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Country News.

Premises are about to be erected in Queen street, Auckland, for a retail branch of the New Zealand Clothing Factory Company. At a meeting of the shareholders of the Christchurch Gas Company, held on Friday (says the Lyttelton Times), the Directois in their report stated that it was intended to make a further reduction in the price of gas, so as to make the net cash price to consumers Us 8d per thousand feet. The gas which lias been supplied has been shown by a series of careful tests to have an average illuminating power of 174 standard candles, or of 22 Belmont sperm candles. We 1 11. B. Herald, Ist inst.) regret to hear that Mr. Gaisford met with a serious accident yesterday afternoon at Waipukurau. It appears that he was taking a horse, that Miss Herbert had been riding, to the smithy to be shod. As be got on its back one of his spurs struck on its side. The horse bucked, and the saddle turned round. Both horse and rider came to the ground, the horse rolling over Mr. Gaisford. The animal put its foot on Mr. Gaisford’s ear, giving him a nasty cut behind it. He was for a while unconscious, and afterwards delirous. We are glad to hear, however, that he 13 now progressing favorably. Dr. Frood and Dr. Tod have both been attending him.

More moa bones have been discovered near Timaru. They are all of gigantic size, and such as a Samson would have wielded with more effect effect than that miserable jawbone of a donkey, though there are many asses in the world whose jawbones might be converted into bludgeons with the utmost benefit to humanity. Tne Wairarapa Register of the 27th inst. says : —“ A timber waggon came to grief on the Waiohine Bridge last night. One of the tires had come off before the toll-gate was passed, and the jolting on the bridge evidently proved too much for it, as one half of it gave way, so that the nave rested on the planks. The driver managed to get off the bridge, and haul to one side, so as to leave ample room for traffic.”

Yet another candidate for the Wairarapa. The Wellington correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald states that Mr. Thompson, the well-known publican of Masterton, and formerly of the Prince of Wales Hotel of this city, will come forward as a candidate. The correspondent does not tell us whether Mr. Thompson will support the Ministry or not. .The same writer says that “at the recent election Mr. Barton received the support of many publicans, on assurance, it is said, that he will draft a Bocal Option Bill which shall be strongly in their favor.” This information will be new both to Mr. Barton and the licensed victuallers. Colonial children are wonderful creatures (saysthe Timaru Herald). If they do not grow up into a race of giants, mental and physical, it will not be the fault of their digestive organs. Some philosopher has said that a good reliable stomach is worth all the brains in the world; and, inasmuch as dyspepsia interferes more with one’s comfort than stupidity, we believe him. On the theory that the summum bormm is more a gastric than a moral essence, and that the seat of happiness lies somewhere near the middle button of his waistcoat, the youth of New Zealand ought certainly to have a blissful time of it. The statistics of St. Mary’s parish festival lately show what the Anglo-Saxon can do when transplanted to a favorable clime. Besides bread, meat, and milk, the babes and sucklings disposed of 900 buns, 4001bs. of cake, 400 gallons of tea, 50 dozen of lemonade, a barrel of gingerbeer, and a hogshead of raspberry syrup. Think of that, ye pampered Sybarites ! and then long for the lungs Avhich after all could give three cheers for the Archdeacon, which were heard nearly to the Washdyke ! The Caucasian is not played out in these parts yet.

The Dunedin Times contains the following :—“ As illustrative of an ‘ undeveloped resource’ in New Zealand we have had opportunities of making a comparative test of a tin of preserved peaches from Auckland, forwarded to a citizen of Dunedin, and by him submitted to our examination. And we have at the same time had by us for comparison a tin of American preserved peaches, the gorgeous label on which is sufficient to whet the appetite before ever the contents are even seen. Nothing could be more striking than the contrast in the contents. There was a sharpness and acridity in the American product, and an almost total absence of flavor. At least, tasted after the preserved peach from Auckland, it was utterly insipid ; while, for mellowness and luscious flavor the New Zealand fruit is delicious in the extreme. How, or by whom it was preserved we know not, so that nobody profits by our expression of opinion. But this we do say, that with such a product possible, so incomparably superior to the imported article, it is a disgrace to New Zealand t that such a foreign importation is necessary.”

.The Nelson Colonist, writing on the scrambling for local works in Parliament, says : “ The House may be divided into three classes. The safe supporters of the Government ; their unflinching opponents; and those calling themselves independent, or open to reason, or in other words, on a rail. All who are included among the two first classes may abandon hope. The first do not require to be bought, the second cannot, and thus all the good things are reserved for the third. There are men in the present Ministry, of whom Mr. Macandrew is the chief, who are well skilled in the arts of gratifying doubtful members. A vote may be wanted, say on the extension of the franchise, but till a road or bridge is granted, the mind of the member cannot grapple with the larger question. He is accordingly convinced at the public expense. If the whips on either side know he is too honest to be doubtful, his constituents may crawl through mud or ford a dangerous river for all time.” §?A meeting of the ICarori-Makara Road Board was held on Saturday. Present— Messrs. Graham (chairman), Cook, Bowen, and Page. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The attention of the Board was called to the state of the North Makara and Makara Hill roads, no attempt having been made to clean the water-tables or culverts. The clerk was instructed to inform the contractor that no further moneys would be paid until this matter was attended to. The balance of the subsidy to Mr. J. C. Crawford on account of the road to the pilot station was £2O 18s. 6d. Mr. Wright’s resignation of his seat as member of the Board was ordered to be accepted, with an expression of regret on the part of the Board at losing his services. The following accounts were passed :—T. Manaway, £4O; R. Suisted, £3 ; George Friend, £lO. Mr. Cook was authorised to spend £ls in putting the Beach-road in a good state of repair. Mr. Bowles was authorised to have a new culvert put in close to his own house and the road raised at an estimated cost of £lO. It was decided to employ labor on the road between the top of Makara Hill and Wellington permanently at 7s. per day, to knock off on Saturdays at 2 p.m., the Makara roads to be left in the hands of the wardens by occasional labor. Tenders are to be called for 300 yards of metal, to be laid between Lane’s Cutting and Mr. Page’s house, half to be taken from Makara Hill and half

from the hill side leading to Rata Valley, to be aid in four heaps at equal d stances, and tenders to be received up to 31st March. The chairman Avas authorised to take the necessary steps for filling up the vacancy caused by Mr. Wright’s resignation. Referring to the deposits of shale that have for a long time been known to exist in the Orepuki District, the Southland News says : “ The absolute certainty of possession of a practically unlimited supply of a mineral iu constant demand would certainly afford another reason for pushing on Avith the railway between Riverton and Orepuki, without Avhich the gas coal, timber, and other resources of the district are of n© more use to the colony than money would be to a man on an island of which he was the solitary occupant.” Of O’Connor, Avho has lately been nibbling after land in the Iving country, and Avho formerly was in negotiation with the then disaffected Te Hira for the acquisition of enormous areas in the Upper Thames District, the Auckland Herald says :—We are informed that Mr. O’Connor is desirous of negotiating for the purchase of 500,000 acres of land in the King country, for a special settlement scheme, and that he would prefer it at Waikato.

Further improvements, says the Dunedin Morning Herald, are being effected at the Industrial School. A gang of prisoners from Governor Caldwell’s establishment is engaged laying 500 ft. of piping, and erecting a firstclass force-pump, which will be worked by crank and fly-wheel. The number of children recently in the institution was 234, but some of them have been drafted into service, and the inmates now number 226. They are reported to be “ exceedingly well,” though of the 25 infants now being nursed by the State two are rather delicate. Mr. Titehener, the master of the institution, informs us that during the present month only one child has been sent to the Industrial School, and this was immediately licensed to a gentleman in the city. Mr. Henry Houghton (the newly-appointed Honorary Inspector of the school, vice Mr. John Hislop, resigned) is taking a deep interest in the welfare of the institution.

Mx\ Severn (says the Dunedin Times), whose popular lectures on scientific subjects attracted such large audiences here about nine months ago, has been lecturing at Brisbane on “ Galvanism, Electricity, and the Telephone.” In the course of his remarks upon the telephone, Mr. Severn observed that the brain Avas in itself a small galvanic battery of some kind or other, in proof of which he said that by means of half-a-dozen sheep’s heads, freshly decapitated, a Morse’s instrument would send a message to Sydney. It ought not to be supposed that the telephone had been invented all of a sudden—picked up, as it Avere, with a pitchfork. Professor Graham Bell and hi 3 father had been for years investigating the human voice and the organisation of the human ear. The lecturer then exhibited a model he had caused to be made, and the instruments of his own manufacture, and explained, as on previous occasions, the method of construction and the principle involved. The sounds which were sent by means of one instrument, he explained, could be multiplied and heard at any number of instruments at the other end ; and ordinary fence wires being sufficiently isolated for the purpose, it would be possible for orders to be sent from the head station on a run to any of the out-stations situated near the fence by-the use of the telephone. He also stated that by means of the telephone, the electric wire could be “ tapped ” at any part, and messages in transmission read.

At a meeting of country settlers and others held at the Corn Exchange, Christchurch, on the 2nd inst., amongst other toasts which Avere proposed was that of the “ Shipping and Mercantile interests.” Mr. Selwyn Smith, manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, responded to the toast. He said if any persona) friend of Anthony Trollope had been present that day, he could have written to his friend and told him that he' had done the people of the colony a great wrong when he had spoken about their blowing. (Laughter.) He (the speaker) had only had the short experience of two years and a half in New Zealand, but he had known it commercially for a much longer period. He remembered the time when they used to send their produce from “ the other side” to Port Cooper, now Port Lyttelton, and if they only got a cheese in exchange they were thankful. But since then times had very greatly changed. It had been said that the New Zealand farmers were cockatoos. Well, if they Avere, they Avere uncommonly well fledged. (Loud laughter.) He gave all honor to the producers, and credit to those whose enterprise first opened up this grand country which the farmers Avere destined to make take its place in the world as the Greater Britain of the South. (Loud cheering.) With regard to the shipping interests,°it could not be denied that New Zealand took a very high place. No doubt many among them remembered the early days of New South Wales. He had lived in Australia nearly forty years, and could therefore speak Avith some authority. In the early days New South Wales registered five steamers and very few sailing vessels. But now Avhat Avas the case ? Why, they had upwards of 500 colonially registered steamers, anti they were, he thought, as good boats of their class as were to be found in any part of the world. Then they had 2000 ships, with a registered tonnage of 300,000 tons. Was not this a great advance, and were the shipping interests not indebted to the work of that large class Avho were now sitting round tit at table? But the colonial ships by no means answered all their requirements, for they had upwards of 100 vessels trading from Great Britain alone. The time might come Avhen New Zealand might not belong to the British Crown—though he trusted that time would never come (loud cheers) —the time might come when they might be told to protect themselves, and then the importance of the shipping interests would be shown and fully appreciated. The best men

in the British navy were those drafted from the mercantile marine. In the colonial marine there Avere upwards of 12,000 seamen employed, who if it should ever be required would form the nucleus of a good colonial navy. (Cheers.)

One hundred pounds of dynamite Avere used in one charge for snagging the Thames River near Te Aroha, which has been deepened 4ft. Ihe effect of the dynamite was to throw up the stones and water to a great height.

The Timaru Herald, writing on the retirement of Mr. Stafford from political life, says : “I n losing him from her councils, the colony ■loses not only a politician, but a maker of politicians. Without ever claiming any innate superiority, or affecting the part of a Triton among the minnows, there is no denying that he has towered over the highest of his fellows. His lofty intellect, his wealth of resources, his untiring industry, his perfect simple-mindedness ; enhanced a hundred-fold by that nameless grace which made everybody trust and esteem him as much as they admired him ; have constituted him the very model of a public man, in a country where good models are of incalculable value.”

A correspondent at Karori has favored us Avith the following particulars of the rifle volunteer meeting at that place on Saturday last :—The Makara rifle volunteers met on Saturday at the Karori butts to fire for the company’s prizes, which included many useful presents from several Wellington friends, viz., bags of sugar, boxes of soap and candles, also wearing apparel, a cruet stand, cigar cases, a gold pencil case, several pipes, and some money prizes. Over 50 members competed, and in consequence of the fact that most of the present members of the company have lately joined, the committee wisely decided that these annual prizes should be so ai'ranged that the beginners Avould have something to stimulate them in trying to become good shots, instead of making only three or four prizes of them, which invariably fell to a few who monopolised both local and district prizes. The scores were very far beneath the average shooting of the company. The ranges were 300, 400, and 500 yards ; five shots at each range, and a full-sized target. Mr. Brandon, M.H.R., visited the ground during the day. After the distribution of the prizes, the members sat down to an excellent spread in Host Spiers’ usual good style, to which full justice Avas done by the volunteers and friends. After the cloth had been removed, the chairman (Captain Monaghan) proposed “The Health of Her Majesty the Queen,” which was duly honored. “ The Captain’s Health” was proposed and responded to, after which a handsome sword, and also a valuable watch and gold chain, were presented to him by Mr. S. Lancaster on behalf of the company. Mr. Lancaster, in making the presentation, referred briefly to Captain Monaghan’s services to the eompany during the past ten years, when he worked for them with all his might. He also referred to the interest which he had taken in the individual welfare of the members of his company in getting their land scrip for those who were entitled to it at an early date, so that they would have ample time to select. Captain Monaghan, on rising to thank the company, was loudly cheered. He said he never expected to be presented with such a number of valuable presents as those now before him. It was true he had always tried to do his best to maintain the company in an efficient state, and he accepted their presents as an acknowledgment of that desire, and hoped they would all attribute his failings to his head and not to his heart. He also hoped that the young men he saw around him that night would take the lesson to heart. He was glad to find that the gates of promotion were open to all in this free country, without let or hindrance to class, creed, or nationality, and he hoped they w axkl all exert themselves to qualify for any office within their reach. He again thanked them for the unabated kindness shown to him during his connection with the company, and said he hoped that, if in the past there were any drawbacks, he would make amends in future. During the delivery of his address he was repeatedly cheered. “The Subscribers to the Prize Fund” were then proposed, coupled with the name of Mr. Brandon, M.H.R., and duly honored. “ The Prize Committee,” coupled Avith the name of Mr. Lancaster, was next proposed, and responded to by that gentleman. “ The Land we Live in ” Avas then given, and enthusiastically received. “ The Vice-Chairman ” was the next toast, which was acknowledged in suitable terms by Lieutenant Monk, who was well received. “ The Health of the Host and Hostess ” was duly honored, and Avas ably responded to by Mr. J. F. Spiers. Several songs and recitations were given during the evening, and on the whole it may be said that a more enjoyable time has seldom been spent by those present. After eleven o’clock all dispersed, after singing “ God Save the Queen” and “ Auld Lang Syne,” &c.

PALMERSTON. (FKCM OUR OAA r N CORRESPONDENT.) Palmerston North, March 4. This may read like a conumdrum, but it is not one. Foxton is about twenty miles from Palmerston North and about eighty miles from Wellington. There is railway communication between the two former places, and not between the latter two; and yet the Foxton people find it pays better to send goods to Wellington and get a lower price, than to Palmerston! How is this? Being in Foxton the other day I found that fruit was very plentiful there. As this year it is rather scarce here, I asked why they sent none to Palmerston, and Avas told that the carriage to Wellington was so much cheaper that they sent it all there. Surely there must be something wrong someAvhere!

I understand that the old tramway stables here are about to be converted ' into a constable’s residence, four cells, and a three or four-stalled stable for constabulary horses; at an expense of about £l5O. The present cells certainly are a disgrace to the place.

Bush fires have been raging all round us for the last day or two, and perhaps it is as Avell r,hat we had heavy rain this morning, for otherwise, with this high Avind blowing, a good deal of damage might have been done. As it is, I regret to say that about £SOO Avorth of sleepex-s caught fire at Stoney Creek, and Avere all destroyed. The loss Avill fall principally on fc he English and Scandinavian settlers in that district, and will I fear be a great blow to them; the sleepers being the result of months of labor. There is a report that one man who owned about 2000 of the sleepers has not been seen since since the fire. This may not be true, however. With regard to the charge against Berquist, of stealing sheep from the Maoris, mentioned by you in your issue of the 26th ultimo, there are so many versions of the affair that I will at present only say that there appears to be several sides to the question. FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO THE BLUFF. The Dunedin Star, in a lengthy article on the railways of Canterbury and Otago, says:—• The department have imported powerful engines from New York, and two of them are now being landed at Port Chalmers. They are of the best kind that can be supplied by the American manufacturer ; have driving wheels 4ft. in diameter, and a track wheel of 26in.; are fitted xvith large tenders and great co svcatoher3, besides having no end of ornamental fixings, including a ponderous bell. They Avill be capable of doing from twentyfive to thirty-five miles an hour. Six of them will be used between Christchurch and Dunedin, and two between Dunedin and Invercargill. It is intended, in addition to the ordinary trains, to run a through mail train each Avay daily. Between Christchurch and Dunedin the stoppages will be Ashburton, Timaru, Waimate Junction, Oamaru, Palmerston, and Waikouaiti ; and between Dunedin and Invercargill they will be Milton, Balclutha, Clinton, and Mataura. Mr. Conyers is quite sure that he will be able to do the distance between Christchurch and Dunedin Avithin ten hours, and to Invercargill in six hours more. The time-table Avill be arranged to suit as nearly as possible the arrival and departure of the Melbourne steamers at the Bluff, so that the mails can be forwarded with the utmost despatch, and the convenience of business people, to Avhom time is often of great value, consulted. By this arrangement it is anticipated that Melbourne travellers will, if they choose, be able to take train immediately on the arrival of a Melbourne steamer at the Bluff, be iu Dunedin seven hours afterwards ; and, while staying in Dunedin a day, be in Christchurch in time to do their business there, and rejoin their steamer at Lyttelton. As such a large portion of the line in Canterbury is unfenced, it will not be attempted to run night trains on the through line ; and it will °be many years before that can be done, as it is estimated that it Avill take over £IOO,OOO to fence this line. Pullman’s sleeping cars are to be introduced for the benefit of those travellers Avho require to be made comfortable on their journey. W THE LATE CAPTAIN READ. The N. Z. Herald gives the following particulars of the late Captain Read, of Poverty By telegram we have intimation of the death of one of the oldest and best known, sattlers of the province—Captain Read, of Poverty Bay. The death was unexpected, as Captain Read Avas in Auckland a Aveek or two ago, and at that time appeared to be in good he ilth. Captain Read %vas one of the earliest settlers on the East Coast, and for many years carried on a successful trade with the Maoris. He also bought a considerable quantity of land, and by trading, and the rise in the value of his land by the success of the Poverty Bay settlement, he amassed a very considerable fortune. He remained at Gisborne during the war. He took from Auckland, at various times, some hundreds of immigrants, and settled them on lands on deferred payments, thus rapidly advancing the prosperity of the district. Indeed, Gisborne, and the entire district of Povertv Bay, owed much to Captain Read, as he freely assisted every man who Avould remain and work in the place. At the last general election Captain Read stood for the East Coast district, but Avas unseated on petition. His property, which is considerable, will, Ave believe, be inherited by his Avife and nepheAvs, the sons of his late step-brother. We may mention that the family of Captain Read’s step-brother made a remarkable escape at the time Avhen Te Kooti attacked MataAvhero, near Gisborne. The mother carried the youngest child, only a few months old, and led the other young children. They could see the houses of the settlement in flames, and hear the yells of the savages, and if they bad been d scovered they Avould certainly all have been slaughtered. We understand that Mr. J. S. Macfarlane has been nominated as executor in Captain Read’s estate.

THE GREAT CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION IN PHILADELPHIA has been a decided success. Tha awards of the juries have just been published, and Ave find that Mr. Peter Moller has again taken the First Prize for his justly celebrated “ Mbller’s Cod Liver Oil.” Already this Oil has been exhibited in TAvelve International Exhibitions in different countries, and taken Tsvelve First Class Prize Medals; iioav we find that in the stronghold of Newfoundland Cod Liver Oil, where the manufacturers in full force exhibited their very best productions, “ Holler’s Cod Liver Oil” is declared to be the Purest, the SAveetest, the Most Excellent, and the Most Valuable as a therapeutic agent. The BrOAvn and other inferior oils have long since ceased to appear at the Exhibitions, and as only the very finest brands contend for the Prize, its award to the manufacturer of “Moller’s Cod Liver Oil" as an incontestable proof of its great superiority over all others. The Public should stedfastly avoid the BroAvn and Newfoundland Oils Avhen the Best is within easy reach, and see that Moller’s name, trade mark, and capsule are on each bottle. Head Offices. Christiania. Manufactories, Lofoten Islands, Norwsv London Offices, 521, Oxford Street. Sol(J bjf slf Chemists, and Drug Storey. ’

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL18780309.2.33

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Mail, Issue 317, 9 March 1878, Page 16

Word Count
4,444

Country News. New Zealand Mail, Issue 317, 9 March 1878, Page 16

Country News. New Zealand Mail, Issue 317, 9 March 1878, Page 16

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