OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9369, 20 May 1889, Page 9

OUR LETTER HOME.

Thk most interesting event for New Zealand during the past month has ir the assumption of the oihee of Governor by the Earl of Onslow. In Jmr last summary issue we Ave able to otifV the arrival of Lord Onslow at Auckland, by the Mariposa, on the evening of Monday, April 22. His Lordship •mcl the Countess of Onslow came on to Auckland from Sydney, while the family and servants went direct to Wellington. It appeared, from a remark made by His Excellency while at Auckland, that ho had consulted the Agent-General for New Zealand as to what route lie should take, and had been recommended to come to Auckland and to travel overland to Wellington, By adopting this route, His Excellency landed at the most striking and beautiful part of the colony, and on his way overland he had the opportunity of seeing a large part of the North Island, and some of its most. remarkable scenery. Lord Onslow landed on the night of April 22, and wa.s accommodated at the Grand Hotel, Government House (where he will take up his residence on future visits) not having servants. The formal entry to the city took place on April -23, at the entrance from the wharf, where a triumphal arch and platform, beautifully decorated with flowers and evergreens, had been erected. In another column will be found an account of the proceedings, which went oil' in a manner gratifying to all concerned. His Lordship showed by his speeches during his brief stay in Auckland that he has a correct appreciation of his position us.a Governor, and that lie is anxious to forward every good work in the colony. The Countess of Onslow also has created a most favourable impression. At the reception at the wharf, addresses were presented to him by the Mayor (Mr. Devore) on behalf of the citizens, ami by Paora Tuhaere, who resides near Auckland, on behalf of the Maoris. In replying to this last address, His Excellency stated _ that when he saw the Queen, on his acceptance of the position of Governor of New Zealand, she told him that she took great and special interest in the Maori race. At the conclusion of the reception ceremony His Excellency drove to Government House, where he was presented with addresses on behalf of the Freemasons. On the evening of the 23rd a strand Masonic banquet was given to llis Excellency, at which the Countess of Onslow was present. It had been arranged that His Excellency should leave Auckland on the morning of the 24th, in order to reach "Wellington on the 2nd of May. It was, bowever, the wish of the citizens of Auckland that he would remain in order to lay the foundation stone of the Costley Home for the Aged Poor, a new building which is about to be erected from money left for the purpose by the late Mr. Edward Costley, of Auckland. His Excellency, on learning this, agreed to alter all bis arrangements, and to abridge the time allowed him for his overland journey. The ceremonial took place on April 24, at Epsom, near the city, where the building is to be erected. His Excellency left Auckland on April 25, and reached Wellington on May 2. At Rotorua he received a hearty welcome from the natives.

Ministers are now assembling _in Wellington preparatory to the meeting of the Assembly, which takes place on the 20th June. Mr. Mitchelson, Minister for Native Aftairs and Public Works, has been at Auckland for some time. He has paid a visit to the Thames to arrange some matters under the Native Department. Then, in company with Mr. McKerrow, the chief of the three Railway Commissioners, he went up to the termination of the railway in the King country. The railway is made for about 40 miles beyond Te Awamutu, but as the land from that point is yet entirely native property, there is no settlement in the country. There being no traffic, the railway will not run in the King country, except for the contractors engaged in finishing the work still in progress. But operations to purchase the land will be commenced as soon as possible, ami to settle a European population on the line, so that it might be worked with profit. Between Te Awamutu and the end of the line there is a large quantity of excellent land, and the Native 'Minister anticipates that the Government will soon be able to make large purchases.

Apparently the session will not be an exciting one. It is not anticipated that there -will be any change of Ministry. The present Parliament lias still two .sessions to run, and by a recent Act, when it is dissolved or comes to an end by the running out of its life, the number of members will be reduced by 21. Members are thus exceedingly disinclined to do anything to cause a dissolution, which the Ministry would claim if they were defeated. The subject of the mail services will be discussed. In last session the Parliament passed a resolution against the continuance of the San Francisco service, which is now being continued only till the end of the year. Lately various proposals have been made, with the view of keeping up the connection between New Zealand and Europe by America. Mr. Spreckles sent over as his agent Mr. R. J. Creighton, formerly a New Zealand colonist, who proposed to the Governments of Victoria and "New South Wales that there should be a fortnightly service across the Pacific, the boat running alternately from San Francisco to Sydney, calling at Auckland, and to Melbourne, falling at Wellington. The Australian Governments, however, could not be got to pledge themselves to support such a service. The New Zealand Government absolutely decline to do anything at the present time, till they receive the directions of Parliament. In the meantime we have been informed that the Government of the Dominion of Canada has voted an annual subsidy of £25,000 towards the establishment of a steam service from the Australasian colonies to terminate at Vancouver. What may come out of this we can scarcely say. From what has been disclosed it would seem that the Ministers do not intend introducing any matter of importance. ihey will endeavour to still further economise in the administration of the public service. An Electoral Bill will be introduced, which will provide for the voting being carried on under the Hare system. The libel law will be amended, so as to bring it in conformity with the present state of the law in England. the mail steamer Mariposa, which left Auckland on April 22 for San Francisco with the outward mails, returned to the harbour on the morning of the 24th. When the Mariposa was some 900 miles from Auckland, it was round that some flax (phormiitm tenax) in the fore hold Avas on lire. The details as to how the vessel was managed, and brought back to port, will be found in another column. The question was Raised as to whether the lire originated worn the over-heating of damp material or from a spark having dropped amongst the cargo from some careless Si mT hile it was being put on nil I here can be no doubt, from a » that is known on the subject, and irom an examination of the bales discharged from the Mariposa, that «ie lire did not originate from "at is called "spontaneous combustion, but from some spark. The incident of the fire is much to be reS2- n New Zealand has been exporting flax for forty years, with varyfortunes, At the present time the

price is higher than it lias been ibr many years, owing to the falling off in the supply of Manilla, and to the formation of a " comer" in sisal, which has largely been used for admixture. What was sent by the Mariposa was the first cargo direct to San Francisco. We may remark that the demand for flax has caused quite a run on our flaxmills lately. For many years they have done little more than keep going. Of late, however, a number of new mills have been erected throughout the colony, flax is being cut in" every district where it is plentiful, and the quantity sent abroad every quarter will be very great. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand, which took place on Tuesday, April 30, Avas the most satisfactory one that has been held during the past eighteen months, and we arc glad to find that it was in every way a strong contrast to the past three half-yearly meetings. Our leading Hank is in touch with every interest in the colony, and may be regarded as a barometer of the financial condition of the country. The meetings of its proprietors, and the presentation of the half-yearly report and balance-sheet, are consequently looked forward to as matters of national importance. The figures in the balancesheet are in the aggregate £574,70S larger than they were six months ago, and show a' total of £13,704,087 —an enormous sum of money when we consider ail the difficulties that have had to be surmounted since the passing of the dividend, and the publication of the drastic report of the committee of shareholders. The earning power shows very considerable improvement during the past six mouths, the profits for the half year being £43,360, against £32,607 for the previous half year, and this result has been achieved in the face of the large sums which have had to be kept in a liquid state to provide for all the possible contingencies that might have arisen. The figures have been so fully and so carefully explained by the President in his speech that we need not refer to them in detail, but a careful perusal of the various items induces us to believe that the Bank has already been brought to a steady course of prosperity again. No doubt there is something more to be done yet in the way of realising the landed and other I securities that have fallen into the hands of the Bank, through over advances, and great care ami prudence will be requisite on the part of the Directors in dealing with these securities, but with the improved prospects of the colony there seems every hope that an early ami profitable realisation on behalf of shareholders lias now become possible. On the whole, the balance sheet is very satisfactory and j encouraging. j The "tit-urns of exports for the last quarter showed a large increase over the corresponding period of last year, which of itself was a great advance on previous years. The exports from the port of Aucklard amounted to £293,171 against £223,091 for the same quarter of last year. The total exports from the colony for the quarter amount to £3,417,734 against £2,953,G00, the amount for the same period of last year. The Auckland Society of Arts opened its annual exhibition on May 2, when an address was delivered by the President, Mr. Mackechnie. There was an excellent display of pictures by local artists, showing that not a few residents here are commencing to cultivate art with great success. A numbe>- of pictures which the late Mr. Maekelvie had given to Auckland, but which hitherto have not been shown, were exhibited.

The direct, steamer Tonic, of the Shaw-Savill line, which left Lyttelton for Home on May 2, put back into that port on the 13th instant with her crank shaft broken. The accident happened when the steamer was 026 miles distant from port, and she was at once turned round, and made for Lyttelton under sail. The lonic's mails will lie forwarded by the San Francisco route per the s.s. Zealandia to-day, while the greater number of the passengers and the bulk of the freight were transferred to the s.s. Coptic, which sailed on Friday, 17th. It is expected that the lonic's damages will be repaired in time for her to take the Coptic's place according to the time-table.