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Evening Star, Issue 3553, 13 July 1874, Page 2

Several Maoris write to a Westport paper, complaining that the female telegraphists at Nelson “muddle” their messages in transmission.

The Maoris of the Upper Wanganui dis-tr-et appear to be an enterprising race, Tne ‘N. '/j. Times’ says they have just imported from the old country a flour mill, omplete iu all its parts, including an iron water-wheel.

The nomination for the Mayoralty for the ensuing year took place to-day. Only two candidates—Mr K. Kamsay and Mr H. J. Walter—were proposed. Judging by what took place, the election promises to be more * faction fight than anything else. The poll is fixed for the 21 st inst.

Sixty immigrant ships sail d frem the United Kingdom, for New Zealand, between February 1, 1873, and February 25, 1874. The three quickest passages made were by the James N. Fleming in seventy-three days, by the Scimitar in seventy"days, and by the s.s. Mongol in fifty-one. Mr J. Small’s entertainment at the Queen’s Tueatre was very successful oa Saturday night, and his second performance will be given this evening, when a large number of valuable gifts will be distributed. The particulars of these will be found in our advertising columns. Mr Small is ably assisted by Miss Fanny Sara, and Messrs Clifton and Shipp.

The Commissioner of Police yesterday received the following telegram fiom sergeant Smyih, of J okomairiro Constable Aitchtson found an illicit still and worm at Cienore yesterday, in possession of John M'Crae, lessee of Loved’s Flat coalfield. M'Crae is in custody. Please inform Collector of Customs, whose instructions are awaited.”

The General Government ‘Gazette’ inti mates that live letters of naturalization have

een issued within the last tew days. One of the recipients is a fisherman at Invercargill (apparently an Italian), one a German, a jeweller, at Auckland, one a (Jhinese miner at romwell, one a Danish or Norwegian cooper at Greytown, and the fifth a settler —whose nationality we cannot guess—at Portobello.

The Harbor-master at Oamaru states in his annual report that the rocket apparatus worked by the boatmen has, during toe past year, been the means of rescuing twentyeight men from wrecked vessels, viz , Margaret Campbell, 7 ; Emd«, 9 ; and Scotsman, 12 men—tUe greater number < f whom would nave perished had no apparatus been available, as the vessels foundered a considerable distance from the beach, and broke up. Major who is travelling with Mr M'l.eau in Aew .'South Wales, and writing descriptions thereof in the ‘ Waka Maori,’ much interesting information and excellent advice and thought for his own people. It may be noticed, however, tha he has no mean opinion of bis own abilities, (or he says “ My words to you have no limit.’ When I pull up a lisli it has a large mouth (ie., when I write you a letter, it is something worth reading.”) There was quite an amusing and unusual scene at the railway pier at Port Chalmers th s morning. A number of the single females were transhipped from the ship i aroline by the p.s. Peninsula, the majority of whom, as ao>n as the steamer left tue ship, commenced crying and wailing account of being compelled to leave their sweethearts behind on board the ship, which noise they continued for spine time after they arrived alongside the jetty. This caused a number of people to assemble there, and at last order and quietness were restored, and the disconsolate damsels were conveyed to Dunedin by the 11.30 train. They had by this time forgotten their troubles, and showed their joy by dancing in the railway carriage.

There was not a very lengthened sitting at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. James Murray and Jane Hume, haying been locked up since Saturday night on charges of drunkenness, were discharged with a caution; James May, having been thrice convicted, was fined Ifis, or in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. On the civil side only one case was gone into Walker v. White, a claim of 18s 9d for goods supplied—in which judgment was given by default, with costs. His Worship was proceeding to give judgment in the case of Marv Ratter son v. Farquharson—a claim for LIOO for breach of contract, heard last week —when Mr Saunders agreed to accept a nonsuit, and judgment was entered accordingly. The Court then adjourned. The ‘ Lake Wakatip Mail* of the 7th inst. reports that a carrier named Miskill had a narrrow escape of losing his life and team yesterday at the Stone Bluff, near Owen’s punt, on the main road to Cromwell. He was driving leu norses in couples, and this, of course, made a very long team of it. When turning the sharp bluff indicated, the leading norses were polling straight ahead, while the waggon itself had to turn an angle. The consequence was that the waggon, the teamster, and his load ot flour were precipitated over the bluff in the direction of the banka of the Kawarau river. The man fell off the waggon straight down into a culvert, sud stuck—fortunately for himself—in it, while the waggon and horses rolled over him. The waggon waa injured, the loading spilt, the horses bruised, the iijan ditto, and a lesson taught that will net soon he forgotten. A correspondent at Waipawa sends to the l ‘ Hawfie’s Ray Herald ’ the following : “ Mr Brandon, of the Rank of INew Zealand, and Mr Buchanan, of the Bank of Austral*

a=iia, have opened branches of the respective banks in this township, anticipating, no doubt, a fair amount of business as soon as summer weather and the wool season make their appearance. But, at present, their operations seem to be confined to measuring the length of Mr Cowper’s verandah, by walking to and fro with measured stride, discussing the inclement state of the weather, and planning the future development of the institutions which they represent. The temporary office of the Bank of Australasia branch is in the parlor of Cowper’s Hotel, while that of the New Zealand is in the bar of the same place. Tis cctainly a rather novel sighc to see placed in a conspicuous position amongst the bovths in the bar, the words ‘ Bank of New Zealand,’ while it iequally strange wb-n, upon going into the parlor, you behold ihe words, Bmk of Australasia,’ peering at you from amongst the pictures.”

“ Macbeth ” was produced at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening to a large downstairs audience. Mrs Hill’s representation of Lady iMacbeth was a careful and intelligent reading of the character, and that is all that can be said of it. Mr Steele, as the Thane of Cawdor, played with spirit, and the soliloquy, “ Is that a dagger ? ” was a fine piece of elocution. Mr Keogh’s Macduff was, as a rule, rather boisterous ; and the sangfroid with which he received the news of ihe massacre of his wife and children by the usurper was simply amusing. Miss Vivian appeared as Malcolm, but she did not shine—the most noticeable feature of her performance being a lamentable ignorance of the text. Locke’s music was attempted—the choruses being given with tolerable precision, but the solos-were hardly up to the mark. The battlements scene, in the last act, was magnificently painted by Mr Williams, who in response to an unanimous call came forward and bowed bis acknowledgments. The farce of ‘ • Give me my wife ” concluded the performance. The drama of “ Ivauhoe,” founded on Sir Walter Scott’s novel bearing the same titl-, will be played to-night

With reference to our late townsmen, Mr Mi.lar, F. S. A., the Wellington Tribune,’ in a recent number, has the following :-- “ The Borough Engineer of Wanganui in addition to h’s professional ee-vices coniributes in no sma Idegiee to the amusement of th; t mrges es by his eccantrioities of conduct find correspondence. Apie of mtiers were, after some compulsion, lately laid by ‘ .Vlil.'ar* F. R. on the table of the Bor. ugh Council’, and although there is ground for suppo ing that something is kept back, the editor of the ‘Herald’ has lately been extracting out of such as are open to the public, some specimen graces of style and composition The spirit in which the amiable Engineer wHtes of his employers to his friends in England while engaged, as was supposed, in furthering municipal interests, is that of purest condecensiou on the p -.rt of d peerless genius in the jmatter of waterpipes and drain tiles to the necessities ofja lot of stupid andpresumpiuous bumpkins : and from the tpae of the correspondence, it could he with difficulty imagined that these benighted councillors were the means of giviug'huix his present proud position, and of granting him quarterly instalments of salary. Worse than inordinate vanity and egotism, these letters, we are sorry to say, convict Mr Millar of saying one thing and do ng another, and of vilifying those who stood by him at the sacrifice of feeling.” The Waimatuku crossing, the locale of so many mishaps in connection with coach travelling between Invercargill and Riverton, was again, on the evening of the 4th inst , the scene of a most melancholy occurrence. For some considerable time a young girl, the daughter of Mr Rodenque, boatman at Orepuki, has beeu lying hopelessly ill of a fatal intestinal affection in the Invercargill Hospital. The medical officer having no hope of her recovery, this was made known to her parents, and they, wishing that she should be ministered to in her last hours by themselves personally, came into town (says the ‘ Southland Times’) at the end of last week for the purpose of taking her home to Urepuki. For this purpose the father and mother hired a coach on Saturday, and started for . Riverton with their ‘tying g'rl. In crossing the Waimatuku, the horses made some false motion, an! turned round in the stream, and the consequence was that Mr Roderique and his wife, and their sick daughter, received a severe drenching, which resulted in the poor girl’s ifeath shortly after their arrival at Riverton. While the vehicle, with its passengers, was still in the river, Mr MTntyre’s coach came up, aud much credit is due to the travellers by the latter for the generous and able assistance which they gave in rescuing the unfortunates, aud for their humane conduct in parting with portions of their own dry clothing to benefit the poor drenched and dying girl.

The Wellington correspondent of the ‘Wanganui Chronicle’ writes:—“On the English Opera Company leaving the former place, a number of enthusiastic friends assembled on board the steamer to see them off. All this was very pleasant and gratifying, hut a single disagreeable incident somewnat spoiled the effect of the departure. It appears that a very young gentleman connected with the legal profession had fallen a victim to the charms of one of the lady members of the corps. He paid the lady assiduous attentions, and made her several costly presents in the shape of jewellery and a ban *some gold watch. The lady received with great complaisance, but kept the sighing swain in dancing attendance unoil the tnpe of departure arrived, without affording him anything in the shape of an assnrance that he did not sigh in vain, Thi« being the case the youth awok* from his fond dream just as the steamer was about to leave and, rushing on board, impatiently demanded from the lady, in the presence of all assembled, a return of the presents he had made. Of course a scene ensued. The ladies were scandalised, the gentlemen indignant, and strong suggestions were made of ducking the ungallant individual, or at all events expelling him by a species of force applied a posteriori. However, the recipient of the presents was a girl of spirit, and indignantly returned them, whereupon the young gentleman sneaked off, anffdst the jeers of the whole party present. Since the life of that embryo barrister has not been a pleasant one, as he has been mercilessly chaffed by all and sundry.” J

The Melbourne ‘ Age ’ gives the following as an instance of the liberal use some of the Victorian senators make of their opportunities to make aspersions and insinuations against their political opponents: —“The other night Mr Longmore, on the floor of the Home, described Mr kehurst, R.M., as a man ‘ who had got his position by murdering persons in cold blood on the goldfields, uf course dr Akehurst could not resent personally such a horrible charge, aud he was the efore obliged to fad back upon the Attorney-Genera for the vindication of his character. Lad; evening ■: r Kerferd referred to the matter in tue assembly, aud having deprecated the language employed, he proceeded to read a letter which he had re ceived from Mr Akehurst, in which the facts were set forth which formed th« ground of tho accusation made. It appeared that Mr Akehurst had been one ot those engaged with the Government forces in attacking the Furelia stockade. At the inquest held upon the body of a man who had b en kill,don the occasion, the jury returned a verdict against Mr Akehurst, with a view to cfin-

harassing the Gove nment. Mr Akehurat submitted that he was prepared to resign his position, and allow his case to be tried by a-y tr bunal, in order to establish his innoc ;uce, and concluded in the following terms : —‘ I now declare most solemnly, on my honor as a gentleman, and L call Almighty God to witne s that I am telling the truth, that I never struck or injured a.lyoue With a sword, as was alleged in the case of the man who was killed, or with any other weapon whatever.’ Mr Longraore seamed . mused rather than otherwise by this solemn repudiation of the foul charge, and offered no explanation or apology for the language he had indulged in.”

U the monthly meeting of the Southland Waste Land Hoard on Thursday, Mr Dunoan M‘\rthur. inspector of Forests, presented the following report, under date July. 9, addressed to the Chief Comtnismissioner of Crown Lands “ I have the honor to report that the quantity of timber passed threugh the sawmills during the past month amounts to 718,773 feet, the royalty on which being L9O 13s 91, which, with the 5s fees on 88 logs of squared timber, intercepted at the Wallacetown junction, and L 8 6s Bd, license fees for splitters and settlers since my last return, makes the total of L 123 Os 5d for the month of June. From the injury to the forests by log squaring, and (as stated in previous reports) the large extent of ground that must necessarily be dotted prer, in search of comparatively few trees, not only with crops and branches, but also with about one-half the stem, in squaring the tree, and thus laying a train for sweeping the forest with fire, I would strongly recommend that log-cutting should be put a stop to, except under special circumstances. The same objection applies to splitting, which should now be put an end to also, in all casts where sawmills are within reasonable distances. Where such is the case, it wi'l answer all parties better that sawmjll-eut fencing posts should be used. They will be more durable, not having bren shaken in splitting, and ought to be less expensive ; and there certainly will be much less risk from fire. I would also recommend that that there should be no more licenses issued to cub stau ing trees for firewood, where there are sawmills within suitable distances, but that the firewood cutter should follow the miller, by which means the branches would be utilised, the ground cleared, and the risk from fires greatly diminished.”

Mr Walter will address the electors at the Masonic Hall this evening at eight o’clock. The Central Committee will meat at seven.

We have received the first number of the ‘ Clutha Leader,’ a new weekly paper. The matter is well selected, and the journal appears to have been launched with the determination, on the part of the people of the district, to support it.