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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3909, 18 May 1877, Page 2

A meeting of the ploughing match committee of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held yesterday morning at the Criterion Hotel. Present — Messrs Giblin, Welhvood, Condie, and Bennett. It was resolved that Mr Archibald M'Lean should be requested to act as judge of the thoroughbred foals, in place of Mr Bishop, who, it was found, would be otherwise engaged on the Queen's birthday. It was further resolved, that a dinner, to take place on the ground at 3.30 p.m., should be arranged for by Mr Wellwood. The entrance fee for the ploughing match was fixed at five shillings. The following memorandum from the office of the Secretary of Crown Lands, Wellington, forwarding a copy of the rules for the management of Small Farm Associations, was laid before the Waste Lands Board yesterday : — " I forward herewith copy of amended rules and conditions for Small Farm Associations, as requested in your letters of 11th and 23rd April. These rules will be recommended for the approval of the Governor whenever the Maharahara block is capable of being dealt with under them, or whenever the board recommends their adoption for any of the associations referred to in your letters above quoted." Mr Annabell has left at our office a portrait of Sir Donald M'Lean, taken from a photograph by Mr Carnell, said by Sir Donald to be the best lie ever had taken. We have also seen two others by the same artist — the Rev. W. Marshall and his good lady, to be left for a short time at Mr Cam ell's studio. Portraits in oil painting may now be obtained without the long sitting formerly required. Mr Annabell only requires a good photo (or what would be best, an enlarged photo by Mr Carnell), and five minutes in the company of the person to be painted, and he guarantees a correct likeness, or, in the absence of the person to be painted, a good description, with color of hair and eyes, with photo. A considerable number of people assembled at St. John's Church yesterday to witness the wedding of A. J. Cotterill, Esq., to Miss Stuart, daughter of R. Stuart, Esq. , the Mayor of Napier. The guests present conrprised Colonel and Mrs Whitmore, Mr and Mrs Burke, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Brandon, Mr Kinross and Miss Goudy, Mrs and Miss H. It. Russell, Mr and Mrs Newton, Mr and Mrs Shrimpton, Mr and Mrs Brathwaite, Mrs Spencer, Miss Begg, Mr and Mrs Locke, Mr Moore, Mr and Mrs May, Mr J. N. Wilson, and Messrs. H. S. Bridge. The bridesmaids were Miss Cotterill, Miss E. Cotterill, and the two Misses M'Kenzie. Mr J. W. Carlile was best man. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr Townsend, incumbent of St. John's. Mr Flood played the " Wedding March" with brilliancy and effect as the party left the church. The Baker and Farron troupe last night made their last appearance at the Oddfellows' Hall to a good house, when "Liza Eccles" was repeated. Judging from the applause with which the principal artistes were greeted, the piece evidently found great favor with the audience. We think, however, that a little less " gag" in some of the scenes would certainly be an improvement. To-morrow night Messrs Baker and Farron appear at Waipawa. Mr Upham informs us that he lias floated the project for a Theatre Company. The failure of Mr M'Lean and the unwillingness of the Oddfellows in this respect induced him to take the matter up. He says that the site will be freehold, and the building will comprise theatre, ball-room, and hotel ; that the company will be registered to-day ; that already over 300 shares have been taken up ; and that the prospectus and application form will bo ready in a few days. The original Georgia Minstrels, who have been playing in Auckland for several weeks past, will give their first performance in the Oddfellows' Hall to-morrow evening. An Auckland paper, referring to one of their entertainments, says : — ' ' One feature of the group struck the spectator at once ; this was the uunristakeable negro cast of the countenances. No imitation here, no burnt cork and soap, but the genuine shh^ black of the Ethiopian skin, with the high cheekbones, thick, prominent lips, and wide, gashlike mouth Their antics fairly convulsed the audience, and how they worked in the time as perfectly as they did whilst going through such fearful contortions, was a complete puzzler. This over, a scries of solos and choruses followed ; all in the genuine plantation style. Taking the solos as specimens of artistic singing they were not good, but as samples of the real slave melodies of Georgia they were perfect The merits of the company are so numerous that they may rest assured of public favor for a lengthened period, *In dancing, tambourine and bones manipulation, the originals are evidently jet far ahead of their imitators." Mr C. K. JoiFs is the advance agent. The Napier Volunteer Fire Brigade assembled at the engine station at 7 o'clock last night. The steamer having been horsed with a pair uf horses, and the manual engine with a single horse, the brigade proceeded to the Spit for steam and manual practice. The steam engine having been stationed at the Spit bridge and the manual near the breastwork, steam was got up and hose run out for practice. In a very short space of time the brigade had two jets from each engine in full play. After having had a successful practice the brigade returned to town. We notice that a large number of the members turned out for the iirst time in their uniform, which appears both neat and serviceable. Messrs Baker and Farron will give one of their dramatic and musical entertainments at Waipawa to-morrow evening. We advise all lovers of a good heartylaugh to avail themselves of this opportunity of witnessing the performances of these clever comedians, Mr Farron 's Irish eccentricities being alone- worth the price paid for admission. A correspondent who lias been at the trouble of going through the "Army List," sends us the following as a correct list of the number of militia officers in Now Zealand (in addition to the medical staff, &c.) : — Colonels, 3 ; Lieut. -colonels, 12; Majors, 45; Captains, 191 ; Lieutenants, 237 ; Ensigns, 108 ; Sub-lieu-tenants, 11. All these are liable to be called upon to serve if required. As showing the mildness of the present season, notwithstanding that we have occasionally had a few bleak days, we may mention that the apple trees in Mr Witty's garden are bearing fruit for the second time this year,

We understand that there is every probability that the portion of the Taradale Cemetery assigned to members of the Church of England will be consecrated by tho Bishop of Auckland next Sunday afternoon, as soon after the morning service and confirmation as can be conveniently arranged. The Rev. P. 0. Anderson requests us to state that he received a telegram yesterday, intimating that the Bishop of Auckland would be at Taradale on Sunday next, 20th inst. , to administer the rite of confirmation. Owing to this short notice, and with a view to facilitate matters, Mr Anderson requests us to state that the usual service at Puketapu will not be conducted on Sunday next. There will be morning service at J AII Saints, Taradale, at 11 a.m., followed by the confirmation. The candidates are particularly requested to assemble at Taradale Parsonage not later than 10.30 a.m. A correspondent at Gisborne telegraphed yestei'day that a bachelors' ball was to take place last night, and that it promised to prove a success. The inspection parade of the Napier Artillery Volunteers takes place this evening, at seven o'clock, at Messrs Routledge, Kennedy, and Co.'s store. The deficiency in the Land Fund was estimated in the Treasurer's statement at £145,000. To meet this authority was obtained from the Legislature to issue Treasury Bills (a species of promissory notes bearing interest) to the extent of £150,000. It must be remembered that the deficiency of £145,000 was for six months only, ending the 30th June next, as the Provincial Governments had control of the land fund up to January. In Canterbury and Otago the land revenue shows a surplus, but in consequence of its localisation within provincial districts, the deficiency in other provinces is not thereby reduced. It would be useless to take revenue, so uncertain in its times of coming into the Treasury as land, for three quarters as an approximate basis for estimating the amount likely to accrue in the fourth quarter. But we find a sufficient test of the yield from this source in the fact that Treasury Bills to the extent of £100,000 have already been issued. Some considerable portion of this amount has, no doubt, gone to meet the charges on the land fund for the whole of the halfyear. It is probable, however, that the deficiency in the land fund will reach the Treasurer's estimate, and the whole of the limit of Treasury Bills will be reached. — Wanganui Herald. A contemporary remarks as follows on the game laws : — " A proprietor in bona fide occupation of land may himself shoot within the boundaries of his own property during the season, or some one person appointed by him may do so, without incurring a penalty. He cannot, however, go out himself and take a friend with him, who possesses no license, nor can be give permission to different people, but must appoint one and the same person for the season. That is to say, if a proprietor of land does not wish to shoot over it, he may appoint — say Mr Smith, to do so in his place, but if Mr Smith does not go he cannot appoint Mr Jones, or Mr Brown, or any other friend, nor indeed can lie legally go himself. This provision of the Act means that only one person shall have the privilege of shooting over the land without a license. There is a common impression prevalent that an owner of land may shoot over it himself and also invite a friend, without either taking out a license. This is a mistake, and the friend under such circumstances would be liable to a penalty." A project is on foot for making Manchester a seaport by improving the tidal navigation of the Irwell. A memorial (says the Pall Mall Gazette) has been addressed to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce requesting that the whole question of a Manchester tidal navigation be taken into earnest consideration by that body. It is urged that the following advantages, among others, will result from the successful improvement of the navigation : The transference of the cotton trade from Liverpool to Manchester, its legitimate and most convenient centre ; a large saving in cost of conveyance of imports to and exports from Manchester and the manufacturing districts of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. The town dues upon Manchester exports and imports now levied by Liverpool, which have hitherto proved an enormous source of revenue to that town, would be altogether saved. The periodical recurrence of disastrous floods caused by the overflow of the Irwell would be effectually prevented by the widening and deepening of the channel below Throstle Nest. The tendency which has recently shown itself of having goods for export packed at the outlying manufacturing districts and forwarded direct to Liverpool instead of via Manchester would at once be checked, as it would then be cheaper for goods to pass through Manchester as heretofore. The great impetus to the trade of the city, and large increase in the population which would follow from making Manchester one of the principal ports of the kingdom. The board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce have passed a resolution affirming in general terms the great benefits which would undoubtedly accrue from the successful accomplishment of the proposed scheme, but have expressed no opinion as to its practicability either as a commercial undertaking or in an engineering point of view. It is satisfactory to learn from Lord Carnarvon that the considerable sum of money which has been advanced to Fiji by the Imperial Government has not been wholly wasted, and the annexation of that group has so far proved of advantage that kidnapping has in consequence been almost entirely suppressed throughout Polynesia. The Colonial Treasurer estimated that tho income from all railways flowing into the Colonial Treasury during the year would be £345,000. Tho provincial railways passed over to the colony at the beginning of the year, and tho income from them for the six months is included in the above. The following is the railway revenue for the three quarters of the present financial year : —

— It is hardly necessary to add that the excess in the March quarter is due to the fact that fox 1 the first time the income from provincial railways is taken into the account. The J\ianciwutu Times of May Cth says : — " Quite an excitement was caused in Foxton on Sunday afternoon, and a great number of people congregated on the wharf to witness the arrival of the steamers Tui and Napier, it having got about that the Tui had run into the Napier in coming up the river, and the report proved true, the following being the facts of the case : — As the two steamers were proceeding up the river, and when in Ihakara's bend, the Napier being then ahead, the Tui tried to pass her, and in so doing, drove the Napier on the bank and ran her bow into the Napier's boat, carrying away one of her davits and cutting the boat in half ; also damaging the iron railing round the bridge, and grazing her side in several places. A survey was held by Messrs Gibson and Jonson, on Monday morning, on the damage done. Both steamers left on Monday afternoon about three o'clock, the Napier being unable to carry any passengers on account of having no boat, it being against the Passenger Act, to carry passengers without a boat. " The lloman Catholic peers now muster exactly three dozen, including one duke, two marquises, seven earls, four viscounts, twenty-one barons, and one countess in her own right ; in addition to which there are forty-seven Roman Catholic baronets.

A late number of the Town and Country Journal has the following paragraph : — "The suburbs of Sydney appear to be prolifically swarmed with reptiles at present. We were on Monday shown an enormous snake of the carpet family, measuring over seven feet in length. The reptile was a splendid specimen, and was captured in good order by two lads and a dog in Campbell's Bush, Gladesville. The snake when being captured disgorged a diver about the size of a full-grown fowl." "VVe (Wellington Evening Post) learn from a gentleman who has just returned to town after a visit to the West Coast, that the chief Wi Parata has built a church at Waikanae for the use of the European and Maori residents of the district. Preachers of any denomination who may happen to be passing through the district may officiate in the church. Another Maori chief has erected a similar church at Foxton. The attitude of Lord Salisbury with reference to the Eastern Question is very different from that of Lord Derby. The World says : — " Lord Salisbury's appointment as envoy to the Constantinople Conference was no sooner announced than the Pall Mall Gazette, which throughout the whole of the business has been at the disposal and in the confidence of the Foreign Office as against the India Office, made itself singular among the London press by questioning Lord Salisbury's fitness for the post on the ground of his religious sympathies. While the Indian Secretary was at Constantinople the same newspaper adopted and condemned certain utterances, attributed to his lordship at the Conference table, and since his return lias applied itself with indefatigable zeal to the task of discovering any sentiments open to exception expressed by Lord Salisbury in more authentic documents. The relations that have thus been developed between the India and the Foreign Offices are much to be deplored." The Southland News writes: — "Mr William Archibald Murray, member in the House of Representatives for the County of Bruce, has invented an improved wire strainer, and has applied for Letters Patent for the said invention. Mr Murray is one of the most wire-draw-ing speakers in the colony, and the invention may be regarded as an appropriate outcome of his fine natural genius." "We understand," says the Christchurch Press, "that a few mornings back a vendor of milk was seen to replenish his cans from the side channel in one of the streets in the eastern portion of the city. As the channels generally receive a fair proportion of all kinds of refuse, animal and vegetable, no doubt the milk vended by this gentleman will be highly appreciated by his customers as having a good deal of ' body' in it. The matter has, we understand, been placed in the hands of the police, and no doubt the delinquent will make his debut before Mr Mellish at an early date." A fisherman who has for some time past been working at Wycliffe Bay (says the Christchurch Press) had occasion to make an urgent visit to Port Chalmers with his mate. On arriving at Portobello they could find no boat. Not to be beaten, one of the men stripped, made his clothes into a bundle, fastened it round his head, and then actually swam across the channel to Innes's jetty, took a black boat moored there, pulled across, picked up his mate, and both came over to Port Chalmers. All this took place during the early hours of the morning, which was both cold and stormy, and constitutes a feat of swimming of no mean ordei\ j The Wanganui Chronicle replying to a correspondent on the subject of the game laws, lays down the law as follows : — "No license is required to kill native game before the season for shooting imported game commences ; but after that season commences a license is required, because clause 27 of the Protection of Animals Act says that, "any person found trespassing with gun, or dog and gun, shall ■prima facie be deemed to be in pursuit of game, and subject to the provisions of this Act. A person shooting native game before or after the time fixed by the Superintendent, or person acting in his place, is liable to a penalty." Our contemporary, we think, is somewhat in error. The provision in the Protection of Animals Act to which he refers applies to persons committing a trespass " by entering or being upon any land in the search or pursuit of game or native game, but it is provided in the clause that the person charged with the trespass shall be at liberty to prove by way of defence any matter which would have been a defence to an action at law for such trespass." No license to shoot native game is required, and it is clear that a person hona Jide in pursuit of native game, cannot be made liable to a penalty for not having a license. Mr Lyndon will hold a sale of furniture, boots, &c, at his rooms, to-day, at 12 o'clock. Divine services will be held on Sunday next as follows : — By the Rev. J. Shearman at St. Mary's, Waipukurau, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's, Waipawa at 3 p.m., and at Motuotaraia at 7 p.m. ; by the Rev. J. White at Makaretu at 11 a.m., at Morrison's at 2 p.m., and at Waipawa at 7 p.m. ; by the Rev. J. M. Fraser at Waipukurau at 11 a.m., at Ivaikora at 3 a.m., and at Waipawa at 7 p.m. ; by the Rev. R. Fraser at Hampden at 11 a.m., and at Waipukurau at 7 p.m. ; by the Rev. A. Shepherd at Maraekakaho at 3 p. m. Mass will be celebi-ated by the Rev. E. Roignier next Sunday, 20th inst., in St. Patrick's Church, Waipawa, at 11 a.m.

Sept.Qr. Dec. Qr. Mar. Qi\ Total £17,245 £23,0G2 £105,810 £146,123