WEEKLY EPITOME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 26, 25 October 1873, Page 8

WEEKLY EPITOME.

XKB Late and limes of Oliver Cromwell " was the subiect of a lecture delivered by the llev. Mr McKenzie in the naU 22ed tl IIA^I™ T^' br ° ke the P romise of quarter ho 'had S>ade prior to the towa being surrendered; nor of his soldiers, "the picked Tlu J PJE" an P riDCl P les "who, for threedays,ma SS acedtheinhabfUnts of the town, men, women, and children alike, in cold bloodnor of the garrison thafc he left behind, murdering those who were wFSS? ?\^Z Cam ° f ',° m ° r Wer ° disco^d in their hidilg-pW We do not think any reference was mado to the seige of Wexford where he murdered three hundred women who had assembled at lhe cro 88 , or of his serving out sickles to his soldiers to cut down he crops of the unfortunate people after having destroyed their cattle! aSSTn . T7T 7 °? ° f Ireknd - "Honor 3 to the meLiy of O ver the several ports of embarkation, delayed till after Mr VoS Tr.Tl"'a7s tlO "I O n V h ? f C6 ° f C ™»™<* of ImmigSn very .irnnS i£.7« Indeed ',, hh 1 0 '« > «*™ * «bout that iostructiSn* to a very Similar effect were sent homo somo timo ago, but before the Agent-Q-eneral could we ll act upou them, they were countermanded altti. the session? If not, will tlxey try to descrr or divine anY possible connection between this < going home ' process and wceM changes ? The courae is clear for a home trip, withoutTe prospeefcof

jiny troublesome interference with his department on the part of his ■colteagues. There are other advantages that would probably accrue mZSr^TV °f he Commi9sione r of Immigration in London. Should Dr Featherston remain and need additional authority for the employment of extraordinary means under extraordinary circumIJZT I at £ nth J Tlt7 , WiH £ c at hand - And ' sh ° uld he decide to 2S£ f f whyMr Vo « el . can himßelf OC ™P7 his place just as long as circumstances .may require, and he should himself think fit to do no." ArfJfi" ™ der . flt ° od *£*.** ?*™ B Adam, of Tokomairiro, has been W^ yy ff a J)J )P TT t t ( !- Emigratloll A S eDft for Ota S°- The 'Bruce P^fd hime a ; gement "*" *" "** "* ""* ** *Tr T? ? ' L y" elt ° n Times,' commenting on an apologetic speech by Mr Rolleston for Dr Featherston, saysj-Itw known, and admitted, that the Agent-General has had difficulties to contend with, but it can also be proved from his own words that the failure in immigration is in a great measure due to his negligence, want of enterprise, and positive dwobedience of orders. Dr Featherston has been treated with great forbearance, and his friends would do well to recognise this fact without attempting to excuse— for they are compelled to admit— his shortcomings. TT lT l 8 . r T r £ d °? g ml auth ? rit * says a Northern paper, that the -Honorable Mr Vogel w?ll leave for England almost immediately. It is further stated that the mission of the Premier will be to raise more money m order to carry on public works of great magnitude throueh<out the colony. ° The 'Thames Advertiser,' after referring to quarrels .in the Cabinet in regard to the change of portfolios, by which the Vogel Ministry was nearly broken up, remarks :— lt is said that Mr Vogel believes that the Ministry have been brought into disrepute through the want of tact and discretion shown by Mr O'Jlorke in his communications with the Agent-Geaeral, and through his want of administrative ability. We cannot for a moment believe that the reason given by the Premier for insisting upon this change is the true one, ■but we thmk that he has an ulterior object in view, which may be traced by the public. The Immigration Department is now to be under the control of the Premier himself, which means that all business details will be handed over to one of the permanent officers of the •department. It is quite impossible for Mr Yogel to properly and discharge the duties of Premier, Colonial Treasurer, and -Minister for Immigration, and at the same time to go "on the travel " •for several months during the recess. Mr Vogel probably desires to hold the position himself because it would afford him a plausible pretest for taking a trip to England to set the Agent-General right and to arrange for a " steady stream" of immigration ! This is probably the main cause of the change. He is evidently arranging all the preliminanes, and the securing of the immigration portfolio is probably *he first and most important step. J A PAMPHLEC is at present in course of publication by the Provincial Government of Canterbury, containing a variety of information jith regard to the Province of Canterbury. It is being published for circulation m the old country, so that intending immigrants will be supplied with information of an authoritative character, showing the resources of the Province and the inducements it offers to those desirous of immigrating. In addition to the exhaustive information it will contain, the book will be illustrated, which is a commendable feature m publications of the kind. t , ,, F?F ?° M the annual of the Postmaster-General it appears that the halfpenny stamp on newspapers has not been taken that advantaga of as was anticipated. A writer in the Wairarapa ' Standard ' in commenting on the report justly observes, " that the truth is, the ! revenue from this impolitic impost is not equivalent to the trouble, annoyance and mischief which it occasions." « If," says an exchange a truly national public opinion and a real united colony are desired *he Government would abolish this unprolific and unwarrantable tax! We notice that the Parliament of New South Wales has wisely passed ft Newspaper Postage Abolition Bill." How that the Government are -doing so much to brmg the colony into prominence in Europe, they might act wisely in abolishing the postage on newspapers beyond New Zealand, lhe Victorian Government, it would appear, appreciate the power of .the press of their colony in the Home country so much that they are entering into arrangements with various papers for the bringing out of supplements containing information regarding that colony New South Wales, which has made up its mind to "go ahead has abolished newspaper postage, and Victoria following m its wake has done the same. The demoralised state of the Assembly is a prominent tonic. Sir J. Oraoroft Wilson, M.H.E. for Heathcote, before his constituents lately in reviewing the past session of the Assembly, said there was a sad falling off in the personnel of the Legislature, and that so long as WgSariy o?gani!ed Pre Bent *°*«M°* aad iutri S u *> ™ild The Victorians not being able to discover payable coal in their Colony are turning their enterprise in the direction of New Zealand We road that Messrs Croker, Hughes, and M'Carthy have got a lease fa™b?r£ MP C °T» miQ , e fr ° m , the NelS ° n ?«"*»«** Government, on Merest |£ Zt 7 ]T^° a ,P™ ss PP e °«°S K«*« over 5000 acres m the Mount Rochforfc district for twelve months They will S ] Zt *Th Ct ° SU '> ble SpOt ' imd th( * Wlll then Ske a leLe of 1280 acres, lhey B re going to establish a line of steam colliers to run from Melbourne to Greymouth and other parts of the Cobnv 1r... fo " owln g .» » 'orreft statement of the total losses of the *17,650j South British, £58oO; Victoria, £6000: Imperial £7001?»% £2 T'' £1000 ; Northern, £sS There are also other claims for partial damage, amounting to £5000 The total i SwSS- A^if V/ 8 ?' 00 ?" , The In^ancfcompanL havens ' 4.73,000 in Auckland during the last twelve months In the course of a speech on the Provincial Loans Bill, Mr Yin- I cent Pyke described the Cabinet as an overboiled potato dropping to pieces of itself. c Vk" u & Thb 'Cross' Bays:-" If we had a Government in Auckland

thoroughly devoted to the work of raising the province out of its present humiliating condition, and capable 8f turning its resources to account, there is an excellent opportunity here, and in other directions as well, for making a successful attempt to turn the tide of prosperity once more within our borders. We require a colonising policy Auckland is the only proviace in the colony that is satisfied to Be idly by doing nothing. There is a large extent of land in the hands of both Governments which has been lying waste for years through the sheer neglect or incapacity of our local rulers. In little more than two months from this date the joint New Zealand and New South Wales Oalifornian interim mail service will be opened, and connetion between our shores and those of America wiU be re-established. The construction of new steamers of 2000 tons register, for the permanent service is to be urgently proceeded with. Evidence of the advancing prosperity of the North Island, comes from Wanganui. In that district country land sold at prices ranging from £4: 15s to £20 per acre. In the town of Wanganui, which w blest with a large and fertile back country, quarter-acre town sectioni were sold at the same sale at prices from £54 up to £395, equal to a range of from £216 to £1580 per acre. The 'Wakatip Mail' remarks :—" The reconstruction of the Cabinet accounts for prevalent rumors. Mr O'Borke quits the Immigration Department, and takes that of the Post Office and Telegraph This change, no doubt, forebodes another. Mr Pyke having gone into opposition would prevent the position of Minister of Mines being offered him, bat there is no doubt a great desire to get rid of Dr Featherston, and rumor has pointed the finger at the Minister who would like to act for the colony as Agent-General. It is reported that another large hotel is to be erected at Tauxjo in anticipation of the hot springs becoming the fashionable resort* of invalids and tourists. A steamer is also to be built and launched on the waters of the lake. It is understood in Christchurch that the Governor's contemplated visit to Canterbury will extend over two months. The Provincial Government have secured Melville house (the residence of Mr Moorhouse when h« was Superintendent), already furnished, for the accommodation of His Excellency and suite. The General Government are prepariug plans for large Government buildings to be erected in Wellington, the cost to be £14 000 Ihe Provincial Government, it is understood, intend to make an offer to the General Government of a free site upon the proposed relaicaThe Customs Department has ascertained that certain mercantile farms in Australia are supplying their New Zealand customers with duplicate invoices for the purpose of defrauding the revenue. The Government will prosecute with the utmost rigour of the law all infractions of the. Tariff Act. Thebe is some prospect of a Highland Company of Volunteer., being formed m Invercargill. Isolated cases of diphtheria have occurred at the Thames. «, ,?«?^, aver^ ge , Value of wot)1 forthe five Tears ending 1871 was £1155,695: of gold £2 503 173, Srom 1861 to 1872 the value of gold exported exceededtfhat o£ woo] by the immense sum of £1 000 000 a year. From the commencement of th 3 gold discoveries in this £%2&»o° r e£ c 8t financial veai< . there has been exported of £870 00°0 UnCeS 7alUe ° f £27 > l 95 > 886 - b ™g™g « duty rv -kT:i>/rk T:i >/r LJ^g* 1 "" Chronicle ' is announced to be edited by Mr |A famisy in Otahuhu, AuckJand, were nearly poisoned a few dajs smce, through the foolish or culpable administration of some druff which had a most serious effect. ' The Waikato « Times ' asserts that by the Kingites " every European is now spoken of as a ' dog. 5 " ' " ' A lime kiln is being built at Tokomairirp, and with coal easily and abundantly procurable settlers throughout the plain >may exP *m c - ablß *? P rocure a constant supply of lime, of which the soil ot rokomairiro plain Btands so much in need. The Christchurch journeymen butchers have given notice "that unless their wages are increased on October 25th, they will strike ra i(J iHE COnstructioa of the '-Tauranga telegraph line is progressing The Maoris throughout the Bay of Plenty are busily engaged in planting large crops. Trade is improving. Larrikinism in Auckland appears to ba going great lengths, if the statements of the Hawke's JBay Herald's correspondent are not exaggerated. r °, The long-standing dispute between Cottar and the miners at Oardrona has at length been settled by the latter paying the sum of £300 for ten acres of the agricultural lease held by the former. The Argus ' hopes that no more agricultural leases in that district will require to be bought out at the value of £30 ar acre. Fresh troubles are brewing at the Maerewhenua. Messrs .borton and M'Master, who own a river frontage to the Maerewhenna river, have given notice that they must cease work for six weeks while they wash the sheep. The miners arc not prepared to submit, and Mr Farquharson has been dispatched to Dunedin for advice. The first meeting of the members of the National BuildingSociety for the payment of subscriptions, &c, was held at the acting secretary s office on Monday evening last. A large sum of money was paid m the Bhape of subscriptions, and a laige number of new share 3 taken up. We must congratulate the Society in consequence of the success with which it is meeting. The 'Tuapeka Times' states that Sn« James Fergusson will visit Lawrence early in .December, and that it is propable the celebration of turning the first sod of the Lawrence and Tokomairiro railway will be postponed till that time. A factoet has been started in Wanganui for the naanufacture of sashes, doors, moldings, etc., and is now in full working order. The 'Ross &uardia.n' learns on most reliable authority that Mr John White intends offering himself as a candidate for she Superintendency of the Province of Westland.

H fhi?year din ReßerTeß WiU brin * * the fine ™ tal of «iiitw? r?^*?' ° g0 fc J e ? unedin City Council wanted a sexton for the southern Cemetery, and 150 persons applied for the situation. The eeiton having resigned, fresh applications were invited a few days 8 ' nZL SS! y five P erß ° ns applied for it. The fact speaks for itself. The Thames 'Evemng Star' has this rather odd telegram from a correspondent r-'«G.M. Reed, who advertised himself L Edito?of Uie Auckland ' Star,' visited here on Monday and part of Tuesday. He interviewed Cyrus Haley in gaol. Haley wept." jj^ss^v^r the local paperßj appeMßt ° be **** ° n • m^ ¥• 9; RR o EKE is a candidate for a seat for Onehunjra A* P '? vin . cial Council of Auckland. Mr O'Rorke haa sharho™ WmiamTap3COtt hM nOt yet gOfc awa y out of Wellington V^TSJSR&Jg? ° f t W^ui- M anawatau # . Eraowta are being made to erect a woollen manufactory in the IcreTS e°xW C hi a \ d ' " that an allotmenfcof Yboufc 30 of £1 ?00 iS tw ? , 6tt - P« ch ? B f d b 7b 7 » gentleman in town, for s sum ot ±1,100, and that v J8 his intention to erect, not only a woollen sJEa.°ss p o r4 p rf Cn B . i " " th - • ■°- water from Gabriel, aSlIy ' Brea * elpe "" e m *™gn>(t was paid remarkable-promptitude Victorian Lo., mg papers. At ask a -wjiy Dr Pollen, and rot Mr O'Borke the Tpl« steanfe? GG ° 0LD ' 3U6h ° P ° f Melbo «^, goe» home by the mail tbr LSO a yean g ° gaß ° Very ai « ht » t0 run «}e S sage S -and fll WE copy (he following from the 'Southland News' —Mr W l^teXo^Sr o*^0 *^ V th a fata! aocidenTon Su'ndYy

The General Government have decided upon establishing an overland service between Nelson and Clwistchurch b The How. Me Sewbli, in the debate in the Council on the financiai position, made some reference to tlie probability of his retiring Engk*d honormWa gentleman is about returning to We are informed that a party of Weatherstones miners EaTe taken a contract for two miles of the Lawrence section of the line of railway. We believe they started work yesterday. The contractors all along the line are pushing forward the work witn great rapidity and there can be little doubt the line between TokomairirS and Du:ear-^rTiLl?^ taneoUd7Withtbemain COaßt liQe * The 'Bruce Herald' reports that larks are now to be heard all' over the Tokomairiro plain on sunny mornings. The Otago Provincial Government are calling for tenders foeworks on the Martin's Bay track once more. The schedule of Ministerial offices includes a new portfolio, thai of Minister of Mines. The 'Lake Wakatip Mail's' Moonlight correspondent writes : - " Miming affairs are looking up in this district, Nearly the whole of the miners here are making good wages. Mr John Power sold out last week for upwards of tiro hundred pounds. Mr J. B. Gillies has been informed in the House that there are Superintendents and Superintendents. Government Insurance Annuities offices are to be opened at Arrow, Hamilton, Hampden, Kakanui, JUataura, Switzers, Lone-bush, andWinton. b At the Blue Spur lately a canvasser sold a petition of the residents to have their commonage for cattle kept clear of Bheep to two " sheepists " for a shout of 10s in drinks. Although the petition -was sold, the people of the Blue Spar were not to be sold, for they at once set a similar petition on foot. The export of timber from Havelock, Marlboro ugh, during the mouth of September, amounted to 570,00 a feet, which was conveyed away in 23 vessels. Witß respect to- the wool season in Canterbury, the ' Press ' says — -There is every prospect that there will be a good clip, the fleeceß be-, iug in fair order and freer from am excess of grea9e than usual. On several of the stations, both north and south, there" has been a large percentage of the lambs lost through the severe weather. At Christchurch a monkey broke loose, stormed a confectioners'" shop, and was attacked by a policeman. The Jsth inst- was a field day with the Invercargill Inspector ©f Nuisances, as on that date he made a raid on the goats of the town, and the ' Southland Times ' says that he succeeded ia driving in no lees than 48, which were mercilessly slaughtered. We (' Bruce Herald ') understand that Mr S. P. Maitland bas fixed Wednesday, the 22nd inst., aa the day upon which he will hold an enquiry into the charge some time ago made by the Rev. Father Coleman against the Eector of the Tokomairiro Grammar School. A great delay has taken place in the prosecution of this inquiry, as it will be remembered Mr Maitland was appointed to make the investigation some months ago. The delay, however, is not attributable to that gentleman, but, we believe, has arisen principally in consequence of the Bey. Father Coleman declining to enter upon it unless the evidence would be taken upon oath, and which required the issuing of a Royal Commission for that purpose. After repeated applications and protracted delays, the commission was issued a few weeks ago, as mentioned by us. At a meeting of the school committee on Friday even' ing, the secretary, Mr R. R. Jones, -was appointed to watch the proceedings at the investigation of the charges against the head master, on Wednesday first before Mr Maitland, on behalf of the committee. The result of the inquiry will, no doubt,- be looked forward to with; , great interest. As an instance of the rapidity with which land in Dunedin andits suburbs is increasing in value, it is said that one section at St. Leonards bought at the sale of thai township in May last, was resold a iew days ago at a profit of £50. At the nomination for the Superintendency of Auckland, the show of hands was as follows :— Williamson, 189 5 Dargaville, 153 j Lusk, 18. A poll was demanded, which will take place on 6th-'. November. The Auckland ' Star ' states ie to be the intention of the General Government to hand over Ihe railways, when completed, to the ProTincial Governments for management, and as a proof, quotes an official I letter frem the Public Works Office, stating that tlio railways of that Province, when ready for traffic, vull be transferred to the Provincial 1 1 Government. The Wellington Provincial Council will meet for the despatch, of business on November sth, to render possible the legal expenditure of the £175,000 now available. The authorship of the work of Mr Smytliies', ia which it is argued* our bodies are the receptacles of fallen angels, and intended to give them a chance of restoration, and that some savajjes have no souls is attributed by a northern exchange to " Mr Macassey, of Duncdin."' With a view of encouraging the poorer classes- in the Home country to correspond with their friends in this Colony, the Government have recently obtained a quantity of English postage stamps of the denomination of 6d and 4d, which will be sold to such 0? the public as may be desirous of sending a stamp or stamped envelope to their friends 01 relatives in England, in order to relieve them of the cost of the postage when sending replies. The stamps may be obtained at the Post Office. Me H. 9. Fish, M.P.C., will shortly address Ins constituents. He would have clone so sooner but for his recent illness-. The Invercargill Municipal Council call for tenders for a loan of £3500, to be expended on the direct improvement of the streets, paths and drainaga. Seventy-tehee applications were sent in for the masterships of the Auckland Grammar School, forty-one of these being from Australia, and thirty-one from New Zealand. •