Colonial News.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 827, 6 February 1868, Page 2

Colonial News.

Punch has again made its appearance in Otago, and this time in very creditable guise. The paper is well printed, and the illustrations excellently designed. There is also attached a very well executed photographic caricature. His Excellency Earlf.? Belmore, the new Governor of New South Wales, arrived in Sydney in the Sabraon on fthe 7th instant. His Excellency landed on the following morning, and was received by Major-Gene-ral Sir Trevor Chute, the interim governor, who accompanied him to Government House, where the ceremony of being sworn in was performed with the customary ..formalities We (Otago Daily Times) have been favoured by the Solicitor General with the inspection of a telegram received from the Colonial Secretary, in which it is stated that the Duke of Edinburgh has announced he will positively visit Otago. He has signified his willingness to open the Christchurch Tunnel, and also desires it to be intimated, in response to the invitation sent him 'by the Caledonian Society of Dunedin, that he will have pleasure in being present at its gathering. The London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, under date, 25th November, writes : —“The columns of our press teem with information respecting New Zealand—-

yo ur increasing population, revenue, and e x penditure, imports and exports, shipping and postal statistics ; all are dwelt upon, and the home interest now taken in your w e lfare is conspicuous. With regard to Sir George Grey’s recall, however variously the G overnor’s conduct may be viewed at home and abroad, there can be no question of his untiring zeal on behalf of the colony, or of the invaluable services he has rendered for so many years as her Majesty’s representative. You are evidently loth to part with him, and all here must join you in the hope that the Queen will signally testify her high approbation of his Excellency’s long and useful career.”. The Otago Acclimatisation Society’s large venture in the export of birds from England by the Warrior Queen, seems so have attracted a good deal of notice at Home. A correspondent of The Field (“ W. J.V.’’) says, “ Mr Bills, the experienced and well known bird fancier, invited a friend and myself to his store-rooms in Brighton, to see the birds, which were ranged around two large rooms in their travelling cages, containing from two to twenty birds in each, according to the different species. He furnished us with the following particulars of his enterprise, with the further information that the order emanated from the Otago Acclimatisation Society, New Zealand, and that Mr Thatcher, of Brighton, au old servant of the Society, had been commissioned to carry out the order. The cages contained blackbirds, 100 ; missel thrushes, 4 ; song thrushes, 100 ; starlings, 150 ; hedge accentors, 100 ; larks, 150 ; linnets, 150 ; robins, 50 ; house sparrows, 150; goldfinches. 100 ; yellowhammers, 12 ; and blackcaps, 2; partridges, pheasants, swans, &c., to be added in London, making up a complement of 1500 birds. The quantity of seed, paste, corn, &c., laid in will cost upwards of £135. Special accommodation has been provided for this eargo on board the Warrior Queen. The voyage is expected to be accomplished in about 90 days. We ( Sydney Morning Herald) have been informed by one of the crew of the Marion Benny, who fortunately remained on the island of San Christoval, that Captain Delany proceeded to Rubiana (Solomon Island) to trade with the natives for beche-de-mer and tortoiseshell. Londo, a chief of Rubiana, was communicated with as to procuring articles for trade, but said he could not get tortoiseshell till the following day ; Captain Delany determined to wait, but Londo still put him off with a promise that it should be brought on board on the third day. In the meantime, it appears the natives had held a council on the beach, and formed a plot to massacre the crew and seize the vessel They went on board, the captain was in the cabin at the time. They called on him to come on deck and buy some fish they had previously promised to get for him ; the captain declined, and Londo still requested Captain Delany to come on deck, but he told the native chief to trade with his mate. Londo called out in his native tongue, “Are you all ready, get round the men.” They immediately rushed the men, took their arms, and then strangled them on deck ; —as no natives were allowed to come on board with arms they thus made use of their hands, being about ten natives to one European While this was going on on deck Londo went down into the cabin and taking the captain unawares, attempted to strangle him, when a struggle ensued, but Captain Delany threw the chief and jumped on him, when the chief called on his men to assist him, three of whom went into the cabin, and all four bound the unfortunate Captain Delany, dragged him on deck, and, it is supposed, killed him by dashing out his brains against the cables, as his grey hairs were seen on them. The deck was covered* with blood from the galley aft on both sides. This information was obtained from the friendly natives on the islands. We presume tha steps will be taken to punish these savages^