MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 788, 27 June 1864, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS.

The holy -week and the Kaster holidays in Paris have been characterised this year by the crowds of ladies who visit the churches, and the custom of giving sugar-made eggs, which contain small toys, hank-notes lace, jewellery; in fact, the ceuf de Paque i* now used to convey the most ex'pen?ive assurance of love and esteem, generosity or ostentation. The Easter egg has increased in volume, value, and pretensions, like everything else in Paris. People are no longer contented with presenting a toy gift of the seasoii, the egg of 1864 must contain some valuable article of j°weilery, or. some rich object of a lady's toilette which m.-iy cost thousands of francs. A satirical journal of Paris publishes a sheet of engravings dedicated to les ceuf's de Paques. One of the drawings represents a gentleman comin? out of a giant egg, the ovum of a l>igmiuded bon-bon artist, which lias bfen deposited in a lady's, beii-room, to the surpri-e of the beauty to whom the gift 53 addressed. Other drawings are illustrative of other aspects of this new fashion.

From Palm Sunday to Good Friday, both included, ths fragments of the true cross, the thorns, and one of the nuils used at. the crucifixion of Our S viour were exposed to the veneration of the faithful at the entrance to the choir of Notre Dame. The relics were shown in a new reliquary of silver-gilt. Tlwe were also figures in silver, dressed in mediaeval costume of St Louis and St. Helena, and Baldwin 11., and statues of the Twelve Apostles, with intervals between them, so as to leave visible the crown of thorns inside, over which is the royal crown of St. Louis set with rubies, emeralds, and pearls Another reliquary, according to the authority from winch we extract these singular details, contained the largest known fragment of the true cross, enclosed in a rock crystal crucifix, supported by two angels. Below the cross was the holy nail in a crystal ense. The " Nurem'burtf Courier" has the following: " A melancholy event has just occurred which has created an immense sensation, particularly among the higher classes of society in this city. The Countess F.. only 17 ysarsof age, and cousin to one of the stats functionaries, a'temoted to commit suicide lately, at Ba-?en, by discharging a pistol ac her breast. In her pocket was found a letter from a gentleman to whom she was engaged, in which he announced that circumstances would not allow him to marry her for the moment, anH released her from the consent she had given to th* union projected between them. It appears that the jouug countesg still lives but that no hopes are entert;iinf-d of hnr recovery." About two acres of the forest of Chantilly have just be*n destroyed by a fire, caused, it is supposed, by a Lighted match or cigar being thrown into the grass. The flames were fortunately got under in a short time.

a. new kind of blight has just made its appearance in ! taly. It attacks oraage and lemon trees, young ones especially. It manifests itself under the firm of a kind of sore, if we may use that expression; a pungent ichor oozes out of it, and in course of time the piant withers and dies. No remedy has as yet been found for this disease. Two new clubs are about to be established in Paris: the " Army and Nayy," under the patronage of the emperor, and the " International Club" to which ladies are to be admitted.

■ The acquittal of M. Armand at Aix suggests to ' La France' the subjoine I reflections ;—" A. man happened to exisD holding an honorable position ; he was wealthy, generou--, beneficent, and honored with the esteem and consideration of his fellow-citizens. One day it came to pass that an evil report was circulated, accusing this man of an atrocious crime—nanioly, that he had attempted to murder his servant, and with a superabundance of cruelty which added to the horror of the deed. Who was the accuser 1 Tie servant himself, who pretended to have been his master's victim. What was the object of this cotvar Hy attempt ? No one knows, fjnder what circumstances did ifc occur 1 Was there a quarrel with high words and blows on both sides'? No one can tell. On this denunciation M. Armand was arrested: a protracted investigation followed ; and ever sicce the 7th July last, the accused has undergone all the sufferings of preventive imprisonment with the rigorous formalities which examining magistrates have the right to enforce. The passions of the public were roused, and it was found indispensable to remove the trial to a distant department, in order that the accused and his judges might be placed in a more impaftial medium. At last, after eight long months justice pives her*awar*i. He who was the object of so much rigour, prejudice, and public passion is solemnly acquitted. It is no duty of ours to search the consciences of the accused and his accusers for the solntion of inystevias which are known to (iod alone; but public opinion ha< taken a deep interest in the various incident of this d^ama ; and now that it has resulted in a verdict of ' Not guilty,' we think that it oSers a lesson which ought not to be given in vain."—" Hut there i-< another portion of the frM," says ' tiralignani,' " which is perhaps more extraordinary than M. Armand's imprisonment —the decision of the court the day after his acquittal, whereby the man pronounced not guilty the preceding day has to pay 20,00^f. to Roux as damages for havin? inadvertently given him a blow. The court declared that it acted in virtue of the Code IVapoleon." A Parisian letter says:—"l have heard a story which is, of course, true; at any rate, it is laughable, and that is something. A gentleman called lately on a well-known Legitimist of the Faubourg, who is badly distinguished for his wealth and avarice, and asked for a subscription to the quete for the Duke de Cambord. 'My frien),' replied Vavare, ' I have no money, but I would give my blood for the prince.' ' You, mistake, duke,' was the reply, ' the prince does not want to make a black pudding.'"

Panama was at one time considered " one of the richest and most important towns of commerce in the ..whole world." t was called by the Spaniards '' the noble and very loy.il city of Panama." It was made the head of a bishopric in 1521. It had convents for the orders of San Francisco, San Domingo, La Rferced, and the barefooted Augustins, and a Jesuit college and seminary.; also a university, founded by the Bishop Don Francisco Xavier de Lusa in 1751; an hospital of San Juan de Dios, and a nunnery of 'Nuestra Senora de la Uoneepcion. All these institutions and esta^ishmen.s have bien closed or destroyed for msiny year 3. There is some prospect of the ancient splendour of Panama reviving. It is in contemplation to mike it the capital of New Grauada. There are now 21 steam-packets a month which arrive at or depart frnni i ho port of Panama. '• What odd names some mortals are blessed with!" says tfie 'New York Werald.' '• We heard of a family in Michigan, whose sons were named—One Stickney, Two Stickney, Three i-Uiekn-'y; and whose daughters were named— First Stickney, Second Stickney. and so on. The elder children of a family in Vermont were named Joseph, And, Auother; and it is supposed thar, should they have any more, they might have named them Also, Moreover, Nevertheless, and Notwithstanding. Another family actually named their child Finis, supposing that it was their last; but they afterwards happened to have a daughter and two sons, whom they called Addenda, -ppendix, atvl Supplemeut. A man in Pennsylvania called his second son Jaaa23 Also, and the third William Likewise."

The death of Flandrin, one of the greatest of French portrait painters and the only modern fresco painter who could be compared to .Oelacroix, is announced ; Flandrin is the third painter of eminence whom Prance has lost within 14 months. He died at Rome from the effects of cerebrr.l congestion on the 21st of March, in his 55th year. His last work is a portrait of Baron Rothschild, which will be this season exhibited iv the Champs Elyseas. The "Figaro Programme 1' say3:—"A duel with swords took place some days ago at La Varenne-Saint-Maur between M. L , a literary man, and M. D , an advocate, when the laUev was-slightly wounded in the arm. The cause of the meeting was, it is said, a discussion on Alfre.l de Musset, which took place at a dinner which every fortnight unites together literary men, advocates, musicians, medical men, photographers, &c. Another duel with similar weapons was foueht on the following day between M. Kodrigue, an agent-de-change, and M. Tony Eevei!lo;i, editor of the ' Wain Jaime.' in which the latter received a scratch in the arm."

A letter from Hayti gives an account of the trial and execution of several sectaries of the religion of Vaudoux, or the Serpent, a horrible African superstition, which includes human sacrifices and cannibalism among its rites. It was supposed that the efforts of the Catholic clergy and of the Government had totally eradicated this detestable creed, but a recent event has shown that it still has a few adherents, all of whom are ostensibly devout Catholics. In the middle of December last, at Bizotin, in immediate viciniiy of the capital of the Republic, a man named Congo Pelle was ordered by the Papa-Loi, the high priest of Vaudoux, to offer up a human sacrifice, with a promise that obedience would make him a rich man. Pelle communicated the order to his sister, and they together determined to sacrifice their

niece, named Claircine, seven years of age. Eight other persons joineil them in the performance of the horrid rite, an! in the night of December 30 last tliey cut the girl's tliront, drunk her blood, and devoured her flesh while still warm. They then placed the. skull on a kind of a'tar and dancsd round it, singing a song to their deity. The bones were next charred and reduced to powder, to be religiously preserved. On the 6th of January they weve about to racrifice another little girl, -whom they had kidnapped from a neiunbouring village, but fortunately the authorities had been warned of their intentions, and they wore all arrested, tried, and condemned to death. Their execution took place on the 6th of February, in ths presence of an immense crowM f>f people, who were only restrained hv the military from tearing the wretches to pieces. The sect, of Vaudoux was condemned and proscribed by Toussnint-lovei'ture, and vigorously repressed by all his successors. It, ha'! well nigh disappeared, when the Kmperov Soulouque, who became one of its a'epts, secretly enc.ournged it., made its priests his councillors, and took part in the celebration of th< ir rites. The sectaries were again becoming numerous when Soulouque was expelled. There is now sooil reason, to believe tint the actual president will succeed in finally eradicating this abominable supersition. The Government'of Canada, following the example of the mother country has begun the publication of an annual series of "miscellaneous statistics." The estimated population in Janu n-y 1864, is stated to be 2 783,079 The population at the last census was 840 to the square ini'e. The ratio of annual increase is stated at 4.34 per cent, in Upper Canada and 250 in i»ower Can via. The public, expenditure in 1883 was 3-86 dollars per head, and the duty exacted 185 dollars per head. The extiorts were 15 dollars per head.

A telegram from Marseilles states ibtit a bottle had been picked up near that port containing the following note :—"' 'n board the Atlas We struck on a reef. We are on board a small boat. If this paper reaches you, pray for us." The note has been placed in the hauds of the authorities. Burins1 the month of February specie to 'he value of 6.090.358 dollars passed over the Isthmus of Panama from California for Eng'and. and to the value of 1,384.648 dollars for New York A house at Felzius, near Fiureae, was recently struck with lightning. The flooring of the upper story was turned upside down, anii all the nails disappeared. All the locks and bolts were destroyel, and there remains nothing nf a large press which was in one of the rooms. The owner of the house was in the act of unlocking the outside door at the time, and the key in his hand was cut in two by the lightning, without causing him nny injury. The year 1863 concluded in Chili with the terrible conflagration of the Cathedral of Santiago, where 2000 ladies were burnt to death. The year 186 i has opened gloomily for that country. On ihe 11th of January a dreadful earthquake happened at Copiapo. It was distinguished for its prolonged and deafening detonations. Simultaneously with the earthquake a new volcano burst out about 200 leagues distant from Gopiapo, in a chain of mountains bordering on Holh'ia.

The Italian, government has just granted the privilege of establishing1 libraries at the railway stations, as is done iv France, Belgium, and England. A recent arrest has revealed the existence in Paris of a band of Lftzzaroni. living habitually in the ei'joynient of the do'cc far niente, and artfully taking the bread out of the mouth of the deserving poor. At 7 in the morning these people, to the number of about 200, assembled in the Rue de l'Kcbiquier, where they made their first bveakfas fs on soup served out gratuitously by sisters cf charity. An hmr later they got up appetite enough to eat some refuse bacon which a charitable keeper of a ham shop is in the habit of giving: away. They took their lunciieon at the guard-house of the Louvre or the JNapoleon barracks, wVre the troops set apart a portion of their rations for needy applicants. On the quays they watched for the arrival ot apple-boats, and made a dessert by picking up the damaged ami half-rotten apples which are always left strewed on tlie pavement nffr a sale. Their dinner was generally taken at the Capuchin monastery, in the Hue fit. Jacques, where they got soup ami haricot beans. An early supper from the charity of the Prince Eugene barracks set them up for the evening. After that repast they haunted the environs of the theatres, smoking the ends of cigars thrown away at the doors, and picking up sous by opening the doors of cab-i. Their dress was n't expensive, for at an old clothes shop in the Quartier dv Temple they could get a complete rig out for 2f. A curious item in ti.eir toilet expenses is that of a "changed shirt." There a shop which supplies' a clean shirt to any customer who leavps his dirty one and pays 10 sous to boot. This band of joyous brothers has just been broken up by an untoward incident. One of the brethren, being employed by a soldier in the Bonaparte barracks to get three francs' worth of petroleum, was so indelicate as to run a way with the money. He has been arrested, and now the soup distributions are stopped, and the idle vagabonds have been dispersed— probably to do worse under the stress of necassity.

The State of California has an area of 169,000 square miles; of Kansas 83,000 square miles ;of Minnesota, 83,500; New Mexico, 124,0110; Oregon, 100.000; and Texas, 28,<M0. The territory of Arizona has an area of 130 800 square miles ; of Colorado, 106,475: of .Dacota, 152,500 ; of Idaho, 333.000; of Indian. 71000; of Nebraska, 63,300; of Neveda, 83 500; of Utah. 109,600; and of Washington, 71.300. Total area of new States and territories, 1,961,425 >square miles. Total Sea of the whole of the United States, 3,250,000 square miles. One hundred persons have been assassinated at Imola during the year. The population of this Italian place is only 11,000. It is proposed to connect Sicily and Italy by a briige. A very magnificent mansion is about to be built in Paris by Baron Rothschild. It will cost nearly 4,000,00.jf.

The amount of ffuano exD-orted from the Chiucha Islands in 1863, was 313,-479 tons register. The whole value of the exports of guauo and other products from the port of Csilao in 1863 was 22 468,802i015; aud tbe whole amount from all the ports of the republic was 32,595,610d015. Tiie following is nn extract from a letter dated Quebec, March 24: —" A. friend of mine has just returned from where he called at White House with a note from Lord Lyons. He was iutroduced while the President was bei"R shaved. Abraham ha'i a white cloth under his chin, and seemed to enjiy conversation in tl)a' position quite as much as in any other. Several other gentlemen came in and out, all being introduced, aud favorad with a Ht*le chat, seasoned every now and then with a joke." During the last year the amount of gold deposited ai the mints of Philadelphi, San Francisco and New York was 23,149,495 dollars, and the amount of silver 1,674,605 dollars. 47,845,000 pennies were coined last year- The coinage of all the United States mints since the establishment of the independence of the United States amounts to 839,635,497 dollars. Kin<j Victor Emmanuel, who is a great friend of the chase, has just- received 20 stags from California. They have cost voyage and ail little less th'n 3000f. The fresh water ciiial from Ismaula is completed to Hort Said. It is said to be an entire success.

The Federal Government at Berne lifts lately devoted several sittings to the discussion of various projects for a railway across the Alps. The three lines which have as yet been brought before the notice of the public are: —The Lukmanier to the East, the St. Gfothard in the centre, and the Simplon to the West. The two former have the advantage of uniting1 the Canton of Ticino to the remainder of Switzerland, and of being eaner to defend in a military point of view. The Simplon, though supported by many interests, is open to various objections. Generally speaking, the majority are for the St. Gothardline; and to counterbalance this the partisans of the Lukmanier and Simplon, whose interests are not in opposition to each other, have effected an amalgamation. M. Sebenk, the chief of the home department, has in his report declared himself in favor of the St Gothard line, and of a considerable Federal subvention for its execution, proposing, at the same time, that negotiations be opened for the purpose, both with the Kingdom of Italy and with the Southern States cf Germany. This proposal has not met with the approval of the Federal Executive, which has decided that, for the present at least, suc'i negotiations would be premature.

Schubsrt, the renowned composer, died in Vienna on I9th November, 1823, and his property, which consi- ted of wearing apparel and notes, was valued at 63H. The expenses for his funeral, which were defrayed by his relatives and friends, were 84 35f1. The sum of 17,00011 has . now been subscribed there by the admirers of Schubert's compositions, and the money will be employed in. the construction of a monument to his memory. Schubert was 32 years of age when he died.

THE QUEE^ OF ENGLAND AND THE MAORIS OF NEW ZEAL AND.—( Communicated.")

{Continued.')

In consequence of Mr Spain's decision, ver}'- great excitement prevailed amorgst the natives, and it was only through the intercession of Mr Chief Protector Clark that the natives did not then resort to violent measures to obtain redress for the injuries which that decision would inflict on them. In reporting upon the consequences of Mr Spain's decision, Mr Clark directed the attention of his Excellency to the fact that the purchase by the New Zealand Company was made when there were not more than sixty natives resident in the district, and these not all belonging to the Ngatiawa tribes; that most of these residents affixed their signatures to the deed of sale, but whether they knew its contents it was difficult to say, their statements being co contradictory, but that he, Mr Spain, fully believed that the block chosen by the Company comprised lands that were never occupied by or belonging to these natives. Intelligence of the above sale, and of the investigation by Mr Spain into the Company's title, having reached "Wiremu Kingi. and the other absentees of the Ngatiawa tribe, a letter from Ivinsi and the principal chiefs of that tribe, of'date Bth June, 1844 (the day on which Mr Spain delivered his judgment), was despatched to Governor Fitzroy. In that letter, after expressing their great love for his Excellency, &c, they say:—" This is bur speech to you. Listen to us respecting this land, respecting Waitara; our hearts are dark by reason of Mr Spain's words. Indeed, the Europeans are wrong in striving for this land, which was never sold by its owners, the men of Ngatiawa. Now, when the Ngatiawa tribe went to Kapiti, they left some men behind on our lands, who were surprised by the Waikatos, and some of them led away captive, who, having arrived at Waikato, were afterwards returned by the Waikatos to Waitara, to dwell there. Others came .hack from Kapita. We love the land of our ancestors. We did not receive any of the goods of Colonel Wakefield; it was wrong to buy the land which belonged to other men. There are many chiefs to whom this land belongs, who are now at Waikanea and Arapaoa, (Cook's Straits). It was love for the lands of our forefathers that brought us j back to those lands. Friend Governor, our thoughts are that these lands were never settled upon by the Waikatos ; and when we embraced Christianity, we learnt the rules of the Gospel, and to dwell in peace. This also is the determination of our people. Waitara shall not be given up; the me:' to whom it belongs will hold it for themselves. There was not a single man of the Ngatiawa tribe who received the payment of Colonel Wakefield. These are the only men who took the payment — the men of Ngamotu and Puketapu, and they had no right in Waitara._ The Ngatiawa are constantly returning to their land, on account of their attachment to the land of our birth—the land which we have cultivated, and which our ancestors marked out by boundaries and delivered to us. Friend Governor, do you not love your land —England—the land of your forefathers ? as we also love our land at Waitara. Friend, let your thoughts be good towards us. We desire not to strive with the Europeans, but, at the same time, we do not wish to have our land settled upon by them ; rather let them be returned to the places which have been paid for by them., lest a root of quarrel remain between, us and the Europeans. Friend Governor, be kind to the natives ; the places that have been justly purchased by the Europeans let them have them, that your judgment may be just. This is not from\is only, but from all the Ngatiawa, though, the greater part are absent. By us, &c, written by me, William King." Before any action could follow on the award or judgment of Mr Spain, it was necessary that it should be confirmed by Governor Fiizroy, and this fact was publicly made known to the natives, but their disappointment was so great, and their sense of wrong so openly manifested, that tLe whole settlement of Taranaki was thrown into the greatest panic and excitement, so much so that an express was sent off to the Governor urging immediate assistance and requiring the presence of a military force to protect the lives of the settlers. What was then done, we shall relate in the language of the Governor himself, who in a memorandum on the Taranaki land question thus refers to the matter :—" The Governor immediately despatched a confidential person with special instructions overland to Taranaki, and himself embarked on board her Majesty's ship Hazard, and hastened thither. The Bishop also repaired to the scene of difficulty with the utmost celerity, travelling from Auckland by Kawhia to Taranaki in eight days; while Mr Whitely, the Wesleyan Missionary at Kawhia, preceded them. Mr Spain's award'jwas made known in the middle of June, and on the 3rd of August a large meeting of English and natives were assembled at New Plymouth to hear the final decision. The Governor informed the Assembly that he did not take the same view of the question as Mr Commisioner Spain, and that he should not confirm the award of that gentleman, however carefully and conscientiously it had been weighed and delivered. On points of law, especially the law of New Zealand, considered with reference to national laws in general, authorities might differ without prejudice to the opinion of either, but it was for him the Governor to decide. He would immediately cause further investigation to be made as to the various claimants to particular portions of land. He would then to make special arrangements with those claimants, and he would allow, in all their integrity, the claims of those of the Ngatiawa tribe who were not parties to the sale in 1840, assuring them all that the British Government would never countenance injustice or misconduct in any place or in any person." With the proceedings at this meeting all parties appeared to be satisfied; and the minds of the natives were disabused of the impression that they might be dispossessed of their lands. They readily promised to wait quietly till the Governor's return, their protector Mr M'Leau having been instructed how to act in his absence. Mr M'Lean therefore in terms of his instruction proceeded to the Taniwha, and Waitara the northern boundaries of the New Zealand Company's purchase and convened a meeting of the natives on the banks of the Waitara river. He enquired of them whether the lands of the Waitara had been sold to the company, they replied that they never had consented to a sale of any portion of their lands in that neighbourhood, and that the few natives who assumed the right of sale were not the owners thereof, but merely adduced a claim from having had

two of their relatives killed and buried there during the engagement with their rival tribes, the Wailcatos. Mr M'Lean. further ascertained that there were fifteen, natives (Ngatiawa) residing at the Waitara River at the time the sale was effected who were unacquainted with it till sometime afterwards, and who did not receive any share of the payment given by the company, and that "there were then (August, 1844), about 250 natives residing at their pas on the Waitara, who he thought would be disinclined to dispose of any of their lands in that neighbourhood. The result of the various interviews which Mr M'Lean and others had with the natives resulted in the abandonment of all attempts to get the natives to agree to domore than sell a small block of land containing 3500 acres (the present site of the town and fortifications of New Plymouth) within the limits of which the settlers were all to remove. On the Bth Nov. 1844, the Governor again landed at New Plymouth, when these arrangements were communicated to his Excellency, and steps were taken to assemble the natives and obtain their consent. After some delay all the natives interested in the block of land, gave their consent to the sale, receiving therefor goods, mone} r, and animals, to the value of L 350. Referring to this compromise, his Excellency remarks— —" By thus concentrating the' settlement and narrowing the boundaries of the land at present occupied by settlers, the difficulties, if not disasters, apprehended to the settlers in consequence of the long meditated return of the Ngatiwa, will be avoided. The few absentee claimants to any portion of the town block, can be paid off as they arrive, and that the agent of the New Zealand Company should defer treating for any other land there, until the real owners, or a majority of them, are on the spat." His Excellency then publicly and officially abandoned in favor of the original owners, the Ngatiwas, all right, title, and interest, which the Government or the New Zealand Company had or could claim in the remainder of the lands of the Waitara, and declared that whatever portions of land in that district which might ultimately be required for Europeans could only be acquired by purchase from the natives, if they felt disposed to sell the same. {To be continued.)