NEWS OF THE DAT.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1660, 15 August 1873, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAT.

FIBB Brigade.—The Auxiliary Fire Brigade will hold its annual dinner at the Custom-house Hotel this evening. . Motueka Whabp,—The wharf and warehouse will be let by public auction at Motueka on Monday next. Resident Magibtbate's CoTJBT.~On Wednesday last, Hugh Beet brought an action against Martha Bees', his wife, for the recovery of two deeds, of which she obtained possession from plaintiff's •olictort, Messrs. Adams and Kingdon, or £20, the value of the same. Evidence was given showing that the wife had a protection order against the husband

dating baok as far as 1860 ; that since that date she had through her own hard work procured money to ■a purchase certain properties, the conveyances of which been made out in the name of her husband in mistake, and it was therefore contended that the husband was simply a trustee for the wife. The Bench considered that they had no jurisdiction, but nonsuited the plaintiff, inasmuch as the. action should have been brought against his solictors. Mr. Adams obtained leave to appeal. New Piotobial Journal.—The new Melbourne pictorial journal, The Australasian Sketeher, is really a first-class production, and reflects great credit on the office from which it is published. . It* engravings are quite equal to its English illustrated contemporaries. Our' local artist, Mr. John Gully, is c contributor of New Zealand scenery to this paper. The journal is deserving of large publio support as a Colonial work of art. The Wbeok of the Kangitoto.—The Lyttelton passed the wreck of this vessel on the passage up, and Captain Scott reports but little change in the position of the wreck. As there it* every prospect now of fine weather, we expect to hear of vigorous' means being us«d for getting her oat of her present exposed situation. We hope the Kennedy will go down to-morrow night, affording, as it would, a capital chance for seeing the vessel and the variouß appliances at work for saving her, to say nothing ol other eight* to be seen. Supreme Coubt.—Although as yet there are no criminal cases for trial at the next sitting of thtOircuit Court, on Monday next, there will be four or five civil actions of considerable importance, so thai the jurors, although fortunately for the Province there are no criminals for them to try, will still have a good deal of work. New Sohooheb.—The schooner Arthur Wakefield, ' lately built in Auckland for Mr. J. S. Cross, arrived in harbor on Tuesday last, after a passage of nine days from Mercury Bay, not having met. willi more than a few hours fine weather throughout. Sh< is a very handsome craft, and will make a capita) addition to the number of small craft owned by this gentlemen.. AN immense steam crane, for the Oamaru breakwater, has been tried at Dunedin, and has proved a grtat success. Thirty tons were lifted easily. Messrs. Eincaid, M'Queen, and Co. were the makers, Pbesebved Meats. —Large quantities of preserved r meats have recently been shipped from the works of Messrs. Lees and Moore, at Oamaru, Otago. $fB. JoflN T. BOBINBON, of Blenheim, has been appointed Provincial Treasurer qf Maryborough, Mr, C/rui <?ouUer haying resigned,

GoiC—:On August ,sth, 6168 ounces of gold reached Auckland from the Thames. . >

District Librabies in Cant«bbuet.—The total number of applications for grants from the £5000 voted by the Canterbury Provincial Council for district libraries has reached seventy-five. — Times. Immigbants fob Canxebbtjby.—The number of immigrants nominated in Canterbury during the last four weeks is said to be nearly 600.— Otago Daily Times, August 8. . Ammunition to thk MAOBis.--The Maoris apparently are not badly off for ammunition, which they obtain in the proper legal manner for sporting purposes, to *ay nothing of what they obtain by smuggling. During the year ended June 30th, 1873 the authorised issues to and purohases by natives were :—ln the Mongonui district (for half year only), 1351bs powder, 4251bs shot, and 8,500 caps ; Auckland district 311 bs powder, 7441bs shot and 7,750 caps jThames district, 271bs powder, 204!bs shot, 6,500 caps; Waikato district, 41bs powder, 361bs shot, 1,000 caps ; Bay of Plenty and Lake district, 71bs powder, 7Olbs shot, and 1,750 caps; Taranaki district, 29£lbs powder, Pslbs shot, 4,850 caps; Uppe" Wanganui district, 421bs powder, 4201bs shot, and 6,000 caps; Rangitikei-Manawatu district, 81bs powder, 801bs shot, and 2,000 caps ; Wairapa district 2llbs powder, 210lbs shot, and 5,250 caps. In the Taupo district none has been issued. — Independent.

New Zeaxand Ibon.—Obb fboji Colxingwood. —We hare received a sample of pig and malleable iron, manufactured from ore procured on the surface of the ground at Para Para, near the Collingwood ooal mine, in the Province of Nelson. The ore, of which the samples at our office (Dunedin Guardian) was manufactured, was smelted in an ordinary furnace by Messrs. Drysdale and Fra'ser, King-street, Melbourne, under the inspection of Mr. Pallerson, aeaayer for the Bank of Australasia, who pronounces the iron to be a first-class hematite ore, and to yield over fifty per cent, of metal. The malleable iron manufactured closely resembles the best Swedish brands in tenacity and softness, bars of it being capable of being bent cold without exhibiting any sign of fracture. We are given to understand that the supply of ore and coal in the Fara Para district iB inexhaustible, and that great facilities exist for shipment, a sheltered bay, with sufficient depth of water for vessels of the largest tonnage, being in the immediate neighborhood. Messrs. Kincaid and M'Queen, of Dunedin, intend having a trial smelt in a few days, due notice of which will be given in our columns, when those interested in the development of our native products will have an opportunity of being present. In the mean time the samples lie at our office, where they may be inspected by any who feel interested in the matter.

Qvs Accident at Bienheim.—A very severe gun accident occurred yesterday afternoon to Mr. Richard Roskruge. He and his brother were out shooting in the swamp beyond Mr. C. B. Taylor's mill, when the barrel burst, carrying away a portion of his thumb and his hat, but luckily did not touch his head. Dr. Johnston was sent for, and sewed up the wound, the patient being kept under the influence of chloroform for some hours. The probability is that he will lose the thumb. The wound was very ragged, and considerable hermorrhage ensued.— Express, August 6. Manganese.—The Hawke'sißay Heald of August sth reports: —Dr. Hector's report upon the stone found on the run of Mr. Meiaertzhagen is as follow*:—" Sample of black mineral ore found on the surface of the ground in great abundance.— Pyrolusite or Binoxide of Manganese. This ore will contain about 95 per cent, of the pure mineral. It is the prinoipal ore from which the commercial maganese is prepared for use in bleaching; also, for the preparation of sulphate of magnesia, which is so largely used in dyeing and calico printing, for staining glass, and a disinfectant. Its price varies from £6 to £10 per ton.—James Hectob."

Mabbing a Djting Scene.—The Dunedin Guardian of August Bth reports^ —" Whila that accomplished actress Miss Florence Colville wa3 going through the dying scene in the last act of " Camilla " last evening, a' considerable commotion was caused through the maudlin remarks of a drunken man who was seated in the front row of the stalls, and whose soul appeared to be stirred to its utmost depths, either at the. pathetio manner in which the actress was representing t'.ie character of a dying woman, or as the result of repeated libations of beer. For a few minutes Misi Oolville endeavored to die in peace, but finding this to he impossible, she got up and went to the side of the scenes, where she remained during the row which followed. A stalwart policeman at once came forward and endeavored to drag the interrupter from his seat, but he held on like grim death, and it was some minutes before the constable, assisted by half-a-dozen men from the stalls, bad succeeded in dragging him out. In the meantime Miss Colville had maintained her position at the right entrance, doubtless considerably annoyed at the unpleasant manner in which her dying scene had been interrupted. However, when the drunkard had been removed, ehe returned to her couch, and died in a most pathetio and praisewoithy manner; but it is needless to Bay that the effect of the entire scene was spoiled by the very umoemly proceedings as above narrated."

Acclimatisation Society.—The Albion, which arrived here yesterday, brought orer one hundred magpies and five hares, for the Society. The birds and animals were landed safely yesterday, and conveyed to their destination. — Lyttelton Times, August 11.

Maohi Expobt Dutt.—Emulating the example of the Colonial Treasurer, King Tawhio has enunciated his financial policy. He believes neither in protection nor free trade, he does not like ad valorem duties, nor is he attached to the principal of measurement, and he has no desire to try and make people believe that extra taxation does not mean increased revenue. The Maori monarchy has to a large extent been hitherto self-supporting. Now, however, the Treasury needsjreplenishing, and the Maori monarch has hit on a method of raising (he needful which has hitherto escaped the astute eve of pakeha Treasurers. An import duty being impracticable, Tawhio has resorted to an export duty, which takes the shape of a capitation charge on pigs. Every porker of Hauliau descent which now crosses the aukati line for the purposes of trade is, acoording to the Raglan correspondent of the Southern Cross, sow assessed at the sum of one shilling for the benefit of the Royal Treasury. We do not know whether Tawhio's subjects have made at much noise about this new tariff as the pakehas have about Mr. Yogel's. If so, Tawhio and Mr. Yogel can condole with each other, — Post.

The Gifts ot Foetunb.—The natural tendency of a man when he suddenly drops into a legacy of of £14,000 is to do something which could only be tolerated in the possessor of so much money (say» the Ducedin Guardian of August 6th.) Some people, therefore, make presents of bracelets and rings to ladies who value them—the bracelets and rings. Others, again, invite all and sundry to al fresco banquets of Whatever-they-like, The-bestin-the house, at the nearest hotel bai. Yet more, give sixpence in charity, or buy a watch chain like a iuccession of horse hobbles. AH these, and other freaks committed under suck circumstances, are excusable, but what shall we say of a newspaper runner who fell in for £14,000, and in his extasy forgot to deliver some of his papers. Until this morning we did imagine that everyone connected with > the Press, L in no matter how remote a degree, was above sensibility to circumstances. When we have heard a machine-boy tell an editor to light his own " thingummyjig fire " and be " thingummyjigged " to him, and when we have known a literary man sample the content! of five-and-tuirty public-bouses, and t.hen write a " local" on intemperance—then, indeed, we bare thanked Heaven that we are not as other

men, but are insensible to the extremes of fortune either way. Yet a newspaper runner has shown us how deoeired the most cunning may be. The gentleman [Mr. Whybrow] who has hitherto honored us by delivering The Guardian at Oaveraham, found on Monday by an English letter that he had fallen in for £14,000 a-year, and as a result he kind of distri-

buted his papers yesterday morning. In doing this ho struck an average amongst our subscriber*, about one in eaoh half-dozen ot whom got a paper. Tint* was annoying, but to be forgiven to one with £14,000

Tax Dunedin railway station is about to be rebuilt of brick when it will be 600 feet long.

The new M.H.R/ for thb Bay of Islands^— The Guardian of August Bth states:—Mr. John Williams, who has been returned to the General Assembly for the Bny of Islands, is a gentleman of local influence and large property. He is a son of the late Archdeacon Williams, the first resident agent of the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand. The new member is favorably disposed towards, the Government, and will support Mr. M'Lean's Native policy. Unlike the missionary party generally, Mr. Williams is in favor of immigration and the settlement of the country." THB-fblack swans are spreading in Wanganui district, and locating themselves upon various sheets of water. A Curious Fact.—The Te Arai correspondent of the Southern Cross sends the following account of a rather curious fuck in natural history :—" A few months back a settler was milking one of his cows when he lelt something hard in one of its teats. The ' milk ceased flowing ; he squeezed a little harder and forced out a bright red centipede, two inches long, which fell into the milk bucket. The next morning another centipede, from another teat, was forced out. The settler supposes the animal swallowed tho insects when they were very small, while either eating or drinking." Thb Legislative Council.—The Guardian of August Bth, states:—"Our Parliamentary news is unimportant, if we except the action, of the Legislative Council, which solemnly and in silence threw out the Government Bill modifying its constitution. Mr. Waterhouse thought the public would not quite approve of such conduct; but Colonel Whitmore —the hero of fabulous victories and veritable leader of a score of defeats—thought there.was no strong feeling out of doors on the subject. Strange to say that the motion stifling debate was moved by Colonel Kenny, a most amiable gentleman, whom no constituency in the Colony would he bothered with- It is perfectly evident that strong measures must be taken with "the Legislative Council. It ha* broken fitith notoriously on several occasions with the Lower House; and what is more, it has leading members who a<-e influenced by no nice sense of honor. As a matter of fact, it is infinitely inferior to the Lower House, intellectually morally, and socially. Now if the Legislative Counoil chooses to stand upon its nbmineeßhip, there if a rough-and-ready way of dealing with it. Let the Government prepare a Bill reconstructing the Legislative Council, pass it through the House of Representatives, and call to the Upper House thirty members pledged to carry tba Government Bill. This number may always.be found in the constabulary barracks at Wellington, and it will be no degradation whatever to the Upper Houße, as the Armed Constabulary are as well born as the majority of the' noble* lords.' A week will do the work ; and our Kennys and Whitmores, and men of like stamp, will disappear forever from the public stage of New Zealand. The sooner the Legislative Council is brought to its senses the better. It has declared by its votes, over and over again, that no honorable engagement is binding upon it, if it can strengthen its privileges by resort to any technical point." Co-operation in Auckland. — The eighth quarterly meeting of the Whangarei Cooperative Society was held in the store on Wednesday, the 30th July. The: secretary's report showed that business had not been quite so brisk as during the former quarter, partly owing to the prevalence of extraordinary inclement weather, and this being usually tha dullest quarter of the year. However, the profits were sufficient to pay interest at the rate of 10 per cent, on the capital, and a bonus ofls. 3d. per pound on the purchases. A working man with a large family became a member of the Sooiety about six months since, during that time the bonus he had received on purchases has enabled him to get 300cwt. extra of bonedust for his garden. This, it is well known, means a plentiful supply of potatoes and vegetables for his table throughout the year.— Southern Cross. ;

Mobamty in Auckland.—A correspondent of the Southern Cross writes:—-I bare noticed of late that the Auckland papers have been taking up the mighty-moral tone, and whilst running down Victoria hare exalted Auckland. Let me say that for my part I think people here ara quite as wicked ns any that could be found in Victoria : and I was glad to see the other day that the Itnv. S. Edger was outspoken enough, to give expression to a piece of h;s mind with regard to some of those very religious two-and-sixpenny members of society. Why only the other day I was told of a case in Freeman* Bay where a girl, 13 years of age, was confined at the same time as her mother; but the Auckland papers never report these sort of things.—Oh! dear, no. We are too good here to do anything wicked ? Then again I may mention the case of ■—. Laugh Mr. Editor. I will not bring the blush even to your oheek, by raking up all the horrible details." Thb Rev. Mr. Barclay's pamphlet, " Notes on New Zealand." besides being translated into Gaelic has leen translated into German for extensive distribution at the Vienna Exhibition.