LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3304, 27 September 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

«. Foueth Session, Fifth Diocesan Synod, Wellington. — The members of the Synod met at Sfc. Paul's Church for Divine Service yesterday at 11 o'clock, and at the Diocesan Rooms afc 2 o'clock. Present — The Bishop, Archdeacon Stock (secretary), Rev H. W. St. Hill, Rev T. Fancourt, Eev B. W. Harvey, Rev B. K. Taylor, Rev J. M'William, Rev C. H. S. Nicholes, Rev A. Knell, Mesßrs Barraud, Barton, Moore, Buchanan, Bannatyne, Hunter, Ludlam, Braithwaite, Crawford, R.M., Halcombe (secretary). The Bishop in his address reviewed the facts relative to the appointment of Bishop Jenner to Dunedin — that the Goneral Synod had not in any way sanctioned the act of tho late Primate when he requested the Archbishop of Canterbury to elect- and consecrate a clergyman as Bishop of Dunedin ; that, had all things been done regularly, no appointment could be made without the sanction of the General Synod, which was refused ; that, beside this, the principle of the Early Christian Church was that no Bishop should be forced upon those unwilling to receive him, nor appointed without the consent of the other Bishops of the province. The Bishop reviewed the proceedings of the General Synod, and pointed out what would be the necessary action of the Synod in consequence. He spoke earnestly upon the necessity of introducing religion into any scheme of education, and hoped that the Parliament would wisely pass the present bill, and not stir up that agitation which would at once follow the adoption of a measure against the wishes of a very large number who would not have any education without religion. Notices of motion were given by several members, and the Synod adjourned till 2 o'clock to-day. Nevee Despaie Gold-Mining Company. — Early on Monday morning Messrs Brown, M'lntyre, O'Neill, Palmer, and Wright left town for the Never Deßpair gold mine, where they arrived at noon. The drive, measuring 605 feet, was minutely examined, and several parcels of the stone were crushed, these being taken without any selection for a distance of ten or twelve feet, and the result was a good prospect of gold in each instance. All present expressed themselves well pleased and thoroughly hopeful : but, pending the report of Messrs O'Neill and Brown, we will not dilate upon tho hope which is at present felfc as the future of Wellington's gold mines. The Caledonian Society. — An advertisement appears in another column calling the annual meeting of the Caledonian Society. As the Caledonians have always provided the public with a good day's Bport, and set a good example at the commencement of a now year, it may be justly anticipated thatthey will be liberally supported by the community at large, and that they will have a considerable addition to their members. We may notico that, notwithstanding their liberality at the close of last year, nothing has yot been done to the Basin Reserve or Cricket Ground, by way of improvement or preparation for sports of any kind, since the close of the last cricketing season. Ifc is to be hoped, now that improvements are

contemplated, that they will be carried out in sufficient time for the Caledonian and all other seasonable sports. i The s.a. Gothenburg.— As this steamer J was telegraphed as having left Lyttelton j at 6 p.m. on Monday, her arrival was i anxiously looked for during yesterday afternoon, but she did not reach the wharf till aboufc ten p.m. The presumption was that the strong wind blowing was the cause of her detention, but this did not prove to bo the fact. The actual cause was the circumstanoe of her having towed the steamer Ahuriri from Cape Campbell to within the porfc, the latter vessel having run short of fuel. With this vessel in tow, she steamed up againsfc a strong head wind, and, when inside tho porfc, the Ahuriri was able herself to get up steam, and to come alongside the wharf. The Gothenburg had a considerable number of passengers on board, among whom were Mr M'Glashan, M.H.R. for Roslyn, Mr George Brodie, Inspector of Bankruptcy, and Judge Ward. Earthquake.-— lfc is said that at an early hour yesterday morning, a slight Bhock of earthquake was felt. According to our telegrams, slight shocks were also felt at Napier and Wanganui. R.M. Court. — Yesterday, before the Resident Magistrate, Charles M'Carthy preferred a charge of assault against Charles Hadfield. From the evidence it appeared fchat M'Carthy was somewhat the aggressor, and the case was dismissed, wifch £2 costs. Edward Hutchings, for leaving his express waggon unattended in the public street, was fiued la, with 9s costs. John Evans, charged with furiously riding along the streefc, represented fchafc fche horae had bolted with him, and the oharge was dismissed. Art Union. — Mr Barraud's name is sufficiently associated with arfc to require no comment from us as to the value of the oil and water-color paintings which he advertises as about to be disposed of by arfc union. The pictures are on view at his art rooms, and will be disposed of as soon as the list of subscribers is completed. Meetings. — The following meetings are appointed: — Of the Caledonian Society, on Friday evening ; of the Wairarapa Meat Preserving Company, on Saturday, at Featherston ; and of the Never Despair on Monday. Bazzau.— A bazaar in aid of St. Mary's Orphanage is announced to be held at the Odd Fellows' HaU on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th proximo. Wairarapa Meat Peeserying Company. — We are requested to call the attention of shareholders to an advertisement in another column, announcing a meeting to be held at the registered office of the company (Mr Cox's store! Featherston), on Saturday next, 30th instant, at 2 o'clock. Business : election of directors and general. An advertisement appeared in the " New Zealand Mail," on Saturday, 23rd, which is likely to mislead, Btating that the meeting would be held afc Greytown. The Education Question in Tasmania. — Mr Lovell, a candidate for North Hobart, speaking of scholarships to the Home Universities, is reported to have said :— He did nofc see why this colony should be burdened with £200 a year, which was paid in England, and the colony receive no benefit from it. He believed in eyery child being educated, but it did nofc follow that they should run into those extravagances. If they could afford it, it would be different. The young men who obtained these honors would of necessity be of superior ability, but the people of this colony were merely making young men for other places. There was no scope here for those young men on the completion of their course of study in England, and they accordingly either Btayed there, or went to other centres of population. Wool. — By a private telegram from London, dated August 9, at which time the wool sales had closed, the "Daily Times " learns that a further advance had taken place on the price of wool. Death ov a Maori Prisoner.— The death of one of the Maori prisoners, named Tamati Te Pouwhakaruru, is thus noticed in tho Dunedin papers : — He was 63 years of age, a widower, and belonged to the Wesleyan denomination. He was a member of the Ngatiruanui hapu, and uncle of the chief, Taurua. He was undergoing a sentence of seven years' penal servitude for high treason, and had served two years of his sentence. An inquest was held at the Hospital at noon yesterday by Dr Hocken, Coroner, and a jury. After hearing the evidence of Mr Caldwell, Governor of the Gaol, and Dr Yates, Reßidenfc Surgeon of the Hospital, the jury returned a verdict of "Died of consumption." In the evening, Taurua, the chief, and a large number of the Maori prisoners, attended at the Hospital morgue, when the Catechist, in the absence of the Rev. Mr Reid from town, celebrated the service of the dead. The hapu afterwards held a tangi over the j remains of the deceased, whom they held in much esteem. Masonic. — A Master Mason's Lodge will shortly be opened in Timaru under the Scotch constitution. The ceremonies of consecration and installation of W.M. and officers are to be conducted by the R.W. Grand Master of New Zealand, Bro. James Mills, and Bro. Caldwell, of Dunedin. Westland Coaches. — For some time back, owing to damaged roads, the Hokitika and Christchurch coaches have been allowed three days for the through journey. Ifc appears thafc the journey is again to bo made in two days. Dr Jenner's Resignation.— Dr Jennor's resignation of his claims to the bishopric of Dunedin is explained by the following extract from the " Guardian" of July 8 : — " We learn from an article in the " Colonial Church Chronicle" that the misunderstanding on the subject of the bishopric of Dunedin has been happily adjusted. The excitement renewed by the publication in England of the proceedings of the last General Synod and the election of Mr Nevill, seems, it is stated, to have suggested to the Archbishop of Canterbury the expediency of a reference to the Bishops of his province. The Bishop of Dunodin accepted the proposal, and voluntarily promised to accept their decision and to follow their advice. In pursuance of this suggestion, the Archbishop and seventeen Bishops passed the following resolution, ' We, the undersigned Bishops of the province of Canterbury, having no authority to pronounce any judgment ou tho conduct of the Bishops and Synod of the province of New Zealand, can express no opinion thereon ; but being asked for our brotherly counsel by the Right Rev H. L. Jenner, D.D., we do advise him, under all the difficulties of the case, to resign all right and title to the bishopric of Dunedin. Bishop Jenner has felt at liberty to accept this advice, and the matter is ended." A Paragraph in a contemporary states that Mr W. J. Henningham, lately proprietor of the " Evening Star," Dunedin, is editor ofthe "Mudgee Mail," New South Waleß.

Body Found. — The Patea correspon- I dent of the Wanganui " Herald" reports j that Mr Patterson, of Kakaramea, discovered on hia farm the other day, some human remains lying amongst tho fern ; they appeared to have lain there for two or three years. There was nothing but the bones and gome shreds of clothing, boots, and a purse, which contained a small silver French coin. The remains are supposed to be those of a poor fellow named Doherfcy, wbo disappeared in a very mysterious manner from Kakaramea about three years ago; and although several parties were oufc for a long time in search of him, they were unable to discover any traces of him. Hawera and Waihi.— This highly fertilo district, says the Wanganui "Herald," iarapi ply progressing; settlement is going on surely and steadily ; even now the aspect of the country will favorably compare with any other portion of the colony. Until lately Waihi has been the extreme frontier outpost, but we have been informed that the whole of the A. Cs under the command of Major Noake will shortly be removed from Patea, and thus make Waihi the headquarters. Aramoho Ploughing Match.— Next Thursday, says the Wanganui " Herald," j the Maori ploughing match at Aramoho will take place. At the same time, also, a boy's match will be ploughed. Great is the enthusiasm of the natives over this novel contest. We are informed thafc a large demand has been made on Mr Gray for ploughs, and we noticed a Maori cart containing four moviug in the direction of Aramoho on Tuesday. A deficiency in harness is being supplied in the most elaborate and ingenious flax tackle. The Caledonian Claim.— -A change in the run of the reef in this mine has lately been the subject of some speculation. Tho change is thus described by a correspondent of one of the Auckland papers : — As I stated in my report yesterday, the hanging-wall has dropped and seems inclined fco give the lode a bit of a squeeze. The latter ia reduced to five feet in thickness where the specimen run is, and this morning looked a little better than it did yesterday. One or two shots were put in during the night, and disloged a lofc of the stuff, and revealed gold on the footwall, where I never saw ifc before. The gold struck seems inclined to take a lower position in the lode, perhaps forced down by the hanging wall ; at any rate the movement is a good sign, for it indicates thafc so long as an iDch of stone remains between the walls the gold will cling to it. What will be result of the nipping process now going on time alone can tell. The lode may be contracted to much narrower limits than it now oopies, and it may widen out again to-mor-row. Bufc " sufficient for the day" &c, and to day there were evidences of improvement. Congregational. — The Rev. Mr Roseby, M.A., L.L.8., arrived in the Gothenburg, from Melbourne, to take chargo of the Congregational Church in Dunedin. The Iron Trade.— The "Daily Times" hears that there is at present a scarcity of mechanics in the boiler-making branch of tbe iron trade in Dunedin, and that at least one firm has telegraphed to the various Northern ports for hands, offering them a six months' engagement. The Port Chalmers Railway.— We learn fromt he " Daily Times" thafc all the rolling-stock for this railway is being constructed uuder the supervision of Mr Fairlie. It was decided to adopt two of Fairlio'B double bogie four-cylinder engines, with four wheels afc each end, and weighing aboufc 21 tons each, without water or coal. They will be able to pull a combined goods and passenger train, as heavy as can bo expected here, aud although they are more costly by £500 each than the ordinary type of locomotive, yet they prove so economical in fche working, that the additional cost is soon made up. Messrs Newton & Willows, of tbe Vulcan Foundry Company, of Leeds, a firm with a first-class reputation, has contracted for their construction ; but, owing to the strike of engineers at Newcastle and elsewhere, they cannot be completed before the middle of November next, and may be expected in February, 1872. The promoteis have contracted with the Bristol Railway Carriage and Waggon Works Co. for the construction of all the carriages, waggons, &c, for the line. Each carriage, though short, is to be a bogie in itself, ars is to be drawn by a radical draw-bar, fastened in the oentre of the framing, and fitted with Fairlie's patent curved buffer, which is a new idea in rolling stock. There are expected by the Peter Denny and James Nicol Fleming, several of Black's patent stone breakers, for breaking stones to ballast tho line, and one of A. Chaplin and Son's, of Glasgow, steam cranes. Each stone breaker is guaranteed to be capablo of breaking 120 cubic yards of stone per day of ten hours. Meat Preserving in Otago. — From the " Daily Times" we learn thafc an extraordinary general meeting of the Otago Meat Preserving Compauy was called for the purpose of authorising the increase, by the issue of new shares, of the company's capital to £15,000. It was resolved to increaso the capital to that amount. It appeared from the report that during the six months' operations of tho company, 31,369 sheep, and 1011 head of cattle had been converted, yielding more than 150 tons of tallow, and about 1,000,0001bs of preserved meat.