NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 50, 13 December 1900, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

According to a London oable of Saturday Sir Weetby Perceval is a passenger for this Colony by the steamer China. The Triad for the current month contains a number of interesting articles dealing with art, science, music etc.. and is very well illustrated. Nearly 1200 persons in the Christchurch district are receiving old-age pensions, this being an increase of 200 during the past 12 months. As an illustration of how anxious people are to go on the land it is stated 1500 applications have been received at Kaikoura for land in the Speg block, an area of 12,246 acres. The penny postage rate, which comes into force on January 1, only applies to the United Kingdom and some of the colonies, and not to foreign countries or Australia. For the former the rate remains at 2id the half -ounce, and for Australia 2d ; post cards, l£d. Elaborate preparations are being made in Cliristchurch for the jubilee celebrations on Anniversary Day. The city will be decorated on a scale that has not been attempted there before, and the procession, in which the pioneers will take part, will be a great feature of the proceedings. The double ceremony of opening the new Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Thorndon, Wellington, and the laying of the foundation Btone of the new Cathedral, is fixed for the first Sunday in February. Hib Eminence Cardinal Moran will officiate at both places. There will also be present a number of other Australian and New Zealand prelates and many other ecclesiastics. In his speech last week at Hokitika the Premier spoke strongly against the remarks of the Governor of Fiji, Sir G. T. M. O'Brien, and said he would insist on his proving hia assertions or apologiaing. He made lengthy references to the gallantry of the New Zealand troops in South Africa, and said that as the colonies had given their sons to die in the maintenance of the unity and integrity of the Empire they should be represented in its councils. A peco liar incident, illustrating the well-known fidelity of dogs for their masters and grief at their loas, has been broueht under the notice of the Manawata Standard. The late Mr. J, G. Rush had a favorite fox terrier, which was a const int visitor to the sick room. After the death of its master the dog mnaned arid left the house, and was found the next day dead on the lawn of Mr. 11. G. Moore, a neighbor of the Ute Mr. Rush. Speaking at Hokitika last week with regard proposed legislation the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon said that the Government would introduce next session a Local Authorities Bill after reference of the matter to a conference. A great evil was too many local bodies, but he preferred giving such bodies an opportunity of effacing themselves. The Factories and Shop Hours Act would be amended, and banks and mercantile offices brought under its provisions. Personally he was not in favor of Federation with Australia under present conditions, but would keep an open mind for the report of the commission sanctioned by Parliament, the members of which were not yet appointed. Writes the Shrewsbury correspondent of the Lira-pool Catholic Times : — A wedding which aroused considerable interest amongbt local Catholics was celebrated at the Ca'hedral, Shrewsbury, on Thursday, October 18, the contracting parties being Miss Iwabel Frances Delia Porta, younger daughter of Mr. Joseph Delia Port*, Beltnont, Shrewsbury, and Mr. Matthew Cook, second son of Mr. James Cook, Wellington, New Zealand. The bride is held in high esteem by all classes ; she has always been a generous friend to the poor and evinced the livelii ai interest in every good work inaugurated by the church, and therefore it occasioned no surprise that the ceremony was attended by a crowded congregation, many people being unable to obtain admission to the cathedral. The Right Rev. Dr. Allen, Bishop of Shrewsbury, officiated, assisted by the Rev. Dr. A. Moriarty. There were four bridesmaid*— Miss Rabnett (niece of the bride), Miss Cook (cousin of the bridegroom), Miss Booth, and Miss Carr. The bride was given away by her father, and the best man waa Mr. Robert Cook, eldest brother of the bridegroom. The examination of the Sacred Heart School. Kaikoura, conducted by the Sieter9 of the Mission (writes a correspondent) took place on December 3 and 4, with the following renult :— Standard VL : presented 5, all passed ; Standard V. : presented 3, all passed ; Siandard IV. : presented 8, all passed ; Standard 111. : presented 6, all passed ; Standard 11. : presented 6, 4 passed ; Standard I. : presented 13, all passed. Two lady experts (Mrs. B. Mackle and Mrs. Bell) examined the needlework done during the nine months the Sisters have had charge of the school. To the Sisters and the pupils alike the verdict is highly creditable : — ' We are, 1 they said, ' surprised at the excellence and variety of the work, and the quantity for the shortness of time.' Out of 60 pupils on the register 55 were present at the examinations ; and the percentage of passes in the Standards was equal to I J7. This speaks well for nine months' works ; for, owing to changes in staff and in buildings, the schools were closed for some months prior to the Sisters' arrival. Thb Registrar-General has issued a leaflet of comparative statistics of the Colony for the years ended September 30, 1890 and 1900. During the 10 years the population has increased from

620,545 to 764,181, equal to 2S'ls per cent. The imports hare increased from £6,371,479 to £10,047.332, the exports from £3,985,240 to £13,661,226, and the total produce of the Colony from £9,759,846 to £13,477,966. The export of butter has increased by 32288 per cent, and the value by 427*93 per cent. The cheese export has increased in value by 156 18 per cent., sheepskins by 156 44 per cent., and frozen meat by 142*21 per cent. The coal output has increased from 637,397 tons to 975,234 tons, and the gold output from 232,625 to 887,6630z. Other comparisons are as follows : — Occupied holdings, 38,178 in 1891, 62,485 in 1899 ; land in cultivation, 8,039,765 acres iv 1891, 12,515,802 acres in 1899; occupied area of land, 31,867,505 aores in 1891,;34,422,653 acres in 1899; Bheep, 16,116,113 in 1891, 19,348,506 in 1899; cattle, 813,831 in 1891, 1,222,139 in 1899 ; miles of railway open for traffic, 1342 in 1890, 2196 in 1900 (including 79 miles of the Midland Railway); miles of telegraph line open, SGCO in 1891, C9lO in 1900 ; deposits in Post Office Savings Bank, £2.441,876 in 1890, £5,320,370 in 1899 (an inorease of 117*88 per cent.) ; value of land .and improvements, £122,225,029 in 1891, £138,591347 in 1898.