SOCIAL SUMMARY.
NEW ZEALAND, Canterbury.
The Canterbury Jockey Club netted between £7OO and £BOO over tho Autumn meeting, which now places the Club out of debt.
At the meeting of the City Council on March 31, it was decided to send a telegram of condolence to her Majesty the Queen, on the death of H.E.H. the Duke of Albany. A monster tea meeting was held at the new Salvation Army barracks at Kaiapoi on Tuesday, March 25, under the auspices of the Salvation Army, and was attended by about 400 persons. A yield of oats has been obtained by Mr H. MahErs, of Sefton, of 109 33-40ths bushels to the acre, all over his crop of 31 acres. Messrs Ritchie and Bennie have threshed out their crop of about 35 acres, and find it averages 116 bushels per acre. This speaks volumes for the quality of the land about Sefton. The melancholy fate of the two boys, Lilly and Mason, who were lost on the Port Hills on March 30, 1883, and perished in a storm that took place on that day, is to be commemorated by two iron pillars, fixed in stone pedestals, which are to be erected on the spots where the lads’ bodies were afterwards found. On each pedestal will be a brass plate, bearing the name of the boy in whose memory it is erected, and also the date of his death. The pillars were placed in position on Friday, April 11. Tery many persons will regret to hear of the death of Mr H. P. Milsom, who has been a resident of Christchurch and in business here for the past seventeen or eighteen years. About two years ago, Mr Milsom took a trip to England, partly for the benefit of his health, but his old complaint, a disease of the liver, came on again, after his return to Christchurch, and he died, at the age of 43, after a painful illness. Mr Milsom was a member of the Masonic body, and also an Oddfellow, and was widely known and respected. A ma,Ti named David Griffin, who was employed at some excavation work near the Belford flour mill, Timaru, on April 7, met with a very serious accident. A fall of earth came down upon him, and although the full force of it was somewhat broken he was jammed in and much injured. His whole body was dreadfully bruised, and on examination at the hospital in the evening it was found that he had sustained a fracture of the thigh bone and of the right shoulder Made. No symptom of internal injury can be detected, however, and the sufferer is doing as well as could be expected. He is 40 years of age and married. The Timaru Hospital Commissioners .held a special meeting on March 27, for the purpose of accepting tenders for supplies for the ensuing half year, and of investigating a charge of neglect of a patient, preferred against the Resident Surgeon. The complainant was Daniel Horgan, formerly a patient of the institution, and the victim of the alleged neglect was one Patrick Kassan, now deceased, an intimate friend of Horgan’s. Kassan, it appears, was admitted to the Hospital in February, suffering from a disease of the knee-joint, and in the early part of the month of March amputation of the leg was performed by the Resident Surgeon, after which, in a few days, Kassan died. In the interval between the amputation and the patient’s death, he contracted a bad sore, which Horgan declared the doctor altogether neglected. Evidence was heard by the Commissioners, which proved incontestibly that so far from the Surgeon being inattentive, he, the Steward, and the nurses had been most attentive and kind, and had done everything in their power to relieve the poor fellow. The Commissioners at once resolved—“ That after q most exhaustive enquiry, the Commissioners can only arrive at the conclusion that every attention and care were given to the deceased Patrick Kassan, and that the charge made by Daniel Horgan against Dr Drew and the Steward and nurses is utterly without foundation."
A social event of' considerable importance among the Jewish portion of the community occurred on March 26. This was the marriage of Miss Leah Harris, daughter of Mr M. Harris, to Mr E. M. Marks, recently of Dunedin. The ceremony took place at the Synagogue, at 3 p.m., and was the occasion of no small interest. The Synagogue was crowded with visitors, and some hundreds of persons were gathered in the street outside. A very large proportion of those present consisted of ladies. Tho marriage was performed by the Eev I. Zachariah, who delivered an impressive address on the occasion. The bride’s dress was of cream satin, trimmed with orange blossom and lilies of the valley. She wore a veil of white tulle, with a wreath of orange blossoms and lilies of the valley. The bridesmaids were Misses Eva and Elsie Harris, J. and L. Louisson, E. Caro and B. Benjamin. They wore tasteful costumes of cardinal velvet and cream lace, with Henry 11. hats and creamcoloured feathers, and carried baskets of flowers. The groomsmen wore Messrs A., E. and G. Harris, W. and C. Louisson, and A. Caro. Master Cecil Louisson, nephew of the bride, acted as a page to bear her train. The symbolical canopy held over the couple during the ceremony was borne by Messrs Berens (Dunedin), Hyams, Y. Harris, and G. Louisson. After the marriage, a banquet took place at the residence of the bride’s father, when the health of the newly-married couple was proposed by Mr C. Louisson. In the evening a ball was held.
The Salvation Arntf “ attack on Rangiora on Saturday, March 22. and mot with rather a quiet reception. In the cvcning the Institute Hall was crowded contrary to general expectation, no aisturbanco was caused, although the Amy 8 enemies wore present ib rorco. ano presence of a stalwart Christchurch "cadet’* probably bad something to do with this, , . , ~,. A young man named Sundy, in shifting a water ciirt and elevators, belonging to Mr Posey's threshing machine, which had been at work for Mr Cameron at Balcairn, has met with an untimely death. Iho horses shied and tho water tank was overturned, falling on tho unfortunate young man. Other men, who were waiting at the riverside, speedily extricated B u ndy, who was quite dead. A lad named W. Irailo was thrown from tho dray, but fortunately escaped unhurt. It appears that the deceased endeavoured to hold on to tho horses, and that in consequence he was crushed by the tank. A pleasing ceremony took place m connection with tho Loburn school on the morning of March 31, when Miss Ada Hodgson, who for a number of years has held tho position of pupil teacher, and is now leaving for the Normal Training Institution, was presented with a handsome writing desk, werkbox and pencil case. Mr Hodgson returned thanks, on behalf of his daughter, in a feeling manner. Cheers for the recipient and for the Chairman of the School Committee closed the proceedings. Miss Hodgson also received a handsome edition of Shakespeare’s works from her follow teachers.
The health returns of Christchurch and district still continue to show an improvement on preceding records. The births for March were 172, or 16 mor® than in the same month last year, and the deaths were 60, being 6 less. Marriages show a considerable falling off, the number being 25, as against 53. Hard times are not favourable to matrimonial engagements. The following are the statistics of the Ashburton district for the quarter ending March 31 : —Births, 96 ; deaths, 22; marriages, 16. For the month of March, the returns are as under r Births, 27; deaths, 9; marriages, 5. The large ocean steamers’ wharf at Lyttelton is now under way. The contractors for the work have, now got their pile-driving machinery into position, and a large number of the piles are shod, and otherwise prepared for driving. With Messrs Hollis, Williams, and Green’s well-known despatch the increased space so much wanted for shipping in the harbour will soon be available for the big steamers. The wharf will be close to the site of the old wharf known as Peacock’s, and the latter is now nearly demolished, nothing but the bare piles remaining of one of the first wharves built in Lyttelton. The number of nominations forwarded by the outgoing San Francisco mail on March 29 was 164 souls, equal to 151} adults, and the amount of fees received is Mil 12s 6d. The details areTaranaki, 21 souls, equal to 18 adults; Hawke’s Bay, 6 and 6; Wellington, 33 and 32.}; Nelson, 5 ands; Canterbury, 31 and 29; Otago, 29 and 25; Southland, 37 and 34. The nationalities are—English, 59; Irish, 66 ; Scotch, 25; foreign, 14. The single women number 75, and the single men 31, the remainder being families. No nominations were received from Auckland or Marlborough. The number of nominations this month is very small, but this is accounted for, as since March 12 no nominations have been accepted unless'for single women. On March 22, a serious accident occurred on the Papanui tramway. An engine with one car was proceeding to town when one of the steam pipes burst. The driver either jumped or fell out of the engine on to the road, and a panic ensued among the passengers. One lady, a Miss Champneys, leaped off the platform of the car and fell heavily on her back on the road. Assistance was obtained, and she was taken to a house situated opposite the scene of the accident. Dr Townend soon arrived, and found that she had sustained an injury to the base of the skull. The lady remained unconscious for several days, but she has now partially regained consciousness, and is progressing favorably towards recovery. The driver’s hurts were not of a very serious character, though he was somewhat scalded by the steam, and was cut about the Tread.
A man. named James Burrows, a fishmonger, living on the South Town Belt, near Selwyn street, made an attempt on his life on March 28. Recently he had been drinking rather heavily, and at 7 p.m. his wile saw her husband hanging from a tree in the garden. She called to a young man (Thomas Taylor) who was near, and when he came up he found the would-be suicide had evidently failed in the attempt at hanging and was meditating destroying himself in another way, as he was standing on tho ground with the rope attached to the tree round his neck, with an open knife in his hand, saying he would do for himself. Taylor wrenched tho knife from him, and persuaded him to desist from his mad attempt. Constable Scott was called in, and Burrows was arrested. He was brought up at the R.M. Court, and remanded for seven days for medical treatment. A sad accident, which has deprived a wife and seven children of their bread-winner, occurred at Lincoln on March 28. A traction engine was drawing a threshing machine into the gates of Mr John Smith’s paddocks at Ladbrooke’s. The engine was guided by a man named William Lintol. Just above the road at the gateway were the telegraph wires these caught the funnel of the traction engine and broke it off. In falling the funnel struck Lintol on the left shoulder, and he fell with considerable force into the road. His mates jumped off and ran to help him. They raised him in their arms and carried him to Mr Smith’s house. He appeared to be dead, and such, indeed, w*as the case; for in falling he had broken his neck.. Dr Preston was sent for, but he could only confirm the fears that had been entertained, and pronounce life extinct. The deceased lived at Springston, and, as stated above, he leaves a widow and seven children unprovided for. _ At the Inquest, on April 1, the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” with a rider to the effect that the attention of the Telegraph authorities should be directed to the necessity for the wires being placed at such a height above the ground as to prevent the possibility of similar occurrences in future.
A second accident, with a fatal result, happencdat Lincoln on Saturday, March 27, The victim was a boy of 14, named Peter Martin, son of Mr J. Martin, of Carlton terrace, Christchurch. He went, it appears, to Lincoln by the afternoon train. When returning, he reached the Lincoln station just as the last train for town moved off. He ran after it, and attempted to get into one of the carriages. In so doing, he slipped and fell on the rails, when the wheels of the carriages passed over his right arm and thigh. The guard, Heywood, did not actually see the occurrence, but hearing the cries of the passengers who saw the lad fall, stopped the train and took him on board. The train then proceeded till opposite Dr Preston’s house, when it again stopped, and the guard fetched the doctor to attend the sufferer, who, though terribly mangled, was conscious. Dr Preston did what ho could on the spot, and accompanied the lad in the train to Christchurch, and on his arrival hero took him to the Hospital, where ho was admitted about half-past 7 o’clock. Owing,to the severe nature of his injuries right forearm and thigh were literally smashed—amputation was performed; but, in spite of all that could he done, the poor lad died about a quarterpast 9. An inquest was held on April 1, when a verdict of " Accidental death ” was returned.
Some little time ago, when it became known that Mr Miller intended to leave Christchurch, his resignation of the headmastership of tho Boys’ High School having been accepted, a few of his friends resolved to present him with a testimonial before his departure. An illuminated address, accompanied by a purse containing 100 sovs, was decided on as the form of the testimonial. The former is a work of art from tho pencil and brush of Mr J. P, M’Cardoll, whose talent in this direction is well-known hero. The presentation was made on March 27. By tho s.b. Ruapehu, which left Lyttelton on Saturday, April 5, the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society despatched nine paradise ducks and four blue mountain ducks to tho Zoological Society of London. Tho birds are consigned to Dr Sclater, Secretary of tho Society, and are accompanied with a request that ho would forward in exchange specimens of waterfowl which ho may consider suited to this Colony. The New Zealand Shipping Company have generously undertaken to convey tho birds Homo free of charge, and also to bring out gratuitously anything that may be sent to the Society from England. The Rev Mr Bock, the retiring pastor of the Timaru Wesleyan Church, whose departure for Nelson has been delayed until Saturday, was on April 4, presented with a purse of sovereigns by the members of the congregation. His Worship the Mayor made the presentation in the presence of a numerous assemblage, and referred to the useful career of Mr Beck, mentioning, incidentally, that since he came here three years ago the circuit debt of .£l3O had been cleared off. and the £6OO mortgage reduced by ono half. The present had been made by the various societies in connection with the church. Mr Beck suitably replied, and’ the remainder of the evening was spent in music and social intercourse. The Yestry of All Saints’ Church, Prebbleton, have presented the Rev A. C. Wright, Incumbent of the parish, with a very handsome silver pocket Communion Service, in recognition of the interest he takes in the district generally. The presentation was made in the District Library, by Mr E. W. East, Churchwarden. Mr Wright acknowledged the gift in suitable terms, and said the present had come to him so thoroughly unawares, he had no long speech ready, but he heartily thanked the Vestry for their goodwill and esteem. The present bore the following inscription : —“ Presented to the Rev A. C. Wright, by the Vestry of All Saints’, Prebbleton, Easter, 1884.”
An inquest was held on April 7 at 11 a.m. in the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, before Dr Coward, Coroner, touching the death of Edward J. Pitfield, late master of the barque Glenlora. E. W. Grantham was chosen foreman of the jury. Evidence was given by H. Macdonald, M.D., and the chief officer and steward of the Glenlora, after hearing which the jury returned a verdict of “ Death from natural causes/’ The remains were interred in the Church of England Cemetery at Lyttelton, on the following day. The funeral left the Lyttelton casual ward at 4 p.m., and was followed by the ship’s company and a large number of deceased’s friends. The funeral service was performed by the Eev James Townsend.
A serious casualty, resulting from the accidental discharge of a gun, occurred at Spreydon on Wednesday, April 2. A man named Amos Tulley was in company with William Morland, a boy of 12 years, rabbit shooting on Clarkson’s run. The boy was stooping down with his left hand on his hip, looking into a burrow; the man, carrying a gun, was close behind him, when by some means the trigger came down and the gun was discharged. The boy’s thumb and fore-finger were shattered, and the charge entered the fleshy part of his thigh, inflicting a severe wound. The boy was at once taken to the Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the thumb and finger, and the wound in the thigh—a fearful gash—was dressed. ’ The boy bore his suffering with fortitude, and it was not considered necessary to put him under chloroform during the operations.
The funeral of the late Mr Robert Wetherall took place at'Lyttelton on Monday, April 7, and was attended by a large concourse of persons. The deceased had been a member of the Robert Bums Masonic Lodge, and W.M. of the Maiden City Lodge L.O.L. The Masons and Orangemen mustered in strong force to do honour to the memory of their late brother, and over 200 members of the two Orders followed his remains to the grave. Before the procession left Mr Wetherall’s late residence, the first portion of the Masonic funeral service was read by Bro F. W. Francis, R.W.M. of the Robert Burns Lodge. The procession then started, headed by the Lyttelton Brass Band, playing the “ Dead March in Saul.” The coflin, which was preceded by the Masons and Orangemen, was borne by members of the two Orders, and was followed by a long train of mourners, among whom were several of the leading residents of Lyttelton. A halt was made at the English Church, where the first part of the burial service of the Church of England was performed by the Rev J. Townsend. After its conclusion, the cortege proceeded to the Episcopalian Cemetery, where the body was interred. In addition to the Church ceremonial, the Masonic and Protestant Alliance Funeral Services were here read, the former by Bro Gourlay, P.M.; and the latter by P.6.M. Bro Sloan. By the Opawa, which left Lyttelton on April 14, for London, Mr A. M. Clark, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, sent a special consignment of 5608 carcases prime half and three-quarter-bred sheep, the average weight of each being 751 b. The particular feature of this shipment is the firmness of the meat, and it is the confident belief of the consignees that on this score the cargo is entitled to a premier position amongst the shipments of frozen meat which have been sent to London from New Zealand. As the crucial test will be the price realised on its exposure in the metropolitan market, the result will doubtless be closely observed by those whose interests are allied to the meat trade and who take an interest in its development. This part of the Opawa’s cargo, which was specially selected by Mr A. M. Clark, received the personal attention of Captain Mathers, whose past experience with such shipments was brought to bear on the freezing and stowing of the meat. To minimise the chance of deterioration on the passage, the captain caused the boilers to be cleaned before departure from port, so that no element likely to contribute to the success of the undertaking has been omitted.
A match between teams from the Invercargill Rifles and City Guards took place on the Hillsborough range on April 16. The terms were ten men a side, seven shots each at 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards. The result was a decisive victory for the visitors. Lieutenants Kohn and Robinson wore in command of the Invercargill team, and the City Guards team was under the charge of Lieutenant Garnett. Cheers were given by the respective teams for their opponents at the conclusion of the match. After the firing had been concluded. Lieutenant Francis, on behalf of the City Guards, invited the visitors to a dinner at His Lordship’s Hotel. This took place in the evening, when the members of the two teams partook of an excellent dinner provided by Host Trigge. Captain Wolfe was unable to be present, so the chair was occupied by Lieutenant Francis, and the vicechair by Lieutenant Kohn. Captain TJ. V. Richards and Lieutenants Robinson and Garnett were also present. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk, together with the healths of Colonel Lean, the visitors, Captain Wolfe, Private Walker, the highest scorer in the match, and other toasts. Several excellent songs were sung, I and a very enjoyable evening was spent.
A farmer named Patrick M'Evedy, residing near Lecston, committed suicide about nine o’clock on Tuesday, April 8, by swallowing two spoonsful of strychnine. Dr Gossett was immediately in attendance, and did what he could, but without avail. The deceased had been drinking heavily for some time past, and was in pecuniary difficulties. M'Evedy was lately owner of the racehorse Trumpeter. An inquest was held next day. Hie evidence of several witnesses showed that the deceased had deliberately taken the poison, and the jury brought in a verdict to the effect that > the deceased committed suicide by taking j strychnine. A somewhat serious gun accident hap- j poned on April 3, near Kimberley, to j a lad named Jonathan Bayman, 15 years . of age, the son of a former residing in the I neighbourhood. He was out on a rabbiting I excursion with his father, and was carry- j ing the latter's gun, which was loaded. ] By some means or other the weapon went j off, and the charge passed through his left hand, inflicting a severe wound. The lad i was taken home and attended by Dr Meadows. Ho was afterwards brought to the Christchurch Hospital, which he reached shortly after midnight. He is now jjrogressing favourably, but is unable to say what it was that occasioned the discharge of the gun. About 1.30 p.m. on MoriQay, March 31, Mrs Buchanan, wife of a tinsmith residing at the comer of Selwyn street and the Lincoln road, reported to Constable Johnstone that an old man who occupied a cottage next door to her husband’s house had died suddenly. The constable went to the cottage and found the man, whose name was Peter Johnston, lying in the passage with a sack under his head and a small bottle that evidently contained spirits ■at his side. Dr Doyle was at once fetched, but he could do nothing, as the man had evidently been dead for an hour or so. About 11 in the morning, he was seen ey Mrs Buchanan, to whom he complained of being very unwell. His breathing seemed hard, and as he had been suffering from asthma for a long time, Mrs Buchanan wanted him to go to the Hospital. Ha refused and went into his house. About one o’clack she and another neighbour named Mrs Morse, went to see, and forma him lying as described. He was about 60 years cf age, and until recently had worked in the Public Gardens. He had been an out-patient of the Hospital for some time. WeBTLAKIT. A man named Prank Bennett left the Mohikinui township five weeks ago for the interior on a prospecting tour, and has not since been heard of. His provisions consisted of 201hs of flour only. Great uneasiness is felt for his safety, and the police have been communicated with. Otago.
The Daily Times offices were successfully lighted on March 26 by electricity. A general holiday was kept on March 25, it being the thirty-sixth anniversary of the foundation of Otago. At Kaitaugata, on March 29 William Davenport Parry was committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter. Mr Clarke, of Dunedin, writes from Sydney that he has succeeded in inducing Hanlan to pay the southern city a visit. A body supposed to be that of Patrick Crowley, who has been missing since Christmas Day, has been found in the Taieri river.
Margaret Weir, late of Oamaru, arrested at Wellington for child abandonment at Dunedin on March 6, has just been married at Wellington, The newly established Corn Exchange was opened on April 5. Mr Donald Stronach, Chairman of the Committee, gave a short address. About fifty farmers and dealers were present. There are nearly twelve hundred more children in average attendance at Otago schools than at this time last year, and about seven hundred of this increase is in Dunedin. The total is 17,760.
In one week 20,000 shares were applied for in Dunedin in the new Accident Insurance Company and 10,000 in Christchurch. In Wellington in one day there were applications for 3000. A man named Michael Whelan has died at Hamilton’s diggings, in Maniotpto County, under peculiar circumstances. Whelan, who was only 24 years of age, had been on the spree at the Hamilton Hotel for a fortnight. On the night of March 16 he was taken ill, after his long debauch, and was put into the stable, in which were two horses. At four o’clock next morning he was very bad, and died during the day. The post mortem showed that deceased had received serious injuries on his head and body, evidently caused by the horses.
The Dunstan Times says;—“ For a time at least there should be no complaints from the indigent and needy on the score of ■want of work. We are informed that at every station in the County men are wanted to join the noble army of rabbiters. We do not know if any fixed rate of wages is laid down, but we understand he must be a very poor man indeed who cannot earn 30s a week, with full run of his ‘ dover,’ at the game.” The Mount Ida Chronicle also has the following: —“We understand that work is very plentiful in the County just now, and that the supply of labour is about equal to the demand. The wages ruling are very fair —viz.. Is per hour and found for harvesters; and from 7s to 9s for labourers. Mr M'Kay’s bridge contract at Kyeburn River will absorb a large number of labourers.” A meeting of the Medical Association was held on April 4, to consider the recent manslaughter case, in which Dr Parry was convicted and sentenced to four months 5 imprisonment. Over a dozen Dunedin and country doctors attended, and with one exception all the speakers supported the opinion that the verdict was not a justifiable one, and that the rupture was quite probably not caused by external violence on the part of Dr Parry, but by internal causes. A good deal of comment was also passed on the indecent haste with which the trial had been hurried on. A resolution i was passed (Dr Hocken dissenting)— “ That the verdict was not justified by the evidence, and that the rupture from which the woman died might, according to the best authorities, have occurred when the patient was in the hands of any thoroughly skilful practitioner. 55 It was further resolved to petition Government for a commutation of the sentence.
i Many Presbyterians have an antipathy ■ to music in Kirk, and it was not without l much opposition the progressive section of i the Knox Church congregation, Dunedin, ■ succeeded in carrying a resolution to intro* ■ duce an organ into the sacred building. They bore down the resistance offered, but they have not converted their opponents. i A correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, shows this in the following paragraph, which lately appeared in the columns of that paper:—“lt is quite refreshing to hear of a little eccentricity now and then, and it would seem that the venerable ‘ Old Identity/ who has such an abhorrence of the introduction of singing machinery i into Knox Church is quite a character jin his way. On one occasion he boldly I walked out of the church one Sunday while somft strange clergyman was holding forth, and being asked by a friend afterwards why he did so, ho replied 5 ‘ Dae ye think I wis gaun tae listen ony langer tae yon nnickle loon preachin’?’ And just the other day one of his friends were advising him to join the new church now being formed in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart street, where they are going to have scarcely any music, as he was so strong against the organ being introduced. ‘ Na, na! ’ says he ‘ ye’ll no catch me leavin’; I’ll jist stay tae vex yon deevils.’ Notwithstanding all this he is a most worthy man, who seems to revel in pithy sayings j couched in the purest Doric. However, I when he grows a little older he may tone . down his language to a lower key.”
A man named Robert Thompson, a farm, hand, at Oamaru, has been found dead in his tent. The Drapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand, with a capital of .£125,000, has been floated. Mr B. Hallenstein is Chairman of Directors. The Rev Mr Sutherland, of Taiori, who goes Home by the Tongariro, is commissioned to represent the Otago Presbyterian Synod at the Belfast Assembly. A farmer named Stalker was killed at Oamaru oa April 3 by his horse falling with him and throwing him on his head. The body was not found until April 4. A seam of hematite has been found in. the Dowling street cutting. It is very rich in iron, and Messrs Smith and Smith have purchased a large quantity of it for the purpose of making hematite paint. A man named Joseph Pledger committed suicide in a most determined manner on April 2at Duntroon. He tied his hands together and threw himself intoa water” hole. He has relatives in Dunedin.
The band contest, in which the Dunedin Garrison, Oamaru Garrison, Dunedin Navals, North Dunedin Rifles, and the Queenstown bands competed, was won by the Oamaru band, the Dunedin Navals being second, and the Dunedin Garrison third.
At the adJourned inquest on the body of Michael Whelan, who was found dead at Hamilton, the jury returned the following verdict: —“ Died from the effects of excessive drinking, and injuries caused by his being inadvisedly put in a stable, where there were horses, while he was in a state of delirium tremens."
Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. sold at auction on April 10 the Heddon. bush and Hillend estate, situated in the Southland district, and containing 23,000 acres of freehold land. The bidding was brisk, and the property was eventually knocked down to Messrs Neill and Co., as agents for Messrs George Wills and Co., of Adelaide, for .£45,500, There was an accident on the railway line on Tuesday, March 25. A child, about three years of age, belonging to Mr Thomas Fisher, railway ganger, was playing on the line about half a mile this side of Greytown, and was struck on the head and thrown off the track by the cowcatcher of the engine attached to the express train. A nasty scalp wound was inflicted, but the accident is not expected to terminate fatally. A female child, three weeks old, was found on th« Pine HiU road on April 5, wrapped in a shawl and comfortably clothed. As it was raining heavily, the child must have perished if it had not been discovered. The police have arrested Nora. Walsh, a single woman, aged 22, of Oamaru, for abandonment of the childThe matron at the Hospital, where the young woman had been for her confinement, has identified thechild. The woman left the Hospital on April 4. At the Police Court on April 7, the accused was committed for trial for abandoning her child on the Pine Hill Eoad. -It appeared that the cries of the infant attracted the notice of a passer-by, but as the night was dark it was only after half-an-hour’s search that he discovered it.
The following is an extract from a letter received by Government from Mr E. Bouchier, Sheep Inspector at Queenstown, Lake District: —“ I was last week on a station on Wanaka Lake, where a mob of hoggets were attacked by keas, and in one night no less than 200 sheep were killed. The shepherds killed most of the birds, however. The use of the bonus for the destruction of keas is such that it gives a great impetus to men to destroy the birds, and sometimes iu is hard-earned money. The ranger of one run in this district gives contractors 4s per beak and his shepherds 3s per beak, and the consequence is that, this shearing, hardly a sheep was marked, and the death-rate was reduced by nearly one-half. The total number of beaks delivered at my office was 1574.” A meeting of creditors of Messrs J. and J. Watson, of the Grand Hotel, was held on March 21, at which there was a large attendance. The report of the Committee appointed to investigate the affairs connected with the estate, was considered highly satisfactory by the creditors, and it; was resolved that the property be vested in three Trustees to be carried on for the benefit of the creditors. The Messrs Watson are to act as managers of the business. It was resolved that debentures bearing 8 per cent interest be issued for the purpose of carrying on the affair, suchdebentures to be paid off as the funds come in. It was stated that after very careful examination of the books it was gathered that the profits of the business amounted to .£3OO per month, and there should therefore be no doubt of its being very shortly put on a satisfactory footing, and paying 20s in the £. It was stated that the estate showed a surplus of £17,000. A special meeting of the Harbour Board was held on March 21 to consider the report of the Dock Trust Committee. The Committee recommended that Mr G. M. Barr, engineer to the Board, be appointed engineer to the Dock also, and that he be requested to prepare plans and estimates for a dock 500 ft and for one 600 ft in length. The report was adopted. The Chairman reported, with regard to the present graving dock, that from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, ISS2, there were docked 66 vessels, yielding a revenue of £3275 Ss 2d, and the expenditure during the year amounted to £1562 4s 6d, leaving a credit balance of £1713 4s Id. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31,1583, there were docked 65 vessels,, yielding a revenue of £3128 15s Id. The expenditure during the year amounted to £1779 ISs lid, leaving a credit balance of £1348 16s 2d. Of the receipts in ISB2, the Union Steamship Company contributed £1961 17s sd, and in 1883, £2610 0s Sd. The Otago Daily Times says :—“ The seam of hematite which has been struck in the Dowling street cutting is likely to become of some value. Experts assert that the ore is superior to the ordinary hematite used at the Hillside Governmcut Workshops, and it has been successfully tried along with both English and Xelson*hematites. We are given to understand that the N.Z. Iron and Wood ware Co. and Messrs Smith and Smith are erecting machinery for the purpose of crushing the ore, and making it marketable. Already the latter firm have taken delivery of about 20 loads, and others iu the same line of _ business have tried samples of it with satisfactory results. Should the seam increase iu thickness, as it evidently shows signs of doing, and should the vein be of auy considerable extent, there is no doubt that a profitable return will be the result to the contractor for Dowling street cutting. The Government analyst has not yet tested a sample, and his analysis will be looted for with interest as to its real practical and commercial value. The darker portions of the lode are reckoned the most valuable, and it has a tough putty-like feel. The lighter samples are more mixed with clay, which decreases its value as a paint.” Dowling street, it may be mentioned for the berefit of those unacquainted with Dunedin, runs at right angles to Princes street, the main thoroughfare of the town. It strikes Princes street right in the centre of the City, coming down the spur of Bell Hill, through which the latter street was originally cut. Hitherto the western portion of Dowling street ended in a precipice climbed by wooden stairways, and it is this declivity which is now being graded. Southland. A girl aged four years, daughter of Mr Powell, auctioneer, Invercargill, accidentally fell into a bath on April 12, and was very severely scalded. The sufferer died on April 14. Mr Birch, up till recently local Manager for the Colonial Bank, and now of the National Mortgage and Agency Compmiy, was _ the recipient of a handsome silver service and illuminated testimonial from-
, Bank's customers and others on Aprii 2. il' .1 credit was given to Mr Birch for his running” as a Bank manager, inho to the Bank for assistance given times of financial trouble to the busimen of Invercargill and district \ woman named Sarah Jane b lett, wife A blacksmith at Nightcaps, has been ‘ ..iircd to gaol on a charge of manarising out of alleged m.alprac f!‘ a midwife. The deceased woman . - T ine Mildenhall, wife of a labourer at WV <v’s Bush. No doctor attended her but 11, • Young, of Riverton, who was sent for and found the woman dying. He did not ‘,, t ] u , rhild, and was of opinion deceased s was eaused by improper treatment, which might, however, have been used with the best, intentions. Further evidence went to show that accused bad stated that she bad a diploma. In examination she •admitted that thinking all hope of the doctor's coming was at an end she used mean* she would not otherwise have taken to relieve deceased. These facto were brought out at the inquest on March 22, and Mr# Plett was at once arrested. Nelson. K. man. named K. Skelton, was found drowned on the mud flat on March 20. He w;is last seen at half-past ten on the proems night, and it is supposed he fell over the breastwork at high water. He leaves a wife and three children. The lad Kelly, who was shot at the rifle butts on March IS, was removed to the Hospital on March 20, where ho had his arm amputated. Unfavourable symptoms set in ami be die 1 on Friday. March 21. He was 17 years of ago. He had been a pupil of Nelson College, had won the Provincial scholarship, and had passed the civil service examination. At the time ; of the accident ho was reading up for the , University examination. | The Nelson Colonist states that a party of 2 flve persons successfully sealed Mouat , Franklin, a peak of the St Aruaud Range. , This peak has been usually stated to bo ■ 10.«WOft high, and the party were disap- | pointed a good deal to find that, according ' to the reading of the aneroid on the summit. it is only 7Ssoft high. The night be- i fore the ascent they camped at an altitude of •UXXk't. At 500ft' above their camp they found a lake about two miles long and a quarter of a mile wide, in which the river ; Vt’aiau originates. This they named Lake : Thompson, after a surveyor at whose camp they had received some kindness on their journey up. Another Lake of similar dimensions was found at 6000 ft, from which ran a branch of the D’Urville F.iver flowing into Lake Rotorua, This they named Late Constance. At this altitude they got among snowfields, and had often to cut steps and to use the rone to guard against slips. At 7500 ft they encountered huge rocks with the crevices filled with snow, and up such ground they scrambled to the summit, which they reached at 2.30 p.m. A mist coming on prevented them from obtaining any prospect. The peak near the summit was found to be very steep, and great caution had to be used,' especially in descending. The scenery about the mountain they describe as surpassingly grand, and of great diversity. Many fine waterfalls were seen, one of them having a total fall of 1000 ft. Copper ore was found near Mount Franklin. and cold in a tributary of the Waiau ; and one' of the party, Mr Park, made a good collection of Alpine plants. . Marlborough. : A child named BothweU, two and a-half • years old. was kicked to death by a horse on March 26. The child was missed, and search was made by the father and others, who were horrified to find the little boy's body nearly cold, and with the ; head bro Len in, lying in a stockyard ; adjoining the parents’ residence. It is supposed that the child got between the horse’s legs, or in some other way attracted : its attention, and that a kick smashed the skull in.
Wellington. Parliament meets for despatch of business on June 5.
A requisition is being signed, asking Mr H. Bunny to stand for Thorndon seat. Mr Levin, M.H.E. for Wellington, has resigned his seat on account of ill health, and Mr 3l‘Donald, M.H.E. for East Coast, is stated to be about to leave the Colony. An address of condolence to the Queen co the death of Prince Leopold was forwarded by the Hew Zealand Government, through His Excellency the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Customs revenue for Wellington for the month is £20,505 ; for the quarter it was ,£04,418 5s lOd, as compared with £59,417 17s 2d for the corresponding quarter last year. A man named George Lymington cut his throat at the Tictoria Hotel, Featherston, on March 27. He was found dead with his head hanging out of a window. An attempt had been made to fire the house.
A young woman named Mary O’Connor was conveyed to the Hospital in a moribund condition and unable to give any account of herself. She died soon after being taken in. An inquest will be held. Lord Derby has cabled to his Excellency the Governor, respecting the loss of the barque Loch Fyne, from Lyttelton to London, and asking the New Zealand Government to search Enderby Island for castaways.
Dr Grabham, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, who is now on an official visit, has been instructed to report as to the sanity of the prisoner Donoghue, condemned for murder at Greymouth. It is understood that an examination has been made, and that Dr Grabham’s report will probably reach here this week. A fatal and shocking accident occurred on the Upper Plain, Mastcrton, on April 11. Two sons of Mr Kibble white, of Fenridge, were out shooting, when the elder brother fell. The gun he was carrying exploded, and the charge lodged in his brother’s side, killing him almost immediately. The deceased was eight years of age. Mr M, E. Edwards and Drs Newman and Buller are mentioned as candidates for the Thomdon seat. It is stated that a cablegram ia to be sent to the Hon W. Gisborne, in England, asking if he would be willing to stand. Mr Gisborne is expected to return to Wellington shortly. Mr T. Dwan, auctioneer, is also announced as a candidate for the seat.
On the Manawatu railway line, Messrs Henderson and Co. have completed sinking cylinders for a railway bridge across Porirua harbour. The bridge consists of four spans bOft each of large iron cylinders six feet in diameter. The cylinders are sunk to a depth of GBft and filled with concrete. The weight of each when filled is estimated at about 125 tons. The annual report of the Wellington— Manawatu Railway Company shows that since last meeting 50 miles of line have been let, and the contractors have made such good progress with the works that without doubt the six miles between Wellington and Johnsonville may be opened for traffic in September next. The Company to-day accepted the tender of Mr Seymour, of Auckland, for the construction of eight miles of line at Otaki and a bridge over the Ohau river, the price being ~8000.
The agricultural returns for the Eangitikei, Oroua, and Manawatu districts in the North Island are as follows :—Number of holdings, 1116; land broken up, but not under crop, 4222; in wheat, 8622 acres, estimated yield 156,123 bushels; in oats for hay, 547 acres; in oats for grain, 4172 acres, yield 120,394 bushels; in barley, 661 acres, yield 22,336 bushels ; in sown grasses —for hay, 1587 acres, yield 2253 tons ; in grasses, after being broken up, 58,240 acres ; grass sown lands not previously broken up, 200,646 ; in potatoes, 305 acres yield, 2131 tons; maize or sorghum, 10 acres; peas or beans, 24 acres; turnips or rape, 4082 acres; root crops, 15 acres; garden or orchard, 605 acres; tobacco, 15 acres; any other crop, 88 acres.
Charles Stewart, aged 12, son of Mr Stewart, timber merchant, was thrown from his horse on March 17 owing to its becoming startled at a circus band. The Lad never recovered consciousness, and died at four o’clock on March 19. There is a man in Wellington, according to a local paper, who can lift 1771bs above hia head with one hand, that is only 81b loss than the famous 1801 b weight which Professor Miller lifts. For the information of the curious, adds the paper, it may be stated that the amateur in question is sft 9in in { height, weighs list 71b, and is 83 years of j age ; measurement round the chest, 39iu ; j biceps, 14.1 in; and if it .is added that lie is ' a member of the local' police, many will i know to whom wo refer. A photograph j taken by a local medical gentleman, well | known as a connoisseur of physical propori tions, when compared with a picture of a | Roman gladiator, loses nothing for its | original in the way of muscular developI ment. It might be added that the son of | Anafc to whom we have referred, is in the habit of using, for ordinary exercise, two | very nice little dumbells of 661 b weight each. Taranaki. An old colonist named Shoan, from Nelson, died suddenly on April 7 near 000, soon after retiring to bod. His two sons have land near 000, and deceased was on a visit to them. Information has been received from Mountfort’s survey party that they have reached Ohura, having followed up the lino from Tongaporutu from the point whore Mr Carkeek had stopped. They have obtained another good route to Te Awamutu. This is the third good route which has been found, and will open up a splendid agricultural country. Hawke’s Bat. Hop-picking is now concluded. There is a very large crop at Tanners. The yield from cuttings planted less than six months ago was 7cwt to the acre. This is believed to be unprecedented. j A man named Thomas Nudgate was found on Clive road on April 9 at 6 p.m., ' having been pitched from a horse. He was carried home and died at nine o’clock. He had been seen at five in the afternoon in a state of intoxication. i
Mr Finn, lawyer, brought an action for damages against a servant girl and her young man who played high jinks in his drawing room during his absence. He got 5s and costs, the action being brought only as a deterrent to a common practice. Frederick Cox, a master tailor, at Gisborne who had been suffering from fever and was slightly delirious, during the absence of his attendant at six o’clock on March 27, got out unobserved from his house, and went and drowned himself in the river. He leaves a wife and three children.
There was an extraordinary scene (says the Hawke’s Bay Herald) on the wharf on March 29, when the second launch was about to leave for the Manapouri with the female members of the Williamson Opera Company. It appears that on the previous Sunday a girl of eighteen, daughter of a well-known resident, met one of the chorus singers of the Company, and on Monday they were married at the Registrar’s office, the girl giving a wrong name and making a false declaration as te age. During the week she sang in the choruses, and stayed with her husband at the Temperance Hotel, apparently without opposition. However, on Saturday, when she was about to follow her husband (who had gone in the first launch) a policeman stepped up and compelled her to remain behind. She went to her father’s house, but was refused admittance there, and she was left in the street, absolutely penniless. A kind neighbour gave her food and shelter. The conduct of the father, in refusing his daughter a home after preventing her leaving with her husband, is inexplicable. Wanganui. The Wanganui Dairy Factory Company have resolved to send three tons of cheese Home for sale as an experiment. The cheese will be sent in one of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamers. The first crop of hops grown in Wanganui was picked last week, the crop being very good for a first year’s growth. _ Probably, now that it is known the soil is suitable for hop growing, the industry will become more general throughout the district. The Chronicle says :—A delicious state of Arcadian simplicity was revealed in the Wanganui Police Court in regard to the ideas of the native female as to the nature of the matrimonial tie, which, if extended to Europeans, would work somewhat of a revolution in our system of civilisation. One of the female native witnesses was undergoing cross-examination by Mr Bamicoat, who, in the course of his questionings, inquired the nature of her connection with a European with whom she is living. The dusky wahine, with a simpering smile, replied that he was her husband, but Mr Bamicoat, apparently not satisfied, wished to know whether she was legally married to him, and if she had not been previously married to a native who is yet alive. The witness, however, was not to be nonplussed, and said that sh* knew nothing about legal marriage. If she saw a man that she liked, she went to live with him, and if he did not suit her she got someone else. Auckland. An anti-smoking society has been formed. A branch of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union was formed here on April 2, The Observer newspaper was sold by auction to-day, and fetched £ISOO. The Herald correspondent writes that gold has been discovered at Mangapai. The head-quarters of the Constabulary have been removed from Cambridge to Kihikihi.
At the annual meeting of the Blue Ribbon Army it was stated that 3000 pledges had been taken during the year. The New Zealand Tobacco Company have just ordered an additional plug and twist making machine to cost £6OO. Amongst the cargo of the Penguin, from Fiji, is 6322 mats of sugar, the largest shipment yet received here from Fiji. At a meeting of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union, 150 were present, and 20 joined at the meeting. The Auckland Temperance Alliance have sent for Messrs Booth and Glover, Blue Ribbon champions, and expect them here shortly. The Harbour Board purpose extending the railway wharf 400 ft, at a cost of £IO,OOO, for the accommodation of ocean steamers.
Fully 2000 women have signed a petition for the extension of the under the electoral laws to females, and it is expected that this number will bo largely increased when a special canvass is resumed.
At the annual meeting of the Young Men’s Christian Association, Dr Kenderdine was elected President. For the first time for eighteen years, there was a credit balance. It is proposed to erect larger buildings. The assets are J6tioo. The threshing machines all over the Waikato are now kept constantly at work, and so far the jield has in nearly all cases exceeded tho estimate, in some places by fully ten bushels to the acre, while the samples are generally first-class. Indeed it is a recognised f|ct all over the district that fair and remunerative prices are the only conditions needed to establish wheatgrowing in the Waikato upon a large and systematic scale. A 12-oared cutter race took place on April 12 between the Auckland Naval Artillery and the Tsukuba; course, 2-i miles. In tho first race Auckland won by Imin 40sec, having a much lighter and. better boat. The boats were then changed, and the Japanese won by 15sec, the Aucklanders thus proving the better men by Imin 25seo. The wharf was crowded with spectators. The Japanese pulled pluckily ah d well, and were heartily cheered.
A gumdigger, named Patrick Gibbons, fell ill in the street, and died in a iow minutes. A North Now Zealand Farmers’ Coj operative Society is being inaugurated in the Waikato.
Piripi, a Native chief, fell into a boiling spring at Ohinemutu on April 7, and was dreadfully scalded. Ho died on April 9. [ Tlio explosion of powder and dynamite i caps at tbo burning of a store at the Bay ; of Islands caused damage to tbo extent of ! .£4OO.
The first shipmeutof Auckland cheese was sent by the Manapouri to Wellington for tbo English market, for transhipment to the Ruapehu. At the Divorce Court, W. Swanson, junr., son of Mr Swanson, M.H.R., petitioned for a decree annulling his marriage with a Native woman.
A petition has been filed by Marianne Offer, iu ! a Bartlett, for a dissolution of hei marriage with William J. Offer, on the ground of adultery. Offer is a wealthy man and a City Councillor. The brigantine Oamaru, from Lovuka, brings intelligence that the German schooner Christine, which arrived there from a harbour cruise recently, reported that ono of her boats’ crews had been attacked by natives and the boat-stcerer killed. Between 10 and 12 o’clock on March 19, 15 shocks of earthquake were experienced at Taupo; and at 4.50 p.m. on March 20, ono very severe, and between 40 and 50 slight shocks were felt at short intervals. At 7 o’clock on March 21 there was another shock.
The City Council have introduced a bylaw re street obstruction, believed to be levelled at Salvationists holding services in the public streets. The Churches practising open-air preaching; have taken alarm, and a petition against the proposed by-law was signed in all the city churches. . A rifle match took place on April 9 between 15 of the Tsukuba’s (Japanese man-of-war) crew and 16 of the City Guards. The Tsukuba’s score was 742; City Guards, 1072. Captain Ariji, of the Tsukuba, presented the highest scorer of the winning team, Colour-Sergeant Hay, with a handsome present. The new Salvation Army Barracks were opened on April 10. They hold 1500. The services all day were filled to overflowing, and there was a monster soiree in the evening. Major Pollard, Captain Wright, and Captain Graham conducted the services. Services were also held in most of the churches.
James Mulholland, clerk in the Deeds Office, underwent a delicate surgical operation on March 21. It was performed by Dr Stalker, in five minutes, under cbloro • form, but MulhoUand never recovered consciousness and died. Dr Stalker attempted resuscitation, and sent for Dr Richardson but failed. Mulholland was formerly ol Dunedin. He leaves a wife and family. The New Zealand Tobacco Company are going to work in earnest. They have leased premises near the railway station, Auckland, and intend to commence there at once the work of manufacturing the leaf on hand. The factory is being fitted up on the American system, and will employ 150 persons. Settlers and Natives are taking up the work of tobacco cultivation in a manner which promises an abundant supply of leaf.
The Auckland Star has been shown some excellent specimens of cured tobacco leaf from the -works of the New Zealand Tobacco Company. The tobacco was grown in various parts of the Colony from Wanganui to Hokianga. Twenty practised cigarmakers are" now employed by the company, and they have orders on hand from England and Australia alone for 400 tons of tobacco. 100 tons of leaf will be manufactured into cigars this season. James Breen, aged 17, fell oft the Queen’s wharf on March 28, and was drowned. He was waiting for the arrival of a steamer to take delivery of some fish, and it is supposed that he fell asleep and tumbled over. The body was recovered two hours later. The inquest ended in a verdict of accidental death. The evidence showed that the lad attended the steamer at the,fisherman’s boats at night, and was dead beat for want of sleep, and must have fallen over the wharf while asleep. An interesting announcement was made by Mr Justice Gillies at a meeting of the University College Council on April 1. His Honor statedthat in conformity with the wishes of the late Mrs Gillies, it is his intention to place .£3OOO at the disposal of the Council for two scholarships of £IOO per annum each, to be called “The Sinclair” and “The Gillies” scholarships, in memory of i)r Sinclair, formerly Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, and of Mrs Gillies. The scholarships will be tenable for three years, and are for poor scholars only. When in Auckland Hanlan called at the Herald office, and that journal, in describing theinterview,says; —“Hanlan has been three times in England, but he says that he had not so much time to see the country as he would have liked. He hopes, however, when he retires from professional rowing to be able to do some travel in a leisurely and enjoyable manner. An athlete, he remarks, is under a good many restrictions. He is better without stimulants, and to abstain from smoking. When in training he takes a little ale at meals, but believes he would be as well without it. He has trained on water, on tea, on milk, on champagne, and on ale, and as he has never been beaten cannot utterly condemn any of them. One would scarcely fancy, to look at Hanlan, that he was the champion oarsman of the world. He is only sft Sin in height, and does not look enormously square in the shoulders, being but 38iin round the chest. He is 29 years of ago, of pleasing and gentlemanly manners and speech.” The following remarkable episode took place at the inquest at Helensville on the body of Mary Brown, an elderly widow, who expired somewhat suddenly from an apoplectic fit: —At the conclusion of the inquest, the foreman of the jury, Mr Curtis Moore, rose, and addressing the Coroner, said the jury directed him to express to the Coroner, and through him to the public, their feelings of indignation on learning that a woman in the township had lain fer twelve hours in an apoplectic fit without medical attendance whilst two professors cf medicine were in the district. It was no use disguising their feelings in the matter. They must and would have a sober medical gentleman in town who could be available in every case of emergency. The two persons who resided amongst them were, from their habits, totally unfit and unreliable ; in fact, they were a disgrace to the medical profession. The jury requested the Coroner, Mr A. Honor, to duly represent their feelings in this matter to the proper authorities.
At a meeting of the Committee of tho Auckland Sencultural Association, Mr Federli suggested that a farm should be established with tho object of practically working tho silk industry, and with tho ob 'cct of spreading all information possible hi tec Colony at large, and to make tho concern not a local but a national one, and that this should be by private enterprise. Some considerable discussion ensued, and it was eventually agreed, on the motion of Mr Comiskey—“ That a Company bo formed with a capital of .£IO,OOO, for the purpose of establishing the culture of silk, olive vines, colza, castor oil, and other kindred industries, and that Government be requested to grant—(l) 1000 acres of land to be selected by tho Company; (2) that Government introduce at their expense four families accustomed to the above industries; (3) that Government annually grant .£IOOO for five years as a subsidy to the Company.” Professor Brown, Mr Comiskey, and Mr Shorn were appointed a Committee to wait on tho Chamber of Commerce to ask that body to assist in urging upon Government the advisability of granting the above concessions.
~ Four classes of the Auckland Grammar School are crowded, and unable to take further pupils till increased accommodation 19 Gold is* reported to have boon recently found on the island of Viti Dovui(lm), Rich specimens wove exhibited at Lovuka just before the Penguin left. An English syndicate hw Purchased 40,000 acres at Taupo for X.t0.000, Iho negotiations were conducted by cablegrams, which alone cost X/50. The Rev W. H. H. Jorvois, son of tbe Governor, preached at St Paul’s Church on April 5 to a crowded congregation. The Governor and suite wore present. At 2 o’clock a.m. on March 28, a woman named Qarrity, while drunk, foil from an upper etoroy window oi a boarding-home in Albert street, and fractured her skull and thigh. She was conveyed to tbo Hospital, and will probably recover. A meeting of Natives to bid farewell to Tawhiao, was hold at Mercer on March 30, Topia, of Wanganui, gave 421000, and Poki, of Taranaki, 42100, to Tawhiao, towards the expenses of the mission. Most of the Natives followed Tawhiao’s example, and wore the blue ribbon.
The Australia brought 30,000 trout ova from California for the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The cases were examined and the whole consignment found to bo worthless. The ova were well packed, and it is supposed want of attention on board the vessel caused the failure. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, Henry Wood, charged with arson, was acquitted. William Henry Jones, late manager of the Onehunga Iron Works, was sentenced to fourteen years’ penal servitude for attempted murder of John M'Dermott. The bill against John Margetts for embezzlement was thrown out. A gang of juvenile thieves were sentenced to from one month to three months’ imprisonment. The ringleader, aged thirteen, known as “Captain Knox,” had eighteen previous charges against him. The laying of the foundation stone of the new Baptist Tabernacle took place on April 14, in the presence of a large assemblage of the Baptist clergy of the province. Ministers of various denominations, and Professor Aldis, of Auckland University, gave an address. The stone was laid by Dr Kenderdyne. The collection amounted to i>4oo. The soirdc ill the evening was largely attended. The Rev T. Spurgeon presided. The land, tabernacle, and school cost .£12,000. It was hoped the Hon T. Dick, Colonial Secretary, would have been present, but official duties prevented him. One of the saloon passengers by the Ringarooma, named John Henty, died at 5 o’clock on April 8, off the island of Kawau. The supposed cause of death is delirium tremens, but he only had three drinks on board. Deceased is a son of one of the Henty Bros, of Melbourne, and manager of the Bank of New Zealand agency in Sydney. He had a return ticket. On the second day out he began to talk incoherently and wildly, and was put into a separate cabin and attended to by the steward. He talked about ringing up the telephone for his wife and children. On April 8, at 5 o’clock p.m., the captain went into the cabin to see him, and told him he would soon be on shore. Henty got up and dressed and put on his hat in order to go ashore, when he dropped down dead. He appeared to be about 35 years of age. Ghastly possibilities of a mysterious tragedy are suggested by the discovery of a human skeleton by the side of a long disused track, near the township of Hamilton, Waikato. The fragments of clothing, &c., prove it to be the body of a European soldier. The skull bears evidence of having been pierced in two places by a rifle bullet, and the probability is, therefore, that the man, whoever he was, was murdered. From the fact that the present road has been in use seventeen or eighteen years, it is evident the occurrence took place soon after the close of the war. A correspondent writes to the Wailcaio Times that some time in 1865, if he recollects arieht, a militiaman left Cambridge for Hamilton to transact some business, that he reached the latter place, executed his commission’ started on his return journey, and was never afterwards seen. Little notice was taken of the affair at the time. The police purpose keeping the skeleton on view at the barracks for some time, in the hope that some clue to its identity may be forthcoming. At the usual Chamber sitting in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 1, a couple of applications were made in respect of a rather singular action for libel, which has been instituted at New Plymouth by Dr Gibbes and his wife against Mr Samuels, a well-known solicitor. It seems Mr Samuels, in his professional capacity, wrote a letter for Dr Leatham and Mr Black (executors of the late Dr Sinclair) to Mr Key, solicitor for Mrs Gibbes, and therein set forth certain matters which affected the lady’s character for honesty. Upon this proceedings were instituted, the delivery of the letter to Roy being regarded as tantamount to the publication of the alleged libel. The case is almost without a precedent, for lawyers in the discharge of their professional duties are commonly regarded as having a certain amount of privilege. Mr Justice Gillies looks upon plaintiffs’ proceedings as a piece of folly, and does not think the case will ever come before a jury. It is said professional spite on the part of another legal gentleman, whose name does not appear in the case, is at the bottom of the whole affair.
AUSTRALIA. Victoria . Matthew Burnett, the temperance lecturer, is at present in Melbourne conducting meetings for the propagation of the work. The death is announced of Philip Pitt, for eighty years a colonist of Tasmania. He came to Port Philip with Governors Collins and Faulkner in 1803, and was the oldest surviving settler in Tasmania hut An escaped lunatic named William Bourke, with several aliases, has been arrested hy the police near Belfast on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of Francis Beech at Pettavcl in January April 5 was observed as a day of general mourning throughout the Colony, for the late Duke of Albany. The majority of the citizens of Melbourne were dressed in blnck, and flags were flown on all public buildings at half-mast. ' The proprietors of the Melbourne Age have organised another expedition to procecd with the exploration of Now Guinea, under the leadership of Captain Strachan. The party, which consists of six men, have left Melbourne for New Guinea. The steamship Romo, with English mail, arrived at Melbourne on April 14. Miss Kermode, of Tasmania, one of the passengers, was suffering from small-pox. The passengers were ordered into quarantine for a fortnight to be vaccinated. Hop picking is now m full swing in Gippsland, and there being a scarcity of hands, some of the growers have raised the price to 3jd per bushel. It is calculated that the whole of the crop will not bo gathered before the end of the month. A Victorian public school boy named Dyer recently performed a notable feat, by making 55 in a big match, using only one arm. The other had recently boenbroken. The only parallel instance within our knowledge occurred in a match at Dunedin a few years ago, when J. Fulton, also using one hand, scored 88 for the Carisbrook Club. , . . , . . A grand Masonic ceremony took place in the Melbourne Town Hall on March 20, when Sir William Clarke was installed District Grand Master of the English, Scotch, and Irish Constitutions. Fully 3000 Masons were present. In the evening a lev£o and banquet was held at the Town Hall, and was attended by 1100 people. The whole of the day's proceedings passed oft with great 6dat,
It is reported that an important gold discovery has boon made in the Hughonburg Forest Ranges. Tawhiao, who is a passenger by the Soratn for England, paid a visit to tho exhibition buildings on April 15. It is announced hero that a now French lino of steamers (Compagnie Commercialo) will commence from May next to run between Noumea, Sydney, Melbourne, Bordeaux, and Antwerp. In consequence of tho death of the Duke of Albany, tho proposed farewell banquet to tho Marquis of Normanby, in honour of his Excellency’s departure, was abandoned, together with other festivities. Unusually early frosts in Victoria have resulted in very serious damage to garden crops, and in some districts tho weather is now so dry that tho ground has baked to such an extent ns to prevent ploughing boon proceeded with.
The Victorian revenue returns for the last quarter are published. Tho receipts amount to £1, 640, 000, an increase of 42105,500 compared with the same quarter last year. The Customs revenue has increased by .£I3OO, the land income by £72,000, and tho railway receipts by 4280,000. Tho excise revenue has decreased by £43,000. A daring attempt at robbery under arms was made on Saturday, March. 29. A man named Alfred Kirby called at the refreshment rooms at Yarra Park, and presented a revolver at tho head of the woman in charge, who gave up her watch and chain to the robber. Kirby was afterwards pursued and arrested, though he jumped into the river in order to avoid pursuit. A daring robbery was committed early on Friday, March 28. Mr J. Belt, a visitor from Tasmania, after leaving a Masonic ball in tho Town HaH, got into a cab to go to his hotel. He was driven into some back slums, and the cabman, with the assistance of three other men, forcibly took possession of his watch, rings, studs, &c., to the value of £250. The police have arrested a man on suspicion of complicity. The melancholy intelligence of the death of the Duke of Albany created a profound sensation. The news was published early on March 29 by Reuter’s Agency, and extraordinary editions of the metropolitan papers were issued. Some comment was caused by the fact that the authorities of St Patrick’s Cathedral refused to allow the Dead March to be played on Sunday. His Excellency the Governor put off all official engagements for the week, and the banquet which was to have taken place on April 1 has consequently been abandoned. William Hawthorne, who was shot at Brighton recently, died on March 31. Deceased. had an arm amputated at the shoulder joint. The Coroner insisted on taking his depositions, in spite of the protests of ten medical men, and the examination lasted an hour and three quarters, during which time the man was confronted with his brother, who was under arrest for the crime. Dr O’Hara, one of the medical attendants, has written to the papers stating that the excitement of the examination undoubtedly hastened death if it did not cause it.
A cowardly attempt at murder took place at South Brighton on March 22, the victim being William Hawthorne. The gun of the would-be assassin was thrust through the window underneath which his intended victim slept. The charge entered the man’s shoulder, wounding him dangerously. Black trackers were soon on the spot, and traced the footsteps to the residence of the wounded man’s brother, who was arrested. His boots were found to correspond with the footprints outside the window. The two had been on very bad terms for some time.
The Government statist for Victoria, owing to the new system of giving bonuses for crop returns according to the celerity with which they are supplied, has been enabled to publish the principal return much earlier than usual. The returns to hand show that 13,063,501 bushels of wheat have been grown in the districts to which the returns refer. The average yield of wheat per acre in the districts which have forwarded returns was 13-89 bushels, as against only 9 - 81 bushels, the average yield for the whole Colony in 18S2-3. The returns also show that 4,382,526 bushels of oats, 158,595 tons of potatoes, and 405,420 tons of hay were raised in the districts to which they relate. The total yield of oats in the whole of the Colony in 1882-3 was 4,441,725 bushels, of potatoes 129,487 tons, and of hay 327,373 tons. Oats this year, average 24-96 bushels ; potatoes, 4 tons ; hay, T 44 tons. The cable this morning reports a total yield of 15,500,000 bushels, but the average remains the same.
A law clerk named Isaac Ogle absconded from Victoria, after having falsified the books of his employer, and misappropriated nearly ,£2OOO. He was traced to Brighton, England, where he was arrested, and brought back to Victoria, and on being tried he received a sentence of two years' imprisonment, and was incarcerated in the Melbourne Gaol. Shortly after _ his admission, Ogle, because of his ability as an accountant, was promoted to the position of clerk, and it now appears, that as soon as ever he became acquainted with his duties he at once proceeded to falsify the books and disorganise the discipline of the institution by altering the terms of imprisonment of several prisoners. The practice was continued for some time successfully, but the watchful eye of Mr Magee, governor of the gaol, soon discovered the prisoner’s misconduct, and it was nipped in the bud. In one case which has been discovered. Ogle appears to have falsified the figures of no less than 12 of the books kept in the office, by which a prisoner named Coates had his sentence reduced some ten days. The falsification was carried out in a most systematic manner, and for artistic penmanship it reflected most creditably upon the offender. On the case being discovered Ogle was sentenced to three days’ imprisonment and deprived of the usual remission made to prisoners for good behaviour. Since the offence Ogle has been returned to the prison ward, where he will have to work out the remainder of his sentence. New South Wales. The war ships Nelson, Diamond and Miranda are now in port. Damages, ,£SOO, were given against Dr Allan Campbell in an action for unskilful treatment of a child. The English mails by the Sorata were delivered in 37 days from London, being one of the best times on record. All the British men-of-war in port fired thirty guns on April 5, and April ? was observed as a day of general mourning for the death of Prince Leopold. Mrs Barker, widow of the late Bishop Barker, has contributed £IOOO for the purpose of founding a scholarship or bursary at ‘Moore College as a memorial of the Tho > race between William Beach and Edward Trickott for £4OO and the championship of Australia took place on April 12 over the Parramatta championship course. The cable says Beach won by two lol Edward Williams, against whom the strongest case existed, was found guilty of rape in connection with the Woolloomooloo outrage 1 , and sentenced to death. Prisoner evinced little emotion when the sentence was pronounced. The other prisoners similarly charged wore liberated on their own recognisances, to come up to trial when called upon. The sentence was alterwards commuted to penal servitude for llf -Pho New South Wales revenue returns were published on April 1. The receipts for °tho quarter amounted to £1,500,000, being a decrease of Mf.m compared with the corresponding period last year The r.vfiima for the year amounted to £6 400,000. being £794.000 below last year’s receipts. The diminution is attributed to tlie falling off in land revenue, which shows a decrease of £1,180,000 for the year.
In tho L 'gislative Assembly on April 9 n Bill empowering the University Senate to grant additional degrees, ana also to confer degi eo.« on women, was agreed to. Nows is to hand from New Guinea that the inland tribes there are engaged in a fierce war, and that the Rev Mr Chalmers has proceeded to tho scone of hostilities to endeavour to restore peace. A letter has boon received by tho Colonial Secretary from Mr Franklin, the Executive Commissioner for New South Wales at the Calcutta Exhibition, stating that it is tho intention of tho Indian Government to despatch an officer at an early date to tho Colonies to inquire into the question of a horse supply for the Indian service.
On March 24,Hanlan, Trickctt, Laycock, and Clifford, accompanied hy a number of gentlemen residing in Sydney, visited the Nepean riv or for the purpose of ascertaining whether the river was likely to prove suitable for a champion sculling match. Hanlas gave an exhibition of his skill in a wager-bcat, and afterwards gave it as his opinion that the Nepean river was an excellent one for deciding a race on; in fact lie bad never seen a stretch of water he 'liked better.
Biimop Barry arrived on April 5, and having i eo i met and welcomed, was quietly escorted to Government house. Afterwards a special service was held in the Cathedral, where the Bishop preached. Addresses of welcome were afterwards presented at the Masonic Hall, to which the Bishop made suitable replies, bearing particularly on education in public schools, the culture of the clergy, and the relations of the clergy and laity in Church matters. The Bishop has preached regularly each evening during the week.
A welcome rainfall has relieved all apprehensions in regard to the water supply in and around Sydney, but as yet the change has not penetrated inland, where it is so much needed. On Saturday, April 5 the rain fell in earnest in Sydney. For some hours there was a continuous downpour six inches falling in 24 hours; and half of this quantity fell during the night in the short space of half-an-hour. Since that time it has been raining intermittently. Some damage was caused in the low-lying parts of the city by floods, but nothing serious. The Botany dams having been replenished with a month’s supply, all restrictions in regard to the water supply have been removed. Regarding the rainfall in New South Wales, it is stated that last year was the lowest of its decade, and the strongest possible contrast to ten years ago. It had less than 18in, as compared with nearly 23 Jin 1874. These figures are the average of the whole Colony, and of course it may often happen that there is a sufficiency of rain in the coast district and a terrible want of it to the westward. The mean rainfall for the decade is a shade over 24iin, and the last four years have all been belpw that average by about 4in. Four successive dry years, therefore, are now being followed by a very dry summer, and the strain upon the grass and water resources of interior stations is very severe.
An amusing scene occurred one morning in the Central Police Station, Sydney, while a man with a wooden leg was being removed to a cell. The prisoner, a short, muscular man, objected in the most practical fashion, and quite astonished the company by his vigorous resistance. He lay on his back and kicked hard in all directions, the wooden leg flying round with peculiar activity. The constables found it expedient to keep clear of this formidable weapon, and for a short time the “leg” had the floor of the house; but the guardians of the peace rallied in a combined attack from three different points, and the man was carried along to the door of a cell. Here another tough engagement took place, the wooden leg acting with special effect in the limited sjiace of the doorway, and one of the constables received a severe kick on the wrist. All this time the prisoner was using language really unfit for publication. Superior science at length triumphed, and mind scored one more victory over matter. The prisoner was jammed down alongside a bunk, and while thus hampered his leg was taken off and stood up against the wall safely outside the cell. The battery having been dismantled, the attacking force retired in good order to gloat over their victory. South Australia. Parliament has been dissolved, and writs will be issued in three batches. Nominations for the first batch are fixed for April 8. Owing to dulness in the building trade, the master's have given notice of a reduction of wages, which their employees will not accept. Both Houses of the South Australian Parliament were dissolved on March 19. The general elections are fixed to take place in April. The Minister of Education stated Government intended to offer the Orient Company 12s a pound for letters, as from September last, on consideration that the steamers of that line call at Adelaide. The South Australian revenue returns for the March quarter show total receipts of <£517,000, a decrease of £31,500 compared with the corresponding period of 1883. The falling off is chiefly in Customs (£25,000) and land revenue (£35,000). The income from railways has increased by £25,000. The fourth Australian Eleven, before leaving for England by the E.M.S. Sutlej from Glenelg on the 15th of this month, were entertained at Parliament House, Adelaide, by Mr Parsons. Spofforth, who did not play in the match against Fifteen of South Australia, joined the team at Glenelg. The Age, we notice, sends Home a special reporter to chronicle the doings of the cricketers. The following account of a sudden death from snake-bite is furnished to the Belfast Gazette, a South Australian paper, in a letter from' Mr A. S. Lane: —“ Allow mo to direct public attention to the venomous m.-aire of snake poison at the present time. Last month, my son, on my farm at Grafton, Bessiebelle, when in the act of driving some horses for the purpose of yarding them, observed one of them —a valuable one, and worth not less than £3o—make a sudden jump away from a large tiger snake. After some difficulty and two escapes from being bitten, he succeeded in killing the reptile. In the meantime he observed the horse lie down fifty yards distant, and thinking it was in the act of rolling, ho completed his task of killing the snake before going to it; but when ho did so, to his surprise, he found the horse quite dead. My son is quite certain that throe minutes did not elapse from the time the horse jumped from the snake till ho reached the spot where it lay. This seems a most prolific season for snakes, as my sons have succeeded in killing seventy-three reptiles, a valuable dog in their possession, of the setter breed, and only about twelve mouths old, having found thirty-eight and assisted in killing many of the number.
Queensland. Heavy rain lias fallen at Cooktown during the last few days, and the country is Hooded.
Five New Caledonian escapees were brought up at tho Police Court and remanded, pending - their return to Noumea. An agreement has been entered into between tho British India Company and the Queensland Freezing and * Jx P or » Company for tho conveyance oi 100 tons ot frozen moat from Brisbane to London on five successive voyages. There has been a fearful locust plague in North Queensland. On tho Herbert river they have eaten down 400 acres of cane at one plantation, and all tho hands employed there wore in consequence paid off. It is thought that cane-growing on the river will be quite stopped temporarily by this
plague, for in the case of the Victoria property there will be no cane left to crush this season. The revenue returns for tho quarter ended March 31 were published on April 4. The revenue fer the quarter amounted to .£590,000, being an increase of £34,500 compared with the corresponding period last year. The land revenue for three months shows a decrease of .£37,500, but receipts from all other sources have improved. Tasmania. A shock of earthquake was felt at Hobart and Launceston early on Tuesday, April 8, and earth trembles were felt at Brighton, 17 miles from Hobart. One of the most successful hop-growers in Tasmania is about to visit London to make enquiries with a view of opening up, if possible, an export trade in hops with. England. He will also endeavour, whilst on his travels, to gather the latest information with respect to oyster culture in various parts of the world. One of tho islands on the Tasmanian coast, Maria Island, has been leased to an Italian gentleman for the purpose of establishing the industries of silk and vine culture, together or separately at the nominal rental of one shilling per annum for ten years, on condition of the prosecution of the industries and the expenditure of a certain amount each year for the ten years, the cost of importing labour from Europe to be reckoned as part of the sum. FIJI. The captain and boatswain of tho late schooner Windward Ho were, during the month of February, charged before the Chief Judicial Commissioner of Fiji, Sir Henry Wrensfordsley, with the wilful murder of a Kanaka, and were fully acquitted. The evidence, we learn through Australian sources, was to this effect:—One of the recruits appeared suddenly to be seized with a frenzy, and attacked all hands with a butcher’s cleaver. He succeeded in so seriously wounding eight or ten men that the deck of the vessel was described as being like the floor of a slaughterhouse. On the captain coming above, he jumped down into the hold, and, having armed himself with poisoned native weapons, defied arrest. The dread of these weapons is so great that no one dared attempt his capture, as death was regarded as the inevitable consequence. The boat-steerer was therefore ordered to bore a hole in the bulkhead and shoot him, so as to disable him. This was done after full and mature deliberation between tbe captain, mate, and Government agent. The boat-steerer did 'so, hitting him in the shoulder, and the man died two days after, whether from the effects of this shot or from other injuries received in the milce of his first attack is not clear. A very high character for humanity and kindness to recruits under his charge was given Captain Petrie. The Government agent, in answer to the Commissioner, stated his belief that it was absolutely necessary for the general safety that this man should have been shot, and the Commissioner, after weighing the evidence carefully, concluded that the act was justifiable, and ordered the discharge of the accused. Some of the recruits were so maimed by the wounds they had received that the Immigration Department refused to pass them as labourers, and they will therefore be sent back home, it is to be hoped not without some recompense.
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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7222, 23 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)
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14,716SOCIAL SUMMARY. Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7222, 23 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)
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