The Provinces.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 4, 1 December 1869, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Provinces.

A miner named P.iUr Kirk, a native of Droghcdtt, was killed on Tuesday during a free light i„ tl»o str.-et at Charleston, 'it 8 supposed ho whs lulled by a blow on the head from a stone thrown at random. One man was mm in the croud hitting right and left with s othw in his fists. Ho waa not arrested, but two of the ringleaders named O'Brien and M'Laughlin, hav* been.— Grey Liver Ar/us. A curious fact in the natural history of New Zeal nl is thus r.f:rrcd to by the iaranaki Herald :—lt has often been remarked that the small native birds are gradually disappearing; Many causes an) attributed for their decrease; amongst them, that they Live become the prey of wild cats ; but, from what we hear, they have a more treacherous and deadly enemy in the bee. From a native source we learn that these little birds are irr the habit cf gathering their food by dipping their long tongues into the blossoms on native trees. Since bees have been introduced, they have sought the same blorsoms for heney, mul while lying concealed in the flower, have stung the tongues of the birds, which hag caused death. The natives compnro thcsO little birds <o themselves, and say that their own gradual decrease is caused in the same way. Unconscious of the dangers; introduced by civilization, they run into them, and are killed at once or die a lin«ering death. ° The total quantity of alcoholic liquors on which duty was paid in New Zealand during the qnurter ending on the SCfb September last was 260,142 srallons, being at the rate of 1.147 gallons per herd of the European population, cr 4..05S gallons peshead per annum. The total quantity of revenue collected on these liquors durii a the quarter was <£IOO,G4. r ), being at the rate of 8s lid per head, or £\ 15s Sd re* head per annum.. The discharged soldiers residing in Taranaki have petitioned the Provincial Government to make roads to their landsoffering to give up a gratuity they are entitled to from the Imperial Government towards the expense. The Hour mill at Spring Grove, Nelson was recently burned down, and at a Core/ ner's inquest held for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the: fire, the following verdict was returned :—"That the mill and other premises regarding which thig inquiry was held, were wilfully and maliciously >et on fire en the morning cf Tuesday, 2nd November, but by whcm.it was set on fi:e the jury have no legal evidence. The jury suggest that tho proper authorities should*" offer a liberal reward for the discovery of evidence that would lead to the conviction of the offender or offenders/'' The Provincial Government hive offered £IOO reward for surb evidence as would lead to the discovery of the guilty person cr persons. Wire tramways are coming into use or> the Moanataiari Creek at the Thames,. One of these stretches across the Moanataiari Vaihy, and one of its wires whs according to the Thames Times stretched the other day, "fat erder to test its efficiency, an adventurous digger slung himself to the traveller, and, bidding a\hcery goodbye to his mates, who ioeked cr* admiringly, shot across the wide gulf is spans at a great rate, and landed safely on the other side. Both the wires of the Shooting Star line are stretched andtightened, and we understand, upon ths. authority of Mr Millet, that trucks are likely to be running on them in the course of a. week or ten days. The Timaru Herald states that in q short time-there will! be three boiling-down l establishments in working order in that district. The first one to commence operations will be that of Mr Kayhursf, where 70 or 80 men will be employed, "the machinery for the second one was landed at;. Timaru recently, and the buildings will shortly be commenced. Eventually, scap. making, fellmongcry, and other industries will be added.. The third boiling-down establishment is to be at Pleasant Point, and will be.erected by Messrs Kemavway, Lee, and Acton, but at present it will be on ;i--small s<v.le, capable of extension at any future time should, the enterprise be found . successful. In December last there were in New Zealand 244 public schools, with 522: teacher-', and 12,0;>2 scholars.. A chief named Karawiri lately died i\% Parawai, Auckland. He is said to hav<r been a quiet,, peaeable man, and to havo done good service towards opening up the Thames gold field. A'* tangi" took place over his remains, n large number of natives ■ being present. Their grief, however, appears to. have had little effect upon their appetites, for we ieara from an Auckland contemporary that "two cows, ten pigs. one thousand loaves, ten bags of biscuits, half a ton .of potatoes, twenty bags of sugar, and an unlimited supply of ten, wereconsumed." The northern journals take a cltoerinl : . view of the prospects of the colony. Ths 'Southern Cross, referring especially to Mr M/Lean's recent negotiations in the Waikato, declares that the affairs of the odour have reached their turning point, sit d thsfr. j the war, es a, national movement, if at, an end.. "We may not,'.' it adds, " hare permanent ?><aeo yet. for a. while, but imj general rising to drive the P .keha iato Chf}? tea need uot be anticipated.."