TELEGRAMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3905, 23 April 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

♦ [Fkom the Press Agency. J CABLE TELEGRAMS. LONDON, April 19. Active Avarlike preparations continue. The Russian Embassy is leaving Stamboul, and the expulsion of Russians is anticipated. A circular issued by Prince Gortschakoff justifies Avar. AUCKLAND, April 21. Captain Knorr, H.I.M. Hertha, has been appointed director of the Imperial Avharf , Wilhelmshaf en . Tlie agricultural statistics are just- completed for the Auckland district. The total of land under crop slioavs a decrease, but in reality there is an increase. In previous returns the runholders returned the Avhole of the land in natural grasses as land under crop, but in the present return such land is excluded, only cultivated grasses being included. Deducting, therefore, 35,000 acres in natural grass from last year's return, tliere is an actual increase this year of cultivated land under crop of nearly 3700 acres. The returns also slioav a very large increase under the head of land broken up though not yet under crop. The principal increase is in tlie Waikato, Waipa, and Franklin districts. Tlio summary of figures for the districts of Mongonui, Bay of Islands, Marsden, Rodney, Waitemata, Eden, Parnell, NeAvton, Onehunga, Franklin, Waikato, Waipa, Thames, East Coast, Auckland City East and West, giA'es the folloAving totals :— Number of holdings : Freehold, 3450 ; rented, 540 ; part freehold and part rented, 195. Total holdings, 4191. Extent of land broken up, but not under crop, 21,1791- acres. In Avheat, number of acres soavh for grass only, 1055 f ; grass produce, 40,9042 bushels. In oats, for green food or hay, 5814 i ; grain, 220.j ; estimated grass produce and grain, 52,047 bushels. In barley, number of acres soavii for grain only, 2070- ; estimated grass produce in bushels, 5424. Hay, 9691-f acres ; estimated gross produce, 117,433.£ tons. Land in grasses, after having been broken up, including such as in hay, 185,3413 acres. Grass soavii on lands not previously ploughed, including such as in hay, 159,040. Land in potatoes, 39384- iAcres ; estimated gross produce, 20,843 tons. Otliers crops, 31Slf. Total number of acres under crop, including soaaii grasses, 359,670|. Quantity of last year's crop remaining on hand Avhen the form Avas filled up : Wheat, 16i bushels ; oats, 115 bushels : barley, 262 bushels. A meeting AA'as held last "night for the establishment of a Working Men's Hotel. About forty gentlemen attended to prom< >te the nioA'cment, amongst Avhom AA'ere Mr Justice Gillies, Colonel Haultain, Mr W. Swanson, and several ministers of religion. The Rev. Mr Hassard gave a resume of his previous statement, and urged the necessity for such places for Avorking men, Avhere they might bo able to enjoy mutually intellectual pleasure Avitli all the advantages of a temperance hotel. A committee Avas appointed to make enquiries. It is feared that the vessel Avrecked at Palliser Bay is the Kate Brain. Arrived — Taupo. DUNEDIN, April 21. The Marquis of Normanby and suite arrived at Port Chalmers to-day, and Avere conveyed by special train to Dunedin. His Excellency Avas received at tlie railAvay station by the Mayor and Councillors and a guard of honor, Avith the usual vice-regal salute. On behalf of the people of Dunedin, tho Mayor Avelcomed the Governor to Dunedin. An address was then presented by the Toavii Clerk, it contained, in addition to assurances of loyalty, tvc. , the folloAving clause : — " We may A'entuve to assert that the bulk of Her Majesty's subjects in this part of the colony view it as an unfortunate matter that your Excellency has been precluded from paying them official visits inure frequently. We hope your Excellency may find it uoiwenient in future to travel in Otago oftenor than hitherto you liaA'e been able to do consistently with your other arrangements." His Excellency, in reply, said that there was no duty more pleasing to him than to visit the various portions of the colony, but New Zealand was a large place, and it took a considerable amount of time to visit all the districts. They Avere aware, also, that it Avas not ahvays convenient to be absent for a long time from the capital. It Avas through no fault of his that he delayed it so long, and he would have been in Dunedin in January Avere it not for tlie illness of Lady Norinanby. Thore Avere about 3000 persons present. Three hearty cheers were given for his Excellency. M'Laren and a feAV of lus followers Avere there, and had Avith them a dirty piece of canvas as a banner, but they Avere ordered to tako this outside ihe .station reserve. hi antic- pat ion of a disturbance tliere was a strong body of police on the ground, but good .sense prevailed. The only annoyance avus an ineffectual attempt to raise a groan Avhen his Excellency's carriage droA'e aAvay. WELLINGTON, April 21. The last Gazette contains tallies Avhich slioav that the Customs roA'enue for the colony for the quarter ending March last was £298,039, as against £317,744c0110cted during the corresponding quarter of 1870; tho decrease on the quarter being £10,705. The revenue for Auckland last quarter Avas £-19,119, showing a decrease on the corresponding quarter of £-1954 ; for Wellington, £4-1,880, showing an increase of £3735 ; for Lyttelton, £49.578, showing an increase of £1322; 'for Dunedin" £■14,000, showing a decrease of £10,850; for Napier, £10,035, shoAving au increase of £.'.29 ; for Nelson, £8802, shoAving ;l decrease of £3155; for Groymouth, £92(i3; showing an increase of £12-11 ; for IhAfJtika, £8158, showing ;ut increase of £1727. April 22. A private telegram received last night from the Colonial Sugar Company, Sydney, states that first counters and yelloAvs have been advanced £1 per ton.

WANGANUI, April 22. A man named Moffatt, avlio AA'as suspected of manufacturing poAvder and selling it to the natives, was brought from Upper Wanganui by a number of natives. He Avas taken before the Resident Magistrate at Wanganui, and committed for trial. The evidence generally went to show that Moffatt had been making large quantities of gunpoAvder, and in a book found on him there was an entry in his own liandAvriting to the effect that he had made 28041b5. gunpowder for the Waikato. One witness, named Notts, avlio kneAv Moffatt for the last five years, said that in April last he saAv hini at TJpiiel' Wanganui making six tin dishes of powder. It Avas of good quality. By the next morning it Avas taken aAvay ; he did not knoAV by whom, but thought by the Waikatos, who got it instead of the Wanganui. It is thought this is the reason the Wanganuis split on Moffatt and apprehended liini. LYTTELTON, April 21. The Margaret Galbraith, from London, Captain Fergussdii, arrived last night, having niade the passage in 87 days from the Lizards, Avhich Avere left on January 23. She brings 16 passengers, and a large cargo, part of whicli is for Nelson.