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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4170, 1 August 1874, Page 2

In consequence of the pressure on our space during the days of the sitting of Parliament, we have been unable to give many available pertinent quotations of contemporary opinions on the subject of the State Forests Bill, and articles on the licensing question, but expect to be able to find room for them in the next two issues. The mail steamer Cyphrenes arrived in harbor at half-past seven o’clock yesterday morning, bringing up the Suez mail which she received from the Albion at Port Chalmers. The mail was immediately landed, sorted, and delivered, so that merchants and others who desired to reply to their correspondence byway of Suez, or by the San Francisco route, were able to do so. The Tararua sailed about one p.m. for the South, following the Wellington. Both vessels went away at a good pace, and there will be some rivalry as to which vessel shall reach Lyttelton harbor first. The Cyphrenes was detained until four p.m., when she steamed away, with the prospect before her of a pleasant run along the coast. The Select Committee on the Ward-Chap-man case sat yesterday forenoon, in prosecution of their inquiries. Judge Ward, it is understood, was under examination for some time. Of course, the proceedings of the committee are private ; but if the whisper of the lobbies is true the committee will have more work before it as to how confidence is betrayed, and matters supposed to bo secret find their way by times to a portion of the southern Press. The s.B. Albion arrived in Lyttelton from Port Chalmers yesterday forenoon. She would sail again in the afternoon, at an early hour, and may therefore be expected in the harbor soon after sunrise. She is announced to sail again for Nelson, the West Coast ports, and Melbourne this afternoon.

Considerable interest appeared to be taken in the proceedings of the House of Representatives last night. There was a good attendance of members, the ladies' gallery was graced by the presence of a large number of ladies, the Legislative Council’s gallery had a few visitors late in the evening, the Speaker’s gallery was crowded, and the public gallery was full to overflowing. The business before the House was the State Forests Conservation Bill, the debate upon which was somewhat one-sided, only one member, Mr. Tribe, venturing to express open hostility to the measure. It is possible, however, that an expectation of hearing a discussion on the Licensing Act Amendment Bill, which stood earlier on the paper, but was postponed until the second reading of the State Forests Bill was disposed of, was part of the attraction. The incomprehensible telegram which was received respecting the contents of a letter from Mrs. Howard, published in Dunedin, is explained by the text of the letter as we find it in the Daily Times. References were made in the telegram to immigrants leaving their hotel, &c., on the night before shipment at London, and that matter Mrs. Howard very elaborately explains. She says nothing, however, about her peculiar selection of immigrants, or her transactions with the Cork Board of Guardians. The Industrial, Permanent, Laud, Building, and Investment Society bids fair, • we are informed, to be a success. The applications for shares have exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the promoters, and they are preparing for the commencement of operations during the present month. The last exhibition of Baohelder’s Collossean Pantaacope takes place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall this evening, and the exhibition is not the only or the greatest attraction, for there are accessory entertainments, and extraordinary inducements to those who may be spectators in the fact that there are to he distributed gifts numerous, various, and valuable. We have to acknowledge receipt of two local publications—the eighth number of the Educational Gazette , published by Mr. Bowden, and the fourth number of Mr. Moseley’s Monthly Price Current —both creditable productions. The long talked of sale by auction of the Hew Zealand Steam Shipping Company’s fleet took place yesterday, at Mr. R. J. Duncan's auction rooms, where there was a large attendance, including many who, it was reported, were prepared to run the bidding up pretty well if the steamers should be offered separately. After reading the conditions of sale, and explaining a few details, Mr. Duncan submitted the lot, comprising six steamers, one barque, and one coal hulk. The bidding was started at £55,000 by Mr. John Martin, and there it stopped, for there was no advance offered. After dwelling for a considerable time, the auctioneer called the third and last time at £■55,000, when £75,000 was bid on behalf of the company, and the lot were passed in at that price. In a review of the Parliamentary papers relating to the South Sea Islands, the Lyttelton Times makes the following suggestion ; “ They contain a very large amount of solid information about Polynesia, and might with some advantage to the Colony he made the basis of examination for a Now Zealand University scholarship. The suggestion is not made in jest, for we are of opinion that the youth of this and the neighboring Colonies should be encouraged to acquire a Icnowledge of the many islands scattered over the Pacific. These islands will in course of time—they are even now to some extent—be looked upon as a promising field for the employment of capital in a variety of profitable industries.” The fine weather yesterday appeared to induce a large number of people to go out into the sunshine. The movements of the mail steamers, and of the coasting steamers also,, contributed to increase the bustle of the streets, especially in the neighborhood of the postoffice and on the wharf. The water was perfectly calm, there were only light airs of mud, the hills around the harbor stood out clear in theWishine, and, with the snow-crowned Tararua in the distance, all combined to make Port Nicholson look its heat. : Mr. T. A. Bowden, of this city, has just published a very fine and elaborate wall map of all the Polynesian Islands, which shows the situation of New Zealand relatively to the shores of Asia and North America, with the intervening islands, the scale being two degrees to an inch. The work is carefully and accurately compiled, showing minutely the small islands and known reefs which abound in the Pacific Ocean. The printing and coloring is most distinct and tasteful, and the publication, which reflects great credit on the compiler, should secure a ready sale at the moderate price of 255,, whilst, the fact of the Polynesian Islands now exciting so much attention and interest, through the question of their commerce being brought prominently before the public, should render everyone in New Zealand .anxious to secure a good map of that part of the globe. The play of “Grif,” it should he remembered, is to be repeated at the Theatre Royal this evening, and the many friends of Mr. Farjeon who have been entertained by his admirable little book should not lose the opportunity of seeing it well dramatised, and the drama well performed. It is not necessary to paraphrase what has already been said in praise of the play and the company, hut, in justice to one of the actors, Mr. Egerton, it may bo added that one of the best-played parts is his representation of the character of “ Welsh Tom,” which is throughout a very careful piece of acting. To Mr. Kemp, also, is duo the credit of greatly contributing to the success ...of. the play by the -painting and arrangement of scenery which is at once wellexecuted and appropriate.

Mr. Andrew Young, mail' contractor, Has been officially apprised of the opening of the Oroua Road, between Palmerston and Bull’s. Regular coach communication will now,- therefore, he kept tip. Miss Stephenson and her dramatic troupe have proceeded to Patea, where they give a series of performances, returning to Wanganui to give one entertainment for the benefit of the Literary Institute. Another instance has occurred exemplifying the wisdom of the “powers that be” in regard to that apparently endless bone of contention, wharf accommodation. It was notified by telegraph on Thursday night to the agents here that the commander of the E.M.S. Cyphrencs, on arriving the following morning, would bring his vessel alongside the wharf to receive cargo and stores. But Captain Wood reckoned without his host, and evidently imagined that wharf accommodation to a reasonable extent was provided in the Empire City. There was no room, however, for the Cyphrenes, and, consequently, during her stay she remained anchored in the stream, to the great inconvenience of passengers and others. It does .not reflect credit of any astonishing magnitude on those in authority that the maU steamer when calling at the centi-al port of the Colony cannot obtain a berth at the wharf. The police business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday consisted of a few charges of drunkenness and of breaches of the Municipal Corporations Act, in allowing horses to wander. In each instance a fine of ss. was inflicted. A protection order was granted to a Mrs. Dunn. It was ordered that the wife should have charge of the three younger children, and that the defendant should pay 7s. fid. a-week towards the support of each child. In a civil case, Thomas v. Jones, £4l 15s. fid., amount of a dishonored acceptance, a verdict was given for the amount claimed and costs, £4 9s. Six other cases were settled without coming before the Court. A considerable time was occupied at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday by the case Schultze v. Nairn, in which the plaintiff claimed £lO damages, for trespass on land at Kaiwarra, and cutting and removing therefrom a large quantity of manuka scrub. The difference made was to the effect that the defendant had permission to cut manuka on the land adjoining that of Schultz, and had made a mistake in the boundary, and so trespassed, for which a sum of ss. had been paid into Court as compensation for the damage, and £1 for the costs. A great deal of evidence was given, and ultimately judgment was given for the amount paid into Court ; plaintiff to pay costs. A man named John Danahy, landlord of the Exchange Hotel, Wanganui, was charged at the local Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday last, with robbing a drunken man in the hotel. The evidence showed that when the man was drunk Danahy took him up stairs to put him to bed, and then when he supposed, him asleep, extracted from his pockets a sum of money, leaving untouched some cheques and papers. The attentive publican was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Wanganui, to be held in October.

“Anglo-Australian,” in the last "number of the European Mail, says:—l may mention'that Dr. W. Duller, of Wanganui, New Zealand, was, during the present term, called to the Bar by the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple, and intends, I hear, returning to the Colony by the next San Francisco mail steamer. Mr. Harry Bell, the eldest son of Sir F. Dillon Bell, of Otago, has also been called at the Middle Temple. Another attempt will be made to-day to resume the football playing, and ns the weather does really give some promise of being fine, the members of the club are sanguine of having a good practice. Play will commence at the Basin Reserve, at half-past two sharp, and it is to be hoped there will be a good muster, and that practice will be indulged in on every opportunity, as the match with Nelson is to take place this month. Wellington is far behind the other Provinces in football, as it only boasts of one club, whereas almost all the other places where the game is played have two or three m full swing. The new uniforms have arrived from Australia, and will be worn for the first time to-morrow. AUCKLAND. A sharp encounter with a shark, says the Coromandel News, took place in Kikowhakariri Bay, on Friday last. A large shark was seen swimming about the bay some thirty or forty feet from the edge of the water. Mr. Kennedy and a plucky woman who volunteered to go with him, put off at once in a dingy, talcing with him a spear and other tackle for the monster’s capture. No sooner did the shark see the dingy put off, than he made direct for it, snapping one of the paddles in two. A fierce struggle then ensued. The spear, however, was handled with dexterity, and a thrust more fatal than the rest striking the monster in a vital part, caused him to turn belly upwards. The battle, so say those who witnessed it from the shore, was an exciting one, and we must say that Mr. Kennedy and his female companion, showed no little pluck in venturing to the attack iu a mere dingy, for the brute when towed ashore, was found to measure a trifle over nine feet in length, with a mouth four feet in circumference. TARANAKI. In some notes on the progress of the Titanic Steel and Iron Company’s Works, the Taranaki Herald says We have, on a previous occasion, given a description of the works projected; but at that time they were: hardly commenced. Wo then gave the dimensions of the furnace, and other particulars connected with its erection. A few months have passed, and the brickwork of the casement has been proceeded with and finished. The contractor now only awaits the firebricks, which have been ordered from England, to enable him to complete the furnace. The other day we paid a visit to these works, and found a lofty, round, stout erection, like a Martello tower, built of excellent bricks, manufactured by Mr. Wilshire on the ground. There is something substantial looking about the furnace, which shows that Mr, Beaton has carried out his contract with integrity. Mr. Beaton is now erecting, close to the furnace, a building technically called a “ casting house.” It is forty feet in length, with a width of thirty feet, the wall of it being eighteen feet high, and to be roofed in with corrugated iron. The ground owned by the company at Henui consists of five acres, and is now being fenced in. There are two substantially built sheds on the ground—one hundred feet by twenty feet—where the iron sand will be converted into an ore before being placed in the furnace. The machinery, and the other necessary appliances for the blast, &c., were long since ordered from home ; but have not yet arrived. It is but natural that the shareholders should begin to expect some tangible "result, especially as it had been publicly announced that the furnace would be iu working order within twelve months from the time of the works being commenced ; but it is well known that orders sent homo are not executed as promptly as could be wished. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the directors have miscalculated the time within which the necessary material for the completion of the work should arrive. However, we hope to be able soon to announce that the machinery has reached here ; after which, a very short time will elapse before the furnace is tested. The Provincial survey party, with a number of the Waikato immigrants to assist in falling timber, left New Plymouth on Thursday morning last, to commence surveying some of the new blocks of land recently handed over to the Province. MARLBOROUGH. The Express learns that another man is missing from the Clarence district, The person in question is named Alick Kimble, and has been a boundary shepherd on Mr. Ward’s run for a considerable period. On a recent occasion ono of his dogs made its way to the next station, and after a few days was followed by the other. Struck with the singularity of the circumstances, the parties (whose name has escaped us) went at once to the missing man’s hut, but they found no recent traces of him, and although a search has been kept up for a couple of weeks, it has been altogether fruitless.

The following incidents of whaling life on the Marlborough coast are related, by the Press : A second, whale has been secured by the whalers in the Sound, and they have been unfortunate enough to lose more than one whale after having killed them. An accident of this land happened on Saturday week, when two boats succeeded in killing a whale, and were towing it ashore when it suddenly began sinking, and to save the boats from being dragged down by the weight of the fish, it was necessary to out the lines, when it disappeared “ like a shot.” Keenan's boat at the Kaikouras has met with a serious accident, which nearly resulted in the death of Keenan himself. The crew were out lately in chase of a whale, to which they made fast ; in the “flurry” the whale struck the boat, smashing it into pieces, and throwing all its occupants into the water. A portion of the crew managed to sustain themselves on the largest portion of the wreck until they were taken off, and a search was made for Keenan, but it was a long time before he was found supporting himself on a piece of the boat; his wife went to his rescue, and succeeded in bringing him safe to land after he had been in the water for upwards of an hour and a half. When brought to land it was found that Keenan was greatly exhausted in consequence of his long immersion, but medical assistance being obtained, he gradually recovered from the effects of the cold and exposure he had been subject to. The whole of the whaling gear was lost, and this, with the destruction of the boat, will form a serious item in the profit and loss account when the season is over. NELSON. A recent telegram reported the committal, on a charge of murder, of N. Boseley, of the Bay View Hotel, Wakapuaku, and of William Millyard, as being accessory after the fact. It appears from the evidence at the inquest, that the lifeless body of Mrs. Boseley was found in one of the rooms of the hotel, with her head and face fearfully bruised, and the medical evidence was to the effect that it was impossible for these to have been the result of falls. The deceased had been drinking for some days, and her husband, when the discovery was made, was so ■ drunk as to be unable to give any coherent account of the circumstances. They had been a steady couple for many years, but, after taking the hotel in which they lived, had given way to drink. At the end of last month, there were fiftyseven public Government schools in the Provlnoe of Nelson, which were attended by 3078 children—l 624 boys, and 1454 girls. The teaching-staff comprised thirty-six masters, twenty-two assistant - masters, sixteen mistresses, and some four or five pupil-teachers. The expenditure in connection with these schools amounted for the last financial year to £8917, out of which sum, £6747 were paid in salaries. The revenue for the same period was as follows —the Provincial Grant, £7800; prc. ceeds of land sales, £lO2 ; rent of reserves, £225 ; overdraft on June 30th, £790 ; total, £8917. A resident of Larry's Creek, Inangahua, named John Bruer, was found lying dead outside his hut on Monday week. His death, says the Herald, must have been very sudden, as he was in his usual health the day previously, and working for a baker in the township of Oolinton. The evidence of Hugh Brennan, a neighbor of the deceased, and of Dr. James was taken, . and it was found that the man died from natural causes, but that his death was accelerated by the utterly destitute condition in which he lived. The deceased was a native of Hanover, and about forty-five years of age. He was the discoverer of J.B.’s Beach on the Shoto ver, one of the most famous mining localities in Otago in the early days. He possessed, although a comparatively illiterate man, a wonderful facility of making mental arithmetical calculation. He was locally famous for this faculty, and some years ago, when he was a patient in the Grey River Hospital, 1 e was hacked for a large amount to mentally work out correctly a difficult “ sum’ in commercial arithmetic in less time than a well-known accountant could with the usual help of pen or pencil. J. 8., as he was always called, won the wager without the least apparent effort. WESTLAND. In reply to inquiries respecting the movements of Fox and party, who , started on a prospecting expedition in the southern districts of the Province some ten weeks ago, the Register states that no intelligence has yet been received on the subject by the Provincial Government, Considering the difficult nature of the overland route, it seems unlikely that any communication from Fox will be obtained until a vessel visits one of the southern ports. The body of the unfortunate lad Jones, -who was drowned in the Greymouth lagoon, has not yet been recovered. To ascertain its whereabouts, on Saturday, says the Star, whafc is known as the “ bread test” was tried. The police floated several loaves of bread in the lagoon in the belief that if one of them paired over the body it would stop for a moment in its course. 1 This curious custom is a relic o the dark ages, hut modern science and en lightenment has not condemned it as a baseless superstition, as the experiment has often been attended with remarkable results. In England, recently, on the Mersey, after parties had dragged the river for a body unsuccessfully for days, some loaves were floated down the stream, when one of them was observed to remain stationary and dip in one particular place, and on the drag being again used the body was found directly under the bread. In this case the experiment was a failure.