Telegraphic Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1489, 25 November 1872, Page 2

Telegraphic Intelligence.

[FEOM TSB A3TOLO-AITSTBAI.IAN PfiBSS T3SLBGIiAM AGENCY-]

WELLINGTON.

Monday, Nov. 25. The steamer Rangatira, from Napier via the coast, arrivtd here at 11.40 a.m. yesterday. She leaves again for Napier at 3 p.m. to-day.

WESTPORT.

Monday, Nov. 25. Exhibits for the Ohristchuich exhibition are in active preparation. Splendid specimens of coal have been obtained here.

The Evening Post of the 20th inst. has a leading article in condemnation of the master of the City of Nevcastle, upon whom they throw the blame for the wreck. They hopo the matter will not be allowed to rest with the cancelling of his certificatf. The evidence at the inquiry disclosed a wretched state of carelessness and inefficiency.

The New Zealand Herald «ays it has no idea how the Provincial Government propose to make up the thousands of which the province has been deliberately plundered by the General Government. It then proceeds to show that the Stafford Ministry was turned out in 1869 because of its antagonism to the pro\ inces, and that the Fox Vogel administration succeeded it as the avowed, earnest, and- sincere friends of Provincialism, and it says " we shall not cease to protest and to light until people are aroused and force the Government to think of something more than its own meie ' miserable' existence in Wellington, Another session like the last—another session of waited energies and venal votes such as we have just witnessed—and we venture to say that the Assembly will have done more to rc\ive Provincialism than its most earnest and truest supporters could have accomplished," The Poverty Bay Standard, Nov. 16, has the following:—A man named M 'Donald, familiarly known as the "clean potato," met his death on Wednesday last while batbing at Mr Scott's station, "the Willows." Ft appears that Mr Scott, accompanied by T. Woods, J Allauach, and the deceased, left work for a noon-day bathe in front of Mr Scott's garden. M'Donald observed the whirling eddies of deep water before entering, and Mr Scott cautioned him particularly against venturing beyond his depth, at the samo time pointing out the shallow places by walking along the bank, which indicates an abrupt descent into deep water. M'Donald floundered about for some time, in the shallowest part of the water, and was evidently enjoying him self, but suddenly appeared in a perpen dieular position, out of his depth. Mr Scott, apprehensive of danger, at once shouted to Woods (who is a powerful swimmer, but was, unfortunately, about twenty yards lower down, and of course had to make headway against the stream) that M'Donald was drowniug. Woods immediately went to M'Donalds as* stance, but from the known tenacity of drowning men, had some difficulty in saving himself from the fate of the man whom he had corae to re-mie. After freeing himself, Woods tried to ptihli M'Donald ashore, but could not do so, and seeing M'Donald sink, ami being much exhausted made for the shore. Mr Scott despatched a messenger to Captain Richardson at Ormond for assistance, and the rest of the daywas spent in diving, but did not succeed in recovering the body. We have learnt since that the body has been found, and that Dr Nesbitt held an incpiest yesterday, the parheulais of which were not to hand aa we went to press. The Sabbatarian movement is extending iu New South Wales. The barbers of Batlmrst intend to relinquish Sunday shaving. Mayor Hall, in his annual message, states that the debt of the city of New York, deducting the sinking fund and taxes due but not yet collected, amounts to 89,250,000 dollars,

A correspondent sends the West Coast; Times the following account of an amusing instance of the indomitable perseverance of the fair sex when making chariiable collect ions:—"Two ladies from the Hauliau were a few days since canvassing a neighboring township for donations for the approaching concert and ball in aid of the district contribution to the Hokitika Hospital. Taking the business places seriating they arrived at the shop of a worth v knight of the anvil. One of the ladies entered and having made her application in the blandest of tones, and with a smile she doubtless thought the blacksmith could uot resist, was informed that all he could give was a wheelbarrow of unusually large size which he had just made. The lady expressed her thanks, and said she would get some one to fetch it away. This, however,, the blacksmith would not consent to; he had made the offer in jest, thinking himself safe in making it, so he insi-ted that the lady should trundle it away herself or she should not have it at all; he would not even permit the assistance of the lady's companion. The lady, doubtless piqued by the ungallant conduct of the blacksmith, was determined that he should he punished by the loss of his wheelbarrow, so she complied with the condition and wheeled it about two miles, over a tough road and up a heavy incline, to the Hauhau, whero it will bo sold in a few days, with a collection of other articles, for the benefit of the hospital." A correspondent complains (in the Shipping Gazette) of the difficulties cast in the »vay of shipping by the high charges at the New Zealand ports. Some time ago a shipmaster wrote to us that he had i un into Lyttelton without seeing a pilot, but that, nevertheless, ho had to pay full pilotage, 6d per ton, which on his ship amounted to .£32 7s; that light dues were charged at the same rate; that cargo had to he kept on board until the consignees thought proper to send foi it; that the very lightermen refused to give receipts for cargo ; and he concluded by recommending shipowners to have a condition inserted in charter-parlies that, in default of eivries being passed in a certain number of days, and lighters provided for removing such cargo, demurrage should be charged. Our present correspondent's main object in addressing us is to put us in possession of the mode in which the Magistrate's Court at Wellington deals with questions of damage to cargo, but he takes occasion to state that the ports of Ne<v Zealand are the dearest in the world for a ship to discharge in to load a return cargo. There is first the broker's commission of 7h per cent on the freight; then come the port charges, wharfage, and, above all, the charge for pressing wool. These charges combined amount, our correspondent says, to at least £2 per ton oi the ship's registered tonnage or more than double the charges for discharging and loading a ship at Calcutta, hitherto considered one of the dearest, if not the dearest, port in tie East. At Otago the pilotage, as at Lyttekon, is 6d per ton; the light dues, 4d ; ballast, ss; water, 12s. Boat hire at Port Ahuriri, in Hawke's Bay, is 7s per ton for unloading, and 10s a day for a boat to attend ship; while labor is charged a* the extravagant rate of 8s per day, with rations. Every man of business will see that it is simply impossible that trade can continue to resort to ports where the charges virtually swallow up the freight. The Marlborough Pi ess of the Bth inst. recorded the mysterious disappearance of a man named Thurston, one of Brogdeu's contractors. As he had nearly <£lso in his possession, foul play was suspected ; his description was circulated, and a careful search instituted by the police. Six days after the disappearance, a Maori arrived with the information that Thurston was at Watamonga. Mr Seaulan started for that place and returned to Picton the same evening with the missiug man. The Marlborough Press of the 13th remarks:—Mr Thurston may be able to give a satisfactory explanation ol his share in this matter, which at present appears most unaccountable. If a man can indulge in such vagaries with impunity, and subject the Government to considerable expense in. instituting »