Local and General News.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2116, 15 October 1864, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Superintendent. — His Honor the Superintendent started early in the week for Rangitikei and Wanganui, mainly with a view to attempt the settlement of the native dispute there — all the three parties having consented to sell the land as the best mode of avoiding further trouble. We anticipate his Honor will be absent for some days. Photographic Views. — We perceive that Messrs Price Brothers aro exhibiting views of tbe last Hutt Market and several local scenes. Some of them are good and would convey to friends at home a knowledge of the beautiful scenery to be found near tbe City of Wellington. New Regime por New Zealand. — The Southern Cross is responsible for tho follow- j ing *. — '• Potatau 11., — Emperor of New Zealand. Sir George Grey, —Viceroy, Chatham ; Islands. William King, — Chief Secretary. ; Big Joe, — Minister of War. William Thompson, — Attorney-General. Rewi, Nga- j timaniapoto, — Postmaster-General. George ' Graham, — 'Treasurer. John Williamson, — President of Council. J. E. FitzGerald, — Foreign Secretary. Dr Pollen, — Protector of white population, Dr Shortland, — First Lord of the Admiralty. C. O. Davis, — Se- ( cond Lord. Wm. Swainson, — Councillor of . State, and Censor ofthe Press. N.B. — No General Assembly required. Magna Charta . and Habeas Corpus Act hanged, Represent ative Government declared a farce. Primitive institutions and natural equity the ticket, , Hurrah for Maoridom !"

Odd Fellows' Hall. — The., performance : last night at the Hall was highly successful, Miss Aitken' s readings boing as usual j thoroughly appreciated. " The Trial Scene from the Merchant ot Venice," in which the lady sustained the part of Portia and Mr Shiels appeared as Shylock, was acted with great skill aud fidelity. Wesleyan Bazaar. — The Odd Fellows' Hall has once more been relieved of the din and bustle of business, — "tbe last sound of the word" bas died away, — the weary and worn stall-keepers have retired from their self-imposed task — iv round numbers £"-100 has been taken at the doors, — the minister and his flock see visions of a splendid mansion " looming in the distance," — the "wonderful" monkey bas been sold to be con- ' veyed up country to amuse our dark skinned brethren, — Mr Russell has retired from the music stool, where his performances have tended so much to enliven the scene, — the " rising generation" are all the richer in dolls and toys, — the good the ladies and their friends have done to the cause comforts them — and the Wesleyan Bazaar is " a thing -of the past." There was a good attendance on Thursday throughout the day, and the sum of monoy taken shows that the cause j had lost none of its favor. As a fitting conclusion, Mr J*. H. Horner kindly undertook to sell the surplus stock on hand and caused much fun amongst the visitors at the earnest manner in which he attempted to clear off the property, which he said, was being sold at an " alarming sacrifice," a fact, we must confess we are obtuse enough to question, but still our knowledge of these things is very limited, therefore we must take it for granted. The total amount taken on Thursday was £11 1 , and it is a matter of congratulation that we are in the midst of a population that will so generously come forward and contribute their moans in so liberal a manner. But we suppose they exclaim with Othello j It is the cause ! It is the causo ! and straightway flock to assist it. The Ahuriri. — The N.Z.S.N. Company's s.s. Ahuriri has been chartered by the Government to convey the head quarters of the 57th Regt., from Taranaki to Wanganui. The Ahuriri may be expected here about Sunday next, and will leave on Tuesday for Wanganui, Taranaki, Raglan, Waikato, and Manakau. Thatcher and his talented little company have returned to Wellington by tho Rangatira. We regret to hear that Mr Thatcher has been suffering from indisposition at Wanganui, and tbat his return here has been hastened in consequence. New Concebt Room. — Mr Barry of tho Ship Ho. el has converted the old Olympic Theatre into a very commodious room, which he intends to use as a Concert Hall. The boxes are all removed, the floor levelled, the building has been tastefully decorated with " panoramic" paper, aud its ventilation properly attended to. Its dimensions are about 45x30 witk proportionate height, while thero are retiring rooms on either side, so that the room can be used for public dinners, balls, &c. We believe it is to be called " Barry's City Concert Hall" and will bo opened shortly. Impuovements. — Wo inspected yesterday, the stables recently erected by Mr G. Billman on the reclaimed land. They are very spacious and every inch of ground is turned to the best account, wbich reflects the greatest credit on the designer. It is a substantial building and contains three loose boxes, and stalls for twenty horses, while there will be ample room for carriages, &c. The lofts will be appropriated to the reception of harness on one side, the otber being occupied by the provender for the animals underneath. Mr Campion is the architect and Messrs Wallis, Parsons, and Gascoigne, the contractors. The Road to Taranaki. — The Wanganui Chronicle of tha Sth inst., says: — "Mr Moore, who set out in the beginning of tbe week for the Waitotara, returned on Thursday, and informs us that he had no intention of going to Taranaki, as we were informed, and that he had no passes from any Maori chiefs to enable him to do so. We regret that we gave currency to a statement which proves to be incorrect. So many false reports are flying about constantly that we are generally careful in authenticating them before giving them publicity, bufc in this case, it would appear from Mr Moore's statement, we bave been misinformed. Onr information was obtained from Wirihana a native policeman." Fatal Accident. — The Wanganui Chronicle of the Bth inst., says : — " Yesterday morning, two men were proceeding up the river in a canoe, wben, just at the wooden groin abovo the Markct-ploce, one of the men, possibly through some sudden lurch of the canoe, fell over into tho water and immediately sank, A Maori prisoner who was working in the neighbourhood, jumped into the water and swam to whore he had disappeared, but could see nothing of him. The grappling irons that lie at the Police-office were sent for but were not to bo found, having been lent to some master of a vessel who had nofc i*eturned them. A grappling iron of Messrs Taylor aud Watt's was then procured, but the line soon broke ; ultimately, the body was fished up by Mr Nixon with the grapnel of a canoe in wbich he went to the rescue, quite close to the groin, but as it had by this time been about an hour in the wator — from 10 to 11 a.m. — life was found to be extinct, The name of the unfortunate man was William Ronnie ; he was between 35 and 40 years of age ; and has, we understand, left a widow and two children. He had been for some time past in the employment of Mr Buckthought, and was on his way to the farm when the accident occurred." The "Old Woman" in Auckland. — A correspondent of the Southern Cross writes from Matikana : — " It would please his Ex- j cellency, after all his kindness to his pets, if b« heard the way in which they speak of him. ' On asking them why they left the Kawau, and was not the Governor very good to them P tbey reply, und voce, and with upturned noses, ' Ita kino the Governor ! No good the Governor ! The Governor an old woman ! ' In this last sentiment of his noble friends towards his Excellency we all, in Matikana, are ready very heartily to concur."