NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8966, 17 April 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMART FOR EUROPE

The history of bLis Colony during the past month has been of a quiet nature. There have been no disturbing elements of any serious nature, and nothing of any grave importance to record. For nearly 12 months there has been a great scarcity of rain in nearly every part of New Zealand, and in several largo towns the water supply had to be rigorously conserved. In Dunedin the town Mas left with only a few days’ supply. A similar state of affairs was experienced m Wanganui, and in Wellington one of the reservoirs, situated at Karori, was 26ft below its average height, in consequence of which it was found necessary to curtail the supply of water foy the turbines driving the electric light, and accordingly the light has been extinguished soon after midnight for some time past. During the past week the drought has broken up, and genial rains have fallen generally all over the Colony. The rainfall has been heaviest in Auckland and the North, where also heavy gales have been expenenced—heavy enough to put a stop to the departure of coast-bound vessels for a day or two. _ _ . ■ The now universal complaint of influenza or “ la grippe ” has made its visit to this Colony. It is supposed to have been brought from Australia or Tasmania by visitors to the Dunedin Exhibition, it making its first appearance in that city. Within a week after its introduction many hundreds were attacked by the disease, but each case was of a very mild type. The disease then rapidly ran all over the Colony, scarcely a town escaping. In Wellington concerts had to be postponed, and aU°the schools were closed fora week. * One vessel ready to sail for London was detained, the whole of her crew being under the influence of the influenza. In Auckland the complaint got into Government House, and Lord Onslow was prostrated in bed for a week. One of his A.D.C.’s, Captain Meyaey Thompson, also had a slight attack. Throughout the Colony, all the cases’ reported are of a mild character, and seldom lasted long. By one of the Direct steamers from London came a lady and gentleman ordered to leave England to avoid the epidemic. The health-resorts of Europe were all afflicted with the complaint, and the pair were told by their medical attendants to go to the other side of-the world if they wished to escape the contagion. They came to Wellington, and to their horror and surprise found the complaint as rife here as iu Europe. How the disease reached these distant parts of the world so rapidly from England is not known, for it Ms reached most of the towns in Australia. In the political world there is little or nothing doing. The Premier (Sir H. A. Atkinson), has been on a visit up country for health’s sake. He is some jvhat better, but hardly yet fit for the worry of the coming session. It is expected he will visit the South Island very soon. What is termed a Ministerial party have been exploring the interior of the North Island along the route of the future Main Trunk lino of railway from Wellington to Auckland. The party comprised— Captain Russell, Colonial Secretary, Mr T. Fergus, Minister of Public Works, Dr Newman, Messrs Wilson, Bruce, M.H.R., Mr Blair, engineer; and Mr David Christie Murray, _ the distinguished novelist, was also invited. The party went by rail to Marton, in the Bangitikei district, and thence overland on horseback through the Maori lands, known as the King country, to the edge of the Waikato ; some of the party going right through to Auckland, and the others coming down the Wanganui River back to Wellington. The country through which they travelled, contains some large areas of magnificent soil, with splendid bushland and unrivalled scenery. The country is still in Native hands, but could be purchased by the Government, and would provide homes for thousands of industrious settlers. It is expected that this semi-official visit to the interior will be the means of opening up that part' of the Colony for settlement. Maps of the new electoral boundaries have been issued by the Go- . vernraent. The misunderstanding over the Primacy q uestion has been a fruitful topic of conversation during tfie past month. But happily it has now been definitely settled bv the Bishop of Wellington sending in his resignation, and requesting the Bishop of Nelson to convene a general meeting of the Synod for the purpose of electing fv Primate. The religious world of Auck-

land fins had a mild excitement during the past fortnight over the opinions of Pastor Birch of tho Baptist Tabernacle (successor to the Rev T. Spurgeon). A holiness meeting was called, and Pastor Birch in ho course of his address declared that he was amanporfectand without sin, and incapable of committing sm; at the same time lie made some disparaging remarks upon Mr 1 Henry Valley, the well-known Evangelist, who is now in Auckland. Several members of tho congregation protested against Pastor Birch speaking in such terms of Mr Yarley in his absence, and a regulai scone ensued. Mr Yarley, entering the building shortly afterward, reminded Pastor Birch that no one was sinless save the Incarnate One. It is expected that the fracas will lead to the resignation of Pastor Birch. Early Closing Associations have been formed all over tho colonies, and strong endeavours are being made to shorten the hours of labour in retail establishments. The hemp trade is still in a quiet state, and, owing to the low prices ruling, hemp mills are being shut down in many parts of tho Colony. The dispute between the Wellington Woollen Company and their employes is not yet settled. The Trades and Labour Council took up the question, and have, in public opinion, acted in a manner calculated to widen the breach rather than close it. Efforts are now being made to settle the matter by arbitration. The prospects of the. Colony at the end of the financial year ending March 31 are brighter than they have been for many years. It is expected that the Budget will show a surplus of about L 116,000. The Customs duties amounted to L 1,500,027, which was about L 49,972 short of the estimate. Tim railway revenue is, however, about L 50,000 over the estimate. The net profit on the railways for the past year is L 400,000, or nearly 3 per cent, interest on the cost of construction. The beer duty amounted to L55,9G2, or L6OOO over the estimate. The revenue from the property-tax exceeded expectations, and equally good returns will be realised from stamps and minor sources of revenue.