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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4128, 13 June 1874, Page 2

A telegram had been received in England prior to the departure of the lato mail via Suez, announcing that tho Fiji Islands had been ceded to Great Britain. The subject, however, would not bo discussed in Parliament until the report of the Commissioners had been received. The Imperial Government had been pflacod in possession of information which showed that the Polynesian labor trade —little better than a slave trade —is still being carried on largely, although the efforts of the cruisers had been successful in lessening its extent; aud tho fact of tho cession of the islands was received with satisfaction in England, chiefly, it would appear, from tho hope that the annexation of the group) would put an effectual stop) to the Inhuman proceedings of the labor-snatcliera.

A mooting of the local agents of the marine insurance associations doing business in Wellington was held yesterday afternoon at theoffices of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter. The object was to arrive, if possible, at a uniform scale of charges for risks. Wo understand that after some conversational discussion such, a scale was arrived at. This will ho satisfactory to the commercial community of the City. In tho absence of a quorum the adjourned meeting of the City Council called for last evening was again postponed till Monday next at four o’clock. Tho only Councillors who prut in an appearance at the appointed hour were Messrs. Greenfield, Ramie, and Burrett.

An inquiry was held in Sydney into tho circumstances which attended the stranding of the mail steamer Macgrcgor at Kandavau. Wo are gratified to learn that tho decision of the Court was that no blame attached to Captain Horace Grainger, and that, at tlio close of the investigation, Captain Grainger was highly complimented for tho skill and perseverance he had shown in saving tho Macgrcgor from total wreck, and in navigating her safely inflier crippiled state to Sydney.

Since an unlucky gale of -wind carried away the flagstaff at the Custom House, the residents of distant parts of the City have been deprived of the early information heretofore furnished by the display of signals upon the arrival of the English mail. The arrival of the Ladybird with the Albion’s mail on board is the most recent instance of the inconvenience occasioned by the absence of the customary signals, as, upon that occasion, the weather happening to be thick, the Ladybird was several hours at tlie wharf before the majority of the citizens knew anything of the arrival of the English mail. A trifling expense would replace the flagstaff and at the same time supply information usually looked for with much anxiety.

The steamship Claud Hamilton was, we observe, advertised to sail from Melbourne for New Zealand via the West Coast on Monday last, the Sth instant. She will be due off Hokitika this afternoon, and will, do doubt, be heard of in the course of this evening or tomorrow. Under the treatment of Ur. Johnston, Provincial Surgeon, the boatswain of the Golden Sea, who sustained severe injuries by a fall down the hold of that vessel, is making favorable progress. Examination proved that the injuries sustained were not so serious as was anticipated at first, but the man, whose name is Eyre, will be unable to resume work for some time. The sub-Librarian of the Assembly Library requests that all books belonging to the Library should be returned before Saturday, the 20th instant. In connection with the subject of intercolonial reciprocity, the Melbourne Art fits of the 29th ult. has the following paragraph : —“We understand that a communication has been received from the Government of New Zealand asking the Government of Victoria to join in a Customs arrangement between the several Colonies of Australia, whereby there might be a free interchange between the Colonies of all grain, produce, flour, colonial wine, butter, cheese, and timber. We believe that at present the Victorian Government is not likely to view the proposition with much favor, since, with the exception of colonial wine, the colony imports far more than it exports of all the articles mentioned. In fact, its productions are not equal to its requirements.” The Tarrcngower Times reports that a man named Eyfe, after several years absence from the district in New Zealand, has returned to Maldon and paid his creditors in full some debts he was unable to discharge when he left the place. Mr. and Mrs. George Case, who are wellknown in the Colonies, in which some years ago they gave their excellent drawing-room entertainment, were passengers from Western Australia to Adelaide by the mail steamer Nubia. They intend to make another professional tour of the Colonies.

A man named John Gardiner, lately from New Zealand, was robbed of forty sovereigns at the Criterion dining-rooms, 131 Bourke Street East, Melbourne. He engaged a bed there, and placed the money in his trousers pocket under his pillow when he wont to bed. During the night he was awakened by some one moving his pillow. He jumped out of bed and tried to catch the disturber, but failed, as the latter ran into the back yard and jumped over the gate. On examining the pockets of his trousers, he discovered that the money was gone. The matter is in the hands of the police. The Melbourne papers have Fiji files to May the 13 th. The Times complains that the mail arrangements are very unsatisfactory. At this season of the year it takes the schooner which carries the letters from Kandavau to Levuka as long to perform the journey as the mail steamer occupies in the trip from Sydney to Kandavau. For Australian letters despatched to any part of Fiji, except Kandavau, the mail steamers’ port of call, the quickest route is by any vessel leaving Sydney or Melbourne direct for Levuka.

Mr. Benjamin, the well-known furrier, of Melbourne and Dunedin, announces in another column that he will arrive here by the Phoebe, now on her passage up from Dunedin, with a new and superior stock of foreign and Australian furs. This will not be an unpleasant announcement to the ladies of Wellington, seeing that the winter season seems to have set in with unusual severity. By some accidental omission at Auckland, news of the arrival of the s.s. Hero, or the intelligence which she brought, was not telegraphed to Wellington. The following are the particulars, dated Auckland June 9, Sydney June 2, and Melbourne June 2:—The Hero arrived at 7 o’clock. She left Sydney at 6.30 on the afternoon of Tuesday. She had fine weather but head winds and a heavy swell across. She brings thirty saloon and tliirty-fivc steerage passengers, and a very heavy cargo. The Tartar, with the Californian mail, sails from Sydney punctually on Saturday, full of passengers. The Government is likely to be defeated oil a motion disapjjroving of Gardiner’s release. Meetings in the country are continually being held to protest against the Governor’s projmsed clemency to bushrangers. H.M.S. Challenger sails on Thursday for Wellington, to complete the shore soundings. H.M.S. Conflict sails the same day for Fiji. O’Ferrall, the Victorian defaulter, lias escaped from Fiji in a small vessel for Tanna; from thence he hopes to escape to South America. The Melbourne markets are dull. Brandies are advancing. Sales of Hennessy’s pale have been made at 11s. Gd.; Marfcell’s dark, at 10s. Gd. to 10s. 9d. New Zealand wheat, ss. Gd. to ss. 9d. If there are any Spiritists amongst us they will help their anxious brethren in Victoria to elucidate the following mystery : —“ Who is, or was, Daniel Dunbar ? ” asks the Melbourne Age. At a seance, held at Boston, U.S., in. February last, conducted by George Fox, and reported in the Banner of Light., published on the 14tli of that month, the medium, a Mr, Coimant, stated as follows :—“ I have relatives in Scotland, England, and America, to whom I wish to convey the intelligence of my death, which .took place last night, at twenty-two minutes before eleven, Australian time. The seeress of Glengow was right when she said, ‘ Daniel, you will never return ; but you will be well at sundown, and dead before midnight.’ My name was Daniel Dunbar. It is necessary that my friends bestir themselves about my effects in Melbourne, since I left hurriedly.' I am glad to come in this way, because I can render good to those who believe in this tiling, who are now being persecuted by my friends. It is true ; it is true ; and Jean was right, as you can learn from facts outside of what I may say here, if you go to Melbourne, and there make yourself acquainted with my last hours. It may bo expected that I should say something of the manner of my death. That belongs to me and my God, and nobody else. It will do no one any good to know anything further about it.”

WESTLAND. The TPc’.s'i Coast Times gives a description of the Hokitika gas works, from which we learn that there are over three miles of mains laid, varying in size from 8 inches to 1 \ inches. The service pipes until their connections to the meter have been laid free of charge ; both the wet and dry land are being used, so that all tastes are being suited. The whole cost of the works, including mains, meters, land and all contingent ex*penses up to the present date, .has not exceeded £B,OOO. The works were designed by the Company’s engineer, Mr. Henry Courtis, late engineer to the South Melbourne Gas Company, and the whole has been carried out under his direction.

The frosts of winter are interfering seriously with the navigation of the snow-fed rivers of the West Coast. The port of Okarito has been completely closed for some time, and the West Coast Times thus speaks of the temporary condition of tho Hokitika liver :—The condition of the Hokitika river at the present time is just about as bad as is possible, and it seems quite on the cards that if sonic stops to permanently secure its navigation arc not taken at once, the port will very shortly be shut up altogether. At low water the fairway a little below the wharf is so narrow that an

average athlete could, without difficulty, jump across it, and even at high water the shoals in the river arc such as to render entry or departure a matter of difficulty to vessels of even small tonnage. The chief reason of the present blockade, as it might also be termed, is the fact that the Hokitika, like all other snow-fed rivers during the winter months, fails to obtain the watershed of the dividing ranges, snow falling in lieu of rain on the higher altitudes. These, of course, are only realised under the influence and warmth of the summer sun, and the usual scour that clears the channel is consequently absent. But, irrespective of tliis, the Hokitika has spread of late years over a large area, and it has as many solitary little streams as there are fingers on the hand. As a matter of course, the depth of the main channel is very materially affected by the diversions, and till the whole stream is concentrated, nothing permanent to ensure the navigation of the river can possibly be done. Quite a chapter of accidents occurred on board the steamer Tararua while in the Hokitika roadstead. Previous to the steamer Waipara going alongside on Sunday evening, the crew (says the Register) were engaged heaving up the anchor by means of the patent windlass, which is connected by cog-wheels to the capstan on the forecastle. In consequence of the steamer pitching a good deal in the heavy sea, the capstan pawls became unshipped, and of course the whole of the strain was then thrown on the capstan bars, and the men being* unable to resist the strain, were hove about in all directions, some being seriously injured, and one man was hove overboard, but was fortunately rescued. Another accident occurred subsequently. It appears that one of the secondcabin stewards was proceeding along the deck, and losing his equilibrium through tlie rolling of the vessel, he, to save himself from falling, grasped at tlie steam winch while it was working, and his hand unfortunately came in contact with the cog-wheels, whereby he sustained a severe laceration of the fingers, so severe, indeed, that it is probable amputation of some of them will be found necessary. Correspondents of Westland journals are disposed to caricature the new Executive. Thus writes a contributor to the Greymoutli Star : “Of course Westland wants an Executive. What absurdity to suppose otherwise. A Provincial Secretary, a Provincial Treasurer, and a Provincial Solicitor. Then the Government offices will never be left in charge of a messenger. Office hours, from 10 to 3. Duties : when his Honor is disengaged, whist ; when his Honor’s duties compel his attendance at Wellington, cut-throat euchre. Extra salary to messenger on account of increased work in kee})ing said Executive supplied with beer. That’s the programme.”

CANTERBURY. According to the report received by the Times, Mr. C. Newton, of Messrs. Newton and Ford, met with a very serious accident. It is said that when he was returning home Ms horse shied on the Papanui Road, and then foil, throwing Mr. Newton and partly falling on him. He was conveyed home, and was in very great agony. It is feared that some of his ribs are broken. Tlie following particulars as to the employment of the immigrants by the Ballochmyle are given by tlie Press : —Yesterday being the day advertised for the engagement to take place at the depot, Addington, employers of labor attended, and a considerable number of the immigrants were provided with situations, all the domestic servants and single men accustomed to farm work being immediately engaged. The wages given were as follows : —Single men: Ploughmen, £SO per annum and found ; farm and general laborers, £4O to £SO ; boys, for farm work, Gs. to 10s. per week. Married men, £75 to £BO, with cottage for family. Country blacksmiths and wheelwrights, 355. per week and found. Single women: General servants, £25 to £3O ; nurses and housemaids, £2O to £25. OTAGO. The Times understands that Mr. John Muir has sold his property at Green Island, ninety-one acres, for the sum of £3OOO sterling. Mrs. Shaud, on whose property there are large coal deposits, was offered £42 per acre, and refused. Such is the rise on property in that locality. Mr. W. H. Pearson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Southland, in his report states that the total revenue collected at Invercargill Land Office was £113,90S 10s. Gd. The total cost of collecting which, irrespective of the ordinary work in the office entailed by past transactions, amounts to £985, or a ljd. in the -pound. In supporting a proposal made in tlie Provincial Council for the establishment of a branch immigrants’ depot at Palmerston, Mr. McDermid said he had visited the Immigrants’ Barracks at Caversham, and had found them to be much overcrowded, and in a disgracefully dirty condition. Another lion, member suggested that, instead of establishing branch depots throughout the Province, the Caversham Barracks should be enlarged to perhaps double its present size. There has been some hard hitting between the head of the Government and Mr. Fish in the Council. The latter, says tlie Star, was designated by the former as a political scavenger, and Mr. Fish retorted Ly saying* that no one knew better than Mr. Reid the advantages of such personages, and more required their services. Mount Benger’s member threw oil on tlie troubled water by remarking that the whole discussion might have been avoided had the Provincial Secretary explained, in tlie first instance, that the Executive minute to which reference had been made, had been agreed to on tlie Ist of April. Tlie following* is a clause in the Otago Roads Ordinance, 1871, Amendment Ordinance, IS7L passed by the Provincial Council, which deals with the rabbit nuisance in Southland :—lt shall be lawful for any district road board, from time to time, in maimer provided by the said Ordinance, to make and levy a special rate equally upon all rateable property within every or any subdivision of such district, and to apply the moneys raised by means of such special rate, or any part thereof, in and towards the destruction and extermination of rabbits in or near such district, in such manner and subject to such conditions and restrictions as the board may determine. And any district road board may also, instead of levying a .special rate, in order to raise money for the purpose aforesaid, apply any portion not exceeding in any year one twentieth part of the general rates of such district in and for that purpose. There is now, says the Southland Times, no doubt that diptlieria has made its appearance in Invercargill, and that a few decided cases of this dreaded disease have been developed. One or two deaths have also been reported, and considerable anxiety has been evinced on tlie subject by the community generally.

The Times states that 250 immigrants were sent to Southland by the Wanganui. There were then between GOO and 700 immigrants in the barracks. All the single girls—from 30 to 40 in number —were engaged at from £25 to £35 per annum. This was previous to the arrival of the Atrato, with her large list of passengers.