NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 56, 23 May 1874, Page 8

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

By the Otago, which arrived at the Bluff on Thursday, we learn that Melbourne has been created an Arch-diocese under its present Bishop the Right Key. Dr Goold, and that Ballarat and Sandhurst hnve beeu made dioceses, the former under the episcopal charge of Dr O'Connor, and the latter of Dr Fortune. The collection for the Holy Father, at Ross, amounts to £3 10s. Br telegram from Auckland we learn that the Catholics of that province are not relaxing their efforts to obtain their just rights A. ' numerously-signed petition is to bo presented to the Provincial Coun- ' nil for aid towards the erection of Catholic schools. '< A kobbeet with considerable mystery surrounding it has taken i place within the last few days. It appears that the workshop of a ! locksmith in town was burglariously entered, and although articles of a greater value were to hand, the only plunder selecteed by the tliieves : was about four dozen of block sake keys Of course 'these can be easily cut to fie any safe, and the fact that such a selection was made —the intrinsic value being but trifling— apparently discloses the ulterior views of the thieves. It therefore behoves owners'of safes to be well on their guard, and be prepared for unwelcome visitors. It appears that Mr Macassey, not satisfied with the verdict in his prosecution of the ' Star,' intends to apply for a new trial. It is also reported that the legal gentlemen who conducted the case on hie behalf, have, according to professional etiquette, refused their professional fees. F According to the Registrar-General's repoit on the vial stafis{TA°/n?t Tdk\ Pri1 ' ?' C D ° tice that Dunedin » *i'h a population of 18,505, had 85 births registered against 24 deaths ; while Wellington had an equal number of deaths, and only 27 births, in a population numbering 10,486 souls. r Incendiarism has been most alarmingly prevalent of late In the Provincial 'Gazette' of the 13th inst., no fewer than six case's are reported, avid rewards amounting to over £500 ofi'cred for the apprehension of the perpetrators. • l Telegraphic communication being now established between Portugal and the Island of Madeira, messages can be disp..tch<>d from the Australian colonies at the undermentioned rates :— To Madeira tiu Melbourne, twenty words, £11 5s ; eve.-y additional ten words or fraction of ten words, £5 12s 6J. To Madeira, via Sydney twenty words, £11 8s ; every additional ten words, or fraction of ten words £5 14s. Messages for South American ports may be addressed as follows :— ' Rio de Jamero, &c, Post Madeira ;" an extra charge of 16 6d being made for postage. His Honob Mb Justice Chapman gave judgment on Saturday on the motiou for a rule nisi calling on the directors of the 'Guardian' Printing Company and others to show cause why an attachment should not issue against them. A rule was granted by His Honor but against the directors of the Company only. ' Befoeb proceeding to the business of the day in the Provincial Council on Monday, Mr lurnbull, as a matter of privilege, drew attention to what had purported to be a statement made by him in the House on the 14th, and published m the • Star' on the following day It waa stated that he had said the late Secretary for Works and the

Provincial Engineer had " analysed the tenders ; they were opened in the Engineer's office before the Executive decided upon them." He had neither said, nor had he intended to say, anything of the sort - but as the statement reflected on the Provincial Engineer, he wished to put the matter in its proper light before the public. What he did say was that the tenders were opened by the Executive On the Saturday morning, and were then sent as usual to the En rineer's office, so that that officer might examine and report upon them, and that they came back, as he supposed, through the usual channel — the Secretary of Works — and were decided on by the Executive on the Monday. The statement was corrected by the Secretary of Works, who said they were not returned through him, and he knew nothing of them nntil they came up for decision on the Monday. Thereupon he (Mr Turnbull) withdrew his statement, and he now made thia explanation in order that any imputation might be removed from the Provincial Engineer. j A kegatta in honor of the Queen's birthday will take place at Port Chalmers on Monday. The prosiramme— which is a long and varied one— consists of thirteen events, particulars of which will be found in oar advertising columns. Pehsons desirous of participating in the benefits of the ]>unedm Building and Investment Company had better muke applications for shares during the coming week, Saturday, the 30th, being the day appointed for the closing of the share li*t. On Tuesday Mr Milner sold by auction sectio-is 1 to 8, block 52, of reclaimed land adjacent to the Railway terminus. The upset price fixed by the Government -was £500 per section. The first lot put up, comprising three-quarters of a rood, was knocked dtiwn to Mr James Smith, after keen competition, for £»500; the same gentleman also eecnring the second one, of one rood, for £1425. Sections 3 and 4, became the property o f Mr Eobert Sparrow, at £1335 and £1175 ; sections 5 and 6 were purchased by Messrs. A &T. Burt, at £1350 and £1375 ; section 7 brought £1300, Messrs "Kempthorne & Prosser being the purchasers ; and section 8 realised £1250. bid by Mr Proudfoot. All the lots, from 2 to 8 inclusive, were each one rood. Th» amount realised by the sale amounted to £10,710. The Rev. Father Fynes, Vicar Generel and Administrator of the Diocese of Auckland has, (according to the 'Southern Cross*), received intelligence by the Cyphrenes of the safe arrival of his Lordship Dr Croke at San Francisco, after a rather long passage. Singular to say,, his Lordship, in fulfilment of his earnest wjsh, set foot on the soil of San Francisco on the I7th of March, the great festive day held by Irishmen in all parts of the world. His Lordship at the date of writing — the 31st ult. — was in the enjoyment of good health. His intention was to proceed to Europe, after the arrival of the next mail from Auckland to carry out the great objects of his visit to the old country. In the Provincial Council on Monday, in a long and able speech, Mr Stout moved his resolutions providing for the establishment of the Otago Harbor Trust, with power to borrow £250,000, and 100 acres of I reclaimed land to be set apart for the^purpose of the Trust. The motion was strenuously opposed by Mr De Lntour, a motion for the ! adjournment of the debate till next day, by Mr Browne, being nega- | tived by seven votes. j A meeting was held in the lower hall of the Atheneum on Monj day afternoon for the purpose of presenting Dr Sorley with an address ! and a testimonial, consisting of a handsome tea service. It may be ' remembered that damages had been recovered from Dr Sorley for an | alleged case of malpractice, and the meeting was one of sympathy with him, considering that the evidence adduced on the trial did not bear out the charge. Dr Cottghtket, who has been specially deputed by the Government to visit Cromwell, and report upon its sanitary condition, has fumislied a statement which shows the town to be in a deplorable condition. He says the water-race from which the town receives its supply is made the receptacle of all kinds of sewage, owing to the leakage of closets and the porous nature of the earth. In most of the houses the drainage runs underneath the buildings into the street channels. All through the town he found heaps of bones, old rags, straw and other rubbish, whilst piggeriea and slaughter-houses v/ere scattered indiscriminately over the place. The Docror states that he would be wanting in his duty if he failed to give expression to the opinion that the corporation had not taken proper precuution to avert or remove the causes of disease, ana suggests that instead of the waterrace at present in use, the towu should draw its supply from Firewood Creek. Jfdgisg irora the ' Tuapeka Times,' the exodus of persons from the district nanst have been somewhat extensive of late. That journal 1 occupies one whole pnge with the namfu of persons to be struck off ■ the electoral rolls on account of baviDg left the district. j The Government 'Gazette' of the 7rh inst. contnins a notification ! of the disbanding of the lnvercargill Highland Rifle Volvnteers, by order of His Excellency the Governor. J Two more have been added to the list of telegraphic stations iv 1 Otago. Offices were opened during the past week at Tapanui and i Waikaia (Switzer's). Some Chinese have offeied sixpence per pound for the resin which is so abundant in the lignite deposits of the coal pit at Lawrence. The Celestial physicians, it appears, convert it into some kind of medicine. I Fkom Auckland we learn that a monster meeting is convened to be held at Ohenemuri, to consider the land question. Te Hira has disowned the HawLaus for selling land to Mr Young which had been closed to Europeans. A cutter has been chartered at Auckland to convey flour and grog to the place of meeting. Intelxigencr has been received from Napier that Mr Benjamin Butler, a road contractor, was drowned while attempting to cross the Patene river last Saturday. He leaves a wife and two children.