Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1314, 2 May 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1872.

H. B. Sealy, Esq., has received the appointment of Inspector of Asylums, Hospitals, and Licensed Houses, under the "Lunatics Act, 1868," for the Pro vince of Hawke's Bay. From yesterday's Gazette wo learn that the balance to the credit of the Provincial Government at the Bank of New Zealand, on the March last, amounted to ,£3,245 9s. This morning— the weather being beautifully fine with smooth water in the Bay—the steam launch Una went into the roadstead to drag for the Government mushroom anchor. It was not found, however. It is (says the New Zealand Herald) a noteworthy fact that this year there has been a most unusual demand in the province for seeds of all kinds, and more especially grass seeds. To such an ex tent has this been the case that wo understand the principal seedsmen and merchants are completely sold out. We are led, from a consideration of these facts, to the conclusion that the reclamation of land must be proceeding at a rapid rate. We hear of one settler alone in the Waikato who has laid down 1500 acres in grass this season. The late dry summer lias been very favorable for burning on*, and thus perhaps farm ers may have been enabled to launch out into mora extensive operations than usual. Much surprise (writes the Coromandel correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross) has been excited here by the appearance of a Mr Peppercornc, who has recently returned from Sydney, after a residence there of some twenty years, and who claims by virtue of a deed signed five-and twenty years ago, by Ara Kura and Pita Taurau, to be holder of all the block of land above highwater mark, extending from Wynyardton township above the beach to the Kapanga Creek. The case will he brought before the lawyers, and probably prove a very interesting one, involving, a« it does, a vast amount of most valuable mining property. The Government, it is said, is not going to prosecute Mr Ingpen, lately committed at Jnvercargill, charged with defalcations of public money. Discoveries have been made of negligence in another Government officer which go far to exculpate Mr Ingpen,

Women are largely employed as bank clerks in Sweden,

One thousand tons of railway plant arrived at Port Chalmers a few days ago. by the ship Warwick,, from London.

The New Zealand Herald says : — The Auckland licencing law is in many respects, the best in the colony; and it is now being fearlessly carried out. But it is far from perfect; and we therefore look forward with hope that during the coming session of the General Assembly a uniform law for the whole colony will be passed. In any measure of that kind it will be necessary to defer to public sentiment, in regard to restrainthe liquor traffic, to a greater degree than is done by the provincial law. If the friends of the permissive principle have failed to avail themselves of the clauses in the Auckland law, conferring the power of objecting with effect to the issue of licenses, it is because the machinery is too cumbrous. It may be also that there are not funds at their disposal to enable them to act vigorously ; hut there can be no doubt of the fact, that a large majority of the population are in favor of restricLing the sale of intoxicating drinks on social and eeouomic grounds. We do not, therefore, regard the failure of the leaders in the agitation for a permissive " legislation to avail themselves of the last licensing meeting as any proof that they have lost faith in their principles, or that the cause they promote will not ultimately triumph. The following is from the Thames Advertiser, 17th April:—"An occurrence which shows forth plainly in what an illegal manner natives are allowed to deal with unsophisticated European visitors, and also exhibits the simple and touching superstitions which still cling to these children of nature, the Maoris, took place at Ohinemuri. Mr Stevenson and Mr 0 de Thierry went up to Ohinemuri a few days ago, in order to transact; some business with some natives whom they expected to meet there. They landed their tent and other articles they had brought with them on Sunday morning, at Kalaitiana's settlement, and proceeded up ; the river to the mill. As they were slowly drifting up, they saw some wild cabbage, called korau by the Maoris, growing on the bank. Pushing the boat in, they gathered about half a kit- ! ful, and proceeded on their journey. Nothing was said by the natives at Eopata's settlement about the korau, but upon the party returning to Karaitiana's an old woman noticed it as Mr de Thierry was going to cook it. On being told where it had been procured, the old woman set up a prolonged howl — k Aue! Aue ! whakarere, whakarere!' 'Alas ! alas ! throw it away ! throw it away !' It had been gathered off a tapued spot near the place where are laid the bones of Paora te Putu, a chief who died some twelve or fifteen years ago. A native, who it is said is a ' clergyman, and whose conduct might have been useful as an illustration in a recent controversy in our columns, at once came up, and made Mr de Thierry drop the korau. The native, of course, could nov touch it himself, but he got Mr de Thierry's Son to rake it together with a stick, and put it on a tapued house. The persons and possessions of the travellers, including their fine boat, were put under embargo till Te Hira, Te Moananui, and the other great men of the distiict should be consulted as to their disposal. We may mention that the boat of these unwittingly sacriligious pakehas had been greatly admired by the natives, and there had even been an offer to purchase; but of course there c mid not be supposed to be the slightest connection between that and any wish to punish the violators of the tapu by the confiscation of the boat. The stay of the travellers was not very comfortable, as the natives were ex claiming against them for having dug up their ancestor, and weeping over their children as devoted to death, in consequence of the mine of the Euro peans. Foreseeing that if they remained they were likely to be spoiled, and not feeling at all certain that the Govern ment would trouble themselves to get restitution, Messrs Stevenson and de Thierry determined, if possible, to, make their escape. Late at night,, Mr do Thierry's son quietly got the things into the boat, and the others .slipped on board unobserved, and pulled swiftly down the river till beyond pursuit.''

A. writer in the Auckland Weekly News sayß that no less than 96 applications for publicans* license* have been lodged with the Clerk of the Bench for Auckland proper, that is, for the city within the municipal boundaries. And these are the startling statistics I have arrived at after some painstaking inquiries. I find that a publican doing what is called a " living trade," to pay the expenses of his establishment—that is, license fees, rent,, taxes, lighting, servants' wages, and other outgoings incidental to hotel keeping, but not taking into account the keep of himself or his family—must sell 200 drinks a daj\ The true average number served to customers b} r these 96 houses a day, f am told, will leach quite 300'; but I will take the minimum number as my basis of calculation. I lind then that eveiy day in Auckland, omitting Sunday, 19,200 drinks are sold; for every week of six days 115,200; for every month, 460.800; and for the* year, 5,990,400!!! That is, mind you, for the city of Auckland, and not for the province. Now, hotel-keepers inform me that 4d is the lowest average piice which is paid for each giass of liquor consumed As figures correctly stated cannot lie I find that we spend no less a sum anually than .£99,840 in drinks. It scarcely seems possible; but if my readers will take the trouble to make the calculation they will find me correct I showed tbr- statement to one of " mine host> " of Queen-street He looked at the figures, threw down the paper, and quietly remarked, " Double the amount and you will be about right. Publicans could not keep themselves and their families, after paying expenses, under at least 350 drinks a-day. Besides, you have not reckoned on Sundays, a day on which hotelkeepers, with a few exceptions, do a large business. Your figures are below the mark." The Thames Guardian has been favored with an inspection of the coffin prepared for the reception of the mortal remains of the chief Taraia Ngakuti. It is made of kauri, and is very nicely finished, being lined and padded on the inside. Where the chief's head will come a paue of glass about 18 inches has been inserted, which will give his friends a chance of seeing his countenance for a long time to come, and a plate is fixed just below with a golden crown and the name Taraia Ngatuki. A firm of eminent engineers in London have offered to raise her Majesty's ship Captain, if they are permitted afterwards to retain her as salvage. It is couriered, however, that the Queen cannot waive her right to ownership in the matter, and the Admiralty have not the power to act. Taking into consideration that the iionclad is some 900 fathoms under water, the speculation would doubtless prove a very venturesome one.

Handel was once the proprietor of the Opera House, London, and at- the time presided at the harpsichord in the orehcstta. His embellishments were so masterly that the attention of the audience was frequently diverted from the singing to the accompaniment, to the frequent mortification of the vocal professors. A pompous Italian singer was once so chagrined at the marked attention paid to the harpsichord, in preference to Ins own singing, that he swore that, if ever Handel played him a similar trick, he would jump down upon his instrument, and put a stop to the imtr ruption; upon which Handel thus accosted him :—" Oh, oh ! you will jump vill you? Very well, sare ; be so kind and tell me de night ven you vill jump, and I will adveriishe it in de bills; and T shall get grate dale more money by your jumping than I shall get by your singing."

The Reason the 28th wear the Number Back and Front.—Lieut.-Co'onel Brown commanded the 28th at Barrossa. He was said to have purposely allowed his regiment to be surrounded. Most officers would have felt nervous in such a situation; but it was reported that Brown addressed hi*-* men thus : "Twenty-eighth, what confounded lucky fellows you are ! This day you must either be extinguished or distinguished ! Do as you like I" The 28th took their colonel at his word ; (he rear rank faced about, and repulsed the enemy. And now the 2 : Bth wear the number both in front and back of their shakos.

THE WILD CATTLE OF CHILLINGHAm. " In the St. James's Magazine, Mrs. Aylmer contributes, an interesting par per on these beautiful animals : The last time T saw the cattle («ay* Mrs Aylmer) I rode through Chilling:ham with. Major (then Mr) Hughes, a. name since marie famous by its owner's gallant conduct in tine Sarah Sam Is troopship. I was going, to leave the country, as- it turned out for ever ; he was going to. join his regiment; so. we had a strong interest in taking a farewell look at the especially as we* North Northumbrians regard them as the lions of our country, and I believe every mtins, woman,, and! child in the country, within twenty miles, to be as proud of them as. their noble owner is. The keepers were all away; but we knew the park well enough to dispense' with a guide ; and leaving a herd to smoke his pipe at. the gate, rode on by ourselves to the brow of. the hill under which we had long before marked thecattle-. It was an autumn day, closeand misty, just enough- wind to bring, the scent to my horse's nostrils, and, make him object to a closer acquaintance- with the beasts-. Gradually her began to tremble and sweat, and though, amenable to persuasion, and having any infinite trust in me he refused to.gonearei, and positively turned tail when, a bull, rising from* the bracken closebefore us, stood glowering under hisfore shaggy mane; I do not think I was really flightened; I was too much, occupied with my horse for that; but B. felt a thrill like fire- rush through my veins, and ever since I have been able to appreciate u hat men must feel facings a lion or tiger, and so enjoy the description con amore My friend the-bull took a long look, I daresay greatly perplexed by my habit skirt; then he quickly retreated r and gave the signal to theherdy, who made a general stampede, and I saw my last of the wild cattle, as-they buried themselves in the great dark: pine-wood, best known the Heronry.. At some seasons, especially when calving, the cattle become seriously dangerous ; and it is by no means safe to go., into the park at all, as the cows separate themselves from the herd, and mayr be met with in any thicket or \alley. Many stories are told of unwary tourists or trespassers coming upon one of these bovine mothers, and having U> seek safety in speed, or more ignominiously " tree'd." But more dangerousthan even a cow is- what is called a*. "sulky bull," that is a bull banished from the herd—literally sent to Coventry, The way this is effected- is an- interesting trait in untamed nature, and the subject; of M r Basil Bradley's beautiful picture shown in the Winter Exhibition of Water-Col or Artists in 1863. He has called it "The Challenge;" its is taken when, bellowing defiance, the younger bull, after walking round the herd, stands ready to meet any comer.. Then the older bull, stepping forth from his harem, answers the challenge, and stepping step by step the rivals meet,, and the battle rag«\s furious and strong —the herd standing by variously excited. One or two bulls, apparently acting as self-constituted umpires, arewatching, with heaving flanks and foam-stained lips, the chances of war. Thus the tight goes on, amidst growls, of rage, clouds of turf and dust, and the sudden heavy crash as the thick foreheads meet. Presently one of the combatants falters ; then the fight is decided, for, upon the first symptoms of weakness, the umpire, rushing in, bears, down upon the faltering bull, and completing the work with his fresh strength,, literally bow]> him over. As the quished struggles-: to his feet, blinded by blood, and crippled with furious blows* the herd comes upon him, and. overwhelmed by numbers, he is driven forth, disgraced, discarded, and beaten,, to hide away in the forest and bracken* until, his wounds being healed, hecomes forth to seek revenge in another combat.

Mr. Seward, the distinguished American statesman, now lies seriously ilk from a stroke of paralysis, at his home in Auburn, in the State of New York. Mr. Seward never entirely recovered from the injuries he sustained in the attack on his life by the assassin of Mr. Lincoln in April* ISG.S.