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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 326, 1 June 1878, Page 4

The Auckland Herald says:—There is considerable difference in the estimates made as to the amount of land on the left banks of the Waipa and Waikato rivers which Sir George Grey has promised to return to Tawhiao. The estimates range from 60,QU0 acres, to 1 00,000 acres, the latter figure being probably nearest the mark. Taking the value of this at, IDs per acre, the money’s worth is £30,000.

It is stated that innoculation for the prevention of pleuro-pneumonia has been successfully practised under the authority and direction of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association has resolved to adopt the suggestion of the Oumaru Society that a National Association lor the Middle Island should be formed. The Melbourne correspondent of the Wellington Chronicle says :—The Ballarat Industrial Exhibition, after drawing its thousands and tens of thousands (even from distant Beechwoith, involving a journey by rail of GUO miles, at an inclusive charge of six shilling's each to State scholars for-journey and board), is shortly to dose. The number of competitive exhibitors have been 1952 ; ditto exhibits, 5105 ; non-competitive exhibitors, 102 ; visitors, 9-1,328 ; cash credit balance at present, £.1501 : probable final credit balance, about £IOOO. In carrying out the idea of this Industrial Juvenile Exhibition, wc arc probably only a neck ahead of the United Stales, as I see the Scientific American has just recently suggested a similar “ good thing.” Mr J. Anderson Ims in process of manufacture an appliance which will form an important addition to the ordinary threshing machines. Its purpose is to receive the sheaves from the stack, to cut and throw out the bands, and to deliver the grain into the threshing machine. By its use, the labour of at least two men will bo saved, an important consideration at a time when farmers arc anxious to get their produce into the market, and when labour is more difficult to obtain than at other periods. The apparatus lias the merit of groat simplicity. The sheaves are thrown singly into a suitably shaped box, whence they are canned along a trough, the bottom of which is an endless band, so fitted as to ensure the passing cm of the grain, and as the sheaf starts upon its journey it lias to pass beneath a revolving knife of circular form, by the pressure of which the band is cut. The appliance is similar to one which has boon triad in Victoria, and with marked success.—Canterbury Times.

A. contemporary says ; —With regard to the construction of railways through Crown Lands, a letter lias been addressed by the Minister of Lands to Mr Loudon, of Buxton, on the subject of the TluttWaikauae Railway. The following portion of this, as an indication of policy is of interest to the whole colony : —•“ Assuming that the Legislature, at its next session assented to the principle that railways through Crown Lunds, which are otherwise comparatively speaking useless, shall bo constructed out of the proceeds of the lands to be bcnclitted, I do not anticipate that there need be much difficulty in proceeding with,the line now in question, as many others throughout the colony.” The Thames Star has the following : :i Tnkukino and his hapu, with some natives from Mataora (East Coast settlement) passed through JRaeroa lately, on ilu-ir way jo j iiknrangi to consult with Tawhiao on the result of the late meeting of the KmgUos with the Premier and Native Minister, and on other matters connected with native a Hairs. Wc believe that hitherto Tawhiao has declined to see Tnkukino, or ha ve anything to do with his grievances, on the ground that he had trembles enough of his own. Tnkukino has throughout jeuiuiued loyal to Tawhiao, and has paid repeated visits to the seat of Maori mouj arediy, without, however, being permiteU to look on the face of his King. On this present auspicious occasion it is expected that his dusky majesty will solar unbend as to receive the old chief from Hauraki, and advise with him on the future policy oi the Jviugites. The departure ol Tnkukino at the present time is significant of one fact—that lie lias accepted the situation so far as the making of the Pukc-Paeroa road is concerned.”

The Melbourne correspondent of the Wellington Chronicle says:—At the opening of a new State school (almost an everyday occurrence in Victoria), the other day, the Minister of Education stated that we have 1380 schools in 231 of which singing is taught; and in 132

drawing, at a cost for both subjects, of £i3,UUI) per annum ; and of the 35u0 teachers employed, 1900 arc females. A contemporary' says : The announcement that the Bank of New.Zealand has notified to its employes that any of the staff injured by luoluail anti thereby incapacitated from work will be dismissed will bo'read with interest by many in this colony. The fact of this nol iflcaiion coming so soon after the recommendation of an English jury, on the occasion of a recent trial for manslaughter—that whereas the rules of the game made kill provision for a possible case or two of manslaughter, the said rules might be modified with advantage—is significant* ns striking the keynote of that altered state of feeling which is gradually instilling itself into the mind of the community with regard'to the method of playing a game which is so admirably suited to the genius of the British race. That so great an authority as the Duke of Wellington should have ascribed the final overthrow oi Napoleon at Waterloo to the pluck and energy engendered by its influence at our public schools may well arrest thoughtless wholesale condemnation of an essentially noble sport which, though now lowered to a position entitling it to the reproach ol being only fit for roughs and bullies, requires for its proper conduct great skill, a quick eye, and the training of a, gentleman, rather than mere brute force.