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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3827, 22 October 1883, Page 2

In consequence of the flooded state of tho Manawatu river the overland mail from AVcllington, due on Saturday night, did not roach here till to-day. > The Native Lands Court resumed its sittings at Waipawa this morning. It is expected that the business of the Court will be concluded by AVednesday, when" it will be adjourned to Grey town, AVairarapa. Tho immigration officer for Napier has received information that by the' steamer lonic, expected at AA r ellington on November G, there are twenty-two single girls, and one married couple with two children, for Hawke's Bay. Tho programme of the grand instrumental and vocal performance to be given in tho Theatre Royal to-morrow I evening will bo found in another column. A glance at the names will show that tho very best available musical talent in Napier has been secured for the occasion. Wo hope the efforts of the promoters may be abundantly rewarded by a crowded house. Mr and Mrs H. B. Scaly and' "son aro passengers for Napier by tho N.Z.S. Co.'s--. s.s. lonic, which left London for AVellington on September 20, and is expected to arrive early next month. -Mr and Mrs Scaly have been several years absent from the colony, but there aro many in Napier who-will be glad to welcome the return of our former Resident Magistrate. Alexander Stewart, one of the survivors from the fatal boat accident, has only been in the colony about three weeks, coming out hero to join his brother, the one who, with Dixon, swam ashore. Meek and Do la llaye were both excellent swimmers, but they remained on the boat to keep company with young Rearden, who could not swim, so they lost their lives through their devotion to their friend. The whole story is very sad. Our obituary notice this day contains the passing away of Mrs Barben, at the advanced ago of 90. Tho deceased lady arrived in AVcllington iv the ship London in the early part of the year 1840, and remained thoro for a period of ten years, when she removed to Hawke's Bay with her family, whore she has resided over since. Until the last fortnight Mrs Barben has been able to get about, aud was in the full possession of her senses. There aro at present upwards of thirty great grandchildren of the deceased lady in the colony. A mooting of the Horticultural Society was held on Saturday, when Mr AY. J. A Birch, lion, treasurer, presented the balancesheet, which showed a deficit of £i 2s Id. Mr Lascclles was elected President; Messrs H. S. Tiffen and F. W. C. Sturm, were elected vice-presidents; Mr C. Weber, treasurer; Mr 11. Lascclles, secretary; and the following as tho committee :—Dr. Matthews, Messrs Ormond, Knowles, Hasebeck, Gilberd, Goddard, Chipping, Forrest, Burton, and Margoliouth. Recommendations were mado to the new committee relating to prizes, and to admission tickets to tho shows. The society numbers 174 membors.

The melancholy tragedy of Saturday night recalls two other events to mind wliich, likoit, saddened tho whole of this community: the boat accident at the Spit-in 1870, when Messrs Brenton and MoNalty, their two sons, and Mr Yates were drowned; and the Chaucer road quarry accident, when three men lost their lives. This present month of October has been prolific in tho fatalities of its events. The first occurred at AVost Clive, when Mrs O'Reilly died from exposure; the next was on the Petane cutting, when Rands lost his life; thon came tho case of the poor little child at Paid Paid, run over by tho train; now three promising and highly respected young men have been suddenly cut off; while, as wo write, a rumor reaches us that the Petano river is being dragged for tho body of a 3 r oung gi# supposed to be drowned.

AVith this issue we publish an "inset" from the Government Insurance Department, which specifically refutes curtain allegations contained in an anonymous circular, recently distributed, attacking the department, evidently, as tho commissioner states, concocted in the interests of competing Australian life - assurance institutions. A synopsis of Major Atkinson's vigorous speech, delivorod in the House at tho close of the session, follows tho Commissioner's concise introduction; and various tabular statements aro embodied of great interest to insurers (and overy man should be an insurer), comparing the conditions, tho rate of premiums, the capital, and abovo all, the valuable security offered by tho department with those of other offices of similar age, all of which was forcibly demonstrated by tho Colonial Treasurer. Other testimony is given from other members of the House, and altogether the circular offers a telling reply to the anonymous assailants of the Government office.