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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4202, 8 September 1874, Page 2

Mr. J. E. George, who has been nominated for election as a member of the City Council for Te Aro Ward, intimates that he will meet the ratepayers at the New Zealander Hotel this (Tuesday) evening, at.eight o’clock, and at the Panama Hotel to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at the same hour, on which occasions he will be “ happy to express his views, and reply to questions on any matter now engaging the attention of the municipal authorities.” The following is an approximate list of the immigrants expected to arrive by the ship Oartvale :—Married couples without children ; 16 laborers, 1 painter, 2 bootmakers, 1 carpenter, 2 miners, 1 plumber, 1 gardener, 2 bricklayers. Married couples with children : 12 laborers, 19 farm laborers, 1 plasterer, 2 painters, 3 blacksmiths, 8 carpenters, 2 miners, 2 joiners, 2 cabinet makers, 2 platelayers, 1 hammerman, 6 bootmakers, 2 carmen. Single men : 24 laborers, 2 painters, 5 carpenters, 1 brickmaker, 3 bootmakers, 1 tailor, 2 masons, 2 gardeners, 3 joiners, 1 shepherd, 1 saddler, 1 wheelwright, 13 farm laborers, 3 blacksmiths, 1 butcher, 2 bricklayers, 11 lads. Single women : 6 general servants, 4 housemaids, 1 nurse, 1 seamstress, 2 dairymaids, 6 laundresses, 1 cook, 1 machinist. There was a meeting of ratepayers, last evening, at the Foresters’ Hall, Ghuznee Street, at which Mr. Arthur Hayward presided. He introduced Mr. Moody, one of the candidates for election ns a representative of Te Aro Ward, and Mr. Moody, in reply to several questions, stated that he had calculated that the Ward paid no less than £2OOO per annum to the City rates, and only had one-third the voice in their disposal; and in his opinion the Ward should be divided into two, thus giving it a fair share in the disposal of the money paid by tt. He alluded to the difficulty of ascertaining what names were on the burgess roll, and to his having to pay £2 for a copy ; but he would take care and have 100 copies printed and circulated throughout the City at the next election. He would like to impress on those present • the fact that • the funds of the Council were principally expended. in Committee, where the individual opinions of the members did not find their way to the public notice. If elected, he would - study their interests, and endeavor to take care of the public purse. On the motion of Mr. Player, seconded by Mr. Phelan, the following elaborate resolution was agreed to :—“ That in the opinion of the meeting, Mr. Moody is entitled to the thanks of the ratepayers, in connection with the late water-service question, leading to certain resolutions (containing suggestions for a remedy), now adopted by the City Council, in lieu of the late extortionate charges : and further, it is the opinion of the meeting that at present many abuses of a like manner exist, connected with street repair.-, of more importance to ratepayers than the water question, and this meeting pledges itself to uso every legitimate means to secure the return of Mr. Moody to the City Council, to the end that the evils may be pointed out and removed.” Several questions were put respecting the Council taking over private streets. Mr. Moody said all streets should be taken oyer, as the Council took care to collect rates from the inhabitants. The Chairman advocated the formation of a Ratepayers' Association. A committee was appointed to secure the return of Mr. Moody to the Council, and the meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Bast night the California Minstrels played in the Odd Fellows’ Hall for the last time. The popularity they have achieved was evidenced by the largeness of the attendance, the hall having been again filled to overflowing. In the first part a variety of songs were introduced, and the climax “Hid you know Brown ?”—was extremely well worked out by Mr. Sutton. The vocalists had in a great measure recovered from the colds under which they have labored, and were heard to greater advantage than since their appearance in Wellington. It is not necessary to particularise the items of the programme ; it is sufficient to say that on their last appearance the Minstrels were even more popular than on their first. They would sail per Phcebe at an early hour this morning for Auckland, and after performing there for a short season they will visit the Thames district. In another column wo publish the prospectus of “ The Hutt Building Society.” The names in connection with this new venture are a guarantee of its respectability, and will give intending shareholders confidence in its being efficiently conducted. Already, we learn, several hundred shares have been taken up, and from the favor with which the project has been received in the Hutt district, there is little doubt of the society becoming large and prosperous. The business before the Resident Magistrate yesterday was not extensive. A few drunkards were fined, and the civil cases were all settled out of Court. After a most successful tour, the Kennedy family have bidden farewell to the Colony, and proceeded to Melbourne from Dunedin. ' Mr. Kennedy, at the last entertainment, said that, if fortune favored them, they hoped to re-visit New Zealand in seven years hence. The Rev. W. Taylor, Wesleyan minister, and author of several works on California, who visited New Zealand some years ago, has established a church in Madras, numbering already 139 members. The mooting of the Waterloo Lodge of Freemasons, summoned for this evening, has been postponed for a week. A paragraph has appeared in the Nelson Colonist, stating that Mr. Creighton, M.H.R., was about to proceed to England, and to act as Emigration Agent. So far as we can loam, there has been no appointment of Mr. Creighton to act in that capacity. Colonel Chesney, an English military writer of established fame, has issued a history of the American civil war, which has been highly lauded by Americana. Colonel Chesney served in the Engineer department in New Zealand.

Captain Todd, of the ship St. Leonards, was •yesterday invited to Doneoker’a Hotel by Ms passengers, and presented with an address. Fears are entertained as to the safety of Archibald Sinclair, quarter-master of the ship Euterpe, who has been missing since Saturday. Letters patent for Victoria have been granted in Melbourne by the Attorney-General to Mr. T. F. S. Tinne, of Auckland, for an “invention of improvements in and connected with motive power engines.” These engines are so constructed as that a continuous rotary and reciprocating motion may be imparted to either the cylinder or piston, or the latter may be made to rotate whilst the former is reciprocating and vice versa. Compliments to England have been curiously frequent in the American press of late. The latest we have noticed is the following from the New York Herald :—“ The famine in India has attained gigantic proportions, the British Government undertaking the onerous task of feeding three and a half millions of destitute people. Very gloomy results are anticipated in the face of this appalling calamity, as in the stricken district there can be no crop for six months to come. The Government is doing its duty bravely, and making amends for the early history of English domination in India. It is an example that commends itself to the consideration of our own Government in view of the sufferers in Louisiana from the inundations of the Mississippi River.” It would appear, from a statement made by Mr. Calcutt in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, that the runholders of that Province have no reason to complain of the rate of assessment charged them by the Government. In noticing the case, the Guardian says ;—Mr. Calcutt is, we believe, a large runholder himself, and was defendant in an action for the recovery of wages, brought against him by a man who, along with others, drove a flock of sheep for him from one part of the Province to another. Through careless driving, however, or some other cause, they lost 557 of them by the road. These, it would seem, found their way on to Mr. Shennen’s run, and were not recovered for five or six weeks. Mr. Calcutt said he would lose half-a-crown a head and the lambs belonging to these sheep, and he had also received an intimation from Mr. Shennen that he would have to pay him 11143 Ss. Cd. for the trespass of the sheep. In consequence of this he disputed the claim for wages, and brought a cross action for damages. After considerable hesitation, he stated, in answer to the opposing counsel, that he considered 2s. 7id. per head a year would be a fair charge for the depasturing of sheep. As the Government only charges the runholders 7d. per head, it would seem that they only pay about twenty-five per cent, of the value of the grass. The Americans are casting abroad for new markets for the produce of their wheat fields. They estimate that in the course of two years from the present time they will “ produce far more than is needed by any section of the old world, and the question then arises, what shall we do with the surplus.” To this, says an American contemporary, “ the answer must be, find a mai’ket for it in Japan, China, and India, The population of these regions is not loss than seven hundred millions, out of which one hundred would be in a position to purchase from .us the staff of life. If these use flour as we use it, they would need annually the quantity represented by five hundred million centals of wheat, a quantity three times as great as that raised now throughout the Union —one that we could not supply them with in less than half a century, and one that would require an annual fleet of one thousand steamers, like the City of Pekin, manned by a force of one hundred and fifty thousand men. This, however, is only one outlet for our future surplus wheat product.” Amongst the passengers by the Tararua from Dunedin for Melbourne was Mr. L. 0. Beal, who has resigned the managership of the Dunedin Branch of the Bank of New Zealand, and has accepted the post of Dunedin manager of the Colonial Bank, which will shortly commence business throughout the Colony. Mr. Beal visits Victoria upon the business of the new bank, and will at once step into harness on his return. Noticing his departure, the Daily Times says Although not a very old resident in Dunedin, Mr. Beal, through his position, has had to come into contact with many members of our mercantile community in connection with matters which necessitated on his part the exercise of tact and a sound judgment. It is not too much to say that no man who has filled for the same number of years that Mr. Beal has the post which ho has just vacated, could have done so without creating enemies. Those, however, who are intimately acquainted with Mr. Beal’s career as a bank manager in Dunedin unanimously agree that there are not many men who could have made so few. The Colonial Bank has certainly been fortunate in having secured the services of one whose' integrity and straightforwardness have gained for him the respect of a large circle of friends.

AUCKLAND. A large contract for railway gates has been entrusted for fulfilment to a Colonial mechanist. The Herald states that the work of constructing no less than forty of these gates has been entrusted to Mr. Peter Birley, of High street. He is constructing them of tubular iron, so that they will combine strength with lightness ; aud so far as can be judged from those already completed, they are well calculated for the purpose they have been designed for. It has been suggested to mining managers in the Rcefton district to deduct the sum of sixpence per week from the wages of each man employed, as subscription towards the Ileofton Hospital. The Southern Cross suggests that the same plan might bo found beneficial at the Thames and Coromandel. In Auckland Province, the death returns show that but few come under the head of lung diseases, but some of our leading medical practitioners (says the Herald) have frequently drawn attention to the badly-ventilated school rooms, and the great want of ventilation in our public buildings. A letter addressed to this journal last summer by a medical officer, asserted authoritatively that half the sickness among school children was due to over-crowded rooms, and foul, poisonous atmosphere, caused by deficient ventilation. It is only necessary to enter any of our crowded school-rooms on one of those close, hot, “ muggy days," of which we have so many, to note the weary and oppressed look which marks the countenances of children, aud which makes close application to their studies an impossibility. We ( Poverty Bay Herald) learn that the survey of the Patutahi block is proceeding as rapidly as the weather will permit, but the 30,000 acres now being dealt with by Mr. Winter will not be finished ns soon as was first anticipated. About half of the outside traverse line has been cut, up to the present time. Our Tauranga correspondent (says the Hawlce’s Bay Herald) telegraphs to us that the immigration buildings brought from Auckland are being erected on the old parade ground. Opotiki, he says, is beginning to manifest signs of life and prosperity, vessels laden with produce constantly leaving, and recently with cattle. Snodgrass aud Langford are purchasing extensively for the Auckland market. The Southern Cross arrived on Wednesday, laden with a cargo of valuable horses. NELSON. Most favorable reports reach the West Coast Times by private hands from Westport of the general activity manifested there since the commencement of the railway works. Numbers of business people are diverting their attention to that locality, and new buildings are being rapidly erected. The town population has increased considerably within the past few weeks, and on Saturday evenings the main street is quite a busy thoroughfare. Prices of sections in the main streets have increased about twenty-five per cent., and- the Westport, folks, after many years of weary waiting, are now beginning to. realise the fact that the Buller stars are now fairly in the ascendant. The so-called Reform League in Nelsoh seem to bo influencing, or endeavoring to influence, every question, local or general. At the last meeting, four gentlemen were nominated to fill the vacancies in the City Council

at the approaching election. Mr. Fell’s position of City Councillor and lessee of the new offices just taken by the Council, was commented upon as being affected by Clause 37, of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, which was taken as to disqualify any Councillor. Reference was also made to the unsatisfactory manner in which the'Oity Council was transacting business, which was. considered premature, on the eve of an election of Councillors, as that body had not taken the ratepayers into their confidence. The people of Nelson seem to be a patient people to submit, as they seem to bo doing, to the dictation of an unauthorised body. WESTLAND. Several of the exhibits at the late exhibition at Hokitika have been photographed by Mr. Tait, and the photographs are to be presented by the exhibitor, Mr. Johnston, to the Governor before His Excellency leaves New Zealand. The wharf at Hokitika is now abundantly lit by gas lamps. In Greymouth, the Borough Council elections are the cause of some excitement. For the East Ward in Greymouth Mr. P. M. Griffen, merchant, has been returned unopposed ; for the Middle Ward the candidates are Messrs. J. G. Thomas, Thornes Joyce, Wm, Jones, and William McMillan ; and for the West Ward Messrs. E. Wickes, J. A. Eissenhardtj.aud.W. J. Coates are the proposed candidates. The Taipo hotel and belongings on the Christchurch road, have been sold by auction to' Mr. M. Houlahan, brewer, of Stafford. The Borough Council of Hokitika are par" ticularly liberal in their distribution of the ratepayers’ money. At one. of the last meetings of the Council, Mr. Lynch gave notice of the following motion ;—“That a photograph of the present Mayor and Councillors be taken, and a frame to match the one now in the Hall be obtained.” The extreme scarcity of female servants in Hokitika and in Westland generally, is referred to by the local papers, and it is suggested that the Provincial Executive should make representations on the subject to the General Government. The Greymouth Star states that Mr. Gcisow, the District Engineer, is to be transferred to Christchurch or Marlborough, and that Mr. O’Connor is to succeed him in charge of that district. The contractors for the Waimea Water Race are experiencing ”no little difficulty in driving the tunnels on many of the sections. There exists in the terraces a kind of soft reef or false bottom, which it appears stands well in driving, but after being exposed to the air for some time the reef expands to such an extent as to completely smash up the timbering in the tunnels, the pressure being so heavy as to force the rata props and caps into the reef to a'considerable depth. This, of course, loosens the laths, the consequence being that the roof comes tumbling down, bringing the laths along with it. Through this cause, the Rest Coast Times learns, many of the contractors will sustain serious loss, and the time allowed to complete the contracts being greatly infringed upon, of course the completion of the race is delayed. Lately, in one of. the streets of Hokitika, near the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, the leading horse of two which were attached to a dray suddenly disappeared from sight, only his head appearing out of the ground he had broken through. On examination it was found that the ground had formerly been mined, and it is supposed that drives extend in various directions, into which quadrupeds or other heavy bodies of any other land may drop. CANTERBURY. Tire Press understands that the American and French observers of the transit of Venus will pay Canterbury a visit before finally departing from the Colony. The American expedition has selected Bluff Harbor, and the French the Chathams, as their points of observation. Mr. Elliott, the engineer appointed to report upon the harbor improvements at Timaru, has arrived from England. The .Herald learns that he most successfully carried out the superintendence of the breakwater at Alexandria, as its engineer, and that he is also a professional gentleman of considerable experience' A serious accident happened to Mr. William Hobbs (late of the firm of Hobbs and Sons, Christchurch) on Monday week. The Timaru Herald says that, while running a short distance on the Groat South Road, his knee slipped out of joint and he fell heavily to the ground, splitting the knee cap at the same time. His injuries are so severe that it will be some time before he will be able to get about.

OTAGO. ' An excellent sample of fire clay has been procured from the railway cutting at Green Island, and the clay is now for sale in Dunedin. The Queenstown correspondent of the Daily Times states that Mr. Warden Beetham intends to resign his position, and to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the Wakatip district in the House of Representatives at the next General Assembly. The adventures of the times of the first rush to Otago are being repeated by some of the sailors arriving at Port Chalmers. Two of the Corona’s men lately deserted, making their way to the shore by using the ship’s ladder as a raft. The whole of the Mairi Balm’s crew also deserted, although there was no apparent reason for them leaving the ship. Mr. J. G. S. Grant is again an editor and publisher'of a literary eccentricity. , His new publication is entitled, “ Blaming Swords,” and is described by a contemporary as “ bristling with figures upon every conceivable subject.” The Oamaru breakwater has lately had a severe test. The North Otayo Times says : The sea rolling into the bay on Monday and Tuesday last was something terrific, but at the same time grand. Sea after sea hurled itself against and over the breakwater, at times submerging the entire, structure, and apparently threatening it with utter annihilation. We have subsequently seen the contractors, and are truly glad to hear that not the slightest injury has been sustained. A large number of shares in the new hotel company have been already subscribed for iu Dunedin, and there is every prospect of the company being successfully floated.