News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Volume 17, Issue 1020, 17 June 1871, Page 14

News of the Week.

It is proposed to form an " Anti-pounding League ' at CromwelL

The salary of the Major of Auckland has been fixed at L 250. The survey of the railway from Nelson to Foxhill has been commenced. It is estimated that the cost of the late Census in Britain will be LIOO.OOO. An Anti-Shouting Club has been formed at Collingwood, Nelson. Two Abyssinian wells are being sunk at Westport as an experiment. Gold is repotted to have been found in the Manawatu Gorge, Wellington. The natives in Hawke's Bay are reported to be everywhere desirous of obtaining European instruction for their children. We observe from the Provincial Government Gazette that the number of Road Boards in the old province of Otago is 116. The Germans in Wellington, following the example of their compaferiotß at Christchurch, propose to establish a LiedertafeL At Timaru, a carter has been fined 50s and costs for not keeping on the proper side of the road, A number of sparrows have been liberated In Wellington by a gentleman who recently arrived there from Melbourne. A hotel has been opened at the "mosquito township " of Oeo, Taranaki, by a Maori firm. The Rev. R. Sorimgeour, wife, and daughter, left Dcmedin on the 9th inst. for San Francisco. The agitation in favour of a Permissive Bill has extended to one or two of the country districts of the Province of Nelson. , An observatory has been established at Qaeeastown under the charge of Mr J. S. Worthington. The Mount Ida Chresiole states that " Nateby is now without a resident minister of any oreed."

A Tokomairiro paper anticipates that in. a year or two .apples will be as cheap as potatoes in the southern districts of the province.

A Biuebook lately issued by the Queensland Government snows that out of a total revenue of L 743.058, that colony pays annually L 315.000 in salaries and wages.

There is some talk at Milton of establishing a Dramatic Club in that township. At Qaeenstown it is proposed to revive the Club that formerly existed there.

At an agricultural show held at Nelson the other day, a Maori took the first prize for the best Southdown ram, and the second prize for the best pen of Southdown eweß. William M'lntosh, a miner, aged 34, was accidentally killed at the Orepuki diggings, Southland diatriot, on the 27 tb May, by being struok by a fall of earth while mining.

The Kawakawa (Bay of Islands) coal mines continue to be actively worked. Indeed the demand for coal is so great that vessels are subjeoted to considerable delay before they can succeed in obtaining a cargo. The prospeotß for next season of the farmers in tne Oamaru district are reported by the local paper to be favourable, good progress having been made both in ploughing and sowing, The Taranaki Herald anticipates a glut this season in the market for the fat oattle raised in that province, and asks "What shall we do with our surplus meat ?' Salting the meat is the solution of this problem offered by the Herald, ai being more re. munerative than tinning it.

Speaking of the gold fever raging in Auckland, thtt Southern Cross says : — " There is money being m»de, and money yet to be made, in the scrip market. But we are standing on the brisk of a volcano, and a wise man is he who prudently retires before the explosion comes.

The Dunstan is not the only part of the colony that can boast of the possession of a donkey. We read in an Auckland paper that the Parnell Road Board possess one, which formerly belonged to Bishop Selwyn, and which is now employed in drawing carts filled with road metal.

A meeting of bottle- license holders was held at Murray's Hotel on Monday evening. Thoße present formed themselves into a sooiety under the name of the Licensed Grocers' Association. Some other business was tranaaoted, and the meeting then adjourned to Monday next.

The success of the dredges on some of the Otago rivers has induced the West Coast miners to turn their attention towards this branch of mining, and it is proposed shortly to place a dredge as an experiment on the Upper Buller. Mr Lowther Broad is said to be the moving spirit in the affair. With the view of ensuring that the construotion of the Moernki Jetty ehal) form part of the railway workß to be first proceeded with, the Hon. Mr Holmes has tabled a notice of motion in the Provincial Council, proposing that the iron screw piles procured for the jetty be Bold to the General Government.

Richard Burns gardener, was received into the gaol on Saturday evening, committed for trial at the ensuing sessions of the Supreme Court by Mr Murdoch, R.M., for having, on the 22nd ult., as a bailee, sold to Mr Bannatyne, publican, Dunedin, a bay mare, bridle, martingale, and orupper, the property of Mr Bremner of Palmeraton.

In the Provincial Counoil on Tuesday an Imprest Supply Bill, to appropriate L 15.000 for the services of the year ending 31st Maroh, 1872, waß introduced by the Treasurer, and passed. The remaining three of Mr Cutten's Land Resolutions, making fifteen in all, were, after some discussion, passed in Committee.

A Christohuroh paper states that the captain of the barque Ousuri, which sailed from Otago for Boston a few months ago, on bis arrival at the latter port, expressed himself highly pleased and satisfied with the New Zealand flax rope he bought in Christchuroh, of Mr Lennon's manufacture.' It seemed to him as good and Serviceable as Manilla. The Norwegian immigrants can hardly be expected to transmit to their friends in Europe favourable accounts regarding New Zealand, for it is stated that the road leading to the township where they are located, is for ten miles buried in mud deep enough to reach to a horse's chest, and flour has in oonsequence reaohed the price of 27s per owt. The Charleston Herald says :—": — " However prosperous may be mining matters at the Thames, it would seem that money for charitable purposes is not very abundant, j An appeal was recently made there on behalf of a Ladies' Benevolent Sooiety, and though backed by the influence of the Press, the sum collected amounted only to 15s Bd.' The Roman correspondent of the Morning Post writes that Pius IX. continues to receive many visitors, Protestants as well as Catholics, and he recommends himself to the prayers of the former as well as the latter. To an English lady who attended one of the recent receptions the Pope said, " Pray for me ; Protestants also can pray for the cause of justice and truth."

From the number of very numerously signed petitions which were presented to the Provincial Council theotherday, it would seem that the opponents of the Hundreds Regulation Acts are determined to make strenuous efforts to obtain their repeal. Petitions were presented from settlers at Naseby, St. Bathans, Serpentine, Hyde, Kyebura, Waikouaiti, andOlutha.

The Oam»fu Times states that the oats exported, from, that .4istiiftti J ..hav.e,, gained •* very unenviable notoriety in the Melbourne market, owing chiefly ""to '» the slovenly manner in which they are cleaned. Canterbury oats enjoy a better reputation, and fetch from 4d to 6d per bushel more. The same holds good of the West Coast and Auckland markets. ■ At a meeting of the Committee of the Blueskin and Kiltnog .Ploughing Society, held on the 9th inst., Messrs . J. Souness, D. Brunton, and G. Sritherlahdwere appointed judges to choose the ground for the annual match, which is fixed to take place on the 7th July next. The place of meeting will be duly advertised. The transaction of other business closed the proceedings.

A soiree took place in the Christians' HalL Christian Disciples' Church, Great King street, on the 9th inst., the Rev. Mr Elbornin the ohair. After tea, hymns were sung and addresses delivered by the Rev. Mr Elborn, and Messrs S'okes, Butters, Stewart, Bataon, and Haig. The Rev. Mr FergUß, pustor of the Christian Disciple congregation at Hampden, also addressed the meeting, which was closed by a hymn and prayer,

A return of considerable interest to parties resident on the Goldfieldß possessing stock, has been laid before tne Provincial Council. It shows the total area of Goldfields commonage to be 410,000 acres j the amount of revenue derived from it to be L 2517 19s ; and the expenses attending the collection of such revenue to be L 466 13a 41. Borne email incidental expenses, amounting to L lO 5a 6d, were also incurred in the management of the commonage.

Evidence of the progress of the meat-pre-serving industry in the province is to be found in the manifest of the ship Jessie Headman, which, sailed on the 7th instant for London, among her cargo being 5060 oases of preserved meats. We may add that since the beginning of the year, 9214 cases of preserved meats, and 810 casks of tallow have been exported from thiß port to London, and theße figures, we believe, will be increased in the course of a few weeks.

Ploughing for spring sown grain in the Northern districts of Canterbury is, the Press states, rapidly being gone on with. On the Downs most of the sowing may be considered over, while up on the plains sowing will be continued till the end of the present month. Wheat is being extensively planted. A reliable correspondent informs the same journal that at least half as much more land as last season ia being broken up for cultivation of this cereal, evidently owing to the anticipated increase in its price at the time of next harvest.

The consecration of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ardagb, Ireland, took place on the 11th April. The Bishop, writes the Dublin correspondent of the Tunes, "afterwards entertained his friends at dinner in the College of St. Mcl, and proposed the healths of the Pope and Cardinal Cullen, His Eminence, in responding, echoed the sentiment of the Bishop, who B&id, in reference to him, that they had all nailed their colours to the mast or the education question. He declared that they would not be satisfied with anything less than a Catholic University."

Some resolutions of a very voluminous oharaoter respecting District Road Boards were moved by the Hon. Dr Menzies in the Provincial Council on Tuesday. Their two leading provisions are, that & portion of the territorial revenue should be secured for the Road Boards as an endowment, and that the local Boards, which should have the administration of the roads, Bhould be quite independent of the Government. After Dr Meozies had made his speech moving the resolutions, they were Beconded by Mr Lumsden, and the debate adjourned.

The General Government, not content with possessing the Luna, have called for tenders for a steamer to ply on Lake Taupo. Referring to this, the Wellington Independent says that " Mr Fox may have the gratification, one of these days, if he should take a trip on Taupo lake, of hearing that the head stoker was once a rasoally rebel." We doubt if the Southern province's will be quite reconciled to this expenditure by the prospect that Mr Fox may have the " gratification" of taking trips on Lake Taupo in company with a " double-dyed scoundrel" such as the Independent refers to.

We believe that the decision of the bench at Wellington in disposing of the charge against Mr Lemon, the General Manager of the Telegraph Department, is altogether illegal, presuming the Wellington Independent's report of the proceedings to be correct. Two days were occupied in hearing the case. On' the second day, a magistrate who was not present on the first, sat on the, bench, and a magistrate who was present on the first day, is reported to have been absent when the case was disposed .of. The mere presence of one disqualified out of several magistrates has been held fatal, although the one took no pare in the decision of the case."

The Rev. Mr Reid, Wealeyan Minister, attended at the gaol on Sunday afternoon and celebrated Divine Service in the Maori language to the Protestant Maori prisoners. The ilight Rev. the Bishop of Wellington, who speaks the Maori language fluently, also visited the hapu ia Gaol on Monday evening last, and had a long koreto withTaurua, the Chief. Th Bishop also visited the. sick Maori prisoners in the Hospital on the following morning previous to his departure to Wellington. The Rev., Father Moreau attends every Sunday afternoon and celebrates Divine service in ' the Maori , language to 'the Roman Cattolio Maori prisoners. '

Two miners at Skippers narrowly Motped .losing LIOO the other day inrathgr.awngular manner. It appears, according to the W«ka« tip Mail, tnat they had sold, gold to the amount ■ named, and had received L 5 bank ' notes in exchange — these they took^hqma and planted them underground in a tin box,' supposing them to be safe.' Shortly after they retuxaed4b see; that all was right, when to. their great astonishment they, found some pigs had been there before them and had routed out their concealed treasure' with their snouts, and were in the act of destroying both notes and box, one of them munching 1 it in his mouth. The notes happily did not receive any injury. The City M.P.C.'s, in response to an invitation from the Mayor and City Council., met the latter at the Corporation offices onWednesday, to confer with them on the propriety of introducing into, and inducing the Provincial Counoil ■to pass, a resolution asking the General Government to take the railway line passing through the City, outside the line of Crawford street. There were present, of the City Members, Messrs Reynolds, Cargill, Turnbull, Duncan, and Bathgate. After disoussion, it was 'agreed that one of the members should introduce a motion asking the Provincial Counoil to affirm the desirability of the 'proposed alteration in the line. The other members present promised their unanimous support to Buoh a motion.

In view of the fact that small-pox has been raging in England for some months past, and that several cases were brought to Melbourne the other day by the Somersetshire, we dip from the Times of April 14th the following; paragraph, headed •' The Value of Re-Vno-cination ": — " At a meeting of the Liverpool Health Committee yesterday it was stated that throughout the whole course of the-small-pox epidemic so rife for monthß paßt in that tows, the medical officers and nurses of the workhouse hospitals, although coming: into continual contact with small- pox cases, had, through being re-vacoinated, escaped contagion. The chairman said he did not know of a single case of small-pox occurring after re vaccination."

Dr Webster enlivened a somewhat dreary debate in the Provincial Council on Tuesday afternoon, by relating a rather comical anecdote. The subject under discussion was a motion for a branch line of railway in the Oamaru district. Several honourable mem* befa gave doleful accounts of the state of the main road in that distriot, and Dr Webster, in corroboration of those statements, said that on one occasion a Bottler's dray almost disappeared in a mud-hole in the road ; and, after obtaining assistance to extricate it, a surface-man appeared on the scene, where* upon the infuriated settler seized him and oast him bodily into the mud-hole, in order to impress the Government employes with a sense of their duty.

An accident occurred at about one o'olook on the afterneoa of the Bth inst,, on the Waitahuna road, about three miles from Lawrence. Two miners, named Edwin Purdy and Andrew John Moody, with * female friend named Mary Ann Eastman, were driving in a spring-cart to Lawrence, when a Yankee waggon drove past them. As it was passing them, Pardy, who had the reins, turned tit horses he id, bringing the cart near the water- table, where it struck against a stone and was upset, all three being throws out. In the fall. Mary Ann Eastman had her skull fraotured, death being instantaneous. At art inquest afterwards held upon her, a. verdict of " accidental death" was returned. The deceased has a sister living at the Hogbura.

The determination of the Canterbury Government to prevent cattle passing from Otago to the province of Canterbury has at length induced the Provincial Council of Otago to retaliate. Last evening the Hon. Mr M'Lean submitted a motion which provides that, failing the removal of the restrictions after His Honour has communicated with the Superintendent of Canterbury, the provisions of the Diseased Cattle Acts, 1861 and 1865, in respect to the introduction of cattle from Canterbury to Otago,, shall be put in force. Also, that, to enable the same restrictions to be placed npon sheep passing from Canterbury to Otago as at present exist upon sheep passing from thiß province to Canterbury, the Otago Sheep Ordinance shall be amended. The motion was carried 'on a division by twenty-one ' votes to seven.

One of the telegrams brought by the Suez mail stated that Mr Lowe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had been obliged to withdraw his, proposition to tax lucifer matnhea. We learn from the New York papers that Mr Lowe sent the following telegram on the ' subject to , General Pleasonton, one of the Commissioners of.' the United States Trea- . sury : — "Please cable immediately how tax on friction matches works, Did imposition derange manufacture, or check consumption ? What yield this year?" To this General Pleasonton made the following reply: — < " Tax on friction matohes , works. . welL Manufacture not deranged, nor .oonsumption onecked. Yield 200,0,000 dollars per annum." From the 'same source we learn ' ; that Mr< Lowe's announcement of the pro- ' pbaed tax waß received with " great laughter." , The proposal was to place a halfpenny scamp on each box containing 100 matches, while a still higher rate waß to be imposed on wax lights. The revenue expected to be raised from this source was L 550,000. In the evening of the , same day, Mr Gladstone stated that he had given instructions f'j the police to prevent demonstrations agaWt the tax, so that the "disorders" retried to [have ooourred w«ro not unexpected, :.<>.-.•

, A. lecture was delivered by Mr William Fuller, under the auspices of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Association, at the Athenaeum on Wednesday. Thesubject of the lecture was " The Goldfields of Otago, and the expenditure of public money in their development." The Hon. F. D. Belloooupied the chair. There was but a scanty attendance. The lecturer regarded Government expenditure on mining ventures as a risky undertaking, and considered that if Government assistance were given at all, it should be given towards work that would provide profitable employment for a large number of persons. No assistance whatever Bhould be given to the constructing of reservoirs or the cutting of water-races. Votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman were carried by acclamation.

We are sorry to learn that a serious accident took place at the tunnel works of the Port Chalmers Railway, early on Thursday week. A young man named Waugh, while attending to the waggons during the night shift;, was unfortunately struck down by one of them, and had his leg broken. He was immediately conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital, where he received every attention from Dr Yates. He is expected to recover without having the leg amputated. Alexander Cameron, a labourer, had his right leg fraoturcd at Caversham the other day, by his horse falling upon him whilst riding. He is now in the Hospital. The little girl, daughter of Mr GoodalL Caversham, and wta was severely burnt on the 25th May last, is still living, but the burns being so extensive, Bbc is not expected to recover.

The question as to the order in which (he various lines of railway in the province are to be recommended to the General Assembly for immediate construction, was the principal subject considered in the Provincial Council on Thursday. Ultimately it was decided that they should be recommended as follows :— lnvercargill to Mataara, Waifcaki to Moeraki, thence to Waikouaiti, Tokomairiro to Tuapeka, Mosgiel to Outram, Winton to Kingston, and Balolutha to Mataura. The anecdote whioh Mr Duncan related on the previous evening, regarding a train having been stopped on the Bluff railway to allow an old woman to cross the line, was incidentally referred to by Mr Luuuden on Thursday evening. Mr Lumsden appeared to think that the honourable member for Danedin had mistaken his own shadow for the venerable lady— an insinuation whioh Mr Duncan indignantly repelled.

We are led to believe that the Government Annuities scheme is being very largely availed of throughout the province, judging by the reports whioh reach us from time to time. This is no doubt greatly due to the vigorous and systematic mode of operation adopted by the Government in bringing the edheme before the public In the up-coun-try papers we find Captain Baldwin's lectures spoken of as very popular, and his exertions referred to as being mainly instrumental in inducing numbers of persons to take up insurances. His selection was no doubt a good one, as his knowledge of the country and his other qualifications peculiarly fitted him for the position to Which he was appointed. The Government, we understand, have appointed Mr M Far. lane to a position in the province of Auokland similar to that held by Captain Baldwin in Otogo.

The Census returns for Southland show that there were in the district 3 flour mills, 17 flax mills (7 driven by steam and 10 by water), 10 saw mills (1 driven by water, and the Test by steam), 3 breweries, and 63 hotels and publiohouses (1 for every HO of the population). The flour mills turned out only 240 tons of flour and 80 tons of meal, and the flax mills only 272 tons of fibre, during the year. The saw mills produced 3,803,000 feet of sawn timber, and the breweries 74,488 gallons of beer. There was also a soap and candle manufactory, which manufactured 100 tons of soap, and 25 tons of candles. ' The meatpreserving and boiling down establishment at Woodlands turned ont 275,500 lbs. of preserved meat,' 131.152 lbs of tallow, and 22,746 lbs. of wool. This establishment gave employment to 112 persons during the year.

We referred the other day to the progress that has been made in the province by the meat- preserving industry. We are glad to be now able to say that the quality of the meat preserved is as excellent us its quantity is large. We have received from Messrs Patercon and M'Leod, Princes street, some aheeps' tongues, preserved at the Otago Meat-Pre-serving Company's works, Abbotsford, Green Island, nnd we have much pleasure in bearing testimony to their excellence. Their flavour is very pleasant, and the flesh is as firm and , sweet as could be desired. They are, in faofc, quite equal, if not superior, in quality to any imported, and should entirely supplant them in the local market. Those of our readers who may be prejudiced against " local industries " should try these tongues for themselves, and they will be compelled, we think, to admit that in this case, at least, the local is as good as the imported article.

The case of Samuel Porter, who was compelled to retire from the Police Force in consequence of injuries which he received whilst on duty at Waikouaiti, has been considered by the Private Petitions Committee of the Provincial Council. The report of the Committee, after stating that Mr Porter was brutally assaulted, and that he has a family dependent, on him for their support, reoom•mends that an allowanoa of 30s per week be made to him for twelve month*, and that ht Grovernmtnt appoint hjm. to *oy office at

their command which his condition will enable him to fill. Also that, in the event of the wages attached to Buch situation exceeding, or being equal to, the weekly sum mentioned, the allowance shall, during the time Mr Porter fills suoh office, cease ; and that he shall be at liberty to apply to the Council, by petition, during the next annual session.

A serious assault was committed at Maungatna on Saturday morning. From what we can learn, Mrs Agnes M' Donald had an altercation there with her husband, William M 'Donald, a settler in that district, on the morning in question. It ended in her throwing at him a pitchfork, which entered his side, and caused a wound through „ which his lungs protruded. Mrs M 'Donald was arrested soon after the occurrence, and her husband was quickly attended to by Drs Inglis and M'Brearty, who have very little hope of his recovery. M 'Donald being in so dangerous a state, it was considered advisable to have his depositions taken before a magistrate, and they were accordingly taken [by Mr Fulton, R.M., West Taieri. Mrs M'Donald was received into the gaol on Sunday evening on a oharge of maliciously wounding, having been remanded by Mr Fulton upon that charge till the 18th Inst.

We learn that we were not wrong in stating in last week's issue that the Council of the Otago University was in favour of the union of that institution with the New Zealand University. We believe that the desirability of union has been affirmed, it being provided that the Otago University shall retain full control over its present endowments, as well as over any that may in time to come be conferred on it out of the Consolidated Revenue of the colony. The members of the Otago University Council are to be constituted a Corporation, to whom the local administration of the affairs of the University will be entrusted, but the power of conferring degrees is to rest solely with the University of New Zealand. It is provided, however, that arrangements shall be made under which the Professors and Tutors of the Otago University may form a part of the Board of Examiners.

A very successful soiree in connection with the Presbyterian Church took place at Otepopo on the 2nd inst. The proceeds, amounting to L2l 4s 6d, were handed over to the Church Committee to assist in liquidating the ohuroh debt, whioh will now be wiped off, the ladies of the congregation having raised, by means of subscription lists, LlOl. The tables at the soiree were t.bund. a-itly supplied with delicacies, provided by the ladies and a few bachelors. When all had partaken of > he good things, excellent addresess were delivered »y the following gentlemen ; —Rev. Mr Gillies on "Brotherly Love," Rev. Mr Baird on "Missionary Work," Rev. Mr Ularkon "Temperance," Rev. Mr Will on "Education," and Rev. Mr Watt on "The Introduction of the Gospel into New Zealand," Rev. Mr Sutherland on "Christian Colonisation ;" Mr Christie's addresß was humorous and congratulatory. After the speeches, votes of thanks to the lady collectors, the Soiree Committee and the speakers, concluded one of the most successful meetings ever held in Otepopo.

The debate on Mr Cubten's land resolutions was resumed in the Provincial Council on the 9th inst. After a lengthened debate, in which a number of members took part, the first resolution was carried by 30 to 7. It is as follows :— " That the Hundreds Regulation Act, 1869, and the Hundreds Regulation Aot Amendment Act, 1870, are injurious to the interests of the people of Otago, by impeding settlement, creating delay in opening land for purchase, and diminishing the land revenue of the province, and therefore the said Acts should be repealed." The second, which, was carried on the voices, without discussion, is as follows : — " That, as in many of the earlier proclaimed Hundreds, the Crown Lands bear so small a proportion to the sold land as to render the amounts collected as assessment so small as not to pay the expense of a ranger's salary, the ' Waste Land Aot Amendment Aot' be repealed, and other provision be made in lieu thereof, so that in all Hundreds the rate of assessment be reduced when two- thirds of the said Hundreds have been Bold, and shall cease entirely when three-fourths of any Hundred be sold."

Oar Riverton correepondent writes under date June 3rd, as follows ;— " On Saturday, the 27th ult. , a melancholy and fatal accident occurred at Orepuki, to Mr William M'lntosh, one of the oldest and most highly respectable miners in the district. It appears from the statement of his brother, Mr John M'ln* tosh, that the deceased was working at the face removing some earth from the race. His brother had gone up the cliff to note if there was any danger, when, .before he could warn his brother, the earth fell and crushed him against a large root of a tree lying some few yards distant from the face. His head was not covered. Assistance qniokly arrived, and he was removed to the hut, where he shortly afterwards expired. An inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death returned. This lamentable accident has cast a gloom over our little community, and has left a blank not easily refilled. The deceased was one of the most active and intelligent residents in the dis triot, and was ever ready in trouble or distress liberally to relieve and assist his fellow men. He was honourable and straightforward in all his dealings, and 'his loss will be severely felt by all his friends and acquaintances.—The schooner Fiery Cross, which pame in on Sunday, left this port yea* fcrd&y for Melbourne, Jiaea witfe grain."

The purchase ofthe greater portion of the Seventy Mile Bush, situate in the provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay, was recently mentioned in our columns. The Hawke's Bay Herald, in giving an account of the transaction, says :—": — " The purchase has, of course, been made by the Colonial Government, acting at the request of these provinces." To this the Wellington Independent adds:— "No doubt this purchase will delight the donbtfnl people of Otago who saw no chance of railways for the provinces of Wellington and Hawke'B Bay save out of the land fund of the South Island." We refrain from "delight " until we know who pays the money for the land, as it seems to us that if the " Colonial Government" does so, the money will come out of " the land fund of the South Island." We have also learned by bitter experience that the purchase of Native land is not always matter for rejoicing, and we should have thought that Wellington, with its interminable Manawatu block dispute, would have learned so too. Meantime, let the Independent explain who provides the money for the purchase.

The Roslyn and Eaikorai Literary Institute held their inaugural Soiree in the Waikari Drill-shed on Tuesday week. It was a great suooess, the large room beiag crowded throughout Addresses were de* livered by the Rev. Messrs Alves, of the Kaikor»i, and Davidson, North Taieri, and delegates from the Dunedin Mutual Improve* ment Association, and those of Knox, First, and St. Joseph's Churches. On this occasion the K&ikorai Philharmonic Society made their first public appearance, and did great credit to their instructor, Mr Lister, by singing several glees and songs with good taste and in perfect harmony. The President of the Society, in moving a vote of thanks to the singer, pointed out that the district owed a debt of gratitude to Mr Lister greater than many imagined ; that as a people we were far behind many others in our taste for vocal mußic ; and that the efforts of Mr Lister and others were requisite to create even an appreciation of one of the most humanising of the arts. Songa and recitations were also given by Messrs Mitchell, Sinclair, and others. As usual, however, the comic and grotesque seemed to be much more admired than the chaste and scientific.

The Civil Sittings of the Supreme Const opened on Tuesday morning with the common jury cases. The first case gone into was Larnaoh and Another v. Bird, in whioh the plaintiffs, as trustees of the assigned estate of E. M'Glashan, sued defendant on a bill of exchange for LSOO, given by Mr Bird to Mr M'Glashan six years ago, and which, defendant pleaded, it had oeen agreed should be canceled. Among the pleis was one to the effeot that defendant, having executed a deed of arrangement with bis creditors, was entitled to his discharge under the Bankruptcy laws ; and the trial was brought to a somewhat abrupt conclusion by defendant's counsel obtaining leave, on terms, to amend this plea. The case is not likely to come on again during the present sittings. Mr G. E. Barton, with Mr Stewart, were engaged for the plaintiffs, and Mr Smith was counsel for the defendant. A jury was then empanelled to try the caße of De Costa v. M'Donald, in which a disputed account has to be decided upon. The trial had not terminated when the Court adjourned. Mr G. IS. Barton is for the plaintiff; and Mr B. C. Haggitfc for the defendant.

Major Croker's petition to the Provincial Council has been reported upon by the Private Petitions Committee, who reoommend, as meeting the circumstances of the case, that he should be kept in view by the Government for an appointment, when a vacancy occurs. With regard to the petition of Stephen Strong, a warder of the Gaol, the Committee decline to interfere with the Gaoler in the carrying out of the discipline he may think necessary, full power being delegated to him by the Government. The Committee also consider that the petitioner has no claim to compensation, especially as he received the month's notice required by the rules of the Bervice, In the case of William Smitham, the Committee recommend that compensation to the amount of L 363, in full of all demands, should be paid to him. In reply to the petition of residents in the Wakatipu district,that the well-known prospector, William Fox, should receive some reward • from the Government as being the discoverer of the Arrow Goldfield, the Committee recommend that no such reward should be paid him, the reasons assigned being that he was not the first discoverer of that Goldfield, and that the Government did not promise a reward to the first discoverer.

The adjourned meeting of the Sports Committee, composed of the Games Committee of the Caledonian Society, and the represea tatives of the Friendly Societies and others, was held at Wain's Hotel on Tuesday evening, the Vice-President of the Caledonian Society in the chair. Letters were read front* the Friendly Societies, giving their support and patronage. The games were originally fixed to oome off on Saturday next, but this being the Presbyterian Fast week, it was considered advisable to postpone them to the following Saturday. The programme has as yet been but partly drawn up. All the races, with the exception of the hundred yards' race, between the two champions, win be handicapped. Perhaps the greatest interest of the day will centre in this race. Among the other attractions are to be ft half-mile race ; a quarter-mile handicap, in whioh Hewitt wiil start from scratch ; a quarter- mile handicap hurdle raoe ; *nd 120 yard* $|t r*oe, itt which

Harrif , the Champion of Australia, will start from soratoh. Between the races there will be dances, and the proceedings will be anlivened by music, so that fine weather teems to be the only thing now required to make the gathering a success.

The Auckland correspondent of the Lyt> telton Times, in a recent letter, says :— "I wish to mention the following circumstance, for the benefit of those among your readers who feel interested in Moa lore. Two years and a half ago, a highly respeotable gentleman and large landed proprietor residing at Poverty Bay, told me that soon after his arrival in New Zealand, about 45 years back, a war party (tana) came to Poverty Bay to avenge some supposed or real injury ; fighting, however, was prevented by mediation, and the war party lived in Tnranga as guests for a short time. Whilst they were there my informant, on many occasions, was shewn a moa's feather, which was worn by the principal chief of the war party. Subsequently, if I remember rightly, my informant was promised a feather for himself, but never saw the same chief again, as he died shortly after returning to his home. The plume referred to as worn by the chief, I was told, could not be easily mistaken for the plume of aa ostrioh ; it was evidently highly prized by Its owner, who stated that the moa from whioh it came was killed by one of his anoestors. I have thought it worth while to note these circumstances, as they may perhaps help to elucidate a highly interesting question, viz., the period at whioh the moa became extinot. The gentleman who gave me the above particulars still lives, and is highly respected."

Those whom it is the fashion now-a-days to call the " horny-handed sons of toil, "may be interested to learn that Mr W. H. Webb; the owner of the Nevada, Nebraska, and other steamers, began life as a mechanic. On his recent visit to San Francisco Mr Webb received a welcome from the Meohau* ics' Institute. In the oonrss of his reply, Mr Webb, addressing the President of the Inati* tute, said:— "Though recently coming among you, I feel that I am a pioneer Call* fornian, having built the first American steamer, the California— still in service— whioh ever entered the Pacifio Ocean, and the first to enter your Golden Gate, and have been ever since interested in some enter* prise connected with your city or State, not least amongst them the tramp wtation of many thousands of those emigrating to you* shores. I trust, Mr President, it will sot bt considered egotistical on my part if I havt alluded to the fact that the first American steamer ever crowing the Paoifio Ooaan, the Colorado, the pioneer vessel carrying your mails to China, as also the connecting steamers selected for the service on both sides of the continent, were built by nu. Of this lam proud as a meohanio. Let ma n*y, also, air, another gratifying fact is, that I, as a mechanic was enabled to indue* several of the most powerful governments of Europe to entrust to aa American shipbuilder the construction of several of the largest and most powerful vessels of war ever built."

Ksraitiana Tokomoana, M.H.B. for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, is reported to have spoken as follows at a meeting lately held at Pakohai, Hawke's Bay, at whioh Mr M'Lean was present : — " lam of opinion that, to be able to vie with the Pakeha, we must have a knowledge of his language. If the Government would establish aohools amongst ub for imparting to our children an English education, our position would be immensely improved. In the schools established by the missionaries, Maori has always been the language used. But the Pakeha dwells in a room to which we have no access — there is no passage from our room to his. We must have a knowledge of the English language to enable us to comprehend th« mysteries of the Pakeha— the secrets of his success. With this advantage, it would b« seen who amongst us possesses intellect and who does not — men of intelligence would advance. Not one Maori amongst those taught by teachers provided by clergymen has succeeded in attaining to any distinotion or wealth. If the Government were to establish schools such as 1 propose, the oase> might be different. Some amongst us havebeen made clergymen, but they have obtained faith only, not knowledge — th» knowledge remains with the Pakeha clergyman. If the Maoris were educated In European schools, there would be no more Hauhauism, or war in tho country— wen would know better. Those only who would not avail themselves ofthe schools might be* oome troublesome from their ignorance."

Two matters which evoked unlimited din* onssion were considered in the Provincial Council this week. The first *as the question of railway construction throughout the province ; and the second, that apparently inexhaustible topic, the land question. The former was introduced by Mr Reid submitting a motion, which asked the Council to request the Colonial Government to take> steps to facilitate the immediate construction of the following Uoes of railway, in terms of the Immigration and Public Works Aot, 1870 :— lnvercargill to Mataura> Moeraki to Waitaki, Tokomairiro to Tuapeka, Mosgiel to Outram, Winton to Kingston, and Balcluthft to Matanra. Mr Duncan contended that it would simply be a waste of public money to construct a railway from Bftlolutha to Mataura, and suggested thai when made it would be comparable only with the railway in Southland, where an engine driver, presumably according to oustom, once stopped the train to enable an old woman to oroas the line, and when re* quested to " hurry up," the Indignantly replied "Bje#p me, you're in. & grow tarry

this morning !" Ultimately, the Hon. Mr Bell moved that the motion should i.c amended to the extent of providing that the Council should express an opinion upon the courae taken by tho Color ial Government for the commencement and continuation of the Clutha line. He also explained, that the line, so far as it hud been tendered for, hod been taken up within the estimated coat, namely, L 5900 per mile.

As a sign of the increasing trade on Lake Wakatip, we are glad to learn that the firms of Messrs G-. M. Aldrich and Co. and J. W. Robertson and Co., Queenatown, are about to give orders for the building of two ateamerß to run on Lake Wakatip. We have had the pleasure of inspecting the model of Messrs Aldrioh and Co.'s bc\t, which, together with the plans and specifications, has just been completed by Mr H. T. Green, the wellknown yacht and boat builder, whose skill as a builder of fast boats should be a sufficient guarantee that tha new steamer will have plenty of speed, provided the engines are of sufficient power. As a specimen of marine architecture, the model is considered by competent judges to be quite equal to anything of the claBS of boat that they have seen, and as a specimen of colonial workmanship it is well worth inspection. The stand to whioh the model is fixed is made of the heart of the native beech, and is a very handsome piece of wood, showing that we possess woods equal in beauty to apy in the ■world. Messrs Aldrich's boat is to be a screw .steamer of 79 tons roaasurruent, 84ft. long, 13ft. beam, and 6ft. 6in. deep. The timber that will be chiefly used in building her is black birch, black pine, totara, and broadleaf — all well known for their strength and durability. Most of the fastenings will be galvanised iron, and it is intended that the vessel shall shall be constructed in the most substantial manner. Messrs Robertson and Co.'s boat will be much larger, and is also being designed hv Mr Green. She is to be a paddle-boat, and speed will be the mum objeot kept in view in her construction. We trust that both firms will find their enterprise rewarded.

Tha name of Dombrowski h&s figured prominently in the late news from France, as one of the leading insurgent commanders. The Journal Offieiel of Versailles furnishes the following brief sketch of his ca-eer :— " Jeroslas Dombrowski was born at Cracow. He is 45 years of age. In 1863 he served as colonel in the insurrectionary Polish army. In 1865 he was charged with being engaged in the forging and uttering of false Eu3sian notes, but was released in consequence of the withdrawal of the prosecution. He, however, appeared a second time upon the same oha'ge before the Assize Court of the Seine and was acquitted. Jeroslas Dombrowski dealt in forged paasports and false certificates!, in which he attested that certain of hie countrymen whom he honoured with imaginary renk had taken An active p«rt in the insurrection, while, iv f^Msfc, they had had no chare in it. These certificates were used to obtain for the holders certain pecuniary benefits as refugees. In the month of February last Dombrowski endeavoured to urovoke an insurrection at Bordeaux, and a warrant for bis arrest was issued. He, however, escaped into Swi'zsrland, where he remained uutil the end of March. During the siege of Paris, being suspected of communimunications with the Prussians, he was several times arrested. He had even passed through the enemy's lines with a forged pass. Very shortly before the lecent outbreak he waa arrested at a moment when he wns expressing his desire that the whole French army might be destroyed. Such is the man to whom the insurrectionary Commune has Intrusted the command of Paris."

A public meeting of the residents of the Blawkia district was held at the Waitati Hotel on the evening of Monday week, at 7 o'clock, to consider the propriety of erectiag by shares a Mechanics' Institute and Rending Room. The room was comfortably filled. Mr Grant, on being voted to the chair, stated that such a building had for some time past been considered by many a great necessity. It was thought likely that the library at present in the school house might be removed, if arrangements with the Committee could be made, »fl it would be much more advantageously placed for the convenience of all, in a building on the main road, than where it sow was. which was quite an out of the way place, and not easy or accesß on dark nights. The library might be supplemented at a moderate cost from kindred societies, and the reading room would be furnished with daily and weekly papers, magazines, &c. In addition it was proposed to give lectures, and penny readings mip;ht be introduced, for they, had teen very Buccpssful in other places. The cost of a building 30 feet long by 18 feet wide, well finished inside and oat, with folding doora so as to make two rooma or one as occasion might require, would be L 122. It was proposed to get it up by shares of 1 0a each After Borne discussion, in which a number of gentlemen took part, it w«s moved by Mr Mansford, and seconded by Mr A. M'Kenzie. "That a working Committee should be formed to make arrangements for having a lecture, and to do all they could to prevail upon people in the. district to take shares." It was further moved by Mr Manaford, and seconded by Mr Quayle, that the Committee consist of Capt. Pitt, Messrs Grant, Charlton, Andrew Wilson, Ed. Johnson, J. Souness, and the mover. Both motions were Agreed t0...

A correspondent writes to us in reference toa letter by Dr Moran,in which, referring to 'the Bishop' of Nelson's lecture, he says, ** Tbero in no Canon xti. at all, rod no wwh

Canon as that so ostentatiously quoted by the Bishop." In reply to thin, our correspondent aendß us a copy of the Christian — a weekly religious paper published in London— of the 17th February, 1870, iv which we fiad these 21 Canons, reprinted from the Pall Mall Gazette. The Christian introduces them as follows :—": — " The following transla< tion is given in the Pall Mall Gazette of Canons for which a series of articles in the Civita Cattolica have been obviously preparative ; some of our readers will have met with them already, to others they will be new ; they will be instructive to all who comprehend their significance." The 12th Canon as printed here is almost word for wo r d the same as quoted by the Bishop of Nelson, We append it, in order that our readers may compare the two: — "Whosoever says that Christ, our Saviour and Sovereign, has conferred upon the Church the power to direct only by advice and persuasion those who turn aside, not to compel them by orders, by coercion, by external verdicts, and statutory punishments, let him be anathema." Our correspondent further sends us the following quotation from the Pall Mall Budget of March 12*, 1870:— "Count Beust protests against the twenty-one Canons, to which Cardinal Antonelli is reported in a French journal to have replied that the Holy See has no intention of reviving the supremacy of the Church over the civil power, as in the Middle Ages, or re establish the Inquisition . The sole object of tha twenty-one Canons, he affirms, 'is to proclaim the true dootrines of the Catholic Church, leaving men's consciences free to conform to them or not.' "

According to what was stated by Mr Eeid in the Provincial Council the other evening, the much abused runholders have at length found a friend at court in Mr Thomas Luther Shepherd. During the debate on Mr Cutten's land resolutions, and after Mr Shepherd had addressed the House, Mr Eeid said it was gratifying to find that the honourable member for the Dunstan had commoner d to patronise the pastoral tenants, and he also congratulated gentlemen who were supposed to represent that interest in having secured so valuable and distinguished an associate. He had no doubt that so brilliant a combination would result in the adoption of land laws of a most liberal and comprehensive nature, and, of course, eminently satisfactory to all hitherto conflicting interests. This rather sarcastic reference to the honourable member for the Goldfields made everybody except Mr Shepherd laugh. On tiie contrary, Mr Shepherd indignantly denied that he had forsHken the people's cause. "Directly," said the honourable member, "anybody differs with the Provincial Secretary, he is accused of havingdesertedthe noble cause and joined the squatters." He did not think the squatters thought so. "Mine," continued Mr Shepherd, "is the people's cause ; I go in for fair dealing to the pastoral tenants and to the people alike ; but to the people first !" Mr Cutten, referring to what Mr Shepherd had stated concerning the land resolutions, said it was only natural that he should find fault with them. No donbt if Mr Shepherd looked at the resolutions from one of the seats on the Government benches, he would view them differently. He could only compare the honourable member for the Dunstan to Bombastes Funoso when Bombastes exclaims — He who will thoso boots displace. Mebo meet Boinbascea face to face. Then said the King :—: — I'va heard on Aide's burning chore, An uugry lien give a grievous rsar ; But said Bombastes :— And, I've heard ov Afric's fmrnlrp shord An anjrry lion give & grievous roar. Aid the last lion thought the Arse a boar.