MISCELLANEOUS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4180, 6 January 1871, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

[From December 6 to January 6.] PfiOAi the " Report on Public Works on the Thames Goldneld, 1870," by the Assistant Engineer, Mr. R. Millett, we find that the following items of expenditure have been incurred, on account of the construction of public works on the Thames goldfield from January Ist, 1870, to September, 1870 :— Tramways: Hape tramway, £2,762 6s. 3d.; Karaka tramway, £3,611 11s. Bd.; Tararu tramway, £915 6s. 2d.; Tar^ru and Shortland tramway (survey), £23 4s. 1 ; Tinker's Gully tramway, £287 10s.; Waiotahi tramway, £353 3s. Id.; and the Moanataiari tramway, £271 16s. 6d. Wire-tramways: Wire-tramways, Shooting Star and Madman's Gully, £436 55.; wire-tramway, Te Papa Gully, £442 9s. 4d. Buildings : Public buildings, including filling yard, erection of sheds, furnishing offices, &c, £3,941 19s. Bd. Roads : Pollen-street, including maintenance, £661 15s. 3d.; Otanui Boad, £66 45.; Waterfall Creek Road, £16 17s. 6d.; Abraham-street, £97 10a.; Tararu Road, including maintenance, £4,001 9s. 2d. Miscellaneous : Powder magazine, repairs, £24 4s. 6d. ; four buoys to mooring stones* £5 16s. 6d. ; beacons, £16 4s. sd. ; repairs to Grahamstown wharf, £31 4s. 3d. ; landing stage at Shortland, £16 Bs. 6d. ; gum diggings survey tracks, £12 4a f j surveys and triangulation, £303 Is, Gd.; maUuig a grand total of £17,267 Sa. 7d. The above expenditure is but for nine months ; and, had the same rate of expenditure been continued to the end of the year, there would have been a grand total of £23,023 4s. 9d. spent on public works at the Thames during the year 1870. A settler at Mangawai has for years past been engaged in making wine from grapes of his own growing. Last season this gentleman, whose name we believe is Mr. Albert, produced some 400 gallons of wine, which he disposed of to settlors in the Mangawai district; and this year he expects to make^ about 800 gallons. The wine is said to be of excellent quality, considering its want of age. On December 13 a bottle was sent to his ffonor the Superintendent, who expressed a favourable opinion of it. American whalers continue to make a harvest in New Zealand waters, Two lately arrived at Hobart Town had obtained between them 675 barrels of sperm and 300 barrels of black oil, besides about 1,5001b. of whalebone, off the New Zealand coast. Mr. R. H. Bartlett, photographic artist, who accompanied'H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh on his recent trip to the East Coast, has succeeded in obtaining some most excellent views of the following places of interest visited by the Prinoe : — -Otukapuarangi, Whakatarataia, Pink Terraoe, Rotoniahana ; Te Tarata, from Upper Terrace ; Te Tarata, two small basins; whole of the terraces and springs ; Ohinemutu, group standing ; Ohinemutu, with whare and group sitting ; whare occupied by Prince Alfred ; Whakarewarewa geyser I (two) j Whakarewarewa, small boiling hole ; Taheke, accom.inodation-h.ousa erected for the Prince. A very clever piece of penmanship has been executed ' by Mr. Harry C. W. Wrigg, chief draughtsman and surveyor in the Engineer's Department, Thames. It represents a collection of newspapers, periodicals, letters, cards, dominoes, &c, and a fac-simile of the scrip held by his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in the Long Drive Goldmining Company. The amount of labour and application expended upon it must have been immense, but the result we are sure fully repays the trouble. "It is impossible to imagine a more unique work of the kind, the smallest details giving evidence of the uniform degree of care which has been bestowed upon their execution. The drawing was kindly shown to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh by Lady Bowen, the patroness of the bazaar held in aid of All Saints' Church, to which deserving object the drawing was presented. His Royal Highness testified his appreciation of the work by attaching his autograph across the fac-simile of his scrip in the Long Drive, thus considerably enhancing the value of the work. In our obituary column will be found the announcement of the death of Mr. James Preece, a very old and much-respected settler in the colony. Mr. Preece came out as a missionary in connection with the Church Mission Society, and landed at the Bay of Islands in August, 1829. He continued to reside there in that capacity until 1833, when he removed to the Thames district, ohl Christmas-day, and established a mission station at Puriri, where he was afterwards joined by Messrs. Wilson and Morgan. After a few years, he removed to Kauwaeranga (Shortland), where he remained until 1847, when he volunteered to go as a missionary to the Urewera country. He took up his station at Ahikereru in that year, and laboured in the district Until 1856, making six circuits every year, in a mountainous and almost unknown country. At length he succumbed to the severe trials and vicissi* tudes, and was obliged to retire. Broken down in health, he returned to the Thames district, taking up his residence at Coromandel. During his time there, he exerted himself to the utmost for the advancement of the district, and, being a J.P., he rendered himself useful in administering justice. He was universally respected, and had gained the confidence of both Europeans and natives. He expired on tne 25th instant, ike S^th anniversary of KiS arrival in true cuatrict, vu<s 42ud year of iiia arrival in the colony, and the 69th year of his age. He was buried on December 27, when every mark of respect was shown to his memory, the sports being postponed. A proclamation issued on December 30th announces the dissolution of the General Assembly of New Zealand, the writs for the election of members of the House of Representatives, which bear date on the sth, being made returnable on. ihe 25th of February. Parliament is by another proclamation summoned to meet on the 25fch of February, at noon. George S. Cooper, Esq., has been appointed Clerk, and A. C P. Macdonald, Esq., Deputy Clerk of the Writs. The C.G. p. s. 'Luna,' having on board the Duke of Edinburgh and the Governor, Mr. Haig, Equerry in- Waiting to his Royal Highness ; Captain Pitt, A.D.C. ; Captain Machell, A.D.C. : Lord Charles Beresford, Dr. Powell, R.N. ; Hon. N. G. Curzon, R.N.; Mr. Neville, R.N., and others, arrived at Tauranga on the 14th December. The party were received with every demonstration of loyalty, the natives and the settlers mustering in large numbers to do honour to their ' distinguished visitors. The day was, in fact, observed as ageneral holiday. The Prince visited the Gate Pa, where Colonel Moule pointed out the different positions of the forces during the memorable attack on the native pa at that place, and where the blue-jacketa were engaged. The party left Maketu on December 15 for Rotomahana, Major William Mair accompanying them as guide and interpreter. Everywhere the Prince waa enthusiastically greeted by the natives, who had received ample notice of his intended ■sriAh, and had come ftAttl *11 £4**9 flf the interior to ace him. Songs of welcome were sung, and. several interesting mem'eiitoes I were presented to his Royal Highness aa I 1 well as to the Governor.