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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4124, 9 June 1874, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor may be expected to arrive in Wellington by the steamer Luna, which yesterday proceeded to Manukau, with Sir George Amey on board. According to advices received from the Agent-General, MV. Kenneth Wilson, the newly-appointed Principal of tho Wellington College, took his departure for Wellington, via Melbourne, on tho 7th of April. The name of the ship by which Mr. Wilson took passage was not mentioned, but it is probable lie would proceed by one of the steam-vessels which now make such rapid passages to Melbourne, His arrival may therefore bo looked for at any time during the next fortnight.

We understand that, by the Albion, the Government received a telegram from the Loan Agents to the effect that the balance of the £1,500,000 of 4-J per cent; debentures had been sold. The April English mails via Suez, "which were brought as far as Port Chalmers by the Albion, have been there transhipped to the Ladybird, which will bring them up the coast. ; The Ladybird left Port Chalmers at midday yesterday, and "would reach Lyttelton early this morning. She may therefore be expected in Wellington to-morrow afternoon. An accident, such as will occasionally happen in conducting large correspondence, happened recently in the office of the AgentGeneral. A letter from Dr. Featherston, addressed to the Minister for Immigration, and which came out by the Californian mail, had { in its midst three sheets which should not have been there. They form the concluding portion of a letter relating to the business of an Acclimatisation Society ; but the name of the society is not mentioned, nor is it certain that the letter, of which the sheets are part, was addressed to such a body. Their absence has, no doubt, caused annoyance, if not inconvenience, to somebody in New Zealand ; and we have been requested to state that the Minister for Immigration would be glad to receive such information as would enable him to end the one and to remove or prevent the other. The following tenders were received for the Mungaroa contract of the Wellington and Masterton railway (formation only):—Accepted—C. McKirdy, Wellington, £55,752. Declined—H. F. Oakes, Wanganui, £57,694 ; John Brogden and Sons, Wellington, £62,367 ; James Cruickshanka, Upper Hutt, £59,000 ; J. 11. George and Co., Wellington, £58,600 ; Collie, Scott, and Co., Wellington, £77,709 ; James Lockio, Wellington, £59,558 ; William Strachan, Wellington, £56,989 ; Scoular and Archibald, Wellington, £89,783. The steamship Atrato, which has arrived at Port Chalmers, after an adventurous voyage, brings to the Colony 762 immigrants—ls 9 for Otago, and 603 for Canterbury. She has been placed' in quarantine, having on board three cases of measles under treatment. There were 33 deaths during the voyage—all of infants, except one, aged 17, who died of croup. Sixteen of the deaths were from diseases which were not contagious. The ship Northampton, which had previously arrived at Lyttelton, and wdiich has also been placed in quarantine, left Loudon Docks on the 18th of March, and Gravesend on the 21st. Sickness broke out five days after her departure. Thirteen cases of modified small-pox occurred during the passage. Thex-e are still three cases under treatment, and, according to the latest telegram, another is repoxted to have happened. Seven deaths occurred during the passage—one from typhus, one from heart disease, and five deaths of infants. The Boanl of College Governors, represented by his Honor the Superintendent, Messrs. E. Pearce, W. T. L. Tx-avers, W. Gisborne, and W. W. Johnston, paid a visit to the new. College Building on the Adelaide Hoad yestex-day afternoon, with the object of forming axx opinion of the adaptability of the building for the purposes x-equired. The arrangements mapped out on the architect’s plan "were found to have been carried out in a pei'fectly satisfactory manner. The work has been fulfilled in a workmanlike and expeditious manner, and though tlxe master’s residence, &c., are not yet completed, the collegiate portion of the building will be ready for occupation upon the termination of the mid-winter holidays (13th July). To make the distaxxt near, and study the comfort of the scholars, the Board contemplate making an arrangement for running a licensed conveyance from tlxe College to the centre of the City, at stated hours, and moderate fares. This manifestation of new life in the management of the affairs of the College, and the appointment of the gentleman selected by Dr. Vaughan to fill the position of Principal, will go far to remove the feeling of dissatisfaction which found expression subsequently to the last annual distribution of prizes. The Bechahite Bazaar held last week does not appear to have been so successful as was anticipated. The gx-oss receipts of the tw r o days’ sale amounted to £IOO, considerably less than was calcxxlated upon, but the bazaar promoters, not to be daunted, have hit xxpoxx the idea of disposing of the remaining stock by art union at a reunion to take place in about a month. Howard’s well-known city conveyance came to grief yesterday through the horses taking fright during the momentary absence of Mr. Howard. The animals bolted from the neighborhood of Mount Victoria Hotel, and before they could be pulled up one of the wheels was smashed to atoms, and tlxe vehicle otherwise much damaged. An extraordinary general meeting of tlxe Public Hall Company was held yesterday at the offices of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, for tlxe purpose of confirming certain special resolutions, which w'ere carried at a previous extx-a-ordinary meeting held on the 4th May. There was a full attendance of shareholders, Dr. Johnston being iu the chair. The chairman proposed, “ That the capital of tlxe company be increased to £12,000 by the issue of £5,000 fresh shares of 30s. each. Mr. G. Hunter seconded the motion, which was carried. The next resolution to the following effect was also proposed by tlxe clxaiimaix :—That the dix’ectoi’s may employ any portion of the assets of the company iu erecting a new building or new building's upon the land leased by the company, and may let the same iix such mariner and upon such terms, or otherwise deal with and manage the same as they shall think best for the interests of the company.” Mr. J. K. Geoi'ge seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business. Tlxe business at the Resident Magistrate’s Coxxrt yestex-day consisted of thx-eo civil cases and one case of di-unkcuness oix the criminal charge sheet. The civil cases were of no importance, and the inebriate was disposed of by the infliction of a nominal fine. At the instance of Capt. Moss, of the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, His AVorship tlxe Mayor and the various insurance agents will be present at a formal demonstration of the force of the water supplied from tlxe reservoir, to take place to-mox-row evening at half-past eight o’clock. The hose will be connected with the hydrants opposite the Odd Fellows’ Hall, from which point the water will he thrown over the buildings in Grey Street and aloxxg the Quay. Whatever the object of this demonstration may be, one result seems inevitable, namely, a reduction in the rates of insurance, for the txlals ali’eady made show that a fire would be vex-y short-lived against such a force of water as the mains are capable of supplying. In view of the possibility of such a reduction, the trial of to-fnoi-row evening will be watched with some interest hy that section of the community whose insurance rates form a heavy item in their annual expenditure. The two-storey building adjoining AVrigglcswortli and Biuu’s photographic studio, lately occupied by Mr. Millei', confectioner, is shortly to be pulled down to make way for a large mercantile establishment to bo expected for Air. Jacob Joseph. The new premises will be occupied by a mercantile firm who have lately fixed upon AVellington as a favorable field of operations on account of its central positioxx and the advantages it possesses for oax-rying on commerce with all tlxe other ports of the Colony. Drake, and S. Collins, the w r ell-known pedestrians, derived no pecuniary benefit from the endeavor to provide the Napier people with a day’s athletic spoi’t on the Queen’s Birthday. Drake was unable to mix at all through severe indisposition, and Collins, from want of condition, was beaten hy a local amateur, the weather for some time preceding the sports being so bad that training was impossible. In return for their liberality -in providing the prizes, Drake and Collins received a complimentary benefit at the hands of the local theatricals, the result being such as to recoup them for their losses in connection with the sports.'

The members of the Pacific Lodge of Freemasons will celebrate the festival of St. John by a banquet to be held on the 21th instant, at the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street. It is predicted that the large increase in the ranks of members of the lodges of both constitutions established in the City, and the presence of numerous visiting brethren, will make the banquet successful beyond anything yet attempted in this City. We have received through Messrs. Gordon and Gotcli, of Melbourne and London, a copy of the last monthly number of a well-known and popular publication, “ The Family Herald.” The speciality about it, we see, is that it contains the opening chapters of a new and apparently a clever tale or novel, written by a lady resident in Otago. Its title is “A Strange Story; a Story of New Zealand.” It is creditable to the spirit as well as the enterprise of the publisher that ho should have made the venture of engaging Colonial talent to assist in maintaining the high reputation of “ The Family Herald.” A meeting was called in the Town Hall, Greytown, on Thursday evening last, to consider the propriety of erecting laborers’ cottages in the township, by means of a company. The Standard reports At the time appointed not more than half a dozen persons were present. The unfavorable weather was some excuse for the poor attendance, though the apathy and indifference with which settlers in this township usually regard public matters, was, probably, the main reason. Mr. Payton having been appointed to the chair, stated that the meeting was called in consequence of there not being a single cottage procurable in the neighborhood at the present time, desirable settlers from this cause were being driven from the township, and it was important for every business man in Greytown that some steps should be taken to jirovide accommodation for families desirous of settling in the place. He suggested the formation of a company, in 200 shares of £lO each, payable by monthly instalments, which should purchase a block of land, and put up at once some twenty cottages, and either let, or sell on deferred payments, the same, as might bo deemed expedient. Mr. Haines fully recognised the importance to Greytown of the proposed scheme, and believed that it would both directly and indirectly be to the interest of Greytown settlers to support it. Other engagements would prevent him, personally, from taking an active part in carrying out such an undertaking ; his object, in attending that evening had been merely to assist in laying before the public the advantages of a cottage building association. Dr. Spratt stated that from inquiries lie had made he found that cottages could be built at the present time in a very economical manner. Mr. Anderson advocated, in the event of the company being formed, that facilities should be given to small shareholders to acquire freeholds under it. Mr. Hastwell intimated his intention of investing in the company if formed, and moved that the meeting he adjourned to Wednesday evening next, the TOtlx iust., in the Institute at eight o’clock. This was seconded by Mr. Frethey, and concluded the business of the meeting. Of the new opera “La Juive ” at the Melbourne Opera House, the correspondent of the Hamilton Spectator says ; —“ In one scene, Dondi, as the Cardinal, and Mr Kitts, as the Emperor, enter on real horses. The first night it was performed, Mr Kitts was bucked off, and the great Cardinal ignominiously saved himself by holding tight with both arms round the horse’s neck. I know of several who went to see ‘La Juive ’ after this, not so much for the sake of the opera, but in the hope that the same feat of horsemanship would be repeated.” John B. Gough, the well-known temperance orator, is not at all pleased, we observe from the American papers, with the female crusade against rum, and expresses himself as follows on the question:—“l would be unwilling to see my wife or my nieces going about among the saloons, praying and singing hymns. I think the movement would help the woman suffrage cause* very much, and I have always had a sort of dislike to the woman suffrage business. The idea of a band Of ladies going through the streets singing hymns and praying is repugnant to me. It is the duty of policemen to clear away a crowd of men obstructing the pavement, and I think that women come under the same restrictions.” Tiie Melbourne Aye has the following : “ A curious letter has been sent to a wellknown citizen of Emerald-hill :— ‘ Memo.—A letter to your address, No. —, now lies in this , office detained for one penny postage. On your filling up the form at the back, and enclosing New South Wales postage stamps or cash to the above amount, it nail be forwarded.’ Could absurdity be made more absurd ? The letter might he most important, and by its detention the person addressed might lose a quantity of money. Why not have sent the letter, and charged the pemiy at the other end, instead of tying ridiculous strings of red tape, like the snakes about Laocoou, round the neck of this unhappy recipient. The system is absurd, and the New South Wales authorities ought to know the fact.” The same curious regulation is in force in New Zealand. AUCKLAND. The Hew Zealand Herald gives an interesting account of Lloyd’s Hope Factory, Jn the suburbs of Auckland. By this it would appear that a large quantity of very excellent rope is locally manufactured. Au aerolite is reported to have been dug up on the Barrack Hill by one of the contractor’s men. The missile (says the Herald) is about four feet in length, and shaped very much like a rifle bullet. It was found embedded several feet in the ground. The sum of £IOOO has been placed on the Estimates by the Auckland Provincial authorities for the removal of the cemetery, which is too near the heart of the city and near to which there is considerable mortality, said by the medical authorities to be due to the effluvium arising. More libel cases. The Auckland Evening Star publishes the following telegram from its Coromandel correspondent:—“Messrs Hesketh and Richmond have boon instructed by Captain Hargreaves to write to the proprietors of the Thames Star, demanding the author of the telegram published in that journal last Thursday, characterising Captain Hargreaves the most uncivil captain ill the Province, otherwise he will proceed against the Star for libel, damages £SOO. It is also rumored that Captain Hargreaves will proceed against the Coromandel Hews for articles appearing in the last three issues.” In the Auckland Provincial Council ou June 1, Mr. Onniston moved, “That a respectful address he presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the supplementary estimates a sum of money on the security of the plant, &c., for the purpose of laying down about three miles of light iron tramway from the Waugarei Coal mines to the harbor.” The hon. member said that there was a seam of clear black coal, eleven feet thick: and captains of steamers who had used it, said they desired no better. Sir Robert Douglas said, that some working-men from the Thames had spent £2OOO iu developing the coal mine, and all that was asked was some rails to put ou a tramway already made. This, lie thought, should be granted. Other members of the Council concurred, and the motion was carried. Dunedin history is being repeated in Auckland by two occurrences of demonstrations similar in character to those of which Mr. J. G. S. Grant was once the promoter. The Herald of a late date reports : —" A demonstration was made last night at the junction of Grey Street and Queen Street, against. the rating clause of the Education BUI, now passing through the Provincial Council. Some seven or eight hundred people assembled at the foot of the fire-bell, and the proceedings were rendered very noisy, owing to the interruptions made by n number of hoys, of which the crowd principally consisted. Mr. George Staines was called to the chair, which in this instance consisted of the fire-boll stand. He came forward amidst cheers, and denounced the Bill as an iniquitous measure, and ouCj that ought to he put down by the people.

Pulleng then came forward and followed' in the same strain, and proposed that if the Bill should be passed a monster petition bo prepared against it, and a house-to-house canvass should be made for signatures. This was seconded by Mr. Westwood, and after the meeting had been addressed by Mr. Greenway and a ‘ working-man,’ the resolution was put to the chairman (or rather the bell-man), and carried by acclamation. It. was then resolved to proceed in procession to the Provincial Council Chamber, for the purpose of making an imposing show to the members thereof, but as the Council had adjourned by the time the processionists had arrived, the latter were grievously ‘sold,’ and departed after a moderate amount of groaning, but fully believing that the members had only extinguished the lights and retired under the seats or behind the doors.” TARANAKI. The munificent sum of £SO has been placed upon the Estimates as a reward for the discovery of copper and other valuable metals in the Province. Mr. Hulke has brought into town some large pears which were grown in his garden. They weighed on an average two and a-half pounds each, and the Herald is informed that the tree still has ou it one hundred of a similar size. The introduction of immigrants has been the subject of some discussion in the Provincial Council. Mr. Brown moved, That, in the opinion of this Council, it is not desirable that any immigrants be introduced into this Province, selected by the Agent-General; but that it be restricted to immigrants nominated by settlers here, or selected by the Immigration Agent of the Province at home. He said that, if Dr. Featherstou complied with the orders which had been sent home lately—that he should send out immigrants direct to New Plymouth—the Province would very probably get a number out of the reformatories. He thought it would be better to wait until our Immigration Agent had been sent homo, when settlers could be selected by him. Mr. Upjohn seconded the motion p>ro forma. Mr. Standish thought it would be unwise to oppose the Agent-General, which would be virtually passing a vote of want of confidence iu him and in the General Government. Mr. Syiue igreed with the last speaker. Mr. Connett thought it would be better if the honorable member withdrew his motion. The motion was then put and lost. MARLBOROUGH. It has been announced by the Superintendent that Mr. Dive has accepted a seat iu the Executive. The Marlborough Express says the Rev. J. H. Simmonds, Wesleyan Minister from Fiji, has arrived in Nelson on account of domestic affliction, and has offered to proceed to Havelock on the unmarried ministers stipend. His offer has been accepted for the next nine months. The Times records prominently, with expressions of regret, the death of Mrs. Alice Rose White, wife of Mr. William White, manager of the branch in Blenheim of the National Bank of Now Zealand. The deceased lady, who was in her twenty-second year, had only been married a very few months before her death. WESTLAND. The Superintendent of this Province is more sanguine than some as to the possibility of settling the southern parts. In his opening speech to the Council he said; —l think it is a matter of the first importance that, concurrently with large public works, there should be proportionate immigration, and, I am glad to say, that although circumstances have up to the present prevented much progress being made as to the settlement of the special block of laud between the Haast and Jackson's Bay, the Hon. the Premier and Minister for Immigration still continue to take a lively interest in carrying that out. Already, I may say, a party of six industrious, energetic men have determined on settling there, and are now locating themselves with a anew of making it their future home. Arrangements are all but complete by which ferries will be placed on all the rivers as far as Jackson’s, and thereby facilities will be offered to persons, now resident in the Province, to avail themselves of the advantages held out by the easy terms ou which homesteads may be obtained. OTAGO. The Riverton correspondent of a Southland paper states that Mr. Rocke, of that town, has just equipped two large boats, maimed by some two dozen Maoris, who intend proceeding at once to the West Coast for this season’s sealing. The Southlanders apparently desire improvements in the railway arrangements. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Gumming, Daniel, and Wood, Southland members of the Provincial Council, and Mr. James Waddell, of Campbelltown, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent. The object of the deputation was to induce the Government to run an extra early morning train on the Bluff and Invercargill railway, and to convert a compartment iu each carriage on that line into a first-class one, there being no first-class accommodation at present on the line. His Honor replied that the whole subject of the management of the Bluff and Invercargill line would he considered by the Government in connection until resolutions passed at a public meeting recently held at the Bluff, and which resolutions had been laid before the Government. He thought that the alteration of the carriages, as suggested by the deputation, was very necessary. At the last meeting of the Otago Institute the rapid disappearance of the native quail within the last ten years was alluded to. Mr. Bathgate said an old settler had informed him that the ground-lark had increased in this Province since settlement—especially so iu clearings. The extinction of quail had been attributed to burning the grass, but that could not account for their total disappearance, as they disappeared where the grass had not been burnt. The chairman said quail were so plentiful eighteen years ago in the Province that one could not ride five yards without the quail rising up before the horse, butnowwhereever he had lately travelled in the interior he noticed that they had totally disappeared. It was lately reported that the Corporation of Dunedin had purchased the water-works. The terms on which the purchase was effected arc thus stated by the 2’imcs: —“For the first ■I4OO shares, £l7 10s. each is to be given, equal to £77,000. For Col. Kitchener’s shares, the same price is to be given, making £10,500. For the 050 shares issued under the Act of 1871, the dividends on which were limited to 10 per ceut., £l6 each are to ho paid, being equal to £10,400. For the balance of that issue, consisting of 850 shares upon which £3 have been paid, a premium of 30s. each is to he given, mailing £3825. The total amount, therefore, to he paid by the Corporation to the Water Works Company, is £101,725. The necessary majority of the shareholders have already signified their willingness to accept the above terms, which the Corporation is prepared to concede. Payment will be made to the shareholders, either in cash or by debentures of fifty years’ currency, bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent. There has been considerable discussion in sporting circles lately, with reference to a disputed wager over the bite Duuediu - ,U P meeting, and the matter haring beer referred to the Dunedin Jockey Club for <lec' lou > a meeting of the committee was he" on In day night, when (says the Times) tP decision was arrived at “ A jet si-0 to £4, Lyons and Co. v. Garworo on the late Dunediu Cup, has been left 0 t! ! 13 for decisiou. From the evide~?, before us, wej are of opinion that Lyons 0 £ost the bet, but from the fact jat n ? Proper application was ever made by^l'™ Wltll tins evening, for the money I ;bat Co. have been posted hnsfrotorch as defaulters for non-payment-' £ bet > ' ve !U ' e of opinion that'the mo-y''t oh , h ? d b , eeu Posted should vmmsin in i ll ’- Faison 3 hands until this is exnKiued 1/ Garwiod in Christchurch, aud the charac-' 51 ’ o£ 1V 0 . 113 and Co. cleared from the j mF .tation ef facing defaulters by public adv,'tis6mont h the Christchurch papers.— Syu’EY James, Secretary Duuedia Jockey Club.'