News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 177, 21 November 1874, Page 1

News of the Week.

Xiord and Lady Normanby may be expected in Auckland about the 25th instant. " They were to sail from Sydney by the Hero, which was announced to leave on the 20tli inst.

The new evening journal, the Echo,- has made its appearance in Auckland. It’ is martly written, prettily printed, and got up with great care.

The A.S.N. Company of Sydney have, lost no time in commencing their new Fijian service. The s.s. Alexandra was announced to sail from Sydney for Levuka on the 12th‘ instant, in command of Captain Stuart.

In the week ending Friday, the 23rd ult., seventy-three telegraphic messages were sent from, and ninety received in the colonies by the Overland Australian line. Seventy-two were for ‘Victoria, fifty-eight for New South Wales, thirteen for South Australia, nine only for New Zealand, eight for Queensland, and three for Tasmania.

It may not be generally known, says the Auckland Echo, that Haricot, the winner of the Melbourne Cup, is half-brother to IvJJajor Walmsley’s entire Sledmere. Haricot was got by Daniel O’Rourke out of Lady Kirk; SleiJmere is also by Daniel O’Rourke. Haricot is owned by Mr. Andrew Ohimside, who bred and raced him.

The following >is an .extract from a telegram by Dr. Feathersfbii:to' the Minister for Immigration, * dated liondon, November 4, giving a list of immigrant ships that sailed in October, for ports in New Zealand, with the number of souls on board :—Auckland —Dilharree, 370 ; Warwick, 240 ; Inverene, 200. Wellington— Berar, 360; Humboldt, 390. Otago—Galbraith, 140 ; Nelson, 320 ; Wild Deer, 300. Taranaki —Acheron, 200. Nelson—Anglesey, 270. Canterbury—Avalanche, 320; Lady Jocelyn, 530; Waimate, 370. Being a total of 4010 souls.

The steamer Golden Crown, which lias for some time been running between Auckland and the Thames, and 'has been bought by a Melbourne company, at the head of which is Mr. George Coppin and Mr. R. S. Anderson, is intended to be used as a passageboat between Melbourne and Portsea and Sorrento —new watering-places on the Point Nepean peninsula. The Golden Crown is already advertised in the Argus by the colonial prince of showmen as “ The people’s recreation steamer,” and capable of carrying 1200 passengers ! Mr. Coppin, we fear, lias been drawing upon liis imagination.

Public disapproval of the projected visit of the Superintendent and Provincial Secretary to England on the newspecial settlement mission (says the Auckland Southern Cross of the 13tli instant) has increased since our disclosure of the arrangement. It is evident that, but for our timely discovery and prompt announcement of the fact, the public would have known nothing about the plan until everytliing was arranged, and the passages taken, and our respected provincial chief, with his right hand man, would have gone away on board the Wonga Wonga on Monday, before any independent journal could have had a chance of remonstrating. Happily, this “little arrangement” we Were enabled to frustrate. *■

Some one has been playiag a practical joke upon our friend, Mr. McGlashan, as would appear from the following paragraph in the Auckland Herald :—“ We are requested by 3jlr. McGlashan, M.H.R. for Rosslyn district rin Otago, and who is now on a visit in Auckland, to contradict a very absurd statement which Was published on Saturday, to the effect tliat he was commissioned by the General Government to negotiate some land dealings which,; it was said, are ‘of too delicate a nature to be entrusted to the wires.’ There is not a particle qf truth in the statement. Mr. and Mrs. McGlashan are simply here on a pleasure trip through some portions of the North Island, and are on no other business either public or private,”

It is stated in Dunedin tliat at the next meeting of the Presbyterian Synod in Wellington the question of union with the Presbyterian Church of Otago is likely to come on for consideration.

The Hon. Dr. Pollen and Major Campbell, Clerk of Parliament, accompanied His Excellency the Governor in his yacht on Monday. Dr. Pollen will be absent some weeks in Auckland.

It is officially announced that the Superintendent of Auckland has abandoned his intention of proceeding to England with the view of promoting emigration to the Auckland -province. This is the wisest’resolve he has undertaken for a long time past.

We arc informed that the Wellington Acclimatisation Society have again turned out twenty pair of sky larks, fifty brace quail, and five brace pheasants. "VVe trust that parties observing strange birds in their vicinity will be careful not to molest them. The,' birds liberated this season have been introduced at a much less cost than those to some of the other provinces, the average price being-about 1 12 s. per pair. •

By a private letter to baud'from Rockhampton (Queensland), under date 15th October, we learn that “ our diggings at the Palmer River are turning out very rich. From 20,000 to 30,0000 z. are coming down weekly through the banks, besides a large quantity by private hands.” “ Carriage from port (about 100 miles) is £175 per ton ; consequently rations there are at famine prices.” The writer also states that the season has been most favorable, and that stock, both mutton and beef, could not be in better condition.

Major Palmer, who is now at Burnham station, lias published a letter on the subject of the risk to the observations of the transit of Venus by busli fires, and asks the residents between Burnham and the hills to use all. the precautions in their power. While smoke, lie says, would be detrimental to eye observations, it would be absolutely fatal to the photographs of the transit. It is to he hoped that settlers .everywhere, in the neighborhood of the observatories, will regard Major Palmer’s warning.

We have reason to believe —the Otago Daily Times observes —that Sir George Grey is now preparing’- -a -’new Constitution -A.ct ; also a number of papers in proof of the fact that the Middle Island landed estate belongs to the colony by purchase ; and that a large sum of money is lawfully owing to the North Island by,the General Government. Sir George has intimated to his friends that he will not be unwilling to accept a seat in the House of Representatives when an opportunity arises.

On Friday last a letter was < posted at Marton for a young woman in Wellington, containing a locket. The letter was delivered in due course, but the locket was not in it. Inquiry was made, and it was ascertained that the letter, when posted, did contain the piece of jewellery referred to. What had become of it was the question. The locket has since been found in Mulgrave-street, to which the letter had been addressed. The presumption is.-that: the trinket had fallen out of the letter ' while the postman was on his rounds. There is no suspicion that any post-office robbery occurred.

We ai-e rather surprised (says the New Zealand Herald of the stli inst.) to' see an advertisement in a recent issue of a Wellington contemporary, calling for tenders for 150 tons of Newcastle coal for Napier railways. Surely the Public Works Department is ignorant of the fact that we possess in this province one of the finest steam-generating coals in the world —that to be obtained from the Bay of Islands mine. It is rather an anomaly for the Government to be giving out assurances on the one hand that it will foster by all legitimate means local industry, while on the other we find one of its principal departments advertising for the product of foreign mines whilst equally as good an article is, lying at our own doors.' There may be some valid reasons for prefeAing Newcastle coal, but we are not aware of any.

Lady Fergusson will not leave New Zealand ■without a very appropriate gift from His HoAor the Superintendent of Westland. The Grc\j-Evcer Argus says; —“We yesterday had ■the (pleasure of viewing one of the most appro,pria|te. and handsome gift books that could possibly grace ‘ the table of any one - who desired to cherish remembrances of New Zealand. It. was a folio collection of New Zealand ferqs, numbering above a hundred specimens, most beautifully mounted and carefully classified'’ by Mr. C. A. C. Hardy of this town, .to the-order of ’J. A. Bonar, Esq., and' intended for presentation to Lady Fergusson. Mr.-Hardy’s collections of ferns have enjoyed a widfe celebrity, but this last botanical effort of his -is equal to anything of the kind we ever saw. Most of the specimens have been - only recently'gathered, although perfectly matured and'dried, but Mrs. Hardy has also added some examples'-which have been in his possession for the last ten years,'all of which have preserved their color aiid character intact. The collection) is contained in a very handsome volumn bound in-red-morocco leather, and-is altogether a gift of which . Lady Fergusson may well be proqd.” ,'ff

Addressing 'his constituents at Milton the other day, L. Gillies mentioned that Mr. Donald Reid .was now engaged in codifying the general,Ji®d provincial, .laws as regards, sheep, cattle, #&d-impounding—a work which would be of much good. ,

During the mpnth of October.the arrivals of immigrants in the port of Dunedin were 11-93, of whom 680 were males and .513 females of all ages. The departures in -the same period amounted only to-IS 7, of whom 155 were males, and 32 female#.’ Coastwise passengers were not included in the calculation.

How is this for high ? The Coromandel Mail thus begins a leader on Mr. Rees’s absurd pamphlet : —There is, perhaps, no part of her Britannic Majesty’s dominions where custom has ploughed suefy deep ruts.into -the brains of men, causing the channels and currents of thought to be so' circumscribed and defined, if not to say limited; as in this in -many- respects the.fairest land -the sun e’er shone ripon ; and it is perhaps equally true that no" other place is to be stamped with old identity Idylism —the cherishing of little forms or images—as this same fair country.”

The Southern Cross this morning, commentinn- on the Auckland Provincial Executive, thus castigates the Provincial Treasurer—- “ Last and least there is Mr. G. M. Reed, the Provincial Treasurer. Perhaps the •-greatestmistake this gentleman ever made was his entrance into political life. A more complete discovery of the nakedness of the land was never before made) .than that ,which followed tliat unwise step of .the', .treasurer. He was appointed to office, not because he was fitted for it, but in the f hope that office would “ muzzle ” him. The Superintendent so far gained his object, but* at the expense of duty, and at the sacrifice of capacity. Petulant in administrative action, helpless in debate, an utter failure as treasurer, as his comical financial mistakes last qsessibn proved, he Was also a grievous blu'riidjier in his conception of measures! as his boasted Education Bill, ev-cry, claute ofv which was wiped out by a sneering: and unbelieving Council. Yet this is the mafijo whomdis left the Treasury of the province.” j,,. ry-

The Auckland: 'Southern Cross writes (on the 7th inst.) :—“His Excellency Sir James Fei--. "usson will, as his immediate predecessor did, make Auckland his point of departure from the colony, -j He is expected to arrive here from Wellington in the course of the coming week, and about a fortnight later the Marquis of Normanby, the coming Governor, will reach our shores. The Marquis, with the Marchioness and staff, leave Melbourne by the Hero about the 20tli of November. We understand .that His Worship the Mayor has communicated with His Honor the Superintendent’ 'as to whether any arrangements will be made by the Provincial Government_ for providing-a public reception to the Marquis of Normanby on bis arrival in this city. The Mayor, oil behalf of. the City Council, was prepared’ to make some provision,’in conjunction with the Provincial Government, if _ the Superintendent deemed such a course advisable. We learn that as at present advised,. the Superintendent and his Executive do’-.not purpose having-a public reception, and have intimated this to tile Mayor, qdding -that it is intended that the Superintendent -and- the members of his Executive will go to the wharf to meet the Marquis on the arrival of the .steamer. Probably the Mayor will adopt:a similar course.”

The Argus thus explains what the Victorian Government proposes to do with tlie unsubscribed balance of the public works' loan : “ The course which'.the Government has decided to take -with regard to the disposal of the balance of the public works loan of 1872, is perhaps the best that; was open to itUnder the circunistances. It Will -be remembered - that the! sum the Government was • authorised to raise amounted to £1,500,000, secured in the shape of inscribed stock.. Tenders were invited for £500,000 ip. the early part of 1873, the minimum having been secretly.fixed at 100. Offers for £118,156 were' rec.eiydd,(principally at "from 95 to 96. The subscriptions.’.,at par only amounted to £13,100, all-of which -wore,of pourse, allowed. Since'then the'.public subscriptions have increased to about £300,000, while some £600,000, representing various trust funds, &c., which the Treasurer was authorised by the Act creating the stock to invest in this loan, has been so applied. It will be seen,then* that the sum of £6oo,ooo'Stjll remains to be disposed of. Of this lastqnehtioiied amount £loo*ooo, advanced aqoordSag tollgjrjOut of the general revenue,-Hias been - : alreadyx*e:xpended, and An additional £300,000 ( will --be’; required before the ffncl of the year. Instead’of .lowering dlie minimum of the stock, Air. Service proposes to take power to issue £500;0u0 in the shape of debentures, placing’them on'the colonial,market from time to time as opportunity serves, reserving the remaining £100,0003 of stock to serve as. an investment at par- for trustees and otliei'4 who require absolute?, immunity from risk cif any sort, and are veiling ‘ ~ta~p»y for the luxury. In order to meet "curirfefff- requirements ‘pending the sale of the debentures, power is tajken in the amending ,Act' to increase the advance from the Consolidated Revenue from £100,00,8--to £300,000,” £

The Taranaki Herald states that the site of the proposed lighthouse on Cape Rgrnont was fixed upon by the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs,' on his late visit to Taranaki.

1 Inquiries have been made through the Colonial Office for George Etherington, at one time a private in the 65th Regiment, which he left ten years ago. About six years ago he was in Taranaki, and is supposed to have been about Wanganui so lately as three months ago.

Sir Charles Gavan Duffy is reported to be now engaged on a History of the - Irish Rebellion of 184 S. He lias collected some very interesting correspondence on the subject; A work on such a subject, from a pen" able, should be exceedingly interesting.

The Registar-General’s report on tlie Vital Statistics of the boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, for the past month, has reached us. The total number ?of births was 294. Dunedin, with a population --of 15,499, contributed eighty-six to tliat-number; and Wellington, which has 222 S fewer people than Auckland, contributes fifty-five, while the latter only gives fifty-four; and Christchurch, ■with 10,294 people, had not more than fifty births in the month. At the Thames, -with 8073 people, there were only seventeen ; at Nelson twenty-two, with 5662 of a population; and at . Hokitika ten, with 3352 people. The total number of deaths was 130. The highest percentage was 2'97, in Dunedin; but it was tlie unsatisfactory figure of 2‘2S in Wellington,’ while it was 1 -75 in Christchurch ; I'4o in Auckland; o'9o at the Thames; O'SO at Hokitika ; and 0-70 in healthy Nelson. As regards infant life, the mortality in October still showed unfavorably for Wellington. Three females died at between seventy and seventythree, ' and three' males at between sixty-five and seventy-six years of age. Local diseases occasioned sixty, zymotic diseases thirty, constitutional diseases twenty-one, and development diseases twelve. There were six deaths by violence, all accidental ; and one from a cause not specified. The average temperature in the shade was highest in Auckland and Nelson, aad lowest .in Dunedin. The rainfall was greatest (8-990) at Hokitika, and lowest (,1 "770) at Christchurch.

We are glad to learn that the prospects of the Manawatu. district are becoming very ■favorable. It was questioned some time ago whether there was or was not any large amount of available timber in the district served by the .Foxton and Palmerston tramway, and that question is now being answered in the most satisfactory way. Before the late floods the business of the tramway was managed by Mr. Cook, the present lessee, with five or six teams of horses. During the rains, however, the tramway was submerged for some weeks, and such a quantity of timber then accumulated at the mills, and on the hands of private splitters, that it has been altogether beyond the powers of the teams to bring down the timber fast enough. There are now four mills at work, and a large one is in course of erection, which it is estimated’will turn out upwards of 60,000 ft. of timber per week. It is also estimated that there are now at least 500,000 ft. ready to to be sent down, while the mills are -working as hard as they can. It was mentioned a few dsys ago that a new locomotive, built at Auckland for the tramway, had been landed here, and forwarded to Foxton by the Napier. Captain Butt landed his heavy and unusual piece of freight successfully, and the locomotive —in- charge of its owner, Mr. Stewart—was taken safely along the tramway, which, as many of our readers are aware, is twenty-five miles in length. It was apprehended that some damage might be done to the wooden rails, but fortunately that proved not to be the case. The engine, however, . was not for! the tramway, but railway and works beyond Palmerston, to connect the line with the Feilding’ Settlement and the adjoining country—works for which Mr. Stewart is the As it is now ascertained that the quantity of timber commanded by the tramway is very extensive, and as the demand is now enormous, and ■ likely to be so for some years, Mr. Cook on Thursday waited upon the .'Hon. the Commissioner for Public Works, -accompanied by Mr. Walter Johnston (the ■member of the House of Representatixes for ,the Manawatu district), to urge upon him the importance of placing two or three locomotives on the tramway, and converting the line into a railway as speedily as possible, substituting 'iron rails for the present wooden ones. It was pointed out that the district could readily furnish at least 100,000 ft. of sawn timber per week ; that tlie trade of the port of Foxton was rapidly increasing ; that more vessels were about to be employed -in it, and that the harbor was a good one, -with from eight to nine feet of water on the bar in-ordinary tides, and from eleven to ' twelve feet in spring tides. The, trade 1 ) would be greatly extended bv-and-bye by the business of the Feilding Settlement. Mr. Richardson assented to the reasonableness .of the course'proposed to him, and it is under- , stood that' locomotives will-.be placed on the tramway, and the proposed conversion of the line be begun as early as possible. Air. Blackett was present at the interview. - The public will ;be glad to hear so good an account of a district which has attracted some attention of late, and to which a considerable number of immigrants have been going up. ‘