Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5364, 25 January 1879, Page 4

An abstract of the returns of the Regis-trar-General of the Vital Statistics of the principal boroughs in the colony, furnished from Welling on, appears in another column. It will be seen that tho death rate for December was exceptionally high, diarrhoea being very prevalent throughout the colony, and ptoved fatal in a large number of instances, especially amonest children. The mortality of those undur 5 years of age was very high. The deaths of a number of people of very advanced age are also recorded. It is probable that the long, hot, and dry weather which was experienced in December has been the direct causa of tho increased mortality.

Our Mercer correspondent telegraphs that a splendid seam of coal has been discovered on tho properly of Mr. Andeison, a settler residing between Whangauiarino and Eangariii, and a heavy sum has been offered tor the whole of the land which he owns. It is also rumoured that another valuable mineral has been found on a portion of the same property, but the exact class has not been made public. The lucky settler is going home to realise some property, and will return as quickly as possib e with tha necessary material to fully develop his new-found industry. Gradually impoitant discoveries are being met with in various parts of the Provincial District, and with extended occupancy and cultivation, no doubt other mineral discoveries will be met, which will still farther attract; population and investments in this part of the North Island,

There are now three wires between Atickland and Wellington, but the business has of late so greatly increased that oue or more in addition must soon be erested. At present the business cannot be a itisfactonly despatched. is, we believe, no more wire in the colony, but it has been sent for, and is on the way. The Government are anxious to have the additional wires erected through the interior and by the West Coast, which v/ould give another "circuit," which could be use-l when accidents happen to the lines on the E\st Coisfc. 1113 a curious fact that telegraphic lines never carry the current so we'l when they run close to the sea, which is the case with th« present line. The opening of the country bet ween Waikato and Taranaki would be the means of enabling; us greatly to improve the telegraphic communication of the North Island, The City Council officials are taking steps for the immediate recovery of all unpaid rates. The subsidy allowed by Government depends on the amount of general rates actually received, and the non-payment of rates means a positive loss to the city funds of an equall amount. If, therefore, persons who have not piid receive a summons with attendant cjsts, they have themselves only to blame, several notices having been both forwarded and repeatedly advertised requesting payment. Inconsequence of the disclosures which took place in the recent prosecution agiiu3t Mrs. D borah Hood, of Xgaruawahi*, for travelling by the train with >ut paying her fare, the railway authorities have discharged Mr. Holmes, at Newmarket, and the two guards, McDonald and Sampson, from the service of the Railway Depart- : meat.

Tho railway employees have for some time past looked forward with pleasurable anticipations to their annual excursion and picnic, which is to be litld to-day at Mr. Jas. B. Uay's farm, Hunua, near Papakura. Of course, ou account of the nature of their employment, thry are unable to participate in the amusements and recreations of the great holiday seasons, those being the occasions on which they have to work hardest, aud it is but fair and reasonable that they should have some recompense. This has always beeu recognised by the railway authorities, and hence those annual re-unious. An euergetic committee ha 3 been busy during the week providing meaus of 'eujoyment on the ground selected. Swings have been erected, tents pitched, and a racocourse for the athletic games marked off. There are eight events of athletic sports on the programme, besides special prizes for girls, young women, aud children. The bycicle circus, which afforded so much amusement at the Ellerslie racecouu9e on New Year's Day, has been fixed on the ground, and last, but not least, we may add that the Engineer aud City Band will be in attendance. Special trains leave Auckland at 7, S, nud 9.-15 a.m. ; aud Ohaapo, G a.m., and the return traius start at 6.30 p.m. Th'j weather promises to be favourable for a good day's enjoyment. A number of the cmpl >yees ou the Kaipara railway arrived in town yesterday, by the steamer City of Cork, to take part in the demonstration.

i Besides the thoroughbred horse Musket, the Hero brings 53 head of pedigree cattle. The resideuceof Mr. Scherff, in Ponsonby, had a very narrow escape from what might have proved a very serious calamity by lire on Thursday afternoon. It appears that a portion of the fence adjoining the house got ou fire, and although the blaze commenced to spread and rise rapidly, two of the owner's servauts succeeded in extinguishing the flames and gettiug rid of the danger which would otherwise hive taken place if water had not been available. The Carlton C.C play the Parnell C.C. in the Domain ground to-day, at 2.30 sharp. The City Council ollioc3 will be closed on Wednesday, the 29th iust. (anniversary Day), aud, at the request of his Worship the Mfiyor, the day has been gazetted as a bank holiday. The annual meeting of subscribers to the OneUunga Library aud Public Reading-room ; was held on Thursday eveuing. The president I (Uev. A. K. Tomlinson) and ten member* ! were present. The rep »rt stated the number i -;f m-mbers at 4G ; a'»out 30 books were taken out weekly. 150 new books had been procured from the Government grant, of which only ab ait 15 were novels. A fund for the erection of a uew building bad started, to \\h>ch about £90 ha»{ been premised, £'2S of which was paid. The receipts for the year amouuted to £31 Ss lid, of which £4 10-i was spent in periodicals, the balauce in establishment charges. The ofticers for the new year were then c-Incted : Mr. J W. Waller, president ; Mr. Glcnny, .->ucn t:iry ; Mr. Murdoch, treasurer; auda committee of nine. A crioket mateli will b ? p-ayed to-morrow, ai the Kpsom ground, Newmarket, between the Kpsom Cr.cket Club (Second Eleven) aud Excelsior Cricket Club. To commcnce at 2.15 sharp. The Chairman of the Parawai Highway B.»ard has received a windfall from the Hon. the Native Minister, in the shape of a grant of £200 for road works and other improvement, in consideration of part oi their lan 1 being held by natives, and therefore exempt from rates. The Borough have received an intimation th:it the sum to ba allotted to them on this account will be £500. The grant of £400 for the Old Men's Refuge, promised some time ago, is also to be paid at once. — Thames Advertiser. The cmcert in aid of the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum and Belvedere Institution, came off last night; on board the English ship May Queen. The vessel was neatly decorated for the occasion—the poop being n vet spread with an awning, and lighted with Chinese lanterns, served as a cool promenade, while the 'tween decks were made available for dancing. The 'tween decks were very neatly decorated willi various (lags, which hitl the bare sides of the vessel, while the roof was prettily hung with feat .ons of evergreens, aud presented a very pleasing appearance. There could not have

been less than 300 persona present, aud the majority ever and anon j.lined in the dance, inusic being discoursed by the Artillery Band, under Bandmaster Hunter. Instrumental m isic was relieved at intervals by the vocal efforts of several amateurs, but, on the whole, their success was marred by the space between decks bciug too low, and hardly sui able for siugit'g. The concert passed off Vtry well, and the funds of the two institutions will be considerably augmented by the entertainment iu question, which is entirely due to the efforts of Captain Tatchell and the ( flicors of the ship, who deserve the thauks of the committees of these institutions for their well-meant effoits. The monthly inspection parade of the Auckland aval Brigade was held yesterday evening, at the JDrill-liall, before Major Withers, the Otlioer in Command of the District. A s usual, there was a large muster, and the inspection was in every respect a satisfactory one. The company was exercised in several movements by Captain Le Hoy, and afterwards, headed hy their band, they marched through Queenstreet. Last evening there wan a meeting of the Tonic Sol-fa choral Union, iu the Alexandrastreet School-room. Mr. F. G. Ewington occupied the chair, and Air. Blakey, in the ab-ence of Mr. Cranwell, conducted the singing. The chairman stated that the meeting was a special one, and had been called for the purpoße of hearing the Rev. John Crump, who was on a visit to Auckland, deliver an addross on the progress of th s system of singing in tlie southern parts of New Zealand. The Rev. J. Crump, on being called upon, related in a lucid and pleasant manner the struggles and triumphs of the Sol foists in New Zea'and, aud said that a society nas being formed in Christchurch for the purpose of ensuring greater unity of action amongst all believers iu this system. Ho was followed by Rev. D. McXiccol, of Invercargil), who, in a neat speech, detailed his experience iu relation to this matter. During the evening several pieces were Bung by the members, and a vote of thanks brought the meeting to a close.

The stock of pai l notes for 5 years by the Bank of England, is about GS,OOO 000 iu number, and they fill 13,000 boxes, whif.h, if placed side by side, would reach 2| miles 1,000,000 notes, placed ia a pile, wouid rather higher th.m the monument ou F.slistreet Hill, and all tho notes iu the bank so placed would be G miles high ; or, if if joined eud to end, would form a ribbon 11,000 miles long : their superficial extent id rather less than that of Hyde Park : their original valuo was over £2,200,000,000; and their weight over SO tons. £-Io note of a less amount than £5 is issued by the bank.

An advertisement iu another column shews how the various pulpits belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist connection, in the Auckland District, are to he filled to-morrow by the various clergymen attending the Conference. The Auckland Gas Company remind their customers that their office will close to-day at 1 o clock, and those who do not pay their accounts before the office oloses will forfeit din count.