NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4480, 23 March 1876, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

NOKTHEE.N WAIROA REGATTA. A MAN DROWNED. DISGRACEFUL SCENES OF DRUNKENNESS. [from our ow.n - correspondents. ] HELENSVILLE, Wednesday. The Northern Wairoa Regatta was held at Kaihu on St. Patrick's Day. The sports passed off well. At dinner, afterwards, it was decided to form a Rowing Club, and £50 was collected in the room for the purchase of a racing-gig. Tt is intended that an all-comers' prize of £40 or £50 shall be offered, and Auckland and Thames crews invited to compete. The proceedings at Maungawhare, for a period of 4S hours afterwards, were most disgraceful amongst the bushmen and gumdiggers, beyond anything that can be realised, and a lasting infamy to the grogsellers. Men maddened with drink fought to time, naked like wild bea3ts, and no attempt was made to atop them ; on the contrary, they were encouraged. Saturday was little better, and many, when their money was spent, attempted to return home in their frail boats and were swamped, but fortunately were rescued. Sunday culminated, however, in the death of a bushman named Charles Adamson, who came up to Kaihu in au outrigger skiff, about three in the afternoon, pretty well " tight," and having a bottle of grog. He started immediately after for tlie bush with a mate, Charles Nooman, dead drunkand asleep in the bottom of the boat. Adamson pulled away steadily with several boats close after. Not an hour had elapsed when tidings came that he had fallen out and wa3 drowned in close proximity to a boat containing five persons, most of whom were drank, and, I think, incapable of making any great exertions to rescue him, as they were only SO yards off when they heard the cry. In the other loaded boat, some one was playing the concertina, and it is said that Adamson got up to dance and fell clean out. Nooman was not aware of Adamson's absence until awakened by the crew of the other boat. It is a wonder that scores were not dron ned—one boat load after another sailing away with all the men more or less under the influence of drink. Such scenes are too common here on holidays. They are unparalleled, perhaps, in the Southern hemisphere. THE GOVERNOR IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. RECEPTION BY THE TUHAURANGI TRIBE. ROTORUA, Wednesday. His Excellency the Governor left for the Wairoa yesterday, where he met with a hearty reception from the Tuliarangi tribe. Loyal speeches of welcome were delivered by the leading chiefs. The Governor replied in suitable terms. His Excellency, accompanied by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, Lord Phipps, Mr. Le Patourel, Captain Maling, and others, started for Rotomahana to-day. THAMES, Wednesday. The United Kingdom,Waitekauri, realised loz. Sdwts. lOgrs. from 2501b5. of stone (notlOozs., as misprinted yesterday). The Golden Ago, Beehive tribute (Livingstone and party), crushed 3 tons for loz. 2dwts. The Great Extended, Tapu, lodged lOozs. 7dwts. of gold. Tho Pumping Association steam was got np at the capstan engine, and gave satisfactory test. The Durham is detained, owing to the gale of wind. The Queen of Beauty shareholders returned from Auckland, having completed the agreement. Re the Waio-Karaka Pumping Association, it is anticipated that by Monday the boiler engine, &c., will be in working trim and the Bright SmUe pumps at work. COROJIANDEL, Wednesday. In the Tokatea, the opinion is gaining ground here among the shareholders, that the battery belonging to the company, on this side of the range, should be conveyed to the Kennedy Bay side. This should bo done for, at the outside, about £500, thus saving the company £2500, as the price demanded for Bennett's battery is £3000. The shareholders here are in favour of the removal of the battery. From the Bismarck, GO lbs. of specimens have been obtained to-day. From the Royal Oak, 30 lbs. of good specimens have been obtained from No. 1 leader, which is looking more promising every day. HASTINGS, Wednesday. Messr3. Buckland visited Tapu yesterday, and arranged with the Great Extended men to resume crushing immediately. To-day they are trucking down quartz to the mill. -A.ll the men are discharged from the Bullion, pending a crushing of 20 tons now going on, the result of which is to be placed before a meeting of the directors on Saturday. Probably portions of the mine may be let on tribute, as they would get a good percentage in that way. [press agency.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Great bush fires have occurred in the vicinity of the city. Many families axe .burnt out and forced to come into town liomefess. The homesteads, farm, stock, and crops are destroyed. GREYMOTJTH, Wednesday. lUie -weather since yesterday has been very boisterous, and a strong south-west gale has been blowing. There have been heavy rains. The • surf has been severe all along the coast, and there has been a strong flood" in the riyer. The barometer js at present 29.47. . The races have been postponed lndenn*The Albion proceeded to Nelson untendered. • • ' '