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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4159, 20 July 1874, Page 2

At 9 p.ra yesterday the barometer stood at 29‘50, having fallen from 30.06 on Saturday at--5.30 a.m. Strong southerly gales may therefore be expected. A strong south-west gale, accompanied with thunder and lightning and hard squalls, was blowing at Hokitika yesterdays about mid-day. A special meeting of the City Council is convened for this afternoon, to consider a circular issued by the Christchurch Council t© the effect that it is desirable the revenues from publicans’, auctioneers’, and other licenses should accrue to the Council rather than to the Provincial Government. Statements are still made as to the prevalence of the truck system between contractors and workmen employed in tbe execution of public works. There was a strong agitation in Westland on the subject about a year ago, but the complaints are reiterated both in the Provincial Council and in the public journals. It is understood that the members of the Upper House whose residence is in Westland, and Mr. John White, M.H.R., all of whom have but recently concluded their duties in connection with the Provincial Council of Westland, are passengers to Wellington by tbe steamer Claud Hamilton. The s.s Macgregor is announced to sail from Port Chalmers on the 28th instant with the outgoing mail via San Francisco. The Gourlay Family, we observe, are now performing with success at Taranaki. The Education Board holds a meeting this forenoon. A meeting of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company was held on Saturday afternoon, to consider the state of the company’s affairs. There was considerable discussion—but nothing definite was arrived at as to what is best to be done in tbe position in which the company are placed, and an adjournment until next Saturday was agreed to. Yesterday a collection was made in Willis Street Presbyterian Church, both at the morning and evening services, for the benefit of the Foreign Missions, when a handsome sum was subscribed. The Kennedy Family attended, and gave their valuable services in aid of the choir. The Kennedy Family will make then’ appearance at the Odd Fellows* Hall to-night, for the last time in Wellington. The programme presents a very fine selection of both Scotch and English songs, and glees, and a trio “The Midnight Drum,” In the third part, Mr. Kennedy will recite a humorous Scottish poem, “ The Annuity,” written by the late George Outram, proprietor and- editor of the Glasgow Herald. The hall will, no doubt, be well patronised. The Claud Hamilton, from Melboum e reached Nelson on Saturday afternoon, at too late an hour to enter at the Customs. She is to sail at noon to-day for this port, and therefore may be expected in Port Nicholson sometime during the night. Miss Clara Stephenson and her dramatic company, are playing successfully at Wanganui. They have produced, or are about to do so, tbe burlesques of “ Ixion ” and “ BlackEyed Susan,” “ Who lolled Cock-Robin ?” “ Camille,” " Under the Gas-Light,” &c. The scenery is furnished by Mr. N. Thornton. Miss Aitken is now making a tour of the mining districts of the Province of Nelson. She has given readings at the Lyell and Reefton, where she was well received.

The celebrated Blondin, though not encouraged by the Melbourne authorities to pay that city a visit for the purpose of gilding public performances, is expected to proceed tliither from Sydney, and very likely we shall have him in the larger cities of New Zealand. It will be seen by our Melbourne telegrams that the Bifle Association of Victoria are in telegraphic communication with England, arranging for a match in which all the Colonies, including New Zealand, shall be represented. A telegram which had been received at the office of our evening contemporary, the Tribune , too late for publication on Saturday, has been courteously placed by the editor at our disposal. It is forwarded from Botorua, and is as follows;—“The Natives have concluded the sale of twenty-two thousand acres of forest laud on the west shore of Lake Botorua to the Government. The Natives are anxious to deal with several other large blocks of land on the north and east shores of the lake.”

Acting on the principle that prevention is better than cure, the directors of the Wellington Public Hall Company have laid on to the stage and body of the building, a supply of water, which is expected, in the event of a fire occurring, to check if not extinguish it. The experience of the larger theatres in the Colonies, however, has gone to show that water, when once a fire has obtained a fair hold of the inflammable material of which the appurtenances of a stage are composed, only tends to aggravate fire. Having this in view, all the recently erected structures are fitted with patent fire ‘aunihilators imported from Prance. It is to be hoped, however, that the Company ■will never be called on to use even then-pre-sent remedy for a great evil. A Stud-breeding Company has been formed at Wanganui. The capital is £15,000, in £5 shares. Por the present, the company will confine its operations to the breeding of horsestock. J The Waitotara Maoris, says the Wanganui Herald of the 16th instant, to the number of about 300 aud some pakehas, assembled on Sunday to the opening of a large ornamental k®* hall, called the shelter of Ngarauru (Te Eurunga Baiun). A great many complimentary speeches were made by different chiefs from Patea, Whenuokura, and Waitotara, all tending, to uphold good feelings with everybody, and showing a determination to abide by law and. order. There ivas plenty of waipirau, and everything past off to the satisfaction of all present. On Saturday, at the Besident Magistrate’s Court, after disposing of a case against one drunkard, the charge against the man Phillips,, for assaulting and obstructing the crew of the ship Weymouth, was called, and the prisoner, on being placed in the dock, pleaded guilty to the assault, but denied the charge of obstruction. No prosecutor, however, was present, from which fact the natural inference to be drawn was that the prosecution was abandoned ; but the Magistrate preferred to wait a little time for the complainant, and as there was no other business on, those whose duties connect them with the Court affairs enjoyed the privilege of waiting the convenience of the person who lodged the complaint. Just as the patience of even the Magistrate, which is long-suffering, was about exhausted, the captain of the ship and his witnesses made their appearance, and the accused was brought back, and the case commenced,, the prisoner on this occasion pleading not guilty to all of the charge. Those who hoped to see the case diposed of were disappointed, for the prisoner required ■witnesses from the *V ship, so the affair was adjourned until Tuesday. It must naturally occur to any visitor to the

Resident Magistrate’s Court of Well ln gto that prosecutors and plaintiffs in cases have their convenience studied in a most accommodating manner. In fact, the time of other people seems altogether a secondary consideration. A few days ago the captain of the Waikato had a case against some of the immigrants ; the case was called on at the usual hour, but the prosecutor was not forthcoming. After keeping tho Magistrate, clerks, police, reporters, and the public waiting for an hour, the complainant put in an appearance, and the business proceeded. So lenient is the Court in this matter that no 'explanation of the delay was asked, nor was it proffered. Instances of this kind, both in criminal cases and civil ones, are of frequent occurrence, and if his Worship would adopt the 'usual course, by striking out the case, and thus necessitating fresh proceedings being opened, the evil would probably be speedily remedied. On Wednesday evening the Theatre will be opened by a company known in the South under the title of “ Grif,” the name having been adopted in consequence of the managers having in their possession a dramatised version of Mr. B. L. Bar jeon's well-known and popular novel. The names of the performers are mostly new to the City, and from the success which has attended them in the other Provinces a successful season may fairly be expected here. The opening drama, “The Waif of the Streets” is from the pen of the well-known author, Mr. Benjamin Halliday, and it abounds in incidents of the most startling character. It exposes the system of baby-farming so long rampant in England, and the hero is rescued from a horrible and ghastly death, as the bills say, by the twentieth part of a second. The leading character is filled by a young lady (Miss Rosa Towers) of only thirteen summers, and she is described by those who have seen her as being a wonder of talent, possessing a power of expression which is said to be extraordinary. Entirely new scenery is being painted for the piece by Mr. T. S. Kemp and his assistants, so that gives a guarantee of its being well placed on the stage. After playing here the leading members of the company proceed to Melbourne under engagement to Messrs. Harwood and Co. The ship Loch Awe, which lately arrived in Auckland -with immigrants, appears to have had a strangs master, and a still stranger surgeon on board. The former refused to give the reporters any account of his passage, and the latter has since been charged with most improper behaviour to the females under his charge. The following letter respecting the surgeon, from the master of the ship, addressed to the editor of the Auckland Bxeniny Star, appears in that journal :—“ Sir, —As many slurs and insinuations have been thrown at me by the doctor of the Loch Awe, I think it about time I answered them. I am open to any examination being made as to the character or - behaviour of myself, the officers of my ship, or anyone connected with her during the voyage; and as he has passed the remark that I am an ungrateful dog, I return the compliment. He is a liar, and no gentleman—not even a manly man.—Yours truly, James Weib, master of the ship Loch Awe.” An old story of an early settler is told by the Wanganui Herald “ About two months after the completion of one of the whaling seasons a man who preferred to remain in Hew Zealand while the remainder of the crew to which he belonged went to Sydney, heard that there was some grog to be got about sixty miles from where he was staying. He had just enough money to buy one drink, and he set out to get what he could. After getting his drink he waited till he saw there was no chance of getting more, and then set out on his return journey. He had, however, brought with him a little memento, in the shape of the cork bung of the rum keg. This he tied to a string and hung it above his bunk in such a way that he could easily reach it with his hand ; and every morning the first thing after waking up would be to have a smell at his cork. But, alas, this did not last long, for after a time he found that the odour of the rum had by degrees faded away, and he was left to ruminate on the 'pleasant past and the prospect of a good time to come with the next whaling season.” We regret to leam that an unfortunate accident occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Wairarapa Road, near Eeatherston toll-gate, which terminated in the instantaneous death of a well-known member of the community, Captain Cleland, of the Militia and Volunteer Forces. We, leam that the deceased and Mr. Barber were riding down from Greytown to the Hutt, when at the place named they met the mail coach coming down the hill As the coach was passing the deceased the horse he was riding shied, apparently at some Maoris, towards the coach, the forewheel of which struck the horse, which again shied, springing towards the side of the narrow road. Captain Cleland had been partly unseated by the first mistake made by his horse, and now lost his seat, falling with his head between the wheels of the coach, which by this time had all but pulled up. It was supposed by Mr. Barber that the wheel passed over the neck of the deceased, but it would appear from the other evidence which we understand was given at the inquest that, the fatal blow on the cheek and neck was given by the horse of the deceased, the bridle of which Captain Cleland still held in his hand. It had either kicked or jumped on the deceased in its alarm. Heath was instantaneous. The Coroner held an inquest on the same afternoon, when the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and added a rider exonerating the driver of the coach from all blame. On the removal of the body of the deceased gentleman from Eeatherston to the Hutt, yesterday morning, the settlers showed their respect by following in large numbers, headed by Mr. Wardell, K.M. The funeral, we understand, takes place on Tuesday, the procession leaving the residence of the deceased at 3.30 p.m. Captain Cleland was fifty-six years of age, and at an early period of life was connected with the army. He has resided in or. near Wellington for some sixteen or seventeen years. .He leaves a widow and a numerous grown-up family. He left the service of the Government some time ago, „ but had resumed his position as Captain and Adjutant of the Militia and Volunteers at the express desire of the Government, who were desirous of securing his valuable help in reorganising those forces. He was very popular in the Hutt and Wairarapa districts, as well as in Wellington, and will be mourned by a large circle of friends.

The subjects of education and public works seem to have, apart from administrative changes, received most attention in the Provincial Council of Westland during its past session. Referring to these in his closing address the Superintendent says :—“ The passing of the Education Ordinance I look upon as one of the most important features of the session, and I believe that the measure you have submitted to mo as the result of your deliberations is one which will be found to be fair in its operation on all classes of the community, and will enable us to remove one great difficulty which we have labored under for so many years. The resolutions you have adopted recommending the borrowing of money for carrying on the most pressing works required for the further improvement of the Province, I will use my best endeavors to have effect given to, and seeing the care and attention which have been bestowed on the selection of only such works as are likely to bo immediately reproductive, I feel assured will have considerable weight both with the Government and the Legislature when the matter comes on for consideration.”

We observe from the Auckland newspapers that a number of pretty well-known actors have lately taken to the circus business, for the histrionic parts of such plays as “ Mazeppa, or the Wild Horse of Tartary.” On first production by the Siamese Circus Company, that lately passed through Wellington without performing, Miss Docoy Mainwaring took the pari; of Mazcppa ; Mr. Gr. W. Collier, that of the King; and Miss Tilly Andrews, the character of the Princess. The other members of Collier's Dramatic Company were assisted by the Poley Troupe and the Circus Company. The performance is said to have been very fair for a first production.

An unusual reason for the non-publication of telegrams is givfen by the Taranaki Herald, which says :—“ We leam that tho telegrams did not go through on Saturday last. The reason assigned by the Native for not conveying them, was that, his father having died, he was engaged in making a coffin for him, and could not get another man to take his place.” Major Kemp has been in trouble at Wanganui. He was charged before the Resident Magistrate, on Friday last, with assaulting a butcher named Pawson, shojiman with Mr. Hall. Pawson said—Defendant came' into the shop, and accused me of taking £5 from him instead of £l, and not giving him the proper change. He had a discussion with me about the matter, and he became bouncible and then pushed me out of the shop, I got into the shop again and threw him out on the pathway. He came back and struck me across the fingers with a stick. He created a great disturbance as a crowd of Natives came around, while the defendant was calling me names in Maori which I partly understood. He struck me while I was on the pathway. I believe he was drunk at the time. —Major Kemp deposed—l went into the shop to purchase some meat, I objected to pay Pawson for it, as he took £5 of mine and did not give me the correct change. A discussion between us ensued, and Pawson struck me on the chest and pushed me out of his shop against a post. I felt hurt, so I struck at him with my stick but I did not touch him. The policeman told me to go away, and I did so. I returned to the shop again, but Pawson ran at me with a stick. I wanted to be friendly with him but he would not listen to me, so I went away and made my purchases at another shop.—-The R. M. said that Kemp had not acted the part of a gentleman, which he' professed to be, and he had committed a serious offence. Pined 205., and costs 14s. A Wellingtonian who is making a tour of the Colony, has sent us some notes of his first impressions of the places visited; but he does not excel in descriptive writing, in humor, or in charity. In his description of Nelson, he gives some particulars of the local industries; but the facts are familiar except, perhaps, those relating to a new manufacture, to which he thus r-efers :—“ Hearing that there was a coalmine at Richmond, about eight miles from town. I was anxious to inspect it, as I had never seen one before. The seam is about six or seven feet thick, and of excellent quality, and there appears to be a kind of black gum between the coal and stone, which the enterprising owners send to town and manufacture into shoe blacking, printers’ ink, black paint, and splendid Japan varnish. After I returned to the city, I made some inquiries regarding this new industry. Some told me the blacking was not of much account; others, that it was not to be equalled, therefore I paid a visit to the infant factory. I found the proprietors andfour boys busy makingandpackingtheblacking. I was surprised at its brilliancy when used, and found it did not rub off like other blacking. The polish was also more lasting. It can be manufactured cheaper than the imported article. They then showed me the paint, which was really fine; and it is said by those who have used it here, that it is harder and more durable than any other black paint brought into the Colony.” A Californian paper, in speaking of Mr. Hoskins’ and Miss Colville's performances in San Francisco, says :—Mr. Hoskins’ Dr. Pangloss was an admirable impersonation in every sense of the word, but his subsequent performances have only tended to show how an old actor’s vanity may lead him astray. His Young. Marlowe and Benedick were almost ridiculous, not that they were by any means badly played, but that Mr. Hoskins could not by any possibility “look” the parts. Miss Colville is a very pleasant lady-like actress, but has been sadly overtasked during the past week. Her Miss Hardoastle was the only enaction to which we can award any praise. AUCKLAND. Two seamen were lately convicted of the murder of a man named William Wright, in a house of ill-repute in Auckland. The deceased was drunk at the time, and his assailants were not sober. The jury who tried the men accompanied their verdict with the following rider : “ The jury is of opinion that the most stringent measures should be taken for the suppression of so many houses of ill-repute, which were a scandal and a nuisance to the peaceful inahabitants of the City.” The Waikato Times says ;—“Mr. James Mackay has completed his work in the Waikato, and will leave this morning. We have occasionally to find fault with the policy he as a Government official had to carry out. We are of opinion, however, he has carried out that policy faithfully and well. Mr. Mackay did more than adhere to the strict letter of his instructions received as a Government agent. To him we are indebted for having —during periods of panic, supposed or real—imparted to many of our frontier settlers a feeling of security that effectually checked their meditated flight from the district. Those who are conversant with the customs of the Natives will acknowledge that the horizon of the Native question presented an exceedingly gloomy aspect when Mr. Mackay came into the Waikato. If previous similar acts of the Natives were to be considered as an earnest of what was to be expected from the depredations that culminated in the murder of Sullivan, we have been fortunate in our escape from another Native struggle of considerable magnitude. Native matters look no more unsettled at the present moment than they did before the murder was perpetrated to which we have just alluded, and Mr. Mackay’a presence in the district is considered by the Government as no longer required. He will, we understand, be engaged in negotiating the purchasing of land from the Natives for the Government, and, from what we know of Mr. Mackay, we are justified in stating that it would be difficult to find another so well fitted to the work. The settlers have shown their respect for Mr. Mackay, and their regret at his departure from amongst them, in a manner that we have no doubt will be long remembered by that gentleman.” CANTERBURY. The Christchurch Council considers kerosene lamps for street-lighting purposes “ simple abominations,” and have appealed to the Gas Company to extend their mains, so that all the streets may be lit with gas. The following is printed~by the Lylldlon Times as a true copy of a notice recently posted on tho shop door of a tradesman in High Street : —“ Notis to the publick Gon howt fur a fu Ours to sel sum laud.” The work on the western breakwater, the Lyttelton Times reports, is progressing very satisfactorily. On Thursday a successful blast of some 20001bs. of powder was fired. The report was not great, but the amount of debris brought down was very large, it being estimated at 10,000 cubic yards. WESTLAND. Two of the largest buildings in Hokitika lately narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire. One was the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre; the other, tho Empire Hotel. The damage done to the Theatre amounted only to a few pounds, which was at once paid by the New Zealand Insurance Company. A recent shock of earthquake, felt in Hokitika, is' said to have lasted seven seconds, an,d to have boon preceded by a rumbling sound. The Groymouth Coal-Mining Company seem to bo progressing with their works. They have called for tenders for the construction of coal-shoots at Wallsend, the name given to the locality by an inventive publican, and now apparently generally adopted. NELSON. The plant of tho Charleston and Westport lino of coaches was sold on Monday at Charleston. It is not the intention of the purchaser to continue running tho coaches, but new arrangements will probably bo made for the summer season. Fifteen hundred pounds wore received last week for publicans’ licenses in tho Reofton District. The Lyoll District will probably yield at least £9OO.

The last rain-fall at Charleston is estimated to average not more than ten days’ supply to the district.

In the Grey Valley the settlers are taking every advantage of the weather to get their land turned up and sown. The area under cultivation will not be so large as last year in consequence of many of the leading agriculturists having to leave a good portion of their clearing in grass to prevent the soil becoming exhausted. The mining news from the various centres speaks of an unprecedented depression that will not be likely to be improved until some steps are taken by the Government to promote the mining enterprise by encouraging prospecting and opening up the country. The Inanyahua Herald has the following : We understand that the Energetic Company during the past month have disbursed £9OO for ■wages, representing between sixty and seventy hands employed on the various works. With favorable weather, it is expected that the entire coal tramway will be completed by the 11th inst. The sections between the machine site and the Band of Hope are now being used for the transport of the machinery. A great deal of labor has been expended on the extension of the machine site to render the foundation for the stamper boxes perfectly solid ; the bed logs are now in position for the batteries, and on all the various works very satisfactory progress is being made. It is mentioned that Mr. Guinness, senior, being the junior Warden on the Nelson Southwest Goldfields, will be removed, and Mr. Whitefoord will be offered the Collingwood Wardenship. Dr. Giles, of Westport, will have to relieve Mr. Broad of his duties at the Lyell, while the latter gentleman will need to attend to the Reefton business and hold periodical Courts throughout the Grey Valley and Cobden. How often Courts are to be held in these latter places is not yet determined, and will mainly depend upon circruhstances. William Kennedy, who was injured by the fall of a tree at Larry’s a few weeks ago, expired at Reefton. The injuries to the spine and other vital parts were such as would inevitably prove fatal, and notwithstanding every care and attention of the medical officer and those who attended him, he gradually sank, until death relieved him of his sufferings. A correspondent forwards to the Grey Star an account of a brutal and unprovoked assault on Police Constable Meredith. The constable was riding in the neighborhood of Totara Flat on Sunday, when he was savagely attacked by a man named Benuet with stones. Meredith immediately dismounted, and a hand-to-hand scuffle ensued, Benuet keeping a large stone in his hand, with which he succeeded in inflicting serious injuries on the head and body of the constable. After a severe struggle, Meredith succeeded in handcuffing the ruffian, but he escaped in the “ darbies” and obtained a further supply of his favorite missiles, and as the constable by this time was nearly blind, he drew his revolver and threatened his assailant’s life. ■ A fatal termination to the affray was prevented by the arrival of some travellers, who helped the constable in his emergency, and assisted in conveying Bennet to the Ahaura lock-up. Both principals in the transaction presented a sickening sight on their arrival, from the rough usage they had received. The only cause assigned for the assault is that the constable had arrested Bennet some time previously. OTAGO. A cargo of railway sleepers has been imported from Puget Sound by Messrs. Erogden and Sons. They are of red pine, and said to be inferior to New Zealand timber. The hull of the wrecked ship Surat still holds well together. The divers have not been able to do much work lately on account of the frost, and a large quantity of railway iron still remains on board. It is supposed that when the cargo is all removed it will be possible to get the ship afloat once more. Every piece of land in the Popotunoa district, says the Bruce Herald, is eagerly snapped up by the capitalists. There was a block of 900 acres on a range handy to the settlers, who had consulted amongst themselves, and resolved to buy it in .sections and run cattle on it, but before they had time to do so, it was snapped up by a moneyed man in the district, who posted to town and bought it privately from the Government. It shows the increasing value of laud in the Waiwera district, remarks the same journal, the fact that the Lambourne Estate, comprising 1800 acres, was lately sold to the N.Z. and A. Land Co., for the sum of £9OOO, or £5 per acre. Mr. James Shand, of West Taieri, we may add, has purchased lately a splendid farm of 285 acres, in the Maungatua district, for the sum of £l7lO. According to the returns relating to immigration and emigration at the port of Dunedin during the month of June, there seems to have been a balance of 1818 persons in favor of the Province, exclusive of 521 Chinese. The moa leg bone with the large piece of flesh attached, found lately up country, has arrived safely at the Dunedin Museum. The bone with its covering, says the Times, gives a vivid idea of what the moa must have been. It is in really a wonderful state of preservation. A large landslip has again occurred in the railway cutting near Couperthwaite’s coalpit, about four miles from the Clutha, at the same spot where last year some 2000 feet of earth had to be removed from the effects of a similar occurrence. The height of the cutting at the spot is over 23ft., and the quantity of earth which has just fallen is probably now 1000 ft. We hear, says the Lake Wakaiip Mail, of the opening up of some new ground at the branches of the Shotover. That old mining resident, Mr. Welsh, has discovered payable ground in Maori Gully in that part of the district. Of course the frost is interfering with all operations, and especially with sluicing claims. Even in the river works the frosts are felt to be too severe, and prevent working. Pheasants are very numerous in the Kaihiku district. Mr. Campbell, of Glenfallach, says he never goes out into his fields without flushing at least two or three, and sometimes more. The autumn sown wheat and oats, Puerua, are coming up vigorously, and'in many paddocks are in a very forward state. The clay overlaying the brown coal deposit at the pits of Mr. R. Couperthwaite, jun., Hill End, Lake Side, is found to bo capital for topdressing, probably containing muriate of soda, phosphates, and other valuable agricultural ingredients. Two men now employ themselves in carrying coals up the Molyneux River in a ship’s jolly boat. They track up and down, when without wind, showing the practicability of a tow-boat system being carried out. The idea is to carry coal up tiro liver, timber, produce, and goods down. Mr. J. B. Steele had a crowded house on the night of his benefit at Dunedin. The house was suddenly cleared on the fire-bell being rung, but not until nearly the close of the performance. A Mr. and Mrs. Wiltshire are performing in Dunedin some pedestrian feats. Their appearance is thus somewhat minutely described by tho Daily Times :—“ A goodly number of persons visited the marquee erected in the Provincial yards at different periods yesterday, for the purpose of witnessing Mr. and Mrs. Wiltshire proceed in their feats of walking 1000 and 500 miles respectively. Mrs. Wiltshire was dressed in very neat walking costume, and occasionally shook her beautiful jet black curls as she advanced on her journey. Her figure is rather slight, and as the present is her first attempt at walking against time, wo trust her strength will not fail before completing tho task she has undertaken. Tho interest as yet manifested in Mr. Wiltshire’s podestrianism is is not so groat, and may perhaps bo explained from the fact that he has accomplished the feat on a former occasion, in Christchurch. Mrs. Wiltshire carries a balance, in the shape of a knobby little stick, which sho occasionally makes good use of by knocking tho heads of little boys who endeavor to peep through tho canvas."