THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMTTR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1874.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4055, 11 November 1874, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMTTR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1874.

We are now enabled by tlio arrival of tlie Star of the _ South to trace the course of events in Fiji since our previous advices. As we then anticipated, Maafu at once agreed the cession so far as his own part of the kingdom was concerned. Sir Hercules Robinson thereupon returned to Levuka taking Maafu and other of the leading chiefs of the Windward Islands with him. In presence of the assembled crews of the Dido and Pearl, of the population of Levuka, of a large number of visitors from the country, and of the King and chiefs of Fiji, the Fijian flag was lowered at 4 o'clock on the 10th October, and the English ensign hoisted amid salutes from the men-of-war and the enthusiastic cheers of the people. Sk Hercules lost no time in forming a provisional Government.pending the final decision of the Imperial authorities. The Governor of New South Wales is also for the time being Governor of Fiji. Mr. Layard, the late Consul, is acting Governor, Mr. Thurston retains his position and power as Colonial Secretary and Auditor General, Mr. Horton, Manager of the Bank of Fiji, is to be Colonial Treasurer for the time being, retaining his position as manager with the consent of the directors, and Mv. Swanston, an old settler, and for a long f. "o Secretary to Maafu, is appointed Minister for Native Affairs. The most noticeable feature in connection with the ceremony of hoisting the flag, was the present to the Queen by Cakobau, through Sir Hercules Robinson, of the mace which had been made in Sydney for the late Fijian Parliament. The history of this mace will give it great in'-'vest. It was made from the war club which Cakobau and his fathers had used with terrible effect for many geueratio-i. The mace was inlaid heavily with silver to the value of some eighty pounds, ornamented with palm trees and fern fronds and with doves in frosted silver, and a large silver crown surrounding the whole. The presentation was made at Cakobau's request, by Mr. Thurston, to prove to the Governor his own desire to make the cession complete and thorough, and to remind the Queen that the welfare of both races was in her hands, and finally to add another public proof of Ms confidence in Mr. Thurston as the adviser by whom he had been guided throughout these proceedings. The cession accomplished, Sir Hercules seems to have I;,,'c no time in leaving for Sydney. He spoke warmly of the Islands, of their fertility and future prospects, and added with emphatic significance that he hoped the quarrels of the past and the bitterness they had produced would be buried at the foot, of the flagstaff they that day planted in the soil of their new but now common country. The land question remains to be dealt with, but we observe that the Government, warned perhaps by New Zealand experience, have reserved the right to take any land they may require at any time for _ public uses from either native or white owner on compensation in the usual way being given. The salaries to be paid to the leading chiefs are not yet settled, but the land they possess will now attain a value which must of itself form a material improvement in their position. The debts of the late Government, the obligations into which it has entered, and the debentures issued by it are to be dealt with so soon as the letters patent organising the Government permanently are received from Her Majesty. The Tariff has been fixed by proclamation at much about the previous rate, and externally there is no sign of the great change that has occurred in the prospect and condition of this roble colony. It remains now to be seen how the settlers receive and support the new Government under which they are placed. We have more than once expressed the belief that Government as a Crown colony was the most suitable to the condition of the country would be so deemed by the settlers at large. By it the dangers attending several unsettled questions of representation and of suffrage are avoided. But it is a form of Government so alien to the tastes, and so repugnant to the habits of Englishmen that it will certainly require great tact, great forbearance and a wide and liberal sympathy in the rulers to make it bearable for any lengthened period. The danger attending such Governments, as we know from all colonial experience, is in the feelicg which gradually but surely grows up to di\ Ide the community into two hostile sets, and creates a gulf between those' who take the position of rulers and those who feel the assumption of that position hurtful to their self-respect and independence. A danger of this kind is especially imminent in a community so small and crowded into so small a space as that of Levuka. With nothing to distract attention, and no probability of getting out of each others way, the wrath of parties and of persons is perpetually nursed and kept for ever warm. In the interests of the new colony with which our own connection cannot fail to become constantly more close, let us trust that the experience of the past will not be repeated, but the bitter political and personal acrimony resulting from the old quarrels will be buried beneath the ilagstaff as Sir Hercules hoped. Much will depend on the wise forbearance of the people, and more on the tact and temper of the Government. The natives must form a material element in the politics of the | colony. Unlike the Maoris they are not warlike,they have 110 inaccessible fastnesses to which they can retire, and they are scattered over many islands. But they may, if disregarded, prove a serious element of disturbance, impair its credit and retard the progress of the new colony. It is therefore a happy circumstance that Sir Hercules had to his hand a gentleman of the proved force of character and ho thoroughly possessing the confidence of the chiefs as Mr. Thurston. It is unhappy, 011 the other hand, that Mr. Thurston has from his long and determined stand in what we believe to bo his honest desire to hold the balance equally between the races, earned the , bitter personal hostility of a very large party among the settlers. It will be well i if tlie hatchet be buried and a spirit of ] conciliation shown 011 both sides in the cause of the colony. Its welfare and i

its safety now demand that the new institutions should have a fair trial, and not be hampered by the feuds of the past, •niih its aboriive attempts at Parliamentary Government and Constitution making, followed by the equally abortive attempt to rule despite the wishes and without the sympathies of the settlers, on whom so much of the future of the colony depend. "What the colony now requires is rest with its attendant seeming and material development. That secured, peliiical progress and ultimate self-go-vernment will follow in Fiji as in every other British colony—but not till then.

We have later English and Australian news by a brig which reached Wellington yesterday from Newcastle (New South Wales). The English cablegrams date from London to the 2Sth October, but do not contain an item which calls for notice or comment. There is some doubt whether the woman-mutilator, Nana Sahib, has really been taken. Witnesses as to his identity differ; and further time will be required to prove whether the Indian authorities have got hold of the right man or some other.

From Melbourne we learn that Mr. Woods' motion for opening the free library, museums, and other public institutions on Sunday, has been negatived by a majority of 29 to 25, shewing that public opinion on this question is not so very unevenly divided.

Victoria deals with education on. a huge scale, the Assembly having voted half a million sterling for carrying out the Act in all its integrity. The question of religious instruction is again being fomented, but it is not likely that any change will now be admitted. The sons of wealth;/ families attend the free schools, and take their stand alongside the poorest. The qua I 'licaticm for teachers is fixed at a very high standard, and tlie Victorian youths promise to become the best educated of the colonies.

A tidal phenomenon had occurred at Point Davey, in Tasmania. The " wave" was followed by several shocks of earthquake, which were felt on board the vessels some distance from the shore. The tidal flow and the earthquakes were probably due to the same terrestrial disturbance.

We have 110 market quotations from any of the colonies or from the home countries.

We have received a communication under the signature of "Traveller," complaining of the ra?lway officials avowing the carriages to he over-crowded on the day of the Cattle Show and the Caledonian Games, at E?!ershe. The fault was not so much -nlth the officials as with the public. We have made enquiry, and we are told that there was not one ticket more issued thim what accommodation was provided for. Thereis, doubtless, as yet some want of experience amoug the officials in the management of an unusually large crowd of intending passengers; but excursionists, when assembled 011 a platform, have yet to learn how to manage themselves, aud. this, we presume, v. ill come about after a time. On Monday several hundred people rushed two or three carriages, because they happened to be in front, while twenty empty carriages remained unoccupied to tlie right and the left of them. The officials were urrforir'y civ 1 ; but on Monday there were not enough to restrain the behaviour of the " roughs," who mustered numerously on the occasion. Men ; to obtain admission into a carriage, jumped on to the entrauee, wlrle the train was sti". : n irot'on; and this in despite of the protests of tlie guards ; _ others with brute force thrust aside females "nlth children m their arms to obtain a seat for themselves. On the day we refer to we failed to see so much as the vnvy slightest attention paid to the convenience or comfort of a female, unless she happened to he accompanied by her husband or some relative

or friend. In first and second-class carriages alike, men smoked dirty pipes aud expectorated 011 the feet of those opposite them, while they made use of foul oaths. How, then, can "Traveller," or anyone else, expect the railway omcialti to control such semiruffianism ? _ Had some of those insulters of women received a sound thrashing they would have met with no more than their deserts ; and had there been some policeman present to take into custody men who flagrantly violated the railway regulations, it would have probably j>revented a repetition of such gross conduct as the authorities were compelled to tolerate. We would recommend on future gala days, when the railway is likely to be called into requisition, that a moveable barrier be provided to ease the pressure of tlie crowd, and that two or three men be stationed in the carriages to take cognisance of any breach of the railway regulations, for the purpose of making a few severe examples.

We publish in our correspondence column an excellent letter under the signature of which, among other matters relating to our agriculture, says, "If the solid matter in the silt-basins is not made fit to be experimented upon, and its value tested by the farmers in the neighbourhood of the town of Auckland, it -n ill be a disgrace to all parties concerned." We quite concur in such an expression of sentiment. The deposit of silt in the two basins cannot be otherwise than valuable. Both town sewage and night-soil are all-important auxiliaries of the manure heap. As regards the latter, little need_ he said about this singularly neglected fertiliser, further than that its use has been greatly narrowed through the difficulty of deodorising it. The most complete method yet introduced, and by far the simplest and cheapest, is that discovered by 1 Mr. Moule, who says the greatest and 111 most cases the only agent in this mode is dried surface earth, the extent of the capabilities of which, both for absorption and for deodorising offensive matters, was the result of what was considered at the time an accident. It has also been ascertained that various subsoils, especially clay and silicate of alumina are equally efficacious as deodorisers, aud the latter produces a more valuable manure. The sewage of tow lis .'lud cities is preferred by many scientilie farmers to bone or guano for cereals and more especially wheat. From the organic and inorganic elements plants are formed, says Baron Liebig, by the vital process, when the atmosphere and soil supply them at the same time in suitable quantities and _io tlie proper proportions. The atmospheric elements do not nourish without the simultaneous action of the elements of the soil, and the latter are equally valueless without tl-.e former. City sewage contains all tli-: rich, fertilising (elements which are possessed by 110 other kinds of manure. We hope with " C'ivis" that the valuable deposits contained in our silt-basins will not be lost.

Tuk following may be looked upon as a very important decision, as touching acceptanccs discounted by Banking Companies and Corpora'dou*. It was delivered lately in Aid bo urne by .Judge Pohlman, whom, wc believe, in matters relating to the rules, laws, an.-} regulations applicable to commerce i.s allowed to hold a, very high eminence. The ijuestion which came before him was as to the right of a bank to debit the account of an insolvent, with the amouut of a dishonored acceptance. The trustee of an insolvent firm—AJessrs. Alorris and Al'Alurray- —made an application to the Court for an order mrectiug the Union Bank to pay hiui £175 is Sd, which was the amount in the bank to the credit of the insolvents when they failed. The application had been, resisted by the bank on the ground that they had only £23 in their hands to the credit of the insolvents. Certain facts were admitted by both sides at the hearing, from which it appeared that before Alorris and Al'Alurray I failed they accepted a bill of Bury, Leech I

and Co., for £102 Is Sd. The bank discounted the bill, placing it to tlie account of Bury, Leech and Co., and when the insolvents failed they (the bank) claimed that they were entitled to deduct the amount of the bill from the sum to the credit of the insolvents. His Honor decided that they were so entitled, and gave judgment in favour of the bank.

The financial statements of the Provisional Colonial Government of Fiji for the twelve months from 10th October, 1574, to 10th October, J. 575, has been published, and should be of interest to our readers. The estimated revenue is set oat to amount to £23,575 : derivable from the following sources :— Customs Duties, £15,003; pilotage and light dues, £390; licences on interiusular trading crafts and on harbour boats plying for hire, £300 ; native taxes —native labour, £4500; imported labour, £1500 ; fees and fines of Courts, £750; licences to Polynesian immigrant vessels, £200 ; wine and spirit licences, £750; auctioneers' licences, £75 ; miscellaneous, £500. The authorised expenditure is set down at £17,902 Ss ; which leaves an estimated surplus for the year of £5557. The chief items of expenditure are as follow : —Executive : His Excellency the Governor, nil; the Administrator of the Goveianient, nil; Pension to Tui Viti (Thakombau), £900; Colonial Secretary, £400; Colonial Treasurer, £400; Secretary for Native Affairs, £400 ; Chief Interpreter to the Government, £300 ; Private Secretary to H. E. the Governor, £300 ; Clerk to tlie Excutive Council, £200: total £2900. "Judicial," under this head, the total of which is £1410, we find set forth Judge of Central Court and Chief Magistrate, £500; Public Prosecutor and Legal Adviser to the Government, £250 ; Registrar and Sheriff, £240; Colonial Secretary's office, £700 ; postal, £260 Ss ; Police, £1450; Gaols, £420; Treasury Accountant, £200. Customs, £900, including collector at £200 and harbour master at £200. Native affairs, £532S ; establishment expenses, £4334, in which is included a sum of £1600 for rations for 2CD men, and cloth-

and allowances. The following are the Government departmental arrangements :— The Administrator of the Government, in the absence of the Governor, will exercise a general supervision over every department of the Executive Administration. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary will be the organ of communication between all Departments and the Administrator, as well as between the public and the head of the Government. He will have the custody of the archives, and of the correspondence of the Government. He will audit the Public Accounts, and, in addition to his general duties, exercises special supervision over the following departments : Judicial, Police and Gaols, Postal, Public Works, and Survey. The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer will have charge of the finances and accounts of the Government, He will also exercise special supervision over the Customs and Harbour Departments. The Honorable the Secretary for Native Affairs and RegistrarGeneral will supervise the Provincial Chiefs and Provincial Stipendiary Magistrates, and will exercise a general control over every department of Native affairs. He will also have charge of all matters appertaining to imported native lat ourers.

Wiiex are we to arrive at the bottom of the Ohinemuri difficulty ? How long are plots and counterplots to go on, and reports, rumours, and opinions to be circulated before this reputed fine country is to be opened to the Europeans, and to revive the droop 5 !) .; spirits of the Thames residents ? We have more trouble brewing just at the moment we were led to believe everything was settled. The Thcnnes Advertiser of yesterday reports that during the pa«t few days unpleasant rumours of various kinds have been floating about regarding some alleged interference 011 the part of certain Pakeha-Maoris—in combination n ith one er two laud sharks in Auckland—with the negol lations that are now going on for the immediateopeningof Ohinemuriforsettlement. We do not know (says our contemporary) what amount of truth there may be in the statements that have been whispered about in the streets, but one little fact has been brought to our notice which tends to shew that there are men among us who desire to see the country still locked up. A sina 1 ! printed circular—got up in Auckland we are told and printed there—has been circulated amongst the natives of Ohinemuri, urging them to "hold on" to the lands that they have sold to the Government, and for which they have received payment, and telling them to take no notice of Sir. Maekay, but to wait for the Native Minister, Sir Donald McLean. We have not yet received a copy of this document, but we believe that it has been very generally circulated amongst the Maoris, and that the only object it is intended to serve is to delay for a period the opening of the Upper Thames, and thus enable certain speculators to secure a few fine blocks of land. The scheme is a very nice one, and those who are at the bottom of it are evidently not troubled by any very conscientious scruples, but on this occasion their plans are likely to miscarry. The natives are favourable to the opening of the country, the great bulk of the supposed auriferous land has been secured by the Goverement, and the opening cannot be delayed for any lengthened period. But notwithstanding tliis, we hope! the Government will endeavour to discover the mischievous individuals who have distributed these circulars amongst the natives.

The Hydaspes lias been thoroughly disinfected by every known j>rocess, while every article of bedding or clothing likely to hold the infection has been burned or consigned to the deep. The medical officer considers that all danger has passed away, so that it is quite probable the ship will be admitted to pratique some time to-day.

A narrow escape from fh-e is reported to have occurred yesterday, at about noon, at Onehunga. The alarm was occasioned by some sparks from the eng'ne furnace chimney of Mr. Waller's sawmill alighting upon the roof of one of Mr. Barnes' sheds, and causing the ignition of the sliiugles. The flame was subdued, however, almost immediately.

We understand that arrangements have been made to play a friendly cricket match in the Domain on Saturday next, at 2 p.m., between the Auckland College and Mount lloskill Cricket Clubs. The following are the names of the players—Col'ege : Henderson (captain), Taylor, Wilson, Kelley, Barton, Haliday, Dufaur, Innes, A. Uaiina, McGregor, and Double. Mount lloskill • Eeid (captain), I'earce, Adnam, Ward, Nicholson, Partington, Heigh way, Smith, Gilfillan, Stuart, and Roberton.

Referring to a statement made in our issue of Monday, in the course of the report of the Health Board meeting, that the City Council were paying a man to attend the night-soil deposit who was otherwise employed 'by Mr. Fauldei, learn that no person has been paid tor the last two months, before doiii' r so the certificate of the local Health Officer being required to certify that lie was satisfied as to condition •£ iepot. Arrangements have for some time been in train (failing railway authorities) with Mr. Bollard for the establishment of a permanent depot and manure factory ao the Wliau, the whole drainage of which site Hows into a tidal creek direct. The present charges for removal will be doubled, but we presume this is unavoidable.

A. meeting of creditors in the estate of Michael Brearlcy, of Tauranga, butcher, was held yesterday. The liabilities were set down at £304 I3s 2d ; assets, £IS3 4s od. Mi-. Thomas Maeffarlane was appointed trustee.

_ Air. Alorton Tavares, ail actor who some time ago met with a very favourable reception in this colony, has Latterly become the monomer of a theatre at Brisbane, Queenslaud. Tliere.ment a correspondent tells the following anccdote : —"Air. Tavares lately dismissed his scene-shifter and propertyman. They took a thorough actor's venge? anee : they combined and started a first-rate Punch and Judy opposite the theatre, and made the opposition very warm for Air, Tavares for a time."

_ The Industrial Exhibition under the auspices of the Sunday-school Union will open at the Lorne-street Hall at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The Exhibition ■will continue open until Saturday night. Each evening there will be an entertainment, the one tonight consisting of musical selections by members of the Tonic Sol-Pa Society ; to- 1 morrow night, a lecture by Mr. Martin, with scientific experiments ; dissolving views on Friday, and a promenade: concert on Saturday evening. The Exhibition consists mainly of the work of Sunday-soholars, and embraces plain and fancy work of all kinds, models, ornaments, machinery, plants, shrubs, flowers. &c. A glance at the exhibits as arranged last evening gave proof that the affair was likely to be a successful one. Some really beautiful specimens of art are to be seen. Amongst the most attractive are a model of a weatherboard house, shingled, with verandah, complete, made by a boy 10 years of age ; a pretty model of a house, made of cork, by a boy eight years old ; a splendid model of All Saints' Church and school; a model of a full-rigged ship; a model steam boilor and marine engine, made by r, factory lad. Two pile-driving machines, a pclished mahogany Arabian bedstead and furniture complete ; collections of shells, rare coins, fancy baskets, 00l mats, and leather work, drawings, antimacassers, and woolwork innumerable ; several miniature wheelbarrows, handsomely finished oil". A large display of articles were received last evening also from the Thames for exhibition. To-day a choice collection of flowers and plants are expected. There is every prospect of the promoters of the Exhibition being rewarded with success.

The late act of annexation to Great Britain, says the Fiji Times, though gratifying in the extreme, as promising to jiroduce a cheering reaction in Fiji, has not yet had time to effect more than the preliminary reconstruction of the departments absolutely necessary to carry on the government until Her Majesty's pleasure be known. Xevertheless, signs of " faith " in the good times coming are already observable in Levuka, moneyed men are offering liberal cash prices for freehold and leasehold properties in Levuka. Extensive improvements are in contemplation, and some new buildings have been commenced, among which is a spacious boarding establishment for Mr. Ledingham. The British Government, too, are about to erect naval stores in the old town of Levuka ; the site has been surveyed and marked off, and the buildings, it is expected, will soon be commenced. A wharf and pier are also in contemplation, for the use of Her Majesty's ships of war. As yet, landed freehold property cannot, wc believe, be safely transferred but we hear of contemplated conditional purchases, which, without doubt, will be effected without risk, pending the establishment of a tribunal to deal effectually and finally with the important questions of land titles.

A rather amusing affair (says the Goulbum Chronicle, New South Wales,) occurred during the performance of the Arabian box mystery on Wednesday night last. It is usual, in preparing this trick, to hand the key of this wonderful box (after it is used in locking Mdle. Mira up) to one of the spectators for safe keeping until wanted again. This was done on the evening mentioned ; but on the manager repeatedly asking for the person who had received the key, he was informed by one of the audience that he had suddenly " gone home," carrying the key with him. Mr. Bromley here still more loudly called for the key-holder, and, receiving no satisfaction, applied his face to the ventilatingholes in the mysterious box and informed the imprisoned lady of how matters stood. The evening being warm, Mdlle. Mira exhibited some uneasiness at the prospect of being kept longer than was necessary in this wooden cell; and thinking the joke had been carried far enough—the manager's and lady's excited feelings had by this time reached bloodheat point—the gentleman with the key stepped forward and unlocked the box, much to the pleasure of the performers and to the amusement of the audience.

A new, and what promises to be a most aunoyingweed, has made its appearance (says the Get-long Advertiser, Victoria) in certain portions of the . Western district. The name which it has received is the Indian matweed. It was first observed near the towusliip of Winclielsea about two years ago, but since then it has spread rapidly. The weed spreads over the surface of the ground, almost in the same way as the wire grass, destroying every other kind of vegetation in its vicinity. It has a long narrow leaf of a whitish color, which, when pressed, gives forth an odor like camomile. In summer it bears a small berry, which, when ripe, contains a fine greyish powder. Neither sheep nor cattle will touch it, and when it has got a footing, ordinary efforts to eradicate it are found to be unavailing. Some small paddocks at the rear of the Shire Hall, Winchelsea, are white with it, and at Birregurra. as well as on some of the level lands along the Barwon, it is causing considerable annoyance and anxiety.

A committee meeting of the Auckland Racing Club took place yesterday afternoon, to consider the proposition to add a Provincial Maiden Plate to ther programme. After consideration the following decision was arrived at: "The committee agree to confirm the programme already published, and consider that giving public money to such a race as a District Plate or Maiden Provincial Produce is holding out an inducement to train and breed inferior horses.

A deputation from the Waiuku District Board waited on his Honor the Superintendent yesterday, to request that a road be opened between Waiuku and the road now being made by the Provincial Government to the West Pukekohe railway station. His Honor promised that the district engineer should be instructed to examine and report upon the proposed road.

The salary of the King o£ Hawaii, as voted in July last, is £SOOO per annum: his Majesty's Chamberlain, £1003; Queen Emma, £2403; Privy Council, £3100 ; Chancellor and Chief Justice, £2000; first associate Justice, £1600; second associate Justice, £IGOO ; Clerk Supreme Court, £S00; Deputy Supreme Court, £000 ; three circuit Judges at .-£750 each ; Police Judge of Honolulu, £600; eight Police Judges at similar rates.

State of Her Majesty's Gaol, Auckland, for the week ending "Siturday, the 7th November, 1574 : —Awr.ki)!:; trial, 3 males; sentenced to penal servitude, 33 males ; sentenced to_ hard labour, 79 mules, 32 females ; default of bail, 6 males, 1 female ; received during the week, 16 males, 6 females; discharged during the week, 11 males, 5 females ; total in gaol, 121 males, 33 females.

A novel use of the telegraph is about to be put into operation in Sew York. The Courtrooms in that city are to be telegraphically connected with the officcs of the leading lawyers, so tliat the state of the calendar and the progress of trials can be announced, and the parties summoned when wanted.

We omitted to mention that the band of the Hobson Company, Auckland Bifle Volunteers, under their efficient bandmaster, played for the Agricultural Show, on the Grand Stand, and also played at the sapiety's dinner, on Monday last.

At the Caledonian Games, on Monday, Mr. McLennan won the first prize and Mr. hitelaw the second prize, for dancing the Highland fling. Dancing the Scottish "reel, Mr. Whitelaw won the first prize, and Mr. McLennan the second.

_ tenders were received by the Provincial engineer for the construction of immigrants' cottages at Raglan. The successful tenderers were Messrs. Hill, Harker, and Adams.

An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in the Golden Crown Gold Mining Company will be held this afternoon, in Mr. C. Tothill's office.

A meeting of shareholders in the Caledonian Gold Alining Company will be held in the Insurance Buildings, at noon to-day.

_ The annual meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society will be held this evening, in the Pitt-street Chapel.

A number of correspondents' letters in hand will appear to-morrow.