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Evening Star, Issue 3729, 4 February 1875, Page 3

{From, our own Correspondent.)

Auckland, February 4, A narrow escape fiom drowning occurred yesterday morning between one and two o’clock. 'The captain and crew of the Emu, screw barqueutiiie, alongside the breakwater, were alarmed by screams proceeding from the water in the immediate neighborhood of the vessel. The mate and several of the crew were soon on deck, and, guided by the sounds, discovered' the form of a woman with her head j ust above the water. She was hanging on to one of the fenders between the vessel and the breakwater wall. The mate (George Williams), assisted by some of the crew, managed with difficulty to rescue the woman, who was so exhausted when brought on deck that she fainted. Proper means having been adopted, she came to after a time. She was apparently between twenty and thirty years old, and respectably dressed. In answer to a question as to what she was doing there so late, she replied that her name was Jane Keby, that, she was taking a quiet stroll in the coolness of the night, and became dizzy as she stood at the edge of the quay, and so fell into the water. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Leggett, clerk of the Provincial Council, who was arrested for embezzlement, because it is known that his family relations were not of the happiest, owing to inveterate drunkenness in a quarter where he should have received help. He was himself steady, and .apparently an exemplary man. The criminal assault case on the little girl is remanded till to morrowThe ‘ Star’ cites the refusal of the Government to give the farmers the benefit of the railway completed between Mataura bridge and Invercargill as an exemplification of the same dog in the manger principle that characterised the railway management in this Province. Mr Vesey Stewart’s special settlement in this Province iaj referred to by the ‘Belfast News letter, ’ per this mail, as likely to drain from the north of Ireland a class of men which Ireland can iU afford to lose. Mr Parnall, formerly M.H.R. , is still conducting the north of Ireland emigration agency. Mr Wheeler, from Dunedin, has secured good premises for the New Zealand Shipping Company’s office. , It is reported that a local firm will be appointed Auckland agents of the Dunedin Coasting Steamer Company, but it is

the opinion of business men that agents specially devoted to the duties will be most likely to advance the interests of the company and to secure general support. The prevalence of measles has rendered the precaution necessary of precluding from admission to school any child belonging to an infected family. Commenting on Mr Thompson’s remarks at flic Otago Institute, the ‘Star’ says:—“ This is a sample of the rubbish which men claiming intelligence above their fellows can some times give utterance to. Mr Thomson thinks New Zealand should enter into competition with European nations, and America in scientific observating, and seriously urges that the Government should endeavor to rival costly futile polar expeditions by northern nations by undertaking the work of antarctic exploration. Did it not suggest itself to Mr Thomson’s mind that largo tracts of territory in New Zealand, and even within the boundaries of his own Province, remain yet unknown and untrodden by European footsteps? The work of exploration and colonisation within the limits of our own Colony will allow ample employment for the Government of New Zealand, without venturing on investigations relating to other lands and other worlds.” Wellington, February 4, The ‘ Post ’ says that Major Palmer will be appointed permanent Surveyor-General if he obtains five years' leave of absence, which he has. applied for. The ‘ Post ’ condemns such an appointment as a flagrant job, while the Colony has surveyors of such high scientific attainments and local knowledge as Mr Thomson, of Dunedin, Mr Heale, of Auckland, and Mr Jackson, of Wellington. Christchurch, February 4. At a sale of the Almriri estate, belonging to Messrs Rhodes, this morning, Pie first seven lots, comprising seven hundred and fifty-seven acres, wore sold at an average of Ll7 fis per aero. The sale is still proceeding, the biddings being spirited. THE NATIVE MINISTER AND THE MAORI KING. {From our own Correspondent.) Auckland, February 4. Sir Donald M‘Lean telegraphs that he has had a most satisfactory meeting with the Maori King, which is significant of good.