THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1874.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 145, 24 January 1874, Page 2

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1874.

An accomplished writer of one of the best boohs on New Zealand has said that the number of deaths by drowning in the rivers of the colony so exceed that from any other single way in which life is lost that drowning should properly bo termed “natural death.’’ Undoubtedly our rivers are sufficiently numerous and formidable to render travelling through the bush a dangerous occupation, but it is rendered unnecessarily perilous through the absence of a very simple and inexpensive precaution, as was very sensibly suggested the other day by a gentleman who is almost constantly in the saddle, fording and even swimming rivers in all conditions of flood and fresh. His suggestion is that natives should be employed to mark out the fords of different rivers by planting tall stakes in the direction which the ford takes, and there are few r rivers for which the Maoris have not a ford. Any one who has once crossed the "Wairoa mouth wall understand how valuable such a simple precaution would prove, and there is no doubt it would be the means of saving many lives. The heart sickens to think of the number of useful lives lost for the want of some such warning posts. Our own Wairoa is not without its victims, and the YYairau, in the Nelson and Marlborough provinces, has been peculiarly fatal. In the course of time these streams will all be bridged ; but meanwhile there is every reason whv the primitive guide posts described should he immediately placed for tho public convieuce.

o ■ iK. wore, v,,, u!;de;>i:ui , ir.i. m T.-ui'oego .mrmu Wednesday Inst, that in the evciung being the most severe. Yesterday evening, also, at four minuter pi3t: five, another occurred. i’he writer did not notice any of the shocks,” and as toe evidence us to time and direction is very conflicting, lie contents himself with merely announcing the fact. The reader can then till in particulars according to experience and taate. This is a liberal plan, and will give each “ quake ” “ a fair show ” at the hands of the public.

Captain Preece, with 20 men attached to the Native Contingent who have been stationed at To Tebo, arrived in Tuuranga, cn route for Wellington, on "Thursday last. It is rumoured that on arrival at Wellington they will be despatched immediately to Karawhenua, on the West Coast—the scone of the late tribal disputes between the Ngatiraukawa and Wanganui tribes. Captain Preeco’s many friends will be pleased to learn that his absence from the district is not likely to be of long duration.

We have to nckowledgo the courtesy of Captain Sellars for the following telegram yesterday; “ Steamer Southern Cross leaves to-morrow evening at 4 p.m. with twenty passengers.’'

Captain Morris arrived overland from Napier yesterday morning with a mob of sheep. Ha started with 1,272, and estimates the loss at about 3 per cent. fie speaks very highly of the capital manner in which ho was treated by the natives, who afforded him every assistance along the entire line of route.

Mr Campny’s <! villa residence” is now nearly completed. It will, when finished, be a credit to the tradesmen employed on the work, ami an ornament to our town. The situation of the house is, perhaps, unequalled in the district, and commands a view r all around our magnificent harbour, with Motiti, While Island, and other interesting landmarks in the distance. The house ia surrounded by an orchard containing the choicest fruit trees and shrubbery. The size of the is 40ft x 46fb, with out-kitchen 16ffc s. IGft. Tno whole is edged with a verandah 6ft wide, an entire length of 192 ft. The building is divided into seven rooms : drawing, dining, morning, and four bed rooms. The entrance hall is six feet wide. The rooms and ball are skirted with 16in double sunk moulded timber. The ceilings are moulded, and panelled with heavy cornices 18in deep, elaborately varnished. The hall door and skirtings are really well grained, and the house is painted and “ papered ” throughout “ utterly regardless of expense.” There are three chimneys and four fire»places, fitted with grates of the latest designs, and marble mantelpieces. The building is built of well seasoned timber, stacked for upwards of twelve months on the site. The house is lighted with twelve windows, eight of which have large circular head sashes, with '/in sunk architraves. The hall is lighted by a half glass door with side and fan lights, glazed with figured glass. The height of the rooms is twelve feet from floor to ceiling. Everything is finished in a thoroughly workmanlike manner.

“ Houses,” says Bacon, “ are built to live in more than look on ; therefore, let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.” And Mr Campny has been fortunate enough to secure both comfort and appearance. Messrs London and Conway are the contractors for the building, and Mr Bickers for painting, paper hanging, &c.

Captain Tanks informs us that some boys (who are Tcnoioi) have been seen coming out of his garden on more than one occasion lately. He is of opinion that his poaches are the attraction, and has asked us to impresss 'upon the youngsters the virtue of honesty. He has no desire to adopt harsh measure, but will most certainly do so if the visits are continued.

Thursday next is the anniversary of the proclamation of ISow Zealand (18-10) as a British colony. We presume it will generally bo observed as a holiday.

We have a great deal more to say respecting our steamer requirements, but reserve our remarks until Wednesdav, as we expect some information upon the subject by the mail from Auckland, duo here to-morrow.

In our report of the Church meeting on Tuesday night, Mr Sheath’s motion should read : “ That it is expedient to endeavour to raise the amount of rent of temporary parsonage until such time as a parsonage be built.” The gift auction for the benefit of the funds of the Mechanics’ Institute, has been very wisely postponed by the Committee until the evening of the 4th of February in order to give more time for receipt of presents. M. Harey announces in another portion of this impression that it - is his intention to commence an evening class for tuition in the French language. He informs us that ho has high testimonials, and has had much experience as a teacher of the language of France la Belle. It is hardly necessary to say that no one's education is complete without a knowledge of French. A meeting of the Dramatic Club was held at the Tauranga Hotel on Wednesday evening last. Some routine business was transacted, and preliminary arrangements made for the ensuing (usual) monthly performance.

. Many of our readers will be sorry to learn that the glory of Evans’s, in Covent Garden, is departing. A. number of gentlemen were lately brought before the Bow street Magistrates, charged under the Hew Incensing Act with the dreadful crime of being at Evans’s after one o’clock. The magistrates, who probably in times past have often enjoyed at protracted hours of the night devilled kidneys and bottled stout, and the society of Paddy Green and Yon Joel, took, we are pleased to say, a lenient view of the ease, and let the defendants off upon paying the costs of the summons.

Daring the cross-examination of Cardinal Cullen in a ease recently heard in Dublin, his Eminence stated that he had received part of his preliminary education at. a Quaker school in Ireland ; that lie entertained a great respect for the “ Fnends,” and never had occasion to unlearn nythiug he acquired at their school.

Dr ; c'.f ,id C micrbiiry, writes as fallows to tee I.wtft Uo.'i I'u.u y : —“ Will you allow me to yuoDn i ism ugh your valuable columns an extract from a cotuiuuuicAt ion I have lati ly received from the Astronomer R jtal having reference to the transit ot Venus, in order to obtain for that gentleman the information required : ‘ It is now oa important point for us to ascertain whether we may reckon on independent ohser val ions of •he transit by scientific gentlemen in N’.--w Zealand who possess telescopes proper f■ > r this purpose. A telescope of lour inci.es aperture, good of its kind, i» perfectly « variable for oar otiject. A larger telescope is in some degree preteruble. The arrangement which wo could desire is, that private observers should so conned their clocks with the principal lire of telegraph, with which also our clock should be connected, that the time shown by their clocks could at once be reduced to the time on our clock ; and that each observer should be prepared to observe with utmost accuracy, by means of his own clock, the time of total entry of Venus and the time o f the first contact of departure of Venus, as we shall further explain.’ I shall be glad if any gentleman possessing the necessary instruments will communicate with me at his earliest convenience, if he is willing to assist in the manner indicated by Sir G. 33. Airy.”

A boy we are acquainted with, of tender years arid heart, has drowned seventeen kittens, tied tin pans to the tails of all the neighbours’ dogs, ornamented his chamber by pinning flies to the wall, cut brickbats with his uncle’s razor, blown up a pet canary with a fire cracker, pulled the tail feathers out of two roosters, been thrown into tile top of an apple tree by a cow that lie was teasing, brushed his father’s bat against the grain, told his sister’s lover about her false teeth, and still his fond mother intends him for the pulpit. A new thing in photography has just been initiated in Melbourne, where one o f the fasl donable photographers in Collms-atreefc exhibits in his show-frame the pivotograp'i, largo size, of a pretty and devout young lady kneeling at a Prie Piet; chair, with a Church Service open before her on the Sedge, her hands clasped, her eyes uplifted reverently to heaven, and her lips half opened in prayer. It is said to be a very taking style. Mr J. L. Hall, the well-known comedian, made his first appearance at Liverpool on September 20, in the Persian extravaganza of “ ixissi Ivusi.” The Liverpool Press, in noticing his appearance, unanimously applauded his talents. Advertising is a science, and although it is becoming to be reeognhed as a primary and unavoidable expense in the prosecution of any business enterprise, and sometimes the only capital in many undertakings, still there are but very few who really appreciate its importance, or realise tho wonders it is capable of performing. When managed with experience, judgment, skill, persistency, an .1 liberality, we do not believe there ever was an instance known whore it did not yield most gratifying results. The follow ing is from an article in a Madrid paper, an organ of the Internationalists : “ We form part of what aro called the 'dregs of society,’ The compact which unites us to our brethren in misfortune is injustice ami inequality. We are the white slaves. Ceaseless labour is our chain, infirmity is our lash, misery our life, the hospital our reluge, degrading charity our alleviatian, and death our only rest. Shall we suffer longer this affront, this ignominy ? No! a thousand limes no! We are the disinherited, the pariahs, the helots, the plebiana, the scum, the dregs, the mire of society. We are those who have no sentimentality, no education, no shame. Wo have readied the climax of suffering ! but the hour of reparation is at hand. On the altar of our conscience, we, the editors of this paper, solemnly declare, by virtue of our autonomy, that horn to-day we break the compact which is binding us to society, mocks our dignity, and turns our existence into a slavery. Yes, companions ! Let us unite, and with head erect and spirit decided, cry aloud with a voice which shall strike terror into the tyrants, * War to the rich. ! War to the powerful ! War to society !” We will not conceal our aspiration fiorn you. It is absolute and complete social levelling.” The same paper publishes violent and coarsely written articles warring against religion. Coffee!—Brown, Barrett, and Co.’s Standard Coffee is both delicious and strong. Brown, Barrett, tsnd Co.’s Excelsior Coffee deserves preference to any Coffee on a< count of purity and distinctness of flavour. Note the brands ! doid at »1 most every Grocery Establishment in Town an d Pro vine e. —[ A n vi. 1