News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 21, 18 September 1885, Page 9

News of th e Week.

Friday.

In the Heuse of Representatives yesterday, the debate on Captain Russell '8 motion was continued.

Despite the alleged dull times, many expensive business premises are in course of erection at Auckland.

Some disclosures respecting the annexation of New Britain by Germany will shortly be made (says a correspondent of the Melbourne Argus). There are many wrong statements in the German White Book, which will be contradicted by old residents. The German firms continue purchasing land where other nationalities are prevented . One of tbe trading stations belonging to an American firm was lately burnt down by natives. This act has been traced to a German trader, who was paying the natives to do it.

Reports to hand announce that the cholera epidemic is spreading on the Continent. Latest advices state that the disease has made its appearance at Palmero, in Sicily ; also at Mans, a city in Belgium, a short distance from the French frontier.

Saturday.

In the House of Representatives yesterday during the debate on Captain Russell's motion, Mr. Macandrew said he had always held that the East and West Coast railway should have been made by the Colony. It was he who bad first put the railway on tbe schedule, and if the Government of which he was a member had remained in office, there was no doubt that the railway would have been nearly constructed by this time. He was surprised at tbe action of the Otago members over this railway, and he considered they were acting very unneighbourly in opposing it. Mr. Pyke combated the statement of the member for Port Chalmers that all the Otago members were opposed to tbe East and West Coast railway. He had more than once stated that the railway should be constructed, but he was opposed to the way in which it was proposed to be constructed. The motion was carried on a division by 44 to 29.

Word has been received from Kihikihi that Mr. Wilkinson, Native agent, stopped the Wanganui prospectors from going to Tuhara, and persuaded the Natives to go with the Thames men. Mr. Wilkinson says that the Wanganui party had no practical men among them. The Miners' Association at Wanganui have communicated with the Government, complaining of Mr. Wilkinson's interference, and stating that both the men are well known to be practical and long-experienced miners. Mr. Parkinson, a competent authority, gives the following to the Southland News :— About 12 months ago he left New Zealand and went to the Day Dream silver mines in New South Wales. In hopes that the Criffcl was going to turn out a good thing ne determined to returned here and try his luck again, He accordingly took passage across in one of the Union boats, and made his way to the Cuff el, where he arrived about a lortnight ago. He found the weather bad there, but favourable enougn to admit of working, the snow at that time not being very deep. This is, however, more the exception than the rule at this time of the year, tbe ' diggings ' being situated on a high flat spur of a mountain, the spur itself being said to be 3000 ft. above the level of the sea. Ihe fiist thing Mr. Parkinbon noticed on getting on the Criffel was that ' the ground had been worked for years, and that it was no new rush at all.' What digging had been going on was alluvial, and he saw no signs of quartz whatever. By way of commencement be tested the pieseiit workings, and found payable gold in all of them, but they are only three m number, their owners monopolising the whole of the spur under leases of two, nve, and six acre* respectively. As for the adjoining spurs, they, Mr. Parkinson states. ' are iiddled with holes where people have been testing the giound.' To these Mr. Parkinson aud his mate added three more shafts, with no better reouliß than had attended the efforts of the otheis who bad been before them. These were put down to the depths of two, seven, and eight feet respectively, bat in none of them could they ' raise the coloui.' So intense hud been the cold that at a depth of two feet the frost was hard and sparkling. Ultimately satisfied that tbe Criffdl is a ' duffer,' except as regards the claims already held, Mr. Paikinson determined to return to luvercargill. By this time the snow had got so deep that it was necessary to leave tools and everything else behind. And even then it was only with the gieatest difficulty, and no little danger, owing to a dense fog, that he got down to lower Jand. Mr. Parkinson states that, eveu if he could have got on to payable dirt, it would have either to be washed with melted snow or packed or carried to a creek three miles away."

Monday.

In the House of Representatives on Saturday, Mr. Reese moved the reduction by £50,000 of the East and West Coast Railway estimate. Captain Sutter moved that the reduction be 149.000. The amendment was carried by 70 to 12. — Greymouth-Hokitika, £15,100.— Mr. M'Arthur moved to reduce the item by £10,000; lost by 41 to 32. Mr. J. B. Whyte moved to reduce it by £8000. The i eduction was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. Ayes, 35 : noes, 35.— Hurunui southwards, £25,500. Captain Sutter moved that the item be reduced by £8000. The reduction was carried. — .Livingstone Branch, £17,400.— Oaptain Sutter moved a reduction of £8000. Carried by 49 to 21.— Otago Central, £151,600. Captain Sutter moved a reduction of £25,000. The reduction was carried by 32 to 20.— Additions to open lines, £172,100. The Minister for Works suggested that tue item be reduced by £15,000. Agreed to. '• It is reported (says the Dunstan Times) that Mr. W. Green, of Ophir, has made a discoveiy of a quartz reef on the range eide at the back of the town of Ophii, From what we can learn the indications aie such as to lead to the belief that the reef is a true lode, the rein of the quartz being well defined, solid, and showing gold freely. Everything is in favour of the assumption of a permanent reel in the locality, the country being solid, and moreover tome remarkably

rich alluvial ground has been worked immediately trader it on the range.

The negotiations between England and Russia on the Afghan frontier question are making satisfactory progress, and it is announced that a joint protocol has been signed on the subject. Count Hatzfeldt, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has receyred a dispatch from the Spanish Government re-stating the claim ofVhat country to the Caroline Islands. The tone of the note is amicable, and the hope is expressed that Germany will recognise the Spanish claim. Prince Bismarck in a d isD.it ch states that possession of the Carolines is not a sufficient inducement to tempt Germany to be unfriendly with Spain.

A dinner was given at the Beaconsfield Club to Lord Carington, new Governor of New South Wales. The Duke of Buckingham proposed the health of Lord Carington, lauding his ability. Lord Rose'oery, speaking on federation, said it was a question which would require Lord Carington's nicest discretion in dealing with. The recent difficulty over the Carolines showed, he said, the enormous importance of Colonial questions among the Powers, and he considered that Colonial statesmen ought to watch it closely, as "earth hunger " was at present dominant amongst the nations. Great scarcity of food prevails at present in the Mysore district of Bombay, and the authorities believe the recurrence of famine to be inevitable.

Tuesday.

The Humphrey's Gully Company finished washing on Saturday, and weighed up on Monday morning, giving 2150e. This is the total amount since the tunnel was put through. The Company is preparing an interim report, showing the number of days employed in washing, the quantity of water used, the quantity of ground washed, and the probable supply. The directors profess satisfaction at the result.

The wool market is weaker. Large reserves of old stocks are tending to aggravate the present depression. The increasing supplies which are being received from the upland districts of South America threaten a permanent reduction in the price of Australian merinos. The number of bales catalogued is 120,000, and the number withdrawn, 21,000.

The Archbishop of Aix city, in the Department of Bouches-du-Rhone (France), has died from cholera.

It is asserted in Madrid that Germany has occupied other important islands belonging to the Pelew, Caroline, Marshall, and Gilbert groups. Strongly excited feeling againßt the action of Germany (according to the Melbourne Age) continues to prevail in Spain. It has been ascertained that France is fostering the feeling of irritation. It is stated that Russia has only conceded the Zulfikar because of the possession of other and superior routes to Herat.

The stockraisers of Buenos Ay res (says the Age) have commenced the regular exportation of beef and mutton to compete with the Australian trade. Several steamers, fitted with refrigerating chambers and stores, have been constructed for the Buenos Ayres trade.

Wednesday.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, replying to Mrs. Barron, if the Minister of Defence has had under his notice, and has considered the resolutions passed at a public meeting held in Dunedin on the 9th inst., to hear an address from rear-admiral Scott, and to discuss tbe defences of New Zealand ; and if he will give effect to the recommendations contained in the resolutions, which were to the following effect : That the proposed expenditure on defences should be curtailed ; that the orders sent to England for heavy guns, ammunition, torpedoes, search lights, engines, machinery, etc., should be as far as possible countermanded ; and that the land defences of the Colony Bhould be entrusted to the Volunteers, — the Hon. J. Ballance said he did not agree with the opinions expressed by Admiral Scott. They were contrary to the opinions held by highest authorities. It was the intention of the Government to carry out the plan agreed upon.

Caroline Stevens, daughter of Mr. W. K. Stevens, commission agent, Auckland, baa died of brain fever, evidently the result of the menial strain during the recent pupil teachers' examination. In her last moments she kept on reciting lessons and tallying up figures. The new discoveries at Te Anau Flat, Waikaia (says the Matanra Ensign), continue to offer encouragement to miners. A large number of applications come before the Warden next Court day, and there is little doubt a permanent and valuable run of deep ground is being developed, The Criffel correspondent of the Daily Times writes as follows : — The weather has changed for the better. The frosts have lessened in severity and the snow is gradually disappearing from the top. About 80 men are now located on and about Criffel. Many shafts have been bottomed since I last wrote, but without success ; in fact, up to date no new finds are reported. Like the diggers, business men from a distance, so it is rumoured, intend rushing this field, but I would advise them to have a care and to think twice ere they take bo precarious a leap.

Thubbday.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. Pyke moved that a fresh conference be appointed to consider the Mines Act Amendment Bill. He referred at some length to the injustice suffered by the goldfields from successive Governments, and said the conference from the other chamber had refused to come to any compromise whatever. Mr. Seddon said Government had not given the conference that assistance which might be reasonably expected. He pointed out also that the Government had altogether failed to give that justice to goldfields which they had promised to give. The Hon. B. Stout said it was no use denying the Legislative Council the rights it possessed. So far as the gold duty abolition waß concerned he had never advocated it, and he had told the miners so. He thought some concession should be made as to reducing the fees for miners' rights. If a conference from the House were appointed he had no doubt they would do their duty. The motion was agreed to, the conference appointed being Messrs. Stout, Bevan, and Guinness.

The English Government announce that, so far as the purely commercial aspect of the question is concerned, England will support Germany in her pretensions to the Caroline Islands. It is considered likely that Germany will invite the Powers to define rules for annexation in the Pacific.