INTERPROVINCIAL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 329, 2 July 1875, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

AUCKLAND.

Our files t% hand by the Taranaki are to the 26th ult. By latest advitng from Mongonui we learn that much damage been caused by the heavy rains that have taken place, and the floods are reported to been the hi truest for the last twenty years. a great loss has been occasioned by awav a number of sheep, cattle, and hors by the floods. In the Oruaite Valley also much loss has taken place amongst the

sheep. Mr Thompson, a settler residing in the district, had a very narrow escape through the flood coming upon him during the night, after he had retired to rest. He had barely time to escape from the house to the high ground, the water being at the time four feet deep. Fortunately there was no loss in the Oraru Valley, as the settlers, anticipating a rising of the waters, had taken the precaution to drive their sheep on to the uplands. The newly constructed bridges in the district have fortunately withstood the rush of the waters, and none of them have succumbed. At Taipo, however, the native settlement has been completely swept away into the sea, entailing great loss and suffering to the natives. In addition to this, a great deal of timber felled during the dry season has been carried out by the heavy flood to sea.

One of the narrowest escapes from the possibly fatal consequences of accident occurred on the 22nd. The accident itself is also of the strangest character that has been recorded either in Auckland or elsewhere. To comprehend the strangeness of the occurrence it is necessary to enter somewhat into detail. At the back of Mr Short’s (hairdresser) premises, there is a “ lean-to” roofed with zinc, having a fireplace with a brick chimney twenty feet high at the southeastern corner. A large brick building forms the northern boundary of Mr Hardington's yard, having also a high chimney overlooking the “ lean-to” already mentioned. Mr and Mrs Short had been to Mercer with some friends, and arrived on their return home about seven o’clock in the evening. They prepared to have supper in the “ lean-to,” which was used as a kitchen, but were induced to accompany their friends to Hobson street. When they came back they found the “ leanto” actually destroyed and the place where it stood heaped up with bricks. Upon obtaining access to the yard, they discovered that a large slice had been taken out of the corner of Mr Hardington’s building. In fact, there was an open way through the house into the stable sheds. The fact is that the higher chimney of Hardington’s premises must have fallen against the lower level chimnsy, and the whole weight of the two, with part of the contiguous walls, fallen altogether upon the unfortunate “ lean-to” or kitchen. Had Mr and Mrs Short not been induced to accompany their friends a little way, one or both of them must have been seriously injured or killed. So narrow an escape from death we do not remember to have heard of.

The case of Ryan, Bell, and Co v Morrison (Captain of the Emily McLaren), brought to recover £l4O, the value of a billiard table, the slates of which were found to be broken when the case containing them was opened, was concluded yesterday at the District Court. During the progress of the case several points arose of interest to consignees and ship-owners, in respect to liability for damage to goods. Mr Whitaker, who was counsel for the defendant, contended that a consignee could not recover under a bill of lading, in case of breakage, unless he proved that the damage had been occasioned by improper stowage. In answer to this, Mr Hesketh pointed out that the condition was almost an impossible one, and that if it really existed, consignees would never be able to recover for breakage. The point was not decided by the Judge, who, in giving judgment for the defendant, was influenced chiefly by the fact that the goods were removed from the ship’s side by the receiver for the plaintiffs, instead of information of their suspected condition having been given to Messrs Ryan, Bell, and Co, and the matter inquired into before delivery was taken.

A telegram from Tairua on the 2tth gays : —There is rich gold in the Prospectors’ claim. The manager put in two shots at the bottom of the shaft, and obtained splendid specimens from the dark vein of stone, and the casing is thickly impregnated with the precious metal, while many choice gold-bearing stones were detected on washing among the mullock. The character of the rock is now quartz, and but little cement, and the gold is to be seen in the solid stone. There is about 3£ feet quartz, but the size cannot be told, as no hanging-wall has yet been found. The whole of the stuff from the shaft is being saved. The length of the reef the Prospectors have left to their share is 600 feet, a great portion of which has been prospected by Nees, and its value known. Bergin’s boundary is within 180 feet of the Prospectors’ shaft, but the reef in that direction r as not been tried beyond 50 feet to the south of the shaft. Two tons are now being packed to the cutter from Grahams town to the Thames.

The proprietors of the Waikato Times have now completed the purchase of the church building in Hamilton West, and as soon as possible will convert it into a printing office; the Times will then be the only journal in New Zealand, and probably in the world, which reverts to the original custom of the trade. In the days of Guttenberg and Caxton, printing was generally carried on under the wings of church buildings, the class of books committed to the press being principally of a religious character. In those days the printing fraternities, now called “ companionships,” were formed into what were commonly known as “ chapels,” presided over by a “ Father of the chapel,” On the occasion of the visit to the Thames on the 24th, by the Superintendent, Mr 0, P. Mitchell, Mr Rowe, and a number of miners waited upon him respecting the acquisition of land in Ohinemuri for settlement. These gentlemen expressed fully the views of the miners upon the subject. They had been for some time endeavoring to obtain land for settlement, but every obstacle had been thrown in their way by the General Government. Considerable discussion took place upon the subject, during which the Superintendent pointed out the efforts he had made since his election to the Superintendency to have the country opened up for settlement. If he had been furnished with the necessary power, 200 persons would haee been settled in the district two months ago. The agreement which had been entered into was in the possession of the General Government Agent in his private box, and of so little moment was the interest of these 200 people considered, that no instructions vvere sent to have the box broken open and the document obtained. It was impossible for the Superintendent to do anything in the absence of the agreement, out the moment it was received he would act. If he had had his own will he would have had Ohinemuri covered with incipient farms, as desired. Three men occupied farms who had claims in the district. He could not force the Go

to inform him how large tracts of country had been handed over to certain 'persons. The whole of the timber on the 1 block, and the water, had been leased I tor 0 f forty years prior to its being

handed over to the Provincial Government. The occupant could not cut timber for that period, nor could he prevent others from cutting timber, making r-< ds through it, or doing what they liked. In some cases the rights were granted for ninety-nine years. People of course would not settle upon land subject to all those rights. His object was to prevent the land passing away from the mining community who desired to settle upon it. He had reason to believe that the best portions of the district were being bought by the Government for private individuals. He had asked the Government to furnish him, as Superintendent, with a copy of the correspondence under which they agreed to allow a Government officer to purchase what he (Sir George Go.}) he lieved belonged to the inhabitants of the Thames. They had not yet answered his letter. They seat an explanation that the land was not fit for small settlers, and that they thought it better to secure it for a capitalist. He then raised the question how they could know whether any man was a capitalist, or whether the united capital of a number of small settlers would not exceed the capital of any one mai) and no notice whatever was taken of these communications. He thought the Thames people should take up this position, that the General Government were not authorised to buy land except for the public, and when they had bought land for the public they had no right to give it away in compensation to any claimants, nor to exchange such land for any other blocks. If compensation was due, it should not be given, either in land or in money payments, except by the Assembly, after full enquiry. He believed that a block of 15,000 acres was about to be given up at the Thames, in exchange for a block somewhere else. That was not just to the people, who should freely express their views upon such subjects, insist upon their rights and upon receiving justice from the Government. If the people expressed their determination that such things should not be done, they would not be done. The people ought not to be apathetic, but petition the Assembly for an inquiry as to how the lands had been dealt with. If the people would take the matter into their own hands, they might depend upon the sympathy and assistance of other parts of the colony. A season had now been lost because a public record had been taken from the place where it ought to have been, and shut up by a Government officer in his private box. He did not believe that in Russia, in China, or under any arbitrary Government in the world such a thing would be attempted to be done. The deputation said the people at the Thames had every confidence that the Superintendent would do his utmost to protect the public interest in respect to public lands. HAWKES’ BAY. On the Ist of July the provincial account will be removed from the Union Bank of Australia to the Bank of Australasia, the tender of the latter having been accepted. The terms on which the Bank of Australasia will conduct the Provincial Government account are, 7 per cent, on tne daily credit balance, and 7£ per cent, will be charged on overdraft account. An overdraft will be also allowed to the extent authorised by the Audit Act—one-twentieth part of the ordinary revenue of the province. We hear that the Maoris intend, if they can get a suitable piece of land centrally situated in town, to erect a commodious twostorey building, with comfortable anartments for their legal adviser, aud sleeping accommodation for themselves. Here they will meet aud “ transact business.” We hear that many of them are contributing liberally, according to their means, to one general fund to he expended in law, and it is not a very violent presumption to assume that before they get what they term “ their rights ” the lawyers will have got all their money. The following passage occurs in the opening address of his Honor the Superintendent in the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Council : “You will have seen with satisfaction the traffic returns for the Napier and Paki Paki Railway ; the monthly receipts are larger, up to the present time, than on any other line in the North Island. This fact is evidence of the wealth of the community ; and, considering that the railway does not yet catch the bulk of the inland traffic, it may confidently be expected that when it is extended to Te Ante, Waipawa, and Waipuknrau, moat satisfactory returns may be looked for, which will be still further increased when the Seventy Mile Bush is tapped. The timber trade that will then be opened by the railway will afford employment to a large population, and Napier will then draw its timber supplies from its own forests.

On Saturday evening, June 19th, a man of the name of John Thomas was arrested on the charge of stabbing James Cable, a platelayer, The circumstances in connection with this dastardly crime were as follows : On Saturday evening, at about five o’clock, Cable entered the bar of the Star Hotel, and called for a glass of beer ; Thomas was standing at the bar at the time, but went outside as soon as Gable entered. Cable drank his beer, and went outside on to the verandah, and, on seeing Thomas, said, “ Well, John, and how does this weather suit you?” Thomas made some reply, and rushed at Cable ; the latter called out, “ I am stabbed 1” and then staggered into the hotel, where he was at once attended to by Mr and Mrs Dennett and others in the house, who did all they could to relieve his sufferings, Dr Gibbes was promptly sent for. It was discovered that Cable had received a dangerous wound in the lower part of his abdomen—a gash of about five inches in length. This was sewn up, and then Cable, in the presence of J. A. Smith, Esq., and Inspector Scully, made a declaration of the circumstances of the case. Thomas, it appears, after the occurrence, went to his home, and from thence was traced to the Criterion Hotel, where he was arrested. No marks of blood were found on him, and only a small knife, that it is thought could not have inflicted the wound such as Cable received. It is reported that some time back Cable and Thomas were working on the railway, the former being ganger over the latter ; that Cable discharged Thomas, and hence the cause of the ill-feeling tfcat showed itself in the cowardly and dastardly assault. We are glad to report that Cable, though not yet out of danger, is progressing favorably. A rather amusing story (says the Hawke's Day Herald) is being circulated in town about a marriage which was to have taken place a few days ago, but did not. The lady and gentleman, it is said, intended the nuptial knot to be tied by the Registrar, and for that purpose proceeded to his office; but

from some mistake as to time, that official was not on the spot to perform the ceremony, so they agreed to dispense with his services until next day. The wedding feast, however, which had been prepared, was duly partaken of by the happy couple and the assembled guests, and next day the gentleman pro ceeded to the Registrar’s office again to meet the affianced bride, but on this occasion she did not put in an appearance, and on inquiries being instituted, it was discovered that she had eloped with one of the guests at the wedding feast. The unfortunate swain is said to be out of pocket by the transaction, having presented the lady with sundry articles of wearing apparel and jewellery, and this los«, add' dto Hi ; shock to his feelings by the lady’s abrupt departure, has rendered him very disconsolate. He has also been “chaffed” by his friends, who look look only upon the amusing side of the picture.

The Herald of the 22nd ult gives the following account of the recent floods:—The heavy rains of Saturday have flooded the Meanee flats and the low lying portion of the town. At Mr McMurray’s the water, we hear, at one time rose to the height of about three feet above the roadway, but was rapidly subsiding yesterday. At Waipawa on Saturday morning Mr Peters’ overland coach was just able to get through. About half au hour after the driver got his vehicle aud passengers safely across it would not have been safe to have made the attempt. . 1 .

Ti e rivers traversing the Ahuriri Plains rose with more than usual rapidity. The Tutaekuri overflowed its banka at a point near Mr Willan’s paddocks, Meanee, and again made its way through the old breach in the Papakura embankment. The water surrounded and entered the houses situated in the low portion of the Meanee township, rendering it necessary to remove the furniture in some of them as quickly as possible, and compelling one or two families to seek a temporary home at the Meanee Hotel. The road between Meanee and Taradale was covered to a depth of three feet at the deepest from a point near Mr Speedy’s store to the high land near the Mission Station. The fresh was at its highest about 10 p.m. on Saturday night, the water then being flush with the verandah of the Shamrock Hotel, and extending along the road to Meanee for upwards of three-quarters of a mile. . . . The large body of water flowing through the breach in the Papakura embankment prevented any communication from the Meanee with the settlers residing higher up the river; the only attempt that was made yesterday resulted in a failure; the full extent of the damage, therefore, cannot be ascertained at present. From Clive we hear that a portion of that township was inundated to a considerable extent, the inhabitants of one house having to be removed by means of a boat. TARANAKI. The Herald of the 26th ult says ; —His Honor the Superintendent came down to the Council yesterday, and stated that Mr Henderson, the representative of Messrs Brogdeu and Son, had intimated to him that owing to the road to Waifara being unfit for traffic during the winter months, he was willing that a train should run once a day between Waitaraand the Waiwakaiho, taking passengers and goods. The Council, however, thought it might lead to the railway being made a charge on the Province ; but on his Honor again conferring with Mr Henderson, that gentleman assured the Superintendent it would not have that effect. The Council, on hearing this, expressed its thanks to Mr Henderson for his kind offer, and were willing to leave it in the hands of the contractors. If any arrangement of this kind can be made, it will be a great boon to the public, and especially to the settlers living in Waitara district. NELSON. The Collingwood correspondent of the Nelson Colonist writes ; Per steamer Lady Barkly you will receive in Nelson the largest lump of retorted gold yet received from the Wanganui reefs. It is estimated to be nearly four hundred ounces. The reef is opening up first-rate, and giving good indications for the next crushing. The company want some better machinery, the battery purchased from Mr Ross is merely a toy. The same journal of the 26th gives the following account of a fatal accident: — Yesterday evening about a quarter to 6 o’clock an A.B. seaman, named Walter Pulton, belonging to the barque Melrose, of Newcastle, fill overboard and was drowned. The particulars of the accident, which we learnt from Mr H. Lass, the chief officer, are as follow :—The Melrose was to have proceeded to sea last night, and the crew were engaged in getting the vessel ready to sail. About half-past 5 the mate told deceased to haul in a tarpaulin which had been spread from the ship to the wharf during ballasting, but afterwards saw that he was “ pretty well in liquor,” so he let him alone. He noticed, however, that he was standing on the wharf whilst he (the mate) was engaged on board, and shortly after heard a splash, A seaman belonging to the Leonilda Setnino, said that deceased had fallen overboard, and the mate immediately jumped on the rail of the ship and then on to a crosspiece under the wharf; he then saw a disturbance in the water, as of some one struggling, and calling out, “Get hold of the post, Walter, I’m coming,” jumped into the water. He fancied deceased was getting further under the wharf (some 12ft perhaps) and he swam about for a long time, but could find no trace of him. Several persons searched with lanterns, and used grappling irons, but without success, The accident was reported to Mr Cross, the harbormaster, who used every means in his power to recover the body, but without avail. The ship will be moored out in the stream this morning, when the body will probably be recovered. Dec< ased, who was a native of Scotland, was about twentyfour years of age, and is unmarried. He was well liked on board, where he had been engaged for some nine months. WESTLAND, Speaking of the Buller railway, the Westport Times says:— “The points are being fixed on the railway line, and the final work done at the crossings in preparation for traffic. It should not be long now before a locomotive arrives.” A Chinaman named Bang Lum hanged himself at Welshman’s. In the morning he refused to go to work, but his mate Ah Took went, and when he returned to dinner he found Bang Lum hanging to one of the rafters of the hut. He was cut down immediately, hut was found to be dead, Deceased

appeared to be all right on the previous day, aud the witnesses could assign no cause for the rash act.

We take the following from the Westport Times :—A man named Jamieson, who has been at the Karomea for some time past, returned on Saturday to Nelson by the p.s. Wallace, having, as be puts it, “ given Ramin ea best.” lie tells a deplorable tale of the condition of the special settlers there. They are dissatisfied aud desponding, and their chances of success appear to them to lessen day by day. Beyond the work done for Government pay, that is in clearing tracks to the settlement and some little attempt at cultivation on the island, they have really done scarcely anything for themselves beyond patting up rough habitations. Of the live stock sent there a portion has been devoured during scarcity of food supplies. The fowls first disappeared, then some of the goats, and next the bull was slaughtered and served out, to each man a portion. The pigs, at least those still alive, are running adrift in the bush, the settlers bavins; no food to give them. Of cash the men have none, their in iebtedness for stores increases much faster than their earnings, and the uncertainty of their prospects makes the most stout-hearted among them despondent. Pity ’tis that a more cheerful tale could not be told, but such is the plain narrative of facts by one who has attempted to make a home there, and is overjoyed at getting away. A friend paid his passage to Nelson. The last steamer there brought the Provincial Secretary and two bodies of beef. Constituted authority was for the nonce in the minority. A telegram from Westport, dated June 24bb, says: James Donaldson, late of Bruunerton, was killed to-day by falling from the rocks on the road works at Little Hawk’s Craig. He fell 50ft, and his body then rolled into the river. Death must have been instantaneous. An inquest will be held tomorrow, at Gilmer’s.