MISCELLANEOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Government proclaim three public holidays in New Zealand—the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June. 5 In 1884, 13 girls of between 15 and 16 were married in New Zealand. Last year L 66,246 worth of rabbit skins were exported from New Zealand. New Zealand colonists accumulated £15,000,000 in the -ten years from 1875 to 1885 ; and yet people talk about "depression !" ' Over 300 tourists have visited the Rotomahana volcanoes this season, the two best months being March and April. At Wellington the Salvation Army intend to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee by giving a dinner to a thousand, poor children. The Wellington Woollen Company intend to try New South Wales as a market for their tweeds. The. Permanent Artillery of New Zealand have subscribed £90 to the Imperial Institute. It is inf ended to have a mimic battle at Wellington Heads by the Volunteers on Tuesday of Jubilee week. A recent Mayor of Invercai gill has had to resign the office through his bankruptcy. The sum of £623 has now been collected for the Macandrew memorial fund. At Otorohanga on the 24th May,a ballast engine ran into a trolly, severely injuring two men, named McKenzie and Pearson. An Auckland gentleman offers to give £25 towards the fund of the Jubilee collection of pictures, provided, that a similar amount be received from nine other subscribers, making a total of £250. The Fijian Chiefs have resolved to build a native markot-place in Suva to be called the Victoria Market, and to place therein a monument to the memory of Cakobau and the other chiefs now passed away, who ceded the islands to Great Britain, as a memorial of the Queen's Jubilee. Mr S. Weetman, F.R.G.S., has brought back with him to Auckland from Maungaturoto ■ a splendid specimen of the tarsal bone of a gigantic moa, which has been presented to the Auckland Museum by Mr H. Cullen, postmaster of Maungaturoto. This bone was found at tie head of the Wairau, about ten chains above the bridge. This is the first instance we believe of moa bones being discovered in that neighbourhood.

Mrs Dudley Ward informed the City Council on the 2Cth ulfc. that a citizen of Auckland had generously promised her a donation of LIOO towards the equipment of the proposed Kindergarten, besides an annual contribution of LIOO towards its maintenance, on condition that a hot dinner were provided gratuitously each day for the children who attend it. It now transpires that the benevolent donor is Mr James Dilworth.

On Sunday afternoon, 29th ult., the steamer Durham, gaily decorated with flags, having 40 Albertlandersfrom Auckland on board arrived at Port Albert Wharf. The resident Albertlanders did not wait for our shipmates and friends to land, but welcomed them with hearty cheers while those On board similarly responded. Every token of welcome was shown each settler claiming the right to take charge of at least one visitor as a guest. On Sunday morning a thanksgiving service was held in the hall Mr J. Coupland presiding. The afternoon meeting was presided over by Revs. W. Gittos and Charles Barley. The latter gentleman preached an eloquent sermon. In the evening there was a free conference, Mr Edward Brown tn the chair.

We announced some time ago that Dr. Alfred Wright, a London physician, had arrived in Auckland, and was proceeding to Te Aroha for the purpose of investigating the medicinal properties of the thermal springs there. Wβ understand that durine his four Weeks' sojourn at'Te Aroha the doctor has had the opportunity of thoroughly and practically 'testing the value of tho hot baths in a variety of.cases which were brought under his tveament. and so convinced has he become of theix , remarkable efficiency in 'promoting the cure of rheumatic gout, cutaneous and dyspeptic cases, that under his recommendation it is likely that a santorium will very shortly be erected at Te Aroha. Dr.' Alfred Wright has now come to reside at Auckland.

A meeting of the Early Closing Bill Committee was held in one of the rooms in the Young Men's Christian,-Association Building, on the evening of the 31st ult. Mr Gilmour presided. Messrs Wooton and Hughes, who have completed their, canvass of She various trades, reported that they had waited upon 789 tradesmen with the following result: 535 were in favour ■of the proposed.hours, 50 were in favour of one hour later, namely 7 o'clock, 204 were op? posed to any .interference, although the majority of them would like to see shorter hours. , . .

' A meeting was held on June 2 in Robsonte Rooms ,for the purpose of considering the advisability, of,; forming- "a . Political and Financial Reform Association, the immediate purpose of which will be the selection and support, of .men-of honesty and integrity to represent the various constituencies in this, district? in the ensuing Parliament, and who will pledge themselves to use their most 'earnesf'endeavours to secure the honest and economical administration of public affairs." There was a very large and, influential assemblage, all classes of the/commuriity being represented. Mr.-C. ELy-Button presided.

On the 27th ult. at Napier, one of the Crew of the ship Northumberland was sentencedi: to,, four, months ; ■'imprison-' ment for "sticking up" a child and robbing her of a reticule containing thirty .shillings. •■' ' j; ' : " ,: "■'■■"■ A bold and successful burglary canie to Jight on the morning qi : the 29th ult. The premises in Queen-street occupied by, Mr C. W., Goodson- as a fancy g00d5...; warehouse,, and known as .the London Arcade, were found to have been forcibly entered from the,; rear and the southern show window and adjoining showcases stripped of their contents about; £350 worth of jewellery.

The following are the . New Zealand immigration and emigration returns for May : Arrivals: From United Kifigdoiii; 229 '<; Queensland,: I;'■■' New South Wales, 256 ; Victoria, 316; Tasmania, 54; other places, 64; tataL.-920..Departures: To United Kingdom, 313 ; New South Wales, 489 ;., Victoria* 354;! Tasmania, 19 ; Other places, 108; total, 1,283. The.. arrivals were ; At ('. Auckland, 210 ; Wellington, 330 ; Hokitika, 5 ; Dimedin, 17 ; InvercargiU, .358.;, total, 920. Tne departures were: From Russell, 6 ; Auckland, 449; Wellington, 308 ; Napier, 1; Lyttelton, 142 ; InvercargiU, j 378 ; total, 1,283. Theriet gain, to the colony from the excess of-immigration over emigration for the five monehs of this lias