OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9320, 25 March 1889, Page 9

OUR LETTER HOME.

■gjg-'ExcEiiKffCY the Governor, . Siryftlliam J-ervois, has now left the colony, and in a few weeks we shall have the new Governor, Earl Onslow. Sir William Jervois was entertained at a luncheon in Wellington oil March IV, on. which occasion he made an excellent speech, stating that his term of office in Now Zealand had been a very pleasant one, and speaking highly of the resources of the country. The governor then went on to Dunedin, whereon March 20, he laid the foundation stone of the Dunedin Exhibition building. He will meet Earl Onslow akAdelaide. It is now setiled'that Parliament will nob-meet till about the middle of June. The Premier is in Wellington. The Han. Mr. Mitclielson, the Minister for Native Affairs, is now in Auckland, having come hero chiefly for the pur-pose-of attending a meeting of natives which is to be held at Orakei, near Aucklandy during the present week. A • gathering of natives took place a few days ago at Waitangi, Bay of Islands, which was attended by Sir Frederick Whitaker (Attorney-General) as representing the Government. The natives are attempting to devise some better means than the present of dealing with ; their lands, and the Government are . disposed to co-operate with them if possible. Mr. Fisher, Minister for Education, is also-at present in Auckland. The financial year of the colony closes '' at the end of the present montli, and so far as the figures can be attained it is shown that revenue and expenditure will be made to meet. Some even speak of the possibility of a small surplus. If this is attained, all will rejoice, for we shall not then have to resort to the expedients for raising money Ave have hitherto been driven to in order to cover up deficiencies. But the general feeling is that a careful watch must still be kept over the Treasury. For tnanyyears past, the Colonial Treasurer has always had loan moneys in his hands, and very many expenses have been regularly charged to loan which ought to have been charged to revenue. Last year, to a considerable extent this was redressed, but we are still far from being independent of loan expenditure. And until we are so, we cannot boast much about a surplus revenue. The position which we are in, however, is much better than was generally expected ; it is better than we had a right to feel-any certainty of attaining. It lias been readied mainly by the most bountiful harvest which has just been gathered, and by the fact that high prices have prevailed in England, and especially in Australia, for almost all articles of New Zealand produce. At one place in Canterbury as high as 93 bushels of wheat to the acre have been obtained.

When our last summary was written, ■we-were in a difficulty with Te Kooti. That-chief wasthe leader of the Poverty Bay massacre in 1868, and for some years after he -defied the pursuit of the colonial forces. After be had lived for some years quietly in the King Country fie was pardoued by Mr. Bryce, then Native Minister, the object being to facilitate matters for the opening of tlie King Country. The Government was blamed at the time for issuing a pardon, the murders committed by Te Kooti having been of a most atrocious character, Since he was pardoned Te Kooti has-occasionally-given annoyance by travelling through some districts of the Bay of Plenty accompanied by a large party of followers. But hitherto he has never gone to Poverty Bay, ■where reside the European and native relatives of the men, women, and children who perished in the Poverty Bay massacre. Te Kooti, as we stated in last month's summary, came to Auckland, and saw the Native Minister, who endeavoured to dissuade him from his expressed purpose of visiting Poverty Bay. But notwithstanding this, Te Ivooti set out, and was approaching the district with a considerable band of followers, when the Europeans and natives became angry and alarmed, and called upon the Government to prevent him. Ministers at length determined to do so. A small body of Europeans and natives advanced from Gisborne towards Opotiki, while some companies of volunteers, accompanied by several constables, went from Auckland to Opotiki When Te Kooti saw that the Government were determined to prevent Mm from going to Poverty Bay, he notified that he would return to Waikato. But the Government- would not be content with this, and Te Kooti was arrested near Opotiki, and was brought before the j Magistrate there, charged with levying an unlawful assembly, and ordered to find two sureties in £500 to keep tho peace tor six months. He was brought to Auckland on a Saturday, and placed in Mount Eden Gaol, and on tlie Monday two native chiefs entered into bonds on his behalf, and he was liberated, and returned to Waikato. Thereis no risk of his again attempting to go to the scene of the events which have ■left so painful an impression. It will be remembered that during last session of the Assembly a vote was come to in the House of Representatives against the San Francisco Mail Service. It is by far the most speedy service the colony has, but many in the Southern part of the colony are anxious for its discontinuance in order that more Government assistance might be available for the direct steamers which carry a large portion of the cargo to and from the colony. They also dislike it because the steamers touch only at Auckland, and it is the ambition of Wellington to centre there as much as possible the trade of the colony. The service has been continued running, and if a satisfactory arrangement can be come to by which the Australian colonies would contribute substantially to the service, it would be continued notwithstanding the desire on the part of those interested in the direct steamers that the subsidy should j be diverted to them. Mr. R. J. Oreighton, who was formerly a colonist of New Zealand, but who has resided for some years past in San Francisco, is now in Australia, acting on behalf of the present mail contractors, and endeavouring to make arrangements for a new service. He has proposed that the boats should run fortnightly, alternately from San Franciso to Sydney via Auckland, and from Ban Francisco to Melbourne via Wellington. We learn that the Chamber ot Commerce of Melbourne have resolved that Victoria should co-operate with New South Wales and New Zealand m an endeavour to adopt a scheme which shall be acceptable to tho different colonies interested. The General Synod of the Anglican Church of New Zealand was sitting at the date of our last summary. On tlx; 2Gth of February the Synod proceeded to the election of a Primate. This office has been held by Bishop Harper, of Christchurch, since the death of Bishop Belwyn, but he has retired owing to advancing years and declining health. The canons of the Church require that a ballot shall be taken between the Bishops, and if no result follows on the first ballot, then a second shall bo taken. On the third ballot it was found that there was a clear majority of the different orders in favour of the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. Hadfield. Bishop Hadfield has been in the colony from early —having been a missionary ■>at Otaki when the famous chief Te itauparaha was in the zenith of his power. The Congregational Union of New Zealand met in Auckland on February •86. TJie Congcegc^ionalists-irecognJs©

no-governing body, bat delegates from the different churches throughout the colony meet annually, and the Union aids weak congregations in different localities. The retiring chairman was the llevr. H. J. Lewis, who introduced Mr. Jthgo, of Dunodin, as his successor. The new chairman delivered an address on "Congregationalism, Ita Meaning, Mission, and Responsibilities." The news received from Samoa-during the" month shows that everything is in stat-u qito, pending the result of the Conference between tho Bovvers interested. The- Gormans have indulged in no further warlike demonstrations

against Mataafa and his followers, but have confined themselves to endeavouring to prevent the importation of munitions of war. Mataafa remains encamped and entrenched at the back of the town of Apia. He-could if ho choso destroy all the property of Europeans.

Within tho hittor-partof- the month very encouraging finds have boon made in several mines in -different parts of tho Thames goldfiekk. A revival of mining in this district at the present; time, and a great increase in the output of gold, would complete the good fortune of the colony, and do much to enable us to recover a thoroughly satisfactory financial position. The New Zealand University"Senate, a peripatetic body which holds its annual meetings in turn at each of tho chief towns of the colony, met this year in Auckland. The session opened on February 28th and closed on March 9th, the members present being : —Tho Chancellor, Sir Jos. Hector, K.C.M.CL, M.D.; tho Vice-Chancellor ; Professors Frederick Douglas Brown, M.A., B.Sc, (Oxford); Charles 11. Herbert Cook, M.A. (Cambridge); John McMillan Brown, M.A. ; John Shand, M.A. (Aberdeen) ; Rev. William Saknoncl, D.D. (Edinburgh): llev. J as. Paterson ; Joseph Giles, "MH.O.SX. ; Sir George Maurice O'Borke, B-A. ; Kev. David Bruce: Rev. William James Ilabens, BJV. ; Mr. Justice Thomas ISannaiyiie. Gillies; Sir Robert Stout, and Mr. Bowen. Tho annual report read bythc Chancellor showed tliat the income of the University for 18S8 had been £4780, and the expenditure £307.%. leaving a balance of ,£llOs. The following are the numbers o± candidates who came up for the November examinations : —For the B.A. degree, 112: for the B-Sc. degree, 3; far the LL.R degree, 16 ; for honours in arts, 13; for the M.B. degree, ID: total, 103The total shows a Largo increase over Inst year. The report or the results cabled from London show that for tho degree examinations have passed and 47 failed, that 11 out o£ 13 candidatesfor honours have been successful It appears that the University has examined in 1888 jvtotaiof 657 candidates for ail examinations. An important letter from Professor Thomas, of tho Auckland University College, upon tho necessity for the recognition of Agricultural Science in, the examinations of tho University was referred to a select committee, who reported favourably of the proposal, and advised that certificates of theoretical agricultural knowledge should be granted under certain conditions. An official communication from England was laid on the table, from which it appears that medical graduates of tho New Zealand University arc recognised by the General Council of the United. Kingdom under the Medical Act, 188G, as entitled to bo enrolled on the Medical Register as colonial practitioners. In regard to the course in law, which has been undertaken by the University, a set of rules were drafted by a committee, under the Law Practitioners Act, to be authorised by the Judges of the Supreme Court, and were agreed to. Sir Robert Stout, who takes great interest in university reform, brought forward a number of motions with reference to the various degrees granted by the University. The most important was a proposal to make Latin, as ' Greek now is, optional for the B.A. degree, instead of compulsory. The motion was lost by 11 to (5. The other motions were withdrawn. He also gave notice to move at tho next annual meeting for a specialisation of studies, and the granting of degrees as follow: —(a) Bachelor of Arts (Latin and Greek compulsory), (b) Bachelor of Literature (English ami two other languages compulsory), () Bachelor of Philosophy, (d) Bachelor of Science, (e) Bachelor of Music, (f) Bachelor of Laws, (g) Bachelor of Pedagogy ; also, similar higher degrees or Master and Doctor. It is tlic custom of the New Zealand University to appoint their examiners for degrees in England. The following examiners in England have now completed the full term of office permitted by the University Act: —Professors Wilkins. Brette, Buchheim, Cunningham, Thompson, Bay-Lankester, Vines, Jones, Sully, and Robertson, In their place a number of otlier gentlemen were nominated for election, provided they would consent to act. Among other resolutions passed by the Senate was one urging on the Government the establishment of a University College at Wellington, and one affirming the necessity of establishing an astronomical observatory in connection with the University. The next annual meeting of the Senate is to be held at Dan- 1 edin.

At the date of writing all the warships of the Australian squadron are in port here, with the exception of H.M.s. Calliope, which is stationed at Apia, Samoa. H.M.S. Rapid returned from Lyttelton, where she had been lying for some weeks, on February 25th, being followed the next day by the Admiral's flagship Orlando, which had been on a trip round the Southern Island, which included an inspection of the beautiful West Coast Sounds. The Lizard arrived from Wellington and , West Coast on. March Ist, and a day later the Opal, from a similar cruise, also dropped anchor in our waters. On March sth, the Royalist, the latest addition to the squadron, took her departure from Auckland, for a trip to Wellington, and after an enjoyable fort- ! night spent there returned to tho Waitoinata on the 21st. H.M.s. Orlando, under charge of Captain Hainmil, left for Sydney on February 27th, to bring over the relief crew for H.M.S. Dart, and a number of supernumeraries for the other vessels. She arrived here with 1C!) officers and men on the 21st instant, and the seamen are now allocated to their proper ships. The Dart's old crew went home on tho 21st by the direct steamer Tongariro. During the past week H.M.s. Rapid and Lizard have been docked together in the Calliope Dock, and been cleaned and overhauled. On their being floated out on the 22nd H.M.s. Dart took their place, and will remain in until the extensive repairs to her decks, spars, &c,, are completed. On the 3rd proximo the Rapid is to proceed to Samoa to relieve the Calliope, and the other vessels will also sail on the same date for Sydney, except the Orlando, whose -departure- is fixed for April 9. For many years past tho province- or ; Auckland has held a foremost place in the raising of thoroughbred stock, and once again the New Zealand Stud Company's establishment at Sylvia Park claims the credit of having produced the colt of the season in Carbine, a son of the defunct Musket, who was returned the dinner of the Champion Stakes at the Victoria Racing Club's meeting this month. This colt has I proved himself one of the most consistent and brilliant performers that has ever been seen on the Australian turf, and out of the thirteen occasions on which he has been started, he has won ! ten of his engagements, which represent I in stakes £4411.. As a. yearling, Carbine

"was soid for 640 "guineas, wiile In the spring of the present-season hewaa re-sold for 3000 guineas. That the defunct Musket has proved lihnself the greatest siro-ever imported-to colonies is now-admitted on all hands, and there- can be Trtfcle doobt that his name will'this season again bead the-list«a a •winner-producing parent, his stock : having uptodate'vron.-over £13$OO.