WEEKLY EPITOME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 21, 20 September 1873, Page 6

WEEKLY EPITOME.

Mb Reeves' attack on the Agent-G-eneral has, eay3 the Wellington special correspondent of the Dunedin 'Evening Star,' made a great sensation. He was supposed to be well posfcei up in the matter, and though Mr Vogel tried to shield Dr Featherston all that he poßsibly could, the effect of his speech was great. ' The Wellington correspondent of the ' Marlborough Express'writes: — " Ido not think a more chaotic legislative body than' the House of Representatives this session ever existed. There is no party, and the most important questions are blinked.",. The following were the extras paid to our late Governor in addition to his salary:— Forage: 1869, £182 10s ; 1870, £200 ; 1871, £300; 1872, £300. He also received a special allowance of £1000 for entertaining His Royal Highness in 1869 • and £600 for a similar purpose in 1870. The Auckland c Herald ' has just received a voluminous work entitled " The G-reat Industries of the United States," which contnins a vast amount of valuable and suggestive information. The work' is a late publication, bearing this year's imprint, and evidently published just prior to the departure of the last mail from America. A writer of an article mentions a point of interest when so many new industries are being started : —" Whoever makes files, or ploughs, or axes, or cutlery naturally says : ' I hope the American steel will prove of prime quality ; but I know the British steel will not fail me, and I dare not take the hazard of o failure, which would ruin my business." So. the American producers of steel must sell cheaper than their British rivals, or not sell at all. British manufacturers have an immense advantage over ours in the extent and multiplicity of tlieir markets. It may be fairly said that all the world faces London and Manchester as it does not face Lowell and Philadelphia. If a merchant in Madagascar, Borneo, Brazil, or New Zealand wants cletlv, or steel, or cutlery, he looks to Europe for it, as a matter of course ; he never dreams that it may be obtained from the United States." Complaint is also made in the same article of the stoppage of the line of steamers between New Zealand and San Francisco, accounting it a great loss to the commerce of the States. The railway policy of the Government "( s ay 8 an Auckland exchange) could not be more succinctly stated than in a remark made by the Premier relative to the West Co ist railway. In ' Hansard *he is reported to have said upon the subject :—": — " Our policy is to complete a chain ot communication from one end of the Colony to the other. In the Middle lel-ind, from Nelson to the Bluff, including the Wesb Coast ; and in the North Island, from Wellington to Auckland. That is the policy of the Grovernment, and we shall endeavor to carry it out consistently, and without wavering, to its completion." " Snydeb," the famous contributor to the Auckland ' Herald,' under the heading of "Q-overnment Luxuries," discourses thus: — " Winter strawberries at half-a-crown au ounce are somewhat expensive eating ; so are green peas at a guinea a quart. Salmon at ten shillings a pound, or a turbot and lobster at three guineas for the two perhaps may be indulged iii. But none of these luxuries appear to be equal to the lion, the Colonial Treasurer standing in the telegraph otfica in Melbourne, while Dr. Featherston stood at the telegraph office ia London, and conversed with each other at the small charge only of nine shillings and sixpence per word." He theu gives an official copy of the official talk indulged in by Agent- (general and Julius Vogel in the iuteres's of the Colony, and concludes: "Gentle and tender reader, this little bit of talk along the wires between my friend Julius und my distant vclative Featherston cost just a trifle over one hundred and eigh'y pounds — which, gentle and tender reader, you and I havo had to contribute our share in liquidating."

The Auckland members are said to have determined that the Province of Auckland should apply for a loan of £250,000, setting apart lands as security. Emi&batiokt from Queenstown (says the Cork 'Examiner,') ig proceeding on a large scale. Aa many as 1200 persons sailed for^the . United States in the steamers leaving the port ia one day. Why has our New Zealand Rip Van Winkle no active agents there ? What a contrast tq his habitual lethargy, and occasional misdirected energy, ia presented by the South Australian agent, who, in about a month established nearly sixty agencies in the United Kingdom. It is noted in the home papers that emigration to Canada hus very largely increased, owing to " increased efforts on the part of the Government." These efforts are stated by a report of the Canadian House of Commons to have consisted in a great measure m the spreading of information regarding the Dominion, no less that 1,850,000 copies of various publications containing such information having been distributed in "Europe during the year. '! There was to show for this," writes the .Canadian correspondent of the Scotsman, " an increase in the number of immigrants who settled in Canada of 35 per cent., and as far this year, nearly 100 per cent, more than last year." Nothing in the shape of bo wholesale a distribution of information, appears to have ever been done for t New Zealand. Evidently "our worthy doctor" as we have seen him dubbed somewhere lately, has much to learn, and no doubt the Colony will lose much— as it has lost in the past, b efore lie wakes up. As a Napier contemporary remarked, there is no good in wasting words upon'him, and the soonw his successor is appointed, the better it will be for-the Colony. A EETOBN laid on the table of the House of Representatives, shows that Ministers have received during the last three years nearly L 12,000 as travelling expenses and extras. .. The ' Evening Post' thus describes Mr Tolmie's condemnation of the Provincial Loans Bill : — " Mr Tolmie rose, and, in a plain businesslike speech, denounced the Provincial Loans Bill as a sham, and advocated a cesaation-not "only of legislation, but of borrowing. Mr Tolmie has hitherto been a" staunch supporter of the Premier. They were political allies in Otago, and rumour ha 9it that only a very few days ago Mr Vogel was desirous of securing M.r Tolmie's assistance at & colleague, and had even designated him as the most fit man to guide the Ministerial team and hold the portfolio of Treasurer during his own intended .absence in England. That Mr Vogel did feel Mr Tolmie's sudden assertion of independence was rendered apparent by its wringing from him the retort, that the hon. member's objection to the Bill was in consequence of the clause allowing pastoral property to be rated. Coasidering the connection of the two gentlemen in Otago, it was a bold thing on Mr Vogel's part to make such an accusation, and if he had taken time to consider, he would probably have hesitated before making it. If Mr Vogel and Mr Tolmie begin to tell tales of each other regarding the effect of pastoral considerations on political action, some disclosures might be expected, which would certainly be of interest to Otago, if not to the Colony.', The arrangements for the reception and accommodation of immigrants ai Auckland, as described in the ' Herald,' have justly created indignation throughout the Colony. By the Berar, there lately arrived 49 married couples, having in the aggregate 108 children, from the suckling infantto boys and girls maturing towards manhood and womanhood. The passengers were landed on the wharf. There was no official to receive them ; none to render them any information, and all the immigrants, could learn was that there were barracks in the vicinity of the city where they could be quartered. • The single men found their Tray to the bars of the public hotels, and, we fear, also several of the single females. Towards afternoon the married couples, with their families, founJ their way to the barracks, and inquiring where they were to be lodged, a long room was pointed out for their receptien. On either side of this room was a row of rough pine bunks, resembling in their construction enlarged caudle boxes. Here, in this room, without any partitions, without as much as a pretence for dividing off the families, without the slightest regard being paid to the most ordinary requirements for observing the decen* cies of life, over forty married* couples with one hundred and eight children were huddled together to pass the night. One dormitory for nearly two hundred souls is treatment worse than was ever dealt out to a cargo of Polynesian barbarians. ,No nourishment beyond dry bread; and tea without milk for the children, and no provision made for quiet rest, or refreshment for exhausted mothers, many of them with suckling infants coming off a long and weary voyage. For the single females a room had been provided separate from the young men, but there was no attempt made to keep the worst of characters from holding communication with them. Yesterday raw meat and uncooked potatoes were served out. to the immigrants, and only one small stove was allowed for the cooking necessary for over three hundred people, including, of course, children of both sexes. It was not until late in the afternoon that a supply of fuel came to hand, no previous order having been given for it. . N In the Legislative Assembly lately, Jlr Pharazyn, when speaking, referred to Mr Vogel as a politician and financier in eomewhat disparaging terms, whereat Col. Brett became furious, and delivered himself of a fuHous speech against Mr Pharazyn, winding up his defence of Mi* Vogel by saying, " Why, sir, he is the eighth wonder of ihe world ! " There were roars of laughter. Col. Brett, however, became so very furious against Mr Pharazyn that the Speaker had to interfere, llr Pharazyn begged that the Colonel might be allowed to proceed, as, it it amused Col. Brett, ib did not hurt- him (Mr P.). The Speaker, however, refused to comply with the request, and the gallant Colonel had to sit down. The negotiations set on foot for the affiliation of the Otago University to the New Zealand Uuiversity have fallen through. According to the Wellington special correspondent of the Dunedin 'Evening Star,' it is generally understood that the Upyer House will throw out the Provincial Borrowing BUI. The 'Independent' urges what will become of the Provincial Loan Bills now before the Lower House, and that should the Bill not pa?s it will be the duty of the Government to bring forward a Bill for imposing a property tax

throughout tlie Colony. It says property holders in the Upper House, should study this view of the question. It discusses the question whether the- -Governor will ullov the "swamping" of the Upper House, aud is generally uncertain and foggy. The ' Auckland Star's ' Parliamentary correspondent writes : The position of parties in the Home afc the present time is a curious study. It is impossible to imagine a state of more utter demoralisation , and piobably the annals of New Zealand or of any other Oolony do not furni&h another illustration of so purposeless opposition or so rampant government. That the Government has every thing in its own way, but feebly describes the condition to which things have come ; and when I say the Government I mean Mr Vogcl, for the feeble minds that are associated with him in the Ministry 'not only exhibit their incapacity and want of knowledge of the affairs of their own departments in a manner patent to the most careless observer, but from time to time they are obliged to exhibit the humilating position of being quietly snubbed. But if the condition of the Ministerial band and its supporters excites our wondrous admiration, the condition of the so-called Opposition presents a spectacle to gods and meu. The Opposition has no measures, nor lias it any men to whom allegiance in any form is owiug. If the advocates of annual or biennial Parliaments desired a cogent argument to show the ill effects of the lengthened duration of Parliaments and the absolute necessity for the regenerating and purifying influences of a general election, they should take their seats tor a few nights in the House and watch the progress of proceedings. * Teom: a letter published in a Dunedin paper we make a' few clippings. Referring to Messrs Bathga,te and Reynolds, its writer says : " Your Mr Reynolds is evidently a very different man, from Mr B. His massive solidity is a fine foil to his colleague's jaunty emptiness. I have been much amused with some clever cartoons, the production of an hon member. One of' a -colleague, who can 'smile and smile, and be a villain '—of course in a Pickwickian sense— is pimply splendid. It would have a great sale in Dunediu. Your New Zealand politics are in my mouth as the dust blown thereinto at Wellington, gritty, fetid. I don't like them — logrolling, caucussing, earwigging, and' many similar arts reduced to a system. The worst men on both sides enjoy most influence, A C3BBESPONDENT in the 'Post,' accuses Mr Fox of being a correspondent of the ' Wanganui Chronicle,' • Southern Cross,' and other papers, and of attacking metnbprs of the House under the cloak of anonymity. In the House Mr Webster likened Mr Pox to an old woman told off by the Indians to sneer at captive' warriors, and throw mud on them. IIfIOEMATioK has been received by the Immigration Agent, Dunedin. that the Dover Castle, with 161 persons, equal to 132£ adults, left London for Dunedin on the 30th July. The General Government are distributing, in the North Island, sorghum saccharatum, obtained from America, with a view to testing the adaptability of the soil and climate of New Zealand to the growth of that plant. The 'Daily Times ' has authority for sayinar that ifc is the intention of His Excellency the Governor to visit Dunedin in December next. We (' Auckland Herald') have been furnished by the Government with a statement of public accounts for the last financial year. There is a large number of " fancy " expenditures, which throw considerable' light as to how the money goes. Among these, we find that over £22,000 has been expended "for " general expenses " in the Legislative departments. .For passages of members, £1,692 ; expenses of members, £9,753 ; reporters, £1,456 ; printing of ' Hansard,' £2,375 ; library, £361 ; contingencies, whatever these may be, £4,234. In almost every instance, and all the departments, expenditure is in excess of appropriation, and this excess is supplied from sources not stated. Me Shephebd is not quite a match for Mr Pyke, and, we imagine, must be dreadfully jealous of him. ' We read that on Mr Pyke moving the first reading of the Miners' Rights Bill, Mr Shepherd said ho was surprised that Mr Pyke had opposed his Bill and then brought in one containing the main feature of his Bill. He said Mr Pyke knew there was not; time for the Bill to pass this session, and he only introduced it to gain applause from his constituency. — Mr Pyke replied that foe had opposed Mr Shepherd's Bill because it was the abortion of the session. Tliero was no inconsistency in rescuing one grain of wheat from a bushel- of chaff. An opinion, says the ' Lyttelton Times,' has frequently been expressed, in North Island contemporaries and by speakers at public raoetiugs, that the Government — as a further step towards the dissolution of the King combination — ought to take possession of Kawhia harbor on the West Coast. The reasons urged in favour of such a step are not without foroe, but they must all give way before the main consideration— f he continued maintenance of peace. If the fine, harbour of Kawhia can be taken possession of by and with the consent of the natives, well and good ; but it is necessary to move in a question involving so much and reaching so far,,with the greatest circumspection. The silent but not unseen influence exerted by the gradual advance of settlement will, in the course of time, give us quiet posession, and it would be madness to risk a collision m order to obtain an advantage f*r which we can afford to wait patiently. Mbßbadbb Wood, remarks the ' Wanganui Herald,' is naturally a poet, and his speeches in the Houso centain many fine descriptions and touches of poetical fancj. The following is from his speech on the Provincial Loans, Empowe. ing Bill : As the " Rata " of New Zealand forest Clings around aud kills the supporting truuk Lifting its own head in. strong and healthy life Even so have our local institutions, ' Strong aud wholesome in their youthful vigour Destroyed and replaced the parent ' Which once supported their feeble infancy. Anotheh outbreak of kleptoimnia at Waoganui is recorded by the Chronicle. Iho victim of iho " disease "is stated to be a married lady, whose symptoms consist in the stealing of a rare plant.

The following important telegram giving information that a San Francisco service has -been arranged for, has been received by Mr Vpgol from Mr Unwell :— " Have agreed with Mr Samuel, subject to the ratification of New South Wales Government and New Zealand Parliament, as follows .— Twelve-knot service, for bix years, by New South Wales and New Zealand conjointly, to bo commenced within twelve months. Boats of 2500 tons gross, or equal to 2000 tons register, all of same siza and power, for service via Kandavu. Thirteen round trips. Terminus and departure alternately Sydney and Dunedin, via coast service. Transhipment alternately for Sydney and New Zealand at Xaadavu ; contractors to have all subsidies, except from British Government,' and the colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand are each to pay £40,000. Cost to New Zealand will thus be £28,000, subject to a further reduction by half any contributions from other colonies. If you agree to the foregoing, Mr Samuel and myself will arrange a temporary ten-knot service, the first steamer from the colony to leave in December. This, is the best arrangement I can mako, and strongly recommend its adoption. Mir Parkes will telegraph you his reply." The following telegram has been received by Mr Vogel from the Colonial Secretary of New Suul.h Wales: — " Lotter to your Government this day on London arrangements. Have telegraphed to London our concurrence." The ' Daily Times " understands that the General Government intends to spend £20,000 on the improvement of the Grey River. A West Coast journal says :—": — " By the Christchurch coach there has arrived at Hokitika a pasßengec bent on a curious enand. Wo refer to Mr Watson, the well-known diver, whose bead-quarters are ' nov at Ly ttelton. Ho comes (says the ' Register ') not to pursue his avocation in the clear depths of ocean in search of submerged treasure, but to release from strict confinement certain pieces of rusty old iron which make up tha pumps of Mr Cassius's engines at Ross. Very little romance is to be found in descending 100 ft. down a dark narrow shaft, amidst a complicated system of pipes and stays, and there induging in four hours' hard work by dint of toach alone. Mr Watson has before now fished up carpet bags containing no small nnmber of bright sovereigns, and on other occasions mingled in such tragedies as that of the Pride of the Yarra, where the ill-fated family of Campbell lost their lives. But we warrant he has never had a queerer job than that which he is now embarked upon under, the auspices of Mr Caasius." The Wellington knife polish (remarks a Thames paper) may "be found difficult to dispose of at the Thames, when it is known that '•quartz-flour" is now deemed one of the best known articles for polishing knives. The Auckland Total Abstinence Society has enterod on the 32nd year of its existence. Aw establishment for salting down beef for export is now in full working order at Poverty Bay. In a special despatch' to the Earl of Kimberley, Sir George Arney gives an interesting account of his late visit to Kawhia, in company with the Native Minister. He believes that the difficulties which now exist, with the natives are fast disappearing, and writes thus of- his interview with the young King Tv Tawhiao :—": — " Nothing could he of fairer promise than was the whole bearing of that young man. His demeanour was dignified, yet modest and becoming. The whole conduct of the young man led me to the same conclusion as that formed by the Native Minister— viz., that Tv Tawhiao attributed to his own visit the significance of breaking down the barriers of isolation, and pledging himself henceforth to a reconciliation with the Europeans." The contest for the Auckland Snperintendoncy has been productive of many -personalties and bitterness of feeling, and has also roused bad prejudices. Numerous rumors about the candidates have been circulated, and of one of these the Wellington special correspondent of the ' Cross' says : - " The story current at the Thames that Air John Williamson tfkes a permanent office in connection with the Native Land Office is a pure invention. It is utterly untrue, and has not the slightest foundation in fact. Mr Williamson considers it a trick against him." In noticing the sitting of a Native Court at Grey town, Wairarapa, to hear a land dispute, the Standard says :— " The Court has baen presided over by six Native Commissioners'; and most reverend, grave, and worthy seigniors they appear to be, fitted even to adorn ISxeter Hall. Dressed in costly, though not ostentatious garments, with immaculate white shirts, and moving about wi'.h slow and dignified bearing, one would suppose that tliey wore capable of almost & higher degree of civilisation than .Europeans." A coeeespondent of the • Herald ' at the Bay of laland hears that steps are being taken to obtain a pardon for Fisher Eppwright's accomplice in the murder at that place, and the two constables who were stationed here at the ti-ne of the murder, have been sent for from Wellington to assist in the inquiry which is being instituted in the matter. The Upper Taiori correspondent of the Waikonaiti ' Herald 1 writes that lambing has commenced, and he regrets to report, under very unfavourable circumstances, the weather being very stormy during the latter part of list month caused great mortality. With reference to the shearing rates for the ensuiug clip I have to report that 15s per 100 sheep lias recently been fixed by the flock-owners in the district. The she irors are asking £1, which I am inclined to think will have to bd given. A iiABOEEtt named Isaac Cox died at the Reliance Hotel, Otakia, on Tuesday week, from concussion of the brain, the effect of a fallDeceased, who had been drinking, had a scuffle with a man named Howard ort the previous Sunday night, and fell against the verandah. He got up, and tried to go up the hotel staira> but fell down, becoming insensible. Ou recovering, he again attempted to go up stairs, and in falling, Btruck his head violently, and caused the blood to flow. He remained unconscious till his death. At tho inqao3t, a vordict of accidental death was returned. The tender of Messrs & Co., of Port Chalmers, to do the required reclamation ati*Mussel bay for the sum of £2800, has been ccepted by the General Government.'

When in Melbourne latel; , Mr Alfred Anderson, of Messrs Begg Mid Anderson, made arrangements with' Mr W. Saurin Lyster for the Royal English Opera Company to open a season in Dunedin about Christmas. The company is a strong one, including a number of favourite artistes. The repertoire of the Company includes a large number of established favourites, among them being the " Grand Duchess," V Blue Beard," " Orpheuß " Offenbach's new opera), "Satanella," the "Rose of Castile," the "Bohemian Girl," " Maritana," "Der Freischutz," "La Sonnatabula," Ge"neneve de Brabant," 11 Martha," &c, &., Cobb's Tokomairiro coach met with a capsiae at Scrogg's Creek about half-a-mile the other side of the Kent hotel, on Monday afternoon. Some of the passengers narrowly ascaped a violent death. One had an arm broken ; another has over fifteen bruises on his body. One of the passengers stated to us that, in his opinion, a restive, ungovernable horse was the cause of the accident. More care ought to be given to this class of ar.imals üßed in travelling by the owners. This is the third upset on that road within the last twelve months. It is believed that the action taken by the Provincial Government in connection with the contemplated Railway workshops will result in their erection at Andersons Bay. The i inhabitants of Arrow town are petitioning to have that township declared a municipality. The Lawrence swimming bath, constructed last summer at some comidwable cost, has been partly destroyed. Some mischievous individuals have broken down the wall and stoppod up the outlet, causing the water to overflow and wash away a portion of the embankment. A son of Constable Youngso-n, stationed at Tapanui, disd on the Ist inst., from the effects of eating lucif*r matches. Thb propriety of adopting some system for the more effectual drainage of the City formed the subject of considerable discussion at « xu c Bpecial mee t» n g of the City Council A motion by Mr Burt, That the Works Committee be requester* to- bring up a report as to what scheme of drainage they would recommend the Council to carry out," was carried. The petition from the citizens of Dunedin against the erection of the railway workshops at Mussel Ray has been forwarded to Wellington. The petition, which bears 2300 signatures, has been seat to Mr Reynolds, to be by him presented to 'the House. The • Bruce Herald's ' peripatetic is consumed by a desire, to know who designed the Mataura port and telegraph office. As^an Architectural neonslrosity, he says ifc ia far and and away beyond anything that eccentric genius ever in its wildest dreams conceived. The peripatetic has travelled ovor pretty nearly the whole of Now Zealand, and a great part of Australia, but never saw anything so grotesquely hideous. Seriously he asks— is it absolutely impoesible for the Government to construct a building, the chief cost of which ahall not be devoted to making it ostentatiously ugly ? " The Municipal Council of Invercargill has resolved to undertake the duty of supplying that town with gas. A full meeting of "the Committee of the Dunedin Jockey Clab took place at the Empire Hotel a few evenings back. On tho occasion of the Spring gathering, which is to take place on St. Andrew's Holiday, December the Ist, there will be six events, repiesenting a total sum of money to be distributed for competition of about £200. In March the Races will extend over three days, and among the fifteen programmed, are it m» representing a total sum of £1600, five of which are to be disposed of each day. A. Wellington telegram in the 'Bruce Herald,' states that a Commission has been signed authorising Mr Maitland, R.M., to examine, on oath, witnesses in the charge preferred by the Rev. Father Coleman against, Mr Ross, rector of the Tokomairiro Grammar School. At a meeting of the Kaikorai School Committee, held on the 13thJWt., following was agreed to :— " That in the opinion of this -committee no change in th» school books at present in Use is necessary, «t least so far as the Kaikorai school is concerned, and that the Education Board be requested to reconsider their decision.in the matter." " It will be," says the 'Evening Star,'" remembered that a short time ago the Education Board, at the request of the Roman Catholic Priesthood, decided that certain boolts at present in use in the schools should be interdicted. This is telt by many parents to be a great hardship, ns the children at present have these books j and if the resolution referred to is carried out, they will have to be at the expense of a new set of books. This is deemed wholly unnecessary, as the books in question are good standa-d works, and contain nothing which can give reasonable ground of offence." These bookß are studiously packed ■with calumnies on the Catholic religion, as may be seen from' the quotations from them of statements untrue and insulting to the Catholic religion and thee vho profess it, which have repeatedly been published. What does the vi.prejudiced * Star ' di-fine as "no reasonable ground of offence ? " Oxru Auckland correspondent, telegraphing to us" an Wednesday evening, says : - Business done : South British Insurance, 47s 6i ; Bismarck, 35s ; Caledonian, £12 17s 6d to £13 ; City of London, 28a : Back Angel, 23s 6d ; Cure, 8a ; Royal Oak,.lßa.