OTAGO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3239, 30 June 1871, Page 3

OTAGO.

[Fkoji the Times.] A meeting of Germans, called with the object of forming a patriotic society, or reviving one formerly existing here, was held at Sheppard's European Hotel last evening. The formation of a society was not definitely agreed upon, but the meeting, which was asocial one, appeared to pass off very pleasantly. The arrival of the ship Wild Deer, from Glasgow, possesses more than usual interest for the people of this province, inasmuch as among her passengers are three of the Professors of the Otago University, viz., Mr G. S. Sale, Professor of Classics and the English Language and Literature ; Mr J. Shandy Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy ; and Dr Duncan M'Gregor, Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy. We are sure our readers will join us in wishing them a hearty welcome to their new field of labour. One of the Maori prisoners, named Tamilian a, agod GO, died in the hospital at four o'clock yesterday morning of parahsis of the right side, scrofula, and asthma. He had been in hospital since the 2nd December last. An inquest was held at the hospital at noon yesterday by Dr Hocken, coroner, and a respectable jury. After hearing the evidence of Mr Caldwell, governor of the gaol, and Dr Yates, resident surgeon, the jury returned a verdict of " death from natural causes." The deceased belonged to the Wesleyan denomination, and was a member of the Ngntiranui tribe. He was a widower, and leaves two daughters in the Patea district. He was universally respected by the whole of the hapu, and all the officers of the gaol. Eihare Watone Ngawakataurua, the chief, attended at the Hospital morgue last evening, and celebratedc he service for the dead in a very itnpressivo and affecting manner, and afterwards held a tangi over the remains of the deceased. Before leaving, they visited the sick Maoris at present in hospital. , The charge preferred against Agnes M'Donald of having maliciously wounded her husband, William M'Donald, a seetler at Maungatua, on Saturday morning last, was brought under the notice of Mr Strode, R. M., at the Piesideiit Magistra'e's Court," yesterday. Since the accused was remanded by Mr Fulton, Pi.M., the depositions of her husband had been taken. He therein explains tnat the hay fork which entered his side and caused a wound through which his lungs protruded, was not thrown at him by his wife with a criminal intention. He slates that he asked her to pass the fork, and that she then threw it towards the spot where he stood, but that the wound was accidentally and not intentionally inflicted. Evidence was submitted to show that M'Donald is progressing favorably, and, under the circumstances, the Commissioner of Police applied for the discharge of the accused. Whilst in Court Mrs M'Donald appeared much cast down, and fully sensible of the aksvard position from which she had escaped. The Magistrate warned her against throwing dangerous instruments about in a careless manner, and indicated the serious consequences which might result from such acts of incaution. The accused was then liberated. The propriety of conceding to every individual the right to observe the Sabbath as his own inclinations might dictate, was one of the many questions which cropped up when Mr Lumsden's motion regarding the running of trains on Sundays was being considered by the Provincial Council. The motion provides that opportunities should be given for the despatch of Her Majesty's mails on Sundays, on all railways under the control of the Government, to the extent of at least one train per day, when necessary. Mr Lumsden's motion was carried on a division of 20 to 18. This, of course, will have the effect of rescind ing the action of the late Government, discontinuing Sunday traffic on the Bluff Harbor Kailway. • The Missing Whale — where is it ?' Under this heading, the " Bruce Herald," speaking of the whale lately lost by the Maori crew at the Heads, sa y S •__< On the. 10th March, Mr Memlees, a settler at the Taieri Beach, discovered a whale lying high and dry on the sea beach, fronting the property of Mr D. Milne, to whom he made known the discovery, and who agreed to divide the prize share and share alike with Mr Merrilces. Operations were at once commenced by them to secure the benefits of their lucky windfall. The fish is of the variety known as the black or hunchback whale, and befpre dissection

was 30- feet in length, and some ten feet in height. The services of a ladder were required to mount its back and remove the blubber, some ten inches thick, 20 barrels of blubber were obtained, and three boilers were speedily erected on the beach and the rendering process at onco begun, so as to reduce the blubber to the marketable and highly valuable article known as whale oil. The whalebone, which measured two feet iv length was also secured." Our contemporary then goes on to discuss the question as to whether this whale is the one killed by the Maoris. It states that the animal " smelt decidedly strong," and that it must, if the two whales are identical, have been carried some 20 miles in 12 hours against the current ; as a counterpoise to which, however, it is stated that there was a strong easterly wind blowing on the night in question. No wound in the carcase of the animal, such as must have been made in killing it, is mentioned as having been seen by the finders, though they are reported to have carefully examined it to see if 'it had been marked in any way by a former captor. j