LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3371, 14 December 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Mr H. Webb, the contractor for the San Francisco mail service, is afc present in Auckland, ho having remained there awaiting the arrival of the Hon Julius Yogel, who was expected to reach Auckland during tho present week. As Mr Yogel will probably nob be able to leavo Wellington for a fortnight or three weeks, Mr Webb will mosb likely proceed hither for the purpose of conferring upon the modification of the contract, as authorised by the Assembly. Mr Yogel will shortly proceed to Melbourne, to seek the cooperation of the Australian colonies, and may probably succeed oo far as New South Wales is concerned. Wo observe that in the Parliament* of New South Wales an animated debate took place recently on the San Francisco service. The Premier of that colony moved the House into committee to consider the propriety of adopting the contract entered into by the Melbourne conference. In the debate thafc followed several members opposed tho resolution, on tho grouud that New South Wales had got the worst of ifc at the recent conference. The most important party to thetreaty, England, was altogether ignored. It was also urged that a scheme formerly proposed was preferable, by which three lines via Suez, Torres Straits, and San Francisco would be carried out for £100,000. This plan, it was said, would satisfy the Queensland people, and save tho San Francisco steamer going out of its way to land the mails at Moreton Bay. After some considerable discussion, the motion was lost by 24 to 15. It will be thus seen that so far as New South Wales is concerned, the Australian colonies are not likely to cone to any agreement on the postal question. We understand that Colonel Fielding, the Agent of the Colonial Aid Immigration Society, proceeds to Manawatu to examine the land open for occupation in that district. Wo aro informed that the society which he represents is willing to acquire 100,000 acres of land for the purpose of placing upon it immigrants sent out under the auspices of the Association. In accordance with tho terms of the Muncipal Corporations Act, the election of Mayor will take place at a meeting of the City Council which will be convened for the purpose on Wednesday next. It is confidently expected that the candidature of Mr Dransfield will be unopposed. A special meeting of the City Council will be held on Monday next to consider tho terms on which tho wharf will be leased, and the conditions to bo observed by the successful tenderer. Tho question of the erection of the sheds will also be discussed. According to a return laid before the Auckland Provincial Council, the following are the sums expended during the past year upon roads and works in that province : — Roads and works south of Auckland, £2,554 5s Gd ; Great South lload, £2,784 7s Gd ; roads and works north of Auckland, £3,294 Is 9d ; Auckland harbor works, £1,077 9s 5d ; miscellaneous, £2,629 4s.

Wo believe we are correct in stating thafc the visit of his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson has resulted in an agreement between him and the General Government with regard to the security fco be given by the Nelson Government for tho interest on the cost of the railway from Greymouth to the Brunner Mine, The General Government have, wo understand, imposed certain conditions of traffic, and reserved fco themselves a right to exercise a voice in the disposal of the coal mine. Ifc may be expected that this line will be commenced as speedily as possible. Mr Curtis has also received assurance that tho Nelson and Foxhill lino will be commenced in due course. The "Gazette" of the 12th instant contains fche announcement of tho appointment of W. S. Moorehouse, Esq., as Secretary of Crown Lands, and Commissioner under the Laud Claims Settlement Acts. The Colonial Secretary has issuod a notice requesting that for the futuro all correspondence connected with tho ad ministration of the Immigration and | Public Works Acts, 1870 and 1871, in the Middle Island, may bo addressed to the offico of the Resident Minister for the Middle Island, Christchurch. On Tuesday Messrs Harrison and Curtis, M.H.R. 'B, had an inter view with the Minister of Public Works for the Middle Island, for the purpose of coming fco an understanding as to the expenditure of the £24,000 available out of the Middle Island Railway Fund, for the construction of road 3on the Nelson South West Goldfields. Au arrangement was agreed to under which a main road to the Buller Valley on the north, aud to the Grey Valley on the south, is to be constructed from the rich reefing district at Murray Creek, with the intention of ultimately carrying it to the ports of Westport and Greymouth. Wo understand that instructions are to bo given for an exploration of the country, so as to secure the most convenient and inexpensive route. Just before the mail left, Mr Chilman, of Taranaki, who had intended to return, wrote, stating thafc just as he was on the eve of departure, unsuccessful in his mission to induce English capitalists to take up the development and manufacture of the iron sand at Taranaki, he received, offers of so favorable a nature as to warrant him delaying his return. As an example of the extreme cost wh,ich the ruling price of labor imposes upon the construction of public works, we may mention thafc within the last few days the lowest tenders accepted for road works in Westland averaged over £1,250 per mile. And this for only a 13ft metalled road, the materials for which is found alongside the road. The "Lyttelton Times" of the llth insfcant; has a leading article against the proposed meeting of tho Assembly at Dunedin next session, in which it says : — While, therefore, we do nofc deny that an occasional change from Wellington to Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, or Auckland, would be advantageous in so far as it would tend to dispel ignorance aud break down the petty provincial feelings which are yet so rampant in somequarfcers, we cannot ignore tho addition which such change would make to our annual expen diture, or forget the evils which it might give rise to in administering the public service generally. The nor'-wester which has blown and rnged during the last two days, supposed by amateur astronomers to have some re mote connection with tho recent eclipse of the sun, fairly worked up to a climax yesterday. Tho waters of the harbor were lashed into a seething foam, clouds of flying mist being swept along from end to end of the bay by the furious gale. During the early part of the day two watermen named Hewitt and Grainey, who were going off to tho Halcione, wero capsized from their boat, but were rescued after being in the water only a little time One of these men, Grainey, is so accus tomed to being thrown oufc of the boat during such weather that.he. expresses no alarm whatever on such occasions, having, on one of these occasions, drifted two or three miles with his upturned boat, his want of knowledge in tho art of swimming preventing his making any attempt to reach the shore. A signal went up from Mount Victoria yesterday afternoon notifying that a small vessel was in a dangerous position somewhere inside the Heads. The arrival of the Taranaki at the wharf set at rest any fears of danger either to the vessel or crew of the coaster, for though the Taranaki passed within two or three hundred yardsof her there was nosi^n forassistance to be seen. The Luna did not go down in consequence of tho receipt of this news, although steam was got up immediately the signal was hoisted. An old salfc suggested to us that the key to the affair may have originated through the master of the vessel, which was supposed to be the Huon Belle, being aware thafc the Luna was in porfc, hoping to be towed up gratis against the stiff nor'-wester that was blowing at the time, and that immediately the Taranaki hove in sight his danger signal was hauled down, a bill of £50 for towage not being exactly the thing required. Yesterday afternoon —notwithstanding the extremely boisterous weather — a number of ladies, including tho Hon Mrs Fitzherbert, Mrs Gisborne, Mrs Buckley, Mrs Captain Edwin, and Mrs O'Neil proceeded on board the p.s. Luna for the purpose of presenting Captain Fair- , child with a beautiful brooch and locket in recognition of his great kindness anc\ • .attention to the lady passengers on tho Luna, on the voyage to and from Wanganui on the occasion of the opening of fcho Wanganui Bridge. The presentation was made by the Hon Mrs Fitzherbert, who stated thafc she had been requested by her fellow- passengers who wenfc to Wanganui under Captain Fairchild's care on tho occasion of the opening of the Wanganui Bridge, to present him with a locket as a small souvenir in recognition of his kindness, and also with a brooch for Mrs Fairchild, which the ladies forwarded with their kind rogards. Captain Fairchild, in reply, expressed his heartfelt thanks for the great honor that had been conferred upon him ; and felt; sure that Mrs Fairchild would appreciate the handsomo present made to her. Ho was himself taken entirely by surprise by this presentation, especially as such a fearfully stormy day as the present mighfc have deterred anyone from walking down the wharf. Ho begged to convey his most sincere thanks for the marked honor which had been conferred upon him. Tho prospectus of tho Glasgow Art Union for tho drawing for the year 1871-72 has been received by the agent, Mr A. P. Stuart, who informs us that the engraving offered on this occasion as tho presentation work is after a picture " Hawking," painted by It. Ansdell, Esq, It. A., and engraved by T. O. Barlow, Esq. The painting was executed for tho express purposo of being engraved, and in the treatment of tho subject tho artist and engraver have been equally felicitous. A now feature is introduced in regard to the I

' ballot for prises, inasmuch as members, after payment of tbe ordinary subscript i tion, may secure an additional share in the ballot for eaoh additional half- guinea subscribed. Tho twelfth and last number of the first volume of that agreeably written little periodical " Tho Watchtower" has reached us. It contains, as usual, some critical notices by the editor, the Rev. John Elmslie, M.A., written in well chosen and vigorous language, and some matters of precept for youthful guidance. The promoters announce that tho next number of " The Watchtower,'' to be issued at tho new year, will be enlarged and otherwise improved, to assist in the carrying out of which object the co operation of friends is invited, a number of ways in which this can besfc be done being specified at the end of the presont number. f. It is satisfactory to Jearn from the letter of our Marton correspondent thafc the second visit of Mr M'Donogh, the Sab-Commissioner of Government (Insurance and Annuities, to Marton, has been successful, a further number of the residents having availed themselves of the advantages afforded by the Government scheme. The publisher of the New Zealand Almanac, Mr H. Lake, of Christchurch, has forwarded to us a copy of an aanual bearing the above title. Boing of a handy size, Bvo, and containing a vast amount of information, carefully compiled, this little work should secure a ready sale in the province, for the inhabitants of which it is designed to form a useful work of reference. The present issue is more than usually interesting to those of fche Canterbury pilgrims who arrived in tho " first four ships," from the fact that a chronological account is given of events which have taken place since the day of their anchoring in Port Cooper. Tho Auckland " Herald" in" an article upon the result of the legislation of the late session makes the following com ments : — "* So far the colony has endorsed the proposal of the Government by an overwhelming majority, both before and after the general election. Nothing could be more unequivocal than the position of the present Ministry. Still, a great deal depends on the continued cordial co-opera-tion of the public. For ourselves, we have not approved of everything the Government; has said or done, but we consider that the interests of tho colony from every poiut of view demand the faithful prosecution of the great scheme now in hand, and any attempt to throw discredit upon ifc at this time of day cannot proceed from. a sincere desire to promote tho peace and welfare of the country at large." Mr Buckland, a member of the Auckland Provincial Council, has taken a very " high falutin" view of the provincial question. In a recent debate upon a motion by Mr Creighton, he is reported to havo said " lie feared that there was a period of untold misery in store for the colony aud the province of Auckland. He believed the decision of the differences sure to arise, and the injury openly done, must come to physical force, and tbat in less than three years !" Bravo, Mr Buckland. We quito agree with you that " physical force" is the remedy for all the evils under which the colony is laboring, and wo hope you will assist the Government in employing as much of that desirable element as possible. We hopo that beforo tho three years Mr Buckland speaks of " physical forco" will have accomplished great things for this colony—will havo spread a network of railways and roads over New Zealand, subdued forests, and converted desolate wastes into smiling cultivations. Mr Fartiall, the member for Rodney in the House of Representatives, has recently been elected a member of the Auckland Provincial Council. In- his, platform speech at the nomination, he said that " he looked upon provincialism theoretically as the best form of government they could have, bufc it could not be denied fchafc ifc had not been carried oufc as intended." He proceeded to say thafc although provincialism was based upon the common senso of the people, the shortcomings of tho system were the fault of tho electors, through their not returning such men as would work out provincial institutions in their entirety and meaning. Considering that Mr Farnall has consistently upbraided tho Provincial Government of Auckland for its neglect of outlying districts, and has claimed for thoso districts the expenditure of local revenues by local bodies, his speech to the electors sounds rather funny and illogical. The " Wanganui Chronicle" of the Oth has these remarks on a supper held in connection with the recent bridge opening : — Can our snobocracy by no chance have a ball and supper, without making a row aboufc more champagne than the purveyor believes is in thoir bond ? There was a court case over tho champagne when the foundation of tho bridge was laid, and unless wiser counsels than the present prevail, we are told, there will onco moro be a repetition of the scandal. We do not know who is right or wrong in the matter — it is a poor paltry matter at tho most — but our advice to the Ball Committee would be, even if they abjured champagne iv the future, to pay Strachan his bill and have done of it. According to the local paper there are numerous complaints of the bridge tolls at Wanganui, not only on account of the ambiguous way in which they are expressed, but also because in some instances thoy are considered excessive, especially in the case of vehicles repassing from the town, with a few small things, when they are liable to a second toll. In the Legislative Assembly of South Australia, a Payment of Members' Bill was lately introduced. It proposes a payment of £2 per clay for a session of eighty days, and free transit by railway and mail coaches. Iv tho Auckland Provincial Council Mr Creighton proposed tho following resolution :—•" That the mombers of tho Provincial Council of the province of Auckland, desire to express their regret afc tho attempt made in tho General Assembly last session to alter the constitution of this council, without consulting its wishes. They hope that in future, shouldan important constitutional change be thought advisable by the General Government, the sense of the country will be taken beforo ifc is submitted to tho Assembly." A long debate ensued and an amendment was moved by Mr Sheehan, the Goldfields Socretai*3 r , to the following effect :--" That this Council feels called upon to express its disapproval of the attempts made during the last session of the Assembly to pass measures calculated to effect a radical alteration of the Constitution without any notice being given to the Governments of tho several provinces, or opporfcuuifcy afforded to tho electors of tho colony to consider such measures. And this Council further protests against any alterations .affecting the constitution, powers and functions of the Provincial I I Legislatures being made, unless and until

the proposed altera tionsbe submitted to the country, and the whole of the constituencies be allowed to elect a Parliament for the express purposo of considering such alterations." The debate does not appear to' have been concluded before the departure of fche lasfc mail. The following letter, addressed to tho editor, appears in Silver and Co's circular for September : — " Sir, — Some time ago there appeared in the " Standard" a letter on the corn produce of New Zealand for 1870, giving the quantity grown, and average yield per acre in each province. The August mail brought statistics of this year's produce, which, is so much under that of 1870 that it is necessary to analyse ifc, and try to discover the cause. In the first place we find thnt the quantity of wheat grown is leas by over 500,000 bushels'; of barley, less by 300,000 bushels; whereas there is an increaso of about 470;000 bushels in oats ; so we must presume that this is considered the most paying crop, although tho yield per acre hardly exceeds that of the other grains. This will give a decrease on grains grown of 350,006 bushels, or the produce of over 16,000 acres at the highest average yield. Bufc where has all this great falling off occurred ? Not in the provinces, where the average is the lowest, but in Hawkes Bay and Marlbro', to the amount of about 12,000 bushels each, and the balance, with the exception of 3,000 bushels in the province of Canterbury, which lasfc year gave nearly the highest average, -say 31 bushels per acre. In fact, we find in this thriving province a falling off of 658,000 bushels of all grains— -the decrease of over 25,000 acres under plough ; whereas in the sister provinces of Otago and Southland there is an actual increase of 325,000 bushels grown ; it, therefore, cannot be that farming does not pay in New Zealand, and especially in tlie South Island, where the average yield is as high, if not higher than in England. Thb solo cause must bo the want of labor, especially in those provinces whero this decrease has taken place ; for we see that in one province alone, 25,000 acres which in 1870 yielded 30 bushels to the acre, were in 1871 uncultivated ; and, reckoning only two men to every 100 acres, here is a demand for at least 500 of those good farm laborers who are so often driven into our workhouses in winter for want of work. Is it not, then, our duty, and the duty of the Government, to bring before these men in a clear and an encouraging manner the advantages of emigrating to our colonies, where labor is so much required ; and where any good workman can earn from 25s to 30s a week, and the mechanic from 8s to 12s per day. — I am, &c, An old Colonist. Lymington, September, 1871." Gold. — The p. 8. Golden Crown brought up to Auckland from the Thames on tho Oth 13 boxes gold, containing 16,0000zs for the Bank of New Zealand.