GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 579, 23 May 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following appears fn a recent number of the Aye: —“Liardet.—At her residence, Syranga lodge, Kichmond, the wife of Mr Frederick Evelyn Liardet, of twin daughters. Father delighted.” We should think so. Mr Vincent Pyke is about to publish a story of Colonial life and adventure, the incidents of which are connected chiefly with New Zealand. Eeport says that the descriptions and delineations of character are drawn in a masterly style, and will vie favorably with the works of the best English authors. The additional income which the Corporation of Wellington will receive from the sections on the reclaimed land, several of which were recently taken up by some Dunedin capitalists, has been brought forward as a reason why the city rate should be reduced from a shilling to sixpence. At a meeting of the City Council a proposal made by the Mayor to that effect was agreed to. We learn, on the best authority, that immediately after the prorogation of the Provincial Council on the 19th, the members of the Opposition held a meeting, when it was decided to telegraph to his Excellency the Acting-Governor and the hon. the Premier, that reasons would bo urged against the dissolution which it was understood his Honor the Superintendent had applied for. In the eve-ring the meeting adopted a memorial to his Excellency stating the reasons why the dissolution should not be granted. The memorial was signed by twenty-seven members, and was forwarded to the North by the mail to-day. It will be remembered that Mr Casey, the Minister of Lands for the Co’ony of Yic toria, recently made a tour through New Zealand, and on his return to Melbourne published a narrative of his travels, in which he gave rather an extravagant account of the dangers which he supposed he escaped in his journey through the hot springs dis'rict at Taupo. The inaccuracy of his statement was at once discovered in New Zealand, and elicited certain comments not very favorable to Mr Casey’s powers of observation during his journeys in New Zealand. The Government have received from Mr Casey a letter expressing his regret that anything he should have written should have created an impression at all unfavorable to the Colony. Ho excuses himself by saying that ho had confounded the circumstances of the district before it was thrown open to Europeans with those of the present time ; that he thanks the Government for the extreme courtesy and attention paid to him during his visit; and his colleagues join with him in those expressions. He further states that he has no doubt that New Zealand, and the lake country generally, will become a favorite resort for Victorian tourists who may pay the Colony a visit. Some time ago we announced that there was a probability of the Auckland Islands being occupied, unde" a lease from the Government, by Dr Monckton, of Invercargill. We are not aware whether the arrangements for his occupation of those islands have been finally settled. Should they not be, however, there is no doubt that the lease of the islands themselves will become a matter for considerable competition amongst persons desirous of carrying on cither whale or seal fishing. In support of this statement, we may say that an application is now before the Government asking for a lease of the barren i-lands south of Stewart’s Island, called the Snares, for the purpose of carrying on sealing operations. The applicant undertakes either to residepipou the spot himself, or to place a person there to represent his intei csts ; also to refrain from hunting the seals during the breeding season ; to establish a provision depot for shipwrecked crews; and to afford every facility to the Government for the erection of any lighthouse they may think necessary to place there. Some idea of the value of these islands may he gathered from the fact that they arc the resort, during certain seasons, of both American and Tasmanian whalers, who slaughter every season immense numbers of seals, which are of course taken away from the Colony, and nothing in the shape of revenue derived therefrom. It is understood also that there is a considerable deposit of guano on one or other of the. islands, as they are the resort of innumerable flocks of sea fowl, a circumstance which was noticed by Commander Stokes in his survey of the Colony. Iu the Provincial Council yesterday, Mr Hallenstein tabled the following curious notice of motion : —(1.) That this Council is of opinion that from a- n- Arrow point of view, the building of a bridge over the Kawarau Falls will he detrimental to the Arrow. (2.) That were this bridge to be erected, fully three - fourths of the entire traffic to the Lakes District would cross the same, whereby the road to Queenstown would he shortened, and two very steep mountains, one at the Morven Ferry, and the other at the Shotover Hill, avoided, causing a saving in freight of from 15 to 20 shillings per ton ; which, while it would he a benefit to the Queenstown district, would, in the opinion of the storekeepers of the Arrow, injure their interests. (3.) That were a bridge over the Kawarua Falls erected, a great deal of settlement would go on on r.oyes’ Flat to the detriment of farmers, who, near the Arrow' about th'ee years ago—also, flora a-n-Arrow point of view—opposed, though unsuccessfully, the throwing open of land on Boyes’run. (4.) That the proposed bridge would enable

Messrs Robertson and Hatlenstein to send their flour at a very low rate to the Dunstan district, to the injury of their millers, who might not be able to compete with them. (5.) That a bridge or r the Kawarau Kails would form a connecting link with Southland via the Devil’s Staircase, and cause oattb and sheep and passenger traffic to come in from that portion of tho Province, to the detriment of settlers near the Arrow. (6 ) That in the opinion of this Council, a bridge over tho Kawarau Falls being alto situate at the outlet of Lake Wakatip, would enable timber boats at the head of the Lake to come close to the bridge, and thus facilitate the supplying of timber to miners on the Kawarau and at Cromwell; also, would gain an advantage over the miners in the vicinity of Arrowtnwn, which would be wrong. (7.) That, therefore, this Council seriously consider the often expressed wish of the people of Arrowtown ; namely, that no road, bridge, railway, or telegraph be made to Queenstown, and that the interests of the township of Arrow be considered paramount and superior to those of the rest of the Lakes District.

While the Italian frigate Vettor Pisani was at Auckland recently, the agent for the General Government, acting upon a request of the Hon. the Premier, sent on board as a present to the captain, Count G. Lovera di Maria, a collection of photographs and two coils of phormium rope, the Count having promised that during the return voyage of the frigate to Italy, the rope should be tested and a report made to the Government upon its qualities. The photographs were principally of public buildings in the city of Auckland, and of noted scenes in the Province. Dr Pollen, in the letter which accompanied them, stated that the portraits which were included were of “ Maori chiefs whose names, in connection with the early EuroEean settlement of New Zealand, have an istorical interest” in Auckland; and he expressed the regret of the Government that the views did not include some of the beautiful scenery in the other Provinces, and especially the Provinces of the Middle Island. The latest volume of “Statistics of New Zealand ” was also presented. Count Lovera, in acknowledging the presentation, said he trusted and believed the photographs would “please very much in Italy, and remind him of his pleasant meeting in Auckland with his Excellency the Governor and the honorable Ministers” of the Colony. He added that he cordially reciprocated “the cordial good feeling testified to himself and his staff by the Government and citizens of this great Colony, for which he anticipates a great future.” Count Lovera and some of his officers visited the Thames during the stay of the frigate in Auckland; and meeting there several Maori chiefs, a “ good time” was apparently passed, and several presents were made. Before sailing, the Count addressed a letter to Wi Tako Ngatata, Wi Katene, Faora Tuabere, Hore Hukatu, and Wi Parata, thanking them for “ specimens of the products of your industry, made of llax, which you have sent, to bo seen and examined by the people of my country.” He added that he should long remember “ the pleasant meeting had at Thames ” ; and that he hopes to meet the chie's inTtaly. sothathomay have thepleasure of showing them “the srme kindness and courtesy ” shown by them to himself and his officers.

It is satisfactory to note (remarks tlie Press) that nominated immigration is working well, an 1 that the numbers nominated are increasing. We are informed that applications have been forwarded from this Province by the outgoing mail for in ire than 100 statute adults. The cash and bills deposited on account of these passages amount to upwards of L3OO. This, we believe, is the largest number ever nominated in the Province during the same period, namely, four weeks, In order to encourage this class of immigrants as much as possible, the Government have instructed Mr March to visit all the districts in the Province with a view of appointing local agents to receive applications, etc. Regulations under which the Government grant bonuses to persons obtaining nominations to emigrants to the Colony, have -been issued, and are as follows 1. The bonus is fixed at live shillings for males, and ten shillings for females, per statute adult, payable upon the arrival of emigrants nominated. 2. Persons obtaining nominations must accompany the applicants to, or lodge the application at the nearest Immigration Office, where the application and arrangement for passage-money will be duly made in accordance with the regulations [New Zealand Gazette, December 12, 1872). 3. The person introducing the applicant will then be entitled to receive from the Immigration Officer a certificate to the effect that ho has obtained the nomination of A, B, or 0, from to

4. A duplicate of this certificate will be forwarded to tho head office, and, up n due notice of the arrival of the emigrants nominated, the amount of bonus payable will be forthwith remitted to the Immigration Officer for payment to the person holding such certificate.

A good story comes from the Clrcy Valley. A short time ago a correspondent of the Grey Vallcii Times sent an ace-mat to that paper, of some bones that bo had dug up on the Ahaura plains, which wore supposed Moa bones. This discovery was repeated in other papers, and it was fully believed that the relics were those of a moa. It is evident however that a hoax was perpetrated, for the finier sent the following letter to our contemporary, who published it on the 7th inst. Ho says:—“ With reference to my report to you on tho discovery of moa bones on Ahaura plains, I exceedingly regret to say that my conclusions were precipitate, as the bones turn out to be those of a bullock. I deeply regret having misled you, but have myself, with many of ray friends, also been a victim to my credulity ; for, on finding the bones, I had every fragment carefully washed and scraped, and devoted many weeks in an effort to put them together, and never finally lost my belief in their genuineness till I dug up from tho same spot two horns, four hoofs, and a pair of hobbles, which, I was reluctantly compelled to admit, were evidences irreconcilable with my former theory. Had I not made the discovery last named, I am confi lent that I should have boon able to put together a skeleton form which would bear a strong resemblance to the moa, as 1 had only half-exhausted my supply of material when the frame stood twenty-nine feet high, and called forth the admiration and wonder of all beholders.”

It is not so generally known as it ought to be that the kernels of some stone fruits, especially peaches, c mtain prussic acid to an extent which may prove poisonous if a large number of the kernels be eaten. The following ca j e, reported in the last number of the Australian Medical Journal by Dr Samuels, of Wanganui, should make parents cautions : —“February 12, 1873, I was sent for to attend a little boy, aged five years, the son of a carpenter of this town. On my way 1 was informed that the little fellow had eaten something unknoavn to his parents, and was believed to have been poisoned. On my arrival 1 found him lying on the sofa in a state of partial coma. The pupils were dilated, the skin somewhat cold and clammy, the pulse feeble. He seemed, in short, to bo suffering from the effects of some narcotic poison. Upon making inquiries, I was informed that about half-an-hour previous to my arrival he had been seized with dizziness, stupor, fainting, inability to stand without assistance—in fact, it was described to mo as in partial intoxication. He vomitad an

ouflee or more of masticated peach kernels. I at once administered an emetic, followed shortly by a full dose of castor oil, which soon acted on the bowels. I ordered him to be kept warm. After being placed in bed, he slept for about two hours, after which he awoke and seemed recovered. This was obviously a case of poisoning by hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid) contained in the peach kernels, of which the child had eaten a large quantity. My chief reason for reporting this is that I notice but one case mentioned in Taylor’s ‘Manual of Poisons,’ of poisoning by peach kernels.” A well-informed correspondent telegraphs to us from Wanganui :—“ The general Maori opinion here is that Tawhaio will shield Sullivan’s murderers. They recognise it as a political offence, and think the Government will take no notice of it, citing Todd’s murder as a precedent.” It appears from the Bathurst (N.S.W.) papers that the remarkable child now exhibiting in that city is named James Thomas Wrench, that he is a native of the Wallaby I> ocks, Turon Riser, is four years of age, and was born without arms and but one leg. It is added that he is a remarkably intelligent child, and has risen superior to his, apparently, unfortunate position, and performs wonders with the only limb bestowed upon him by a frugal nature. He feeds himself with his toes, writes, draws, cracks a whip, and seems in no way to feel his deprivation.

A most providential escape from serious if not fatal consequences occurred on the Main South road, on the 10th instant. AMr M ‘Kenzie was driving a buggy in which were seated three lady passengers, and when near Adams’s accommodation house the horse shied, and the vehicle toppled over the bank into the Taieri river. By a most fortunate accident the buggy, a few seconds before going over the bank, came into contact with a heap of road metal, the result of which was that the occupants were thrown on to the road, and sustained very slight injuries beyond the fright. The horse, however, was drowned.— Slar, May 12. At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Temperance Alliance, it was reported that upwards of fourteen hundred copies of the petitions had been sent to all parts of the Colony, accompanied by circulars, earnestly asking aid in the movement by petitioning the legislature for a reform in the laws relating to the liquor traffic. These had been sent to the bishops and clergy of the Churches of England and Rome, the ministers of the Presbyterian, Congregatioualist, Wesleyan Methodist, United Methodist, Primitive Methodist and Baptist Churches; to the Bons of Temperance, Rechabites, and Good Templars, the United Kingdom Alliance, Auckland, and the Otago Temperance Alliance, Dunedin. Letters were read from various parts of the Colony expressing sympathy with the movement, and stating that the petitions were being numerously signed. Mr Eitzberbert is accused of plagiarism. Everyone will recollect his nine hours’ speech on Mr Stafford’s “no confidence” resolutions last session, and the point—considered excellent at the time —he made of putting into the mouth of the Ministry the plea of pregnancy, with the matrons’ verdict thereon. “ Hansard,” in the Herald, quotes from the. diary of H. C. Robinson, under di'te March, 1835, a passage which greatly detracts from the originality of Mr Kilzherbert’s Act. Tho quotation is this : “This week there is in the Examiner an admirable sentence, which I must copy. ‘The pretence of the Tory Ministry that is big with reforms is like the trick of women under sentence of death to procure a respite by the plea of pregnancy ; but in these cases the party is kept under bolt and bar during the period for proving the falsehood of the pretence: and so must it be with our lying-in Government.

A Melbourne paper relates that an execution was lately put into the house of a poor man, and that in lieu of finding anything else of value, the bailiff entered in his inventory a set of gold-mounted false teeth that lay on the mantelpiece. The insolvent debtor, who was in the midst of his toilet, exclaimed against this severity, declared that his teeth were part of his person, and put them in his mouth. The officer insisted, on his part, that the teeth were the property of the law, and compelled the unfortunate toothless one to dislodge them, and the nice question now comes up as to whether these complementary articles of the toilet really are seizable or not. The question becomes still more complicated when we take the feminine make-up into consideration, and wo confess to groat hesitation in entering upon so delicate a discussion. It is safe to predict, however, that, assuming the justice of the seizure, the number of articles liable to confiscation in this case would be more than sufficient to liquidate any reasonable amount of debt. Where is the woman of fashion who could fail to satisfy her creditors by selling at a fair price all there is false about her?

A general meeting of the member! of tho Otago Institute was held in the University Building? last evening; Mr 11. Gillies, vicepresident, in the chair. The meeting was convened for the purpose of hearing read a paper on “Tho Acclimatisation of Salmon in Now Zealand,” by Dr W. L. Lindsay, honorary member of the Society ; but on account of tho small attendance present, it was decided that the whole paper be printed and circulated among tho members of the Institute, and be brought up for discussion at the next meeting. Tho introductory portion was, however, read. It related mainly to the proposed visit of the Swedish botanist. Dr Bcrggren, to this Colony ; and it avas resolved—“ That tho Cornell be requested to take suitable steps t) greet Dr Bcrggren on his arrival in Otago, and to brirg his intended visit under tho notice of the Government.” Mr Murison, who had looked over Dr Lindsay’s paper provi ms to the meeting, made some remarks upon it. He stated that, from what experience he had, he agreed with the doctor, that the experiment at present in operation had proved highly successful, and it met with his unqualified approval. He thought it would have been preferable to have sent the whole of the ova to one good pond, instead of sending ten thousand to Christchurch, and tho rest to Southland. The first experiment of breeding salmon in the Colonies was in 18i54, when a shipment of ova arrived in Tasmania, and were found to bo iu very fair condition. The boxes wore taken to the ponds in New Norfolk, and under ; the care of Mr. ilamabottham, whose name every one interested in salmon breeding should bo acquainted with, the ova turned out in excellent condition, and 10,000 were driven into the sea. From the evidence of men whose testimony should not be doubted, it appeared that fish bad been seen in tho Derwent several miles up, many times since 1804; but others, whom he might call tho opponents of salmon breeding, doubted this, and sai 1 that they would not believe it till they saw the fish. He was strongly of opinion that if the fish would not breed in the Derwent, salmon-breeding would never be a success here.—A fish, presented to the Museum by Mr Jewitt, was laid on tho table ; and Mr Webb stated that, from examination made by Mr Bardic and himself, they had pronounced it to he tho Oda.c vitatlu s, spoken of by Captain Hutton, hut 1 which that gentleman states he never saw. | The fish, which is only procurable in Otago, I was, we are informed, caught near the Heads, by some fishermen in the employ of Mr Jewilt, The meeting then adjournedfor a month.