OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8163, 27 January 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR LETTER HOME.

Wlff our last summary number was we were in the midst of the fhristmas holidays, and now we are "Inarm? for three days of festivities - Pr °sebnation of the Jubilee of the ID .„ V Captain llobson, the first GoC S'of the colony, landed at the Bay If Islands, in the Auckland Provincial trid on the 29th of January, 1840, 2d continuously since that time the „r has been commemorated at AtickSd generally by a regatta, in which u ropeans and Maoris take part. In £ early times there were many natives Sent near Auckland, and on regatta father turned out in large numbers, Slthc races of their canoes were great its Of late years the Maoris have e *fL 'very little show. They are finishing; in numbers, and the princif" «ettlenients which remain are tar ?„ lie interior. Those tribes which live. , the sea-coast have Riven up the conduction of the picturesque canoes inch were the means of navigation by heir forefathers, and have taken to European boats. But at this eelebrag on {ere will be aeonsulerab e muster of natives, and it is expected that there will he a eood display of -Maori canoes. The proceedings will be inaugurated on Wednesday bv a procession, which will halt at Government House for the purpose of presenting an address to I lis Kcellcncv the Governor. I lie whole D that dav will be occupied by a n'.-itta. On Thursday the Maoris will muster, and there will bo a procession of war canoes, followed by races, lhen will follow a war-dance, which will be a novel sight to most of the spectators. On Friday there will be rowin" matches, and also contests between parties of Maoris. On Saturday there will be sports in the Domain, the events to be contested by the crews of the men-of-war in harbour. From all parts of the country districts, visitors are now crowding into Auckland. Lord Onslow is now on his way up through the interior with Lord Carrington, the Governor of New South Wales. 11.M.5. Orlando, the flagship of the Australian squadron, arrived on Sunday (yesterday) morning, and also H.M.s. Lizard. The Opal has been here for some days. We shall thus have a brilliant assemblage present on the Jubilee anniversary of the foundation of the colony. Agre.it work has undoubtedly been achieved in these colonies in the course of a lifetime, and it is to be hoped that the celebration of the event will tend to nourish a feeling of patriotism, a love for the country, and a desire for its permanent welfare, which will have good etl'ects. His Excellency the Governor has reEided in Duuodin since the opening of the Exhibition in November, and has made excursions, to various parts of the gouth Island. After a brief stay of only two days at Wellington, he started for Auckland, coming overland through the interior of the island. Lord Carrington accompanies him. The party will reach the present end of the railwar line at Lichfield, on Tuesday (tomorrow). Probably a, considerable part of the journey will have to be done on horseback.

Sir Harry Atkinson, Premier of the colony, has returned from Tasmania, considerably improved in health by the rest he has had after the fatigues of the session. Some of his friends thought that he ought to have remained longer absent from the cares of business, but he has seen lit to return, and there are many important questions for Ministers to consider. It has been mooted that Parliament will be dissolved, so that the new elections should take place with the amended districts. If the present House meets, there will in all likelihood be a barren session.

The revival of business, which we ia\e formerly noticed, is still in progress. Our articles of export are bringE? high prices in London, and we are producing large quantities, it may be stated, in round numbers, that the exports for last year amounted to over £9.000,000, while the imports will amount to £6,000,000. A continuance c: this state of affairs will very soon completely restore the colony to a condition of steady wellbeing and prosperity. It was expected, some short time ago, that there would be a considerable surplus of revenue over the Estimates of the Colonial Treasurer. That, however, it is seen, will not be realised, owing to the Customs revenue Dot reaching expectations. This falling off proves that the mistake is being made of attempting to get too much oat of the Customs, while at the same time the direct taxation, in the shape of the property tax, is exceedingly burdensome and injurious in many ways. These facts will strengthen the agitation for retrenchment and for economy iii the public expenditure. The Dunedin Exhibition is still open, and it has been the means of attracting jnany visitors from the colonies of Australia. On January 16 the Commissioners from the colony of New South Wales gave a banquet, at which Lord Carrington and the Earl of Onslow were present Both these governors in their speeches made reference to the subject of Federation. A Conference, to consider the subject or Federation, will meet at Melbourne on an early dav. New Zealand will be represented by Sir John Hall and the Hon. Captain Russell, while the other colonies have also sent prominent men. Sir John Hall is not at present in office, but he has been a Minister several times ; he is himself one of the fca rly settlers; and he has been identified with New Zealand during a long We. The Hon. Captain Kussell is a tternber of the present Ministry, and is li-so an old settler. during the last month the annnal netting of the New Zealand Rifle Association has been held at Uunedin. The ■learns' Match was won by the Auckland Artillery. In the contest for the championship Gunner Taylor, of the Auckland Artillery, led for a considerate time, but in the last shots he fell behind. The following were the four Muest scores :—Petty-officer Williams, Wellington Navals, 453 ; Seaman 'ranee, Wellington Navals, 451 ; Gunner Taylor, Auckland Artillery, 449 ; weutenant White, Auckland Guards, 448.

The report of Major-General Edwards on the defences has been published. It jwomniends that the defensive force of jne colony should be concentrated near lj e four chief ports. The battery fences of these ports are found to be }? f n efficient state. He recommends ™at a force should be formed of men ™«v lng a small amount of pay, which *ould secure their regular attendance *in a " d t,ieir efficienc y- The report . lU he discussed in next session of Parliament. Mr. John Dillon is the only one of *" e Insli delegates still with us, and for J"*"? weeks past he has devoted himself ° sightseeing, and to visiting different of interest in the colony. Mr. 'Hon leaves by the mail steamer for / n Francisco to-day. Sir Thomas left about ten days ago for junoa where he will be picked up by th e mail steamer.

An Internrovincial Chess Tournament was *ith « at Dunedi « on the 6th January, {~.„„ m ' e , competitors, and terminated in Th ur of Hookham (Christchurch). leMn« t T ird wol °i the season were at fi»f Ja ." ar y 15, and although there would appear to be a falling off in thlT' e bu y e " inform us that the prices in» th. v sales were full y sustainecf, takIhere w"* ycf the w ° ol mto consideration. / * u this <x£ "° Soutflern buyers in the market