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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 824, 30 January 1868, Page 2

The Crops in Canterbury. — The Lyttelton Times says :— At the close of last week it was reported in Christchurch that rust had shown itself among the wheat in some parts of this province. We at once instructed our correspondents in the various districts to make careful inquiries. Although we have not yet received detailed reports, we are able to say that in the Northern district, at least, there is no cause for alarm. We have heard of only one batch of wheat at Brown’s Bridge, about thirty acres in extent, which is entirely destroyed. So far from rust having affected the crops, it is confidently expected that the yield over the whole Northern district will be at least one-third more than it was last year. In some places, the crops are described as “really magnificent.” Our correspondent informs us that much less wheat has been sown in the Northern district this year, and that very little new land has been broken up; still the increased yield on the reduced acreage will make the total for the Northern district nearly equal to last year.

New Postal Arrangements. — The Panama mail to hand this week brings intelligence of a new contract having been entered into between the postal authorities at London and the P. and O. Company for the conveyance of the Eastern and Colonial mails. The sum to be paid is £400,000 a-year, and for this amount mails are to be carried weekly to Bombay, fortnightly to China, Madras, and Calcutta, and every four weeks (not monthly) to the Australian Colonies. It is obvious from this arrangement that the service to the Australian Colonies is made to suit the convenience of the other and more important routes to India and China. But however much this is placing Australia in a secondary position, it will have the effect of destroying the mail service of this Colony via Suez in consequence of the ever recurring changes and alteration of dates. The colony sometime ago served a notice to discontinue the mail contract via Suez ;— it will surely not be thought advisable in the arrangements now entered into to continue that contract. By Panama the bulk of the correspondence is even now carried, and by this route, which more than any other it will be the interest of New Zealand to maintain, the communication with Europe ought to be maintained. The undertaking of connecting by steam the longest mail route in the world is gradually becoming less experimental and more certain.

Earthquake. — A severe shock of earthquake was felt in the Wanganui district yesterday morning at twelve minutes to eight o’clock, and which lasted for several seconds. The course was from east to west and was accompanied or rather preceded by the earthquake rumble. No damage was done to property, but a very general sense of insecurity was awakened. Death of Mr Curran. — In mentioning, in Tuesday’s Chronicle, the accident which befell this gentleman, we stated that he seemed better on Monday evening, and that hopes were then entertained of his recovery, We deeply regret to say that these hopes have proved fallacious. On Monday night inflammation set it, and he rapidly sank under it. Mr Curran bore an excellent character and was highly respected by all who knew him, — a fact which was testified by the large and respectable number of people who followed his remains yesterday afternoon.

Acclimatisation Society. — Mr Buller and Mr W. F. Russell, the secretary and treasurer of the above society, accompanied by Mr Morgan and Mr Hutchison, members of the Council for Wanganui, waited upon the Superintendent during his stay in town, as a deputation, with the view of ascertaining what prospect there was of the sum of £100 promised to the Acclimatisation Society in 1866 being paid in 1868. Relying on this aid, the society had offered premiums for certain birds and fishes, and otherwise incurred liabilities, which if its members are called upon to pay, and the sum mentioned is not forthcoming, may prove exceedingly inconvenient. This view of the case was forcibly represented to the Superintendent, but he could hold out little or no hope. The funds of the province would admit no longer of anything in the shape of improvements, which partook of the hypothetical, the long-delayed, or the ornamental. Roads and bridges alone would be looked after, and even some of these might fare but sparingly. All that the Superintendent could do was to grant a sum of £25 in payment of Murray cod, and small fish ; even Murray cod, being preferable to no fish — the smallest prize being better than a blank — the deputation were grateful even for this much, and retired thanking his Honor for his kindness.

The Customs Revenue. — From a comparative return of the Customs collected in the colony we find that at the Port of Wellington, for the December quarter of 1866 and 1867, that there has been a falling off in this branch of the revenue to the extent of nearly £1000 ; the revenue for December quarter, 1866, being £18,695, and for the same quarter last year only £17,729. There was a falling off in the importation of ale, beer, &c., to the extent of nearly 10,000 gallons, which of itself is sufficient to account for the decrease in the customs revenue, as it amounts on this one article to more than half the total loss, and can be explained by the circumstance of a larger consumption of Colonial beer taking place now than formerly which has lessened the demand for the imported and taxed article. But the falling off in the customs revenue at the Port of Wellington has been more than made up by an increase of upwards of £1000 in the customs revenue of the port of Wanganui in the last quarter of last year compared with the corresponding quarter of the preceding year. The fact speaks favourably for the steady progress of this place and of the prosperity of the settlers in the district, as the revenue in one quarter there has risen from £4,600 to £4,700, notwithstanding the removal of the troops, and the loss of commissariat expenditure.