The Lyttelton Times mentions that the manufacture of New Zealand flax rope is about to be commenced in the Halswell district, by Mr Ninnis* in connection with Purchase and Ninnis' patent process, by which the rope so successfully brought into the market by Messrs Jenkins, Jones and Co. is, prepared. The Times adds :—" We are glad to learn that the New Zealand rope is meeting with a very ready sale, and is fast superseding the imported Manilla."

Four sentences were passed by Mr Justice Chapman, at the sitting of the Supreme Court, yesterday. They were—Jane Brad shaw, stealing jewelry from a house in Bon edin, _12 months' hard labor; Elizabeth Jones, for an. assault upon her husband at Hawksbury, six months' imprisonment i James Mathie, for arson, at Oamaru, two years' hard labor ; Ah Woo, lor stealing jewelry, at Frankton, 18 months' hard labor. The remainder of the sitting was occupied by the charge, against Ah Long, of murder ously assaulting Benjamin Harbord, at Gabriel's Gully, Tuapeka. When the Court was adjourned, at six o'clock last evening,

the Evidence 'for'^ho. 'pT6*e'GUti6h^ had been completed,;; and one witness for the defence, which is an alibi, had been examined. There are four Gther witnesses;to be called ;'and the Crown will probably, set up a rebutting case. The trial will, therefore, no doubt occupy nearly the whole of to-day. •

Mr Wardeii Simpson, Upper Mannherikia district, reports that at the beginning of \ the month (August), the snow which, fell' in the end of July into vrupted, in the higher eleva tions, such as St. Bathana,' the supply of water. Tnsomo places the racd^ were entirely blocked :up ;-but the gradual thaw which has prevailed since has fcleared that all away, and there is now an abundant supply of water throughout the whole district,! and sluicing is in fr. 1! operation. -Thesaverage 'rate of wages is IM' a week, and the popula tion of the district is 890, of whom 530 are miners, and 20 Chinese. •

The Northern Agricultural society's plough ing match, took place on Friday !last, on Mr Holmes's property at Awamoa. There were twenty-four ploughs on the J ground. A majority of'the ploughs which took prizes Were manufactured by Messrs Reid and Ro bertson of Oamaru. 