LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2165, 9 February 1865, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Mana Light. — This light was lit for the first time on Wednesday evening week, when the steamer Rangatira called at that " Island of content/ and deposited certain barrels of oil and Captain Sharp to assist at the ceremony of illumination. Captain Mundle celebrated the occasion by firing rockets, while Captain Reynolds,' in the Storm Bird, who was passing at the time, did the like, with the addition of burning several blue lights. The light is very bright, and can be seen at a distance of 25 miles. We doubt not this will be a great boon to shipmasters, and will preventmany accidents. AJne thing is still -wanted, a boat. No doubt -.thfe will soon be supplied, iv tho meantime the Messrs Erasers kindly lend their boat when jrequired. A code of signals would -..also be, acceptable. The Wellington. — We understand that -, this vessel has lost one blade of her propeller. . A survey has been held, and the terms ofthe i report are, we informed, that the steamer .may proceed with perfect safety to Picton aand N elson. She leaves at two o'clock this (lay. The Ahurii*i leaves Wellington on Saturday, &nd will take up the service hitherto performed by the Wellington to Taranaki and ivla-iakau. Two propellers, of an im proved construction, bave been ordered from Sydney three months ago, and one of them •will be shipped in the Wellington on tho arrival of the Prince Alfred at .Nelson on tho . 20tb inst. Auction Sale. — We have been requested to direct attention to Mr Homer's monster . clearing sale, which takes place to-day, at ' Mr William Phelan's store, Manners-street, at 1 o'clock precisely. W. R. Volunteers. — On Tuesday, pur- : suant to notice, the W. R. Volunteers met - on the reclaimed land for the purpose of . electing a Corporal. Mr Lechner and Mr 'W. Muir were proposed and received an < equal number of votes — 14. It is not yet known who will be chosen. Mr Justice Johnston. — His Honor Mr .'Justice Johnston, who has been holding the lusual sittings of the Supreme Court at Najpier, and Mr Gisbourne, Under-Secretary, •"•com Auckland, were passengers to Welling--1 -» iby the Lord Ashley yesterday. Somo ■ -©if .documents for the Colonial Secre- . , Apartment also came iv the steamer. Watei*. "^' 4N ' S ® TAGE * —^is sta #ebas been in a wretc '^-^ state or some t * me ? ast ' Boats at low x^» ™* scarcely be hauled up, and the stage ha.*" *> ce t n »° small *?. of some ofthe b™-* c ted m the water. We observe, iowever that the stage is being repaired, and bo lengthened ten feet, which will be a deA^ed improvement. Errata.— We regret t '*> &*& that m our , Police report of Friday la,"* tk<?r 9, occurred the following errata. For j . * mes Bl ' a SS read Joseph Hart ; for J. J. Mon accused of two,offences, read Isaac Morris on tor the assault, and James Allen for drunk "enness ; tor John Crowder read Benjamin Bog,"'<* Inspector of Customs. — We are in formed that Mr Carkeek, Inspector M Customs, will be a passenger by the Wellington this morning for the North, via Picton. He goes on an official tour. The Evening Posr.—The first number of this journal appeared yesterday. It is very creditably got up, aud contains a fair resume of news. The leading article is a modest appeal for support and an excuse for short comings. Mb. Chuhton. — We understand that this gentleman who recently arrived from Wanganui, intends proceeding to England by the overland route, and leaves by the Airedale on Sunday next. Mr Churton arrived here in the London in 1840 ; and was one of the earliest settlers who went to the Wanganui district, where, with tho exception of two visits to England, he has mostly resided. His property has always been considered as one of the finest in that district. During his career as a colonist, Mr Churton took a warm interest in native questions, and advocated the establishment of schools for the education of the Maories. We believe he doeß not contemplate returning to New Zealand, but there is little doubt that though residing henceforth in England, he will still take a deep interest in that country where lie lias passed so many years of his life.

Fossils. — We have been shown some rare specimens of petrifactions by Mr G. H. Luxford. They were obtained by Mr John Varnham, on the edges of the Tauerua river, Warehama, about 25 or 80 miles inland from Castle Point, and about the samo distance from Manawatu. The placo where they were obtained is about 1000 feet above the level of the sea. Non scientific readers on seeing them would say that two of them were leviathan specimens of petrified cockles, but to those who like some specific information we may state on the authority of the Hon J. C. Crawford, that the three specimens in question are — Cucullsca, 2 sp. 7 Miocene Voluta ) Tertiary Latest fko.m the South. — The s.s. Wellington arrived yesterday bringing later tiles of papers from the South. The news is not important. In tho first day's cricket match between Canterbury and Otago, the former had the advantage by three runs, but only one innings had been played by eaoh. Sir George Grey's letter attempting an explanation of his failure to go South is a subterfuge worthy of the great pro-consul. Wellington and the Exhibition. — The Lyttelton Times, January 24, says : — " On the other side of the Canterbury court, along the south side of the building, is the Wellington court. Here I find but few objects of interest. A geological map of the North Island, from Hochstetter and Crawford's observations, with a small geological collection, are perhaps the most conspicuous objects. There are a good number of native weapons and wearing appareh forming an interesting collection of curiosities. There are ono or two specimens of cabinet work very beautiful in material as well as workmanship. There is a good collection of New Zealand ferns, but not displayed. Among manufactures there are specimens of soap, rope, and New Zealand flax in various stages of manufacture. And there is a very neat telescope, the workmanship of Mr Marriott. And last of all, but not least, is the unicpte Moa's egg, found on Mr Fyffe's property, at the Kai Koras, and here exhibited in great state as it ought to be. The egg is shown so as to display the side which is entire ; and tho fragments of the other side are in a drawer below. The length of this extraordinary egg is 9j inches, the shorter diameter 7 inches, the thickness of shell, one-sixteenth of an inch ; and its capacity is said to be two gallons ! Its color is white a little discolored by weather. As most of your readers will remember, the egg was found in the hands of a skeleton, which had apparently been buried with it and some other articles of value, indicating his rank as a chief. But burial was unknown among the natives ; and it is more probable that tlie body of the chief and his trinkets were put away in a cave which afterwars fell in upon them. Tho nature of the country warrants this theory. Another remark which scientific men malce on the subject is that tlie moa's egg must have been a curiosity even to them, lo have been so highly distinguished, and that it was probably fossil at the time • and tho date of the remains, therefore, gives no clue to the period at which tho bird lived and laid and hatched its eggs. Before leaving Wellington I must point to the most conspicuous object in the Central Court, an organ built entirely in that province. It is of considerable size and power, and has been tried on a few occasions with a success ouly marred by tho instrument being a little out of tune. The organ was built by Mr W. Jones, and is exhibited by Mr Lewis of Wellington. The price is £275."

The Seat of War,— -A correspondent of the Tt anganui Chronicle writos from Camp Nukamaru on the 3rd inst. :— " Tho rebels were observed last evening mustering in great force on the top of their works.. With the aid of a glass I observed several of the rebels with bayonets fixed on their pieces, probably those that have been captured from the troops from time to time. Their position appears from here to be a formidable one, surrounded by a broad deep ditch and a double row of palisading ; their works have been both strengthened and enlarged since the arrival of the troops in this camp. If they will duly content themselves for a few days longer, and allow tho General to mature his plans for the investment of their citadel, I am of opinion that- they will find the place too hot to hold them, and wili wish themselves out of it before the first day's bombardment is ended, tho first day's work of this kind very probably boing the last. I suppose that you are aware that numbers of dead bodies have been discovered by the soldiers in tho bush adjacent to the camp. One fellow was found by Lieut. Toogood and a party of artillery-men the other day with his face and leg blown to a mummy by a shell ; the shell must have burst in his face, and part ofit carried away the calf of one of his legs. A splendid double-barrel fowling piece was found under the body. Major Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quarter-master General, accompanied the party,"