Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1598, 31 July 1874, Page 306

The complete returns of the polling for the election of a member for Waitemata, give Mr Von der Heyde a majority of 60. An Alexandra teleg'-am reports that the Kopua natives have already upwards of 100 acres of wheat sown, and are still busy planting. Mr Alexander C. P. M'Donald, Assistant Under-Secretary in "Wellington, died at 11 o'clock on Sunday night, after a long illness. In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Hon. H. R. Russell, as a matter of privilege, made a long personal explana* tion as to his connection with the Hefetaunga block land case. The Auckland butchers have raised the price of meat one penny per ft., owing to the scarcity of cattle, and they threaten to raise the price of meat to eightpence, unless cattle steamers commence running ia the place of those withdrawn. A meeting of persons interested in the liquor trade was held in Wellington on Monday, and a committee was appointed to draw up a petition against the proposed amendment by Mr Fox, and in support of the Premier's bill. In the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, Mr Mervyn asked that the tele* graph operators at the stations on the Clutha river should be instructed to notify below of flood or sudden freshes in the river, as that would often save property and life. The Premier thought it would be better to keep the department as it was, purely mechanical, and let it despatch news, but not collect it. Mr Reynolds was understood to say the matter would be considered in connection with the storm signals. In the House on Tuesday, in Committee of Supply, considerable discussion arose on the amount under the head of Marine and Naval Training School at Kohimarama (£2,000). Mr Reynolds said that it was for the purpose of buying the schooner Southern Cross, and the old mission-house, aa a - commencement for establishing a system of naval training in the Colony for its boys. Mr Macandrew thought the item very unsatisfactory, and suggested that it be struck out, Mr J, E. Evans failed to see why there should be a shore establishment in connection with a training vessel. Mr Wakefield thought it looked like an ifrrangemeut to enable the mission to part profitably with what they no longer had occasion for. Messrs T. Kelly, W. K>%, anil Swansou, supported the item. To setllo the difficulty. Mr Macandrew suggested that, as all agreed that a Naval Training School of some sort was necessary, to strike out Kohimarama Mission-house. He added that he hoped the item would not be passed before a bill was introduced. The Premier defended the item as beneficial to the whole Colony, and it was passed on the voices.

The Hawke's Bay Waste Lands' Act has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. ' Jules Janin,, the celebrated French author, died in Paris on the 19th instant, and Bellew, the distinguished reader, died in London on tho 18th instant. ' In the House on Wednesday, Mr W. Kelly moved for all correspondence 4'elating to the purchase or lease of native lands on the East Coast, between the Native Department, and the Land Purchase Commissioners. He did this because most serious charges had been made in the newspapers against several of the officers referred to, and they were anxious that a full statement of the case should be made. Mr M'Lean said ho would gladly furnish the papers asked for. About noon on May 2nd, a fire broke out at Katsugamahi in the province of Yechigo, Japan. A strong w.nd was blowing at the time, and drove the fire toward the eight temples of Dzui-senji, which were soon destroyed. Changing from the south to the north-west the wind drove the fire through the neighborhood of Fukumachi; and the conflagration was not got under until 500 houses, fully onethird of which belonged to Shizoku (gentlemen), were consumed. The people of Colorado are greatly interested in the so-called Platte Canon Canal, which will be 350 miles in length. The flume at the mouth of the canon is designed to [be 96 feet above ground, and will be carried along for the space of two miles before the ground is reached and the canal proper commences. The canal when completed will carry over 2,476,000,000 gallons of water daily. It will irrigate about 9,250,000 acres of Government land, and from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 acres of Kansas Pacific land. The cost of the entire canal is estimated at about $8,000,000. Mr Alexander S. Finnie, for some time past an assistant-manager of the Bank of British North America, was arrested in Oakland, California, on the 18th June, on a warrant issued by Judge Louderback, on complaint of Archibald McKinlayThese two parties have for a long time maintained a co-partnership under the firm name of McKinlay and Finnie, and carried on the agency in San Francisco of the Bank of British North America, Mr McKinlay acting as manager and Mr Finnie as assistant-manager. Mr McKinlay charges that, on the 13th of May last, Mr Finnie appropriated the sum of $5,000 of the corporation money to his own use and benefit, instead of in the interests of the Bank. In default of bail in the sum of SIO,OOO, the accused passed the night in the city prison. The text of the Pope's address to the Cardinals,' on Tuesday, 16th June, is published. The Pope renews his protest against the usurpation of the Papal States, the abolition of religious ;.Cor* poratiohs, and other acts of the Italian Government, bo that the enemies of the Church may not be able to plead justification of undisputed customs. He was moved to allude to these subjegts again because he had recently received overtures of reconciliation, and had in his possession a respectful letter, urging that he pardon his enemies, and withdraw the excommunications pronounced against them; but he declared that he cannot make peace with the enemies of the Church. In conclusion he exhorts the Cardinals to imitate the conduct of foreign bishops, especially those of Germauy and Brazil. On May 18, a terrible tragedy occurred at the east eud of London, in Josephstreet, Bow-common, At No. 49 of that 'street, occupied by John Blair, a bricklayer, who had a wife and four, childrenone twelve, another seven, and another five years of age, and the fourth an infant —the bodies of the wife and the baby were found lying on a bed with their throats cut, and by the foot of the bedstead was the body of the man, who had died from a similar wound. The bodies of the other three children, each wounded in the same way, and with other wounds from some blnnt instrument, on the head, were found on beds in an adjoining room. No doubt is entertained that Blair murdered his wife and children, and then committed suicide; his body was warm, whereas all tho others were cold. He had been drinking excessively for a fortnight, and was out of work. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence. James Lick, a Californian millionaire, has distinguished himself by an act of almost unexampled generosity, having' devoted. almost the whole of his vast wealth to charitable, benevolent, and scientific purposes. He bequeaths $700,000 for an observatory, to be erected within the State of California ; to the Protestant Orphan Asylum, §25,000; for the support of an Orphan Asylum in San Jose, free tc all, without regard to creed or religion, $25,000; to Ladies' Protection and Relied Society of San Francisco, $25,000; tc Mechanics' Library of San Francisco $10,000; to Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, $10,000; for erectioi of marble monument to his own mother $5,000; for ditto to his father, $5,000 tor ditto to his grandfather, 6,000; ,foi ditto to his sister, $5,000; to the founding of an Old Ladies' Home, for women whe are unable to support themselves, SIOO,OOO for the establishment and erection of fre< baths in tfie city, {$150,000; : for the ereo tion of a bronze monument to Franoii Scott Key, the composer of "The Sta Spangled Banner," to ta erected ir Goldei Gate Park, $150,000; for a School o: Mechanic Arts' in California, S3JO,OOC The relatives of Lick get legacies amount ing to $26,000. Residue of property to b divided in equal proportions to Californi Academy of Sciences and California Pic neers. In addition to above, the sui: of $250,000 for the erection of statuary i the State Capitol at Sacramento. H retains a certain sum for his own suppori not to exceed $25,000 a-year.

The rush to Greenstone (Westland) is proceeding.: Gold .has.been struck,in a shaft behind the terrace previously opened,, at a depth of four feet. The prospects are excellent, the wash, being estimated to be ten feet thick; The other shafts are being vigorously proceeded with. A meeting of persons interested in the formation of a cattle dealing and butcheringsociety washeld in Wellington on Tuesday evening, and was well attended. The report was submitted, showing applications for shares to the number of 917 that had been received. A provincial committee was formed. A meeting to report progress was appointed to be held in a fortnight. In the House on Friday, the adjourned debate on the question of the unfulfilled promises to the Middle Island natives, created considerable discussion. Mr Macandvew considered the Provincial Government he had settled all claims, He booked upon those claims which were now put forward for 2000 acres as having been settled and more than settled as they had paid £2OOO as liquidation in full to prevent the question being put into the hands of the lawyers. Ultimately, the questiou was referred to the Public Petitions Committee, on the motion of the Premier. In tho House on Wednesday, Mr Fox asked the Government to consider the propriety of appointing a commission to inquire into the terms on which the business of benefit and friendly societies in the colony are being conducted, and of ascertaining, by reference to a reliable actuary, what rates of premium may be safely adopted, relatively to the amounts payable in the various events against which it is the ostensible object of the societies to insure. Mr Vogel replied the question was of large importance, and had engaged the attention of the Government. He did not think the case required a Royal Commission, though it wanted looking into. The Colonial Secretary had already taken steps to obtain the necessary, information under the Act, and if that failed in procuring sufficient information, they would appoint a Royal Commission. A Raglan correspondent of the Waikato Times writes—"'Unless he (Julian) had been able to revive the martial spirit of the Romans, or to introduce the arts of industry and refinement among their savage enemies, he could not entertain any rational hopes of securing the public tranquility either by peace or conquest of Germany.'— The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chap, xix.—Sir.,—Has our Julian (the Hon. Donald McLean) secured the peace of New Zealand from our savage enemies by introducing the arts of peace and refinement among them ? I fear not. The scandalous drunkenness sanctioned by our authorities cannot be considered as tending to peac, industry, or refinement, and it is the prominent mark of our Maori civilization. Last week our village was invaded by one of the periodical swarms of Maori pig-sellers, and as usual on these occasions, the place was crawling alive with drunkards. If Gibbon is not mistaken, and if history repeats itself, we are in a precarious position.—l am, &c, Miles." In the House on Wednesday, Mr Harrison moved the desirableness of placing the sole control of the Resident Magistrates of the Colony, and their officers, in the hands of the General Government, and that their salaries should be paid by appropriation of the House. The existing system was attended with effects very injurious to the public interest. The Premier hoped the House would oppose the motion, It was not fair to bring questions relating to expenditure down in this manner. To have any force, they should be brought down in Committee of the whole House. Messrs Curtis, Rolleston, and Reid, having joined in the debate, Mr Luckie considered, after what had fallen from the representatives of three important provinces regarding the position of Superintendents, that it indicated the beginning of the end of Provincialism, and petty playing at regal power and other pretensions. Mr Sheehan hoped the motion would pave the way for enab ling the people who paid the salaries of the officers, to have their appointmentMr White and Mr Tribe having spoken in favor of the motion, it was put and lost on the voices. A humoros contributor to the Bruce Herald, who writes under the nome tie plume'oi "The Intelligent Vagrant,"relates the following story :—".From the township I have given so excellent an indication of there was an esteemed gentleman going away who had for some time been manager of the local branch of tho great " Sixes and Sevens " bank. Paper had been of value for some months, produce was ■' up,' and consequently there had been no putting on of the screw, and no bitter feelings engendered. So a dinner was given to the departing gentleman ; and there happened after dinner a bit. of that pleasant enthusiasm such as happened about the Scott Scholarship. It was resolved that the object of the enthusiasm should be presented with a testimonial worth, say, £200; aud it was resolved to forward' this resolve to one of the big men of the bank in London, with request that he would chcose aud purchase a suitable piece of plate. So the resolution was duly forwarded to the ' big man,' who returnea a most civil answer, expressing his gratification that any one of the numerous servants of thd Sixes and Sevens bank should be the recipient of so agreeable a testimnnal, and that he had chosen quite a handsome piece of piate, which he would purchase on receipt of 'firs: r,f exchange' (a mercantile term, I believe, meaning the same as ' R.M.D.') The presenters of the testimonial'should have been in ecstacy at getting this letter; but, isince the dinner, enthusiasm has had time to cool, and when they came to reckon up they found that they had not qn 4 :. ;i quarter of the £2OO, and t!i"< ! .a was but little chance of getting t.',u i. ...fining fractional part; and so there is now s problem to solve—Who is to make up the /balance?" ''■ IV

A company is being'formed .for the erection at Hamilton, Waikato, of a firstclass hotel and appendages for the accommodation of tourists en route for the Lake district. The "immigrants per Northampton, who arrived at Lyttleton on the 6th were released on the 28th July from the quarantine station, with the exception of a few invalids and attendants. Great numbers of people—the very bone and sinew of the island population—are leaving Skye in search of more smiling homes and greater material comfort in the settlements of New Zealand. The Plans of Towns Regulation Bill was shelved in the House on Friday night by 20 to 12. Mr Vogel has announced that the Qualification of Electors Bill will probably stand over till next session, not beiug of pressing importance. A Sunday obseivance league, with a very influential committee, has been formed in Christchurch, with the object of agitating for the preseivation of the sanctity of the Sabbath, including the closing of all public institutions. The Tauranga correspondent of our evening contemporary reports that Gregory's party,of sawyers, in the Horo-Horo forest, have been stopped from working by the natives. The stoppage, however, is only of a temporary nature, caused by the squabbling of the native owners of the land. •-■ In the Supreme Court hi Auckland, on Tuesday, the counsel on behalf of Harris, jun., and Macfarlane, announced that arrangements had been made which were likely to determine all disputes for the present, and stop future litigation between the parties. Three actions by Harris, against Macfarlane, which were pending, have been withdrawn. ,

On Friday night, in the House of Representatives, Mr Vogel announced the result of the million and a half loan tenders, which had been called for at 98 per cent., but certain allowances had been made which reduced the price to £96 9s; £673,400 had been disposed of at that figure, and the balance of £826,600 at an average of £95 4s 2d. An outrage of an unusual kind occurred on Monday in Auckland. A man named Findlay fired two shots through the window of Mr Young, the butcher, Queenstreet, at Mr Davis, the clerk. Both balls lodged harmlessly in the wall. The man has been arrested, and a six-barrelled revolver, loaded and cocked, was taken from him. No cause is assigned for the deed.

The foreign papers publish the text of Count Arnim's famous letter to Dr. Dollinger, which has given great offence at Berlin. Count Aruim regrets the course taken by Germany with respect to the proclamation of the dogma of Infallibility, and declares that, if a more decided policy had followed on the conferences inaugurated by Prince Hohenlohe, affairs would not now be in such an incomprehensible imbroglio. The Otago Daily Times of Wednesday publishes a letter from Mrs Howard to her friends, in defence of her proceedings as emigration agent. She says she sent many excellent small parties by the Caro. line and other vessels, and accompanied the Carnatic emigrants from Ireland to the London Docks. In conclusion, she says she may be unjustly deprived of her commission, but nothing can deprive her of the satisfaction she experienced by assisting the worthy poor, and helping the prospects of Otago, by sending good labor, both male and female, in every class of industry. She was sure that when the people of Otago became acquainted with the facts they would do her justice. The letter has caused a good deal of comment. The following is from an American exchange :—" From the West we get a true story,, which gloomily suggests some of Feydeau's weird and horrible fancies. It is well for mankind's peace of mind that things like this we are about to relate seldom occur. The St. Louis Chief of Police was very much agitated the other morning by the receipt of a telegram from the conductor of a Vaudalia train then approaching the city. In the briefest manner the despatch stated that in the luggage car of that train was a trunk emitting so diabolical an odour that it irresistiblysuggestedamurderoustragedy; and further that its owner 'was on the train, and the number of the check was so-and-so. A whole battalion of policemen and detectives was sent to the depot. The train arrived, the trunk quietly confiscated, and its owner secretly accompanied to his hotel, not to be arrested until its fatal contents were revealed. Then followed a scene to which only the pencils of a Kaulbach and a Dore" could do justice. The lid of the heavy trunk was slowly lifted in the presence of a horror-stricken group, and—it is hard to mention the feaful fact—to their dilated eyes were disclosed the ghastly forms of six Limburger cheeses."