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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4142, 30 June 1874, Page 2

The New Zealand Times summary of the nows of the month will be published on Saturday morning, the 4th J uly, for transmission by the San Francisco mail. The 5.3. City of Adelaide, with the San Francisco mail, arrived at the Spit (Napier), at half-past eight o’clock last night. She experienced very bad weather, and a heavy adverse sea off the East Capo, and her voyage from Auckland was, therefore, unusually prolonged. Yesterday, however, the Btonny weather which may be said to have prevailed for the last month cleared away, ami the telegraph reports the wind and sea at Napier as calm. The City may, therefore, bo looked for in Wellington harbor in the course of the afternoon or evening. She proceeds on, without delay, to Lyttelton and_ Port Chalmers. She will, no accident occurring, arrive there on Thursday, and, beginning the return voyage immediately, will probably reach Wellington harbor on Saturday, in time to coal, and sail again for Auckland on Sunday. There her mails will be placed on board the Macgregor, which will come down from

Sydney to receive them, proceeding on to Kanciavau and San Francisco. The mail will close here on Saturday evening at seven o’clock p.m. It will be tight work, but if all goes well the mail from New Zealand will leave Fiji not much behind time, as the Macgregor will not coal there, is fast, and will probably make up some, if not all, her lost time in crossing the Pacific.

Another immigTant ship has arrived at Lyttelton—the Stonehouse, from London. She has brought 416 passengers, free of sickness, or, as the phrase goes, “ all well.” She made the passage out in 80 days. Simultaneously with her arrival, the Rakaia cleared at the same port for London, with a general cargo, valued at £95,000. Merchants, masters of steamers, and publicans should remember that fees for licenses must be' paid to the Provincial Treasurer not later than 4 p.m. this day. We understand that numerous applications for shares in the new Colonial Bank continue to be made. Upwards of 5000 shares have already been applied for in Wellington, and there is every probability of the whole number, 20,000, being taken up in the Province before the closing time, the 10th of July.

We observe that the Gardener's Chronicle of the 14th of March last contains a view, drawn on wood, of a scene in this Colony. It accompanies a short paper on the vegetation of the Colony, by John R. Jackson, and Is given chiefly to show tufts of the spear-grass —one of the plants peculiar to this part of the world. Complaint is made at Wanganui that the shooting of pigeons has been carried on of late in the streets there to a dangerous extent. The pigeons, it appears, have made their nests in the roofs of the houses, and the “game” is followed by men and boys regardless of consequences. Where are the police ? A change in the weather having set in, the proposed trial of the force of the reservoir supply will be made this evening in the neighborhood of the Odd Fellows’ Hall. Captain Moss, C.V.F.8., will superintend the operations, which will be conducted in presence of the various insurance agents, Mr. Whitehom, Goldfields Warden in Marlborough, states in a report which he has sent to the Under-Secretary for Goldfields, and a copy of which he has supplied to the Superintendent of the Province, that antimony of good quality, and in large quantities, has been found in Queen Charlotte Sound. He believes also that plumbago exists, although the quality is not yet proved to be very good, the surface only having been tried. The s.s. Wellington is expected to arrive at an early hour this morning from the North, via Nelson and Picton, 'with Mr. John Smith’s English and Continental Combination of Classical Artists, who -will give the first of their performances in this City this evening, in the Theatre Royal. The walls have been well covered during the last few days with pretty pictorial illustrations of the performances of the company, and if the company realise a tithe of the expectations those sketches lead the public to entertain, the artists will be great indeed. But we are assured that they are wonders in their respective departments, and, combined, form one of the most attractive exhibitions yet seen in Wellington. They comprise the Be Castro family,—one of the cleverest family of acrobats in existence, and not the least clever and attractive of whom is Madame Be Castro ; Val Vose, an accomplished ventriloquist, who makes his puppets do and say what he likes ; Airec, “the king of the air,” who performs feats on the flying, trapeze no other performer has attempted ; A. St. Vincent ; Young England ; Alberto ; Professor Saunders, R.A.M. ; Mademoiselle Montebello; Nellie Forrester, and Annette. The performances, we repeat, are reputed to be of the highest class, and though they come so soon after the English Opera Company, we cannot but anticipate for Mr. Smith a successful season.

Some exciting sport, attended with considerable danger, -was experienced by the occupants of Messrs. Norris, Cave, and Co.’s boat, on Saturday last, whilst whaling between Mana Island and Tetai Bay. A whale, of the hump? back species was struck, and immediately rounded and came under the boat, lifting it completely some six or seven feet in the air, causing, no doubt, a peculiar and not very agreeable sensation to those in the unenviable position, particularly as it was blowing half a gale at the time. On recovering their equilibrium, Cave lanced the whale, which immediately sank, tearing out the iron in going down. The men anticipate that the.., whale, from which they expect to get about five tuns of oil, would be got ashore at Tetai some time last evening. The deserted region of Custom House Street, ouce the busy haunt of commerce in Wellington, is about to resume something of its former appearance of activity. During the past month Messrs. Mace and Arkell have been making extensive alterations in the store once the abode of Stuart, Kinross, and Co., which has been found to be tolerably well suited for a brewery, in which line of business Messrs. Mace and Arkell have embarked a considerable amount of capital. Hogsheads, vats, coolers, and other conspicuous objects in a brewery plant have been already placed in position for ths commencement of actual operations, and in a few weeks’ time the existence of the new firm will exercise some amount of influence in increasing trade and competition.

The second soiree given by the Choral Society with the object of relieving the society of some of the debt which has accumulated during the past few years was scarcely so well patronised as the first of the series. There was nevertheless a very fair attendance, considering the many calls which have been made upon the people of Wellington during the past few mouths. The musical introduction consisted of several choruses from the “ Opera Series," two orchestral pieces, and three vocal solos, all of which were sung with creditable execution, and the attractions of the entertainment were greatly enhanced by a solo upon the English concertina, hy Mr. Lillington, a recent arrival from the old country. By the time the introductory portion was over, the attendance had greatly increased, and the soiree, though not a very great success, helped in some degree to secure the object of its promoters.

Mr. Berg, boat builder, who has supplied the local clubs with some well-finished racing boats during the past two years, has just completed an 18-ton cutter yacht, to the order of several gentlemen who form a Yachting Club at Thorndon. The yacht baa beautiful lines, and looks a splendid model as she stands upon the ways. Her keel is 30 feet long ; beam, 10 feet 9 inches ; depth of hold, 8 feet 6 inches ; and length over all, 11 feet 2 inches. Her draught will be 4 feet G inches forward, and G feet G inches aft, so that she will have a groat hold on the water, which will be absolutely necessary to counterpoise the force of her tremendous spread of canvas, the balloon jib above having a hoist of 48 feet, and an expanse of 28 feet on the foot. Mr. Berg has completed his portion of the work, but the completion of the internal fittings will occupy another fortnight. The cabin is to bo elaborately decorated and provided with six sleeping berths, which will speedily be brought into requisition, as her owners intend to make a rather extended trip in her to Lyttelton and Dunedin, thence to Auckland and back to Wellington. The cost of the yacht when finished ■will be a little over .£4OO. She is built entirely of New Zealand wood.

Mr. Bohman, an old resident of Boss, has just returned to that place from Cooktown. He left with the intention of going to the Palmer, but the news was so bad that he merely sojourned for a month at Cooktown, and came back home. The Ross Guardian states that he gives the rush a very bad name, and says hundreds arc coming back to Cooktown, most of them in a starving condition. According to his account, the only place where gold was found was on the left-hand branch of the Palmer, and the area was very limited.

Unusually heavy rain is reported as haringfallen in Wanganui last week. Mr. Baird, Provincial Engineer, will be busily engaged during the next two days laying off the Government reserve on the Adelaide Road for the erection of the immigrants’ cottages, plana for which are being prepared in Mr. Baird’s office. Seager’s foundry has just turned out what is technically termed a “junker” for the carriage of the water race pipes over the rough country on the West Coast. The “junker” is very similar in construction to the ordinary timber carriage, but is more remarkable on account of its strength and dimensions. Thewheels are ten feet in diameter, and with the fore-carriage attached the “junker” is rather a ponderous article. Possibly it will not be anything too powerful for the work it will have to perform. The following is said to be a communication received lately in connection with the case of a lunatic who came under the notice of the authorities :—“My wife is on board the steamer. Just shove her in the asylum, and oblige, yours truly.” The affectionate anxiety displayed by this carefully considerate individual as to the welfare of his better half is truly refreshing, and renders comment unnecessary.

A Bistrict Surveyor seems to be, according to local authority, a desideratum in Wanganui. The Chronicle notices the departure of Mr. F. Knowles from the district, and adds :—“ His removal will put the settlers of this part of the country to considerable inconvenience, which will be felt the more because of the Bistrict Surveyor having been stationed here during the summer season. Wanganui is now of sufficient importance to warrant its being constituted a permanent station for a Bistrict Surveyor, and its inhabitants ought not to be subjected to the annoyance of haring to refer to Wellington whenever they want information from the Survey Bepartment.” Remarking upon the prevalence of a particular class of crime in the district which it represents, the Wanganui Chronicle says : “ Two months have not yet passed away since the last sittings of the Supreme Court in Wanganui, and there are already five criminal cases to be tried at the next session. On Thursday morning a man named Billon was brought up at the R.M. Court here on remand from Martou, charged with obtaining money under false pretences. The evidence was taken by Mr. Moorhouse at Marton on the 17 th of June, and was read to the prisoner, after which he was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.” A magnificent piece of country is now being surveyed, says the Wanganui Chronicle, preparatory to its being offered for sale. It lies to the rear of the Feilding Settlement, between the Rangitikei and the Oroua Rivers, and is described by those who have personally traversed the block as being superior to any yet offered for sale in the district. It is for the most part level, and a great portion of it is heavily wooded, the timber consisting principally of totara, and other serviceable descriptions. Immediately the survey is completed this splendid piece of country will be submitted to public competion in blocks of various sizes.

Whenuakura bridge, says the Wanganui Chronicle , is rapidly approaching completion. It is anticipated that it will be finished within a month. The flooring will be about 43 feet above low water mark, thus making every provision for the worst floods, to which feature this river is frequently subject. The principle is much the same as that of the Patea bridge, the piers and cutwaters being of great strength. The driving has been remarkably good, the strokes averaging three inches from first to last. The centre spans resemble a two-storey house in their construction, there being first tiers of piles driven in to within a few feet of the water, then upon these are laid and morticed immense solid beams of timber, into which again are morticed other uprights, or posts as they are called, thus forming the piers and cutwaters. The whole structure is as strong as can possibly be put together, and is a massive piece of work. Immediately on its completion, Captain Low, the contractor, will commence the erection of the railway bridges at Waugaehu and Turakina, with which we hope he will be as successful as with the Whenuakura bridge. Mr. William Dale, of Patea, the TTti'/fyanui Chronicle reports, has come forward as a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council of Taranaki, and, adds our contemporary, “is likely to be returned. Certainly, it would be hai'd for the Patea settlers to find a better man to represent them in the Council. Acute minded, enterprising, thoroughly conversant with the wants of the district, and with some experience of the management of public affairs, Mr, Dale is just the man fitted to watch over the interests of Patea in the Provincial Council, and to urge its claims upon that body with discretion and success.”

The purchasers of the week of the British Admiral, cast away on King’s Island, and the officers of Customs who have gone there from Melbourne to look after the interests of the Treasury in the recovered cargo, are likely to have a lively time of it. A Victorian speculator, who visited the scene of the wreck before the sale, states it to a member of the Geelong Press as his opinion that the hunters on the island null give the sailors some trouble. They are “about thirteen in number, have rather peculiar antecedents, and are literally armed to the teeth. One man, who appeared to be a sort of leader among them, remarked to one of the visitors by the Pharos that ‘if any of the Customs men interfered with him he should cut their wizens,’ suiting the action to the word by drawing an enormous knife from its sheath, and brandishing it in the air.” AUCKLAND. A deputation has waited on His Honor the Superintendent to present a petition signed by between 1,000 and 5,000 names, praying the Superintendent not to give his assent to the Education Bill passed last session of the Provincial Council. All the members of the Provincial Executive were present. His Honor told the deputation that the action he had taken in the matter of the bill was, so far as he was concerned, final ; that he had reserved the Bill for the signification of His Excellency’s pleasure with respect to it. The only proceeding left was to petition the GovernmentHo undertook to forward the petition. Incendiarism in Auckland seems to be a fashionable crime. The last attempt was to burn down the Catholic Institute. The discovery, says the Herald, was made hy Mrs. Griffin, who resides on the premises. Between the hours of 8 and 9 a.m. she had occasion to go to the cellar of the building, and there she found a quantity of burnt paper, part of which was newspaper and the remainder wall paper. .Fortunately a sheet of tin intervened between the fire and the wooden partition, and the fire had burnt out without doing any injury to the building. That the fire had occurred during the morning was proved by the fact that a man named Smith, who also lives on the premises, went into the apartment of the cellar in which the charred remains of the paper were found at midnight on Saturday, before retiring to rest. He states tliat at 2.80 a.m. he was awakened, and found that half a brick had been thrown through his bedroom window. He went outside, but could not see any one, nor did he discover any signs of fire, but the supposition is that the fire had then been kindled, and the brick was thrown for the purpose of giving an alarm. There is at present no clue to the perpetrator of the dastardly act.

The death of one who was associated with the foundation of the colony is thus noticed by the Herald ;—Yesterday passed away, after a long and painful ilncss, —having fulfilled the allotted span of three-score and ten—one of those early settlers, in the person of Sirs. Gittos, the wife of Mr. Benjamin Gittos, of Wyndham Street. She arrived in the Colony in the James, early in 1840, and settled near the Mission Station, Hokianga. A few years subsequently, a section of the Northern natives under Kawiti and Hone Heke, broke out in rebellion, and threatened the destruction of the settlement. The deceased lady, her family, and other refugees were compelled to abandon their homesteads.

and at twelve hours’ notice seek the shelter and protection of the Colonial Govern- \ meet gun-brig Victoria, in which they were brought round to Auckland —the site of the city of to-day being then a series of raupo swamps, interspersed with patches of ti-tree. Mrs. Gittos has witnessed and endured all the vicissitudes to which the early settlers in Auckland were subjected, and leaves behind her a numerous issue to mourn their loss. HAWKE’S BAY. The Kennedy family have been giving a series of entertainments at Napier, with their usual success. NELSON. The management of the Nelson Asylum for the Insane may be very good, so far as the circumstances permit, but the following incident, related by the Jloss Guardian, would seem to imply a want of attention to not unimportant details :—“We regret to state that Mr. Thomas Green, late of Boss, died in the Nelson Lunatic Asylum on the Ist of December last. He was admitted to the institution on tile Ist of July, suffering from general paralysis and softening of the brain. Moat singular to relate, Mrs. Green only received the tidings of her husband’s death on Tuesday last. The deceased’s family are left totally unprovided for.” The following remarkable instance of defective recollection on the part of a bridegroom occurred in connection with an interesting ceremony recently performed at the Registrar’s Office, Ahaura. A rather elderly couple, writes the correspondent of the Grey 111ver ■Aryus, arrived by the coach, and the gentleman, after seeing his lady love comfortably provided for at Gilmer’s Hotel, went in search of the Registrar of Marriages. Having found that functionary the man stated that Ids business was to get “spliced,” and the preliminary proceedings were gone on with. It was necessary in filling up a form that the lady’s name should be inserted, but the would-be Benedict, on being appealed to, naively confessed that he didn't know the name “of his old woman ” that was to be, but he would soon find out. Ho accordingly bolted across the street, and on inquiry of his future partner learned for the first time that the Christian name of her who was to he his blushing, gushing bride in a few minutes, was “ Sally,” which was short for “ Sairey.” The registration clerk put it down “Sarah,” and the ceremony was shortly afterwards concluded. MARLBOROUGH.

In noticing the sudden death of Mr. Samuel Carter, on hoard the steamer Kennedy, the Jla rliorouyh Tim cs says;—Mr. Carter had, for the last seven years, the management of the sheep inns for Messrs. N.. Edwards and Co. The deceased had been for some time suffering from jaundice, but he kept himself about, and in the end he may really he said to have died in harness, as his death occurred on board the Kennedy while she was off Kekeranga taking in wool, the embarkation of which he was superintending, The body was brought to the Bordder Bank and thence to Blenheim. The funeral was largely attended. A climbing exploit, of which we (PressJ made note last week, has caused Mr. Macdonald, manager for Mr. W. Gibson, at Waipapa, to call and request us to state that he and Mr. Gibson have twice within this year crossed the Seaward Kaikoura with sheep, and on one occasion he was over the very highest peak. WESTLAND. The Kanieri district, to which an expensive water race is being introduced, seems to have good prospects of improving as a scene of mining industry. We notice that a claim recently opened out on the terrace situated above Kennedy's store, left-hand branch, is likely to turn out fully up to expectations, and the men are sanguine that it will pay well. In the town of Stafford there was lately held a meeting to consider the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, A member of the Provincial Council, Mr. Seddon, who was present, explained at full the nature of the Bill, and the advantage his amendment would be to the mining community, who had unfenced gardens and other mining property likely to be injured by what he designated as nothing less than vampires, who were not hona fide settlers, but living on their neighbors’ goods, and further stated that, according to the new Ordinance, there would not be a legal fence in the district. Then a most amusing scene ensued, in the shape of an irregular catechising as to what Mr. Seddon considered the qualifications of a bona fide settler. At the same time a person in the room came forward and said that Mr. Seddon himself must be one of the vampires above mentioned, as his cow had, on that very day entered a hut of Mr. Gardiner's, situate at the head of the Waimea Water-race, and consumed a whole loaf of bread and damaged the most of a pound of tea, the property of the above-named gentleman. As illustrating what private enterprise does for the development of goldfields, the Ross Guardian, mentions the case of Hoskins and party—consisting of four mates—who have taken up a sluicing claim of one acre in extent at Bullock Point. They have constructed a tailrace 300 feet in length, 6 feet high, and 4 feet wide. The sides areof wood, but the bottom is fiat stones, and consequently is not likely to wear out soon. Alongside the tail-race, but on a higher level, they have also made a tunnel 110 feet in length, on which rails will be laid, for running the stones, which will tip over into Donnelly’s Creek. The walls of the tunnel are of stone, and had to be covered in to prevent damages from landslips. These works took the pxwty seven months to complete, the amount of stones they had to remove being something enormous. Only one paddock has as yet been taken out, the yield from which was satisfactory, but something better is expected, Mr. White, as member of the Provincial Council, seems to be disposed to give a Boland for an Oliver. Certain questions were put regarding the conditions under winch he and his colleagues purposed holding scats in the Executive, and, on an unfavorable answer being given, they were ousted. Since Mr. White became a member of the Opposition or a “ free lance,” he has also tabled a series of motions, including these ;—“ Whether it is the intention of the Provincial Secretary to reside permanently in Hokitika ? ” “ Whether it is the intention of the Provincial Treasurer to give up Ids whole time to the duties of his office, or only to give such portion of his time to those duties as he can spare from his private business?” “Whether they will, before appointing a Provincial Solicitor, inform the Council as to whom they propose to confer the appointment upon ? ” “ Whether they can furnish any information to • the Council as to who recommended the General Government that the name of William Todd, Esq., should be added to the roll of Justices of the Peace ?"

There are now, says the WestUmd Jie'jisUr, upwards of -100 of the large iron water pipes / for the Waimea Race, stacked in the reserve at the back of the Town Hall, and the cry is “ still they come." The schooner Spray brought several pipes from Lyttelton, where 180 have been landed ; and thus Mr. Dolan, the contractor for stacking the pipes, will have his hands full for some time. On Saturday one of the pipes ex Lizzie Guy, which had been lying on the skids all night, slipped, owing to the frost, and rolled on to the ground, and unfortunately became fractured. As the accident was unavoidable, not arising through carelessness, it is probable that the amount for which the contractor if) liable (£3O) will be remitted. CANTERBURY. At on inquest held at Timaru, on Saturday week, on the body of Christina Ellis, the jury returned a verdict of “ Manslaughter against some person or persons unknown.” OTAGO. Mr. Charles Anderson, late manager of one of the N.Z. and A.L. Co.’s stations in Southhand, has been appointed Sheep Inspector in the room of the late Mr. Eielder. The immigration Depot at Caveraharn is pretty full at present. Those now reaiding there are chiefly the married people and dren by the Buckinghamshire and Atrato. A short time ago there were about 90 females in the barracks, but the number has since boon

reduced to about 70. At the last hiring some married couples were engaged at £OO per annum. There are men in the barracks now eligible for farm employment, but who are overlooked on account of having families. Others of the inmates are in employment, but cannot absolutely get house accommodation in town. Some of those now in the barracks are to bo sent to Oamaru and Invercargill. Nearly all the young men have been engaged—those remaining are of a class that will not find employment if people, by waiting a little longer, can get better. The Hindustan is soon to arrive. She has 344 souls—equal to 279 statute adults—on board.

The City Council and Insurance Companies of Dunedin have both the ability and the will to recognise the services of the local Eire Brigade as represented by their captain, Mr. Job Wain, jun. They are to present him with a very handsome testimonial. It consists of a gold watch and a silver tea and coffee service. The watch is a keyless, three-quarter plate hunting one, with compensation balance, twelve holes jewelled, and has a massive Colonial gold Albert chain. Tho silver tea and coffee service consists of four pieces, and is of elegant pattern. Belles of the moa continue to be obtained in Otago, and shortly a very accurate conception of the external appearance of tho great bird may be formed. According to a paragraph in the Times, an interesting discovery of moa remains has been made on tho Knobby Ranges, in the Mannherikia district. Mr. W. A. Low, of Galloway, and Mr. Allen, of Hawkdun Station, when out shooting, observed some bones under a rock. These were taken out by Mr. Allen, and amongst them there proved to ho a perfect tibia, with all the toes and claws attached. The tibia was covered with skin, and the muscular attachments of the leg and foot were well preserved. The skin is described as being like a piece of dried bullock bide, only scaley, and raised in patches. A number of other bones in an excellent state of preservation were obtained at the same time.

It is mentioned that Mr. Tolmie, the member for Portobello, in the Provincial Council, has handed to tho Secretary af the Benevolent Institution a cheque for the amount of his honorarium.

With a view to meet the present want of storage accommodation at Port Chalmers, a large building specially constructed for storage purposes, is to be erected on the land now being reclaimed from the beacii ,at Port Chalmers! The building will be 200 ft. in length, by 45ft. in width, and to be tw-o storeys in height.