Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4439, 4 February 1876, Page 2

It is with very great regret that we have to announce the almost total destruction of the wheat crop in this district. In the early part of the season there was every

of an abundant yield, and the exl>ectations of farmers rau high. The incessant rains experienced during the last two mouths have, however, worked sad havoc. On several holdings in this neighbourhood cattle and horses would have been turned into the wheat fields," the "returns not being calculated to recoup the cost of reaping. We learn from a gentleman who arrived from the'coast yesterday that a similar course has been adopted by many of the natives residing along the coast, and that there is every probability of great distrees among the several Bay of Plenty liapus during the coming winter. Great fears are also entertained for the safety of the potato crop, which the floods throughout the Bay of Plenty calculated to have materially damaged. Altogether the agricultural returns of the season are reduced to a minimum.—Bay of Plenty Times.

, A man named Thomas Bray was charged at the Police Court, yesterday morning, -with two breaches of the Municipal Police Act, by depositing a quantity of nightsoil on his land abutting upon the Karangahape Road, .and allowing it to remain there uncovered for nearly a week. Mr. Barnes, chairman of the District Highway Board, had remonstrated with the defendant on his—to say the least of it—unwise action, but received for his pains a surly answer accompanied by a "not very classical but rather forcible-expres-sion. X>r. Young, Health Officer for the district, Mr. F.H.Heighway, an employee of the Central Board of Health, aud Mrs. Watts, a resideut in the immediate neighbourhood of the nuisance, all gave evidence which plainly shewed-that the defendant's offence was ofa more than usually aggravated type. The. Bench taking into consideration all these ; facts: thought it necessary to impose the fulV penalty of £10 in the first case, and Is in the second, which, with costs included, foots up to the respectable little sum of £15 lGs. Mr. Barnes and all those concerned in bringing the matter before the public deserve great credit, for unless persons of a like disposition to Mr. Bray be restrained from their objectionable practices, arid be made to consult the interests of other peol>le. as well as their own, we need not be in the least surprised to hear of the breaking out amongst us of contagious and fatal diseases. If persons whose olfactory nerves are not of the most susceptible, and whose regard for the health aud cleanliness of the city is nil when it involves a little loosening of their own purse-strings, will persist in contravening the regulations in force for the benefit of the public at large, they must take the consequences.

Mr. Chas. Wheatleigh appeared last evening for the last time as " The Shaughraun,V in Dion Boucicault's new play so entitled, and produced the same telling effect as upon his previous performances. This. excellent actor has been successful without precedent in running a new piece for so long a period as " The Shaughraun" held the public ear. Mr. takes his benefit this evening in a new play, also by Boucicault, entitled, "Kerry"; or, "Night and Morning." This piece is also a great novelty, and,. we believe, one of Boucicault's most graceful and effective Irish •-sketches. Mr. Wheatleigh's part is that of a dependent of an old family, something like the famous part in Lover's White Horse of the Peppers." It will afford Mr. Wheatleigh's best powers. To-morrow, which will ,be the last night of the season, a new piece is announced. . . ' ' \ ;; • ! j Intending passengers to England would do well to read the circular' of the Pacific Mail S.S.- Company, , issued. by -.Messrs. O wen and Graham, as the same gives every information regarding the lines of route, &c.

- white-jworni has ? made its appearance in the ' at' Matapihi, Taurariga, ail d is completing' the work of ruiri in the first instance' caused by this rains,. .. j 1

There was another rery large assemblage last evening to witness M, t Blondin m_his.. night ascension and pyrotechiiic display.iTh& number of spectators fell little short' of: on the previous ey;ening(3ooo), and the per~ formanee was ih?eyet^7 re r 3 E eo '' a . s * ST?®* .asuccess. The novelty jast night ; what iscaUed "Blondih's';; Banquet;" VjTrhich he sups on the high.rope, much it is. fair to say,to the satisfaction the Jiealtli of the company being drunk m sparkling champagne." There were ; a'few showers ot rain before the -performance,commenced,^ which well high dampcdthe courage of many, but patience: secured its-.'-ultimate reward, and the night became remarkably fine. \\ hat the fireworks are we have, already described.; One of the most enlivening features of this entertainmerfc is the excellence of the bancl under Mr7jmpey, who played some excellent selections. Grand march, • Pride ot England." The overture to "La Dame Blanche," "Potpourri" (selections - from Auber), " Janet's Choice" (waltz), and Mazurka. It is noteworthy that these pyro- ; technic displays are capable of inhnite ! yariety, and we see great in progress for the next displays. M. 331ondiu a displays are likely to be very much more successful than his first performances led people to expect. He is now nightly applauded by a very large concourse of people.

The works of the new building for the Auckland Institute are progressing most favourably, aud we are told that in all probability' the month of May next will not pass before the valuable articles constituting Auckland Museum are properly arranged in the new locality. At present they are simply suffering destruction, and iu spite of the endeavours of the able curator, Mr. Cheeseuian,« would very soon come to grief if allowed to remain in their present condition. When, however, the building is ready for their reception, Mr. Cheeseman will have a vast amount of work to do before he can. make all ,the arrangements necessary for exposing the valuable exhibits in such a manner as to best afford food to the curious mind and solid instruction to learners. The locality, it may be remarked, is not the best for a museum, but it was the best to be obtained, and although not near the centre of the town, .is easily accessible. .

On Wednesday evening a soiree was held at the Good Templar Hall, Rolleston-street, Shortland, —Captain Richards in the chair. The meeting was well attended by the members of the Pioneer Lodge and friends of the cause. A most agreeable evening was spent in discussing - the excellent .tea-provided, singing, recitations, speeches, and votes of thanks. A considerable amount was realised towards the object of the meeting, that being the raising of funds for paying off the cost of the piano attached to the lodgo, to which there is now appended a choir, who displayed considerable ability in the selec-"' tions rendered by them. The interests of Good Templary prosper under this lodge.— [Correspondent.]

A meeting of miners was-held on Wednesday night at the Pacific Hotel, Grahamstown, Mr. A. McLaughlin in the chair. About 40 were present. The rules drawn up by the committee were adopted, and the following officers appointed for. the ensuing six months I—W.1 —W. J. Speight (president) B. Brown (vice-president), A. Hart (treasurer), R. W. Fairbairn (secretary), and J. McGregor (guard). In regard to the latter appointment, the object in view. appears to be a mistake on the part of the association, inasmuch as any attempt to hold meetings for the public good with closed doors, or with any tendency to secresy, must defeat its own object. The first regular meeting of members is to take place next Tuesday.—[Correspondent.]

A specimen of the incrustation from the Pumping Association's pumps was sent to Mr. Skey, Government Analyist at Wellington, and liis report is as follows :—" Carbonate of lime, So "94 ; carbonate of magnesia, *S-i ; iron oxide, with alumina, G G9 ; siliceous matter, insoluble in cold acid," 2'IS ,- soluble silica, *44 ; water, 2 - 17; alkali, sulphur, arid loss, 1 -74: total, 100." The incrustation is, - therefore, shewn to be mainly carbonate of lime, and it is, no doubt, formed by depositions from its solution in water highly charged with carbonic acid, the acid of which escaping as easy communication is met with from the surface to the lower strata, tbe lime can no longer remain in solution.—Thames Advertiser.

The natives who went from Ohiuemuri to Katikati to attend the meeting there with respect to the murder of Petera Koikoi have returned. - Mr. L'-larke, the Commissioner, attended the meeting, but failed to obtain intelligence of what had been done with the body of Petera Koikoi beyond that he had been killed and buried. As an inquest could not be held, the matter rests at present. We presume that nothing further will be done, the natives having, it is believed, made away with the body by sinking it out at sea.

A panorama in aid of the Beresford-streefc Sunday-school was exhibited in the Beres-ford-street Hall last evening. The scenes presented to view were taken from Amsterdam up the Bhiue, through Switzerland, and thenco.to Italy. Mr. Barton explained in a satisfactory manner the different views as they appeared on the screen. The entertainment was interspersed by several hymns, which were sung by the children "attending the Sunday-school in a very creditable manner. At the conclusion !Mr. .Lyons proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Barton, which was heartily accorded.

Some of the worn-out sandstone pavement in lower Queen-street has at length been taken up, and the whole in front of the -Thames Hotel, and two houses extending to the southward • from it, is being asphalted. The change will .be agreeable to all who have business at that end of the town. Asphalt is workiug its way, and ere long the old-, fashioned sections of sandstone will in every 1 place give way to the. artificial conglomera- ; tion now coming into vogue under the pseudonym of "asphalt." J The accident to Mr. Paul at the Parawai butts, Thames, Tuesday, we. are happy to state is not likely to be very serious. The fragment of bullet ricochetting from- the target struck Mr. Paul over the right eye, bruising the eye-ball, but with ordinary care and rest the gentleman expects to be about in a few da3'S. The accident may be attributed to the faulty const ruction of the mantlet, the cover not being nearly sufficient. Since the fire at Smale's Poin|, which destroyed a number of ship and boa£biulders' workshops, Mr. John Waymouth, one of the sufferers, has until lately been unable to find a suitable site for recommencing business. He has at last rented an allotment iu Custom-house-street, • from . the : Harbour Board, and has erected thereon a large boatbuilding shed, and workshop, and is now actively engaged at his trade. "While we are hearing from almost every part of our own province of entire or partial loss of the grain and grass crops, from the continued wet weather,-from Canterbury we have- accounts of an , abundant harvest. Throughout the province, oats will average 36 busheKper acre, wheat 30, and barley 28. But for the/unseasonable rains of the last few weeks, the crops in thi3 province would have been considerably above an average.

A good deal of work has been lately done on the Grafton Iloarl. The upper part of this thoroughfare has always been difficult of access, and although much has been done ■during.the'last three or four years to ease the gradients, much Btill remains to be done. The Highway Board hare now made a good commencement, and it is to be hoped they will find sufficient funds to enable them to r carry out their designs.,^. The peach' season has commenced, and several boat loads of the fruit have arrived from Maori ? settlements.; Yesterday the Maoris were busy, disposing of their produce about the town, and found ready customers for this delicious fruit.

Mr. J. P. du Moulin has been* appointed manager of the Fiji Bank at X.«?uka in place of Mr. Horton.

Although this is only the 4th of twT~~ ful month of February, a number of • 'stationers i!iave decorated their irinj osl , y-'itli most works of "none of wtoch will be available «?! after the expiration of ten davs the present tiine. There was a 2?® Avhen valentines w.ere real true-lovers' let* 9 and only indited by' love-sick swaino (■»«*!' Delias. The present matter-of-fact aire V 1 produced children of another kind, UK ' has been elevated into gaiety, and'lo Te - from the ;jvorid .in tbpso'^l-i l ' tarian-daysphas 'taken-other pressing itself than-by tender val»->K®' Such is progress.: The 14th of at one time a day of joy to aU.SS: maidens, and one of terror io' all siich T iioers as letter-carriers. In those di " those of the golden age—it was - _

' In the morn of Valentine ' 1 ' Wllcn birds begin to sing, ' ■ -v".; . that Jock" and Joan and all the other'?'£ and lasses paird like little birds and St. Valentine. But the mischief of that nobody knows who St. Talent; 18 was. He seems as great a mW), King Arthur, or Bishop sea-serpent, or the siege of Trov mi only individual whoso name in any inant approximates to that of the sainted voh : of love and patron of lovers, is one vffi tinus, who, old documents tell us, lired tween the second and third centurv of tlf" Christian era, and who sought toVemmfT. certain heathen doctrines on the pure mS of morality of the Christian religion. "Mt can hardly be the man. Saint Valentin* 1 must'be a myth, and a development from m arrow-head shot from Cupid's bow Th only thing certain about the matter at"' present is, that this is leap-year will be a 29th day of February iu tins year 6 Bachelors beware ! widowers look out l oi that eventful day, any lady in search' oU husband may claim any unengaged man ass husband, and if he fail to meet her views' may take such other proceedings as a ceitS unrepealed law directs. The remedy liesV her own hands. (A mysogjTiht.&y.: hands and nails.) •

The unfortunate man Edwin James who two or tlirea times tried to put an end to himself at Tauranga, arrived yesterday by the Rowena, he having been committed to the Lunatic Asylum by the Resident IWIS. trate of that district. We leara that heia a son of Mr.. Edwin James, barrister London. The Bay of Plenty Times has the following respecting the attempts at suicide • "Two determined efforts'at suicide were made on Sunday by a lunatic ; one at Oropi, the other at Tauranga. The lunatic, who is a strong built young fellow about tronty. one years of age, named Edwin James, ha been -working lately at Ohinemiitu. About Friday last ho gave himself up to the sergeant in charge of the Constabulary at that place, stating that he was unfit to' ba at' liberty. On Saturday he was broughttoOfopi, •where he was placed in the Constabulaiy guard tent, and it was about half-past one on Sunday morning that he there made the first, attempt by stabbing himself in the breast,in' the region of the heart. The instrument used was an old bayonet, aud it was onlythe bluntness of the weapon that prevented tie wound from being fat ;ij- Later on in the day he was sent down to Tauranga, where he to. brought about half-past eleven o'clock..; On his arrival, he spoke in a comparatively, rational manner, and asked that before being locked up, he might be. allowed, to perform an act of nature, immediately after which, and without the slightest' warning being given to the constable, who wa closely watching him, he jumped over the parapet of the redoubt, inside whichKmi standing, and crossed the ditch,' and was ip the other side into the paddock as quick a lightning, The constable was immediate!; behind, however,, and had almost got'his hand 011 him, when, by a quick mo?emes the lunatic evaded the constable's grasp, thereby causing him to fall from the sudden check given to the impetus with which the attempt at capture was made. The luiatie then made straight for the cliff at the edge I of tbe paddock, which, from a height'of some sixty feet descends precipitously, to jthe water's edge. Over this cliff the lnnitis :made one wild jump, aud mavelloiis to relate, landed safely on the beach.,-Fori : moment or so he seemed bewildered from the effects of the jump, but quickly recording, lie ran into the tide ; the constable,; who was now joined by . several ' often; being ' close upon him. The. t lowti! then struck out into deep water,', anJ held his face under water with the determined intention of drowning himself,' bnt just in time, one of the constables (Jola Kelly) swam in after the drowning mail ail brought him to shore. lie was then carried on a stretcher to the guard-room, whereDi Armitage was promptly in attendance, aii in about a quarter of an hour, the man Vll i brought round. From what we canglean,ii i : would appear that the lunacy of the deraogii 3 man is hereditary. He exhibits no violent | but only a determination to take away his | life. After he had recovered from the effaS | of his immersion he spoke quietly of to | feelings at the time, sayiug that he dranili | much water as he could, and that lie grafa- | ally felt unconsciousness coming on jhesafl g however, that he experienced none of thosf I panoramic visions of his past career whici | are generally spoken ut_ as being seen drowning men. He, is believed toi.te.wß .connected, aud that his friends are peopled j[| some position in the old country." PI

A Matata correspondent of tbeiTfays Plenty Times narrates the following install of" Maori superstition :—" leather ail ing affair happened here the otlier dayamusing to all but the sufferer.*. well off "in the ' one, horse■ completed a sale of live stout to the ilDiPj of £16, while carrying his ;purse about k" it, aud was consequently at his wit's endb* to find it. First he put up notices'offeritfj reward of £1 to the person who would and return it. To anyone who "would the direst vengeance of the.law. Failifl&ty this European method he fell back consulted some Tohungas, to summon the people and have than & jected to an ordeal somewhat siiailarfo^

in vogue amongst our own . enligM®* ancestors not many centuries ago, onlfj much more pacific, or may 1 say, Templar one—instead of trial of Wood, ? of water. At the appointed time and p* the people of the settlement collccfev white flag flying at the rendezvous' ; were the conjectures as to how the was to be found out. \Yeak-miii<s 10 . viduals might be seen uneasily feeWJg 3 their pockets (that is those who 'had for fear that by some magical op«J* the dreaded purse should have, there. Soxuo of the gamins r who T an. inkling of what was ' coming T* practising themselves, poising PJfPij bricks, Btones, &c., on the back then, stretched hands. After a speech or** s the Tohungas threatening inakutu*® . one who might.have the purse aud notp it up, the ordeal commenced.: About of the most suspicious-looking innoctf « the assembled crowd were placed ins a pannikin two-thirds full ofbrought forward by the most P° jg stricken villainous-looking hungas, • who put it on , V t*i of the out-stretched hana--J* f 3j first In the line, and on until rea , second at the other end, who, tionally or nervously, capsized the. ?3j| It was, however, decided that hewa-Tjg guilty party, and after passing the round once more without accident,. . was given up, and the peopleJg purse still remains unfound, and Ji to continue so, unless another «| resides and practises legerdeniaifl cards in Maketu, and is to be more successful. The fate of - murdered lately on this coast does to deter others from following the although they maybe said to D e .°- pale of the law, as our weak to punish their strong enough to prevent ihetf, or tribe from avenging them. X to become a Tohunga—at any ' Great Britain, of the South.'V The settling on the Papakura take place this afternoon at four, 0. hS

the Exchange Hot*].

Da " ng r e th |oTaSs e r^l J rSii 8 th 6 e e 0 f W ಺lrtte number during the Inding month of 1875 being 32 deaths S^^SowiiW'is'^detSiled-statement:— i s?fi Under .5 years, y.12 deaths ; on vears 4 death's; under ' 50 years, 2 over 50 years, 2 deaths: total 20 toths ' For 1875: Under 5 years, ,24 deaths; riisr 20 vears, 1 death; under 50 years, fdcaths; over 50 years, 0 deaths: total U deaths. Ten : deaths; in ; the • hospital during 4 the month of January, IS/6—Geo. Goldie, Sanitary Inspector. "The committee of the Auckland Cricket Club i. Te arranged for a club match, open to all Members, to be played at Ellerslie on Saturday at three o'clock. An opportunity will thu3 he given for a good afternoon's cricketing to those members who usually, do not take part in challenge-matches, or who have not the leisnre for more than an occasional half-day's acquaintance with pad and S iO T e * Intending players are reminded that train leaves the Auckland station sharp 2.30. Our To Kopuru correspondent writes " The Native Lands Court is still sitting at Kaihu, and it is very the business will be finished, bat* ji* n0 a nature to interest the reading f » sr-ittsaSaSKS we are now it contiime fulness of summer. J iotis ».t™a ta.m. barren search towards the Miranda. He will start with several other constables toda yWe should think there is but httle hope of actually finding Wynyardin the bush into - which he has got. The only chance is to lie in wait for him at all points of exit. We observe that Mr. Wilcocks, the new Registrar of the Supreme Court, m the place of Loughlin O'Brien Esq., retired, is a passenger by the Ladybird, and may be expected to arrive in Auckland in a day or 'iwo.

The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Agricultural Society will be held at the -Criterion Hotel, Otahuhn, on Wednesday, February 9, at 2.30 p.m. . A liquidation notice re Jonn Hearing ap--pears in our advertising columns. — A liquidation notice re Joseph Moses appears in our advertising columns.