The Wellington Independent SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1871.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3246, 8 July 1871, Page 2

The Wellington Independent SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1871.

Major Edwards haß, as we expected, not taken long to adjust the difficulty between the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiapa natives. Having ascertained the cause of the dispute he proposed a plan of removing the difficulty, which both parties at once agreed to. There can be no doubt now of a peaceful solution. The judgment, promptitude, and tact, exhibited by Major Edwards in this affair, not only justify his selection by the Government, but point him out as a fit representative of the Government in other and more important caseß. Astronomical. — We understand that simultaneous observations of eleven stars were taken last night, at the observatory, atthe Hutt, and at that at Caversham, within a couple of miles of Dunediu, with a view to determine the absolute longitude of Wellington and Dunedin. The distance between the cities is exactly 321 miles. The night was in every way most favorable for observations. The Evening Post, true to the character we have given it, asserts last night that the circulation of the " Post" is greater than that of the Independent ! We lately assisted the I " Post" in a matter which necessarily informed us of the extent of its circulation. We do not wish to oxpose our contemporary unnecessarily, but we think he would do well not to provoke our forbearance too far. . As to our own circulation, we are happy to be able to state that notwithstanding the assiduous efforts that have been made— and made most unfairly— by certain interested parties who shall be nameless, we never had so large a circulation since the paper was established in 1844, and any one who sees the bags with our papers put into the country coaches will be able to verify the statement for himself. We may be permitted to add that our general circulation has, during the laßtyoar, greatly increased throughout the colony. We can only say that so far from "going down hill," the Wellington Independent, in the twenty-seventh year of its existence, is more successful and more popular than ever. Having said this much, wo are prepared to prove it. We do not intend, however, taking any further notice of our contemporary's attacks. We have so often, and so fully, exposed his unveracities that we believe we have now drawn his sting, although the venom remains. It is gratifying to be able to add that public opinion has been so unmistakably expreseed of late in favor of the opinions that we have advocated during the last twelve months that our contemporary, finding it hard to pull any longer against the stream, has actually abjured the most, if not all, of his opinions on the policy of the present Government, on the resources of the province, and on the advantages of Provincial institutions. Quin Street.— Where is it? It -would appear from a cluster of cases from that quarter dealt with by his Worship yesterday, and the drunken and disreputable-looking denizens who were implicated in the same, that Q.uin street must b*e the nucleus of a thorough Alsatia. Every one of those who appeared, except the unfortunate foreigner Bates, whose countenance was in a frightful state of echymosis, are well known to the police, and have run through all the catalogue of minor offences, and paid their corresponding penalties. One witnesß, on being interrogated as to the state of the windows in a particular house, said they were always broken, and the inmates always on the drink ; another described tho rookery as a constant eyesore and annoyance to tho neighborhood ; a third that it was a " perfeot little hell;" while the constables complained that it called for too much of their attention altogether. One of the culprits, a well-known demi-rep, named M'Gregor, naively admitted that she was rather foggy as to any of tho circumstances on which her evidence was wanted, because she had not been properly sober all the week. Collingwood Coal. — The Wellington Gas Company are now using Coilingwood coal only, for the .making of gas; and notwithstanding that it costs some four shillings more than Newcastle coal, is found to be much cheaper in tho long run, as it generates more gas, and i of a superior quality. The manager, Mr George, says that it is the best coal for inak- t ing gas that he has tried. Better Still. — Such is the nature of the report from the Morning Star claim, as it is said they have struck stone much richer than anything which has yet come from any of the claims either at Terawitti or Baker's Hill. The Baker's Hill ground, too, is said to be looking up. This would lead to the hope that before a long period we may have to report something very gratifying to shareholders and pleasing to the whole community. Maeton Church. — Tenders are called for the erection of this Church, as will be eeen by an advertisement in another column. Photographed views of the building, both exterior and interior, with ground plan, may be seen at tho office of this paper. Another Failure in Wanganui.— The "Herald" of the 4th gives the following picture of legal life in its locality : — ' Mr M. V. Hodge, solicitor, of thii town, has filed his schedule. This looks well for the legal profession, and is highly creditable to a gentle - mnn who has had great opportunities. Messrs Perham and Hodge havo no excuse. They both lived beyond their means. The business of the former gentleman was, upon his own admission, worth £700 the last year, which he described as " the worst of times ;" and it will probably be found that Mr Hodge's business was worth even more. Civic Affairs. — Councillor Carpenter, always blunt in speech, often highly figurative, Bomefcimes hits the mark in such a quaint style as to bear repeating. He did so yesterday, when he told the Council that the city would bo " bottled up " if they didn't keep the approaches open. The truth of the Councillor's figure of speech may be seen by taknig Pipitea and Molesworth-streets as the double mouth to the city bottle, which has no outlet at the other end. If these inlets should * break down, the bottle becomes virtually corked. From the remarks of Mr Borlase it appears that both these streets are in a dilapidated and dangerous state ; and if this weather continues much longer it will not require a prophet to fortell the result. Always straitened for funds, ever at their witß* end to make both ends meet, as between the requirements of the town and the ratepayers' purse, the Corporation have had unusual difficulties to contend with this winter. The results may be seen recorded, not only in muddy thoroughfares but in the Corporation accounts, as it appears that the rates for this year have been nearly all collected and spent; and, as will bo seen by the report of yesterday's meeting, there is in hand £70 to meet claims amounting, we believe, to about £700, The worst of the matter is, the Council seemed perfectly aware of the bad state of the streets referred to, but were absolutely staggered at the amount required to put them in a proper state of repair, especially Pipitea-streefc, which the Engineer said had never been much better than the original beach. All of them agreed that an expenditure of £100 or bo would be only to throw money away : and yet all felt that something should bo done. Cries for the services of tho hard labor gang were quickly silenced by the information that during the last month it hud been impossible to get more than three or four four days out door work from them. According to tho prison regulations, the health of the gang is not to bo endangered by exposure in bad weather, This state of things indicates with tolerable clearneee that tho rating of the city is not equal to its wants, and that either an immediate or prospective dip in the burgess' pocket is inevi' table ; and, a better confirmation cannot be had than to quote the words of that unflinching economist in civil expenditure, Councillor ! Quin, who says it is high time we began to " launch out." We should not be now surprised to see Councillor Carpenter turn out to be as bitter a foe to mud as ho lately was t»

water. As his Worship announced that ajb next meeting he would call for tenders for taking up debentures for the purchase of tke wharf and "bonded store, would it not be as well to call for un extra thousand or two on tho security to be given for the £9,000 required. A few hundreds judiciously spent on the roads now might save thousands hereafter. A Squabe-up.— The Provincial Government, we are informed, have once more made a clean sheet, co far as their employes are concerned, as the last claims of arrears of pay were liquidated yesterday. It is to be hoped that such an event may not again require to be chronicled as something unusual. Me John Kibkpatrick, late of the Bank of Now South Wales, !in Wanganui, is established as a sharebroker in Auckland. Female Immigration. — The " Hawke's Bay Herald" of the;sth, publishes the following extract from a letter from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to his Honor tho Superintendent of Hawke's Bay :—" The Agent-General will be instructed to send out from twenty-five to thirty-five single women every three months, if suitable persons can be obtained, and with this view he will, I have no doubt, gladly avail hiafself of the Eev. Mr Barclay's agency. Failling his success in securing a sufficient number from Scotland, the attention of the Agent General will be called to your preference for young women from Germany." Colonel Whitmore. — We (" Napier Telegraph") regret to hear that Colonel Whit more is suffering from a severe attack of ophthalmia, and has been unable to proceed on his way to England further than Salt Lake City. Hunting Te Kooti. — A correspondent of a Hawke's Bay paper, in referring to the mixed expeditionary force under the command of Captains Preece and Mayor, says : — ' A new feature in this expedition is, that each man carried fifteen days' rations of biscuit and sugar only ; no meat, tea, rum, or other impediments usually deemed necesßary for Europeans and friendly natives while on the march. The men appear to have thrived well on this somewhat peouliar aliment, and despite their long march and exposure to inclement weather, they do not looked jaded or fatigued. It will be remembered that tho Huirau is tho range on which some ten or twelve TJreweras perished while escaping from Ngatikahungunu, led by Hamlin and Witty, about this time last year. Frequently, and during the winter invariably, covered with snow, and clad with almost impenetrable forest, these mountains aro nearly inaccessible in these months, and the successful transit of the present force, never before achieved by Europeans, marks a new era, and demonstrates most successfully what can be done by Maoris properly commanded. From Waikare, the expedition will proceed to Maungapowhatu by way of Putaehinu. News came from Wairoa to the effect that Ropata had been communicated with near Te Koinga. After leaving Poverty Bay he had divided his forces into four parties, in order to scour the country in all directions. When last heard from he waa proceeding with one of the3e parties in the direction of Pa Puni, where he would meet the other three in a week or ten days, and learn if they had done anything," Pabmeeston, Manawatu. — A correspondent writes ub that Manson and Bartholomew's engine was landed safely in Palmerston on Saturday afternoon last. It was drawn through the mud by eighteen bullocks, and it was just as much as they could manage. It caused quite a sensation in our large town. Wo like the Norwegians very much ; they are both courteous and industrious, and well skilled in the falling of baah and road making, and will moke most useful settlers. A rifle corpa is in course of formation. Rangitikei. — Monday last was quite a busy day at the Court House, Rangitikei (Bull's), as no fewer than forty-six eettlers were summoned for neglecting attending a Militia parade on tho Ist and 2nd of June. Only one of the number escaped, he having proved that he was present at the time ; the remainder were fined from Is to ss, with 6s 6d costs each, and in one case where the defendant (H. Lyon) did not appear in Court, the fine was 20s and costs. This field day at the Oourb proves that the Militia staff of the Eangitikei district are zealously performing their unpleasant duties in compelling unwilling settlers to drill every month, and go through the same mechanical movements aB many have done for the past eleven years. Too Late to Get "Foueb." — About 11.30 one night lately a dissipated-looking old woman stepped into the police office in Broad street, Aberdeen, and very earnestly desired 11 to be looked up." The old creature said she was " fou," and felt that she would be safest under lock and key, and promised that if they would favor her so far " she would go off to Inveruiie next morning." The officer in charge said he was sorry he could not comply with her request, as he did nob think she was " fou" enough to need locking up, so the venerable female thanked him .very warmly, said it was too late to get " fouer," and went away.