Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 244, 22 July 1876, Page 14

Town News.

The inward English mail which arrived on Tuesday consisted of 3437 letters, 1240 books, and 14,400 newspapers. At the request of the Pacific Mail Company, Government have consented to appoint a coastal pilot for their New Zealand steamers. Telegrams received on Tuesday from IVIr. Whatton, of Taranaki, report that the attempt to smelt has rot been altogethei’ a downright failure. The furnace is still clear, and experiments are proceeding. The following notice lias been issued by Dr. Lemon, General Manager of. Telegraphs:— “ Mails leave Townsville for Singapore on the 19th inst. (this day). In addition to rates from New Zealand to Townsville, the charge from Singapore to Europe is 6s. 3d. per word. In the Legislative Council on Tuesday the Colonial Secretary stated that the following official telegram had been received from Mr. ICennaway, of the Agent-General’s department, by the San Francisco mail :—“ London, June 19. Deeply regret to announce that Dr. Featherston died this morning.”

The Tui, which left on Monday night for the West Coast, took with her 35 foreign immigrants for the Jackson Bay settlement. A woman named Eliza Garner Lucas arrived in Wellington from Eeilding on Tuesday, having been committed on a charge of lunacy. She was taken to the asylum. In reference to the election for Auckland City West, we hear that Messrs. Goldie and R. Graham have retired in favor of B. Tonks, Mayor, a supporter of Sir George Grey. His Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Normanby gave a ball at Government House on Thursday night, to which a numerous company were invited. The amendment proposed by the Hon. Dr. Pollen in the Juries Act Amendment Bill, with reference to the decisions of juries, was carried in the Legislative Council on Tuesday. The clause referred to has already been published in this journal. Constable Lyster brought a woman, from the Upper Hutt on Monday on suspicion of lunacy, and she was committed to the lunatic asylum on the certificates of two members of the medical profession. The number of passengers tliat arrived at the port of Wellington by sea during the six days ending Friday, 14th inst., was -7w . Ci these 116 came from ports in the North Island, 84 from the South Island, and 1/ from foreign ports. There were 11 steamersand seven sailing vessels entered inwards at the Customs during the six days ending Friday, the 14th inst. The tonnage of the steamers was 215 1, that of the sailing vessels 2568. The tonnage of seven steamers that cleared, out at the Customs during the same period was 1528; six sailing vessels cleared out, with a carrying capacity of / IS tons. , An accident occurred on the Hutt road, near Ngahauranga, on Friday. A man named S. Parker was driving along rather recklessly, when the horse suddenly shied, and Parker was thrown from the cart on his head. He was stunned, but recovered some time afterwards, a m*m named Boyd having come to his -assistance. _ ’Sji JA well-known Wellington settler, M.r. Crowther, boat-builder, Willis-street, died st*ldenly on Thursday. The deceased had been suffering from a severe illness for some time, and was inthe habit of taking chloroform to deaden the pain. Yesterday, on a member of the family entering the father’s bedroom, the latter was found lying on the bed dead. Deceased had a handkerchief to his mouth, having used it apparently to inhale chloroform, for a bottle containing a few drops of the drug stood by the side of the bed. . , , An Act of Parliament has just been printed, and recently passed, to amend, the law relating to the stamping of policies of sea, insurances. It is now provided that a policy by which the separate and distinct interests of two or more persons are insured, being stamped in respect of the aggregate of such interests, but not duly stamped in respect, of each of such interests, may be stamped with an additional stamp or stamps at any time within one month after the last risk has been declared. Section 16 of the Stamp Act, 1876, is to apply to a policy of sea insurance. Such policy for the purposes of the section is to be an instrument which may he legally stamped after execution, and the penalty payable by law on stamping is to be £IOO. . . Thursday’s Gazette contains a return ot Customs revenue collected at the several ports of New Zealand for the quarter ended 30th June, 1875, and for the financial year ended the same date. The totals are for the quarter £291,489, and for the financial year £1,225,313. The total for the corresponding quarter in 1875 was £298,364. Auckland exhibits the greatest falling off in the returns for the comparative quarters, the figures being £46,146 as, against £58,147. The decrease at Dunedin is slight, and’Wellington shows an increase, the figures here being £39,437 as against £34,984 in the second quarter of 1875. Lyttelton also shows an increase, the figures being £44,313 against £38,808. Many are the stories of the jury room and the various ways in which juries have arrived at verdicts. There are few better than an incident related by the Hon. Dr. Menzies m the Council on Tuesday afternoon, in the course, of the discussion which arose on the introduction of the new clause in the Juries Act An endment Bill. When a similar Bill was under discussion in the House of Representatives, some two or three years ago, said Dr. Menzies, a then member of that Chamber gave an instance which had come within his experience. A jury had debated for some considerable time without being able to agree, some two or three holding out against the others. , lne foreman arose from his seat, and, advancing, to one of the recalcitrant jurymen, persuaded him, with his fist within an inch of the juryman s nose, to “ consider his verdict.” The juryman did so, and came to the same conclusion as had the foreman. The process was repeated with the other disagreeing jurymen, and aunammous verdict was the result. At the City Council meeting on Thursday the Mayor stated that in connection, with the proposed constitutional changes which, as they were aware, would transfer the support of the poor to the City Council, he had the honor of heincr waited upon the other day by a deputation from the Benevolent Society, the committee of which were anxious to know the views of the Council on this important matter. In the present state of political arrangements, it appeared to him to be premature to discuss the various questions that would arise, hut he mentioned the subject at this early date that members might turn their attention to it. He presumed that the Council would be anxious to avail themselves of the experience of the Benevolent Society, the members of which had been for months doin°" a good work among the pool of the city° When the prospects of the future became somewhat more definite he would be prepared to submit a statement to the Council on the whole question, which would at, least J serve as a starting point for them in coming to its consideration.

G. L. T. Von der Heyde, Esq., has been temporarily appointed consular agent for th© German Empire at Auckland. A New Zealand Gazette issued on Thursday night. It contains : —Proclamation of Kumar* special licensing district ; proclamation of a public prison at Gisborne • withdrawal of land from reservation in the province of Taranaki ; various appointments, notices to mariners, &c., &c The following rule has been gazetted under the Reguloe Generales of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, to come into force on and after the Ist of August next :—“ Whenever, by any rule of this Court, the practice of th© Courts of Equity, or of any of the superior Courts in England, is adopted, or may be .followed, the same shall be deemed to be the practice which existed in England immediately before the Supreme Court of Judicature .Act, 1873, came into force.” The Auckland Opposition contingent m the House has hitherto had itself represented for purposes of caucusing and lobbying by a committee composed of the Superintendent and Executive. On. Thursday the committee invited Messrs. AVhitaker and [Macfarlane to join in a conference, when the proposal of the, Canterbury caucusites as to financial separation were considered. These would, of course, be agreed to by the original committee, but not by Messrs. Whitaker and Macfarlane. In speaking of the Auckland Waterworks Act Amendment Bill in the Council on Tuesday, the Hon. Dr. Pollen adverted to the considerable progress which the city of Auckland was, making. The city, said the hon. member, was like a phoenix, arising from ashes. Judging from the number of fires which occur in Auckland, it may be admitted, at all events, that there is a good pile of ashes for the mystic bird to ascend from. The Legislative Council only sat tor a few minutes on Friday. Shortly after the Hon. the Speaker took the chair the Colonial, Secretary moved that as a mark of recognition of the eminent services of Dr. Featherston, and of the loss which the colony had sustained by the death of that gentleman, the Council should adjourn forthwith, which was immediately agreed to. -SThe Rev. Mr. Ogg has received information by on Tuesday’s English mail that the colonial committee of the Church of Scotland have commissioned the Rev. James Lindsay to proceed to Wellington, and to place himself under the Home Mission Board of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, with a view to laboring at the stations of Featherston, Waihenga, &c., in the Wairarapa Valley. Mr. Lindsay was to leave Scotland for New Zealand about the beginning of June. The secretary write© that Mr. Lindsay is very highly spoken of, and that he will prove an acquisition to the colony. The anniversary of the Court Sir George Bowen passed off Thursday with a dinner in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. An excellent spread was provided by Messrs. Thomas and Cemino, and those present, to the number of about sixty, did it ample justice. His Worship the Mayor was in the chair, supported on the right by Mr. Marriott, and on the left by Mr. Solomon Levy. The health of “Her Majesty the Queen,” “ The Prince of Wale© and the rest of the Royal Family,” “ Hi© Excellency the Governor,” and the “ Army and Navy” having been drunk, Mr. Hutchison proposed “ The Health of his Honor the Superintendent.” It was with great pleasure that he proposed “The Health of Mr. Fitzherbert.” He believed he was the last of the Superintendent©, and had virtually closed office by being appointed to the highest office in the colony, namely, that of the Speakership. Mr. Byrne rose and proposed “ The Health of the Chair* man.” The latter thanked the meeting in propriate terms. “ The health of the Ministry and the General Assembly ” was next drunk. The Chairman, in proposing the toast, said that he hoped that the House would do a little less talking and a little more work. The Chairman then told the company to fill their glasses, as he was going to propose the toast, of the evening, namely, “ Health and Prosperity to Court Sir George Bowen ” coupled with the Foresters in general. He said that he believed all societies had a habit of tracing back their period of commencement to a very ancient date. For instance, the Freemasons traced themselves back to the building of the tower of Babel or to Solomon’s temple ; the Odd Fellows went hack as far aa the sons of Adam, but the Foresters went back as far as Adam himself. Adam, he believed, lived in the forest, and was therefore a Forester. He had also further ancient data, for they could trace themselves back to those people which Professor Darwin told them lived before Adam. The toast was responded to by Chief Ranger Foley in a few appropriate words. “ The Health of Kindred Societies ” was drunk and responded to. The toast “ The Health of the Vice-Chairmen” (Mr. Marriott and Mr. Solomon Levy) was drunk, and responded to in suitable terms by both gentlemen. A number of , toasts, such as the “Executive Council and and District Officers of Wellington,” the “Chief Rangers and Visiting Brethren of other Courts,” “Young Members of the Order of Forestry,” “ Pioneer Foresters of Wellington District,” and “ The Press,” wei’e drunk and responded to. The proceedings were enlivened by a capital hand, and further by a number of songs and recitations rendered by members of the company. Moller’s Con Liver Oil.— “lt is with great pleasure that I can bear testimony to the purity of Mr. Mollor’s Cod Liver Oil, which I have now used for some three years both in private practice and at th© Home for Sick Children, Coatham. In comparing th© oil supplied by Mr. Moller with that used previously I cannot but be struck with the few cases in which the stomach refuses to tolerate the oil— a great desideratum in an institution where so many cases of scroful© are admitted. 1 can confidently recommend Mr Moller’s oil to the public as of exceptional purity, and of great dietetic value. I homas W T. Locke, Surgeon West Suffolk Militia, Admiralty Surgeon and A cent Suffolk House, Coatliam, April 10th. 18/b. Peter Moller is the only real manufacturer bottling his Cod Liver Oil, thus offering to the public th© guaranteed article. Head offices, atj Christiania,, N - way : Branch at 521, Oxford Street, W°. London and Manufactories at Lofoten Islands, Horn ay. Sold throughout the Colonies by all Chemists and Druggists ; but have Moller’s only.

A telegram received by the Inspector of Police on Wednesday, from Constable Brunstrell, Featherston, supplied information to the effect that two men named Smith and Downey were severely injured at Featherston on Tuesday last, owing to a shot going off unexpectedly while the men were blasting on the railway works. The sufferers were removed to the Greytown Hospital. x At the coroner’s inquest held at Paikakariki, touching the death of Petero, the verdict of the jury was to the effect that deceased was driving a trap on a narrow part of the road, when it was suddenly overthrown inconsequence of one of the wheels passing up the bank, and the deceased fell a distance of 150 ft., whereby he came by his death. The jury begged to call the immediate attention of the Government to the narrow, dangerous, and insecure Pakikirikiri-road. There was a tie in a division in the House of Representatives on Friday. In committee on the Local Rating Bill an amendment was proposed, making it necessary to send a notice of the amount of the valuation of his property to each ratepayer. On a division the ayes and noes were equal—2l each. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the noes, in order, as he explained, to save the money which sending the requisite notices would cost the country. At the inquest on the body of Mrs. Mansill, held at the Royal Tiger Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, before the coroner, the evidence of Dr. France was taken. The doctor stated that he had found Mrs. Mansill lying on her face, which was deeply imbedded in the pillow. The organs were all healthy except the liver, which was very much enlarged from the excessive use of stimulants. A verdict in accordance with Dr. France’s testimony was returned.

The following is the text of the new clause which Dr. Pollen is to move on the third reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill: “Notwithstanding anything contained in the Juries Act, 1871, it shall not be necessary that the whole of the jury concur in the intimation that they have considered their verdict, and that there is no probability of their being unanimous, but any such intimation may be made by the foreman, by or on behalf of such part of the whole jury as would be entitled to return a verdict under the said Act.”

Papers were laid on the table of both Houses on Friday, as to the decision of the committee as to a site for the new Assembly library. The committee was appointed last session on the motion of Sir George Grey, who then spoke ©f the danger of leaving valuable documents and records in the midst of a pile of wooden buildings. During the recess it has been impossible to get a meeting of the committee, but since the session has commenced the opportunity has occurred. It is understood the site of the new building will be the terrace at the side of the Legislative Council Chamber. A telegram was received by Inspector Atchison on Wednesday from Mr. Weldon, Commissioner of Police, Dunedin, stating that a warrant had been forwarded to Wellington for the arrest of William George Sale, charged with larceny of a watch as a bailee, at Dunedin, about the 18th of May last. The description given of the man is as follows : —Englishman ; a clerk; 40 years of age; about sft. 2in.in height, medium build, &c. Sale left Dunedin for Wellington by the steamer Taupo on the sth inst. Immediately on receipt of the above telegram, Detective Farrell was placed in possession of the facts, and within half an hour he had captured his man, meeting him in the street and recognising him by the description given in the telegram. Sale was at once locked up, and will be brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning, but in all probability he will be remanded.

Jfi'he Scientific American’s supplement, a journal mainly devoted to the Centennial Exhibition of Philadelphia, published on June 3, contains the following description of New Zealand’s exhibits: —“New Zealand is the next in order of the British colonies. A gilt pillar, over 20ft. in height, stands in the centre of this section, and represents the amount of gold exported from the country since 1862, being valued at over 150,000,000d015. This section is rich in fine wools, grains, gums, and varnishes, as also in flax. A number of largesized photographs are arranged about the section, to illustrate native life in New Zealand. A mammoth piece of rimu wood, about Bft. long and 4ft. wide, and highly polished, forms an attractive feature. Near it is a case containing muffs made of the pretty white feathers of the emu ; and in a sidecase is a large mat manufactured of brand-new New Zealand flax, and containing a number of tags from wild dogs, now extinct. Three specimens of crania represent the Ethnological department.”

The most severe shock of earthquake felt in Wellington for many years past occurred at a quarter pastfour o’clock on Wednesday morning, being accompanied by an unusually loud rumbling noise. The earthquake was felt in many other places, from which telegraphic advices of the fact have been received. Although the shock was so severe we have heard of no injury to property having been occasioned by it. The earthquake, however, was the talk of the town on Wednesday. In fact to many sound sleepers who did not feel it the subject was in a way tantalising, the wakeful ones being so fond of asking, “ Did you feel the shake last night ?” and of asserting, with an assumption of ancient experience quite provoking, that “it was the biggest thing of the kind, sir, I have felt for years.” To some these inquiries must have had a maddening effect, such for instance as was produced on Mark Twain, the innocent abroad, when in Gibraltar, where every man he met would persist in relating a certain “infernal story” about the “ Queen’s chair.” We have not heard of anything serious having occurred in consequence of the shake, but some funny stories are told in connection with it. In a certain hotel in Wellington where there is a night porter engaged the earthquake was productive of a little incident which would have been unknown to the world but for the fact of the porter (who was chiefly concerned) being still alive to tell it. Just prior to the shock the porter, a simple minded

youth, was cleaning a pair of boots. He was a musical porter, and to beguile the time and make his work pleasant he was singing a plaintive melody, some three hundred years old, and entitled “ Oh Take me Home to my Ma !” He had reached the 99th verse, when the shock came, and ho positively asserts that he recollects nothing further till next morning, when he woke up to find his head in a saucer of blacking, and a pair of patent leather shoes in his waistcoat pocket. This story may be true, but the others are too palpably false to be published. A meeting of the Choral Society committee was held on Monday at Mr. Hunter’s room, when a very satisfactory state of affairs was reported. The appeal to the public for assistance has not been in vain, for within the past week the members’ roll has been increased to upwards of one hundred and seventy. It was estimated that by next week thei’e would be a roll of two hundred members, and that the society would be justified in engaging Mr. Edwards as conductor, and making a fresh start.

The Artillery Band soiree was held in the Odd Fellows’ Hall .on Monday evening with success. The attendance down stairs was very large, and the gallery was crowded to excess. The band played a number of their choicest selections of polkas, waltzes, &c. The dancing commenced at 8.30 p.m., and was kept up with great spirit till the small hours of the morning. Messrs. Thomas and Cemino were the caterers, and we need scarcely say gave general satisfaction.

The teachers of the Sunday-schools in connection with St. John’s Presbyterian Church had a social meeting in the Willis-street school room on Monday night. Tea was put on the table at 6 o’clock, and was accompanied by very substantial and agreeable matters to eat. There were nearly forty teachers present, and the Rev. Mr. Paterson presided. After tea the company retired to the class-room, and a very pleasant evening was spent, duets, glees, solos, and readings and recitations being given. Some of the singing was really 'more than creditable, and would have made its mark at evpn a more pretentious reunion. (jjpSome time ago we mentioned that the Roman Catholic body in Wellington purposed erecting large educational establishments both for male and female children. Plans of the building it is proposed to erect for the accommodation of female children have been prepared by Mr. Thomas Turnbull, and tenders for the work are now out. The school will stand close to the convent, and in place of the old one now in existence. The building is to be of the Gothic order, and will form a fitting addition to the convent, the bishop's residence, the presbytery, and other handsome buildings, on the elevated plot of land in Hill-street. The main entrance will be by a door facing south, with an ornamental portico. Through this access is gained to a corridor sft. 6in. wide, communicating with the principal apartments down stairs and leading to a large staircase which connects the upper and lower stories. On the ground floor there is first a library, next, a study hall 26ft. by 19ft., connected by folding doors, with a schoolroom 36ft. by 26ft., besides a bay 13ft. by This fine room opens out on to a verandah. At the other side of the building is situate the infant school, a spacious apartment, and there is a second staircase here. A refectory, 29ft. by 19ft., with lavatory and other conveniences, fill up the rest of the ground floor space. In the upper story there is an apartment for the Lady Superioress, and others for the governesses; also dormitories for the schools, lavatories, &c. The plans for the Christian Brothers school have been commenced. This school is to be built in Boulcott-street, and xwll be a very fine Italian building. De Murska’s agent, Mr. W. Secil Medcalfe, arrived in Wellington on Tuesday by the City of New York, to make preparations for .a short series of De Murska concerts, commencing on Monday next at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. A Dunedin paper said of her first concert in Dunedin:—“ The performance in every sense was a grand success, while Mdlle., accustomed as she has been to the plaudits of multitudes, could not repress an exhibition of her gratitude for the magnificent reception she received last night at the Queen’s Theatre from a crowded house. Her magnificent voice, so skilfully used, sent a thrill through the audience which at every opportunity culminated in round after round of applause. Ecstatic as have been the notices which from time to time have been republished here from the Melbourne papers, nothing, we can now testify, has been said which is too high praise of her vocal performances; and having heard her once, we can well understand how it is that even some forty performances left the Melbourne public unsatisfied, and can quite believe that they will warmly welcome her return after her New Zealand tour. Her voice is something truly marvellous, and the perfection training (long and arduous it must have been) has brought it to, words cannot express. The range of voice she possesses is very great, for not only is she able to sing to a great height with the utmost ease and clearness, but in the lower registers her notes are beautifully mellow and full. We fully endorse all that has been said about Mdlle. De Murska’s singing, and its wonderful flexibility, and pureness and richness of tone. Quite a sensational incident occurred in connection with the Wellington gaol recently, the information regarding which was obtained in an accidental manner. Some months since a woman named Anne Iverson was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for larceny. Few criminals care for confinement, and this one appeared to have a particular objection to prison life and prison fare, and possessing an enterprising spirit, she naturally contemplated escape to the outer 1 world, where her sphere of usefulness or the reverse, as fancy may suggest, would be more extended. She not did commence operations in the same manner as do the heroes of cheap sensational novels, and make a rope out of a bed sheet, or work a hole in the outer wall, in spare intervals, with a two-pronged fork. That kind of business has gone out of

date, if it ever was fashionable. Being of a px-actical turn of mind, Anne Iverson went about escaping in a far less romantic style, notwithstanding that the process was attended with considerable risk of detection, no less than of bodily injury. Fortunately, like the butcher In Newgate, she had a friend outside, with whom she managed by some means best known to herself to communicate. This friend took a ladder to the gaol one day, and by the aid of it Iverson escaped undetected. She was not discovered until some days after, and then she was found in a house near the Caledonian Hotel, and taken back to the gaol. It seems strange that an escape of the kind could have passed unnoticed. Either the parties to it must have been very clever or some one else must have been asleep. The usual lecture to the young on the physical sciences was delivered at the Terrace school on Saturday afternoon. This being the sixteenth of the course originally proposed, and No. 4 on the “ Mechanical Powers.” The lecturer intimated his intention of concluding the subject on the following Saturday by a lecture on the steam-engine. The subject was, as heretofore, illustrated by diagrams and various experiments. The appointment of crier and messenger to the Supreme Court has been given to Mr. Peter Sheratt. The Registrar received numerous applications all through last week. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. Further papers relative to this service were on Thursday tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Amongst them we have the letter of the Pacific Mail Company’s agents at Sydney, proposing the abandonment of the coastal service for this colony. Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., xvriting to Sir Julius Vogel on the 29th May last, say :—“ We have the honor, on behalf of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, to make application to you that the route adojxted under the contract of 23rd July, 1875, be changed to a direct route from Sydney to Bay of Islands, Honolulu, San Francisco, and vice versa ; and in making the application we beg respectfully to bring under your notice the following points in favor of the proposed change, which the experience of Avorking the service during the past six months has fully demonstrated. The contractors, in complying Avith their agreement that vessels of ‘ not less gross registered tonnage than 2500 tons each’ should be employed, have constructed and placed in the service the City of San Francisco, City of New York, and "City of Sydney, Australia, and Zealandia, steamships unequalled in poAver, strength, and magnificence of accommodation by any ever previously seen in the colonies. The calling at Fiji has proved a serious disadvantage to the service, inasmuch as the meeting of three vessels in the Pacific Ocean at one point, many thousand miles distant from the three different points they have started from, cannot but be attended with an uncertainty fatal to a mail service even Avith the best equipped vessels in the Avorld. The navigation of the Fiji group is liable to great risk from low islands, coral reefs, and unknown currents ; and as the Fiji Government have not placed lights on harbors and channels known to be dangerous, much delay is caused to the mail steamers by the necessity for their aAvaiting daylight to enter, or of making long detours to avoid such passages. The Fiji Go-vex-nment contribute nothing to the service, nor are there any benefits attending the calling at Kandavau to compensate for the diadx rantage and risks to life. The avoidance of transhipment at Kandavau—a process under the present contract causing great discomfort in that tropical climate—xvill prove an immense convenience to pas-' sengers, in enabling them to retain their accommodation from their stai-ting point to final destination ; while it Avill result in establishing a large interchange of commodities between California and the colonies ; but for which, under the present system of transhipment, the service is practically useless. Although the distance by the direct route proposed is someAvhat greater, the time occupied in the voyages from Sydney to San Francisco and vice versa would not be materially increased, as the above-stated causes of delay, at present existing, Avould be partially removed. In proposing to refrain from conducting the coastal service of NeAv Zealand, the contractors are actuated by the ltnoxvledge that their large and magnificent ships are someAvhat unfitted for coasting trade of the nature contemplated. This trade can be more safely and satisfactorily canned on by the fine local steamers Nexv Zealand noAV possesses, commanded as they are by seamen thoroughly acquainted with the coast, and the contractors are undesirous of interfering Avith this trade. The depth of water in some of the NeAV Zealand ports is so limited, that it xxdll be highly dangerous, and at times quite impossible, for the vessels Ave name, if fully loaded, to enter and leave. The Bay of Islands is Avell situated as a port of call en route. It is free from all thick Aveather and outlying dangers, has a splendid climate and an excellent harbor, and Avill no doubt be connected Avith the rest of Nexv Zealand and Australia by telegraph Avire. Owing to the interruption of cable communication with Nexv York, Ave are unable to obtain such explicit instructions as will enable us at present to make any nexv contract, but we are aware that the contractors are xvilling to make the change xve propose ; and xve respectfully beg your favorable consideration of the application, as xve are confident the direct route named xvill result in greater regularity as a mail service, and be attended with additional advantages to the travellers and the commerce of the colonies. We have addressed to our Postmaster-General a similar proposal to the foregoing.”

Sir Julius Yogel replied to the above on the oth of this month, and in his letter observes:— “ I must point out that you have not afforded any information as to the probable reduction of subsidy the contractors xvould be willing to accept in the event of tho proposed amended

service being adopted. Were it adopted, it xvould involve the use of one boat less than required to carry out the C Service, xvhich service the Pacific Mail Steamship Company agreed to perform for £74,950 per annum, so that you should name a much less sum than that amount. A select committee of the House of Representatives has been appointed to consider the question of whether or not any modification of the present service should be accepted. You must not consider that I have expressed an opinion concei-ning your proposal. I have desired to point out that unallied with the question of cost, it is hardly placed before me in a manner that xvould admit of its consideration.”

On the 3rd of July Sir Julius Vogel telegraphed to the Postmaster-General, Sydney, as follows :—“ The Government will be much indebted if to-day or to-morrow you xvill let them knoxv your x r iexvs about changes Californian service. Have no reply to repeated requests same kind. The captains say service xvill not be continued as at present, and that contractors xvill tliroxv up. .If you xvish such result let us knoxv. People here xvould not much regret, they are so tired of irregularities. If you wish it to proceed, surely better state your viexvs. We propose to move for select committee to report upon changes, if any desirable. If xve knoxv your viexvs shall soon be able to say if xve are xvilling or not to meet them. At present, service is continued source of annoyance.”

Having received no reply to the above, Sir Julius Vogel telegraphed again on the Bth instant: —“We have appointed select committee to inquire what alterations or modifications, if any, it is desirable should be made in Californian contract. Suggest that similar committee your House might enable us come to understanding.” To xvhich no reply has been as yet vouchsafed.

WELLINGTON AND MASTERTON 4i RAILWAY. Return of traffic for four weeks ending 30th June, 1876.

„ TYPHOID FEVER AT THE * COLLEGE. A special meeting of the College Governors was held on Thursday afternoon, to take into consideration the case of typhoid fever which had occurred in the College, and to which the attention of the public had been drawn through a letter in the New Zealand Times from Dr. Diver. The governors present xvere :—The DeputySuperintendent, the Mayor, Mr. Brandon, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Waring Taylor ; as also Dr. Doyle, and the principal, Mr. Wilson. The folloxving resolution was unanimously agreed to : —“ That having read and considered the various certificates of Drs. Grace, Harding, Kemp, and Newman, and further listened to a statement from Dr. Doyle, * That in his opinion, the special case of illness under consideration had not been contracted in the College,’ the governors are of opinion that there is no necessity for closing the College.” The certificates mentioned above are as follows : Wellington, July 19, 1876. “ I certify that I have carefully examined the College buildings, with an eye to the case of fever now under treatment there, and I do not think there is any more danger of the pupils catching the fever than there would be if they absented themselves. “ Typhoid is a drain and sexverage fever essentially, and xvith the precautions taken, in the way of isolation and otherwise, xvill not, in my opinion, spread from the case. Whether cases of typhoid arising from other causes may occur or not I cannot say. “ Morgan S. Grace, M.D.” “ Wellington, 19th July, 1876. “ I hax r e this day carefully examined the college buildings in reference to the case of typhoid fever now being treated there, and, in my opinion, from the part of the building occupied by the patient, as well as the sanitary precautions adopted by the medical attendant, thore is no fear of the disease spreading. “ In a solitary case of typhoid fever occurring in an institution xvhere there is every facility for isolation, I do not think a medical practitioner would be justified in suspending the work of the establishment. “Robert Harding, L.R.C.P.E., &c.” Wellington, July 18, 1876. “Dear Doyle,—l have seen the lad noxv ill in the Wellington College with typhoid fever, not professionally, but as a friend. “ I have not examined the xx r ater supply or the sexverage, but, if both are right, the appearance of a case of typhoid fever among a number of boys is no reason why the others should be sent home. As the lad is in a wing far axvay from the other boys, and is attended by a special nurse, there is no chance of the other boys getting it. You remember, doubtless, that at Home cases of typhoid fever are admitted into general hospitals, even into xvards containing many children—yet none catch it. Other fevers are xugorously shut out from these wards. “ The public confound all cases of fever, and never distinguish those that are * catching’ from those that are not. “ Provided the drainage and xvater supply are in perfect xvorking order, the remox-al of the boys is xvholly unnecessary, they are as safe at the college as at home. “A small cottage hospital, containing only three rooms, might be built in a corner of the grounds at a very small cost. The interruptions of studies and anxieties of parents would then cease. “Alfred K. Newman, M. 8.; & M.R.C.P.”

“The Terrace, July 20, 1876. “ Dear Doyle,—l cannot possibly visit the College to-day before the meeting of the governors. I have, however, read the reports of Drs. Grace, Harding, and Newman, and from facts stated by them, I consider that there is no danger in allowing the other pupils to attend as usual at the College. “ As long as strict isolation is kept, no more can be done, though the same cause which gave it to the boy now ill may cause others to take it. “ W. G. Kemp.” the Financial arrangements bill. This Bill was tabled on Friday night last. The following is a precis of its provisions : The Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill, introduced last night, provides that it shall come into operation on September 29. Land revenue within each district to be charged with expenses of surveys and general administration of waste lands within such district, such expenses to be apportioned by the Commissioner of Audit. Any waste lands sold (not being town lands) at a price above 40s. per acre, the amount realised in excess to be expended in the construction of roads and bridges ; such moneys to be paid either to the governing body of the county or road district, or divided between such bodies, as the Governor thinks fit. If the amount available is not sufficient to carry out such works, the Governor may cause the same to be retained until other moneys have been derived from a like source, or the Govei-nor may direct it to be expended as may seem nearest to the above provisions. The Taranaki land revenue is only subject to the Act after deducting tha percentage provided by the Harbor Board Act, 1874. The land revenue of each district to be further charged as follows With payment to the then Superintendent of two years’ salary ; with charges imposed hereafter for education; with subsidies to counties and road boards, one pound to one pound; with subsidies to river district boards, one pound to one pound received from rates ; with expenses of construction of railways, viz., for first three years after coming into operation of Act, two per cent, on sums expended ; next three years, If percent.; next three years, 14 percent.; balance to be divided as follows:—Three-fifths Jji proportion to the area that each county bears to the whole district, the other twofifths in the proportion that the general rates received by any county or road board bear to the general rates raised in the district from the whole ©f the counties and road boards therein. If the land revenue in any district should be insufficient to meet the above charges, advances are to be made out of the Consolidated Fund, such advances to be repaid to the Consolidated Fund as the. land revenue accrues. Treasury bills may be issued to meet such advances. One pound to be paid annually for five years to every road district and borough for every pound of general rates received during the year, such subsidies to be equally apportioned by the Colonial Treasurer between road districts and counties ; no subsidy to be paid on any rate in excess of the scale provided by the Act, namely, one shilling in the pound. The Colonial Treasurer may make advances to boroughs and road districts. All licensing fees are to be paid to county or borough within which the licensed premises are situate. Rents from powder magazines to be paid to the Public Account ; and fines and penalties for scab, in sheep to be paid to the county within which the same are incurred ; provided only that the cost and charges of administering the enactment are borne by the county. AIL fines for breach of by-laws to be paid to that governing body whose by-laws have been infringed. Goldfields’ revenue to belong to the county within which it has arisen. The Colonial Treasurer to apportion the revenue where the same has arisen in more than one county according to the proportion of miners’ rights and business licenses in the respective counties. Charitable institutions to be maintained at the cost of the county or borough; but if the governing body fail to provide for the same, the Governor may withhold the payment of the subsidy. Charitable institutions are not to include lunatic asylums. Out of the Consolidated Revenue a subsidy of five shillings for every -pound raised by private subscription is to be paid for maintenance of charitable institutions. The cost and charges of providing primary public education within counties and boroughs, after deducting the fees and other revenues received by the Board of Education and Consoidated Revenue shall be borne as follows : Two-thirds to be charged to the land revenue received within each provincial district provided by sub-section three of section nine, and one-third thereof on Consolidated Revenue. All charges for inspection of schools provided by the Education Board Act, 1876, to be borne by the Consolidated Revenue. After this Act has been in operation five years so much as the General Assembly shall determine of the charge of keeping the school buildings in repair and erecting new buildings shall be borne by the counties and boroughs in which such school buildings are situated. With respect to the schools for higher education, revenues of which from endowments or scho'ol fees may from time to time be added to by votes of General Assembly, such votes shall from time to time be charged against the land revenue of the district. As soon as conveniently may be after the coming into operation of the said Act, the Governor in Council shall cause an account of debts and liabilities of each district to be taken from time to time as occasion may require. Debts and liabilities of each district shall comprise the following matters and things Payment of interest and sinking fund; all loans which at date of abolition of provinces comprised within the district were chargeable against the province, payment of all other debts, liabilities, and engagements of every kind whatsoever, together with interest thereon, at a rate not exceeding five per cent, per annum; payment of interest and sinking fund of any

loans raised for purpose of paying, off or otherwise providing for such debts, liabilities, and engagements of such district. .Any expenditure which under the Provincial Appropriations Extension Act, 1875, or under the said Act, the Governor or Governor in Council has authorised any Superintendent to make up to 30th day of September, 1876, and which expenditure has not been made, shall be held to be a liability of the district in which incurred, and the Governor shall accept same and take all necessary measures to insure that the money is expended in accordance with the originalintention. No person employed as above is to acquire any right under the Civil Service Act. The balance of provincial liabilities are to be raised by Treasury bills on loan; and amounts so raised are to be added to the provincial debt of the district. Any cash in hand in in excess of the provincial debt is to be expended in the provincial district as agreed upon between the Governor and the late Superintendent. Clause 32 makes provision for the extinguishment of provincial loans. Permanent provincial officers are to become officei's of the General Government, though not to acquire any right under the Civil Service Act of 1866. Members of the House of Representatives holding office under the Provincial Government are not to be liable to disqualification, provided that they resign such office. All railways are to be the property of the colony, and provincial districts are to be relieved of all liability in respect thereof. With respect to the Canterbury branch railways, the £49,000 . paid by the Government for such branch railways is to be considered in arriving at the amount to be deducted from the permanent debt of the district. The provincial railways in Otago and Canterbury are to be taken over by the General Government at a valuation to be fixed by three valuers —one to be appointed by the Minister for Public Works, one by the Superintendent, and a third by the other two. The unexpended portion of the Middlelslandrailway fund is to be credited to the district. Water races and such like to be vested in governing bodies of the county; and if such works extend into more than one county, the control and management is to be vested in such governing body as the Governor shall think fit, or jointly in the control of both. Such works to be kept in repair by the county, and in case of neglect the Governor may withhold subsidies. The Governor may agree to pay £IO,OOO towards the completion of the Mikonui water-race, in addition to existing appropriations, but on condition that the governing body of the county must complete the said race. Sections 14 to 16, 18 to 22, and 24 of the Abolition of Provinces Act are repealed.

£ S. d. Passengers, 8139 566 4 2 Parcels, &c. 14 4 3 Season tickets, 6 22 6 0 Freight, 719 tons 5 cwt. 222 8 0 Total £825 2 5