ARRIVAL OF THE ADAMANT FROM LONDON.

Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2344, 2 February 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

ARRIVAL OF THE ADAMANT FROM LONDON.

Messrs Shaw Savill and Co'a fine barque Adamont arrived in port yesterday morning, after a somewhat lengthy passage of 105 days. She left the East India Docks early on tha 21st September, landed channel pilot off Dartmouth on the afternoon of tho 22nd, and lost sight of land the following afternoon ; made good running till sighting Madeira, on the 2nd October. During the passage she sighted more land than Now Zealand bound vessels usually do, having passed within seeing distance, the island of Trinidad, the Martin Vass Rooks, Tristan D'Aounha, Inaccessible Island, the Crozets, and almost within sight of the Kerguelen Islands. On the 23rd December, several icebergs were seen, and on the Ist January Bhe passed CupeLouww, after which she encountored some heavy weather. On the 7th inst. several several seas broke on board parrying away part of the topgallant bulwarks, and breaking in some of the doors of the deck-house, beyond this the only remarkable occurrence was passing a large iceberg, which, hidden by fog was only seen in time to avoid a collision. The Adamant is commanded by Captain Tom Bowling, with Mr Crawford and Mr Speckley as chief and second officer. She brings a large cargo for this port and Napier, besides a full complement of passengers whose names will be found above. The ship was towed some 8 or ten miles up the Bay by the ss Murray, which arriving from the West Coast picked her up, and she wus at onca berthed alongside the Government wharf. It is intended to break bulk as soon as possible.— Cvlonist, January 10.

Mb Shakp, M.H.R., addressed the Nelson electors on January 23, and received a vote of confidence. Couut Robin Hood, A.O.F.—The usual halfyearly meeting of this thriving institution took place on Tuesday, Jan. Bth, at the Court-room, Bridgestreet, when a very large number of members were present. The auditors' report and balance sheet showed the funds lo be in a most satisfactory condition, the funds of the Court now amounting to £2150, being a nett increase during the half-year of about £100. The following members are elected officers for the ensuing six months :—Bro. G. Haslem, C.R.; Bro. T. Bowling, S.C.R.; Bro. Roscoe, BS. Dr W. K. Farrelle was also elected Court Surgeon. P.S. Graham and P..C.R. Douglas were elected delpgates to attend the annual District Meeting. , Reeeton Gold News.—During last year 41,067 tons of quartz were crushed at Reefton, yielding 35 853 ounces of gold; and £60,583 were paid in divideuds. The latter came from eight companies, tho best paying ones being—the Golden Fleece, £16,800; Hopeful, £15,675; and the Wealth of Nation?, £10,075. From March, 1872, to December 31 last year, the reefa in thia district yielded 123,803 ounces of gold for 146,208 tons of stone crushed; whilo the total dividends declared reached the snm of £162,416.

. Thb report of the death of the Rev. S. R. Purchon at Motueka, on Jan. 25, has caßt a gloom (writes a correspondent) over many Wesleyan families Deceased was not in good :health when he arrived from England in the early part of last year, and ihe disease of the lungs frern which he suffered rapidly undermined his constitution. He was an earnest and faithful preacher, and waa beloved by all who knew him —

" His youth was innocence ; his riper age Mark'd with some act of goodness every day ; * # # # Cheerful he gave his being up, and went To share the holy rest that waits a life well spent." Motukka.—The funeral of the late Rev. S. R. Purchon, Wesleyan Minister here, took place on January 27th. The esteem in which deceased was held was teetified by the large concourse of people, consisting of members of all religious denominations, who had assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to his memory. Besides the residents of Mocueka and surrounding districts, about thirty persons from Nelson attended the funeral, the Lady Barkly being chartered for the occasion. The procession left Mr Staples's at 2 p.m for the VTesleyan Chapel, where a portion of the customary service was read by the Rev. Mr Rodger, Presbyterian Minister at Riwaka, an aooidenfc having precluded the presence of the Rev. T. Fee. At the eonolusion of the service in the church, the procession re-formed and .proceeded to; the cemetery, where his remains were deposited, and the people dispersed. Deceased, who was only 27 years of age, had been in the'district about nine monthß, and during that time had won a large number,of Iriends, who mourn their loss; Owing to his ill-health the conference of Wesleyan Ministers'assembled at Wellington deoided to grant him a year's absence and a trip to England, but he does not live to benefit by it. Pbactioal Christianity.—A. fine instance of kindly feeling and neighborly friendship reaohea ua from Upper Moutere, where the friend* and neighbors of Mr Hans Bggers, of Willow Brook, assembled together and cut and gathered in his harvest while he was laid down with eickness. It gives us pleasure to record such acts, as they show an excellent spirit existing amongst the settlers in the district. Gun Accident.—A painful accident occurred near Richmond on Saturday, Jon. 26th, to a youth named Dale, who, at the time was shooting quail. It appears that his gun burst whilst being discharged, and the effect of the accident was to very considerably injure nis left hand. The sufferer was brought down to the hospital, where he is now receiving all the necessary attention the case requires. Otm readers will learn with great pleasure that Mr Joseph Garrard, whose accident on January 9th, it was at first feared would prove more serious has now so far improved as to be almost out of danger. It appears that Mr Garrard, having handed some Indies on board the Murray, feared, that another lady was about to follow too quickly, and stepped forward smartly to aid her, but in doing so missed his footing, and it was thus he fell between the wharf, striking the piles in his fall. His face and head are badly out and damaged, : but it is hoped that before long he will have so far recovered as to be able to be about again.

Fiees in the Waimea.—At an enquiry held at Hope, respecting the destruction of a six-roomed unoccupied house, the property of Mr. W. 1. Crops, on January Ist, a verdict was returned that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. Mr. Cross reckoned his loss at £150, and the house was insured in the National office for £80. —At an inquest held at Wakefiold, on the recent burning of a shed there, the following verdict was returned : — " The jury empannellcd to enquire into the origin of the fire at Mr. John "Duncan's, at Wakeßeld, consider that although there is no evidence to Bhow that it was caused by eparka from the engine on the railway, they are of opinion from the frequent fires that take place on or near the line, that it may have occurred from that cauße, and would respectfully re quest the Government to take such measures as will lessen the danger to property from Bparks from the the engines. (Signed) Eobt. M. Smith, Foreman." Satisfactory Yiem>.—A.t Reef ton 320 ton sof quartz have been crushed from the Just-in-Time claim, and yielded 1005 ounoes, being at the rate of over three ounces to the ton. —In the Vulcan claim a reef four feet thick, and carrying good gold has been struck.

High School fob Ladies.—By the Tararua, which armed at the Bluff on Jan. 30, were several paßßengfirs for this Colony, who came out in the Orient line steamer Lusitunia. Amongst them; were fire ladies, Sisters of Mercy, three of whom wilßake charge of the new high school for young ladies, shortly, to be opened at St. Mary's., They should arrive in kelson about the sth Eebruary. Ui% KO'K,oiviYxis has been gazetted Ec turning Offioer forthe elootion of members of tha Colling. Wwd Oo«ntj Council, within th« Biding of Rugta*,

. Otjb Gold'ExEOßT3.>—The following is a comparative return of <the quantity and value of gold; entered for duty on exportation'from this Colony during laßt year, and 1876: — =• < > Last.Year's. : Year, 1876. ■ ■!>•■ ' Ounces. - £ Ounces. £

Totals 369,012 1,484.574 322,016 1,284,328

Increase last year 46,9,96 0unce5,.£200,246 in value. The quantity and value of gold entered for exportation from April 1,1857, to December 31,1877, were

i T0ta15.........8,646,323 33,753,688 The Late Fibe at Haveloob:.—We are informed by Mr Mabin, that the enquiry respecting this disastrous fire was held at Havelock on January Bth. The principal witness, Charles John Owen, deposed : lama member of the firm of Dive and Co.; Our business went on as usual on Saturday last, January sth, until 10 or 10"30 p.m, when we left the premises and went to Mr Levien's for a few minutes. From thence went home; and was awakened by my wife. The fire was then half over the blook. We took stock five or six months ago, the value of the stock then being between £3000 and £4000, I decline to say publicly what I think was the value of the stock at the time of the fire. I am quite willing to give the information to insuranoe agents privately.' The lamp was put out by Mr Pickering, I believe. I returned with Mr Firth to place some money in the safe.•■We did not light the lamp, but struck a match. The match could i not havo caused the fire, as the floor was lead and I stamped) the match out. I lit three matches while in the Bhop with Mr Firth, but am sure they did not cause the fire.: The total amount of insurance was about £3300 on the stock, and £500 on the building. H. N. Firth ' corroborated this evidence. The verdict returned was, that there was no evidence to show ho* the fire originated. Mr Mabin (on behalf of the Royal, and the Liverpool and London and Globe) and Mr W. G. Webb (on behalf of the New Zealand office) watched tho proceedings. They returned to Nelson via the Rae Valley; ,

We learn that the, vexed question of what the Government should do for Mr Bunny is finally fixed. Dr Giles is to receive tho appointment of Resident Magistrate at Hokitika, and Mr Bunny is to subside into Dr Giles's TJnder-Secretaryship. " Verily they have thdir reward;"—- Wellington Argns. . \

Fibe in Maelboeou&h. —A destructive fire occurred at Clova Bay on Thursday,'the 17th instant, when the store and office connected with1 the sawmill were destroyed, together with a boat, boatshed, about 1,000,000 feet of slabs, and a variety of other articles contained in the buildings.. The weather was very unfavorable, as a steady wind waß blowing the flumes towards the wharf, about 200 feet of which was burned with £100 worth of timber on it. Great difficulty was experienced in saying the. residenoe of M; H. Godsiff, and had the men worked less energetically the amount of destruction would have been much greater than it was. The estimated damage is £750, and the: property was uninsured, The fire at Clova Bay, will cause serious loss and inconvenience to the owners of the property, as apart from the immediate'money loss, a considerable time will elapse before everything can be made into its former state of completeness.— Picton Press, I.O.G.T.—The Grand Lodge for New Zealand North now sitting at Wellington, has eleoted the following offioers for the ensuing year:—G.W.C.T., Bro. Rev. Edger (re-elected); G.W.0., Bro. Hon. W. Fox; G.W.V.T., Brp. W. Johnson; G.W.S. Bro. O. S. Ellis (re-elected); G.W.T., Bro. Jenkins; G. Chaplain, Bro. D. Hall; G. Marshall, Bro. F. Pirani; G. Guard,Bro. Lyell; G.Sentinel,Bro. Best; G.D.M. Bro. Sinclair ; G. A S., Bro. Stickley. Mb Bunnx, M.H.R., ( according to the Post is likely to be appointed as. Commissioner, of Railways for the North Island. Mr Barton, a settler in the Wairarapa district, Mr Phara^yn, Mr Hutohinson, the ox-Mayor of Wellington.; and Mr Coleman Phillips, of the Paoific Islands scheme; are ipokea of as candidates for his seat in the House. Vital Statistics—The.Registrar-General's report gives the following vital statistics for the month of December, last year:— . Under Deaths

Totals ...1........ 247 129. 76 Whooping cough caused sixteen deaths; diarrhoea, seventeen; heart disease, seven; cancer, three; pneumonia, five;, phthisis, ten; alcoholism, three. 70, 77 ( 83, and 88 were the ages attained by some of the deceased. , ~. ] ■■■, . ... ... ,\....-..-'■ , New Rush.—A. rush has taken place near the Larrikins, Kumara. A large number of miner? have set in to work, but the extent of payable, ground will not be ascertained for some time, as sinking will be pretty,deep in many of the claims marked off. ~lt appears that two miners have sold seven-pounds weight of gold in Kuinara, obtained in three months from a claim in the locality.— West Coast Times. Nhw Otago Townships.—Around Dunedin, large gums have been made of late by persons who have secured land, and then cut it up into townships and re-sold if. One of the new townships rejoices in the name c f " Plevna," and has its Shipka-street, and Shumla-street, &o. The West Coast Times says Mr G. G. FitzGerald has resigned the appointment ofßesident Magistrate at Hokitika. There is no notification as yet of any suooessor having been appointed. The Grey County Council offers "rewards, ranging from £150 to £500. for the discovery of new goldfields, or any gold bearing quartz reef's within the Grey County. Mb Babion Ireland is mentioned as a probable candidate for Mr Boader Wood's seat for Parnell, when the latter gentleman resigns. The manufacture of various articles of use and ornament from bone has been commenced by a firm at Coromandel, in the Auckland district. Mb. Readeb Wood, M.H.R., who is about to resign his seat for Farnell, goes home it is said to negotiate the loan authorised by Parliament last session.—Wellington Argus. New Zealand Coke.—The first shipment of coke, consisting of 70 tons; from the Wellington Coal Company's mine at Westport, has arrived by the Graf ton. This is a trial shipment, and will be tried by the railway department.—Wellington Argus. The Rev R. S. Hassard, on leaving Auokland for a trip to England,'has been presented with a purse of sovereigns from his congregation, and an illuminated address from the temperance bodies of Auckland. Mb. Caleb Robinson,' a colonist of 36 years standing, has died at Auokland. Ha was a prominent member of the Oddfellows, in which order he had been 30 years. The Mount Somers district, in the Asbburton County, is said to be rich in good building stone, coall and timber, and: whea opened up by railways will become a very important distriot. At the (Canterbury) Bacon-curing Company's faotory nineteen hundred and thirty-seven pigs have" been killed and cured. The factory has afforded considerable bonefit to the district; - The Han. Mr,-Sheehan, Native Minister, visited the Hospital at Aucklond on tbe night of New Year's eve, end on coming down the stone steps, on leaving, he stumbled in the darkness, and fell witbMm chest aerosi the bottom step, breaking a rib. He is not incapacitated from getting about.

■■; Thk prico paid for the TMiltoii Pottery works (Otago) byßishop Neville-islstated at£l4,ooo. _ / = ■ The railway employees at Auckland had a picnic on January 25th; ■ They wnnt to Pokeno,! their train/i iconsistinglof thirty, four JcaKiages. ' i Oididm.—The vine disease'(known as oidium) has; made its appearance in the Thames district, Auckland. ■■ : - ■'■' ■■.■■ • ■■•'■ '■■ ■■' hf ■••.■ ;" '•, A Tempbbanoe bevivatj ib at present going on amongst the natives at GisborneV on the East Coast of the North Island. They are petitioning for public houses to be abolished in the neighborhood- of their set lemenli 1 Mb John Thomsok, C.E.i; has been appointed engineer to the Patea - Harbor Board >at a salary of £500 per annum. ; Somerviliie's religious services were very largely attended in the Thames A new evening paper is to be published at Hokitikaon Maroh Ist, by Mr William Riley^ ■■'■'■ A hoUdat took place at Napier on January 25th, to celebrate the extension of the railway to Kbpua; The first train comprised twenty-two carriages full of excursionists.; ' '; ''''"-., . A teleqbam from the Waikato states ,—Takerei te Rau was buried on JJanuary 25th, at Hikurangi. 7ust previously the poungest daughter of Tawhiao, who had been adopted by the deceased,. died suddenly, without previous illness. Hundreds are now at Hikurangi, and the tangi and feasting will hare ta be done over again. The Press has been informed, on apparently good authority, that on a station in the southern part of Canterbury the weight of wool obtained in the shearing of 32,000 merino sheep was equal to an average of 91bs. per fleece. Gold Seekino.—Two men have prospected the Patea river for gold, but without success. Splendid patches of land suitable for settlement purposes were passed in several places. ;i A SUB? boat —37 feet by 9 feet 6 inches—capable of carrying 30 tons of oargo and 70 bales of wool, has been built at Christchurch for the Hon W. Robinson, of Cheviot Hills. It has two water-tight'compart-ments. ' ' i # A SOPEEB specimen of the cabinetmaker's art is attracting some attention in Chriatchurcb. It is a table made by Mr Howell, of Dunedin, from four thousand pieces of New Zealand wood. Ten thousand four hundred and seventy-sir young trout have been placed in sixteen different streams in Otago. The Biahop of Wellington has been eleoted as the President of the New Zealand Temperance Alliance. Two thousand four hundred and thirty she^p recently boiled down in Hawke's Bay,1 yielded tallow at the rate of 53|lbs. per head. Wb (Auckland Herald) regret to learn from a private telegram that typhoid fever has made Us appearance Already it has prostrated several families, and fears are entertained of its spread, consequent on ack of proper draiuage. Thh following figures refer to tho exports of gold from Greymouth, Westland, as given by the ArgusYear. Ounces. Value. Duty. 1877 ... 80,230 ... £320,920 ... £8,024 • 1876 ... 68,920 ... £275,980 ... £6,894 Increase 11,310 ... £45,240 ... £1,930 As important public work has just been completed in Canterbury, namely, the Kowai Pass Waterworks. It gives a water supply to an -immense area of land in the Malvern district. It has cost the Government £20,000. Ross, Westland, has been proclaimed a Borough, and its Mayor and Councillors wiit be elected in a few clays'...] .. .";,- ;: . \ ■;: ; .......■,,-.!■, ■■.r-:: ':.-.; '■

Mb. David Millab, who died at Dunedin on January 3rd, left five sons, two daughters, and forty grandchildren. He was eighty years of age. The new building for the Athenroum or Mechanics' Institute at Wellington cost £6,000, and the reading rooms, hall, and library, are fitted, with every conivenienoe." Sevbbal miners working on the Nine-mile Beach, Charleston, are said to be making wages at the rate of four hundred pounds per annum. < ' Mb. Jambs Wheatlby, an old settler and member of the Waitaki County Counoil, was found dead in i chair in hit sitting-room on January. 4, at his residence at Kakanui, Otago. He died of apoplexy. , ; A public hall has been built at Oarterton, Wellington, whioh will seat four hundred persons. Cantebbubt. won the cricket match with Auckland the latter only sooring thirteen runs in their second innings. The scores were—Canterbury, 93 and 163; Auckland, 135 and 13. When ohane'e favored Auokiand winning we received long telegrams telling of the splendid playing, bat somehow not a word came about the finish of the game. , j Thh sum of £12.439 per annum (says the Argus)\ is paid away in salaries by the County Councils in1 New Zealand. Wesleyan Confebencb.—The fifth annual Wes- | ley an Conference in this colony opened at Wellington! on January 17th, when the following officers were elected:—Rev. J. Crump, president ;> Rev. W. Morley, secretary'; Rev. Mr Bavin, assistant do.; Rev. Mr Fee, general do.; Rev. Mr Riohardson, corresponding do. The retiring president, the Rev.; Mr Kirk, received a vote of thanks'for his faithfull services, and a like compliment was paid to thej secretary. The Rev. Mr Purchon, of Motueka, was' allowed a year's rest on account of ill health, and a 1 voyage to England recommended him. Salmon. —The rivers in Canterbury are being stocked with young Salmon, Ten thousand have been placed in the Waimakariri J five thousand in the Rangitata; and five thousand in Lake Coleridge.' The passenger traffic between the Wairarapa and, Wellington is rapidly increasing, and additional1 coaoh'es have occasionally to be put on the road.

The Wairoa County Council have passed a resolution prohibiting the planting of broom, furze, and sweet briar along the lines of road, on aocount of their spreading propensities. The last gold escort broughc to Dunedin over' fifteen thousand ounces of gold. R. A. Watt, of Millbank farm, has informed the South Canterbury Times that a few days ago he' found on his farm a fine, fat hare suffering from the effects of eating the poisonous tutu.

Good Wobk. —Miller, Warren and party, on the' Boss Lead, Kumara, are reported by the local paper' to have obtained 83oza 7dwt« of gold for three, weeks work; and Miller, Agnew, and party, obtained 37ozs for ten days' work, just before Christmas. The Hon. W. B. Bhodos, M.L.C., of Canterbury,. is reported to be dying at Wellington and beyond hope of rocoiery.—Bruce Herald. - ■ The Habyest in Auckland.—The magnificent • harvest weather experienced in Auckland is expeoted to enable farme»s to sacure the largest area of wheat' ever grown in the province. From all sides the1 Herald hears reports of good crops—twenty, thirty, and forty bushels per acre have been reported to us. ! From present appearances the average yield will be | twenty-five to thirty bushels, probably the latter. Millers it is said, are prepared to give 6s per bushel for good and well cleaned samples. Fibe at Wellington.—A fire broke out last Wednesday afternoon in a building intended for a hotel, but whioh failed to obtain a license, just opposite the railway station, at Wellington. Owing to the water supply being limited, in consequence of the waterworks not being completed,' it is usually turned off during' the day. When water was turned on at the reservoir it took about an hour before it reaohed the fire in any foroe. Meantime the hotel and two adjoining buildings were burned down. The flames blowing aoross the street set fire to the railway station, which, along with the offices of district engineer and traffic managor, were very soon destroyed. None of the carriages or rolling stook were injured. The railway station was valued at about £1000, the other buildings at from £1200 to £1500 The hotel was occupied until the day previous, when nearly all the effects were insured in the, New, Zealand for £150. The origin of the fire is unknown. A few minutes after the alarm the building was all in flames. Had these been a proper supply of water the I railway station would'have been saved. The total damage is estimated at £2000. BIVAIiBT is likely to spring up between the United States and Germany as to the future' possession of Tonga';' Germany having"secured' the righ't'to ooal &o, at Yavau Harbor which can be easily fortified.— LytUUoH Timt,

7 THKBhipuWaipai:for London, sailed from Port Chalmers on January 19th| with 10 passengers and a large cargo of wool, wheat, tallow, and 1514 ozs. of gold,1 valued afc'£l29,6oo.' ' > The ship Dunediu left' Port Chalmers on January 19tb, for London,' with 4 passengers, and a cargo of wool, wheat, and' tallow,-valued at £107 007. H.M.S Nymphe has arrived afc Wellington from Sydney; ■ She will await the arrival of the Commodore; who v expected there some time next month. The ship Lajir, under charter to the New Zealand Shipping-Company/ -arrived at Lyttelion on the ft i inßt., having left London on September 22. bku brings no paeaeagersj but a full cargo. The ship Barigitikeif ■ which left Lyttelton on December 29th, for London, took the largest cargo of wool which has left Canterbury this season. Her entire cargo was valued at £90,573. The ship'-.Wairoa left Wellington on January 6th, for-London, with a large cargo valued at £92,450. Among-■ the cargo of the ship Waimea which has just sailed from the Bluff for London, there were no less than two hundred and forty-six bales of rabbit skins. ■ ■ ,\ Thb barque Abbey Holme arrived at Auckland on January 12th,. from London, after a passage of 119 days. She brought no passengers. Thb ship Dallam Tower, from London arrived at Port Chalmers oo January 15th, with 2600 tons of ,cargo, 8 tons powder, and 44 passengers. She left: London ou October 20th. Passed a chain of icebergs seven miles in length in lat. 48 S., long. 34-30 E. on December 18th. Xhe,passage ; was made in 79 days from land to land and. 84 days from port to port. The ship May Queen'arrived at Auckland from London, on January 7th, after a rapid passage of 93 days from Start Ppint. i She brought a few passengers. The, New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Rakaia, for LondoD, with a cargo of wool, tallow, and -gold, valued at £181,000 left Lyttelton on the 17th January. The value of the cargo of the ship Eakaia, which sailed from Lyttelton,: for London, last week, was £140,733 12s—amongst whiob there was 4385 bales wool (valued at £87i700), and 12,596 ozs. 9 dvvts. gold (valued.at £60384 12s). The ship • Hereford, • from London, arrived et Lyttelton on January 19th, after a fine passage of 80 days iroin anchorage to anchorage. She brought 8 saloon passengerß,.and 336 Government immigrants One birth and one death (the latter a seaman named Peter Hillman, from heart disease) ocourrod during the passage.- ■ • . THE!ship City of Auckland took a cargo valued at £72,000 from Auckland, for London. The ship Famenoth has left the same port for London with & cargo valued at £47,718. Captain Boddee has .been appointed manager of the new Auckland Steamship Couipany. Captain. Kennedy: has boeu appointed to tho command of the, Union Company's steamer Botorua, Captain Maefarlane,having been compelled to resign in consequence of ill-health. On resigning he waa presented with a gold watch and albert chain, suitably inscribed, by, his officers nnd crew. The. Star says a large vessel will l«*ave Auckland early in February for New .Guinea, filled with passengers from the Thames, who are going to try their fortunes at the reported' new goldfieli on that island. ■ -■

The ship County of Peebles from London, 86 days out,arrived at Port Chalmers on Tuesday last. She brings 3200 tons of cargo, and, 37 |> 'saergers. Left G-ravesend on Not. 3, and on Jan. sth, sighted throa immense icebergs. A seamak named Charles Gordon a few days ogo at Port Chalmers, fell from the main hatchwiy into the hold of the steamer,' Wakatipu. He received severe injuries in the back. Fifteen hundred pounds, weight of dynamite hns been'used in connection with .the recent blasting operations in the Bluff harbor, at a coat of between £300 and £400. . The, k ,rai) way storking account shows the revptfuo and expenditure, per inilo for* twelve-monthly yOriod. of .the different, railways of the, colony now q/en: — ■ ~.' ~, J.j , Revenue Expend'e

1 The results of the Westport and Waaganui lines are I considered abnormal, neither line yet doing its proper traffic, and.in the following lines the revenue from 1 wharves is , not ,• included Kaipara, Foxtonj New,'Plymouth;G-reymoutu, Picton, Westport. ;, „ •]!„ ,«,<•' • < .TJnpbofitablb , Conokbn. —The Dunedin High School shows, a loss for the, past of £141114s sd. A SAXB of land at Brooklands, near Dunedic realised £11,876! or about|£24 per. acre. Ovbe >Okb fIUMDBED. —Kangitikei possesses a ?ery old settler ,in, the penon of! Mr. Cock burn, who has nuw attained the age of 105 years. He recently lost the ate of his right arm, bat previously to thab he had enjoyed excellent health. Thb subjebt of duplicate cable communication is again attracting attention in New South Wales. Wo notice by the Sydney Herald, of the Bth in'st., the latest paper to hand, that a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was about to be held there, when it was inteneed that a proposal should be made for a cable connecting with the line of telegraph recently opened to Western Australia, and extending thence to Ba'pjoewangi and beyond beneath the Java Sea between Java.and Borneo to Singapore. The chart would indicate a length of cable required of about thirteen hundred miles between Westera Australia and Banjoewangi, and about eight hundred miles between Banjoewangi and Singapore. It is further proposed that a cable ship for repairing purposes should be stationed at Banjoewangi as a central poeition. It is intended that the plan agreed upon should be brought under the notice of the Government, and the co-operation of the, other colonies solioitedi The latest telegrams from Sydney show that the Government have approved of the proposals of the Chamber of Commerce, and desire the cooperation of the other Colonies. — Post. The Albion' Shipping Company's ship Timaru, Oaptain.Stewarfj, arrived at the Bluff yesterday, 79 days' irom (Maegow,, with 240 immigrants all well. There wasqo infections disease on the passage during which there were two deaths and three births. Sixty of the immigrants are for the Bluff and the remain* der for Dunedin. ' Sbvebb Accident.—On the arrival of the Arawata at Wellington on Saturday last, the Wellington artillery company, by way of respeot to their old commander, Captain Pearce, who was returning from England received him with a salute, this was responded to from the steamer, and, a fireman named Malcolm omitting to wet the Bponge prior to re-load-ing the gun, apparently, left some fire therein, and upon his' inserting' the charge, it at once went off blowing away, his hand and otherwise injuring him. The unfortunate man was, taken to the hospital where we understand amputation 'was found necessary, , Thb schooner. Nellie, -of 60 tons register, bound from Lytiteltpn \io JLuoklaritl jladen with breadstuffs, has ran pn'a'reefjbu the .eastward .shore of Motihie Island, 'Auok^nd^ , The' sea rj was , smooth, and the crew were'^av,e'd,',but the master, euatained a fracture of the ribsi The yessel belonged tip,Mr M. A. Owen, was insured in tke New Zealand office for £1,000. r , , THK.flo^jWtp'^BAii^iNOß tas/been gazetted as Commission'e^ of Cvjit'pms a'od Minister of Education. I^'ifji unierstppijpe'wiirs,nortly,-(tftke the office e.f Colonial Treasurer, while the Hon Mr Larnaoh will remain in. th.({,Minißtry ) a&Mini'ster of Public Works. KBTBBXoHMENT.'-^'JLVe^^l^ington Post is informed that as the result of aVin'vestigation into the working of the railways, it has been |ound possible to, dispense with the seryices' pt about forty clerks in ,that department alone. "' L " Stbps have been taken to establish a State school at lievukft, Fiji.

Auckland;..;;. 97,010' 394,421 70,075' 277,767 Maryborough.. 870 3,197 ; 450 1,796 Nelson... <■■• 5,363 21,182 6,812 26,387 Westport...... 18,950 75,841 21,774 87,175 fl-rey mouth... 80,246 320,997 68,941 275j765 ffokilika ...... 53,404'213,595 35,487 141,947 Dunedin ;....: 105*082 422,857 108,953 435,278 rnvercargill... ;8,087 32,484 9^524 38,213

Auckland 1,151,678 Wellington ............ 30 Marlborough.. 46,427 NelBon .............;...; 1,615,131 West Coast ............ 2,135,710 Otago................;.... 3,697,347 4,178,463 120 179,850 6,414;062 8,450,095 14,531,098

...... fiveperlOOO Births. Deaths, years. Pop'n Auckland 41- 18 . 9 1-50 Thames ............ 16 3 ,2 '67 Wellington ;........, 69 59 41 366 Nelson ........;. 21 9 3 1:62 Ohristchurch 34 23 16 179 Dunedin ............ 56 17 5 .73 Hokitika 7 0 6 ...

Bail way. £ £ 'Kaipara section 193 ... 271 Auckland section 427 ... 327 Napier section 374 ... 302 Wellington section 649 ... 547 Foxton section ' 233 ... 247 Wanganui section... > ... ,85 ... 19U New Elympufcti section ..., 188 ... 219 r Greymoutn section ... 715 ... 678, WeBtport section 102 ... 114 Nelson to Fox Hill ... 259 ... 298 Picton section ... ... , 233 ... 284 ' CuriBtcbWch seotion ".. 604 ... 491 Dunedin section 987 ... 846 JnVercareill section ... 285 ... 239