In the above calculations, New Zealand is credited with its Panama as well as Suez letters. By Suez, in round figures, its correspondence^ in 1866, amounted only to three quarters of a million of letters, whilst that of Victoria amounted to a million. And yet, with its branch services, the cost of the Suez line to New Zealand, for 1866, is set down as 1,32,000, against L2B,ooo—Victoria's contribution. When the Jfanama line is als& taken into consideration, it must be admitted the New Zealand taste for correspon dence is an expensive one. One of the most remarkable of the tables published is a comparison between the two routes, via Suez and Panama. With singular ih|enuitjr" their relative advantages are absolutely reduced to figures. The resultls largely in favor of Panama; The computation amounts to ■ this: given the number of letters sent by the various polbmes, janS taking into ;con eidCTa^on tbjeirate ; mcujp^ by tb?; 4jfier-. entr^uies, there isa considerable adyanta^ in the aggregate in favor of the letters

sent by Panama;-or, in other words, the Panama line is of considerably mere valae $ as a means of carrying correspondence. ai A great deal of evidence was taken' yeiter- ~ day, respecting the wreck of the South Aus- _ tralian ; and the inquiry trill occupy the whole of to- day, at-.leasr, • • ' - A meeting w.is held to-night, to arrange t , for some demonstration ia honor of Otago's jj champion rifleman, when it was resolved that ■_ it should take the form of a soiree and dance, j to take place on Monday next. Due notice a nf particulars, &c, will be given by advertise- c merit , :. Yesterday morning, as the lamp-post at the s Provincial corner was being taken down, it q fell upon one of tho> men engaged ia its re moval. He lay undor the heavy insss for some minutes, but has fortunately rcc -ived no i serious injury. In the absence of Mr Str~d , J. .Gillies, x , R.M., sat in the Resident Magistrate's, , Cknirt yesterday. A number of women wer-3 brought np, charged with druuken and dis- < orderly conduct an<i were fined. There were ( a few civil cases, but; they were not of impor- i tance. ■ There waß a very tnin atten'lance a' the , Prifices3 Theatre last evening. 