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Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8667, 2 January 1890, Page 2

The vital statistics for the Borough of New Plymouth for December, 1889, are as : folloAV : — Births, 19; deaths, 6; marriages, 2. The s.s. Gairloch, will not sail from Onehunga to-day, but leaves there on Friday for Waitara sailing from thence on Saturday evening, for Onehunga, as advertised. Among the passengers by the h.s. Tarawera, says the Auckland Herald Avas Mr F. , L. Larkins, formerly of this city. We understand that Mr Larkins has come to reside permanently amongst us, but in the first instance Avill go to Taranaki to see his married daughter residing there. He has been cordially welcomed back by many old friends and neighbours, and feels quite ' at home again. Mr Larkins states that i many Englishmen want to emigrate to New Zealand, but expense and distance are against them. The country people are i astonished that no assisted passages are now given to emigrants in a country Avhere the first requirement is to develop the i resources of the soil. Wealth in England is. rapidly accumulating, and capitalists , are anxious to use or invest it in NeAv Zealand, provided they can do so Avith . safety. He was frequently asked whether \ New Zealand Avas likely to repudiate her , debt, and as to Avhether some of the Municipal Corporations and Harbour Boards Would meet their engagements entailed by successive borrowings. Mr Larkins' reply to such inquiries Avas that repudiation was r out of the question — was scouted by men of all shades of political opinion in the colony — and Avas just as likely to happen i as for Lord Salisbury or Lord Granville to , do the same with England's national debt. Even as regards the municipal and Harbour , Board loans such a thing as repudiation , was never dreamed of, and Avas next to impossible. Speaking of business matters Mr Larkins says that British manufacturers i and commercial men in dealing Avith firms i in the colony prefer payments in London, ; and generally get them easily. They have • fears of New Zealand paper in the shape • of bills. A certain maiden lady was twice in her i life engaged to be married, and each time some unforseen event interposed to destroy the hopes of matrimonial bliss. Her's Avas ■ a sad cast. Time began to wrinkle her , fair brow, and no new suitors. To add to her distress she became sick nigh unto i death. The assistant clergyman of the > parish — a baßhful youth — was sent for. i The sickroom was well filled Avith syni- , pathising neighbours Avhen the young divine niade his appearance, and, after • some remarks ho proceeded to read a i portion of the Scriptures. He fell upon the chapter in which the Avoman of Samaria is i introduced. When he read the Avords, i "Go call thy husband," the sick woman i groaned a little, but Avhen he uttered the i words, " Tho Avoraan answered and said ' I have no huwband,' " the old lady rose upright in her bed, and, Avith flashing eyes i squeaked out, " I'm no gaun to staun sich impidence frao onybody, preacher or no preacher. I Avonner ye're no ashamed o' yorsel, ye mealy mouthed young rascal. I've had twa chances for a man an' I'll leevo to bae anitlw see if I don't 1" and ah* did,