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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 820, 21 January 1868, Page 2

A Shepherd King. — The Delinquin Chronicle hears that Mr Hugh Glass has this season shorn somewhere about 560,000 sheep, 125,000 being depastured in New South Wales. Cricket. — To-morrow the first eleven of the Wanganui Cricket Club are to play a match with eleven of Rangitikei. The arena is Mr Lethbridge’s paddock at Turakina ; and the hour for pitching the wickets, ten o’clock.

The Superintendent. — His Honor Dr Featherston arrived here last night by the s.s. Rangatira from Wellington. Wellington. — We have Wellington papers by the s.s. Rangatira, but they contain no news of importance. The arrival of the English mail had not been telegraphed when the steamer left.

Neville v. Reid. — In reporting this case the plaintiff writes to us that a slight mistake has been made, by saying that the magistrates thought 15s per week was sufficient wages for him. The difference, he adds, between the sum sued for and that for which judgment was obtained was simply the cost of 2 pairs of slippers and 5s in money. The Prince’s Visit. — We (Hawke’s Bay Herald), understand that Mr McLean, the Superintendent, has been asked by the Government to accompany his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on any tour which the Prince is likely to make through native districts, and to assist in organising any gatherings or demonstrations that may be made by the different tribes. Cheap Beef. — Cattle are cheap now — too cheap, and sheep are to be had for the taking ; so that beef and mutton may be reasonably expected to come down in price. As a first indication — one in which others must not be behind hand — is the announcement elsewhere that Mr James Stewart is [illegible] to supply these staple articles of food at from 3½d to 5d per lb.

Flour and Bread — The flour market at present rules high and [illegible] in the price of flour, occasioned by the deficiency last season and the uncertainty as yet of this season’s crop. The bakers here, always ready to protect themselves, have raised the price of bread to 6d the 2lb loaf. The accounts of the wheat crop in Victoria are somewhat contradictory, but it is generally supposed to be above an average, while the harvest in South Australia is bad, but better than was expected. In the Middle Island the crop is reported as good although rather under that of last year.

Departure of the Duke of Edinburgh from Melbourne. — His Royal Highness left Victoria, after a six weeks’ visit, on Saturday the 4th January, for Hobart Town, laden with presents of all sorts, from kangaroo skins to albums. His last public act in the colony was the laying the foundation stone of the Williamstown graving dock, at which he was presented with a gold trowel weighing fifty ounces, and immediately after this ceremony was over the Royal party embarked at the Breakwater. The Duke entertained a large company, consisting of the members of the Reception Commission and both Houses of Parliament, with their lady friends, on board the Galatea, and at three o’clock the ship steamed away for Hobart Town.

Australian Wool. — The London Times publishes the following very gratifying statement :— “At the exhibition of colonial wools recently held in this country a bale from the Ercildoun flock, belonging to Messrs. T. and S. Learmonth, to whom the first prize was assigned, realised the extraordinary price of 4s 10d per lb. When it was borne in mind that hardly 30 years have elapsed since the first settlement of the colony of Victoria, the fact that a wool has thus already been produced far surpassing the general excellence of the growth of the best Spanish or German flocks, from which the Australian blood was originally derived, gives striking evidence alike of the skill and enterprise of our colonists, and of the great natural capabilities of the colony for the production of this staple.” Boating. — On Friday evening last a meeting was held by those interested in the scheme of Wanganui competing at the ensuing regatta in Wellington, on the occasion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit there. There was a number of gentlemen present, and the result of the meeting meant business. It was arranged that Mr Kirkpatrick should immediately order from Reynolds & Sons of Sydney a cedar, 36 feet, four-oared gig, to cost not over £60 ; the committee in the meantime setting themselves about collecting that amount — a task there does not seem any great difficulty in. It was further arranged, on the suggestion mainly of Mr W. F. Russell, who kindly undertook to become responsible for the price, that a six-oared gig should be built on the Wanganui river by Mr Malcolm Miller, and its racing capabilities tested against those of the Sydney boat, so that the respective merits of the two might be fairly ascertained. This is a capital thing, and no doubt will readily meet with a share of public support ; a boat of this kind, built in the best style, of light white pine, will likely cost as much as one brought from Sydney. It is also contemplated to send a whaleboat to the Wellington regatta, so that Wanganui will be well represented on that occasion. With regard to the ultimate disposal of these racing boats a proposal was made at the meeting, which has all the spirit of fairness in it, namely, that, after the boats have done or failed to do their duty, they should be sold by public auction or disposed of otherwise for a sum which will be divided among the subscribers, more or less, according to the amount realised.