BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3790, 17 April 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Wellington, April 16. His Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Normanby will visit Canterbury, leaving hero by the Phoebe on Tuesday next. They intend to remain in Canterbury until after the autumn race meeting. April i 7. Major Palmer’s report upon the surveys of the Colony has been published. The *N. Z. Times’ says he has written sufficient to thoroughly alarm the Colony. He recommends for the effective control of detail surveys (1) that as soon as practicable the General Government will take charge of all surveyoperations in the Colony, ab lishing for this purpose the present Provincial organisations. (2). That the whole be then placed under a Surveyor-General at Wellington, whose duty it will be to organise and superintend all details as well as trigonometrical observations. (3). That those of the existing staffs who may wish to take service under the new system, at their present rates of salary, be retained, subject to approval by the Surveyor-General, who may, it he wish, introduce a test examination as a condition of their remaining. {4.} That the existing system of centres and chief surveyors be adhered to, for the present at least. Should the abolition of Provinces take place it might bo desirable to Te-arrange the areas of district and perhaps to change the titles of the superintending officers.

. Auckland, April 16. The City East 1 rovincial election resulted in the return of Mr Rees, who polled 270, Mr Holdship, 230. The Cyphrenes sailed for San Francisco with 129 passengers from Australia and New Zealand, including Major Palmer. The vessel was much over crowded.

Obahambtown, April 16. The news from Tairua is encouraging. The prospectors are breaking down stone, and intend sending a ton to the Thames as a trial. The stone is said to be of a most promising nature, showing gold freely, and is estimated to yield welL

The Waitikauri Reefs are looking better. A parcel of stone crushed gave soz of gold from 1651bs of stone.

, Christchurch, April 16. The Provincial Council adjourned last night till May 4. A branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners of England was formed last night.

, /k* jjjjp Circe, due at the end of the month, brings 220 immigrants for Canterbury. It is rumoured that if the Provincial Council does not make a liberal grant for the city, a prominent member of the City Council will move that toll-bars be erected on all the leading thoroughfares at the entrance to the city.

_ _ _ April 1.7 H. M. Goodyer, the cab driver who was ai - rested by order of the mayor some time ago for removing a portion of the first fence round the cab stand opposite Cobb and Co.’s office, has instructed his legal adviser to bring an action for -LSOO against the mayor for false imprisonment. *

A new Athletic Club has been formed with a view of encouraging working men. All the Smes will be given in money instead of being ke those given by the present club—plate or jewellery.

Arrangements are being made for the Governor s visit,’but it is not known yet whether his reception is to be public or private. Great complaints are made of the rise in the price of milk. The ‘ Star ’ urges the institutiqn of a scheme for bringing in milk from outlying districts by early trains, so as to destroy the present monopoly. that Mercer has altered considerably in demeanor and habits since he was sentanced to death. Before his trial he used to mdnlge freely in exercise in the prison yard, but he scarcely takes any now. He is mnoh quieter and more subdued in manner than for»*ud. partakes but slightly of food supplied

The Christchurch Archerv Club will fire a match against Wellington to-day. Forty applications were received for the apliomtment of head master, and twenty-four for that of head mistressof the East Christchurch district school, many being from Melbourne and Sydney; and from persons possessing v« rv superior attainments. (From our own Correspondents. ) _ , .. ~ . Auckland, April 16. The Auckland Institute has collected L 1,600, in private subscriptions, for the erection of a museum. L 3.000 is required. Sir George Grey informed a deputation of the Society that the Province was too poor to make a grant. The wedding of the son of a chief, at Russell, celebrated according to European rites, caused a great stir there. The breakfast was laid out in a new raupo building, erected for the occasion, 70ft long, and the refreshments were most lavish, consisting of 3 bullocks, 17 pigs, 300 cakes, 300 puddings, 350 loaves, potatoes, kumeras, and melons in immense quantities. There were numerous waiters, nicely dressed; also door-keepers. There were about nine relays of guests, amounting to 700 people, and 1,0 . C0 , P®°P le were on the ground. The children s feast was laid on a mat 40ft long, and cake was piled along this four inches high. The wedding festivities cost L2OO.

A shovelful of stuff at the new Tairua goldfield, on being washed up, yielded three or four dwts, of fine rich gold. The prospect is considered an excellent one.

Nearly the first sale of New Zealand Insurance shares, since the formation of the new company has been quoted on ’Change, was recorded to-day at L 4.

~ ~ . , . Napier, April 16. More than two hundred persons, young and old, are now receiving aid from the relief fund that was subscribed to relieve the sick and distressed. It is understood that the Superintendent will refuse to stand at the next Provincial elections. His friend and neighbor is candidate for the representation of the Superintendent’s old constituency. The Corporation has been urged to purchase a swamp w.thin the borough. Last year the Provincial Council voted a sum of money for its reclamation, but nothing has been done The lingering character of tho sickness prevalent is attributed to the swamps, from which a horrible stench arises. To-night the Town Council meets to consider the Engineer s scheme for water supply. In a report he says he proposes to sink two artesian wells of three inches in diameter, six feet in height, and in the immediate connection with the latter to erect an elevated tank of the capacity of four thousand gallons, another tank in the centre of the town at an elevation of oae hundred feet which is calculated to give a pressure of 341b to the square inch, the total cost of this water supply will be L 6,003.

_ , April 17. Ihe Luna has amved here from Poverty Bay. On the 11th inst. Mr M‘Lean was still interviewing the Natives ; on the 13th a depu tation of Battlers was to wait on him, and lay before' him the requirements of the district. Captain Fairchild nas been engaged blasting rocks at the entrance to the Turanganui river. The English church at Gisbourne, erected at a cost of LBBO, was consecrated on the 11th by the Bishop of Waiapu. The general rate of Is in the pound, fixed by the Napier Town Council last night, is estimated to give a revenue of LI, 400, Queenstown, April 17. Ihe Powell-Barry prosecution promises to become a cause ctl&bvt locally. Barry declares he has obtained indisputable evidence that the property so strongly identified by Mrs Powell is ms own property. Thereupon he laid information for perjury, which Messrs Malaghan, Robertson, Betts, and Warren, as magistrates, objected to first swear, and afterwards refused to take. Mr Beetham would have accepted it, but he is a material witness. It was then sworn before Mr Stratford at Arrowtown to-day. The refusal of the magistrates has caused considerable discussion. From the social standing of the defendant the case is disagreeably sensational. It is stated that another case of a like nature against another witness is probable. An inquiry by Inspector Moore, regarding the gaol regulations u respect ;o Sloau, has been held.

The escort shows a large increase. A rich lead of gold has been struck by prospectors on the race course on a terrace ; t Arthur’s Point.