WEEKLY EPITOME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 33, 13 December 1873, Page 7

WEEKLY EPITOME.

The Hoy. Julius Vogbl has arrived at Dunedin fromCantorbury Mb G-ko&an has recovered consciousness. The projected formation of a company to manufacture paper from phormium fibre is announced from Auckland. The proposed capital is £30 000, in £3 shares. The Question of Education is not jet exhausted. When the Church of Kngland Diocesan Synod of Otago was in session, thi& subject came in for a cohsidera'ble share of attention. At the late meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin, the Rev Dr Copland gave notice of motion iv regard to this matter, but subsequently ■withdrew it, intimating his intentien of bringing it forward at the meeting of the Synod %a be held in March next. A junction between the Clutha and Port Chalmers railway lines was successfully effected on *he morning of the sth inst. The Presbytery of Dunedin have resolved to memorialise tho Superintendent of Otago and his Executive against the running of railway trains on Sunday. The Presbyterian General Assembly of New Zealand have considered the memorial from the Nelson Presbytery against steamers calling there on Sundays. It was resolved by the Assembly that while prepared to do all in their power to secure a proper observance of the Sabbath, still they did not feel called upon to take tteps in the direction indicated. The Itussell correspondent of the Auckland ' Weekly News," reports the arrival of the whale ship ' Niger,' Captain Grant from the -whaling grounds, " having taken 800 barrels of humpback, and 200 barrels of sperm oil during the past season ; and reportiag thatsoveral other vessels have been proportionately fortunate." A pecuniary stimulant is again offered by the Provincial Government of Otago, to those who may feel disposed to proceed on a whaling cruise and fulfil the conditions specified, namely :—": — " The Government offer a bonus of £250 to the first vessel which leaves the province fully equipped for a whaling cruise ; also £250 on her returning to the province with a cargo of oil : provided that such vessel is owned in, and hails from, a port within the province : provided also that she carries at least five boys as apprentices." Tbß New Zealand Steam Shipping Co. 'contemplate forming a new company with a capital of £150,000, to meet the growing trade of the Colony. THE Uutt railway v expected to be open by the Ist February. Four proprietors, the manager, and the editor of the Napier • Telegraph,' have been committed for trial before the Supreme Court for an article on Mr Sealey'« administration of the Land Office. Spuing Hill Station, Napier, containing SSOO acreis, the property of the Hon. J. Johnston, has been sold at auction for £7500. Mr Joseph Rhodes was the purchaser. 3009 ewes sold at Is 6d per head. Thb Governor lias been well received at Greymouth and Hokitika. THE passenger carriages for the Mataura railway are built on the American principle (that is to say, the entrance ia at the end, and the passage, two and a half feet wide, runs longitudinally), and are fitted up with all the latest conveniences and improvements. Ax Napier, Ellen Page, a Maori girl aged 15, has been committed for trial for forging a cheque. s Tn» Most Reverend Dr Croke, Bishop of Auckland, accompanied by the "Very Bey. Dr McDonald, left Auckland lately for Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Mongonui, and Whangaroa, on a pastoral visit amongst the Europeans and Maoris ia those districts. Thb ' Mount Ida Chronicle' has baen since the slh inst published in an enlarged form. THE Kanieri L*kc Water Eace is progressing rapidly. All the contracts are taken. Oteb £200 haa been already subscribed towards the Xyttelton Mj^itta. The programme is not finally arranged. THB local paper clam s for Rivertou the honour of numbering

among its citizens the oldest New Zealand colonist.- He arrived at th 6 Bay of Islands in 1821, and consequently has resided in the Colony ovei half a century. Although he has attained the patriarchal age of 84, he is still hale and hearty. Tub price of gold at Cromwell has been reduced from £3 16s to £3 153 per ounce. Edward Lewis, 'ate second mate of the Tapscatt, who shipped aa second mate on the Malay, fell on tho night of the sth inst. from the foretopsail yard. Death was instantaneous. At the inquest, a verdict of " accidental death " was returned. At Wellington, the carpenters' strike is virtually over. All who struck obtained work at an advanced rate of lla a daj ; but some of the principal builders, rather than give it, obtained men from Auckland, and have sent to BTobart Town for more. All building labour is scarce. The bakers' strike still continues. A " grand excursion trip round the Middle Island " is to be made made by the s.s. Taranaki towards the end of January or beginning of February. The steamer is to be wholly reserved for the excursionists, and specially fitted Up for their accommodation. At Invercargill during the past month, upwards of 2SO nominations have been made by parties who desire to bring their friends and' relations out from the old country under the new immigration Byatein. Thb 'Southland News* understands that Messrs Petchell and Co., of Riverton, have contracted with the Messrs Bregden for tho supply of 600,000 feet of sleepers. They are to be procured from the Longwood. A little continuous dry weather is now wanted by the farmers both in the Northern districts of this Province and in Canterbury. A baby show is to be a feature in the annual Caledonian games at Riverton. The barbarism of a cock-fight is also to be indulged in. On Saturday last a deputation, representing the proposed Otago Sugar Refinery Company, waited on His Honor the Superintendent. Mr J. Davie, M P.C., opened the business by remarking that no doubt Hit Honor was aware that an effort was being made at the present' time to establish a sugar refinery in Dunedin, and to attach to it all necessary appliances for manufacturing sugar from beet-root. Those gentlemen who, along with himself, had waited upon His Honor on the present occasion were a deputation from the promoters of this scheme, and the object they had in view in seeking this interview w&3 to ascertain how far His Honor could see his way to recommending his Executive to place a sum on the estimates next year to be applied for the benefit of this concern, either in the shape of a bonus, or in any other way that might approve itself to Hia Honor and his Executive. The bonus was proposed to be an acre of the reclaimed ground. Tke Superintendent said that an acre of reclaimed ground would represent a great amount of money. An acre and a half would represent £12,000. After some further conversation, His Houor remarked that he was very glad to see that the people of Dunedin were waking up at last, and putting a proper value upon the co-operative principle, which he believed to be the true theory. The deputation thanked His' Honcr and withdrew. Mr W. S. MooßHOtrss being on a visit-to Cliristchurch, a report gained currency that he intended to offer himself as a candidate for the Superiutendency of Canterbury ; but the ' Lyttelton Times ' states on authority that he does not intend to resume political life in any abape. Gtßeat dissatisfaction is existing in Canterbury with reference to the management of the railways. The Provincial Council have declined to go on with the Government business until it is ascertained where the fault exists, and adjourned in order to enable the Select Cdtntuittee to bring up a report. The general impression is that the Government will be ousted. Mr Williamson, Superintendent of Auckland, has nominated a coalition Executive as follows : — Mr John Sheehan, Provincial Secretary ; Mr G. M. Reed, Provincial Treasurer ; Mr Andrew Beveridgo, Provincial Solicitor ; and Mr Patrick Dignan, member without a portfolio. Mb W. Sheath's butchery, at Ross place, Lawrence, was com* pletely destroyed by fire at noon on the 9th inst., and one horse was burnt to death- The property was reported to bo insured iv tho Northern Insurance Company for £600. The verandah in front of Jeffrey's shop caught fire, but the water prevented it doing much damage. Several very willing hands, with the assistance of a large supply of water .from hydrants, did good service. Hawthorn's Clyde Hotel was totally destroyed by fire at five o'clock on the morning of the 7th inst. The origin of the fire is at present a mystery. Hie property was insured in the Norwich Union Insurance Company for £600. A fire broke out in the soap works of Messrs M'Leod Bros., Cumberland street, a few morning 9 ar.o, from a cause which has not yet been ascertained. Messrs M'Leod are insured in the New Zealand Company for £1500, and estimate their loss at £600. They estimate the value of their stock in the building at about £6000. Bt an advertisement which appears in another column, we observe that the half-yearly meeting of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, will be held in St. Joseph's School-room, at 8 p"DA., the chief business will be the election of officers for the ensuiug six months.