NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4169, 31 July 1874, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY POR THE MONTH. JULY, 1874. [/■'or transmission iy the Ic.M.S. Cyphrenes, via San Francisco , or tl.c Jt.JI.S. Tararua t via Melbourne and Suez.] Wellington-, July 31. Parliament has been in session since the date of our last Summary (July 4). So far, no opposition of an organised character has been shown to the Government. Their proposals have met with little adverse criticism from members, and so much progress has been made that there are prospects that the whole business of the Parliament of New Zealand for the year will be disposed of in another month. In both Houses the replies to the speech of His Excellency on the opening of the session were agreed to with but little discussion and no opposition. In the Upper House the Hon. Hr. Campbell was the mover and the Hon. Mr Miller the seconder of the Address in Keply, and in the Lower Chamber the mover was Mr. Wales (Otago), and the seconder Mr Gibbs (Kelson). Both Houses afterwards adopted loyal addresses to Her Majesty on the happy occasion of the marriage of H.R.Hthe Duke of Edinburgh with a Princess of Russia. No question of any particular importance has occupied the Council, which, however, has now before it a Bill, introduced by the Colonial Secretary, to amend the Constitution Act. It proposes co introduce a system somewhat similar to that of Norway—of a third Chamber, composed ofrthe two Houses, to be called together by His Excellency in cases of disagreement of the two Chambers, and under conditions set foijjji in the measure. It is improbable, however, that the Bill will pass. It has not yet been discussed, but the impression seems to be that the Bill will not be acceptable to either House. The House of Representatives have had their hands full, although no measure of immediate importance, or interest beyond the bounds of the Colony, has been tabled The Financial Statement was made by Mr. Vogel, in Committee of AVays and Means, on the 21st instant. It was long and exhaustive, but effectively delivered, and was received with marked approbation by the House generally. An abstract, which presents all the features of the Statement which will have interest in England, appears in another page. The Treasurer stated that the financial year 1873-4 began with a deficiency of .£2159, in place of a small estimated surplus. The ordinary revenue for the year, however, had exceeded the estimate by £239,716, and the income of last year by £300,814. Its amount was £1,420,216, as compared with £936,188 in 1870-I—or an increase in that short period of 51 ’7 per cent. The great increase was in the Customs dutie, j namely, £259,797. Every head into which the revenue is divided showed an increase, excepting fees of various kinds and “incidental receipts,” and these showed a decrease of only £1507 on the aggregate. The land fund produced an “unprecedented amount,' being £1,038,797, as compared (excluding the revenue from gold) with £336,311 in 1871-2, and £209,623 in 1869-70. The total value of the imports for the year was £6,464,687, as compared with £4,078,193 in 1871. Of consumable articles imported in the year the value was £4,339,529, and of non-consumable articles £2,125,158. The ordinary expenditure of the yearwas £417,758, and the permanent charges amounted to £406,378. After allowances and deductions, the total expenditure was £667,295. The total payments from the Consolidated Revenue amounted to £1,128,942. The balance with which to commence the financial year 1874-5 amounts to £207,461. The proposed expenditure for the current year for ordinary services is £457,100 —the total for ordinary services and permanent charges is £1,315,293. The Estimates have since passed through the House of Representatives, with little or no opposition. The annual statement of the Minister for Public AVorks was made by Mr. Richardson on the 24th inst. Its most important paragraphs will be found in another portion of this sheet. It gives a gratifying account of the state of progress of the public works of the Colony. Perhaps the most important measure the Ministry have submitted to Parliament is the State Forests Conservation Bill Mr. Vogel introduced the measure, and on proposing the second reading made an elaborate explanation of the objects he had in view ; which were, to preserve the existing forests of the country from the enormous waste going on, by regulating the manner in which they should. be utilised, chiefly for the sake of the influence the existence of forests is proved to'have on the climate of a country, the health of the people, and the amenity of the land, and also for the purposes of revenue. His speech will be found in another column. His proposals, however, may be briefly, stated here. It is proposed that an annual sum of £IO,OOO for ten years should be paid in quarterly amounts from the Consolidated Fund to a special fund to be called “the State Forests Account,”, all receipts from forests to be paid into the same account. After the 31st of December, 1880, an excess of receipts over expenditure in the care and working of the forests will be applied to repayment to the Consolidated Fund of any winking fund from that account made towards "loans contracted fbr immigration and public works. The money....to be ...set ..apart during the ten years . will be, expended in the management and planting of forests, construction of works to give access to them,: rent of land acquired from forests otherwise than by selection, education of persons in the science of forestry, establishing of schools, and colleges for that purpose, formation- of: nurseries, &c. The Commissioner of Forests is to be empowered, from time to time during the five years after the passing of the Act, to select waste lands in blocks, the area selected not to exceed three acres for every hundred acres of Crown or private lands in any province, to form parts of the State Forests of New Zealand. The Bill, in short, introduces the system followed in Germany with success. The Premier has also placed before Parliament important papers on the South Sea trade, which he looks upon as likely to be most valuable in the future to this Colony. A small beginning, it may be added, has been made by subsidizing at a very moderate rate the steamer Star of the South to trade from Port Chalmers —calling at Lyttelton, AVellington, Napier, and Auckland—with the Fiji Islands. ; The vessel

is now on her first voyage under that arrangement.

Among the Bills that have passed the Lower House are measures for the abolition of imprisonment for debt, and the election of the Mayor of AA r ellington by the citizens at large. Parliament has engaged in an inquiry of some gravity affecting the reputation of Judge Chapman. District Judge AVard, of Timaru, some time ago forwarded telegrams to the Premier, requesting that Judge Chapman should not be allowed to try a case before him —Macassey v. Bell—the plaintiff a solicitor, and the defendant a newspaper proprietor in Dunedin, on the grounds that a son of the Judge was the partner of Macassey, and their business and family arrangements would disable Judge Chapman from holding the balance of justice impartially. Mr. Vogel declined to receive the telegrams as private. Judge AVard then desired them to be considered official. By some means their contents became partially known in Dunedin, and were published in a newspaper there. On Parliament assembling the production of the telegrams in question was called for. Mr. Vogel expressed an opinion that any inquiry into the matter would only increase an unfortunate scandal, which should be allowed to drop quietly out. of sight. The House, however, took a different view of the case, regarding it as of so serious a nature that it must be inquired into, in the interests of public justice, at the risk of one or other of the Judges concerned being sacrificed. The correspondence was produced. The Representatives have appointed a Select Committee of Inquiry, and Judge AVard has already arrived in AVellington on the summons of committee. Alexander McDonald, .whose case was referred to last month, pleaded guilty to having shot a horse, attached to a coach carrying Her Majesty’s mail, for the purpose of stopping the passage of the coach over land held by Maoris, with whom McDonald is associated as leader. His object was to hasten on the determination of a long-pending dispute.. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. It is understood the Natives have now withdrawn their opposition to the use of the road (which is in the Province of AVellington). Mr. Vuu der Hyde has been elected to represent AA r aitemata (Province of Auckland) in the House of Representatives. The Defence Minister has returned from Melbourne. He has given notice of a Bill (for Tuesday next) to amend the Native Lands Act. Two of the Maori members—Messrs. Taiaroa and Katene—have expressed the wish that the Act itself, which was passed last year, should be abolished, and that there should only be one law for settlers and Natives. It is understood that the Lower House ■will be engaged during next week chiefly on Maori matters. H.M.S. Challenger has sailed for Auckland, in resumption of her cruise, and H.M.S. Blanche has taken her place in the waters of Port Nicholson. The immigrants who are arriving find no difficulty in obtaining engagements. The reports from all the Provinces in this matter are alike ; though from Dunedin and Auckland complaints have came to hand of the character of some of the late arrivals. Some of them have been found too old to become colonists, others chronically unhealthy, and some by no means of an advanced moral type. Hope is expressed that the Agent-General and his agents will exercise greater care in selection in future. The weather has been exceptionally severe during the winter now passing’, all round the coasts of New Zealand. In AVellington the fall of rain has been very great. The San Francisco and Suez mails have again met at Port Chalmers. That via San Francisco (London, June 2) was five days late in reaching New Zealand ; that via Suez (June 12) was delivered at the Bluff seven and a half days before time. The Oyphrenes, for Fiji and San Francisco, with the mail, and the Tararua, with the Suez mail, will leave AVellington harbor almost simultaneously to-day. The Albion, which will probably sail on Saturday, will take a supplementary mail via Suez. SOCIAL. HALS. Challenger, which had been flying the blue peter at the fore all July 6, and got steam up early in the afternoon, steamed out to sea about four o’clock on her way to Auckland. ‘ It was blowing strong from the northwest at the time, though scarcely so wildly as in the earlier part of the day. After sunset, however, the gale again set in with squalls of great fury and heavy rain. The wind, however, would be from the land, and the Challenger, therefore, would have a not unpleasant run. A company is in the course of formation for the purpose of manufacturing the sulphur obtainable on AVhite Island. , The tenth half-yearly meeting of the Wei-' lington Co-operative , Society was held on Tuesday evening, tne 14th July, in the . Odd Fellows’ Hall. It was agreed that a dividend of one shilling and sixpence should be paid on all purchases made by the members during the half year ending 9 th June; and also the full amount allowed on shares by the. rules of the Society, viz., 6 per cent, per annum. H.M.S. Blanche, which had been expected for some days from Auckland, was signalled on July 15, from Mount Victoria, and steamed to the anchorage off Government House. The Government has entered into a contract with Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. for the'conveyance of the San Francisco mails from the Manukau to New Plymouth, .Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika, and back by the same route. . The s.s, Murray is employed on this service. As affecting the prospects of the municipal bodies of the -Colony, a proposal which will shortly come before the General Assembly has a great deal of interest. It is nothing short of a suggestion (which emanates from the Christ-' church City Council) that the whole of the revenues arising from business licenses, hawkers’ licenses, and possibly licenses, shall be handed over to the corporate body of each city in-the Colony. ■ Among the passengers by the Luna front Wanganui, on July 17, was Mr.' Parris,' the Native Commissioner. With’him came Ma-; maku, the chief of the tribes who inhabit the; country about the head-waters of the river; AVanganui. This chief, we : learn, has not; visited AVellington for a considerable number of years, and comes now to see the Native Minister. A number of ‘ survey parties have been out lately in the country about the Upper Wanganui, and their operations seem to have somewhat alarmed the Natives. Some of the AVaikatos, it also appears, have been threatening to come over into the valley of the Wanganui, to stop these parties. Mawaku is said to possess influence over a great many tribes, and a hope is expressed that his visit to Wellington will be attended with good results. . . - Hie'arrivals of English ships in the ports of the Colony during the week ending 18 th July have been more than usually numerous. The 13th of the month was marked by the appearance of no loss than four Home vessels in Otago ports. The Carrick Castle brought to the Bluff 220 immigrants, all well, after a smart passage of 77 days. The Caroline, 89 days from port to port, her place of sailing being Queenstown, brought to Dunedin a full shipment of 350 j statute adults, of whom 126 were single women and 77 single men, AVo may expect to hear more of this vessel, as 40 of her female immi-

grants are from Cork Workhouse. As the Caroline passed down the harbor two other ships were signalled at Taiaroa Head—the Cartsburn, from Glasgow, and the Hindostai? from London, each with about 300 immigrants, after good runs from England. The Devana, also, was off the Heads at the same time. Only a few days afterwards the fine ship Sussex arrived at Port Chalmers, after a very smart run of 75 days, bringing some 495 souls. In AVellington we have had the .'Waikato, with over 300 souls, and the Weymouth. At Auckland, the Countess of Kintore, with immigrants, has followed the James AVishart; and..-it Lyttelton the barracks are full with the Hereford’s immigrants. It is very gratifying to find that of all these immigrant ships not one has had occasion to go into quarantine. Mr. Holloway, who is now on a visit to New Zealand as the representative of the English Agricultural Laborers’ Union, has arrived in AVellington from Pictou, after having visited the Provinces of Nelson and Marlborough. The ship Loch Awe, which lately arrived in Auckland with immigrants, appears to have had a strange 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, has appeared in an Auckland 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. lam 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 AVeir, master of the ship Loch Awe.” At the last meeting of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, accounts were presented which showed the affairs of the company to be in anything but an uncomfortable position. An ad interim statement, made up to the 30th of April, shows that the receipts had, in round numbers, amounted to £55,090 ; the expenditure had been £45,206 ; leaving a balance of profit amounting to £9824. At the same date the capital stood at £14,160, in 1416 shares of £lO each ; the bank overdraft was £36,065 ; and the loan account was £6OOO. The weather in W ellington during the month has been bitterly cold and “blowy,” with heavy and almost continuous rains. In Otago and Canterbury the snow-fall has been heavier than has been seen for.many years, and even from the Thames in the far North, report comes of unusual cold and of the hills being snow-clad. It is worthy of notice that intimation of the probable occurrence of the late gales was timeonsly made by Captain Edwin, who practically represents the Commissioner of Customs in the work of comir micating information with regard to meteorological changes for the benefit of the maritime interest. During the month of June eighteen estates of persons who died intestate were placed in charge of the public trustee. Four of these were of persons who died in hospital, one of the dead was lost from a coasting schooner, and one was run over by a dray. The estates in each case only run from £5 to £IOO in value. Post Office Savings Banks were established in the Colony on the Ist of February, 1867, and at the end of that year the balance at the credit of depositors was £71,197. Since that time the deposits have steadily and largely increased. At the end of last year the balance at the credit of depositoi-s amounted to £664,807. The -amount of interest paid during the year was £20,106. Hetaraka Te Tawhero, of AVhakatane, Bay of Plenty, informs the Waka Maori that, on the 21st of May last, the Natives of that place completed a beautifully carved house, 61 feet long by 32 feet wide. The walls are 8 feet high, and the posts supporting the ridge pole 174 feet. The following are the names of the skilled artizans ,who executed the work ; Paniora, Te Hata, Mihaera, Hira, AVi Taopuku, Heremia, Te Matenga, aud Te Tatanaof Te Wh.anau-a-Apanui tribe. The Gazette intimates that five letters of naturalization have been issued within the last few days. One of the recipients is a fisherman at Invercargill (apparently an Italian), one a German, a jeweller, at Auckland, one a Chinese miner at Cromwell, one a Danish or Norwegian cooper at Greytown, and the fifth a settler—whose nationality we cannot guess—at Portobello. IMMIGRATION. Among the returns lately presented to Parliament, was one showing the expenses incurred in connection with each of the immigrats ships that have arrived in New Zealand, in the course of the year ending 31st May, 1874. The ships were sixty-three in number. The total amount of expenditure in connection with them was £25,010. The number of immigrants they brought was 12,901, and the amount of gratuities paid in connection with them was £13,245 ; cartage, wharfage, maintenance, &c., amounted to £7476 ; quarantine and medical expenses amounted to £3455. In the case of the ship Punjaub, that arrived in Lyttelton, there was a Commission of Inquiry which cost , £BO, . ,and the quarantine expenses 'in connection with her amounted to £990. The expenses in connection with the Douglas, at AVellington, were over £2OO. Those of the Duke of Edinburgh, also at this port, reached £95. The wreck of the ship Surat coat the Government £ll6B, of which £685 were expended in clothing for the passengers. A detention of the "ship Scimitar at Port Chalmers for three days cost the country £69. The quarantine expenses in connection with the fourteen ships which brought disease with them, were as follows; —Edwin Fox (Otago), £139 ; Halcione (AVellington), £ll4 ’; Punjaub (Canterbury), £990 ; Douglas (Wellington), £209 ; Lady Jocelyn (Otago), £l7l ; Duke of Edinburgh (AVellington), £95 ; Ocean Mail (AVellington), £4l ; Mongol (all ports); £584 ; , Carnatic (Otago), £251 ; Scimitar (Otago), £4BB ; Uity of Glasgow (AVellington)l £9O ; AVoodlark (AVellington), £55 10s. ; Dorette (Auckland), £lB4 ; and Golden Sea (AVellington), £45. Of nominated immigrants; the 1729 who arrived were distributed as follows;: —Canterbury, 661 ; Otago, 415 ; Wellington, 227 ; Auckland, 189 ; Westland, 90 ; Hawke’s Bay, 77; Nelson, 30 ; Taranaki, 24 ; and Marlborough, 16. There is another relating to the period commencing in July, 1873, and ending 31st May, 1874. The return shows the number of immigrants, assisted and nominated, the charterers, rate of passage, amount paid by assisted immigrants prior to leaving England, the amount of notes given by the' same, and the amounts paid in cash or bills towards passages of nominated immigrants. The particulars arc too many and minute fori us to quote at length, and an intelligible; summary cannot easily be framed. AVe subjoin,: however, some. of. the salient figures, such as| those relating to the distribution of the immi-; grants over the different Provinces and the countries from which they have come. The; distribution of the immigrants has been : Since July 1, Total 1873. to date.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. The followingtenders have been received atthe Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Paid Paid contract, Napier and Waipukurau Railway Accepted : 0. McKirdy, Wellington, £19,532. Declined : ' Oakes and Nathan, Wanganui, £21,877 ; Collie, Scott, and Wilkinson, Wellington, £21,903 ; W. Strachan,, Wellington, £23,501; Brogden and Sons, Wei* lington, £23,773; H. McNeill, Palmerston, £24,840; Mackay and Monteith, Napier, £29,173. For the Wangamii wharf contract: Accepted: Caiman and Richardson, Wanganui, £I7BB. Declined : Ohas. Simmons, Wanganui, £2IOO ; R. S. Low, Wanganui, £2436. For the supply of 22,000 olc«pers:~Accepted: W. H. Brightwell, Palmerston, 5000 at 45.; Richter and Naimestad, Palmerston, 7000 at 3s. lid. Declined : James Bull, Foxton, 10,000 at 4s. 7£d.; W. F, Oakes, Wanganui, 22,000 at 4s. 6d. For the construction of the Wiuton and Kingston Railway, section No. 2 :—Accepted : hi. H. L. Bennett, Invercargill, £27,835 16s. Bd. Declined : McMenamin and Co., Invercargill, £33,828 4s. 6d. ; George Proudfoot, Dunedin, £34,991 15s. ; T. and N. Campbell, Invercargill, £35,245 4s. ; James Davidson, Dunedin, £35,416 4s. ; Hawkins and Co., Dunedin, £35,750 ; W. F, Oakes, Wanganui, £39,143 ; Brogden and Sons, Wellington, £39,537 4s. Bd. ; Mattheson Brothers, Dunedin, £48,011. ACCLIMATISATION. It is satisfactory to find by occasional reports from the Provinces in which the acclimatisation of trout has been undertaken, that the experiment is proving highly successful, and that soon many of our rivers will abound with fish of a character calculated to gratify, by their existence or their capture, our Colonial Izaak Waltons. Only the other day, a trout weighing 141bs. loz. was found dead in a shallow of the river, Otago, and we notice that the favorable reports received some time ago from the Upper Thames are confirmed, Mr. Thorpe, of Ohinemuri, stating that the young trout liberated there are growing into goodsized fish. It is a pity, with such promising ndications of the rivers of the Colony proving suitable for trout, that more active steps are not being taken in all the Provinces to promote pisciculture. The Acclimatisation Society of Wanganui appears to have had some difficulties to chronicle in its efforts to introduce the hare. It was stated at a late meeting that two consignments had been sent from Melbourne. Of the first, consisting of five leverets, only one arrived alive, it dying two days after. Of. the second consignment of four, only two came safe to hand, and these were released on Mr. Churton’s property. MINING. Favorable news still comes from the Mohikinui. The Westport Times says:—“The reef in the prospectors’ claim is materially improving as it trends its way towards No. 1 North, and sanguine shareholders assert that if it continues to improve in the ratio at present indicated the reef will be all gold before reaching the northern boundary. At the river Messrs. Seaton and party are actively pushing on the construction of the coal wharf, and anticipate to be able, in a few weeks’ time, to supply coal in any quantity to skippers calling at the port Mr. Lewis Sweet, the licensed ferryman and accommodation-house keeper, has, in view of an increased shipping trade in the Mohikinui river, erected a thirty-five feet signal staff, to guide vessels in entering, and has made preparations to use Marryatt’s Code of Signals.” The Manukau Company (Thames) have completed retorting from a crushing. The yield from general stuff and from specimens was 2259 ounces. This includes lodgments previously reported. The general crushing continues! More rich stone was knocked out yesterday. Very satisfactory accounts continue to he received from some of the reefing claims in the Inangahua district, province of Nelson. The latest is contained in a private and reliable telegram, which states that 27 tons from the shaft of the Ajax claim yielded 54 ozs. when the gold was melted. At a depth of 122 feet the reef shows three feet of atone. The Golden Fleece reef is found to be ten feet in thickness as it approaches the Ajax. MAORI MATTERS. Some Natives of the Raglan district have lately purchased the cutter Dawn. Reporting the circumstances, the local correspondent of the Waikato Times says : —This vessel has changed hands, the purchaser being Mr. Andrew Barton, on behalf of certain Raglan and Waipu Natives, who have bought her in conjunction with their subscription store, which it is their intention shortly to register under the Joint Stock Companies Act. Since they have commenced here they have received a fair share of patronage, and, now that they ' possess this vessel, they will be in a position to compete with their European traders for the droves of pigs which are brought hero for sale during these months. The present master is to remain in command; he will he the only European in her, the remainder of the crew mil he Natives. Mr. Mita Karaka Ngatipare, of the Ngatitahinga tribe is the manager and agent here. This chief was formerly in. the Government Survey Office ; he is a licensed surveyor. The culture of the silk worm is about to be attempted amongst the Maoris in the district of Wanganui. - The Maoris of the Upper Wanganui district appear to be rather an enterprising race. They have just imported from the old country a flour mill, complete in all its parts, including an iron water-wheel. The Waitotara Maoris, says.the Wanganui Herald of the 16th instant, to the number of about 300 and some pakehas, assembled on Sunday to the opening of a large ornamental hall, called the shelter of Ngarauru (To Rurunga ' llauru). 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 was plenty of waipirau, and everything past off to the satisfaction of all ; present. , In the Supreme Court, Heta, a Maori, for horse-stealing at Hikaitaia, was sentenced to ; tyyo years' penal servitude. William Johnson was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude, i ;Heremaia Paapa, charged with murdering another Native at Wangaroa, was found guilty, but recommended to mercy. ■ During the evidence it was alleged that Tiinoti had held. improper intimacy with prisoner’s wife. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. . AMUSEMENTS. The Gourlay Family, we observe, are now performing with success at Taranaki. Miss Aitken is now making a tour of the mining districts of the Province of Nelson, She has given readings at the, Lyell and Reef-, ton, where she was well received, 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 perform-: ance. •

Hiss Clara Stephenson and her dramatic company, are playing successfully'at AVanganni. They have produced, or are about to do so, the burlesques of “Ixion” and “BlackEyed Susan,” “ Who killed Cock-Kobin ?” “ Camille,” “ Under the Gas-Light,” &c. The scenery is furnished by Mr. N. Thornton. 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 “ Mazoppa, or the Wild Horse of Tartary.” On first production by the Siamese Circus Company, that lately passed through Wellington without performing, Miss Docey Mainwaring took th s part of Mazeppa ; Mr. G. W. Collier, that o ; the King; and Miss Tilly Andrews, the character of the Princess. The other members of Collier’s Dramatic Company were assisted by the Foley Troupe and the Circus Company. The performance is said to have been very fair for a first production. A Mr. and Mrs. Wiltshire are performing in Dunedin some pedestrian feats. Their appearance is thus somewhat minutely described, by the Daily Times ;—■“ A goodly number of per-

sons 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, we trust her strength will not fail before completing the task she has undertaken. The interest as yet manifested in Mr. Wiltshire’s pedestrianism is is not so great, and may perhaps he 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 she occasionally makes good use of by knocking the heads of little boys who endeavor to peep through the canvas.” * The English Opera Company are now performing in Auckland. They will’ visit the Thames, and then proceed to Napier, taking Wellington again on their way South, en route for Melbourne. The “ Grif ” Company—so named from the fact that a dramatized version of Mr. Farjeon’s novel of that name is the leading feature in their bill of fare—are now performing successfully in Wellington. The Towers Family are the leading members of the company, -with Miss Rosa Towers, a very clever girl of some twelve summers, as the chief attraction. WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. The first meeting of the present season of the Philosophical Society was held on Saturday evening in the Maori house attached to the Colonial Museum ; the President, Dr. Knight, in the chair. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. Before the business of the evening was formally entered upon, Dr. Hector introduced to the society Dr. Berggren, of the University of Lund, who is at present engaged in making a botanical exploration of New Zealand, and Mr. Joseph Holloway, agent for the Agricultural Laborers’ Union, who is making a torn* of observation through the various Provinces for the purpose of furnishing a report upon the suitability of New Zealand as a field for immigration, THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. The President, in opening the business of the evening, delivered an able address, which' passed in review the various questions discussed at the society’s meetings during the past year. The delivery of the address occupied almost an hour and a half, so that its reproduction in extenso wouldnecessarily occupy more space than we have at disposal Its main feature was a dissertation upon certain peculiarities in the climate of New Zealand, and the evidences, which in the opinion of the President, proved the former existence of glacial periods in the southern hemisphere just as in the northern, hut occurring alternately, Upon this particular matter his views were opposed to those which attributed the former extension of glaciers to local or geographical changes and entirely in accord with Mr. Croll’s theory that the extreme periods of cold were due to changes in the eccentricity of the earth’s orbit. The effect of ice in producing surface features had, in his opinion, been greatly oveirated, and following up this opinion the President explained that the great ice sheets, several thousand feet in thickness, which the ice theorists required, could not have existed, as the pressure of the mass of ice would melt the lower stratum, Following up this line of argument Dr. Knight said he considered that the water which flowed even throughout the winter from beneath glaciers was the result of the melting, and that therefore there must be a definite limit to the thickness of ice, unless the temperature were much lowered. It was demonstrated as a matter of calculation that 3000 feet of ice, to remain as ice, would require the lower stratum to have a temperature of 13 degrees Fahrenheit, and in that case no water would, of course, flow from beneath the ice. At the conclusion of the address, of which the above is merely a brief outline, a vote of thanks was moved by Mr. W. JT. E- Travel’s, seconded by Mr. J. O. Crawford, and carried, both these gentlemen, however, pointing out those portions of the address the views contained in winch they took exception to.

Auckland .. 1,731 souls, . . 2,773 souls. Taranaki ' 27 „ . 42 Hawke’s Bay .. 1,063 „ . » 1,870 • Wellington . 2,839 „ . . 4,407 Marlborough . . 67 „ , . 198 Nelson ' . 35 „ . 44 Westland ■ 72 „ . 90 Canterbury . . 3,771 „ . . 5,654 Otago . 5,457 „ .. . 7,527 .. Total . . 15,102 „ . . 22,605 The nationalities of the above are— English . 9,167 souls. , . 13,445 souls. Irish . 2,502 „ . . 8,603 Scotch . 2,257 „ . 2,942 French . 178 „ . :178 .. Germans . 221 „ .. 592 • Danes . 473 „ .. . 878 • Swedes ' 212 „ . 223 Norwegians . 18 „ .. 559 Others s 74 „ . 105 » 15,102 „ .. . 22,605 „