SOCIAL SUMMARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7863, 19 May 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOCIAL SUMMARY.

• NEW ZEALAND. 3 Canterbury. • Mr G. St Hill has exhibited to our Ashburton representative a sample of i second-crop apples of the Irish Peach : variety, gathered from a tree from which a prolific crop of ripe fruit was gathered [ two months ago. The specimens are rather larger than a full sized walnut. ’ The summary of attendance at the public schools of the North Canterbury district, . which is now issued, shows that the number ’ of children on the roll at the end of the , quarter terminating March 31 was—lo,o6B ! males and 9505 females, total 19,573. The working average attendance was 7756 ’ males and 7185 females, making a total of 14,941. There are altogether 145 schools, ; including side schools, in the district. The thirty - seventh annual report ■ of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, just published, shows that the number of policies issued since the establishment of the Society to'Dec. 31, 1885, is 99,687, assuring £35,774.048, of which 30,480, assuring £10,720,676, have been discontinued, leaving 69,207 existing policies assuring £25,053,372. The annual income from premiums amounts to £837,978 12s, and from interest to £372,191 12s lOd, making the total annual revenue of the Society £1,210,170 4s lOd. The surplus of funds over liabilities, at Dec. 31 last, was £427,128 0s lid. The Directors have resolved to distribute as a cash bonus among the members the sum of £278,176 13s lOd. The Society's statement appears in full in another column. It is not every drunken man who has such a knowledge of what is best for him as a certain resident of Kirwee, who arrived at the Christchurch police station on May 7, in charge of Constable Haddrell. He, the resident, not the constable, had been “on the spree ” for a considerable time, and the effects of his debauch were beginning to tell upon him. In fact, he was in the incipient stages of delirium tremens. Under these circumstances, he did what was, perhaps, the very best thing he could have done. He sent the • following telegram to Constable Haddrell ;—“ I am bad with liquor; want you to take me to Addington to-night." The constable at once went to Kirwee, and, finding that his correspondent was very bad indeed with liquor, took him in charge, and brought hirtf to Christchurch. There died at Lyttelton on May 7, aged fifty-three years, Alexander Eeid, for many years one of the pilot staff at Lyttelton Heads. Eeid came to Lyttelton as second mate of the barque William Miles, one of Messrs Miles Bros, and Co.'s vessels, of Bristol. He married in the ’ Co’ony and returned to England, and came out the following voyage with Captain Eose, as mate of the Mermaid, in the year 1862, and settled in Lyttelton. Here he became coxswain of the pilot boat at the Heads, and was afterwards appointed pilot at Sumner, and afterwards at Lyttelton Heads about twenty years ago, and had hold the appointment ever since. He leaves a large family. He was one of the oldest pilots in the New Zealand service. Deceased was bom at Peterhead, Scotland, and he died of cancer, after about six months of suffering, borne with great fortitude. Westland. On April 15, H. M’Carthy, of Notown, while driving a spring cart, got upset, and was killed instantaneously. Otago. A miner at Macetown, named Callaghan, was killed by a fall of earth in his claim. At a sale of runs in the Lillburn and Kyeburn districts, the prices realised were in advance of previous years from 50 to 100 per cent. A settler in the Puerua district, named Alexander Henderson, has died from the effects of a tree falling on him, under which he lay for three hours. At the annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, the Chairman stated that notwithstanding their losses the Society would be able to turn out 15,000 salmon. The Dock Trust have appointed Mr E, Hay as their engineer, and resolved to take steps to raise a loan at once. The engineer estimates the cost of a dock, 500 ft in length, with provision for extending 100 ft, at £97,000. The City Council voted £SO as compensation to a woman who had broken her arm by falling over a heap of stones, and notice of motion was given that, in any accident where negligence was proved, the head of the department would be instantly dismissed.

Ann Pearce, an old woman, recovered £IOO damages from the City Corporation for having broken her leg by falling over a gas pipe which had been left in the channel abutting the kerb. The results of the Dunedin City census are—23,246, against 24,372 in 1881. There are only 484 uninhabited houses in the City. In the suburbs the population i 5—22,959, against 18,422 in 1881. The Federated Seamen’s Union (Port Chalmers) have voted £SO towards the Taiaroa relief fund. The Stewards and Cooks’ Union have voted £25, and a cheque for £ls has been sent by the congregation of Christian Disciples, being the proceeds of a Sunday collection. Nelson. A man named Robert J. Wood, a miner, who has recently been working at the Champion Copper Mine, mot with a fatal accident on April 13. He was coming into town and got a lift in a dray, when, in coming down Jenkins’ Hill, he fell off, and apparently hurt his head. Ho was able to walk to a trap, and spoke sensibly for some minutes, when he sank down and was thought to be asleep. On arriving in town he was pronounced to be dead. He came from Reef ton. He has no relatives here. The inquest resulted in a verdict of concussion of the brain. Deceased was a man of superior education, and had not been brought up to hard work. His mate says he frequently received remittances from Home. He was a native of Northampton, and has no relatives in the Colony, save a cousin in the Government service in Otago. Marlborough. The Supreme Court has been occupied for several days in trying an action to recover £ISOO damages brought by the Hon W. Clifford, owner of the Vernon run, against Messrs Mad dock and\Parker, contractors for the Dashwood Pass railway section. A heavy grass fire occurred on Christmas Eve, by which 6600 acres were burnt, and it was alleged to have-been caused by the negligence of defendants, sparks from their brick kiln having ignited the grass. The jury found that there had been no negligence, and returned a verdict for defendants. The Judge certified for second counsel, and granted costs on the highest scale. Wellington. The Imperial Government have made a present to the Colony of eight converted 64-pounders received from Home sometime ago. Sergeant-Major M'Govern, who took a prominent part in arresting Winiata, the murderer Jin the Waikato district, some years ago, has been appointed Inspector in charge of the Kawhia district. The small arms ammunition which the Agent-General has sent out to the Colony is for Martini-Henry rifles, and, therefore, quite useless for the weapons in use in the Colony. The shipment has, therefore, been sold to the Victorian Government, at a price said to be slightly in advance of the cost price. The Defence Department have secured the services of a man thoroughly conversant with laying submarine mines, and in a short time he will enter on his duties as Instructor, to the Torpedo Corps in that special department. The appointee was until recently in the service of one of the Australian Governments. He ‘ was one of the first-class instructors of submarine engineering at Chatham. Messis Watt and Henderson, two gentlemen who have been in the fish-curing business in the North of Scotland, are at present in Wellington, interviewing ,tho Government with regard to starting large fish-curing works in New Zealand. They have capital, and have brought four deepsea fishermen with them. They are determined to start in New Zealand. They are said to thoroughly understand the business. Government state that the ranks of the unemployed are being increased both North and South. It is expected that as various contracts fall in, the number will still further be augmented. The records of the Public Works Department during the past two years show a very steady average of labourers engaged on public works. The number is nearly always about 3000, and when the unemployed have to be relieved, it increases slightly. When work is plentiful it decreases, but the range is never beyond 3100, or below 2800, in round numbers. A promenade concert was held on April 21 on the Queen’s wharf, in aid of the Taiaroa relief fund. Between four and five thousand persons were present. The wharf was lighted by electric light, from a dynamo lent by Captain Kidley, of the s.s. Coptic, who also, as well as the Union Company, provided a large quantity of fireworks. Government placed the steamer Ellen Ballance at the disposal cf the Committee, for cruising with passengers in the vicinity of the wharf. The concert was given by members of the Church choirs and others, assisted by two brass bands. The net proceeds amounted to £240. Since the trial at Wanganui, Auckland ammunition has been much improved in quality. The English Government evengrained rifle powder has arrived, with which cartridges are now filled. The cases have ,been altered for the better, and are now solid, strong articles, which the defence consider superior to the usual English make imported for ordinary use. The bullets are of proper size and the other defects have been remedied. Experiments have been going on here for several days, and the result is considered eminently satisfactory. Two men fired at 200yds range, the weapons being loaded behind their backs. The score was:— Woolwich ammunition, 37 points; Auckland, 36. To-day’s shooting has been going on at longer ranges, with equally good results. The Colonially-made cartridges can be used more than once, and they stand the strain with ease. On April 21 the Minister of Public Works received a telegram from Mr W. Butler, Native Land Purchase Commissioner, stating that the two chiefs Topia Turora and Wiremu Turora, who had previously refused to sign a deed of sale for a block of land in the King Country, along the route of the North Island Trunk Railway, had now done so, and that arrangements for the purchase of a block by the Government were completed. The block is known as the. Waimaranui, and contains 400,000 acres of fair land. The Public Works Department have in good course of progress a road from Pipiraki, a village some distance up the Wanganui river, to Ohakone, to a point where the trunk railway touches. Thisioad is about the southern boundary of the Waimaranui block, and when the contracts for the North Island railway are again progressing, most of the material for the interior parts under construction will be sent to Pipiraki up the Wanganui river by specially imported steamer, and thence by a newly-formed road to Ohakone. Mr Ballance had an interview with Tawhiao and Major Te Wheoro this morning at Alexandra; Rewi and Wi Pere, M.H.R., were also present,- according to arrangement. Tawhiao seemed anxious to come to terms, and was very friendly. He wished that the matters of road survey and Land Court, and Mawhia and Aotea should stand over for a short time, until he and Mr Ballance had had a further talk on the matter. Mr Ballance said he had no objection to a short postponement. It may be stated that all works, immediately wanted in the district have already been completed. Tawhiao asked that a Maori Council should be appointed. On this there was a long discussion, and Mr Ballance said that if the Maoris wanted it, they should themselves introduce a Bill for that purpose. Mr Ballance said he would consult his colleagues as to a Maori Council after the model of the one at Kohimarama in 1860, but that was a matter which would have to be considered by his colleagues. Personally, he did not see much objection to that.

The Governors of Wellington College have decided to appoint Mr Kenneth Wilson, M.A., to the position of Classical Master at the College at a salary of £430 per annum. Only one of the other two vacancies is to be filled up, and it is expected the recent change will result in a saving of £270 per annum. An accident happened on the Wellington - Manawatu railway line on April 14. Pour trucks broke away from a goods train, and rushed through three tunnels before they were stopped by colliding with several trucks. A man in one of the tunnels only escaped by lying flat between the rails and letting the trucks pass over him. Had the trucks gone a little further, they would have carried away the timber supports of another tunnel in which a large number of men were at work. Doubtless many lives would have been sacrificed. Auckland. Sir George Grey received a birthday address from the Auckland Liberal Association and the Rechabites Society. William Robert Boyle was poisoned through taking carbolic acid as a sleeping draught. / He had been drinking. At the annual meeting of the Sailors' Best and Home, it was proposed to erect a Home at a cost of £3OOO from the Costley bequest. The field force of the Constabulary, at Waikaco, is to be transferred to Auckland, to undertake duty at the North Head batteries. Anderson, classical teacher at the Grammar School, levanted to America by the Mariposa. He had got into debt, and the Board of Governors had decided to reduce his salary from £4OO to £275. The Governor reviewed the local Volunteer forces on May 1, accompanied by Colonel Sargood, of Victoria. He complimented them on their appearance. Over 800 were present. The weather was inclement. On several occasions during the Wairarapa’s passage from Sydney, sudden and unexpected risings of the sea were experienced, leading to the conclusion that they were the result of some volcanic action in the direction of Tonga. The census is not yet finished, but it is believed that the population of the city of Auckland and suburbs exceeds 50,000. The city of Auckland alone contains 33,250, whilst the Boroughs of Parnell, Newmarket and Newton all exhibit enormous increases. The Justices who presided at the enquiry into the stranding of the Taupo have called the attention of the Minister of Marine to the Gisborne harbour light. They say if the light had been visible at a distance of five miles, as stated on the chart, or even three miles, the accident would not have occurred. Mr M'Gregor, Engineer of the Harbour Board, has prepared a report on the Harbour works, with plans. The plana provide for a complete scheme for the further development of the works. The whole plan estimates the cost for its completion at £1,167,747, and provides berthage, and six and a half miles of wharf frontage. On April 26 Mr H. H. Lusk and Mr W. L. Rees, solicitors, proceeded by the outward mail to Samoa, in connection with the land troubles between Cornwall and Macarthur, in which damages are laid at £10,000; but the real fight is over 200,000 acres of land. A number of curious legal points are likely to crop up in the case, and it will probably be carried, on appeal, first to the Supreme Court in Fiji, and lastly to the Privy Council. An enquiry as to the grounding of the s.s. Taupo was held on May 5, before Messrs H. F. Anderson and W. P. Moat, J.P.’s, and Captains Prater and Todd, Nautical Assessors. After hearing evidence, the Court considered Captain M'Coll took all possible precautions, considering the state of the weather. They did not feel justified in dealing with (his certificate. An order was made as to dosts. The certificates of the other officersiwere returned. The annual exhibition of the Society of Arts openedlwith a conversazione. The Governor gave an inaugural address. There was a large attendance. In the musical competition there were 14 entries. The best song was by A. A." Whitehouse, C.E. Ho surrendered the silver medal to P. H. Edger, who was second, taking certificate of equal honour. For best pianoforte piece (silver medal), Bella Huttchings, Napier. For best part song, A. A. Whitehouse, I silver medal; P. H. Edger, second certifi- ■ cate. Tawhiao was on April 30 entertained by the Waiuku settlers at dinner in the public hall. Captain Hamlin, M.H.R., presided. In proposing the toast of the evening, he strongly advised Tawhiao to become a member of the Legislative Council, and take a stand in legislating for Europeans and Maoris. If he did not he would sink into the position of a fifth-rate chief. Tawhiao, in responding, intimated that he intended to proceed to Wellington this session. He further stated that all differences between himself and Government might be settled in one day. AUSTRALIA. Victoria. A fire occurred on April 21 on the premises of Messrs Greenlands, boatbuilders, Melbourne, resulting in damage being done to the extent of £2OOO, Sixty boats were destroyed. The Secretary to the late General Scratchley has compiled a report on British New Guinea which contains a fund of information regarding that country, as well as a record of General Scratchley’s proceedings while there. His Honor Mr Justice Molesworth has been seriously ill, but is now better. His Honor has resigned his office as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. It is announced that the vacancy has been filled by the appointment of Mr Webb to the Judicial Bench. The proposal recently put forward re representation of the Colonies at the forthcoming prize-firing met with such support, that it has been definitely decided to send an Intercolonial rifle team Home to take' part in the Wimbledon meeting. The team will leave for Wimbledon on May 14. At a meeting of the Presbyterian body, convened by the Melbourne Presbytery for the purpose of protesting against the proposed annexation by Prance of the New Hebrides, several prominent members of the Church were present. The first resolution, which was carried unanimously, was as follows: “This meeting protests against the proposed annexation of the New Hebrides Islands by France, as a cruel injustice to the natives, and a grave and serious wrong to the Presbyterian missions.” The second resolution expresses sympathy with the Presbyterians of New South Wales in their present painful position in being misrepresented on this question by their Premier and Parliament, and expresses the hope that they will be successful in inducing their Government to join with other Colonies in disagreeing with the proposed annexation. During his recent visit to Sydney, the Premier discussed with Messrs Jennings and Griffiths the question of the future government of New Guinea. The scheme proposed by Mr Griffiths in the memorandum which he recently addressed to the Governments of the other Colonies was carefully considered, and a satisfactory understanding was arrived at. Mr Griffiths then proposed that- Queensland shall be responsible to the Imperial Government to the extent of £15,000 per annum, to be contributed by the various Colonies; that an Administrator be appointed, who will be subject to instructions from the Queensland Government. Generally speaking, the entire administration will be under the supervision of that Colony; These proposals, with slight modifications will be generally agreed to it the views of the Premiers who met in Sydney are the Colonies contributing towards the expenses of Government in New Guinea, Mr Griffiths will communicate his scheme to the Imperial Government at an early date.

The last sectiod of the South Australian part of the Intercolonial line was opened on May 1. This has reduced the time occupied in travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne to hours, or a saving of 24 hours. Mr Hayter, the Victorian. Government Statist, estimates that on March 31 the population of the Colony of Victoria will have reached 1,001,756, this being the first Australian Colony to exceed one million in population. New South Wales. The Hon W. B. Dailey is seriously ill. Good rains are reported in various parts of the country. Steps are being taken to secure a suitable celebration of the centenary of the Colony, which will occur in January, 1888. Holt, late manager of the Bank of New Zealand here, has been committed for trial on another charge of embezzlement. It is proposed to pay members of the Legislative Assembly .£3OO per annum, and a sum is to be placed on the estimates with that object. A railway collision occurred on May 9 near Bowral, on the Great Southern Bailway. No lives were lost, but eleven persons were inj ured, some seriously. Great damage was done to the rolling-stock. In the Legislative Council, Mr Dailey brought forward a motion protesting against the proposed French annexation of the New Hebrides. Mr Dailey in a vigorous speech defended the Government. The New South Wales Government is in receipt of a memorandum from Mr Griffiths, Premier of Queensland, upon the subject of the scheme for the combined defence of the Colonies. Mr Griffiths states that his Government is of opinion that it is undesirable that ships destined for coastal defence should be the joint property of the Colonies, and considers that vessels should be provided for, and equipped by the Imperial Government, after which the Colonies should contribute towards their maintenance, in ratio, based upon population. The papers relative to the scheme of defence recommended to the Colonies by Admiral Tryon have been made public. He suggests that the Colonies should bear the cost of a number of vessels which will be under the control of the naval authorities. The Archer type, fast-going torpedo boats, are considered the most suitable for the work required. Correspondence from the various Colonies shows that the New Zealand Government favours an increased expenditure of .£20,000 per annum for the purposes of local defence. Western Australia and Tasmania doubt whether their respective Legislatures would sanction any increased expenditure, and point out that there is no information with regard to the proceedings at the recent Conference. Telegrams from Lithgow announce that a disastrous explosion occurred on April 19 at the Lithgow Colliery Company’s pit, which took fire a short time ago. At the time of the explosion ten men were in the workings; five were killed, and the others were rescued alive. One of the rescued, however, died the following day. All the six men killed are married men. A distressing scene ensued at the pit’s mouth when the news of the accident became known. There was no lack of volunteers to search for their comrades, and their efforts to rescue them were of the most heroic nature. The explosion was caused by an immense fall in the workings of the pit. The explosion has drawn forth universal sympathy for the survivors of the unfortunate' accident. Subscriptions are being raised for the families, and Government are taking steps to enquire into the cause of the accident, which has been ascertained not to be fire damp, as supposed. It is now believed that a fall of rock from the roof in some part of the old working produced a concussion, and drove the accumulated choke damp and carbonic acid gas into the mine, where they were working when the blast of wind struck them. It has been decided to close the mine. There was no complaint about bad air. When the blast came, the men felt giddy, and lost the use of their legs, and the next thing was a rush for the skips. The men heard some explosion, but thought it was a fall of earth, and some of them observed a light, like red hot coals. The men all kept together as well as they could. The funeral of the men on April 21 was most impressive. The shops were closed, and a general gloom was over the township. All the coffins were brought out together, ‘and one general procession was formed. The scene was most heart-rending. The Minister of Mines has inspected the mine and examined the men, none of whom complained of any neglect. South Austbalia. Minchen, late teller in the National Bank; was charged at the Police court with embezzling illooo, the property of the Bank. The accountant stated that he counted defendant’s cash on April _ 28, when he found twenty .£SO notes missing. Defendant was committed for trial. A serious railway accident occurred near the mouth of the Tye on Monday, April 26, when two trains collided, one engine running down a steep bank, and the other falling across the track. The Governor, Sir W. Robinson, and Brigadier-General Owen, were passengers by the train, but fortunately were unhurt. The enginedriver of this train was badly scalded, but no bones were broken. It is supposed that the points must have been wrong, but nothing is y. known as to the cause of the accident. A fatal railway accident occurred on the Sergott Springs and Strangways station section of the northern railway extension now in course of construction. About 8 p.m. oh April 21 a train, consisting of an engine and eleven,trucks, having on board thirtyeight ballast men, was returning, when, on reaching the embankment, the driver of the engine noticed some cattle on the line, but too late to stop. Three of the cattle were killed, and, getting under the wheels, they derailed the train. Seven trucks were overturned, five of the occupants being killed instantaneously and three others injured. The guard of the train had a miraculous ' escape. The bodies of the ballast-men killed were found in a fearfully mangled condition. Western Austbalia. Further favourable reports have been received from the Kimberley district as to the richness of the deposits. As the goldfields are 300 miles inland, intending prospectors are notified that ample means are indispensable.