Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1497, 4 December 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1872.

Mails for the Australian Colonies, via the Bluff and Melbourne, close at Dunedin at 12.30 p.m. to-morrow (sth instant.) During the month ending 30th November there were exported from Port Ahuriri 172 head cattle and 1,557 sheep. * At 7.30 this evening there will he a company parade of the Napier Rifle Volunteers iu the Band-room, Hastingsstreet, on which occasion the election of a sub-lieu tenant will take place. The Customs Receipts collected at Her Majesty's Customs, Port Ahuriri, dining the month ending 30th November, amounted to £2,433 13s 2d. The Pilotage Receipts during the same period amounted to <£4o 10s Gd, A coi respondent of the Poverty Bay Standard suggests the desirability of forming, not only a Rifle Club for Gis borne, but a Ride Association for the Poverty Bay district. A severe accident happened in town to-day to a man named James Power, in the employ of Mr J. Chamber*. He was in charge of a wool-dray which he was driving along Marine Parade. When a short distance beyond the lock up the dray stuck fast. He got between the leaders and the shaft horses to make some alteration in the barn ess, when one of the leading horses gave him a severe kick in the breast. He was at once taken to the hospital. We are not aware of the exact extent of (tie injuries sustained. A seaman named Michael Brickley, belonging to the barque Ballarat, who wa> on .shore ye-terday, missed his last chance of returning by the ketch Three Brothers at present engaged in lightering that vessel. He made an attempt to induce some of the crew of the Glimpse to take him outside to the barque, stating that he should get into a scrape for staying ashore, but they very naturally refused his request. It would appear that -vliile on shore he had taken sufficient drink to render him reckless, and about 11 pan. he launched one of the smaller boats in use at the pilot station, and attempted to reach the vessel single-handed. Nothing has since been seen either of the man or the boat, and as a strong breeze off the land prevailed during the night, be is probably far out in the Bay. When the particulars of i\\Q ease became known this moaning it was considered a fortunate circumstance that the Government steamer Luna was lying outside with steam up, and the facts were promptly represented to the authorities, in hopes that some attempt would be made to save the mans life. It. was considered that a few hours' diligent search could hardly fail in lead ing to the discovery of the missing man; but nothing whatever was done, and great indignation i* expressed at ;he culpable u<'gleet which has taken place. The position of the unfortunate man, if living, must be pitiable in the extreme. Far from land, in summer weather, without water or piovisions, his chance of being jacked up or effecting a landing is remote indeed. The missing man, we believe, is 25 years of age, and was engaged in Napier, i aving originally belonged to one of the American steamers. The missing boat is of course Government property and is worth about A : 3O. The oars with which it was furnished a»e intended for two rowers, and are too long tor a man to use effectually single- ; handed.

The Evening Posh says:—The opening of direct telegraphic communication between London and Australia will doubtless revive the desire felt by many for the laying of a cable so as to bring New Zealand within diiect communicalion with the homo country. It is to bo hoped that the consideration of die matter will extend beyond the mere question of the cost of the cable. The tariff to be charged will be a matter of serious import 10 the colonists generally* and this should be sa regula-

ted as to bring the advantages to derived from the cable within the reach not only of the most wealthy among us, but of the majority of the colonists. If thij be.not done, the result will be that the funds of the colony drawn from the pockets of all classes of the people will be devoted to providing a monopoly for the few rich people among us. We aie not looking at ihe matter aimply from a journalistic point of view. As regards ourselves *e may be able to enter into any competition to which the existence of telegraphic communication with Australia is likely to give rise, but in matters' directly affecting the general public, and in commercial transactions il is not expedient that any monopoly should be created at the expense of the colony. In considering all matters hearing on the question, it should therefore be recognized that a high tariff must not bo calculated upon to recoup the expense to be incurred, and that, for a considerable time-the cable, if laid, must be maintained principally at the direct cost of the Government.

The Mataura railway works (the Southland News reports) are progressing satisfactorily, and judging from appearances, the contractors will have no difficulty in completing the Woodlands section (12 miles from luvcrcargill) before the end of summer. The men employed include " old colonials" and a squad of "navvies" specially imported by Messrs Brogden and 00. The new comers, it is yaid, find to their surprise that they cannot show their competitors " how to do it." Some of them admit further, that a faster of vorking prevails than they were accustomed to in the old country, but to this they aie willing to accommodate themselves in consideration of the higher rate of remuneration.