MISCELLANEOUS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4154, 6 December 1870, Page 7

MISCELLANEOUS.

[From November 5 to Dsoembbr6.] Our Hokianga correspondent, writing under date November 12, says: — "A number of Maoris caught last week opposite Judge Maning's house eighty sharks in one tide, and that with hook and line. They cooked and. ate and preserved a quantity of this nice fish, and what they did not eat or preserve they tried down for oil. I saw a monstrous stiugaree speared by some natives on the beach the other day. It was in shape very much like a skate, and measured from the snout to the tip of the tail seven feet, and was five feet in diameter." Theadvantage3 ofthereduced tariff of telegraph charges introduced by the present Government are acknowledged on all hands, and the returns of receipts since the change was effected clearly show that not only has there been a large increase in the number of messages, but the cash receipts have been considerably augmented also. In the month of November, 1869, under the half-crown uniform rate, the number of messages sent was 13,746, and their value 1,4452. Is.; but in September, 1870, under the one-shilling rate, the number of messages was 22,407, the value being 1,6232. 7s. 6d.; being an increase of 8,66 V messages, and 1781. 6s. 6d. in cash; # By the s.s. ' James Paterson* two practical glass-blowers arrived in' Auckland, who are to join Mr. Wilthew in glassmaking in this province. One of them, Mr. Cook, was the manager of the glass-works in Sydney, and is apparently satisfied with the prospect of findingremunerative employment here. We understand that the .establishment will be considerably enlarged to enable bottle-manu-facturihg to be carried on. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Captain Pitt, A.D.C., left Auckland

on the morning of November 25 in her Majesty's ship 'Blanche,' arriving afc Whangarei Heads at 5.30 in the afternoon. On the following morning the party went up to the township in the p.s. 'Samson,' arriving there about 9.30, accompanied by Captain Montgomerie and Mr. Simpson (her Majesty's ship 'Blanche),' Lieutenant Woods, and Mr. R. H. Aubrey, R.M. On landing they were met by the principal settlers of the district, as well as by a considerable number of natives, who welcomed the Governor most cordially. The appearance of the township was very animated, flags being displayed from many of the houses of the principal settlers. His Excellency, accompanied by a large number of gentlemen, rode into the country, and visited many of the chief places of interest ; among them, the sodawater springs. At five o'clock in the afternoon his Excellency held an undress levee in the Whangarei Hotel, which was attended by between 40 and 50 settlers and several natives. In the evening Sir Robert Douglas and Sir Osborne Gibbes, together with th« principal residents of the place, attended upon his Excellency at the Whangarei Hotel. On Sunday the Governor and party attended Divine service, and in the afternoon they visited the sandstone caves, which they much admired. During his stay at Whangarei, his Excellency was pleased to receive a. congratulatory addross from the settlers, and to which he suitably replied. The mystery which has surrounded the disappearance of Captain Joseph Kemp Weston from his residence in Symonds-street, on tho sth of November, 1867, is now cleared up. When he left his home at thab date, he proceeded in the direction of Titirangi ranges, and called at the house of j. settler named Edward Lovett, where he stayed until the 7th. On that day he borrowed a single-barrelled pistohfor the ostensible purpose of going to the bush to shoot a wild pig, and left a heavy signet ring as security for the safe return of the pistol. He never returned, however, and, an uneasy feeling having arisen respecting his safety, the then Commissioner of Police sent a constable to make inquiry respecting him. The constable returned without finding any tidings of Captain Weston, save the signet ring, which wa'i identified by Mrs. Weston as that worn by her husband. This confirmed the general impression that he had committed suicide. Mrs. Weston afterwards left Auckland for Melbourne, where she i : i believed to be at present. _ No cluo was obtained to explain Captain Weston's disappearance until November [25, about 3 o'clock, when a settler, named Joseph Cantwell, of Waikomiti, came upon tho bleached skull and bones of a human being, in the bush, some distance from Henderson's Mill. Besides the bones were found a pistol (very rusty), a teaspoon, a leaden bullet, a small white ball (very light), some gilt buttons, one of which had a crown upon it. The buttons were similar to those worn by Captain Weston. Mr. Cantwell suspected the remains to be those of the missing Captain Weston, and on [November 27 ho reported the matter to Inspector Broham, who sent Constable Bullen out to see Mr. Lovett, and to learn if the pistol found was the one lent to Captain Weston three years ago. The description they give of the gentleman's appearance, and tho finding of the signet ring, leave no room to doubt what the termination of Captain Weston's life was. He was the Auckland correspondent of the London Times during the Waikato war, and we believe occupied that position up to the time of his untimely death. An inquest was held on tho body on December 2, when an open verdict was returned.

It is gratifying to find that, after a long battle with prejudice and selfish rivalry, oui coal is forcing itself into favour by its own intrinsic merits. Step by step the Bay of Islands Coal Company have overcome every obstacle. Through a period of depression they still persevered in their strong faith in the qualities of the coal, and we arc sure that no one will grudge them the reward of their enterprise and public spirit. The impetus that was for some time given to steam traffic by the demands created on the discovery of the Thames goldfield did much towards the development of the mine, and the patient and impartial experiments of local engineers ultimately established it* reputation. It may be interesting to our readers to learn how extensively the coal is used in Auckland. We have seen bonf<„ tide returns comprising the names of ali firms and business people who consume tho Kawakawa coal, and we find that no less than 18 steamers trading out of Auckland use this coal exclusively. They comprise) Australian, interprovincial, and local vessels. The Kawakawa coal is also used by all tho brewers, brick- and tile-manufacturers, by five steam flour-mills, by three foundries; by fifteen industries — comprising bone-mills, coachmakers, rope manufacturers, flax and steam saw-mills; by glass manufacturers, and at the offices of the principal newspapers of Auckland. This is an extensive list, and will give one a good idea of the extent to which the coal is used, independently of the quantity consumed for household purposes. As the most recent gratifying proof of the favour with whicL this coal has been received, we may mention that the s.s. ' Auckland,' which left here for Sydney on December 1, proceeded via Bay ot' Islands, where she will load 200 tons of coal. The « James Paterson,' took about 150 tons, and the A.S.N. Company have arranged that, in future, the steamers shall call a_ the Bay t® coal each trip. The opening of Messrs. iWhitson and Sone' extensive brewery establishment, Queenstreet, took place on November 30 at 1 p.m., ;» very large number of gentlemen having been invited, to meet at this hour to partake of achampagne luncheon in celebration of tho event. Previous to the luncheon, a half-hour was most agreeably spent by the invitedguests, under the guidance of Mr. Whitson, senior, in going over the numerous rooms connected with the brewery, and inspecting the various improved appliances which have been erected. Amongstthe gentlemen present werehisHonor the Superintendent j P. A. Philips, Esq., chairman of the City Board ; and Messrs. A. Wardrop, D. B. Cruickshank, L. D. Nathan, Captain Anderson, H. Gilfillan, A. Beveridge, D. Burns, G. Von der Heyde, J. Smart, A. Sinclair, W. Graham, Colonel Kenny, Major Tisdall, James Farmer, Dr. Stockwell, G. Wynyard, Colonel Nation, &.c. A very successful ball also took place in tho evening.