NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4218, 26 September 1874, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH. [For transmission hy the IC.M.S. Tararua, via Sfeliourae and Suez.} Saturday, September 26. The closing incidents of tho political history of the month are recorded in another column. It will be seen that, though tho late session was not a long one, a great* amount of business was gone through. The list of Bills passed, which we publish, will show that the legislation of the session was not only active, but in a practical direction. Two events marked the close of the session. The first was the announcement of the retirement of Sir James Fergusson, and the second was the information that the Premier, Mr. Vogel, was about to visit Europe. Both may be said to have come upon the country as a surprise. Sir James Fergusson had made himself popular by his desire to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the country, and nothing had occurred in the debates in Parliament to lead the Premier to say that he contemplated a visit to the old country. The Colony, however, has reason to felicitate itself upon both events. It is allowable to suppose that Sir James Fergusson believes there are positions in life even higher than that of a Colonial Governor; and in London, for a short season, the Premier may be able to do more good to the Colony than if he remained in Wellington. Since the closing of the doors of Parliament, there have occurred but few incidents that call for remark. Mr. Vogel (on his way to England) has spoken to his constituents in Auckland City East. His reception was not quite so cordial as might have been desired, but the reason was equally apparent. The Premier's proposals for the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island have not been popularly understood. "Whatever the constituency of Auckland City East may think, there is not the slightest doubt that the proposals of Mr. "Vogel are thoroughly appreciated in the country, and that it is generally recognised that the time has come when Provincial institutions must give way to a better, more direct and simple system. Everywhere the opinion ha 3 been in favor of . the policy -of the Government," and . the only question is whether that policy should not at once be extended, ta-ihe whole Colony in place of the North Island alone. There appears to be no doubt that, if the whole Colony were polled, the vote would be against Provincial institutions, and in favor of the scheme forehadowed by the Premier. In the late Parliament a Bill was passed to provide that the election of the Mayor of "Wellington should hereafter be conducted by public vote. Various names have been suggested, but in all probability the choice of the electors will fall on Mr. Hunter. His Excellency has left "Wellington for a cruise. He has visited Nelson, and it is understood that before his return he will Bee the more attractive portions of the "West Coast. Major Atkinson has joined the Government, in the place of Mr. O'Rorke. Mr. Prendergast i 3 likely to succeed Sir George Arney as Chief Justice; and it ia understood to be not improbable that Mr. Travers will take the place of Mr. Prendergast, The membera for the City, Messrs. Pearce and Hunter, met their constituents on "Wednesday night, and were very cordially received. Their addresses will be found in another column.

SOCIAL. The long-expected manager —Mr. Parsons—of the Poverty Bay Petroleum Company lately arrived from America. He sailed so long ago as the 11th of January, tat the vessel by which he .was a passenger met with bad weather in the beginning of her voyage, and put into St. Thomas's for repairs, where seventy-eight days were spent. Operations are now to be begun without delay. Mr. Parsons has reported favorably as to the prospects of the company. Mr. Holloway is now making a " progress" through the Province of Auckland, in company with the Superintendent. Many will hear with much regret the news of the death of Mrs. Sam. Howard, the hostess of the Bank Hotel, Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. Howard came to the Colony some years ago, and for a time were leading members of a dramatic company at the Theatre Boyal, Dunedin. At intervals, subsequently, they both appeared on the stage in several of the cities of the Colony, and Mrs. Howard was always a favorite with an audience, being a clever actress in comedy. But she had other and homely qualities which made her a favorite with all who met her, and especially with those who had occasion to become acquainted with her as a hostess. On holidays, the Anderson's Bay Hotel, Dunedin, was a familiar resort because of the urbanity and industry of the landlady, and the Bank Hotel was, for the same reasons, frecpiented by professional and personal friends. In some of the other Colonies, Mrs. Howard will be remembered as a pleasing actress, and her death will be regretted by hundreds to whose entertainment and amusement she has contributed by her appearances on the stage. The traffic return of the Hutt railway for August was £iGS 15s. ; of which £i9 15s. 7d. was derived from freight and the carriage of live Btock. A Gazette of Thursday, September 10, notifies that the Hon. Harry Albert Atkinson has been appointed by the Governor to be a member of the Executive Council, and that Mr. Atkinson has been appointed Secretary for Crown Lands. Mr. Atkinson has also been appointed Land Claims Commissioner, and Minister for Immigration, vice the Hon Mr. Vogel, "whose resignation of that office His Excellency has accepted." The telegraph lino between the outer pilot station and the head office in Wellington is now completed and in full working order. In contemplation of this event two daughters of Mr. Sawyer, the signalman, have been receiving tuition in the head offico as operators. The Provincial authorities of Wellington are likely to be extensive seller* of land in the course of the next few months. They have arranged with Mr. J. Douglas, manager of the Australian and New Zealand Land Company, for the disposal to him of 20,000 acres in the Oroua Block. The land is all, or nearly all, swamp at present. Mr. Douglas pays 12s. Gd. an acre for the land, and undertakes within a given period to expend at least £IO,OOO in improving the property, and to place seventy families in a special settlement, each family to have an allotment of 100 aares. The half-year of the South British Eire and Marinolnsuranco Company closed on August 31. It is just two years since the Company com-M-jnced operations, and we understand that . heir investments are now £05,000, the income erivablo from which f or the half-year just osed reaches £2150, or inoro than enough

from this source alone to pay a dividend for the half-year at the rate of £lO per cent, per annum. It is anticipated that a dividend at this rate will be declared at the usual halfyearly meeting shortly to be held in Auckland. It transpired at a late meeting of the City Council that out of some £4OOO of rates, only £B7 now remains outstanding. This statement reflects creditably alike on the ratepayers and the work of collection.

. The circumstaßSes_.under which the s.s. "SfonnTjivdtook the ship Strathnaver in tow are thus stated by Captain Doile, master of the Stormbird : " The s.s. Stormbird left Wellington for Wangantii at 7.30 p.m. on the 31st of August, with a light breeze from the south-east. At 8.20 p.m. when abreast the Pinnacle Rock, I observed a vessel's lights in the offing; at tho same time saw a rocket thrown up. On nearing the Heads, saw a ship standing in for the old pilot-station, on the west side of Chaffer's Passage, under topsails and maintopgallantsail, the wind being light from the south-east at the time. When abreast the outer rock of Barrett's Reef, I burned a blue light to indicate the position of the channel, seeing by the course the ship was steering that she was a stranger, and running into danger. As she did not alter her course. I steamed with all possible haste towards her On nearing her, I found her very close to the reef, so close that'l did not consider it safe to cross her bow. I at once steamed under the ship's stern, and called out ' Port your helm, and steer for the light ; you are running on to the reef.' The helm was at once put to port, and the yards braced forward. The wind at this time was very light and more to the eastward. Seeing that the ship would not clear Barrett's Beef, I called out 'Let go the anchor ;' she was now very close to the rocks. I was then asked by some one on board to come and tow her clear of the reef. lat once steamed under the ship's bow, and received tho tow-line from the pilot's boat. The ship was then two or three hundred feet south of the outer rock of Barrett's Reef; too close to let go an anchor, no wind to work her, and setting fast on the rocks with the south-east swell." Captain Doile adds his opinion as to the probable result had the steamer not been present, but it is preferable that his opinion should be reserved until the occasion of any contemplated inquiry into the circumstances. The right of supplying water at the wharf for six months was sold by auction on Monday by Mr. J. H. Wallace for £290, to be paid by monthly instalments in advance. The amount was £io in excess of the sum paid for the previous six months. Messrs. Jackson and Graham, lessees of the wharf, were once more the purchasers. The revenue collected- at the Wellington Custom-house during the week ending Saturday, the 12th, was unusually large, amounting to £0656 2s. As an instance of the excessively severe winter we are experiencing, but of which it is to be sincerely hoped we have seen the worst, we need not go farther for a subject than the price of butcher's meat in Wellington, about winch complaints have of late been so loud. Fat cattle which last year were bought by the trade at £7 10s. per head are now costing them £l2 10s., a rise of £5, and very scarce at that. This immense increase in price and scarcity of supply is caused S*by the want of grass, occasioned by tho unusual severity of the season. On one station in the Wairarapa district, from which 300 head were xisually lifted during the winter, a muster was lately made with a view of drafting a supply for the butcher, and only 30 head could be found fat or fit to kill. The district mentioned had previously been capable of supplying the wants of the Wellington market; but this winter some of the trade have been compelled to go to Patea, on the West Coast of the Island, for meat* A remarkable and ferocious-looking sea animal was on view lately at' the Odd Fellows' Hall. It is a fine specimen of the leopard seal, measuring nine feet five inches in length, and three feet in girth, and has a beautifully soft silky hair coating, marked like the leopard, and in other points resembling that animal. The fore fins are used both for swimming and walking, and the hinder limbs, which are particularly strong and muscular, and let into the body on remarkably power-fully-jointed hips, are used to walk on and spring from. It was killed on tho West Coast of this island, near Otaki, by two men who were travelling with a mob of cattle. When first seen it was busily engaged in devouring a sheep, and when one of the bullocks approached it, it irnmediatly sprang up and attacked it, chasing the animal for fsome distance. The men then rode up, and the seal stood on its hind limbs and showed fight in a determined manner, showing his immense tusks ferociously. Tho men tried to capture it by throwing a rope over the head ; but as fast as it waa put round the neck it was bitten through. Finally, the death of the seal was effected by one of the horsemen riding behind it, whilst it pursued the other, by Striking it over the head with a stirrup-iron. A meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's Church, Thorndbn, was held in the schoolroom, Sydney Street, lately, for the purpose of taking into consideration the further enlargement of the church and other matters of less importance. A large number were present, and the Rev. Mr. Harvey, who occupied the chair, explained to the meeting the nature of the business, and the reasons for considering it. desirable that the matter should be at once discussed. Most of those present took part in the debate, and after some time a resolution was carried to the effect that the meeting concurred in the recommendation of the vestry, "that the church of St. Paul's be further enlarged," and the vestry be hereby authorised to borrow the sum of £250 for two years at eight per cent, interest, the remainder of the money required for such enlargement to be paid out of the ordinary revenue of the church. The rev. chairman stated that it was hoped and considered probable that it would not be necessary to borrow to the extent which the resolution authorised. During the discussion the idea of building a second church in tho parish was mooted ; but from the strong improbability of being able to carry it out successfully the suggestion did not meet with much favor. The urgent necessity for increased church accommodation in the parish was most conclusively shown.

MAOEI MATTERS. A Maori named Tohua was sentenced at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, on Saturday to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labor- for stealing from the person. Of the meeting of Natives at Parihalca, the Herald says : —" The half-yearly meeting held by Te Whiti at Parihakawas to have been commenced on Thursday last, but, owing to the stormy weather, and to there being no building large enough to accommodate the visitors, it was postponed for a few days. There were between six and seven hundred Natives in attendance, besides mast of the influentia chiefs in the Province. Tito Kowaru was present, and was very sociable with the Europeans. ' Everything was quiet, and the Natives very friendly ; it is natural to suppose, therefore, that nothing of any importance troubles their minds. At Punui an opposition meeting is being held by a rival prophet to Te Whiti, named Motu, who has secured an audience of about a hundred. At this gathering, however, like the one at Parihalca, the most important part of the business will be the feasting, and when all the provisions are gone, the meeting will terminate." A Native chief of some importance in the Thames district paid a visit to Shortland lately incognito, and was well received. He was made aequaintsd for the first timo with some of the wonders of pakeha life, and appears to have been pleasantly but overwhelmingly surprised by some of them. The Advertiser reports of To Hira's visit thus : —"lt was sug-' gested to him by Mr. A. J. Allom that he might take a drive through Shortland and Graharastown in a close carriage, and visit the Telegraph Office, where he might, if he pleased, communicate with tho Native Minister. Te Hira readily agreed, it being understood that he would probably not be_ recognised by European or Maori. A carriage was procured, and To Hira started off, accompanied by Mr. Allom, Mr. A. Hogg, and Mr. J. Gibbons, The Telegraph' Office was visited,

where the working of the syatem.iVas explained to Te Hira by' Mr. Bull. Messages were sent by Te Hira to Napier, Maketiv Rotorua, Tauranga, Katikati, Taupo, Wellington, and other places. At some of these places Te Hira had friends, who replied. A message of a friendly nature was sent by Te Hira to the Native Minister. In reply, Sir Donald McLean stated his satisfaction at receiving the communication, and also his intention, at Te Hira's request, of visiting Te Hira and his people as soon as possible. The party then went to the Manukau battery, and afterwards lunched at the Governor Bowen Hotel. Before leaving Grahamstown, the railway train from Tararu excited the attention of Te Hira, who appeared to bo much pleased at having seen it. Te Hira might then have been taken to see the big pump and down the Bright Smile shaft, but he appeared, shortly after lunch, to be satiated with sight-seeing, and remarked that he had seen enough of the workings of the pakeha for one day. A very interesting scene was witnessed on Saturday last, at the Maori pa on Te Arc The Rev. J. Aldred, who is now in Wellington, called in to see those to whom he had so often ministered in years gone by. Immediately the Natives heard that their old missionary was among them they collected together and held a tawji. They seemed much affected as their missionary asked after some who are dead, and of others in various parts of this island. Mr. Aldred took the opportunity of exhorting those present not to forget lessons taught in early days. Arihia, an intelligent chieftainess of the Arawa tribe, recently scalded in a boiling spring at Ohinemutu, while intoxicated, died on Tuesday from the eifects of the accident. At Aramoho, last week, there was a ploughing match, at which Maori ploughmen were present in considerable numbers, and effected good work in the field. A dinner in the evening was held, at which the Natives appeared in force, and spoke eloquently, one in particular. According to the report of the Wanganui Herald, Toitoi said they (the Maoris) highly approved of ploughing matches, and felt grateful to the Europeans for encouraging the same as a means of establishing good feeling between the races. Such matches were an indication of the friendly feelings subsisting between tho Europeans and Natives, and were deserving of popularity. Their thanks were due to the Government for their support in giving prizes, which was a proof of the interest it took not only in their welfare, but in that of the white people. It was far more profitable to engage in peaceful industries, cultivating the soil, &c., than engaging in war and strife ; and he hoped that henceforward the gun and the spear would be forsaken, and their places supplied by the plough and the harrow. He hoped these matches would be continued, and great praise was due to Mr. Walker for his aid and assistance in getting them up, and for the instructions he had given them. He and Tete had attended a like meeting at Rangitikei last year, and had borne off prizes, and they would always be ready to compete at any matches of the kind in future.

ACCLIMATIZATION. Hares seem to be rapidly increasing in Canterbury. Ten were seen in one day in Hagley Park cricket ground. The Acclimatisation Society have lately turned out about a hundred and fifty birds, consisting of Australian magpies, Californian quail, chaffinches, and bramble finches. The experiment of introducing trout to the Province of Hawke's Bay has unfortunately failed. The ova were brought from Otago by Mr. Young, and, from first appearances, great hopes were entertained of the fish being successfully hatched, and of the rivers of the Province being stocked, but already all the young fish and the ova have died. A novel importation was noticed at Poverty Bay a few days ago. It was a consignment of sixteen frogs, from Auckland. They arrived safely in a large glass jar, and originally came from Australia. They are excellent purifiers of water, and their " eroak, croak," if rather monotonous, is not uninteresting iu " the stilly night." Slarlings, it is stated, are now numerous in the district of Tokomairiro, and are seen at times on the plains in large flocks. English larks, also, are numerous. AMUSEMENTS. Amongst the passengers who sailed for Melbourne by the Tararua was Miss Rosa Towers, the very popular and clever little actress who has, for some time past, so delighted and astonished New Zealand audiences. Miss Kosa goes to Melbourne to pursue her profes sion on the stage of that city. In doing so she enters upon a great undertaking ; but one which, from the talent she has already displayed, she may fairly % be pronounced equal to. The Melbourne public, whilst being a critical one, and difficult to please, is one which readily recognises and appreciates talent. Under such circumstances thi3 little lady's advent may be looked forward to with confidence, as one which will prove highly satisfactory and successful. It is simply impossible for any one of ordinary intelligence to witness her performance of " Grif " and " The Waif of the Streets " without being more than pleased and forcibly struck with her rendering of two parts in which the comic and pathetic are so peculiarly blended, and so faithfully represented. She is pretty; her manner is engaging ; and in addition to these advantages she possesses a peculiar and remarkable talent fitting her for the profession in which she has engaged at so early an age ; so her future promises to be a most brilliant one. On Monday, August 31, the California Minstrels made their first appearance in Wellington, at the Odd Fellows' Hall. They had brought with them so good a reputation both from the South and the North, as well as from the other side of the water, that a favorable reception was anticipated for them, numerous; though the entertainments here have been of late. Few, however, anticipated that the hall would be rushed as soon as the doors were opened, and that before the curtain rose there should not be standing room to be obtained. Many, in fact, had to go away disappointed, and postpone for another night the pleasure of making acquaintance with the Minstrels. This was all the more remarkable as the weather early in the day was of a mo3t discouraging character, and though the rain had cloired away in the course of the afternoon, tho streets were in anything but a favorable condition for pedestrians. The Minstrels justified the high expectations that had been formed of their performances.

MINING. We gather from a letter addressed by the secretary of the Otago Central Mining Association to the Hon. Julius Vogel, and published as a Parliamentary paper, that the Association is as tired of Provincial Governments in the Middle Island as many persons are of them in tho North. The Secretary, whilst acknowledging the receipt of a memorandum from the Premier, said that "The | expression of personal sympathy with the wants of the gold miners was particularly assuring at a time when more than ever their position with regard to other interests required careful consideration." Then he thought that if "it were possible to clearly define what share of legislative administration really was within the scope of the Provincial Governments and what must necessarily be looked for at the hands of tho Colonial Government, the first great step in setting at rest dissatisfaction arising from legal uncertainty would have been taken." Tho Ofcago Association had, it appeared, undertaken to defend Borne miners who wore sued on account of the d'scoloration of the water of a river they used for sluicing and other purposes. Tho Provincial Government, when appealed to on (he subject, offered to send tho matter to tho Supreme Court for decision. The Association, not unreasonably, concluded that " at the present timo, to submit specially a goldfields difficulty to the Provincial Government is to burke redress or inquiry, for the usual course appears to be to transmit such difficulty to Wellir gton ; f> bo again resent to the local authorities, thei again to filter through endless channels ; so that in tho end, the object, often a most desirable one, is, if not attained by lesa legitimate mo ins, allowed to subside altogether," Therefore, tho secretary wrote to say that tho membsra of tho As*-

ciation " felt very much gratification" at the interest in their . affairs manifested -by the Premier. But they thought that if it could be devised by the General Government " how the relations of the goldfields to the different Governments could be.clearly defined, they would feel still more deeply indebted." The- Provincial Government of Otago, although it has j received such a large measure of praise during the past session, does not equal the expectations of the Mining Association. But then it may be questioned if the fault is not a vital one, necessary to a dual government, the exact relation of the component parts of which may not be accurately defined. At the annual meeting of the Caledonian Mining Company, held lately, the balance sheet showed receipts—by gold, £12,150 ; tailings, £1227 ; receipts from other sources (including £3400 balance from last year) made a total of £17,086. Expenditure : Permanent works, £1705 ; on claim, £737-1; battery, £2239 ; Pumping Association calls, £4OOO ; honorarium, £144 ; balance at bank, £1362. The chairman said tho report would show that the past year had been spent in prospecting the mine. They had taken out a fair quantity of gold, but it had been absorbed in the ways detailed in the report, more especially in the payment of £4OOO to the Pumping Association, through whose assistance alone they had been able to work the lower levels of the mine. The following particulars as to some of the Reefton and Lyell mines have recently been telegraphed :—The Energetic claim cleaned up on Saturday with a result of 23Sozs. of amalgam. Mr. Bray, the mining manager, has resigned. The reef in the Italian Gully mine is improving. The reef varies from six to eight inches in thickness. The crushing for the Just-in-Time claim is turning out satisfactorily. Crushing was resumed by Anderson's machine on Monday. At the Lyell, the Break o'Day began their third crushing to-day. Stone from tho Maruia claim will be crushed after the Little Wonder's crushing is completed. Rich stone is reported to have been found in a claim to the north-east of Mill's Creek. A couple of men who had been working down south, between the Paringa and Blue River, returned to Gillespie's recently with a small sample of very coarse gold, some of the pieces weighing from Bdwts. to 12dwts. The ground is described as p*atchy, so much so that the men, who had been prospecting about _ for several months, saw no inducement to remain. VITAL STATISTICS. The following are extracts from the Regis-trar-General's report on the vital statistics of the Boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, ■ Christchnrch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, during the month of August, 1874 : 1 [ I

N.B.—The Auckland and Hokitika Hospitals are outside the boundaries of the respecttive boroughs. The persons on board ships are not included in the numbers of the population. The births were 316 in August, against 269 in July, while the deaths were i more in number than the deaths in July. Of the deaths, males contributed 53; females, 55; 53 of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 49-07 of the whole number; 25 of these were of children under one year of age. The deaths of children under five years of age exceeded those in July by 7. Three females died aged respectively 65, 68, and 71 years; 0 males died between the ages of 65 and upwards, the oldest being 79. Three of the above 9 deaths occurred in Wellington, and 3 in Dunedin. The number of deaths from zymotic diseases is the same as in July. There is a slight increase in deaths from constitutional diseases upon the July deaths, but yet they are fewer than they were in June. There were 11 deaths from phthisis, of which 5 occurred in Dunedin; they were all deaths of adults of 23 years and upwards—one of the persons dying from that cause being of the age of 07. The deaths'being limited to persons of mature ages, leads to the inference that many of them arrived in the Colony with their lungs already diseased. Deaths from local diseases were less numerous in August, being 12 less than in July—the great reduction being in diseases of tho nervous system. Diseases of the respiratory system were, however, on the increase, the deaths from bronchitis alone having increased from 5 to 14. More deaths occurred from diseases of the respiratory system in Christchureh than in any other borough. In Auckland there were 2, in Dunedin 2, in Christchureh 11, and in Wellington 5 deaths of this class. There appears to have been during August a more than usually heavy rainfall throughout the Colony north of Canterbury. In Nelson the increase was most remarkable, being 14,265 inches in excess of the average rainfall in former years.

NATIVE PEACE AND PROGRESS The "Notices and Answers to Correspondents" are not the least interesting portions of the paper written in the Native tongue, and published under tho name of Te Waka Maori. In the last number there are several notices which indicate the prevalence of "peace and progress" among the Native population of both islands. The following appear among the translations of the notices in the last number :

Wo are requested by T. Tautuhi to Bay that .1 public meeting of the East Coast tribes has been called by the chief Iharaira Houkamau, to be held at Makeronia, on the 21st day of September instant, for the purpose of considering the be3t means of advancing the people generally in the civilisation of the Europeans. Two large houses have been erected for the accommodation of those who attend, one being 22J fathoms in length and 3 fathoms wide, and the other 30 fathoms by 4 fathoms. A flagstaff CO feet in height has been erected for the large flag used by Major Ropata at Mataalm on a similar occasion. Baniera Erihana writes that the Natives have erected at Otago, a house 62 feet in length, and 18 feet wide. The. side walls are eight feet high, and the ridge-pole is entirely unsupported by pillars. The house is built with boards, and the lining is planed smooth. The cost of material and. building was £lB2, of which sum Ilori Kcrei Taiaroa contributed .£4O ; Korako Karetai, £2O ; Timoti Karetai, £ls ; Timoti Rapatini, Raniera Erihana, and Wiremu Potiki, £lO each ; Taihu Hape, Tiald Rapatini, and Ri Kipana, £5 each; Mohi Ngatata, £3. The rest of the money was collected amongst the people in smaller sums. Eighteen pounds were spent at the opening ceremony, in addition, we are told, to some assistance afforded by the Government. Raniera Erihana provided a fat bullock towards the feast, and Kcrei Taiaroa eight sheep, and Teone Topi expended £lO in "lights." We are not informed for whom the house was erected, or for what purpose. The very interesting and amusing letter from Te Wehi, of Waikouaiti, on the destruction of forests, and on other matters, will appear in duo time. Manahi To Karawa, of tho Native Contingent in Wellington, writes a long letter, for the information of his friends on the East Coast, describing in favorable terms the drill and discipline to which tho force has been subjected in Wellington. Raniera Erihana, of Otago, in a letter of date 25th August last, informs us that certain Natives of Waikouaiti are tho possessors of 3200 acres of land ; that thoy havo 3500 sheep; that they have this year cultivated 350 acres of wheat and oats; and that thoy havo 30 draught horses, 13 ploughs, 10 carts, 3 reaping machines, and 2 threshing machines, It is

very satisfactory to hear' that these people are so industrious. It would be well if other tribes of New Zealand were to follow their example, and talk less of their "grievances." If they would direct their energies to the cultivation of their land and the raising of crops, they would very soon have no grievance to complain of. We consider it unjust that those who do not pay up their, subscriptions should continue to receive the Waka , the same as those who do pay regularly, and they are many. Fresh subscribers are sending applications by nearly every mail for the paper, and faying in, advance.

WHALING ON THE BAST COAST. (From the Poverty Bay Herald.) The whaling season on the East Coast has been unusually favorable, and the Ngatiporou Natives, in whose hands it for the most part lies, will reap a substantial return for their arduous exertions in this uncertain and perilous occupation. Along the coast from Tologa Bay, as far northward as Wkangaparaoa, a distance of about 100 miles, whales have been extremely plentiful, about a dozen_ of these marine monsters having been killed and " tryed out," several others having escaped on account of rough weather, or other causes. At Te Mahia, three whales have been safely landed, and on the capture of the last one, a fine specimen, which yielded some six tuns of oil, it was found that canoes, cooking utentils, and every other vessel capable of holding fluid, were already filled to the brim, and a considerable quantity of the oil was wasted in consequence. Fortunately, however, the Opotiki called iu and furnished the Natives with a fresh supply of casks which enabled them to complete the trying out operations. Henare Potae is a great authority in whaling matters, and it is said that if he is anywhere in the vicinity, the delicate and hazardous operation of dealing the death-blow to the whale with the lance is always left to him. Although there is little doubt that pakeha whalers, from their improved appliances, and their experience, and greater daring, would have secured a still larger number of fish, it appears that the Maoris in many cases exhibit great courage and perseverance in the matter 1 , several instances having occurred lately when the boats have remained out for several days and nights together in pursuit of their prey. It is estimated that the Ngatiporous have collected altogether about fifty tuns of oil, and all agricultural operations have of late been entirely neglected, but the whaling season being now closed, they will begin planting and sowing very shortly. QUARTS REEFS IN OTAGO. (From the Daily Times.) Until within a comparatively recent period, notwithstanding that numerous effort 3 have been made, our quartz mining operations have proved a losing game. Company after company has been started with every prospect of success—yet success followed not their efforts, while a sort of premature decay or winding up of affairs almost invariably resulted. The Cromwell Company at Bendigo, however, has proved a great success, the last crushing having yielded an average of something like five ounces to the ton—a yield unsurpassed by any other averages in New Zealand or Victoria ; and judging from the reports, we should say that there is no lack of equally good stone to come. This company may in a great measure count its success from the persevering efforts made to develope the mine. It appears that the promoters lost the first, or surface reef, which, before worked out, had turned poor and was scarcely payable ; but, nothing daunted, they sunk to a greater depth, when the real or main reef, or what is generally understood to be such, was fortunately struck. The working of the reefs at tho Carrick Ranges indicates % result equally as hopeful and prosperous as has attendeel the operations of the Cromwell Company at Bendigo. Our reporter's accounts tend to show that for a space of three years quartz mining has been uninterruptedly and successfully pursued here, and notwithstanding the dearness, scarcity, and general inexperience of laborers, the excessive cost of mining material, the difficulties of communication between the reefs and crushing mills, and the "dead work" necessary to be done to put the mines iu efficient working order, very fair I profits have been obtained. Two steam crushing machines kept constantly going day and night at Carrickton must be satisfactory evidence of success, while the number of mines now at work cannot but be accepted as still further proof that the future of quartz mining is considered most hopeful. More labor, and men accustomed to the work, are without doubt the greatest desiderata necessary to assist mining enterprise, in Otago When once a few of the Cromwell quai'tz mining companies are able to show satisfactory dividends, the attention of capitalists will soon be turned in their direction, and the means of still further prosecuting researches will consequently be more readily obtainable. With proper encouragement from the Government, and a little judicious help on the part of moneyed men, we fancy that we shall not be found wrong in prophesying that, although long deferred, the satisfactory development of quartz mining in Otago is not far distant.

EXPLORATIONS AT MOUNT EDEN. At the last meeting of the Auckland Institute, Mr. J. C. Firth read a paper " On Deep Sinking in the Volcanic Beds of Mount Eden." He prefaced tho reading by stating that he first commenced sinking on his grounds at Mount Eden in 1873. He was induced to do so by the fact of numerous springs existing around tho sides of the mountain, notably one on the property of Mr. Seccombe, which yielded daily 80,000 gallons of excellent water. In digging through strata after strata, it appeared as though he were turning over the leaves of an ancient volume. Mr. Firth proceeded to show the various strata, with thenpeculiar formation, through which he penetrated. Ho considered that he had sunk through the evidences of seven distinct eruptions. Commencing at 329 ft. above the sea level, he sunk to a depth of 212 ft., being about 30ft. below the level of Mr. Seceombe's well. The first 12ft. consisted of clay, with a substratum of the same depth of blue scoria. He then came to 12ft. of loose scoria, succeeded by Bft. of hard blue rock, intermingled with patches of quartz. The next 42ft. was composed of loose boulders and scoria ash, and underlying that was Oft. of hard blue rock. This was the general character of the exploration to a depth of 101 ft. He now came upon 4ft. of sulphur and yellow ashes, mingled with rock of a porous nature. This was succeeded by 12ft. of close-grained hard blue rock. This was succeeded by a stratum of basaltic rock. Next came 36ft. of red scoria ashes and rough clinkers, and beneath that 4ft. of bluoish grey rock overlaying 2ft. of close grained rock of an Indian red color, with 2ft. of hard blue rock underneath. Many of these rocks were honey-combed, and omitted a cold air. Tho next deposit was of baked clay, Ift. in thickness, in which fernroots Trerc embedded, which crumbled away in a sort of white ash when handled. Next followed a bed of gravel six inches thick and very fine, followed by 2ft. of thick hard red scoria, and below this a foot in thickness of close bluo scoria. This was at a depth of 130 ft. This was succeeded by a bed of volcanic mud, perforated with cylindrical holes, in which remnants of timber trees wore- embedded. Ho next came upon a formation resembling stratified sandstone, eighteen inches in thickness, of a very marked and distinct character. Traces hero were discovered of something resembling the pampa grass of New Zealand. Beneath this was a bed of 18in. thick of an earth resembling red ochre. Continuing tho excavation led to a bod of scoria 2Gft. thick, with air bubbles and transversed with seams. The appearance of this stratum suggested the opinion that this had been under water. Mr. Eirth said his interest increased with eich successive step in the exploration, and that ho was compensated sufficiently for tho trouble ho had gcSae to. There was, more or less, distinct evidence of no less than six volcanic eruptions, lie believed that a fresh water lake had b:en formed in the ancient crater. Tho last eruption must have occurred many centuries ago, from tho fact of 12ft, of brown

soil overlying all. Mr. Firth illustrated Ms very, interesting paper with diagrams and specimens of the various formations upon which he came in the course of his excavations. The discussion of Mr. Firth's paper was deferred until the next meeting of the Institute, to afford members time and opportunity of investigating the subject. THE POVERTY BAY OIL SPRINGS. (From the Poverty Bay Herald.) The shareholders of the Poverty Bay Petroleum Company ought to feel gratified with the report of Mr. Parsons regarding the probabilities of ultimate success, and the most prejudiced would now be unable to deny the fact that the future of the company has every appearance of being a prosperous one. Mr. Parsons, who has had twelve years' experience of oil boring operations in Pennsylvania, states that he is most favorably impressed with the ground. The source of the petroleum, as far as is lenowu up to the present time, is generally found to be in a belt of honey-combed, porous rock, and the oil, which in this instance is oozing out of the surface, has been forced upwards from its matrix, as the bed of rock may be termed, by the inflammable gas with which it is invariably associated. The other details of the report speak for themselves ; the manager considers that the oil is, to all appearance, similar in quality and value to that obtained in Pennsylvania, and according to the rate of wages, &c, in this district, he asserts that a well yielding thirty barrels (1200 gallons) per diem, would pay handsome dividends to the company. A " thirty barrel" well, is however, a very low average, and although the manager is of course unable to predict the quantity obtainable in this instance, he has strong hopes that if he succeeds in striking the oil belt, the yield will be infinitely greater than that we have above quoted. Kvery requisite is on the ground, with the exception of some minor additions in the way of a few extra heavy beams of timber, and operations will be commenced as soon as these are supplied. Before leaving this subject, we would caution shareholders and the public against looking at this matter in any false light. From what we have heard and seen of Mr. Parsons, we should judge him to be eminently qualified to conduct operations on the company's behalf. He gives us every reason to believe that oil in payable quantities is present in the company's ground, and it now remains for him to do his best to find it. There is great uncertainty, however, about the work of oil boring. In many instances, the actual spot where the "lead" is struck proves to be half a mile distant from where it crop 3 out on the surface, and the very fact of the lead varying so much in width rendered it by no means certain that Mr. Parsons will succeed in his first, second, or third boi'iug. Be that as it may, the shareholders have a right to pin their faith to the enterprise, and to afford Mr. Parsons ample time and opportunity for thoroughly proving the ground, for there is little doubt as to the ultimate success of the undertaking.

To the Directors of the Poverty Bay Kerosene and Petroleum Company. GENTLE3IEN', —In accordance with your request, I beg to lay before you the following preliminary report : On Friday, the 11th instant, I arrived on the ground, in company with your chairman, Mr. Graham, and on Saturday made an inspection of the ground, the springs, machinery, and plant of the company. My short stay in the locality necessarily caused my inspection to be but a cursory one, but I am happy to state that there is every indication of payable oil on the property. The general aspect of the country leads me to believe that the bed rock, whence the oil flows, lies at no very great depth, say within five hundred feet from the surface, wliilst the copious Alterations everywhere visible warrant me in predicting that the oil is extremely plentiful. From the sample of crude oil placed before me, I consider it equal to the Pennsylvanian oil, and that it will yield fully as large a percentage of kerosene, viz., from seventy to eighty per cent. The cost of refining will probably be on a similar scale to the Pennsyl vanian rate, but from my limited knowledge of the locality and the general surroundings, I am not prepared in .this report to enter into details. I may state, however, from an experience of twelve years in boring oil and refining, that with a thirty-barrel well, which I consider small, we shall be able to pay handsome dividends. Doubts have been expressed in my hearing that you will be unable to produce refined oil as cheaply as in America. These may be at once dismissed. Wages here are lower than at the oil region of Pennsylvania ; the country through which you would bring the oil, either by tramway or pipe, offers every facility ; and I have no hesitation in saying that there is no reason why it should not be sold in a refined state, at the port of Gisborne, as cheaply as it is sold in the United States. I may state that I have been shown a, calculation which was published in the Poverty Bay Herald of January 26, 1874, as to the probable cost per gallon, and I consider the calculation to be rather over than under the amount stated.

I feel assured that you will realise the fact that, having been in the district but a few days, and from my superficial examination of the ground, this report could furnish but little beyond general facts, and that any attempt on my part to go into minute details would bo superfluous. I trust, however, that I may be permitted to inform you that the work of finding the oil may occupy considerable time, and although during the whole course of my experience I have never found 3uch indications as those furnished by your company's ground prove deceptive, I may not be able to discover the oil at once. This may be attributed to the fact that the bed of rock (the source of the oil) is extremely v&riei in width, sometimes only a few rods, in other places over a mile. From all I know to the contrary, the rock may be extremely narrow throughout, and I therefore deem it my duty, both to the company and to myself, to inform you before commencing that it is impossible for me to state how long it may be before oil is struck in payable quantities, but I have no doubt as to the ultimate result. The boring apparatus, and the whole of the plant, appear to be in every way suitable, and when a few additional timbers are procured I am ready to commence operations.—l am, &c, W. W. Parsons. ADVENTUROUS TOUK OF EXPLOITATION. The following is the description given by the West Coast Times of the adventurous journey made by Mr. James Evans, iu search of a pass for a railway between the East and West Coasts of the South Island : Mr. James Evans returned last evening safe and sound, after one of the most adventurous attempts to solve the mystery of the supposed pass, to which we have on previous occasions referred, that could well be conceived. As wo stated when we last alluded to the subject, he had ai-ranged to have the company of Mr. McLeod, an excellent bushman, but unfortunately the latter had a lame foot, and at the last moment had to abandon the journey. Nothing daunted, on the 14th ult., Mr. Evans set out alone, if we except a canine companion that proved of most material use during the excursion. The springs smelt very strongly of sulphur, and the smell of them, Mr. Evaus assured our reporter, could be perceived at a distance of four miles in the direction the wiud was blowing. He camped near these springs under his fly, in a natural cave, in which was a hollow that made an admirable fire-place, and proved of inestimable service during his detention. Whilst here the fearful weather occurred that we suffered from on the Coast, and the shelter was most welcome. As a matter of curiosity, as well as of comfort, on discovering those springs ho washed his hands in the hot water, and at the time felt no ill effects, but in two hours or so after he had a prickly kind of pain in his fingers, and subsequently both his hands blistered, and he suffered severe burning pains in them for two days. He at last bethought himself of the virtues of Maori lien oil, and after well rubbing them with this he felt no pain afterwards. We may say that kakas and Maori hens were in plenty,

and the dog that he had with him caught any quantity. So tame were the ka kas that these were caught by the dog with as great or greater ease than the Maori hens, when on the ground. Near the springs in question he found a beau' tiful perfect hexagonal crystal, which can be inspected by the curious, but whether it is a rare specimen or what it is we confess we do not know. A well-defined quartz reef also cropped up in the vicinity from which he broke pieces, but did not see any gold in them. The formation was of rotten blue slate. The timber in this part was abundant, but small. The river was blocked-np with enormous rocks and boulders.' He determined to leave his camp as it was, and pushed on up the river, though a heavy snow was falling, and a dense fog prevailed. As the snow fell it melted, but notwithstanding these difficulties he made eight miles that day, and was wet thnmgh to the skin, his trousers being frozen to his legs. He was compelled then to turn back, and was very glad to seek shelter in his cave, strip hi 3 wet clothes off and dry both them and himself at the fire in the natural fireplace above alluded to. Here his detention commenced. On Thursday last, the 29th instant, he was woke about three o'clock in the morning by a most unearthly noise, as though large rooks were tumbling about in his immediate vicinity, and he got up, but the weather had cleared, it was a beautiful night, and he turned in again In about a quarter of an horn- or twenty minutes afterwards the noises were repeated, and it seemed as though the cave, in which he was, was about to fall in. He got up at onee, got some breakfast, and started up the river before daybreak. After following it some distauce he came to what he describes as the most beautiful sight he ever witnessed. The river had run between mountain gorges, but at the point he now reached two huge mountains, as he estimates them between 5000 ft. and 6000 ft. high, sheeted with ice of inconceivable thickness, rose on each side, whilst the river was frozen over all, but escaped through a natural arch in the ice of as perfect construction as the most accomplished architect could design. The sun had just risen, and was shining on them, the sight presented being beautiful, and grand beyond all description. We omitted to say that the thickness of theice from what may be termed the keystone of the arch to the top of the frozen surface, was fully thirty feet. Mr. Evans clambered on to the top, snow then lying about two inches deep, and followed it for four hours, the snow gradually increasing as he progressed, till at last it was between two and three feet in depth, and was evidently the rain that he had encountered previously, congealed into snow in the higher atmosphere. Whilst making his way along the ice,. the giant ice mountains as before described, on each side, he saw a smoke rising ahead of him, and on arriving at the spot, found it to come from a perfectly circular hole in the ice, of from four to five feet in diameter, and on lying down and listening over it, he could hear the river running underneath. He rolled up a huge snowball, and pushed it down the chasm, in order to form some idea of its depth.. Several seconds elapsed before he could hear it strike the water, so the .dejith must have been enormous. He was beginning to be afraid lest he might slip through some weak part of the ice, covering a hole like this, and accordingly edged to one side. When very near there, a kind of inclination took place, leading to a cave or rift, as far as he could see about thirty feet in height, and three feet wide. The sun was shining brightly, right into it, and its sides were all ice, glittering like plate-glass in the sunlight. Another large snowball was manufactured, and sent down the inclined plane into the mouth of the cave, when it disappeared and in a few seconds a noise like thunder intimated that it too had fallen into the river flowing beneath. As a proof that man's footsteps have rarely, if ever, trodden where Mr. Evans' penetrated to, a kaka flew down, and in the most familiar fashion perched on his shoulder, evidently having no fear of its human enemy. It was at onee destroyed, and helped to form a supper that night. At this period our hardy explorer's nerves began to fail him; and no wonderAlone, with such extraordinary nature around him—liable at any moment to be sent into eternity through an ice-hole, or otherwise—he wisely resolved to return. At the same time he feels perfectly confident, if he could have mounted the adjacent ridge, that he could then have seen both sides of the range, and only the weather baulked him of his hope. He says that he believes a very short tunnel would connect the two sides of the range, though of this he cannot of course be certain, and that it could be achieved without touching on the frozen regions last referred to. He has fully resolved to pay the place a visit again about Christmas next, but has had enough of such excursions in the present season. The ice of what he presumes to be river, at the furthest point he reached, was nearly as high as the frozen mountains that hedged it in on each side. On reaching his camp again he found one of the hot springs dried up, though the stones were quite warm, and he attributes this to a volcanic convulsion, that also roused him from his sleep in the manner previously stated. He calculates that the point lie reached was fifty-five miles along the river, and fully forty-five miles, as the crow flies, from the sea. He says that he cannot in the faintest manner depict the glorious beauty of some of the scenes ho saw, and to use his own words, " any photographers going up there would make an independent pile out of the views they could take." There is no difficulty in getting over the major part of the journey. At the highest point he reached he looked oa the back part of Mount Cook. Lengthy as this notice is, we could have extended to nearly double had we time, but in the meantime any who desire further information cannot do better than obtain further particulars from the plucky explorer's own lips.

THE MOKIHINUI COALFIELD. Operations in coal-mining have been pushed ahead energetically for the last two months. A tramway some two and a-half chain 3 in length has been constructed from the paddock to the coal seam, and the paddock is capable of containing about fifty tons of coal. It is constructed on the bank of Page Creek, in a position to admit of the coal being filled by means of a shoot into boats which will convey the coal down the river to the new wharf constructed on the north bank of the Mokihinui river, about half a mile above the township. The wharf is a substantial structure, and it is intended to extend it back some distance, so that 500 tons of coal can be kept in readiness - for cargoes. The river from the bar up to the wharf is deep, and on the bar itself there is never less than 12ft. to 15ft. at high tide, thus permitting entrance of the largest vessels trading on the Coast. The bar itself is safe, aud the channel has never been known to shift. Two long fiat-bottomed boats have been procured, capable of carrying eight and ten tons of coal. These will be used to bring down coal to the wharf until the new tramway is laid down to the mine. The boats will bo towed by horse-power up the river, and will come down by the current, the horses being entitled to a free passage on board for the return trip. A towing-track has been cut up the south bank of the river. The coal seam which is cropping out of the face of a rocky precipice, has been opened up and a drive started and put in a distance of sft. to 6ft. The drive was first meant to be 10ft. in width, b\it the nature of the ground would not admit of this without danger to the workmen, and the idea has been abandoned. Mr. E. S. Fletcher is now appointed to the temporary management of the work until the shareholders hold a meeting and make the appointment permanent. Since he has been in charge the work has been going on satisfactorily, and the mine is being got into safe working order. The coal seam is to all appearance perfectly horizontal, and shows a splendid face 6Jft. in thickness. The coal is jet black, very hard, solid and compact, and bearing a striking resemblance to a mass of congealed pitch. -It is the best as yet found in New Zealand either for gas, steam or domestic purposes. It comes out of the seam in large block.-, and when put on a common hearth fire burns like rosin, and evolves a very great heat.

Boroughs. Census Population March 1, 1874. Total Births. 1 Total | Deaths. Proportion of Deaths to the 1000 of 'Population. Auckland 12,775 59 14 1-09 Thames 8,073. 30 9 1T1 Wellington 10,547' 47 10 1-51 Nelson ... 5,062 24 4 0-70 Christchurch.... 10,294 50 25 2-42 Dunedin 18,499. 88 35 1-89 Hokitika 3,352 12 5 1-49 Total 310 108