Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5371, 3 February 1879, Page 4

The Government steamer Stella left Auckland at halt-past 7 o'clock on Saturday morm'ng, and arrived off Tararu at 7 o'clock. She brought the Hon. J. ;-heehan, Native Minister, v/ho has some business to transact with tho natives here, and, as passengers, Colonel Fraser, Mr. W. JlcCullough (Mayor, Thames), Mr. A. Brodie (County Chairman), tho Wlinogarei chief Tauran (wife, daughter), auil a number of others. The Stella made but a short stay, and left again for Auckland, where elia arrived about 9 o'clock. The Stella left again yesterday for Welliugton, with the Native Minister.

The total amount of gold exported from New Zealand from Ist April, 1557, to the 31st December, IS7S, was 5,959,4520z3., valued at £35,002,273. The amount exported during IS7S was 310,45G0z5., valued at £1 240,079, as against 371,G550z5., valued at £1,49G,050 in 1577.

The accounts of the Auckland Domain Board for the years 1575, 1576, and 1577 are published in a iVeio Zealand Gazette of the 23rd January. It is strauge that such a Ling time has elapsed before the accounts for the years named could have been published. The 7th section of the Public Domains Act, 1860, provides that all the accounts of the preceding year shall be submitted to the auditor for examination. Does the auditor require several years to examine the accounts of a Board which amount on the whole to an average of about £1400 per annum ?

We havebeeu furnished with some particulars respecting the man Myas, now in custody as a deserter from one of Her Maj-sty's ships, which we beliave to bo authentic. Myas was arrested for desertion from the Blanche, and was put on board the Dido. While waiting for a" court martial, he made his escape, an.i a warrant for his re-appre-hension was issued by the captain of the Dido. Myas evaded the police till he was arrested at Onehunga, for causing a brawl in a lodging-house, where he had severely beat two drunken bushmen, and where he fiercely resisted the police. He was recognised as a deserter, and, indeed, pleaded guilty to the charge, and consequently was remanded till the arrival of a ahip-of-war in harbour. On one occasion, Mr. Hesketh appeared for him, but was satisfied that he was quite legally in custody. Myas will be placed on board the Sapphire, which will be here from Sydney in a few days. As to Myas'a family, we are informed by the police that the children are not his, and that he induced the woman to leave her husband. He brought this woman to a house in Onehunga kept by Mri. Fennell, whose husband stands committed at the next sessions for stealing money from the person. Myas is evidently not a subject for public sympathy in any case. But whatever might have been his character, when a man engages as a soldier, or a sailor on board a man-of-war, ho places himself under the Mutiny Act, and voluntarily deprives him - self of the ordinary privileges and legal rights of ft citizen, till he is lawfully discharged from his military engagement. Under the circumstances, no Magistrate would venture to discharge the man.

The maori Rone Pineha, whose escape from custody by jumping overboard from a vessel, and whose subsequent re-capture by four maori chiefs at Hokianga has already been recorded in tho Herald, was brought to town on Saturday in the steamer lona, and handed over to the police. He will be charged at the Police Court to-day with escaping from custody. The only other arrests besides that of Charles Veitch for indecent assault on a Maori woman under circumstances reported elsewhere, were four on charges of drunkenness.

A correspondent, who is an authority on native matters, writes to say that he thinks that, in answer to Cook's inquiry as to the name of the North Island, the Maoris replied, "He mea hi no Maui "( a thing fished up by Maui)—a phrase much liker the sound of the word on the old maps (Eahiuomawe) than the words " Te-ika a-Maui," but of the same import.

The Church Gazette for February has come to hand. The present uumber is nearly □lied with parochial intelligence. The leading article is devoted to the registration of Churchmen, which is followed by one relating to " The Maoris of the Kaitaia Diso j Various extracts and notes on bunday-achool lessons conclude the present number.

J Not only will Ohanpo very Boon be connected with the rest of the colony by telefir.apM6aya our Waikato contemporary) but Kihikihi also. For years past there has been a telegraph station, and the wires from Cambridge have been led into it, but the operator and the apparatus were wanting That want, however, is to be rectified Workmen are busy putting the buildine into repair, and in two or three weeks, at farthest, the wire will be open for the transmission of mewagea to Kihikihi,

We have seen a memorial purporting to come from the electors of the Herataunga RidiDg of the Coromandel County, and addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Justice, alleging a series of grave charges against both Major Keddell and Mr. J. B. Gatland, two General Government officials at Coro- I mandel, in connection with the recent County elections in that district. The petition, although purporting to come from the electors of the Herataunga Hiding, was only signed by five persons, none of whom, it is believed, were the prime movers in reducing the charges to writing. The memorial comprises about 26 paragraphs, most of which include separate counts of indictment against the two gentlemen named, ia their judicial and official capacities. Although a request is made for a "strict" enquiry into the whole circumstances, the Minister of Justice very properly " referred the memorial to the gentlemen at whom the charges were levelled, for their consideration and remarks. The meeting of ths County Council, which will be held to day at Coromandel, as to the bringing in of the Act, may perhaps smooth matters, but this we doubt, as the one party threaten to go in for a borough if they are beaten at to-day's deliberation. If matters are likely to continue as at present at Coromandel, the best course for the Government to adopt would be to appoint a commission, at which counsel could be heard for either side, sworn testimony adduced, aud guarantees given that whichever side was beaten must pay all costs.

The body of the youth Thomas Arnold, who was scalded at Te Kopura saw-mills on Tuesday last, and who died on Wednesday while on his way to the Auckland hospital, was conveyed to the Thames on Thursday last by the s.s. Rotomahana, and conveyed to the residence of his parents, Bella-street. The Advertiser states that the coffin was borne by the brethren of the Juvenile Branch of Court Pride of the North, Ancient Order of Foresters, to St. George's Church, and from thencj accompanied by many members of the Order, together with a numerous assemblage of relatives and friends—many of whom had come from long distances to shew their respect—to the cemetery at ShortlanJ, where the remains were interred. Deceased was one of the scholars at the St. George's Suuday-school till very recently, and was generally much liked.

The half-yearly meeting of the Grand Lodge oE 1.0.0. F., M.U., Auckland District, was held on Friday evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, Parnell.. It was presided over by P.D.G. M. Holland, D.P.G.M. Owen Mahon, and C. Secretary Smith. There were representatives present from the following : —Fouatain of Friendship, Good Intent, the Waikato (Thames), Charles Bruce (Thames), and two lodges in the Waikato district. The business transacted wa3 of the usual routine nature, and the proceedings were throughout of a very harmonious and satisfactory character.

Mr. Caulton's sale of thorough bred stock, at Epsom, on Saturday, was not a success, very few purchasers being present. This was, probably, owing in a great measure to the wet weather. After some pigs and miscellaneous lots had been disposed of, the pure-bre 1 cattle were brought up. King Henri I. was passed in at £100. The cows were in low condition, and not the class required for this market; therefore, they failed to bring long prices. Medora was purchased for £20, by Messrs. T. and S. Morrin ; and a roan cow, by Mr. Paul, for £25. The three heifers averaged £10 103. The hacks, with the exception of Alice Hawthorn, which brought £60, were not of much account. Harry Mount, Gillie Callum, and Tregeagle 11. were bought in, there being uo bidders for them.

The JVetv Zealand Times contradicts a statement made in Wellington that the Governor had applied for the use of the Hinemoa to take him to Victoria. Miss Amy Sherwin will give her last " farewell" concert thia evening in the Choral Hall. The programme contains several striking novelties. Among them we notice "The Shadow Dance," from " Dinorah," by Miss Sherwin; "The Bendizione " of Geordignani, by Signor Riccardi, and " The Yeoman's Wedding," also to be sung by Signor Riccardi. There is in the programme the usual number of operatic selections, songs, ballads, and two oboe solos bj- Signor Pompei.

A correspondent signing himself " Pedestrian," writes drawing attention to the state of Wellington.street. The rain which fell on Saturday rendered the street almost impassablo for foot passengers. He suggests that thG contractor carrying on works there should place a few loads of scoria where the footpath is to be. It would be a great boon to the inhabitants of Wellington and Unionstreets, and cost very little. Complaint has aKo been made respecting the state of Yic-toiia-street.

The Thames Star has this anecdote, which is understood to refer to the Borough of Thames :—A retiring Mayor, who happened fc<» be Mayor ooe day longer than usual, owing to a difficulty of getting together a sufficient number of councillors to perform the c••retnouy of installation, was furnished with a cheque in full of all demands up to the statutory period of hi 3 term of office. This he returned to the Town Clerk, as being iucorrect, and the Town Clerk gave his own private cheque for an amount, including the additional day's pay, he giving the d : £ference instead of bringing it before the Council. What the burgesses must have thought of that Mayor and that Town Clerk remain* to be seen.

The following is from the Thames Star:— " It is said that the Re?. Father Hennebery wai very nearly spoiling bis mis ion on the Thames. This wise. Amongst his hearers on the first Sun lay were some who did not care to sit out his long seraion, and as they left the chapel they attracted the eagle eye of the reverend missionary. He called them back, but it was like calling spirits from the vasty deep—they would not Then he implored, denounced, aud finally cursed them ; but all iu vain They were not to be had. A service of three hours was too much, and when the worthy missionary learned that he had been invoking curses or eome who gave their services to assist the musical portion of the worship, it is actually said that he so far made amends as to apologise for his rather rude, though privileged, remarks."

The Regatta Committee on Saturday afternoon proceeded on board the P.M. s.s. City of Sydney, and presented to Captain Dearborne a magniticent cameo ring, and Mr. Swan, chief officer, with a valuable watch pendant, for the courtesy evinced by these two gentlemen on Regatta Day, the steamer was used as a flagship. The presentations were acknowledged by the recipients in a courteous manner.