Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] FRIDAY, MAY 18,1877.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XI, Issue 2936, 18 May 1877, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1877.

A heturn has been published in the Gazette of the comparative number, in 1876 and 1877, of holdings, the land in cultivation, and the agricultural produce thereof in New Zealand. The total number of holdings, freehold and rented, in February, 1876, was 17,250 ; and in February, 1877, the number had increased to 18,750, an increase of 1,500

There is no return showing the number of fresh purchasers, or we should be able to give the important result as to whether the tendency in the colony was in the direction of sub-division or aggregation of properties. In the year 1875 the quantity of rural land was in round numbers 315,000 acres. It is satisfactory to find that Wellington shows a much greater increase than any other provincial district, the holdings in 1877 being 2,239, against 1800 in 1876, an increase of 439, or nearly one-third of the total increase in the colony. The increase in Otago is 280, in Canterbury 298, and in Auckland 189. In Marlbovougb. the melancholy picture is presented of an increase of 2 1 In the total number of acres 1 under' crop, including sown grasses',:' "Wellington also stands first. In 187j&$he -average was 432,802, and in 187J||i||j[&718 5 an increase of 153,916. Cslfß|nry, stands next with with an inci'el^^j^lO2,624. But in cereals while CanW^ury and Otago have advanced greatly tho' other Provincial districts have nearly .stood still. In wheat-growing the increase in Wellington in the year was 'from 27,386 to 55,678 bushels. Canterbury increased its yield in this crop from 1,770,363 to 2,623,112 bushels. Oi the other hand in both of these Provincial districts there was a corresponding decrease in oats. Wellington shows the n:ost progress, and Auckland least. The increase in the total number of holdings ought to have been much greater, and would have been with a sound system of administering the waste lands.

Another accident has occurred on the Great Northern road, and again in consequence of the oft complained of practice of permitting stock to trespass on toe road. On Tuesday evening last Mr Keith, traveller for the firm of Messrs Taylor and Watt, was proceeding to Patea in a single horse buggy. About a mile, or rather more, on the N ukumaru Jside of Maxwelltown, those of our readers who are acquainted with the road, will remember a deep filling at the bottom of the hill. In the middle of this a sheep was lying down, whicb obstinately refused to get up. The horse, usually a steady old stager from Gordon's stables, shied, and was precipitated, with the buggy and its contents over the embankment, rolling for a distance of about twenty feet, and finally stopping, turned bottom upwards, with the horse lying on his back. The driver was fortunate enough to be able to jump clear, and escaped without injury. He started immediately to Maxwelltown for assistance, which he procured, but on arriving at the scene of the accident, found that the horse had been already relieved from his awkward position by a man in charge of a dray, who happened to be passing, The buggy was immediately got up into the roadway, and the damage found to be a broken shaft, and a lamp smashed. The samples also had suffered, and it was found that, although tea and sugar go excellently well together when made into a beverage, they do not improve as specimens when mixed in a dry state. The broken shaft of course required repair, but there is truth in the old proverb that " it is sn ill wind that blows nobody any good." Mr Hurley, the baker of Waitotara, was at Maxwelltown at the time when Mr Keith arrived there forjassistauee, and drove down at once iv his buggy to the spot. lie had, however, himself, previously met with an accident, as in passing over that execrable bib of road on the Wauganui side of Nuku" maru, which is a continued "succession of holes and lumps, the cross spring at the back of his conveyance had been bx'oken. The fractured plates turned out to be the very thing for splicing the shafts, and this operation having been completed, with the straps off the mixed samples, the two traps proceeded on their way to Waitofcara. The occurence took place about dusk. This time the accident has occurred within the boundaries of the Wanganui County, and it again points to the necessity for stringent measures being taken to prevent the dangers which arise from animals of all kinds strayon the road. Punch once suggested that a director should be seated on each buffer of a railway locomotive as security against accident. In this instance it almost appears as if prohibitory measures would not be taken until an inquest has been held on a Count]] Councillor.

We regret to hear that Mr Francis Williamson, of Buenos Ayres Station, has been very ill for soniejjtime, but, though Mr Williamson has passed the days of the Psalmisfc, strong hopes are entertained of his recovery. His many friends will be glad to see him in his customary vigor and spirits again.

An addition to the advertisement of the Hawera races says: — " Owners of horses when sending general entrances are requested to insert age, sax, and color of horse, the colors under which they will ride, and, if possible, the name of the jockey."

So great wa3 the demand for vehicles in connection with the opening of the railway on Thursday, that almost everything on wheels was put into requisition. On the arrival of the train at Aramoho, the scene at the juncture was rather a novelty for colonials. A crowded train discharging its passengers, a rush of cabs, and the bustle consequent thereon, the shouts of the drivers steering through the pedestrians, and the many lights in use, gave au air of excitement to the river bank that reminded one of the palmy days of the Aramoho race meetings.

A skating entertainment is to be Riven to. night in the Odd Fellows' Hall by Professor Taylor and Lillie, who come to us loaded with praises and presents from the inhabitants of all the principal towns in the colony. To judge from the patronage our new rink has received lately the art of rinking is in high favor here, and these champions can expect a hearty welcome. An interesting programme is promised, and singing and dancing on the skates are to form a part of the evening's amusement. The addresses presented to these talented skaters, and the critiques, speak very highly of their skill, and both Professor Taylor and Lillie have been presented with handsome gold medals. We understand also that a course of instruction will be given to both ladies and gentlemen, and we have no doubt that many will be found to avail themselves of the opportunity* *

To the kindness of the Eev. Mr Treadwell we ore indebted for the information that owing to the inclemency of the weather the meeting of the Wellington Presbytery was postponed till next Monday, when it will be held in the Presbyterian class room at 11 o'clock a.m. The Rev. Mr Paterson of St Pauls' Oauroh, Wellington, will preach in tho Presbyterian Church next Sunduy morning.

We are glad to be enabled to give the names of the players in the different teams of the football match that is to be contested to-morrow afternoon. The Upokongaro team of which Mr W.D.Anderson is captain, consists of Messrs J.W. Anderson, Ohas. Hanson, P. G. Smith, A. Eanson, M. O. Kerern, Win. Montgomery, E. W. Smith, W. J. Blythe, E. Porter, Geo. Peake, M. Hensou, Wm. Brooks, W. M. Smith, J. Walker. The Wauganui team, with Mr Stedman for captain, is composed of Messrs Mac Donald, W. Alexander, W. Woon, ltawson, O. Powell, Baruiooat, Marshall, Hackett, Turner, Holdich, Cross, Duncan, Willis, and J. J. Anderson. We understand that a match will be played between the Wanganui team, and the Bulls and Marton combined team, on the 23rd. The latter team consists of picked men and all good players. A well contested match is looked forward to.

A good idea has been suggested by a correspondent, and as the telegraph department usually evince a laudable desire to meet the convenience of the public, it is probable that they may take the hint, and introduce the same system in New Zealand. He says : "In England they issue from all stamp offices books containing twenty forms for telegraphic messages, with a one shilling postage stamp affixed in the corner. For these the sum of £1 is charged." There can be no doubt that something of the kind would be found very handy here, especially to busiuess men, and we would suggest that a block, similar to that of a cheque book, should Jbe added for the purpose of keeping copies if necessary. It would be unnecessary to make it of the same size as the form, since the whole of the heading, which is only required for the departmental working, could be dispensed with ; space only being required for the date and wording of the message.

" Hotspur" in the Auckland Star writes ad follows in reference to the forthcoming autumn meeting : — " The acceptances and general entries are to be made on the 28th, and then we shall know for certain ; but at present the following are the probable starters : — Champagne Stakes : Mr Walters' Venus and Transit, Mr Leonard's Venus, Mr Buekland's Queen Mab,Mr Watt's Langlands, and Mr Wynyard's Jessamine and Lady Coventry, and possibly another. Mr Peatfleld's Clipstone has gone lame. Venus, Transit, and Longlands have beenfavorites.but Queen Mab is coming daily to the front iv the betting. I understand Hippocampus will represent Mr Walters, instead of Kingfisher, in the Handicap, for which I expect to see six runners, namely Ariel, Elsa, Bide-a-wee, Hippocampus, Magician, and Shannon. A fine race may be looked forward to for this, as the Handicapping is very close. Ariel and Shannon are the favorites. Vavasour's pair, Shaughraun and Bide-a-wee, arrived in the Taupo, aud were both on the course yesterday for walking exercise. Owen M'Gee's lot were out on Monday morning. Both the steeple chasers, Perfume aud Conuaught Ranger, did long work. Elsa went for a good spin, aud looked well. Yesterday morning Thorpe wnsout early with Don and Isieman. The former, who looks very rough, only walked, but the latter did a slow canter of two miles, going in very fair form. Later on Magician and Shannon had a two mile gallop together, but Taylor's chestnut was too much for the black at the finish. I cannot say what weights were up, but always expect the same result at anything like handicap weights. Donald is getting Shannon into very good fettle, and there may happen such a thing as his upsetting the cracks. After this, Queen Mab and Jassamine had a spin together. The two kept together for only 200 yards, and then the Queen began to creep ahead. She continued to draw away to the distance where she was fully thirty yards ahead. Buckland's boy then eased his mount, and she came in first by about six lengths.

At 11 o'clock on Tuesday night an extensive land slip occurred at the rear of Mr Hughes' Melbourne Hotel, Willis Street. About 300 tons of tho hill at the rear of the hotel suddeuly fell, filling up the back yard, and doing a great deal of damage. The large diving room window was smashed in, and the floor covered with masses of rock and clay. Fortunately nobody was injured. Pieces of earth have been falling all to-day, and it is expected that further damage will be done. The loss falls on the shoulders of the owners of tho hotel, and not on Mr Hughes, as the latter is protected in his lease against land slips. — Post.