News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 118, 19 July 1873, Page 14

News of the Week.

The Napier Swamp Nuisance Act, 1873, has been assented to by his Excellency. It is officially notified that notice of intention to claim the bonus offered by Government for the following colonial industries have been sent in : —For steel : New Zealand Titanic Steel Company, Wellington ; Magnus Manson, of Motupipi. For paper : Edward M £ Glaslian, of Dunedin ; Joseph Mackay, of Tokomairiro. In whatever way public opinion may regard the attempts being made to diminish drunkenness in the colony, no one can blind his eyes to the fact that the advocates of temperance are thoroughly in earnest. Under whatever banner they may range themselves —whether as Sons of Temperance, Good Templars, Rechabites, or any other of the many raised in the cause of temperance—they all aim at the one end, the uprooting of the habit of imbibing alcohol, so prevalent in all British communities ; and one cannot but admire the persistency with which temperance advocates are strengthening their ground in the colony. They are fortunate, too, in having a cause which is not likely to be wrecked upon any schismatic rocks. The last sensible move we have to record is in the way of strengthening their cause by the dissemination of their views in this colony is the publication of a monthly illustrated paper, entitled “The Temperance Advocate,” which is published at Dunedin at the very small price of threepence. It is evidently modelled somewhat on the pattern of “ The British Workman,” and is a very creditable production, either from a literary or typographical point of view. The “ Advocate” is determined that the cause of temperance shall have a fair hearing ; and we sincerely wish it every success.

The "business transacted by the Legislative Council on Wednesday was of the same formal nature as that disposed of by the House.of Representatives. A committee was appointed to draw up the address in reply, which will be moved by the Hon Mr Hart. The Hon Mr Waterhouse moved that a select committee be appointed (by ballot) to consider all bills that may be introduced into the Council affecting the waste lands of the Crown, and to report generally upon the provisions and principles which they may contain. He considered the subject of dealing with the waste lands of the colony of such imporance that a member of committee ought to be appointed for each province. He did not wish, however, to press the matter then. Mr Von Sturmer, the Resident Magistrate at Hokianga, reports : loyalty of the natives in this district is unchanged and as firm as it ever has been —that they feel as great an interest in the government and welfare of the country as the Europeans around them; that they are year by year adapting themselves more and more to our habits and customs.” A rather amusing apology was made by a Maori chief to the Resident Magistrate at Wanganui the other day. Mr White had informed the natives of his district that he contemplated retiring from his office in consequence of failing health, and amongst the expressions of regard he received was a 44 mere, ” presented by the chief Morenga, who excused its shortness on the ground that in killing a man with it he splintered the end, and it had to be ground down. The Resident Magistrate at Raglan, in his report to the Government, ‘ 4 again ventures to suggest that employment on the public roads and works would tend more to break down the distinctions of Kingites, Queenites, friendlies, or pakehas, than anything else.” Two native schools, one with sixty and the other with over forty Maori children, flourish in the Hokianga district. The English language is alone taught, and Maori is forbidden to be used during school hours. We cannot let pass unnoticed the departure of the Rev. Father Goutenoire from theHutt. He was an unostentatious, but a zealous, active priest, most beloved by all —Catholics and Protestants; indeed, before he left his flock they gave him a substantial evidence of their esteem and affection. They extremely regret that the bad state of his health compelled his superiors to remove him to another field of labor. But it will be impossible to forget him ; the little church at the Hutt, which has been beautifully restored by him, will keep alive his memory. Father Goutenoire is sailing for Napier. God speed him, During the past year applications from the native owners have been received by the Commissioner of Native Reserves for him to undertake the management of 33,113 acres of land in the Province of Auckland. The following passage in the report of the Commissioner of Native Reserves is significant : — 44 At the request of the Waikato natives, who are again bringing their produce for sale to Onehunga, the native hostelry or grain store at that place has been put into a habitable state at an expense of £59. It had been unused by the natives since the outbreak of the Waikato war.” The decision of the Court of Appeal in the case Regina v. Fitzherbert, recently tried, having declared that the lands known as the “Tenth Native Reserves,” are legally demesne lands of the Crown unencumbered with any trust, has cast a doubt on the status of a considerable number of estates in Wellington and at Nelson, yielding a revenue for native purposes, and a bill has been prepared to give by enactment a legal status as native reserves to such of the lands as have not been granted. It will be some satisfaction to the public to learn that the immigrants on Somes Island are delighted with their board and lodging, and are consequently in no very violent hurry to be released, being well content to enjoy themselves for a few days after the imprisonment of their voyage. It should be mentioned that it is the agents of Shaw, Savill and Co (Messrs Levin and Co) who provide the necessary provisions for the immigrants. According to terms of contract, Shaw, Savill and Co are obliged to provide fresh provisions for seven days for any passengers by their vessels who may detained in quarantine ; and it is almost superfluous to add that in this respect the contract has been carried out in the most liberal manner. According to arrangement the Luna went across to Somes Island on Wedneday, shortly after midday, for the purpose of towing the Halcione to the wharf. The Immigration Commissioners, and a party of gentlemen, were on board. After the vessel was thoroughly inspected, and her internal condition and arrangements, the Captain was told he could haul down the quarantine flag, which was quickly done amidst several rounds of resounding cheers from the passengers on the island, who seemed delighted at the good fortune of the vessel in being released so quickly. Another round of cheers was given as the

vessel got under way. The Luna towed the Halcione to windward of the island, where the sails were shook out, and the vessel stood across to the wharf. An excellent lunch had been provided by Capt. Fairchild, a piece of courtesy which was apparently appreciated by the guests on board, who had their appetites sharpened by the sea breeze. After dropping the Halcione, the Luna steamed away to the Patent Slip, where she took the p.s. Paterson in tow to the wharf, she having just been lowered from the slip. It is rumored in financial circles in London that Mr Alexander Brogden, M.P., of the firm of Messrs John Brogden and Sons, railway contractors and colliery owners, joins the board of the National Bank of New Zealand, in which case the extensive transactions of that firm in all parts of the world would, as a matter of course, flow through this institution. We learn from the annual report of the Commissioner of Native Reserves just laid before Parliament, that several disputes of long standing amongst the Port Nicholson natives have been settled by various payments and apportionments of land. Some difficulty was experienced I in making the Petoni natives comprehend the compulsory taking of their land for railway purposes, but ultimately the sum of £55 per acre was agreed upon as the price for 11 acres required. The late slip in Hill street has long been foreseen. The only wonder is that further slips of land in that street have not already taken place. The tank in the rear of Government Buildings is in a rather precarious condition. As it is estimated to contain 68,000 gallons of Avater, the consequences likely to ensue from its breaking away and launching the contents against the Legislative Council may be imagined ; it is to be hoped they will never have to be described. Preliminary arrangements have been made for the establishment of an orchestral society for the performance of instrumental music of a high class. The 4 4 Tuapeka Times” thus refers to the south road :—Last week, a wagon with five tons of goods was fast for two days. The combined efforts of thirty horses could not move it ; the wagoner was compelled to unload the goods, and drag the empty wagon out of the rut. During the past six months the receipts from land sales of the County of Westland have exceeded the estimates by £IBOO, and an application for a block of 6000 acres is under consideration. The following is from the speech of the Chairman of the County of Westland, on opening his Council :— 4 4 By those who are imperfectly acquainted with our financial position, our difficulties are ascribed to maladministration, or to faults incident to the County system, and we cannot be too explicit in stating that our requirements are solely that Ave shall not be subjected to any scheme of annexation or alteration of boundaries, but that we should receive from the Colonial Legislature that impartial consideration to which our position as an integral portion of the colony entitles us.” The proposed new arrangement for economising space in St Paul’s Cathedral, Tliorndon, necessitated by the increased attendance during the sitting of the General Assembly, will come into operation next Sunday evening. All seats unoccupied when the bell ceases ringing will be free. The tAvo hours’ fall of rain yesterday Avas the sharpest and most copious that has fallen in Wellington during an equal space of time for a very long pei’iod. Places that Avere dry Avhen the shower commenced looked like small lagoons for hours after ; and the artificial and natural drainage of the city Avere alike unable to contain A\ r ithin their channels the suddeix rusk of water, as Avas testified by miniature gravel beds and sand banks deposited along the course of the seA’eral ci’eeks which run through Te Aro. The new Chambers for the General Assembly were lighted up on Saturday evening for the inspection of the Speakers and others of our legislators anxious to see the effect befoi’e the formal opening cf Parliament. There Avas but one opinion as to the success of the lighting ai’rangements—they are faultless in point of comfort and effect. A flood of soft and mellow light fills the Chamber in every part, without exposing in any spot a dazzling glare. In order to produce this luxurious light, the consumption of gas, it is said, is something excessive—so much as to tax the productive powers of the gas company—with a proportionate cost ; but no doubt our legislative sybarites Avould grumble if their i’ose-leaf was crumpled in the least, and Avill say if the question of cost should be raised—“ Let there be light !” It will be recollected that one of the Esther’s crew had been missing since the 17th of last month, and there was good reason for supposing that the man Avas 1 droAvned. On Friday afternoon a half fleshless corpse Avas seen washing against the outer tee of the Queen’s wharf. The police at once took charge of the ghastly remains and laid them out in the Morgue, Avhere an inquest was held in the usual way on Saturday afternoon. Some of the shipmates of deceased identified the body

by the clothing which enveloped it as that of John Jones, late of the Esther. The supposition already hazarded Avas supported by the evidence; and it may be assumed Avith tolerable certainty that deceased met his death through falling into the Avater while trying to board his vessel by the aid of the bowsprit, no gangway being stretched betAveen the vessel and the wharf on the night he lost his life. Were it not for the shreds of clothing, identification would have been impossible, as the skeleton was almost denuded of flesh. The jury returned a verdict of 44 Found dead.” A Provincial Government Gazette was issued on Saturday, but it contains very little of genei’al importance. The Sheep Inspector of the East Coast has granted a clean certificate to John Morrison, of Whareama. J. Dudley R. Hewitt, Esq., has been appointed an assistant surveyor. The Upokongaro schoolhouse has been appointed the place for the election of a Avarden of Ward No. 4 of the Wangaehu Highway district. Mr H. C ' Field is to be presiding officer. The folloAving resolution has been forAvarded by the Wanganui and Waitotara HigliAvay Board : 44 The Wanganui and Waitotara Higlrway Board having considered the objections made by Mr J. M. Thompson to the proposed line of road running southward from the Great North-western Road near Nukumaru, to the land at present occupied by Mr William Dempster, hereby order the said line to be constructed as laid off by the Board’s Engineer.” John Thompson was sentenced on Saturday last to three months’ hard labor for stealing three bottles of liquor from Mr N. Valentine’s Hotel, at the Hutt. It appeared that the prisoner made a blackguard snatch at the bottles out of the bar, as if folloAving an unreasoning infatuation, for he Avas seen by the proprietor, Avho at once gave chase. Being an active man, he ay as overhauling the delinquent fast, when he turned and shook a bottle in a threatening manner at his pursuer. Nothing daunted, the publican Avas detei’mined to have his grog, and folloAved the fellow up. Thomson, seeing it was no use to run farther, saved his Avind for the purpose of emptying one of the bottles, which he accomplished in a most artistic manner, after having first knocked off the neck. In the civil case, Brogan v Williams, claim £2 12s, judgment was given for amount and costs 9s. The rage for municipal Government has broken out at Foxton. It appeal’s that some aspirant for borough honors at that rising little toxvnship lately got up an agitation to have it declared a municipality. The more staid residents, however, snuffed out the proposition at a public meeting by carrying a proposal that the subject be discussed that day six yeai’s. A feAV enthusiasts are iioav canvassing the district Avith a petition in favor of the original proposal, and its opponents are as diligently hawking about a*counter petition, Avhich appears to be the more numerously signed of the two. Acclimatisers will be pleased to learn that the pheasants turned out in the Wanganui district have so multiplied that they are spreading throughout the province. Some ten or tAvelve pair were recently seen in the ManaAvatu district. A few years ago not a pheasant was there. At this rate, we calculate upon hearing soon of some pioneer pheasants in the neighbourhood of Wellington. The spoi’stmen of the Manawatu district have been cautioned against killing the birds. A more Avretched instance of the evils of litigation is not often seen than was furnished at the civil sittings of the Supreme Coui’t on Monday. G. M‘E wen charged Garrett Brennan Avith stealing his sheep, and though he had not a tittle of evidence against his neighbor, he refused to apologise and persisted in his defamatory accusations. The latter was at length compelled to seek the protection of the law. His case was good, and he obtained £SO damages against his obstinate neighbor. The expenses of the suit are estimated at not less than £2OO, and as the defendant is a struggling small farmer, the result to him is simply ruin. Should he, hoAvevei’, have less substance than he is ex-edited with, the issue Avill be much the same to the victorious litigant, Avho Avill thus be throAvn back in the Avoi’ld through no fault of his OAvn, as somebody must pay the laAvyer. The pleasurable feelings caused on Monday by the punctual arrival .of the immigrant ship Halcione soon gaA r e place to something diametrically opposite at the sight of the jaundice-colored flag. It appears that a variety of typhoid fever broke out during the voyage, and proved fatal in three cases, one having occurred immediately on the arrival of the A r essel in harbor. Three other deaths from ordinary causes also occurred during the journey. The \ T essel was accordingly ordered for a temporary sojournment into the small bay at the eastern side of Soames Island, upon which the passengers will be landed today, to take up their abode in the immigration barracks during the process of fumigating the vessel. As far as appearances go, the vessel is likely to be released before the passengers, though no doubt they will not be unduly detained if no

fresh cases of sickness occur. The Halcione brings 256 Government immigrants and tAventy-two others, being 278 in all. At present there is little or no sickness on board. Mr William L. Shea, a solicitor of the High Court of Chancery m England, and attorney in the Court of Queen’s Bench at Westminster, has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of NeAV Zealand, by Mr Justice Chapman.

It is stated that Mr Samuel wrote to Mr Vogel from Melbourne, charging him Avith discourtesy, and Avith alloAving the publication of incorrect statements respecting the Californian mail service. Captain M‘Kellai*, whose death appears in another column, sailed betAveen this port and the neighboring colonies for many years and lately Avas in icharge of the P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company’s station at the Island of Opara until that company collapsed. He Avas Avell and favorably known in the colonies, and especially in Wellington, Avhere he had a large circle of friends. Our telegrams have already announced that the capital for the neAV daily paper to be started in Dunedin has been increased to £25,000. It is iioav stated on good authority that the greater portion of the money has been deposited ready for use. The title of the paper is to be 44 The Guardian,” and the date of publication is definitely fixed for the 18th inst. The preparations in connection Avith this journalistic venture are said to be of the most elaborate and costly character ; and should they be carried out, the present Ministry will have a tower of strength'in. the Otago metropolis —for the neAV journal is to be what the the Opposition delight to call a “Ministerial organ.” It is superfluous to say that we wish it e\ r ery success. During the half year ended June 30th, the Otago escort brought doAvn 65,3250z5, as against 71,1730zs during the corresponding period of 1872. At Auckland the following moderate petition is being numerously signed : 4 4 To the Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled.— The petition of the undersigned showeth that your petitioners are increasingly oppressed with the groAving evils of intemperance, which they think due in a great measure to the existing Licensing Act and, at the same time, they observe with satisfaction that Avherever power is given to the people to suppress the liquor traffic an immense reduction of these evils is the certain result. Your petitioners therefore pray your Honorable House to pass a measure empowering two-thirds of the inhabitants in any district to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors in such district.” The case of exposure to cold at the Bealey, West Coast road, repoi’ted by telegraph, has unfortunately resulted in another death. Costello died from congestion of the lungs, and the man Aherne, Avho was stated to be in a very precarious condition on Thursday, died during the night, thus making tAvo lives sacrificed purely and simply by carelessness. Another of the five who formed the party, named John Macdonald, Avas brought to toArn by the Malvern coach yesterday, and is now in the hospital. The symptoms are not so bad in his case as they Avere Avith Costello and Aherne, thus some hopes are entertained of his recovery. He has occasional fits of delirium, but they are not of a very serious character. Macdonald gives a startling account of Avhat the party suffered from the Aveather, not the least notable feature of which is, that the rain came through the tent, and Avhen they aAvoke on one occasion, there was about an inch of ice on their blankets. Notwithstanding this, hoAvever, they persisted in camping out even after attacked by severe colds, and it cannot be wondered at, therefore, that fatal results have accrued. Macdonald, in his anxiety to get down to the hospital, would not wait for the West Coast coach, but Avalked to Malvern on Thursday—oA 7 er forty miles. The other tAvo men decided to Avait for the West Coast coach, and as these cases are understood not to be more serious than Macdonald’s, there is some reason to hope that no more deaths Avill occur. The men were Avorking on the road, and seeing how ill pro Added they Avere, Sergeant Felton, who is stationed at the Bealey, offered them a spare stable on his premises to camp in, together Avith plenty of straAV to lie on, but as it would have taken an hour or two to have changed quarters, the men declined the offer, saying that they were going to be moved away in a feAV days to another part of the road, and that it was not worth Avhile changing for such a short time. A Christchurch paper mentions the following narroAv escape : —A man named Chave, in the employ of Mr J. L. Wilson, miller, Cashel street, had a very narrow escape on Saturday from serious injuries. His apron caught in a shaft Avhich stands a short distance above the floor, and had. it not for his clothes giving way he must have been drawn round a\id dashed to the floor. His apron, the right leg of his trousers, and part of the stocking on his right foot were completely tom away, the leg being also extensively bruised.

The schooner Excelsior was taken off j the Patent Slip on Monday to make room , for the p.s. Paterson, which was drawn I up apparently with no more power than . is required for pulling up the empty, j crcidlc The Parliamentary refreshment rooms cost Victoria £9OO a year. The following melancholy facts are re- 1 lated by the “ Murrurundi Times —ln J the early part of last week Mr Porters, the newly-appointed teacher at Wallabadah, took ill, and died after acute suffer- j ing. On the Friday evening following the widow became alarmingly ill. Three doctors were summoned, but in spite of their combined scientific knowledge, she gradually sank, and in a few hours joined her husband. Of the family two children now remained. The infant of the deceased parents next sickened and died. The other also experienced an attack of the fatal disease, but its life was spared. This terrible mortality is attributed by the medical attendants to the disease known as pleuro-pneumonia, similar to the pest which raged among the cattle some years ago in this colony. No inquest was held on the bodies, Mr Calcutt, who was appointed by the General Government to examine the line of country through which the Nelson and Greymouth Railway is proposed to pass, arrived in Greymouth on the 20th June, accompanied by his cicerone, Mr Sayle, and his other companion on the journey, Mr Maclcay, reached town on Saturday evening by coach. The journey overland occupied a fortnight, and was made by way of the Hope Valley to the Pour Rivers Plain, at the confluence of the Matakitaki, Mangles, and Matiri, with the river Buller. Prom that point Mr Calcutt proceeded by the Mangles road as far as M‘Gregor’s station, and thence by Hunter’s station and Moonlight’s homestead to the Maruia Plains. Returning from the Plains, the party rode down the Matakitaki Valley, and then took the usual road down the Buller Valley, along the Inangahua Valley to Reefton, and from Reefton to Greymouth. The weather was generally favorable during the journey and Mr Calcutt had a fair opportunity of acquainting himself with the features of the country, and with the extent of its resources in timber and minerals. "W ith his two “ guides, philosophers, and friends,” he intends taking passage by the Rangitoto—they returning to Nelson, and he proceeding to Wellington to make report of his experiences and of the opinion he may have formed as to the character of the country which he has visited.—“ G. R. Argus.” In the Auckland education case, his Honor Mr Justice Johnston reviewed the arguments adduced by counsel, and over ruled the objections to the validity of the Act on the ground of its being ultra vires . His Honor held, however, that the proceedings in the lower court in the present case were wrongly taken. The mode'of procedure under the Act was by information instead of complaint. Default under the Act was made a penalty recoverable in a summary way. If the mode of procedure prescribed by the Act had been by complaint, it might have been open to question whether the Act was not ultra vires. Although the validity of the Act was affirmed by the judgment, the appeal in the present case was sustained without costs on the grounds mentioned.

The sporting editor of the “Australasian” has been furnished by the Canterbury Jockey Club with all the correspondence which passed between that body and. Mr Walters, over Peeress ; and in the same issue in which a resume of the case appears, “Augur” makes the following comments : —“lt will be remembered that some short time ago a Mr Walters was disqualified on the New Zealand turf for some questionable transaction in connection with the purchase of Mr Redwood’s mare Peeress. At the time it was thought that the club had acted iii an arbitrary manner, but since then I have been favored with a perusal of the whole of * the proceedings, including the correspondence which passed between the club and Mr Walters, and from the latfcer’s own admission there can be no doubt that the stewards were perfectly justified in the course they took, and it is a great pity indeed that they did not extend their displeasure to three or four others who were mixed up in the transaction. Mr Walters was very justly dealt with, although the stewards did not act strictly in accordance with racing law; and if some of our stewards would go outside of the beaten track, and make a few similar examples, we should hear less of turf swindles.” This view is further endorsed by the following letter recently received from Sydney Australasian Jockey Club, Sydney, June 17, 1873. E. G. Griffiths, Esq, Honorary Secretary Canterbury-Jockey Club, Christchurch. Dear Sir,—ln reply to your letters respecting the disqualification of Peeress, the last of which bears date March 28, I have the honor inform you that thi3 club has adopted your ruling in the matter and disqualifies the said mare for ever. — Yours, faithfully, F. S. Clibbom, Secretary, A. J.C. By order of the Committee A.J.C.”

A private letter from Melbourne states that the nett proceeds of Madame Arabella Goddard’s concert in that city were a little over £SOO. Melbourne has a Society for the assistance of Persons of Education.

A young lady at Wagga Wagga, m springing up hurriedly to welcome a friend, dislocated her knee-cap. Mr J. M. Dargaville has consented to become a candidate for the Auckland Superintendency. The Thames Gas Company have agreed to supply the Auckland Provincial Government with water pipes at £l4 a ton. A poundkeeper in Canterbury, in advertising a chestnut gelding in his possession, states that if not claimed on a certain day, “ it will (D.V.) be sold.” A spring has been discovered at Waitaka, Okarito district, which discharges water too hot to permit a person’s hand being held in it, A telegram in the Melbourne papers says that a station at Bake Albert, Northern territory, was sold for the sum of £175,000. By a telegram published in the Hobart Town “Mercury,” it appears that a number of Tasmanian horses, sold in Adelaide on the sth instant, realised the handsome sum of £43 10s each. The “Australian Sir etcher” for July is published, and is fully equal to its piedecessors, which is the highest praise that can be given. Madame Arabella Goddard’s concert at Sydney, on June 24, was crowded to excess, and scores were refused admittance. Lady Robinson sent her own bouquet to the pianist, and the stage was covered with floral offerings. The “Ross News” reports a strange accident, which came near proving fatal, to an inebriate who was found on his back in a water tank, heels up, and unable to help himself. Fortunately a passer-by came to the rescue, and saved the man’s life. The “Fiji Times” has been informed by one of the leading houses in Levuka that a fire insurance agency in connection with a large German company, will shortly be opened there. An Auckland paper says that the Green Harp specimens, which were lately forwarded to Auckland from Coromandel, have turned out exceedingly rich. Handed over to the Bank of New Zealaqd, the specimens were crushed by that establishment, and the result shows a return of one ounce and three-quarters to the pound. The quantity of specimens crushed was 84ozs, which yielded 12ozs of gold. It has come to our knowledge, says the “ Waikato Times,” that some natives have left for Melbourne with a considerable amount of cash. It is, of course, difficult to surmise their object, but we would suggost the advisability of putting the Australasian Governments on their guard to prevent the exportation of arms and ammunition for the use of the natives in this colony. Nothing would be easier than to charter a small vesssel, and run her into Kawliia harbor with contraband goods. Professor Bushell, the conjuror, has turned up in the Delhi district. He writes from Podeypore, March 18 : “ Still in India, and doing well. Smallpox raging fearfully in this place, still I am safe and sound. I am in with his Highness the Maharajah of Mevwar, who has taken a great liking to me ; and as it brings me in Vargent and gold as well, I am content. My electro-biological entertainments please him vastly, and here I am likely to remain some time.” The immigrants ex Edwin Fox, who arrived in Canterbury a few days ago, have been engaged at the following rates of wages : —Married couples, £6O per annum, and found ; single men, farm laborers, £36 to £SO per annum, and found; boys, £lO per annum ; single women, general servants, £2O to £25; nurses, £l2 per annum. Canterbury’s land revenue for the year ended June, 1873, amounted to £476,000, as against £117,530 for the previous year. The sales during the four quarters of the year were :—September, £51,380 ; December, £102,060 ; March, £95,900 ; and June the enormous sum of £176,260. At Melbourne, on 22nd June, Frank Hewitt was beaten in two races out of three by a local pedestrian named Mahoney. In the 100 yards’ spin, Mahoney, who had a yard start, was beaten easily; but in the 440 yards event, Mahoney, with twelve yards start, won by any number of yards ; and in the 300 yards race, with seven yards start, won by about six yards.

Important. —Settlers and Visitors from tlie country when paying a visit to Wellington, and requiring drapery Men’s, Youths’, and Boys’, Clothing—it must be a matter of great importance for them to learn where, as cash purchasers, they can depend on receiving the best value for their money. It is an established fact, that JAMES SMITH, Te Aro House, Cuba Street, offers his customers advantages to be met with, in no other house in Wellington. First. His stock is imported direct from manufacturers of the highest reputation, in the home markets —a guarantee of its quality. Second. It is bought for cash - a natural element of cheapness. Third, every article in stock is marked at a fixed price for ready money so that experienced and unexperienced buyers are alike faithfully served. These are great advantages, and well worthy the consideration of the public, and we direct attention to the advertisement of his large varied and carefully selected stock, which will be found on the first page of this, paper,—Advt

Though the 21st ult. was one of the brightest of the season in Sydney a star was visible at noon. The phenomenon excited great interest. A private letter from London states that Mr Aspinall, the well-known Victorian barrister, is still in Bethlehem Hospital, and fears are entertained that his recovery is hopeless. For shocking cruelty to a fowl, a navvy in Hobart Town was sent to prison for two months. For sleeping in the street, a houseless wretch in the same town was sent to prison for six months. The reckless improvidence of Maoris has often been remarked upon, and Mr White, the Resident Magistrate of Wanganui, speaking of the competition amongst Europeans for the native trade, sa y S : —“ Although opposition in trading is good, in these out-of-the-way places it results in impoverishing the natives, for they get into debt far beyond their means of paying ; loosing heart, they get idle, which soon leads to worse. I have often regretted that it cannot be in law that a trader could not recove more than a certain sum from a native debtor.” The Resident Magistrate at Hokianga states that the natives in his district are slowly but steadily decreasing in number. He estimates the annual number of deaths to exceed that of births by about a thirtieth. He ascribes the mortality to the absence of proper attention to the sick and ignorance as to treatment of disease. He suggests that a few simple directions should be published in the “ Waka Maori. ” Wild dogs have increased to such an extent in the Hokianga district that it is impossible to keep sheep. Mr Puckey says that the Thames natives “ are devoting more time and attention to agricultural pursuits, and less to useless political meetings.” They are sowing English grasses and fencing paddocks with wire. The Zanga has arrived at Auckland after a long passage in a leaky state, with a damaged cargo. Her bills of lading were signed by a master who did not come out in her, and now that the consignees are bringing actions against the ship, the “ Auckland Star” says : —The defence set up of course is that this captain did not sign the bills of lading in Liverpool, and we are ashamed that such a case should ever have disgraced our law Courts. It may or may not be law that such a ruse should give exemption from honest liability, but if it is law, it is certainly also rascality. A Mr Vincent, in Auckland, lately discovered that some wretch had deliberately gone round every plant and shrub in his garden and sprinkled them with vitriol, deluging also the verandah. But •worse still, his little daughter, in coming from school, and when near home, was sprinkled with vitriol, though the child did not observe by whom it was thrown. Her clothing was burned into holes, and it was a mercy she did not lose her eyesight. The offence has been prompted, _ it is thought, by a suspicion that Mr Vincent was the writer of a letter in the papers which caused the routing out of some objectionable neighbors a suspicion which was quite unfounded. An extract from a private letter to a person in Tauranga speaks of wonderful discoveries of gold at Port Darwin : “ By this post I send you some ‘ Registers’ (newspapers). Read the reports of the share market. It may give you some idea of the state we are in. You will probably have gleaned from your papers that some time ago rich gold reefs were found in the Northern Territory. It appears that the more they are developed the more they expose the richness of the reefs. Estimates have been made of some of them yielding from thirty ounces to sixty ounces to the ton ! Suffice it to say that there is a constant crowd and buzz on the Exchange kept up till it is pitch dark, and they then adjourn to hotels. People say our Verandah is something like the Ballarat one is, as to the number of people who assemble there, and yet people say that it is nothing to what it will be when the crushing commences. Of course there are many and great difficulties to the working of the mines in such a climate, but where gold is the reward men will do anything. Already four ships have left, and two more are on the berth, and I should not be very much surprised if that is not merely a beginning.” - The Dunedin “Tablet” makes the amende honorable for an accusation against the Immigration Department of the colony :—“ Some time ago we stated that although search had been made in the Dublin papers for an advertisement in reference to emigration to this colony, none could be found. In now appears that, in the “ Nation” of the 29th March, 1873, there is an advertisement on the subject ; and that intending immigrants were to apply to Mr Mason, 22, Eden Quay, Dublin.” There is in the same paper another advertisement as follows : —“ Emigration to New Zealand —Wanted Local Agents in the different Counties of Ireland.” It gives us much pleasure, even at the end of two years after the commencement of the scheme, to be able to make this announcement ; and we hope the Irish emigration to New Zealand

will be honestly administered. Hitherto we have had great reason for complaint, and we still fear means may be found to defeat the good intentions and instructions of the Minister in Wellington who has charge of the Immigration Department. None, however, will be more rejoiced than ourselves to find that we have been mistaken. The same journal complains of the few Catholics amongst the Nicol Fleming’s passengers, and looks at the cii’cumstance as ominous.

Speaking in anticipation of the meeting of the Westland County Council, we find the following in the “ Westland Register”: —lf any suggestions be made for the amendment of the County of Westland Act, it might be worth consideration whether the County Council should not be armed with similar rating powers to those possessed by those small relations of the Council —the Road Boards. A county rate for county purposes does not seem an unreasonable impost, and the system has had sufficient trial to justify such powers being entrusted to those who have the working of it. For making tracks and bye-roads, the Road Boards have rating powers ; while the Council, who have the making and maintenance of the main roads, are armed with no such prerogative. This may be worth consideration, and as such, we put it before the public. In connection with the subject of revenue, the Council should certainly deliberate on the propriety of asking the General Government to increase the sum they propose to borrow to a much larger amount. By charging one-half of the waste lands with a debt, the remainder may well be improved to double its present value. In natural sequence to, and connection with this subject, comes the question of immigration, to which we of the county have hitherto paid by no means adequate attention. It will have been in vain that the Council have decided on special blocks which contain within their boundary every element of prosperity—wood, water, pastoral and agricultural land ; all these will form but a barren paradise if the imported Adams and Eves be not there to turn those advantages to account. On the question of the trans-island railway, the Council can, and probably will, speak words of power ; and in relation to the education of our youth, it has long-neglected duties to fulfil.

An accident happened at the Karaka Hill (says the “ Thames Evening Star”) on Wednesday, to a boy named Freerson. He was getting firewood with some other lads, when one of them started a log rolling, which struck Freerson on the head, rendering him insensible. It was thought at first examination that his skull was fractured, but we learn that the injuries are not so serious, and that the lad is expected to recover. The “Taranaki News,” in its issue of the 2nd instant, says : —We may as well notice one amendment in the law necessary in the interests of the province, and that is some power to deal in a summary and trenchant manner with Pakeha Maoris of the description of Mr Worgan, who wilfully unsettle the native mind, and disturb the relations between the races for the furtherance of their own interests and objects. Mr Worgan goes to work on the same principle that a burglar would set fire to a house to benefit by the confusion. Mr Worgan wishes to make his little pot boil, and open confiscated lands to himself or his employers ; but whether his pot boils or not, he is heedless hovr far the fire he is making may extend. The native question has quite enough difficulties of its own, without importing these firebrands into it. Let us, therefore, hope that the approaching session of the General Assembly will afford the Government a ready supply of water, hot or cold, to speedily put them out. A Gazette issued on Thursday contains regulations for the examination and certificates of masters and mates ; and they have been framed to enable persons who have not been domiciled in New Zealand for three years to obtain certificates of competency. Candidates will understand, however, that such certificates, although valid in this colony, will not be recognised by the Board of Trade, and that the holders of them who, after having completed the necessary domicile, may desire to obtain certificates under the Queen’s Order in Council, will have to .pass another examination ; but they will not be required to pay the usual fee for this second examination. The Auckland “ Star ” states that already 2000 shares have been taken up in the New Zealand Shipping Company by the merchants who formerly constituted the Freight Company. No doubt others will subscribe for shares, and a very strong interest in the company will be created in Auckland. As the utility, convenience, and cheapness of the patent slip become more generally known, so does employment for it become more plantiful, there is every reasonable probability that a large share of patronage will fall to it from steamers and sailing craft owned in the other provinces. On Thursday the steamer Wellington took her place on the cradle, and wa* hauled up to receive such overhaul as slit may stand in need of.

A Scandinavian Society is being established in Dunedin. Mr Joseph Ivess has leased the “ Lyell Argus’-’ newspaper and plant to Messrs Niven and Johnson. The skeleton of a man named John Andrew, who was lost at the Otepopo 'bush, Otago, eleven years ago, has been found by a party of pig hunters. A prisoner in the Pentridge Stockade, after shamming insanity for three years, was brought to his sober senses by low diet and solitary confinement. The Victorian Government have positively prohibited the corporal punishment of girls in the State schools under any circumstances. The estimated acreage of cultivated land in the colony of Western Australia is 53,240 acres ; and the estimated acreage of the whole colony, 626,111,323 acres. Miss Beatrice, daughter of Lord Clifford, was burned to death by her clothes catching fire. The melancholy occurrence happened on May Ist. During the hearing of a recent case at Maryborough, Victoria, a terrible disclosure of immorality and degradation was made. It was proved that ten young European girls, the. eldest only 16, were in the habit of consorting with Chinese, and smoking opium with them until stupified. From an English paper we learn that a Miss Robertson, daughter of an English clergyman, had created a sensation in the south of England by her musical performances at a concert. The lady’s voice is said to have a higher range than that of any living singer. She can touch the B an octave above the B reached by average professional singers, while for several seconds she sustained the upper G with a power and clearness which produced intense excitement among the audience. The notes mentioned above are higher than were ever sung in public by Jenny Lind, and other celebrated vocalists. A recent event in the history of missionary enterprise was the translation and the printing at Honolulu of the New Testament in the language of the Gilbert Islands. As the Maoris are of a cognate race with the Hawaiians, judging by personal appearance and a similarity of language, we give, as a curiosity, the title page of this little book, which is to go forth a messenger of glad tidings to one of the dark corners of the earth :—“ Te • Nu Teamanti, ae ana taeka ana Uea ao ara Tia Kamaiu are lesu Kristo, ae

kaenaki man taetaen Erene.” In his report to the Provincial Government the Governor of the Dunedin Gaol says : —“The labor of prisoners has this year been utilised in what may be considered a novel way. A gang of twentythree men and officers have been sent to Port Chalmers every morning by train, returning the same evening. They have been engaged in forming a road from Port Chalmers to Carey’s and Deborah Bay along the sea beach, and have some difficult work to perform in blasting, cutting rock, &c. The further development of the railway system may enable the gaol to undertake, at more distance from Dunedin, useful works such as the prisoners are now accomplishing beyond Port Chalmers. I am not aware whether in any gaol this experiment of forwarding prisoners by train to execute works has been tried. As the Government will have the sole control of the railways, and arrangements can thereby be made for cheap carriage, there will always be found, should this experiment succeed, ample employment for prisoners in out-door work, and the objection made in the New Zealand Commissioners’ report to prisoners working in the public streets of a town would be thereby obviated. So far as the experiment has been tried, no difficulty has been experienced in carrying it out. According to the mining statistics of the Colony of Victoria for the quarter ended March 21st, the quantity of gold raised during the quarter, as calculated by the registrars and surveyors from information they had obtained from goldbuyers and others, was 297,7110 z 7dwt, of which 129,0460 z 2dwt was alluvial gold, and 168,6650 z sdwt gold from quartz. The quantity of Victorian gold, however, which was exported during the quarter was, according to the Customs returns, 367,1590 z 4dwt. The gross weight of gold received at the Mint during the quarter was 50,716’880z, and the amount of coin issued was 49,181 ffiffoz, and of gold in bullion 864*50z. The amount of Victorian gold received at the Mint during the quarter was only 8,264*20z. The estimated number of miners at work was 52,873, of whom 14,000 were Chinese. An exchange furnishes the following scientific paragraph : —Compressed air, and its peculiarities, are at present a great subject of discussion with scientific men at Home. There is not much pretence to an acquaintance with science in Greymouth, but the same subject provides daily conversation here. The current of air which follows the sun of an evening

off the West Coast gets pretty well compressed in this vicinity, there being but one funnel —the Greymouth Gorge —for the escape of a very large area of atmosphere. The consequences are well known tut not appreciated by those who expe-

rience them, and those who do not can assist imagination;, and realise something like the real feeling, by wetting the points of their noses, an<d presenting the same to the spout of the- biggest pair of blacksmith’s bellows that they can find. A temporary experiment of the kind may be refreshing, but it can never be genial, and its perpetuation for days is decidedly calculated to provoke snifters and swearing. It is not favorable to the production of caloric, or of a population characterised by serenity of temper and priety of language. As a sample of what compressed air can do, we read that Professor Tyndall has succeeded, by the aid of a column of watertwo hundred and sixty feet high, in compressing air to one-eighth its original volume, and that when allowed to escape it rushed out so violently as to cause so intense a cold that the moisture in the room was congealed into a shower of snow, while the pipe whence the air issued was edged with icles. In our sweetly picturesque but otherwise objectionable gorge, the compression is scarcely so great, perhaps, but there is considerable similarity in the effects when the sun is out of sight. A strange story comes in the shape of a rumour from Sydney. Recently (says the Melbourne correspondent of the “ Daily Times”) the honors of a splendid public funeral were accorded to the remains of the late W. C. Wentworth, in recognition of the great service he had rendered the country. It is now said that the remains that were carried in procession, orated over, and solemnly deposited in the tomb prepared for them, were not those of the deceased statesman, but those of another member of his family, whose body was also sent out for interment, his own being forwarded by another ship. Should the tale be true, it would impart a truly grotesque character to the celebration ; and should it be false, as is most likely, it is a pity that the imagination of its author did not reserve itself for literary productions in the shape of penny dreadfuls. The “ Daily Times” publishes a comparative return of the new roll of the Otago Provincial Council, which shows that out of the total of thirty-four districts, twenty returned their old representatives, and that fourteen selected —either in whole or in part—new ones ; that out of a total of forty-six members, the elections have resulted in the return of twenty-eight old members, and the introduction of eighteen new ones. A feat of walking is chronicled in :a home payer, which says that on April 25, Lieutenant Godfrey Baldwin, of the firs t battalion of the lltli Regiment, walked from Glasgow to Edinburgh, a distance of between forty-seven and fifty miles, in ten. hours, and afterwards went on guard at the Castle of the latter city. The gentleman referred to is a brother of Captain Baldwin, of Dunedin. A private letter received in Melbourne from a friend of the late Lord Lytton, who was with him shortly before his death, contains the following interesting passage : —“ltwas a lamentable thing for poor Lord Lytton to be carried off, and strange that liis last words were to be sure to examine the body, to see that he was not in a trance. In walking round the castle at Knebworth one fine night, I asked him what he thought of a future state ? ‘ Well,’ he said, “ I will tell you my opinion. If I die, and am sentenced by the powers above for anything wrong that I may have done on earth, I shall argue the question, and solicit to know why I was permitted to do it.’” It will be remembered that Burns and other distinguished authors have expressed similar feelings in relation to the justice of future punishments. * Exportation has been already made by two or three Canterbury meat curers of tierce beef, but from various reasons none of them have proved thoroughly satisfactory, and in some instances the consignment has turned out a failure. Judging from some specimen tierces prepared by Mr Morrison, there is every prospect ot his being successful in finding a ready and lucrative market for his meat. The beef first cured in brine is afterwards packed in kauri casks, in 81b pieces, thirty-four to the tierce, between layers of St. Übe’s salt, and when ready for being headed in, form a compact solid mass. 1 Eighteen members of the Otago Provincial Council voted in favor of a resolution—“ That in the opinion of the Council no member of the Legislative Council or House of Representatives, excepting his Honor the Superintendent should be a member of the Provincial Executive. ” It Avas not carried, hoAvever, as twenty-five voted against it. The Patea correspondent of one of the Wanganui papers says : —Some .of the Wanganui and Kai Iwi Cavalry might remember that during the time Titokowaru Avas at Tauranga Ika, he had a most particularly lively scout, who used to ride a grey horse, and made himself conspicuous on all occasions when the cavalry were out reconnoitering, &c. Well, he died in the hospital here a short time ago, of consumption. I mention this as many members of both troops had a shot at ( ( the , fellow on the white horse.”

The “ Kyneton Guardian” reports a plucky and successful effort on the part of a mother to save her child from drowning. On Thursday Mrs Donoghue' who resides on the Post-offiee Creek, near Kyneton, was draAving a bucket of water, her two children —a girl of four, and a boy of two —being at play in the yard at the time. The girl was running after the boy, and the little fellow coming too near the Avell, missed his footing and fell in. There was no one about at the time, and the distraction of the mother may be imagined. She felt, however, that something must be promptly done if the child’s life was to be saved, and seizing the rope she let herself down into the well, and succeeded in catching hold of the child before life was extinct. She had then to remain standing in the bucket, Avhich was some depth under water, and holding the little boy in her arms for about ten minutes, when assistance arrived and she was safely landed with the child. In letting herself down the well Mrs Donoghue fell violently against the rock of the side, and sustained a severe bruise on the head, but with this exception she was none the Avorse for her exploit after she had recovered from the effects of her unpleasantly cold bath. The child was uninjured. It Avas of course unconscious when rescued from the Avater, but came to whilst being clasped to its ' mother’s bosom in the Avell.

A Mr James Gemmel, writing from South Africa, says: —The goldfields I fear are no good. The day previous to my arrival at Du Toits, a diamond Aveighing 2.88-j carats, the largest ever yet found in South Africa, was discovered. It is now being exhibited with another called the “fly diamond,” because there is a black spot on it resembling a fly. The large diamond is not a good color, being yellow; white are the best. Had it been Avhite it would have been a pile. I intend to go to the river diamond diggings. If you have a down on any persons advise them to come this length, even if they had twice the money you used to fancy enough.. A meeting of the Railway Committee lately took place at the Cafe de Paris, Hokitika—Mr Bonar in the chair. The secretary informed the meeting that he had sent 180 circular letters to the members of the House of Representatives, and to various newspapers. The text of a petition, prepared by Mr John White, was adopted, after a slight addition suggested by Mr Barff. A copy of the petition was ordered to be sent for the approval of the Greymouth committee, and 200 copies to be printed. Mr W. Evans reported that several influential persons in Westport had expressed themselves favorably towards the scheme. It Avas resolved to take steps to convene a public meeting at Ross. The “ Express” says : —Mr John Smith, better known as the Canterbury wellsinker, has succeeded in getting a capital well at Mr F. Adams’ homestead in Walter street, at a depth of 50 feet, throwing a full supply of Avater 6 feet 8 inches abo\ r e the surface, being, we believe, the highest flow in the Province of Marlborough. At a late meeting of the Dunstan Miners’ Association, Mr Alexander proposed, and Mr Lindsay seconded —“ That this association does not deem it desirable that the delegated powers of the goldfields should be Avithdrawn from Provincial Superintendents and executives while they hold their present functions ; but they Avould recommend that Provincial Governments be disrobed of their parliamentary paraphernalia ; and more simple and less expensive machinery introduced ; and that the goldfields then be put under the control of a responsible number of miners in the Colonial Executive.” An amendment was put and carried —“ That the opinion of the elected member for the district be first heard on the question.” It Avas decided that the Goldfields Bill be carefully considered by the members, and a special meeting be held at an early date to give an expression of opinion thereon. An Auckland paper says immediately after the rising of the Police Court, several of the seamen of the Hylton Castle applied for summonses against Captain Scott for assaults alleged to have been committed on the voyage from England.' Only one of the applicants, hoAvever, was provided with the requisite 5s fee, and consequently only one summons was granted. The charge Avill be heard on Saturday. Where the cause of disaffection lies, Avhether it is with the captain or the men, or Avith the quality of the provisions, or with all collectively, is at present hard to see, but it would appear that being on board the first ship of the Auckland Freight Company from London to Auckland was a rather unpleasant position both for officers and men. Two more summonses have been granted respecting the Hylton Castle squabbles. One of these is against the captain for assault, taken ,out by the mate of the vessel; and one taken out by the captain against the man who, the day before, took out a summons against the captain. The Christchurch City Council finds no difficulty in obtaining money at 6 per cent., and in one case has borrowed at a slightly lower rate.

E. M‘Glashan, Esq, has been appointed Chairman of Committees in the Otago Provincial Council.

The jarrah forests of Western Australia have been estimated by a competent judge to be worth £100,000,000. The Canterbury papers report.continued large sales of Avaste lands of the Or > vn, and of a farm of 106 acres in the Tai 'l’apu district at £2l an acre.

The dispute between the natives as to the title of certain lands at Niho o te Kiore, has been settled amicably. The “ Otago Daily Times ” finds fault with the Suez mail arrangements recently announced, and urges that the Bluff route should have been adopted instead of Hokitika. The report of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association states that a numerously-signed petition against the Permissive Bill Avill be presented to both Houses of the Legislature. The Geelong “Evening Times” reports that a suction fan has been invented for ventilating mines. It has been put in practice with complete success at a mine, Avhere it dreAV out the foul air at a distance of 1100 feet. • Another serious accident occurred on the Karaka 6 Creek (says the “ Thames Advertiser”) on Monday, to a boy seven years of age, son of a miner named (.lollop, Avho resides on tlie Karaka. The boy was playing with several others, when by some means he got pitched over a flume by another boy named May, and, falling on stones, he sustained an ugly scalp wound and several bruises about the back.

The “ Daily Southern Cross” says the railAvay works and outer sea-wall and embankment in Mechanics’ Bay are making satisfactory progress. The Wynyard Pier is noAv partly demolished, that portion still standing being intersected by the outer embankment from the Avest. This is being fast carried along to meet the works projected from St Barnabas Point, and Avithin a short time the avliolo of the bay will be shut in.