General News of the Month.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 374, 7 May 1866, Page 3

General News of the Month.

Ball at the Ravenswood Hotel, Waihoa.— A correspondent writes: —“ A grand ball took place at the Ravenswood Hotel on the evening of Thursday, 12 th April. Everything passed off in the best of style. Great praise is due to the host for the excellent manner in which all things were conducted.” Rifle Match at Patang-ata.—We understand that a return rifle match was fired at Patangata, on Saturday, 7th April, between five residents in the Waipukurau District, viz., Messrs Gollan, Johnson, Meddens, Goodwin, and Hollis, and five from Patangata, viz., Messrs Buchanan, Weston, Witherow, Buchanan (jun.), and Small, in which the latter were the victors by 28 points. The highest scores on each side were 39 and 46 respectively. The higher number was Mr Weston’s score—being, we believe, the greatest number ever made at any rifle match in this Province. The ranges were 300, 400, and 500 yards—five shots at each. The weather was particularly unfavorable —squalls of wind and rain prevailing throughout the firing. Death by Deownxng. —We regret to have to chronicle a fatal accident which occurred in the Iron Pot on the morning of Friday, 13th April. Prom what we have been able to gather of the fatal occurrence, it would appear that a mau named Charles Brown, cook on board the schooner * Clyde,’ was, at half-past five on the morning in question, proceeding on board the cutter ‘ Betsy’ from the shore with a kettle in his hand, when he unfortunately either missed his footing or slipped off the plank which communicated with the vessel from shore, and immediately sunk—to rise no more! Captain Cheshire, of the ‘ Clyde,’ and two others instantly manned a boat, and went in search cf the body, but it never rose to the surface after it sunk. The tide was strong ebb at the time, and the body must have been carried out to sea in a very short time. The deceased was about 47 years of age, and unmarried; in fact, he has neither kith nor kin in the colonies. He was a very respectable man, and had been on board the 4 Clyde’ since that vessel was first launched. During the day all the vessels in harbor bad the ensign half-mast. Discoteet of Me. Rich’s Body.—lnformation was received in town on Thursday night last, 12th April, of the discovery of the body of Mr William Rich, who, our readers will remember, had been missing for about three weeks. We have since received the following particulars:—lt would appear that a mau named Leopoldt, a German, and shepherd in the employment of the Native chief To Hapuku, happened on Thursday to be driving a flock of sheep across a creek near the Te Ante Bush, when an object on the bank startled them. He then went up and examined the object, which proved to be the remains of the unfortunate deceased, partly concealed by flax bushes. They were frightfully mutilated, a groat deal of flesh having been torn from the upper part of the body, as if by pigs, and the head being found some dozen yards from the trunk. The place where bo was found was about a mile or so from Mr Ellingham’s, at Te Ante, and close upon a side track very much used. The body having been conveyed to Te Ante, Dr. English (the Coroner) was immediately sent for, and an inquest was held on Priday, the 13th, at which a verdict in accordance with the facts of the case was returned by the jury. The death of Mr Wm. Rich has thrown a very painful gloom over society, more especially when the causes and circumstances are taken into consideration which led to his untimely end. The discovery of the body will, however, we trust, give some satisfaction to his sorrowing friends, of whom there are not a few, for he was universally respected by all who had any acquaintance with him. VV o understand that Miss Rich, sister to the deceased gentleman, was a pasenger by the ‘ Taranaki ’ yesterday, from Auckland. We are sure she will receive the sincere sympathy of the Hawke’s Bay public in her deep affliction. PUNEEAI OE THE BATS WILLIAM RICH, EsQ. The mortal remains of the above lamented gentleman were brought into town on Saturday last, and were interred in the Church of England Cemetery on Sunday—a very great number of people from both town and country following the body to its last sad resting place. The impressive burial service of the Church was read by the Rev. Dr. SaywelL Annual Licensing Meeting. —The annual licensing meeting was held on Tuesday, the 17th, before Captain Curling, R.M. ; H. B. Sealy, Esq., J.T. i S. Locke, Erq., J.P. : and i. Ander

e on, Esq.; J.P. ; when the* following licenses were granted :—J. Marshall, Settlers’ Hotel; sureties— Messrs Sutton and Boylan. C. Campbell, Albion Hotel; sureties—Messrs Knowles and N. Williams. J. Ashton, Exchange Hotel; sureties— A. Browna and \V. Parker. L. Butcher, Commercial Hotel; sureties —Messrs Knowles and Kennedy; T, Edwards, Shakspearo Hotel; sureties—Messrs John Wood and J. C. J. Oxenbridge. 3. Gill, Masonic Hotel; sureties—Messrs M. Boylan and A. Irvine. T. Jeffares, Crown Hotel j sureties—Messrs Miller and Lindsay. B. Jeffares, Clive Hotel; sureties—Messrs Sutton and A. Browne. P. M‘Hardj, Havelock Hotel; sureties — Messrs Sutton and Miller. J. M'Murray, Shamrock Hotel; sureties—Messrs A. Irvine and MBoylan. T. Reynolds, Exchange Hotel, Havelock ; sureties—Messrs Boylan and Knowles. H. Richmond, Royal York Hotel; sureties—Messrs Boylan and Sutton. J. Johnstone, Royal Hotel •, sureties —Messrs N. Williams and A. Tod; G. H. Swan, Mac’s Hotel; sureties—Messrs Knowles and Browne. F. Tuxford, Ferry Hotel; sureties— Captain Charlton and James Wood. E. D. Manoy, Momma Hotel; sureties—Messrs Sutton end Miller. Charles MTntyre, Sea View Hotel, (a new house) j sureties—H. Williams and T. Morrison. The Provincial Council.—Wo observe from the advertising column* of the ‘Herald’ that T. K. Newton, Esq., ouce more places himself before the electors of Rapier as a candidate for the seat vacated in the Provincial Council by the resignation of J. M. Stuart, Esq.,—this time, no doubt, in the sure and certain hope of being returned. Maori English Lexicon.— lt will be remembered that Mr W. Colenso was, during the recent session, appointed to prepare for publication a Maori English Lexicon. In order to be more perfect as well as to the more speedy completion of the work, Mr Colenso invites the kind assistance of persons who may be acquainted with the Maori language. A General Government Gazette published on Tuesday contains a letter from him on the subject. He says:—“ Such efficient aid may be rendered many ways by those gentlemen, particularly by their forwarding to me—l. Any memoranda (however small or rough) which they may have already made of any local or strange Maori words or phrases, or of any peculiar local usage of common words. 2, Or of any proverbs, sayings, or recitations: especially of those that are old, local, or little known, or which may contain strange words or phrases (such as can be very well written by an intelligent Native). S. By sending mo from time to time any words or expressions which may appear to them to be local or strange, or peculiar in use among the Natives of their respective districts. 4. By pointing out to me those Maoris of their districts whom they consider to be well qualified to become correspondents to assist me in my linguistic inquiries. 5. -find by stirring up and encouraging those Maoris to reply fully and promptly to afl such inquiries when made by mo. As it is my intention in the prosecution of this work hereafter to visit some of the less known Maori districts, those officers may also have it in their power still further to aid mo in my inquiries, should I visit any district in which they may be resident, or with which they may be connected.” Agricultural Prospects.— One of the signs of the times, important in the bearing which it has upon the interests of our old established farmers, is the fact, that many of the inhabitants of the mining districts are turning attention to farming pursuits, and expect within the next year or two to supply the demand, in their own districts not only for root crops, but for oats and wheat! The establishment of flour mills in those districts is likewise in contemplation, so that within a brief period of time, our old farmers who supplied the mining districts with vegetables and grain, as well as our merchants and carriers who supplied them with flour and meal, will lose a good many of their best customers. To compensate for this, there will be the new settlement on the West Coast to supply; but this will not be, by any means, so sure a market, owing to the risk of transportation by sea, and the competition that will set iir from Australia and Tasmania, as well as from other Provinces of Now Zealand, Taking all circumstances into consideration, the probability is that the price of grain will rule lower within the next two or three years than it has done lately. The American war being now over, there will bo an immense increase in the productions of breadstuffs in the United States, and a considerable quantity of them must find their way to the Australian Colonies. There is nothing disheartening, however, in the prospect; for "even ehouid the price of grain fco reduced, our farmers, with a highly fertile soil and a climate congenial to the growth of the crops cultivated in Groat Britain, may follow the example of the British farmer, and by improved methods of culture, a readjustment of rotations, and the employment of labor-saving machinery, secure a rcl urn upon their capital and labor. V arioua root and green crops, which have never yet been grown to any extent in .this Province, must be introduced, and the farmer will thus be enabled to secure a larger acreabie yield from the grain crops, to keep more stock, and to make more butter, cheese and bacon. The Colonial system is to take as many corn crops from the land as it will produce, and when it has become no longer capable of yielding them to lay it down in grass, and allow it to remain in that condition until it has so far recovered as to bo fit for cropping again. The time is now fast approaching for a change which will enable the colonial farmer to release the full capabilities of bis laud- He must give up the old style of relying altogether upon potatoes and oats, aadintroduce a rotation wtuon will keep hi* land always in bark