AUCKLAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3132, 12 July 1881, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

July 11. The steamer Bowen arrived last night from Hong Kong after a passage of 27 days, with a cargo of teas for New Zealand. The pilot brought her straight up the harbor. It appeared, hovvever, that the health officer had received a telegram on Saturday evening that all China ports are declared infected. He went off to the Bowen aud found she had a clean bill of health from the Hong Kong authorities, no desease being there when sbe left. She brought no passengers. Dr. Philson considered that tbe vessel had been long enough at sea for any disease to develop, and thought the vessel might be liberated, but bad no alternative but to order her into quarantine. He has since telegraphed to the Government advising her release, but no reply has been received. General discontent prevails here relative to the maladministration, of the quarantine arrangements, and both papers strongly condemn the Government in the matter. The local board of health resigned because its recommendations, after mature consideration, were ignored at Wellington, and the local quarantine officer treated

the boards existence and authority with contempt. The news by the Bowen is of little interest. The general verdict re the tea crop is that the leaf is damaged in appearance, at least by heavy rains, and although the actual rates are lower than last year, when inferiority of leaf, difference of exchange, etc., being considered, they come out nearly seven per cent higher than last year. At Canton 4500 boxes of congou were sold at from 15 to 25 taels per picul; scented caper, 50,000 boxes, at 11 26 taels per picul; scented orange pekoe, 7600 boxe?, at 13 to 24 taels per picul. The first muster of Hankow and Kiniary teas were offered- on the 16th May, and the market opened at 31 to 32 taels for Ninecbow, and 28 to 25 taels per picul for Fooschow. The steamer Glencoe was the tavorite for the tea race to London, and she left on the 22nd May, with 2,048,4_01b5. The London Castle waß the second favorite. Later. The Government has ordered the health officer to admit the steamer Bowen to pratique, and the order for ber release has gone to the quarantine station. Toe Supreme Court has been occupied all day with the charge of arson against the two Bindon brothers. July 12. Major Paul did suddenly last night, between 10 and 11 o'clock, at the Northern Club. The deceased gentleman arrived by the Penguin from Wellington yesterday morning, en route for Waiwera, in the hope that a course of baths would afford relief from asthma. He was staying at the club, and on retiring to bis room last evening desired the attendant to bring him a basin of hot water, with the intention of inhaling the fumes. The act of inhalation had affected his lungs, and finding that something had gone wrong he opened the door to call assistance, and fell forward in the hall on his face, dying instantaneously. Drs Munro and Honeyman happened to be in the club at the time, and their services were invoked, but in vain. He burst a blood vessel, and died of internal hemorrhage. The deceased gentleman was formerly in the 65th Regiment, but settled subsequently at Wellington, and on the retirement of Dr. Greenwood was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, but subsequently resigned. The Government are in a difficulty by the resignation of the local board of health, and are negotiating to induce them to resume office with enlarged powers. The passengers for Sydney by the Penguin complain in the Herald of the ?ction of the Union Company in transferring them from the Ringarooma and bringing them here, leaving them without any vessel to take them on. The Albion is not advertised to go till Friday, and may be detained here in quarantine, leaving sixty or seventy passengers without means in a strange place.