WEEKLY EPITOME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 25, 18 October 1873, Page 7

WEEKLY EPITOME.

The Dominion of Canada is in the market for another loan of two millions. This will be employed in public works, " which," the ' Southern Cross ' remarks, " Canada, like other Colonies, is nob afraid to undertake on a large scale." The 'North Otago Times' says: — The time for pushing the stream of population to our shores ha 3 come, but the man to guide that stream has uot we fear, yet arrived, aud experience seems to prove that a man who has reigned as a kind of mushroom monarch in the petty political village ot Wellington, i not the best fitted to send population to our shores. The c Lyttelton Times ' is ot opiuion that there is no department of our Civil Service in which reform, or a change, is so conspicuously necessary as in that of the Registrar-General. Tear after year, says that journal, it has been our duty to point out that the publication of the annual volume of statistics is delayed till the tables and returns which it contains are almost useless for practical everyday purposes In little move than two months we shall have reached the close of 1873, and the statistics of 1872 are not yet available in a collected form. Thk 'Auckland Star' makes the following serious complaint of the iral-administration of the public estate : — That the New Zealand Government often gives unfair advantages to a private individual possessed of that mysterious thing called "interest," to the detriment of the general people, is a proposition which few will deny. A gentleman is now in Auckland who came dowr> from the Wdikafco with a view to purchase a considerable quantity of land in the vicinity of Hamilton East, for which he was willing to have paid £2 per acre. He states that on arrival in bhe bown he found that the land had been d'snosed of by the Government to a private individual of influence,

for balf-a-crown an acre ! The land in questiou is said to be of firstrate quality and as level as a table. The 'Wellington Independent,' in an article supporting Mr Vogel in his taking the administration of the Immigration Department from Mr O'Rorke, makes the following admissions of the latter lion, gentleman's usefulness:— "The probability is that the Premier does not like the way in which Mr O'Rorke has dealt with the AgentGeneral. But it. ia nevertheless the fact that, whether well founded or not, the strong remonstrances of the, Minister for Immigration have had good effect in creating an amount of activity in the London Agency which was formerly unknown. The remonstrances of Mr O'Rorke have led to great improvements, aiid the competition caused by the establishment of the New Zealand Shipping Company has already resulted in the sending out of a much better class of ships." Mr Vogel's way having thus been made clear for him, " the new administration (to quote the • Independent ') of Immigration will start under fair auspices." A -WETTER in the ' Timaru Herald ' says :— Considering thai; the Assembly expires in the course of eighteen months by the efflmion of time, I believe it is not at all unlikely that the Government move will be an appeal to the electors. Matters are oil right just now. They can go to the electors with a good plausible tale, aud it is very unlikely indeed that the conditions will be quite so iavorable in the next eighteen months. No one seenis to think, as was at one time imagined, that any attempt will be made to swamp the Council by a fresh batch of nominators. It ia generally understood that the Governor would set his face against such a p-oceeding ; and it was this knowledge and belief that weighed with the Council in the bold determined step they have taken. Ak Auckland journal says of Mr Mocandrew that he rarely speaks, and never Jong, but he thinks not a little, and keeps his thoughts to himself. THE returns of the cost of the Government Printing Office disclose an expenditure which an exchange regards as most lavish and extravagant, and altogether beyond the requirements of this Colony. It is stated that the outlay for the past year has been i» 13,222 ; and that the cost of paper is not included in this sum. This gives an expenditure of some £250 a week all the year round for producing the necessary printing for the New Zealand Government— a« outlay that would keep employed some seventy or eighty printers at a scale of remuneration above the average obtained in the Colony. THE Hon. Colonel Brett, when speaking in the Legislative Council, on the Education Bill, said that "He would refer to the Board of Education at Christchurch. It was composed of seven gentlemen, five being Episcopalians and two Presbyterians. Was that a proper Board ? Should a Board co composed exist? There •was one Roman Catholic upon it, a gentleman who had been a Judge in India— a highly intellect ual man, of considerable talent and ability j but they made it too hot for him, and he was obliged to leave. That wag -what he called intolerance and bigotry. The Secretary of the Board was an Episcopalian, the Inspector was an Episcopalian, the masters were Episcopalians; and there was no other element of religion. In the district schools, five out of seven of the Committee of these schools were Episcopalians. Therefore, what was the sv Btem8 tern but Episcopalian ? and it would come to this, he supposed, that the gates of heaven would not be open to any but Episcopalians." The ' Mount Ida Chronicle * referring to American divisions of feeling on political matters, says -.—This state of things— this bitter, undying feeling— is the direct fruit of subdivided government suddenly called upon to centralise. New Zealand, if she were wise, would strain every effort now, while her population waa small, to do away with the evil of numberless Governments forced upon her of necessity at the first, and continued so long solely by force oi the strong interests that have grown up collateral with the growth of the Provinces. The Select Committee appointed to consider the subject of Colonial Industries, reported regarding coal, " The committee are gratified to find that the importance of this great source of national wealth is being recognised, aud that in Otago and Canterbury, by the construction of railways, vast deposits of coal, suitable for" domestic and mechanical purposes, will be rendered cheaply available, whilst in the Province of Auckland, it is to be hoped that by an early completion of the Eawakawa or other railway, it will be also cheaply supplied for on this much of the prosperity of ihe Thames Gold Fields depends. It is not long ago since Mr Seaton arrived, aud now it appears that his brother celebrity in the annals of immigration — Mr T. Birch —is on his way back to his adopted country. Mr Thomas Birch is a passenger by the ship Lady Jocelyn, which sailed fn.in London for Port Chalmers oa the 30th July, and the following letter, written by Mr Birch, appears in the 'Shetland Times" of the 28th. July :—" I consider that I am in duty bound to acquaint you that I have now ceased to have any connection with the New Zealand scheme of emigration from these shores. I did look forward to pay another visit to Shetland, and to rally as many people of the right stamp as I could muster to take out to New Zealand with me in September ; but the munificence of the New Zealand Government in instructing their Agent-General in London to limit my expenses and salary to IS3 per diem compels me, in self-defence, to forego a pleasure I much desired. Nevertheless, I trust my friends in Shetland will use their best endeavors to stimulate emigration from Shetland to Otago." The Christchurch coi respondent of an Otago paper, referring to an attempt to oust the City Solicitor, Dr Forster— " a really eminent Tna.ii — on certain apparently frivolous grounds," observes :—": — " By-the-bye, the number of newly-fledged members of the legal fraternity that are constantly joining the ranks here is perfectly appalling, and how they are all going to get a living is to me a mystery." The Wellington correspondent of the ' Thames Advertiser ' says, in regard to the circumstances on which Messrs Brogden base their claim for compensation for loss sustained in introducing immigrants, " The whole has apparently arisen from Dr Feathersfcoo's bungling at first, and the constant changing of immigration regulations." Mr M'Leop, a gentleman who obtained a rather unenviable notoriety some time back through a transaction by which it was alleged

he bartered his seat in the Assembly, has arranged with the Provincial Government of Wellington to proceed to Canada for immigrants It « said that he also might act on behalf of Otago, but Tt S one Otago paper has expressed itself to the effect that he would be undesirable a? a representative of the Province. When every PrT* vmcehas its own emigration agent and agents, what is the smut colonising scheme coming to? High Provincial officers in a position to judge evidently do not think much of it. position A Wjjst Coast paper says:-*' The export of white pine Wa from the West C«ast to Melbourne is likely to become a permanent industry, the timber being found suitable for the purpose of pacS cases, for which there is now a large demand in the sister colon/ L,arge areas of lana have been takea up in the Buller district for the purpose of securing the white pine timber and other woods which will become of value on the railway works in contemplation beine carried out. •~»«i» Feom the 10th October, 1872, to 30th Juue, 1873, the following number of persons was sent for by Victorian colonists, from the United Kingdom under the immigration regulations of 20th June 1870: -From England, 149; Ireland, 137; Scotland, 19; Germany 5 ; total, 307. Now, considering the proportion which the Irish in Victoria bear in point of numbers to the other colonists, it cannot be said that they by comparison with others are forgetful of friends at home. The • Southern Cross,' a ministerial journal, writes in the following terms of Mr Vogel's policy :— " We believe fchere are many who regretted the Government changing their opinion, relinquishing the line of policy laid down in the budget speech, and go-n<* upon the system of provincial borrowing. He brought in the Provincial Loaa Bill, declaring that, if the House di 1 not accept it, he was prepared to adhere to his original proposal. It wa3 something like the Auierican legislator— " Them's my principles ; but if you don't like them— I kin change them !" Can anything be more damaging to Mr Vo»el as a politician than this condemnation of his line of action by rtw» 1 Southern Cross' ? ' I The 'Wanga.aii Herald' understands that the Mayor, as a member of the Wellington Education Board, has addressed a remonstrance to that body against the oppressive way in which they ate levying, and purpose to levy, by summonses from* Wellington, the rote* outstanding in Wanganui. The ' Herald ' does not know what effect such a thing may have upon the Wellington members, but is very certain the Education Board cannot long be permitted to go on as it has been doing. Mr Ohas. O. TVtontrose has resigned the managership of the AngloAustralian Telegraph Agency. Mr Montrose was a most courteous gentleman in the discharge of hi* duties. We read in the Thames ' Evening Star ' that at a full meeting of the Waiotahi Education Committee the complaint made at the previous meeting against Mr Seward, of the Waiotahi School, was investigated. The complaint was that Mr Sewurd had unnecessarily introduced the term Orangemen when alluding to Protestants. Mr Seward said, in explanation, that the children were reading history, aud in explaining the word massacre, he alluded to the massacre of St. Bartholomew, when the Catholics mas 6 acred the Protestants, and had made no mention of the word Orangemen in speaking of Protestants. After some discussion, by the Committee, it was arranged that the* chairman should draft a letter to be sent to Mr Seward on the subject." We hops that the energetic action now being taken by the j Catholics at the Thames will have a successful retult ; that there will be no occasion for Catholic children any longer to attend the public schools, and to prevent opportunities arising of having their religion insulted. In sayi»g this, we do not allege that it has been the oa»e in this instance, having seen no evidence on the subject, but merely point out the steps that are being taken by winch such pessibilities will be avoided. Itf reporting the landing at Wellington of the immigrants per Douglas, the ' Independent' says :—": — " The lot seemed to be a very &ir admixture of the inhabitants of the three parent countries, and though the proportion of the children of the Greeu Isle was not remarkably conspicuous, yet there was clc-irly a gooi sprinkling of them to be seen. It wai also to be observe I that several members of the Catholic clergy were ready at their debarkation, iv order to render their coreligionists what information or assistance might bo in their power. Taking the whole shipload of immigrants, they are a presentable and unobjectionable looking lot. Their apparel and the quantity of lug- x gage they bring indicate they are of the more thrifty class, while the children are sturdy and clean." The ' Independent ' proceeds to compliment the Agent-General \ipon his selection ; but it would appear t'mt, so far at least as the Irish portion are concerned, he has not much to be complimented upon, as we have been informed by a telegram (published in our last issue) that nearly all the Irish passengers by the Douglas had been nominated by their friends in the colony. So thai-, if there are to be any congratulations on the subject, they should be to the immigrants' friends and not to the worthy doctor. The same may also apply to a largo extent in regard to the immigrants of other nationalities. The ' Daily Times' has reason to believe that the selection of an Emigration Agent by the Provincial Government has not yet been finally decided upon. There are sixty-nine appl cants for the appointment, which, in all probability will be conferred on Mr James Adam, of Tokomairiro, who several years ago held the offioe at Home for which he is an applicant." Mr Adams's appointment will no doubt be a guarantee that the " balance of nationalities" will be preserved ; or, to put it les3 euphoniously, that so far as Otago is concerned, the very least will be that if the Irish don't apply they won't be sought after. The meeting called at Auckland to refute the Rev. Dr tang's statements regarding the land-purchases made by the missionaries in the early days, appears to have had a result opposite to that anticipated by the promoters. CAPrA.nr Mim.3 of Timaru. had a narrow escape from suffocation on Friday week, while diving for a lo3t anchor.

The Dunedin Mayor's Court has been snuffed out of existence, the last sitting having been Weld on Mondiy last. Public notice has been «i\-en that the Waste Lvid* B >ar<l of Otago will not in future p-oteot the improvome its of persons squatting on Crown LmJs without proper authority A con respondent to the • Bruco Herald ' suggests that the Provincial Government should offor a prize tor the best essay on the probable effects of judicious plantiag in Ota<jo. He rather pertinently remarks : — What improvement would a few nice and well-disposed plantations make in any part of this absolutely barren country so monotonous and naked ; 'tis time tho inhabitants sewed some leaves together to hido its nakedness. A contemporahy sayß : — We are informed that there is every probability of the Government establishing at an early date a system of storm signals at the various ports of the Colony. There is little doubt but that a necessity exists for some laoans being adopted by which the state of the wind and weather may be notified on the coast line of New Zealand. The Hob. C. J. Pharazyn has presented half of Ms honorarium of 100 guineas, as a Legislative Councillor, to the Wellington Athenaeum, and the other half to the Wellington Diocesan Pension Fund. The frequency of floods in Blenheim has caused some of the inhabitants of that town to resolve upon raising their houses some height above the ground. A oobbbspondent informs the ' Timaru Herald' that the native birds are being exterminated in the Waimate bush in the most ruthleas manner. Fastidious, yiry.— During the discussion on the military estimates, Lord Elelio asked whether the department could not advantageously introduce Australian tinned meats. Sir Henry Storks replied that the soldiers refused to eat them. John Crottt, a miner, has been killed by the accidental fall of some stone from the hanging wall of the lode in the Royal Oak cluitn, Coromandel, while he was at work. Wallace s whaling party were so fortunate as to capture a young fin-back whale off the Otago Heads a few days ago. It was brought to Dunedin for exhibition. On a subsequent day a monster whale, estimated to be about 120 ft in length, was observed by the Geelong four miles off the Heads. On rising from sounding it had tUe appearance, of a large vessel bottom up. It is probably the mother of the calf lately caught, cruising about in search of its offspring. Thb ' Daily Southern Cross ' says :—": — " It may not be generally known that on the Ist of January next quite a new series of postage stamps will be issued for use in the Colony. We hear that the p.ates were received in Wellington by the Government about a month ago and'by one and all of those who have seen impressions, they are acknowledged to be the most artistic designs of any stamps now being used in the Australian colonies." Intelligence received at Auckland from New Caledonia reports the island to be prosperous, and the state of trade brisk. The copuer mines are yielding splendidly, and the goldfields are increasing in area. The 'Lyttclton Times' states that the manufacture of boots and shoes by machinery in Christchurch continues to increase very rapidly. A Company is in course of formation for the purchase of the Moagiel Wollen Factory. The great success which has attended the estalUhment of this important industry has rendered this step necessary, additional capital being required to overtake the requirements of the business. The capital of the Company is to be £60.000, in 12,000 shares of £5 each. It is proposed to call up £3 in sums of 10s, extending over one year. Saturday lust was the first of the half holidays secured to the young women employed in the various business establishments in town by Mr Bradshaw's Employment of Females Act. The streets at two o'clock were rendered quite lively by the numbers of young women set free from their weekly work, and who seemed to thoroughly appreciate ! their new born freedom. Another coach accident. This time it was Iveson's Dunedin and Taieri coach, a wlieel of which, while thejeoach was heavily laden, give way and was snuuhed to pieces. Fortunately none of the many passengers was v uirt, but ie appears to have been pure ehauce that aerious injury at least or loss of life did not occur. At a meeting of the shareholders of the Imperial Building and Investment Society was held in the Exchauge Chumbers, Princes street. A large number of shares were taken up, and permanent Directors were appointed. The members present expressed great confidence in tho suueuss of the Society, ilr W. Dalryniple, jun,'has been appointed secretary. A serious and melancholy accident occurred a few days ago, on board the ship Peter Denny ,Jnow lying at the Port railway pier- A lad named James M'Douald, about nineteen years of age, and a native of Glasgow, was passing a line down the hatchway, when, through not noticing what was going on, a bale of wool was rolled over the bulwark on to the deck, which jammed him against another bale, thus causing a concussion of tUe spine. He was immediately attended by Drs Wiiittock (ship Surgeon) and Drysdale, who are of opinion that his injuries may prove fatal. Great activity exists in building matters at New Plymouth. Latjs frosts have considerably checked early vegetation in Hawke's Bay. The 'Taupeka Times' is glad to able to state that Mr Wilson Grey is recovering, although very slowly, from his sickness. A coreespoudekt of the Press asserts that the Bank of New Zealand in Christchurch " has initiated the pernicious system of Sunday work." The bakers of Christchurch have, been "considering their position," and have come to the conclusion to fix rules and rate of wages. We regret to have to record the death of M> John Cavalier, formerly employed on the Dunedin ' Evening Star/ afterwards for some years bookkeeper to the City Company, and, at the time of the

unfortunate accident which was so suddenly fatal, acting as collector for the 'Guardian' newspaper. On Friday fortnight the deceased stepped on a French nail which penetrated his boot and the ball of the foot to such a depth that great exertion was required to withdraw it. On Fri lay week tetanus set in, and at four o'clock on Sunday after having been in great agony he died. Deceased was thiity-four years of age, and, by his active business habits and genial manner, had gained general esteem. He has left a widow and four children. Mr J. B. Cueban's thoroughbred horse, Architect, has arrived from Tasmania. Benvolio, the winner of the last Sydney Derby, and which lately died, was half brother to Architect by the sire side. A gentleman in Timaru writing to a friend in Dunedin, states that the Catholics ot Timaru, noticing in the Tablet the fact that branches of the H.A.C.B.S. have been established in nearly all the centres of population in the Colony, and that other branches are proposed to be formed, feel a grent desire to form a branch for Timaru and the surrounding district. The correspondent thinks the Society wouid bring men together, keeping them from being careless in their religious duties, and from being led away by drink, and hopes soon to see a branch opened in Timaru. At a meeting of Catholics held at Christchurch on Sunday afternoon a committee of fifteen was appointed to manage tho Catholic schools, Barbadoes street. Amongst the committee are Count de Lapasture, Messrs Loughnan (2), Sheath (2), Mask©! and Pender. Messks Jas. Stumbees &. Co.'s tender of £2800 for reclamation of land at Mussel Bay has been accepted. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs on Wednesday evening, Business done :— South British, 44s 6d ; Caledonian, £20 to £21, and £18 10s ; Crown Prince, 16s ; Royal Oak, 18s ; Tokatea, 32s 6d to 33 ; Union Beach, 27s 6d to 295.