John Conroy, a squatter, and an elderly man, who is one of those so brutally murdered. The five persons who have been bo terribly deprived of life are John Conroy, his wife, a young man named Smith, a shepherd named White, and nnother shepherd, name unknown. The murderer is a ticket- of-leave man, named William Monday or Collins. Conroy lived in a hut of four apartments, two in front, with two Bkillion rooms at the rear ; a passage runs through from the front entrance of the building into one of tho skillion rooms. It seems that during the night of Tuesday, tho prisoner rose and with an axe murdered the shepherd who lay alongside of him. The noise awoke Smith, who slept in the opposite room, and on his rushing in the prisoner struck him in the abdomen with the blade of a Bheepshear, and then struck him several brutal blows with the axe, Conroy then appears to have left his bed and rushed with merely his shirt and nightcap on to see what was the matter, when he was murdered in a similar manner. Mrs Conroy, having also heard the scuffle, rushed from the place where she slept, evidently in an excited state, as she had no clothing on except her chemise, when she was stuck iv the abdomen with the blade of tho shears, and then terribly gnshed across the head and face with the axe. Thus four victims fell to tho axe of tho inhuman ruffian f and next morning a fifth was added to tho awfnl pile of disfigured and slaughtered persons. One of the ehepherds, either White or the one whose name at present is not known, slept in a gunyah near where the sheep were folded, and at some distance from the hut, and at an early hour he proceeded to the latter, where the prisoner had apparently waited his approach. On his entering, the prisoner first disabled him by stabbing him with the blade of the sheepshears, and then struck him down with the axe. The prisoner then, it would appear, resolved to burn the bodies. Those of Conroy, Smith, and Mrs Conroy he placed on the floor of the kitchen, on top of them he placed tho mattresses from off the bed whereon Smith had lain, jind over this he laid the bodies of tho two shepherds, covering them over with blankets , &c. The only reason assigned by the perpetrator for the inhuman butchery of five persons is, that he was badly treated while in Conroy's employ, and that he was stinted in provisions. Testimonials. — The Volunteer Fire Brigade, of Sydney, on Tuesday, the 2ith ult., presented Mr William Vial with a handsome gold modal, in recognition of the bravery displayed by him at. Clontarf on the 12th ult., when, at the risk of his own life, ho was the means of preserving that of H.E.H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Tho people of Sydney are also getting up a testimonial to Mr Vial, who was the first to seize O'Farrell, the attempted assassin.