Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1876.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 23 August 1876, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1876.

A most important statement was made in the House last night by the Defence Minister with respect to the native land purchases of thr Government during the year ending 30th June, 1870. He assured tbe House that during the past year the land purchase agents of the Government had been subjected to less obstruction, and been more successful in their efforts than during previous periods. To the north of Auckland, several valuable blocks of land have been purchased, some of which are well adapted for settlement. In that locality, 443,856 acres have been acquired at a cost (inclusive of expenses) of £43,895 Is Bd, or 2s per acre. Of these lands, 22U,559 acres have neon handed over to the Auckland Province, to be dealt with under the existing land laws. The operations in the Coromandel and Thames districts have been less satisfactory. Large advances have been made on blocks, the purchase of which is still incomplete. One of these blocks is the Waikawau and Moehau, containing 118,802 acres, upon which payments have been made amouuting to £15,930 Gs Od. The purchases in the Thames district that have been completed amount to 145,441 acres, at a cost (inclusive of expenses) of £23,231 17s Id, or 3s 3d per acre. In the Bay of Plenty district, owing to difficulties with the Arawa tribe, it has been considered advisable to withdraw the land purchase agents. At Taupo, the survey of 62,787 acres has already been completed, and further surveys are in progress over lands estimated to contain 261,000 acres. In these districts, 99,974 acres have been purchased at a cost of £14,258 11s (id, or about 2s lOd per acre. In the Upper Wairoa, large blocks have been acquired to the extent of 146,080 acres. It is stated that a great change has come over native feeliug in the interior of that part of the country. The Uiewera, a tribe but a few years ago at deadly feud with us, and who, even after friendly relations were established, pertiuaciously refused to sell au inch of their lands, were considerable owners in these blocks. With some hesitation they submitted to allow these claims to be adjudicated upon by the Native Land Court; their claims were heard, aud they were well .satisfied with the result; and yielding to the porsciasion of the co-claimants of other tribes, joiued in the sale, and received their share of the money. Altogether, the amount of land purchased in the Province of Auckland during the year ending 30th June, 1870, is y33,3>-9 acres. The amount purchased since 1872 is 835,628 acres, at a total cost of £103,139 12s lid (inclusivo of survey and incidental expenses), or an average price of 2s sid per acre. In the Wellington Province, fair progress has been made, and several purchases have been satisfactorily completed. It is, however, pointed out that the quantities, as set forth in last year's statemeut, were greatly overestimated. Since then surveys have been made, aud the actual acreage ascertained. Tbe transactions completed since 30th June, 1875. amount to 58,4:25 acres. The total of the purchases in the Wellington province amount to 440,927 actes. at a cost of £58,409 13s, or 2s 8d per acre, including all expenses. The area of the land surveyed during the past year was 69,113 acres. A large amount of survey work has to be done before the whole of the transaetioas in the Wellington district can be correctly computed. The area of the land handed over to local administration amounts to 179,944 acres. In the Taranaki province, the engagements that stood open on the 30th June, 1875, have, during the past year, been completed. Since then arrangements for acquiring 41,252 acres have been entered into. Negotiations have also been begun for the purchase of several large blocks of heavily timbered land estimated to contain about 200,000 acres. The purchases completed during the past year amouut to 82,381 acres, makiug a total for the Taranaki district of 252,860 acres, at a cost of £43J,393 0s 3d — about 2s 10£ d per acre. The incomplete land purchase transactions in Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Auckland comprise 2,695,867 acres, while the transactions for the leasing of native land in Auckland and Wellington, still pendiug, include 1,478,912 acres. Making a general summary of the year's purchases and leases, complete and incomph-te, it will be found that they comprise an area of 6,284,250 acres, equal to one-fifth of the entire area of the North Island, on which has been paid the sum of £445.404 2*. Id. The unexpended balance of the- £700,000 voted by the General Assembly for the acquisition of land in tho North Island was, on the 30th June last, £25t,595 17s. lid. This balauce is, of course, available to meet outstanding liabilities and effect new purchases. The portion of it available in the case of Wellington amounts to £90,857. We have given the pith of this statement without publishing the tables in detail. Sufficient, however, has been said to indicate that it is both an important and satisfactory one. It shows that the Government are gradually acquiring a public estate in the North Island which, if judiciously dealt with and kept from falling into the hands of land sharks and speculators, will yet prove of the utmost value for purposes of colonisation and settlement. j

The new "Native Land Sales and Leases Bill " has just been circulated. It applies only to the North Island. The purchase of native lands by private persons is prohibited in all districts brought under the operation of the Act, under a penalty of not less than £200. Natives are also prohibited from selling to private persons, and all contracts entered into in contravention of the Act are to be deemed void. When the native owners desire to sell or lease their land, they will require to apply to the Native Land Court. The Court is then to enquire into the tide, and, if satisfied, will make the required order that the land be disposed of. This order is to be transmitted to the Waste Lands Board (a series of new bodies to be created for the North Island, under the new Waste Lands Act.) having jurisdiction where such native lands are situated, and the said lands are then to be deemed waste lands of the Crown, and be sold as such under the provisions of the Act. Tlie bill is not readily comprehensible, but its main feature appears to be that the Waste Lauds Boards are to act a sort of land brokers or com mission agents, as between the native owners of the land and the public who may desire to purchase. When any native land is thus sold one half of the gross proceeds of sale is to be paid into court tor the use of the natives selling, and the other half to be paid into the Public Account, and to be liable to certain charges in i espect of the sale thereof. These charges are to include all expenses connected with the disposal of such lauds, including surveys, &c. ; acting as agent on behalf of the natives in such sale or letting, clothing the land sold or let with a title from the Crown; expenses of investigating the title, &c. The Governor is not to be entitled to receive more than £1 an acre for land sold under the Act. No native land shall be sold or leased at a price less than double the price or rent named by the natives. Separate provision is made as to the sale of native town lauds. Confiscated lands are exempted from the operation of the Act. It is probable that this bill will meet with considerable opposition in the House. The system proposed to be introduced by it appears to be cumbrous and not readily workable, while it is doubtful if it will give satisfaction to the natives themselves.

It is now stated confidently by members who are known to be supporters of the Government, that the Ministerial changes which will take place at the end of tlie session will involve not only Mr. Stafford s taking Sir Julius VogePs position as Premier and Colonial Treasurer on that gentleman's appointment as Agent-General, and the assumption of the portfolio of Attorney-General by Mr. Whitaker, but will include the retirement of Sir Donald M'Lean and Mr. Richardson from the Ministry, their places being filled by Messrs. Ormond and Reid. This arrangement, however, may be modified, inasmuch as in certain quarters' a desire is expressed that Mr. Ormond should %o home as Agent-General. This pro-po-al, it given effect" to. would of course make the process of reconstruction different.

The Auckland people are very foolish and not a little dictatorial. Here we have Sir George Grey la>ing down in a manifesto a series of -propositions so manifestly absurd that they do not deserve serious consideration, yet in Auckland tlie supporters of Mr. Tonks have passed a series of resolutions ordering him unflinchingly to follow the policy thus enunciated or to - resign his seat forthwith. If Mr. Tonks has ,a. proper, sense of the dignity of his position, .he. will, resent this attempted > dictation oy declining to do either one

thing or the other. A member of Parliament is not a mere delegate, but a representative. Mr. Tonks has loyally followed Sir George Grey hitherto, but now that the latter has had all his proposals rejected, the time has fairly come when even the most devoted of followers might fittingly exercise a wise discretion, and endeavor to accomplish some practical good for his province. Mr. Tonks should certainly resent being rated like an offending schoolboy.

We learn that a caucus of Otago members will be he held to-morrow, to consider the Counties Bill and the boundaries of the proposed counties. What they desire is only one or txo counties for the whole of the Middle Island, with something in the shape of Boards of Works.

It is understood that at the conference held yesterday between the directors of the Wellington Gas Company and the special committee of the City Council, the former offered to sell the gasworks and business to the Corporation at a price very slightly above the sum estimated by the committee as a reasonable consideration for the company's plant and goodwill. The difference between the two negotiating parties was so small that it is hardly probable the completion of the proposed sale will be prevented by any difficulty on this score. The serious question— in abeyance while there seemed so little probability of any terms being come to — now again arises : — Is it desirable that the Corporation should make this purchase? When the proposal first was mooted we expressed our opinion unhesitatingly in the negative, and to that opinion we still adhere most firmly.

The R.M.S. Zealandia is to leave Port Chalmers at 5 o'clock this evening, provided she can cross the bar. She is expected to arrive here early on Friday morning, and will sail shortly after noon for San Francisco with the outward mails. The s.s. Arawata, which leaves for Nelson at 10 o clock this evening, will enter and leave that port by the morning tide, aud is expected back here betweeu seven and eight to-morrow evening. She leaves for Melbourne via the South on Friday, taking- the outward Suez mail. "Poverty Bay Pew" was the name given to the particular seat in the House of Repiesentatives occupied by Captain Read— a seat peculiar by its size and its solitude, being separate from all others, and having only one occupant. It is a spacious chair, aud its first occupant must have found the seat, in that single particular at least, a comfortable one, however costly has been its brief occupation. There was a fitness ot things about the chair and its occupant more marked than appears in many other features of the upholstery of the House. Since the captain's retirement from the House, the chair has, without physical fitness, found another occupant, and auother Reid, in the person of the member for the Taieri. Politically and topographically, Mr. Reid seems to have deserted his former surroundings, and to have found in the " Poverty Bay Pew " a preferable position. It is hoped that his solitude is not significant of the dimensions of the new party he has formed out of the Opposition in favor of the Counties Bill. Mr. G. H. Vennell held a very large and important sale of town and country properties at his rooms to-day. There was a very numerous attendance of buyers. The first lot offered was a section in Willis-street, opposite the Drill Shed, containing 36ft. Bin. froutage to Willis-street, and 90ft in depth, part beiug in the occupation of Mr. Ritson. This was started at £20 per foot, which was immediately doubled, and then rose by rapid bids to £50, at which it stuck, for some time, ultimately being withdrawn, the auctioneer stating the reserve price to be £70 per foot. The next lot, in occupation of Mr. Asher, 30ft. frontage by 100 ft. depth. This was started at £50, but also was withdrawn, no advance beiug offered. The next lot was town acre 547, 508 links deep, with a frontage of 212 ft. to Hill-street. This was started at £600, and quickly rose to £1,100, at which figure it was knocked down, but two bidders claimed to have bid that sum, and it was put up again, and soon increased to £1200, for which sum it was purchased by Mr. Benjamin timith. The next lot was part of town acre No. 397, with a frontage ot 68 links to Majoribank-street by 100 links in depth. This was started at £100, and knocked down to Mr. R. Martin for £110. Tlie fourth anniversary of the Wesleyan Church, Adelaide Road, was celebrated last evening by a tea meeting, which passed off very successfully. The tea was excellent, and the attendance numerous. Mr. Moxham was voted to the chair. The secretary, Mr. Dixon, read the annual report, which stated that since last meeting a school had been built at a cost of £176, of which sum £170 had been paid off by subscription. Viewing the rapid iucrease in the value of land, the trustees recommended that a section of laud with 30ft. frontage, adjoiuing the present site, should be secured at a Co3t of £120, the purchase money to remain on mortgage at 9 per cent. The receipts had been £21 10s M and the expenditure £20 4s. A collection being made, £4 9s. was raised in the room. The proceeds ot the tea meeting yielded a further sum of £6 7s. Several hymus were sung by the choir of the Manners-street Church, and addresses were delivered by several ministers aud friends. The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks. The contractor for the new Theatre Royal Hotel is making rapid progress with the work. Yesterday all the lower framework was laid down, aud several chimneys were rising steadily upwards. The building is erected on longitudinal sleepers of heart of totara, laid in three successive tiers and firmly bolted together. This is an American plan, which is said to give greatly increased stability. A new Sunday School building is in course of erection for St. Andrew's Church, Lambton Quay, and adjoining that Church. The Wellington City Rifles and Wellington Rifle Cadets will parade for monthly inspection at the Artillery Drill Shed this evening, at half-past seven ; and the Wellington Artillery Cadets at the same place and hour to-morrow. The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day consisted of the remanding of John Johnson fur another week, he having for a third time within the. mouth made himself mentally ill by over-indulgence in driuk. The man Amos Burr, who was brought down from Foxton, was imprisoued because of his failing to find sureties for his keepiug the peace towards his wife, whom he had violently assaulted. He is rather a troublesome inhabitant of Foxtou, by his readiness to assault his ! better-half and all besides. The peculiarity is that he has only stumps for arms, but the steel implements which are substitutes for his hands are sometimes made effective weapons in assaults. Notwithstanding the nearly fatal consequences to some of the Hansard reporters last session, and the very questionable advantage derived from their work by the country, Mr. Manders desires that this year again proceedings in committee should be reporfrd. He has given notice of his intention of moving " That the reports of the proceedings of the committee of the whole House on the Counties Bill be published in Hansard." Judging by the number of speeches which have already been made in the House with no apparent purpose but the poor one of being recorded and relegated to oblivion in Hansard, it is fearful to contemplate the possible consequences in the event of full reports being taken when members open the floodgates of their eloquence in committee. The Featherston Memorial Committee met last evening in the Provincial Library, Mr. Jonas Woodward in the chair. Mr. R. J. Duncan intimated his inability, through pressure of business engagements, to fulfil any longer the duties ot lion, secretary, which office was accepted by Mr. C. R. Carter, the lion, treasurer. It was stated that a further sum of £90 had been collected, in addition to the amount previously received. No attempt has been made yet to carry out a systematic canvass of the Terrace or Te Aro, but fiiis is to be dove next week. Dr. Buller and -Air. Seed, who were instructed to confer" with Mr. Beetham iv reference to that gentleman's offer to model the bust of the late Dr. Feathersron, duly reported to the committee, and their report was approved. The committee then adjourned for a week, i <?., until Tuesday evening next. The Upper Hutt Amateur Gymuastic Troupe — who already have won for themselves such a deservedly high reputation in their district — will give another of their very attractive entertainments to moiTow evening at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Upper Hutt. The programme will comprise an amusing farce called •• The Fast Train," an Ethopian scene entitled "The Great Arrival," a "wire-walking song," pertbr-

~m&nces on, the horizontal bar, and on the double and treble trapeze. At the conclusion of the entertainment the room will be cleared for a dance. The previous performances of this clever j amateur troupe have gained them such high popularity that we feel sure it is only necessary to mention the fact that another is to be given to ensure a good house. The performance begins at 8 p.m. to-morrow. j We regret to learn that Mr. Henry Hall, landlord of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, died at 3 o'clock this afternoon, after a very brief illness. Aged 39 years. The Christchurch football team start on their I tour to-morrow, and after visiting the North, | are expected back in this city about the first week in September. The Secretary of the Wellington Football Club has received a letter j from the Secretary of the Wanganui Club in reply to the invitation sent by the former to the latter to send four players 'to form part of an interprovincial team. The reply is to the J effect that the Wanganui Club could not afford to send men down unless the Wellington Club would pay their expenses. This, we understand, the local club is not disposed to do. 1 1 is not settled yet whether the match will take place on the 'Basin Reserve or in one of Mr. N. Valentine's paddocks, Lower Hutt. The latter has great advantages as a ground, but if the match was played there, there would be little chance of much gate-money which the club very much needs. A lecture on "Japan" will be delivered at the next meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society, which will be held in the Congregational Schoolroom, Woodward-street, on Thursday evening. A copy of Dr. Buller's "History of the Birds ot New Zealand" was sold by Mr. Vennell by public auction a day or two ago, at a sale of miscellaneous books, and fetched five guineas. Mr. Walker, who arrived in the Manawatu from Waiganui this morning, has with him the chesnut colt Marquis of Normanby, en route to Christchurch having disposed of him to Mr. Saunders of that Province. He is to run for the Canterbury Derby. That smart little steamer, the s.s. Tin, has just done a good week's work. Within one week she has made two trips to Foxton and back, taking thither 421 iron rails (for the railway), and bringing back thence 100 telegraph poles, as well as a large general cargo. She also has loaded a full cargo for the West Coast ports of the Middle Island, including a massive crane for the Grey coal works. Information was received yesterday by telegram that the fine woolshed'on Mr. John Martin's station, Otaraia, had been wholly destroyed by fire on the previous night, shortly after midnight. The shed is well known as one of the most extensive and well-built woolsheds in the colony, aud was fitted with an expensive and powerful wool-press. When burnt down, it contained a quantity of wool and oats, also other articles stowed there for convenience, and the total loss is estimated at fully £2,000, none of which, we regret to say, is covered by insurance. The fire is sopposed to have been cansed accidentally by a trauip having lit his pipe and allowed a spark to tall among some straw. Alltramps in future, calling at Otaraia, will be sternly warned to " pass on." The alterations to the s.s. Tararua are expected to occupy about two months. When they are completed, she will be placed again in the New Zealand trade. Telegraphic advices have been received by the New Zealand Genefal Manager of the ¦National Bank, that a dividend of 6 per cent has been declared. It will be payable on receipt of the notification by mail. Captain Underwood informs us that the Arawata touched the bar going out of Port Chalmers on her last trip, and that the Otago bumped heavily going- iv. Let us hope the Zealandia will get out of the " mud creek" iv safety. The report of Judge Fenton on the petition of the Middle Island natives, which alleges that they were promised the return of one acre in every ten, disputes this as a matter of fact, and goes on to say that to grant the prayer of the petitioners is, of course, out of the question, but recommends that a liberal provision of inalienable land should be made. Judge Fenton adds : — " It will be of no use taking a release from them, for, of course, similar claims will be revived from time to time as long as they exist in the country." The coal hulk, Anne and Jane, had a very narrow escape from total dastrucJion by fire between 1 and 2 o'clock this morning, ft appears that some hot ashes from the furnace of the donkey engine must have got between the deck timbers, which after smouldering for a time at length burst into a bright blaze. For several minutes the flames were very vivid and threw a strong light on the bay, attracting the attention of ail who happened to be about at that hour. Atone time it appeared inevitable that we should have had a veritable " ship on fire" to record, instead of the amusing mistake of two years ogo, but those on board the hulk acted with great promptness and at length succeeded, although not without considerable difficulty, in extinguishing the fire. The damage is not serious. The regular monthly meeting 1 of the Managing Committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afteruoon, at the Provincial Buildings. Present: Right Rev. Bishop Hadh'eld (in the chair), Yen. Archdeacon Stock, Rev. Father Petit Jean, Rev. W. H. West, Messrs. Lipman Levy, J. G. Holdsworth, O. P. Powlf-s, and D. Lewis. The following subscriptions were received : — Parish of St. Peter's, Te Aro, £25 : Mr. P. Moeller. £1 Is. For Paul, Reidal, and Young— Per Mr. Willeston, £7 16s Gd. Several cases of distress were considered and relieved. At the Theatre Royal last night, the BatesHoward Dramatic Company produced Lord Lyttou's famous play " Hichelieu "with complete success. The chief feature of the evening naturally was Mr. Bates' representation of the great French Cardinal, a part which Mr. Hoskins has made so completely his own, and with which he is so thoroughly identified that it is no light undertaking for any actor to risk a comparison with him. Mr. Bates, however, not only ran the risk, but achieved a most decided and well-merited success as the reward of his efforts. His reading of the character was not only good, but m many respects quite original, and his acting throughout was extremely good and powerful. He was loudly and frequently applauded, and received an enthusiastic call at the close. Mrs. Bates was an admirable Julie, and the other parts were sustained very satisfactorily. This evening Mr. T. W. Robinson's celebrated play " Caste" will be produced. The Melbourne Telegraph of the 10th inst. says : — Alfred Edwin Blanche, the late teller at the Kew branch of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bauk, was placed in the dock at the local police court yesterday, charged with embezzling the sum of £939 16s, the amount found to be deficient in his cash. The prisoner, during the proceedings, appeared to feel his position keenly, and made no defence whatever to the charge. The Bencli committed him for trial at the next Criminal Sessions, and refused to allow any bail. Blanche is a young man, twenty-three years of age, and was greatly liked in private circles, as well as by those with whom he came into contact in business transactions. He had held the position of accountant in the bank since it had been opened, a period of some three years. "Atticus" thus writes in the Melbourne Leader: — Several statements have been published lately about an expedition that it is said has sailed for the Auckland Islands for the purpose of recovering the £500,000 worth of gold supposed to be lying buried in the sunken General Grant. Messrs. S. De Beer and Co., the agents for the unfortunate ship, for the purpose of relieving speculative anxiety in the matter, have forwarded to the papers a copy of the ship's manifest, from which it appears that the total amount of gold on board was 25750z. 6dwt. " You may be surprised," writes Mr. De Beer, "as we are confident many others will be, to find by this that the half million has dwindled down to about one-fifth, namely, £10,000 sterling." What I am principally surprised at is to find that £10,000 is one-fifth of £600.000. Still, 1 suppose the agents ought to know. The planting of poplars, oaks, and other deciduous trees, is being extended in the streets of Auckland. The natives brought into Bulls on Wednesday a supply of frost fish, which they had obtained on the beach between Scotts and Foxton on the previous night, We wish they wuld send some of this exquisite delicacy down to Wellington. We would draw attention to Mr. Isaac's trade sale to-morrow, which will take place at 2 o'clock. Mr. G. Thomas will to-morrow sell by auction that valuable freehold property known as Evelyn House, Willis-street, at 2 o'clock. '