NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 21, 25 May 1899, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

The estimated population of the Colony at the end of March was 7'.t(>,527, iLcluding '.][), 851 Maoris. The Silverhope Estate, consisting of about 7001) acres, near Ilunteiville, is t j be subiivided ior sale. Mi;. C. R. Chapman intimates in our advertising columns that he will be a candidate tor Duuedin City ai the next general election. The Agricultural Department is of opinion that the alleged damage by -ear cockle" among whe.it in the South Island has been greatly exaggerated. Ox account of tho ris- in the price of fat sheep and lambs, the Christchurch butchers have agreed to raise the price or these commodities by \d per lb. We have received a handsome memorial cord in connection with the death ot Mrs. W. H. J. Seffern of New Plymouth, whose obitujry we published at the time of the sad event. Si so i: February last 400 cattle in Hawkes Bj.y, suspectel of being diseased, have been destroyed by order of the Stock Inspector or his representative. Nearly the whole were found to be suffering from tuberculosis. The Clutha Luulrr reports that the Clutha River Board have instructed Mr. E. Roberts, of Dunedin, to prepare plans for a newsteamer for the Clutha River, the plans, w\-en ready, to be submitted to a meeting of the board. The value of the customs duties for the quarter ending March, 1891) was :— Auckland, £127,46!) ; Wellington, £126,262 ; Lyttelton and Christchurch, JC 7I, tKSIJ ; Dunedin, 1104,108. Total, £508,635. The total for the year ended March was ill, 1)61,273. Me.ssrs George Harper and T. W. Maude, who had been struck off the rolls some five years ago in connection with the failure of the firm of Harper and Co., Christchurch, in which they had been partners, have been re-admitted, as solicitors and barristers, by the Court of Appeal. Mr. J. M'Kerrow, Land Purchase Commissioner, and Mr. Marchant have inspected the Landsdowne Estate, near Masterton, comprising 10.000 acres, offered by Messrs Williams and Beethatn to the Government for purposes of close settlement. They have also inspected the Langdale and Tenui properties. The Whangaroa. from New Zealand, which arrived in Sydney on Saturday last, reports having sighted the Perthshire at midnight on Friday 12th inst., 150 miles cist of Sydney. Captain Cozens boarded the Perthshire next day (Saturday) and ascertained that she broke her tail shaft two days out from Sydney. Several tugs h;i\e left Sydney in search of the disabled steamer. I'l is highly creditable to the enterprise of the people of New Zealand, who have brought gold dredgmg to such perfection that their appliance* are reputed to bo the be3t in the world. A practical proof of the reputation in which the New Zealand appliances are held is given by an order for a massive dredge winch, j uncompleted by M< s,is. A. and T. Burt of this city, and for use in Central feibena. It is said that passengers by train can s-e^ that already there are signs of activity on the Waikakahi Estate. Fencing is being made ready and the first house i-, in course ot erection. In a very few years there will be a great change in the appearance of the landscape. Instead of miles of tussock-covered plains there will be dozens of comfortable homesteads, with every inch of the adjoining land under cultivation. Considerable uneasiness prevails regarding the safety of the Union Company's steamer Ohau. which leit Greyruouth with a cargo of coal and timber tor Dunedin several days ago. When last seen she was labouring in a heavy sea opposite Cape Campbell. The Brunner lett Wellington on Saturday to search for her, but was not success! ul. A> no wreckage has been t-een in the vicinity of Cook Strait, hopes are entertained that the Oaau might have be.n disabled and driven out to sea. DcHivt, the past few days (reports the Katiipi) practically the whole of the Mataura River bed from Mataura township to Sioney Creek has been pegged off into dredging claim*. A number of Gore residents, bitten with the dredging fever, sallied forth the other evening armed with guns, bags, etc., ostensibly on a duck-shooting mis-don. Bigger game attracted them, however, as during the greater part of the night they applied themselves zealously to the business of pegging off claims. Mr. Moisox occupied the chair at the last meeting of the Ashburton Catholic Literary Society. The principal business of the evening consisted of a debate on the question, ' Which state of life is the happier, savage or civilised." For the savages Mr. R. J. Henry acted as leader, while Mr. D. M'Douneli took the leading part of the civilised side. Each member fought well for his respective side, some of the speeches being very iuu. resting. On a poll being taken the savage state of life proved ihe happiest by a small majority.