NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 327, 30 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Public Health Act.— By a notice in the New Zealand, Gazette, of June 24th, the provisions contained in sections 21 to 45, both inclusive, of the Public Health Act, are put in force in Canterbury. Railway Tickets-- Believing it to be a practice with a few persons to transfer return railway tickets, the officials are at present keeping a sharp look out to detect offenders. In a case of the kind brought before the Rangiora Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, a person was fined £3, ordered to pay costs 23s 6d also to pay the railway fare. Promotion.— We understand that Mr H. Feast has received promotion to an inspectorship of the third class, to take effect from July Ist. Mr Feast has shown himself to be a most painstaking and energetic officer during his long connection with the Canterbury police force in the very onerous and responsible position of chief detective, and his promotion is the well deserved reward of a faithful discharge of the duties devolving upon him, and as such we congratulate him upon it. Gazette Notices. The following appointments are gazetted in the New Zealand Gazette of June 24th W. O. Jennings, M.R.C.S.B , as medical referee for the Banks’ Peninsula district ; William Gavin, of Hope of Christchurch and Court Star of Canterbury Lodges, as agent under the Government Insurance and Annuities Act, 1874 ; Dr McDonald, under the same Act, as medical referee for the Rainbow Lodge, Lyttelton ; and the Postmaster, Lyttelton, to be superintending officer for the industrial branch of the department under the same Act.

Survey of Otago. —We have to acknowledge the receipt of a pamphlet entitled “An Exposition of the Processes and Results of the Survey System of Otago,” by Mr J. T. Thomson, C.E., F.R.G.S., for many years chief surveyor of that province. After briefly describing the systems in use in other countries, especially in the United States and Canada, the writer goes on to explain that employed in Otago, and claims for it two special merits, rapidity and accuracy. The former, he says, is secured by their initial points common to, or joining together, the several processes—astronomical, geodesical, triangular, and transverse ; one primary point and six subsidiary ones having been fixed with the greatest care, and the province then divided into geographical areas. Accuracy, Mr Thomson says, was secured by their mode in mathematical reduction on the meridian and perpendicular of their minor triangulations and section surveys. Fakir OF Oolu.— There was a very large attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening when Dr Sylvester repeated the programme of the previous evening. The illusion of “ Masks and Faces,” the entranced lady, and “Anoetos” were capitally done, and drew forth loud plaudits. In the skating act the Sylvester Brothers exhibited much grace and skill, some of the most difficult skating feats being performed with ease, while the concluding portion of the act evoked shouts of laughter. The fairy fountain still continues as popular as ever, and last night the Doctor introduced several new and charming combinations of colour. The same programme will be repeated this evening and on Thursday Miss Daisy Sylvester will take a benefit which of itself, independently of the attraction of the programme should ensure a full house. As will be observed the stay of the Fakir in Christchurch is growing very short. St Peter’s Church, Eiccarton.— The annual festival to celebrate the dedication of the above church was held yesterday. At 5 p.m. a tea meeting was held in the district schoolroom, at which a large number of persons were present, the tables, which were bountifully supplied by the ladies of the congregation, having to be filled twice. At seven o’clock there was choral evensong (Tallis’ service) in the church, the Rev F. A. Hare intoning the prayers. The hymns were —375, 321, 273, and 330, from “ Hymns Ancient und Modern.” The Rev F. A. Hare preached an impressive sermon, taking for his text, St. Peter 11., chap. v.—“Ye also as lively stones are bu ; lt up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood.” The offertory amounted to £3 14s. After the service an adjournment was made to the schoolroom, which was rapidly filled, when an entertainment took place, each item of the programme being rendered in a very pleasing manner. The following is the programme :—Pianoforte duet, Misses Marshman ; song, Mrs Innes ; recitation, Mr Hull; concertina solo, Miss L Taylor ; song, Miss Marshman ; cornet solo, Mr T. Tankard ; reading, Mr Worthy ; song, Mrs L. Harper ; pianoforte solo, Miss Marshman ; song, Mr J. Stephens ; reading, Mr Worthy; song, Mrs Innes ; concertina solo, Miss L. Taylor. After a vote of thanks had been passed to those ladies and gentlemen whose efforts had contributed to the success of the festival, the entertainment terminated by singing the National Anthem. The offertory and proceeds of the tea meeting and entertainment, which will amount in all to something very handsome, are to be devoted to the fund for erecting a peal of bells for the church. The Purchase of the Otago Block, —The following is the translation of the paper, shewing the business transacted at the recent Maori meeting, held at the Heads, published in the Daily Times , and referred to in our telegrams yesterday:—The council of Native chiefs summoned by Hori Korei Taiaroa, M.H.R. for the Southern Maori Electoral District, to meet at Otago Heads on the 24th May last, concluded its sittings on the 10th June, 1875. To this council Taiaroa had summoned all the old men and chiefs of the Ngaitahu tribe. All the principal old men were assembled at this meeting. The real business of the council began on°the 26th May, at 7 o’clock. It began by examining those who sold the land, taking —First, Those who were present at the buying of land by Colonel Wakefield came singly before the chairman during two days and two nights, to give evidence of what passed between him and the Natives at the purchasing of the Otago Block. Next, evidence was taken with respect to the promise that one acre should be set aside for the Maoris for every ten acres taken for the set tlers, and copies of the letters of Captain Symons and Colonel Wakefield to the New Zealand Company in London were produced.

Next, the ev : dcnce of those who sold the land to the commissioner, Kemp, in 1818 was taken. They did not consider they had sold the country inland, but only that contiguous to the sea shore, because the purchase was made on board a man-of-war, where the land was not seen, besides which they were bad with the spirits which the soldiers (?) of the ship gave them to drink. Tic Council considered that Kemp’s deed was not in accordance with the laws of England, and that it must fail. Next, Mr Mantell’s purchase was considered ; and it was decided that the land was not absolutely parted with by the negotiations with Colonel Wakefield, Mr Kemp, and Mr Mantell, that the deeds were deceitful, and that the Maor were beguiled into i elling the land. After much discussion it was proposed by Hori Kerci Tairoa—“ 1. That a collection should be made to contest the validity of the purchase deeds of 1844,1848, and 1853. 2. That

one or more Maoris should be sent to England with a lawyer to petition the Queen and Parliament for justice.” Carried unanimously. Teoni Topi Patuki proposed—“ That in the first place, the sum of £SOOO be raised for the purpose, and if that should be consumed before the matter is settled, another £SOOO should be collected.'’ Carried. Henere Mahuika, of Kaiapoi, proposed—- “ That the Maories who go to England: shall be paid a day in New Zealand, whilst engaged in this work; And £2 3s a day in England; that the chairman arrange with the lawyers, and that the passages of of all, both ways, be paid by the tribe.” Carried,

The Emperor of Austria arrived in Venice on the 4th April, and was magnificently reed ved, the whole city turning out in his honor. Processions were organised on the Grand Canal, the great square was illuminated, and the Emperor was welcomed at a series of State entertainments. Victor Emanuel, —who is of the House of Hapsburg, being the son of an Archduchess, —and his guest are said to have been cordially agreed on some points of policy, and at a grand dinner on the sth the King of Italy drank to the health of “my illustrious guest, brother, and friend,” and the Emperor responded with a toast to “my brother and dear friend,” and “to the well-being and prosperity of Italy.” The last sentence was not required by etiquette, and has delighted the Italians, who have a traditional dread of the power which so long held a paramount influence among them. The Foreign Ministers of both States were present, and had frequent Conferences. The cordiality manifested by the two Sovereigns seems somewhat to have annoyed Berlin.