This party employ a large number of wages men At the Horse shoe Bend the system of working with trucks has been for some time in operation. The ground in one of the claims is very deep, but it is worked very systematically, and we believe pays t^e proprietors well. Two dredges— Nicholson's and Wood's— are at work ou the river near Moa Flat, with payable results. Two shares in the Hercules Company, at the Teviot, changed hands lasfc week for the large sum of LBSO. Mr Borton, the late Warden, was the purchaser. Several shares in other companies on the river had also been disposed of recently at high prices." The Warden at Westport has received a communication from the Provincial Secre tary, relative to the meaning of the 22nd clause of the Local Revenues Acfc. The Pro vincial Secretary says that the words " sub ject to the appropriation of; the Superinten dent or Provincial Council of the Province," might have been left out. The Boards will get half the revenue from the sources specified without any vote of the Council. There should be no comma after the word " Pro vince." The sense would then be (so the Warden understands from the. Provincial Secretary's message) that the monies in ques tion will be payable " out of the revenues of the Province [which are] subject," &c. The Otago Government has secured the services of Captain Hutton as Provincial Geologist. He will be placed in charge of the Museum. The Government recommend the University Council to employ him to lecture on Geology and Fal»ontology. Tae Key. Dc Begg, of Edinburgh, has arrived in. Dumedin, The manufacture of boots and shoes by machinery in Christchurch continues to in crease very rapidly. The iatest evidence of progress is afforded by Messrs Suckling Bros, who have purchased a quar'er-acre section near the Prince of Wales Hotel, St. Asaph street, where they purpose erecting new premises. The building will be about 80ft by 40ft, and will be t\\ o storeys in height. The following tenders for the construction of sections of the North Buller road have been accepted : -No. 2 contract, Mr D. J. Macrae and party, L 102 8; No. 3, Mr J. Brown, jun., LBOO ; No. 4, Messrs M'Coombes and party, L 639 13s. 