Interprovincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 769, 14 March 1870, Page 2

Interprovincial Items.

The following figures, extracted from a return published in the New Zealand Oazette, show the quantity and value of gold exported from the different provinces of New Zealand during the last quarter of 1869. Westland,4l,3o96zs, value £165,263j Otago, 40,8260z5, value £163,304 ; Auckland, 40,5570z5., value £139,083 ; Nelson, 35,121 ozs, value £140,454; Southland, Bl7ozs, value £3,268. The following are the figures for the year 1869 : Auckland, 132,4540z5, value £335,687; Marlborough, 5140z5, value £2,056; Nelson, 147,838 ozs, value £591,370; Westland, 180,092 ozs, value £720,346 ; Canterbury, 20ozs, value £80; Otago, 150,6020z5, value £602,300. Southland, 2,7890z5, value £11,056. Totals for the year, 614,2810z5, value £2,362,295. It will be seen by these figures (says the Charleston Herald) that notwithstanding the fact that the population on the Nelson South West G-oldfields has somewhat decreased during the year, the returns will bear favorable comparison with the stated yields from Auckland, Otago, and Westland, where the number of miners located in each respective district is considerably larger than on the Nelson dig" gings. The' Wairarapa Mercury of a late date has heard of one lot of sheep which were boiled down at Berhampore, realising 10s per head, and some at Featherston at lis 6d a-piece. The settlers have at last obtained some knowledge of the value of their stock and will not bo slow to take advantage'' of it.

In referring to the late melancholy death of Mr Kiug, drowned in the Wairarapa district, the Mercury observes :—The circumstances attending his death, so closely similar to those attending the death of Mr Eckley and many others, will make our readers excuse us if we say a few words on the rashness so often exhibited by Australian colonists. Like Mr Xiug. how many of us venture to cross river* when we know they are perfectly unsafe?! A blind trust to luck is displayed—too often, we are afraid to the misfortune of the riders. The deaths of Mr Eckley,'Mr Buxton, and Mr King, have been under almost parallel circumstances. All knew the rivers well, and all met their deaths solely —we are not forgetting De mortals nil nisi bonum —through their own indiscretion. To speak of the dead is not so important as to regard the future of the living, and we may be allowed to hope that the deaths we almost have weekly to record, may serve a 3 warnings to our readers.

Aii instance of the careless use of matches came under our notice a day or two ago. A man after lighting his pipe in a public house bar in Charleston, West Coast, cast the match on the floor without extinguishing it. Soon after a woman entered the place, her muslin dress came in contact with the burning vesta, and in a few minutes she was in flames. Luckily tiie landlord and another person were present, and immediately surrounded her with woollen cloths, and thus extinguished the fire. The woman escaped with the de struclion of her dress and a slight scorching of her hands and arms. The Wanganui Herald states that on the 2nd March a large crowd congregated on the Quay, facing the Lower Ferry wire, to witness Young Jerome's daring feat of walking across the river. About 5.30 p.m. he ascended the wire, and commenced his perilous journey. After proceeding a short distance, it was thought that he would be unable to accomplish it, although the wire was tightened as much as possible, and the punt moored in the centre of the river to steady it. It was evident that the pole, which had just been re-weighted, was far too heavy lor so young a iad, as it was with great difficulty he retained it. He certainly showed great pluck and endurance in his attempt, and astonished all the spectators by his perseverance. After resting two or three times in his progress, he reached the opposite bank amidst great applause, but much exhausted. The band of the company played at intervals during the performance. Up to the 2nd of March, there have ! been 8,240 bales of wool shipped from Tim am. From 2,500 to 3,000 bales are expected yet to come in. The Charleston Herald says:—Mr Washbourne, one of the earliest and most enterprising of miners at Collingwood, has been engaged for some little time past in a work of considerable importance, which, if successful, will be a success indeed. At a distance of about five miles from the town of Collingwood is a spot well known as Appo's Gully, which in the early gold-field days was one of the richest spots in the district. The bottom of this gully, there cau be no doubt, was once the bed of the Para Para River, and the manner in which the river was diverted into its present course is intelligible to any person who has been upon the ground. Mr Washbourne's object is to reach the old river bed by means of a shaft, and this will probably require sinking to the depth of 100 to 150 feet. The difficulty is to get rid of the water, which drains into the shaft, and for this powerful pumps are required, the driving power for which is prepared by a large water-wheel already erected. About £SOO, we understand, would give ample capital to bottom the ground, and a more promising undertaking does not exist on the Collingwood gold-field. Mr Washbourne laid his plans before a number of gentlemen the other evening, and we are glad to hear there is every probability of his obtaining the assistanee needed to perfect his undertaking. The following is from the Evening Post of the sth March:—Mr Whitewood, of the Hutt, who was a passenger by the Wellington on her excursion trip to the South, had a fall on the deck on the passage from here. He did not feel much the worse at the time, and in Canterbury experienced no inconvenience ; but on the return passage was suddenly taken ill, and had to be carried below. Immediately on his arrival at Wellington,' a medical man was sent for, and it was then discovered that two of his ribs were broken close to the spine. He is now in bed, very ill indeed.

j In the Supreme Court, Wellington, on the 7th inst., Mr Travers, on behalf of Mr Waiing Taylor and other shareholders iu the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company, (limited), made an ex parte application to his Honor Mr Justice Johnston for a rule nisi addressed to the company, and calling on it to show cause why a mandamus should not be issued for the purpose of rendering void the late appointment of liquidators. The application was supported by arguments at some length, but his Honor, while admitting the great irregularities committed by the company, refused to grant the rule asked for.. The following paragraph is from the Wa nganui Evening Herald :—The large num» her of cattle exoorted from this district i 3 something astounding, and many wonder where they are brought from. Wanganui has got its name up for the superior breed which it exports to different parts of the ' Colony. In the Province of Taranaki especially, it seems to be greatly appreciated, as hardly a month passes that large droves are not taken overland. Only yesterday Messrs Bailey & Messenger started with about 250 head for New Plymouth. It certainly bliows that the Tarauaki district is once more [going a-head, and we hope that it may continue to do so. The following appears in a late Auckland paper:—The electors of Mongonui have sent a requisition to his Honor the Superintendent asking that gentleman to . come forward as their representative in the General Assembly in the place of Mr Ball, who has resigned in consequence of his intended visit to England. Mr Gillies, we understand, has accepted the invitation of the electors, and after 'his visit to the Bay of Islands—for which place he left in the Comerang on Monday—will proceed direct to Mongonui. The nomination will , take place on the 23rd inst., and the poll, if necessary, on the 30fch inst. There is, however, not the slightest probability that any opposition will be offered to the election of Mr Gillies. The following is from the Daily Southern Cross, 4th March :—We learn that on Wednesday last Te Pokiha (Fox), Marsh and others of the Arawa chiefs who are at present in Auckland were definitely informed by the hon. the Native and Defence Minister, that henceforth the system of maintaining a native force on pay for the pursuit of Te Kooti will be discontinued, but that the Government will be prepared to pay a lump sum of £5,000 for the capture of Te Kooti, alive or dead whether it be accomplished in a short or long period. To this proposal the Arawa chiefs very strongly demurred, representing that the friendly natives would not be willing to continue fighting without daily pay, and that they would not consent to attempt the capture of Te Kooti on the mere prospect of receiving £SOOO if successful. They urged the difficulties of the Uriwera country, and the great risks at-» tendant upon an expedition after such a wily foe as Te Kooti, and on the whole appeared decidedly disinclined to accept the proposal. At present it appears highly probable that the Arawas will decline to assist us any longer unless kept on pay. It would no doubt be a very pleasant thing for them to be kept on pay ad infinitum, but, unfortunately, the resources of the Colony are not equal to maintaining a large army of natives in the position of pensioners, in order to preserve their neutrality. Moreover, the suspicion is rapidly gaining ground that the system of keeping up a large standing army of natives is a mistake, and that so long as it continued the natives would—all other things being equal—rather not hurt Te Kooti, who, it must be confessed, has been a source of great profit to them. We are glad to hear that the Government have taken this bold step, for it is one which we feel sure will have the approval of the majority of the colonists. Whilst on this subject we maystate that the report that the Government had in contemplation the entire disbandment of the European forces in the colony is a mistake. We believe the ceasing to employ the Armed Constabulary only extends to future operations against Kooti in the Uriwera country, the natural difficulties of which are so great as to render pursuit by a European force a matter of: extreme difficulty and hazard, independently of the heavy expense ifc would entail. Moreover, complaints have been, made by the Arawas that their acting in conjunction with European forces impeded their movements against the enemy. We believe there is some probability of a larger sum being offered to the Arawas, than £5,000, should that be shewn to. b,e> inadequate,..

It is stated that a ragged school is about to be established in Auckland. Efforts are being made in the Empire City to form a "Wellington Quartz Crushing Company," At the latest dates the Auckland Lunatic Asylum contained no fewer than 96 inmates. Messrs Burns and Cargill, two of the Otago members in the House of Representatives, have resigned their seats. It is notified in the Southern Cross of the 28th February that William Shaw, printer and newspaper proprietor, carrying on business in Auckland and Shortland, under the style of Harnett & Co., has executed a deed of arrangement assigning all his property and effects for the benefit of his creditors. By the New Zealand Gazette, published on the 7th March, we observe that his ; Excellency the Governor has delegated to the Superintendents of all the Provinces except Wellington his powers under "The Diseased Cattle Act, 1861," and "The Diseased Cattle Act Amendment Act, 1865."

The Taranaki Herald, of a recent date, states that Major Tuke was recently thrown from his horse falling when he was crossing the TJrenni Eiver, and while recovering himself and getting on his feet, the horse kicked him in the ribs, fracturing two of them near the heart. They were glad to see that the major was in good spirits, and Dr O'Carroll informs them that he will be well enough to move about in a week or ten days.

The harvest in the Wanganui district (according to the Herald) is now almost finished, and owing to the fineness of the weather has been got in in capital order. The crops of oats promised well in many places at the commencement of the season, but the caterpillars got into them long before they were ripe for cutting, destroying large quantities. They do not appear to have touched the wheat, and some capital crops have been stored.

The New Zealand Herald says that the accounts from the Bay of Islands coal mines are very favorable, the only obstacle at present being an insufficiency of hands The following account may be relied on:— " The coal from the new dip is still improving in quality. With present appliances ihe manager can produce over 100 tons daily. More miners and laborers are wanted, which, looking at the alleged destitution at the „ Thames, should induce really steady and experienced men to apply for work at once,"

The Morning Advertiser, March 2, says that one of the constables stationed in Shortland was robbed of a considerable sum of money during the " wee sma' hours" of yesterday morning. It appears that the man came off duty at 5 o'clock in the morning, having a portion of his month's pay in his trousers. He left that necessary article of clothing on the bed when he got up at ten o'clock in the morning, and put on another pair, leaving the money in the trousers worn on the previous day. He went out, returned in the afternoon and found that the money had been taken from his pocket in the meantime. The Shortland thieves must be very daring when they will penetrate the very dormitories of the constables.

It will be recollected that a short time ago some of the dispossessed Waitotara natives made an attempt to return to the land they had formerly occupied, which was promptly resisted by the settlers. The following protest, signed by those settlers, has been published in the Wanganui papers : —" We, the undersigned settlers on the Waitotara Block, believing as we do that the promise which we have .obtained from the Government, that no natives should be allowed back on this block, is one of the best guarantees we have got that such losses as we have sustained will not occur again; and also that our personal safety greatly depends on this promisebeing adhered to and carried out in its entirety; we therefore naturally feel indignant at the insinuating encroachment made upon this promise by Sergt.-Major Bezar in giving Hata Eio and Aperahama a pass on to Waitotara. And, as we ununderstand him to be acting under the direct instructions of Major JSToake, we hereby call upon him (Major Noake) to give us, through your paper, an explanation why the pass was granted. —J. M'Donald, I". M'Lean, Moore Hunter, William Handley, Alexander' Paterson, Andrew Hunter. The natives stated that Major Noake told jthem he would allow them to go back to Waitotara if they gave him a lease of Kwpo,"

■ During the quarter ending 31st Deceinjber, 1869, 674 tons of flax hare been exported from New Zealand, valued at £16,470. Stockowners in the Mataura District, Otago, appear to have suffered severely by" a recent flood. A Mr M'Nab is said to have lost 4,000 sheep, besides horses and cattle ; Capt. Boyd, 2,000 sheep, &c.; and other parties, both in stock and through destruction of crops. We are glad to learn from the Evening Post of the 10th March that the prospects of the Terawiti quartz mining companies are still very encouraging. That journal says that Mr "Wright has in his possession a sample stone from the Never Despair Claim, in which gold can plainly be seen wiihthe naked' eye. This stone is not a solitary instance nor carefully selected, but a piece taken out of a heap. We have always been rather sceptical hitherto as to the payable nature of the Terawiti reef, but really if there is a quantity of such stone as Mr Wright showed us today obtainable, they will bear favorable comparison with some in Auckland. The following is from the Canterbury Press, 7th March : —Amongst the passengers by the Matoaka was the late minister of St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, the Eev. Mr Grant, who with his family sailed from Lyttelton for England in that ship. Yesterday, St' Paul's was hung with black, and the service was con" ducted by the Eev. J. D. Ferguson, of Lyttelton. The rev. gentleman chose for his text—" To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts," and preached an eloquent and impressive sermon, many of the congregation being moved to tears. The criminal calendar at the late sittings of the Supreme Court at Nelson was extremely light, embracing only two cases—one of forgery and one of indecent assault and in both instances the accused were discharged. Judge Richmond's charge to the Grand Jury dwelt principally with the proceedings at the Wangapeka, and his Honor condemned in the most emphatic terms the conduct of the miners in banding together to resist the survey. The fact of their having prepared arms was especially dwelt upon, and the whole course of their resistance censured as the acts of pirates and banditti more than of peaceable citizens, more particularly as it was not only illegal but unnecessary. His Honor said he desired to stamp their acts with a view to the future. The following telegram of Auckland news., dated 6th March, appeared in the Evening Post, having been received by way of the West Coast:—The Southern Cross authoritatively contradicts the rumored split in the Ministry.—The Tararu lighthouse has been burnt down. The inmates had a narrow escape. Two children were scorched. —The English Mail arrived yesterday by the barque Constance.—The new flag is the Governoi's jack, with wreath in the centre. —The Arawas refuse to follow Te Kooti on the terms offered, viz, £5,000 for his capture. Te Pohiha has gone to Maketu, to hold a meeting of chiefs. Government intend following Te Kooti with Ngatiporou. Kemp and Topia start from Ohiwa. Eations supplied by Government. No pay except in case of capture of Te Kooti. —Crushings: Long Drive, specimens, 6530zs (shares rising) ; Una, 516 tons, gave 595 ozs; Mount Pleasant, 61| tons, 24ozs 13dwts; Dauntless and Sink to Rise, 85 tons, 2330!z5; Belfast, 56 tons, 119ozs ; Mariners' Eeef, 81 tons, 1260zs ; Poverty and Charleston, 37 tons, 82ozs.—Eich specimens have been taken from the Jamaica Claim. We learn from the Wanganui papers the particulars of a fire at Mr James' flax mills. This fire, which took place at halfpast 2 on the 3rd March, causing the total destruction of the mill and about a ton of dressed fibre is supposed to have originated by a spark from some burning rubbish on a neighbor's property at about 600 yards distance. The spark fell into some tow lying in a ditch about three yards from the building, and although no'iced before it touched the mill, it spread with such rapidity that in five minutes the whole building was in flames. The fire could not, as was supposed by some persons, have originated by friction of machinery, as the mill which is worked by horse-power, had only just started. The damage is estimated at over £IOO, which, we understand, is a very serious loss to Mr James, he having only just commenced to work. In his absence, a subscription was set on foot by some neighbors, who are doing their best to gather up sufficient to give him another start,