News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 54, 3 February 1872, Page 12

News of the Week.

The Hon the Premier sailed yesterday morning by the Luna for Westport, from which place he will commence a tour throughout the whole of the goldfields on the West Coast. Mr Fox will proceed up the Buller river to the Inangahua reefs, and thence visit the Grey Valley, Greymouth, the New River district, Greenstone, Waimea, Hokitika, Ross, and Okarito. It is to be hoped that the visit of the Premier to this portion of the colony will result in a more intelligent and enlightened conception of goldfields interests on the part of the Government. We are sure that Mr Fox will have his eyes opened not only as to the importance of paying greater attention to the West Coast goldfields, but to the gross misman agement of the Nelson Provincial Government, and the necessity for providing some special form of government suited to the circumstances of the country and the population. The Luna will proceed from Westport to Wanganui, and will there take on board the Hon the Minister for Native Affairs, who proceeds to Patea and Taranaki on the business of his department. In tribute to the services so consistently rendered to the country at a time, when fealty in the native tribes was a priceless virtue, the General Government have determined on erecting a mausoleum over the spot where the remains of the venerable Te Puni are interred. The workmanship is quite in keeping with the design, and the combination has produced a work of the very highest order. The stone employed is from the Oamaru quarries. At the base the monument is 4ft 9in square, and is carried up to a height of nine feet, a moulded cap surmounting the whole. The middle portion of the elevation is panelled on tlie four sides, on two of which are cut the inscription, in Maori and English, which is as follows:—“To the memory of Honiana Te Puni, a chief of Ngatiawa, who died on the sth December, 1870. this monument is erected by the New Zealand Government in consideration ot the unbroken friendship between him and the Pakeha.” The work was executed by Mr Membray from the design of Mr Clayton, the Colonial Architect. The present is the first of the three months during which persons desirous of becoming entitled to the privilege of voting at elections for members of the General Assembly and Provincial Council should register their claims. Those already on the roll bub who have changed their abode should also send in fresh applications to prevent the possibility of their names being erased by the Revising Officer. We learn from Wanganui that Mr M'Lean has finally closed with the natives for the purchase of the large block of land lying between the Turakina and Rangitikei rivers. The purchase money will be paid on Tuesday next,, and thus a large stretch of country will be open for settlement. Three members of the Benevolent Society, Messrs Crawford, Stock, and Woodward, waited on the Superintendent on Tuesday for the purpose ofendeavoring to induce the Provincial Government to set apart a site on which to erect a charitable institution. His Honor entertained the proposal in a warm manner, and at once met the views of the deputation by the offer of a site containing three acres, being a portion of the Wesleyan Reserve. The deputation thereupon inspected, the site, and, we understand, have decided upon accepting it as very suitable for the purpose for which it was required. A mark of gratitude and a piece of munificence combined, unexampled in any previous case of the kind in Wellington, have come out of the occurrence of the recent fire. In token of their admiration of the conduct of both brigades Messrs Jacob Joseph and Co. have forwarded to Captain Moss, of the Central Brigade, and to Capt Whiteford, of the W.Y.F.8., cheques to the amount of £IOO, the communications in which the cheques were enclosed being couched in the tollowing languageWe beg to tender to you and to all members of your brigade our sincere thanks for the very efficient services rendered by you and them on Thursday last when our storesjind property were saved from the fire. We enclose a cheque for £SO to be distributed amongst the members of your brigade. We are, &c., Jacob Joseph and Co.’’ We can add nothing to this but the sterling motto, “ Spoil not the splendor of a bright action by fulsome praise.” Wednesday’s Gazette contains a return in detail of the Customs revenue of the colony received during the quarter ended 31st December, 1871. The total amount for the quarter was £193,079, being an increase of £5327 over the corresponding quarter in 1870. The receipts for the whole year 1871 were £731.883, as against £765,930 in 1870, being a decrease on the year of £34,047. The amount collected at the port of Wellington daring the year, £56,933, as against £58,562 in 1870. The quantity of gold exported during the year was 730,0290z5, of the value of

£2,787,520, as against 544,8800z5, value £2.156,525, in 1870, being an increase of 185,1490zs for the year. The tenders for the Tauherenikau bridge were opened on Wednesday at the Superintendent’s office, the whole of the tenderers being present. It will be observed that there is no great margin between the tenders sent in, a circumstance which goes to show that the persons tendering had a very intimate knowledge generally of the work to be performed. Messrs James . Barry and Co. were the successful tenderers, at £3430, the remaining tenders being : —• W. Francis, £3800; Crawshaw, Proctor and Co., £4250; John Bock, £4733 4s; Halley and Ewing, £4370; James Lockie, £4IOO ; Chas. M'Kirdy, £4149; Scouland and Archibald, £3650 ; Thompson, Brown & Co, £4397; W. Wallis, £4600 ; Petherick, £3790. The General Government Gazette of Wednesday 1 ’ announces the following appointments :—Thomas Maeffarlane, Esq., to be Curator of Intestate Estates within the Auckland district; Edward Hardcastle, Esq., to be clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Hokitika, vice H. C. S. Badderley, Esq., transferred ; William Stuart, Esq.,, to be Registrar of the Supreme Court of Invercargill, vice E. H. Inkpen ; Thomas Gilpin, Esq., to be clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Havelock, vice E. Bissell, Esq., re--signed. S An inquest was held at Porirua on • Tuesday last, before Dr Knox, on the body of a female child which it was supposed had died under suspicious circumstances. The evidence proved nothing beyond the fact that the child had suffered from a severe attack of diarrhoea, which set in on the previous Saturday, and suddenly terminated the existence of the child. The verdict was to the effect that the infant died by the visitation of God. We understand from a private source that the University of Tubingen has conferred on Mir Walter L. Buller, R.M., of Wanganui, the honorary degree of Ph. D., in recognition of his labors in New Zealand zoology. As our readers are aware, Dr Buller, who is at present in England on leave, is engaged in the publication of an illustrated work on the birds of this country. The Nebraska, which left Auckland on the 26th January, took in freight for London via San Francisco, 38510 z of gold, value £16,200. It was recently stated that Dr Featherston, the home agent, had made arrangements to send out emigrants from the north of Europe. How easily these may be obtained, and what class of emigrants they may be expected to prove may be gathered from the following, which we take from the San Francisco “ Bulletin” A correspondent of the “Bulletin,” Frans Peterson, writing from Gotcburg, Sweden, states that there are thousands of men and women in that country who would gladly emigrate to California if assisted by parties who want their labor, whom they would serve faithfully so long as they agreed to. We have turned his letter over to the Immigrant Union, but some facts are stated to which we will refer in this place. The wages of a Swedish servant, particularly of a female, are barely sufficient to provide her with clothing. They are about 12dol per annum, gold; in exceptional cases only, say for first-class cooks in the houses of the rich, rising as high as 25d0l a year. Men servants are usually paid 25 dol a year and found. Farm laborers are, in some places, paid as low as one-third of a rix-dollar per day—hardly more than a bit (6d) of our money. In many places a man is paid half a rix-dollar for felling a tree, cutting and splitting the logs, and piling up the wood into a cord. This is a hard day’s labor for a man living like the Swedish laborer, on a little thin oatmeal gruel, a few potatoes, and now and then a salt herring. An exceedingly well executed design for the medal to be awarded to the successful exhibitors at the Wairarapa stock show has been forwarded to our office. The figure in tlie obverse, representing Ceres holding a wreath, is very gracefully drawn, and is grouped with the cornucopia', the wool-bale, and the plough, the Tararua ranges, and the setting sun filling up the background, and the whole encircled by the words “ Wairarapa Pastoral Association.” The reverse is ornamented by a simple chaplet formed of ears of wheat, and in the centre are the words “Awarded to The design is one that speaks very highly of Mr Bock, the artist. The crew to represent the province in the great intercolonial boat race left in the Rangitoto on Thursday, the delay in the arrival of the San Francisco mail necessitating the detention of the IVel* lington at Auckland. The outrigger was carefully packed, the friends of the crew and the enthusiasts in the cause forming a numerous assemblage on board the Rangitoto to witness the completion of the final arrangements. The services ot a lad named Poulton have been secured to act as coxswain, his weight being much in his favor as against that of the old coxswain of the crew. The Canterbury

newspapers speak of nothing but preparation for the event of the 19th, and the days and the moments are now passed very anxiously in the city which has now become famed for its aquatic enthusiasm as it has been in past times for its horse racing and pedestrianism. The proceedings at the meeting of the City Council were of a prompt and business like character, so much so indeed that the auditory were somewhat disappointed in finding that the debate which was expected was sacrificed to expedition in disposing of the business on the paper. The motion of Councillor Krull elicited the only discussion of the evening. Councillor Buckley repeated his protest against the initiation of the system of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul; mother words,of borrowing from one account to meet the expenses of another, as a violation of the terms entered into with the holders of the Corporation debentures. Councillor Moss could only consent to such an arrangement on the clear understanding that the changing of the money from one account to another should be made good by its repayment as the rates came in—that whatever money was received should immediately be paid over in diminution of the amount so employed. In explanation of the financial position of the Corporation the Maydr said the present overdraft was £591 7s fid, and outstanding liabilities, £1621 10s, making a total of £2212 17s fid, which was the amount of all liabilities up to tlie present date. Councillor Buckley asked what was the amount the bank had consented to permit the Council to overdraw, and in reply the Mayor said he had made an arrangement with the bank to go to the extent of £ISOO if necessary, hut the highest amount to which they had overdrawn was £798. In consequence of the question being raised in the Council as to the legality of the overdraft, Mr Bridges informed him (the Mayor) that the position was rather altered, and he accepted that as a gentle hint not to proceed any further in that direction, and ho had not done so. As far as the interest was concerned that was not the object of the bank in permitting the overdraft to exceed £IOOO, but whether it was or not he would now make every effort to clear off all existing liabilities, and with the rates to come in next month he ventured to say they would be able to clear off the overdraft during the next three weeks if they chose to do so. It might be said “ Then why not do it,” and to that lie would reply that he would prefer clearing off fthe amounts due for wages and cartage. Having had the management of the affairs of the City Council for some time he knew perfectly well that they ran not the slightest risk in borrowing the £IOOO from the wharf account, as the rates of the city were enough to meet all liabilities except what was clue to the General Government. Councillor Buckley repeated his question as to the liabilities of the Corporation, and the Mayor distinctly declared the present total indebtedness to bo £2212, which could be easily paid off. Councillor Krull’s motion that £IOOO be borrowed from the wharf account, to be expended in the paymentof wages and cartage, was then put and carried, with tiie express stipulation that it should be repaid within a month, or six weeks at the latest. Councillors Bannatyne, Moss, Mills, Krull, and the Mayor voted for the motion ; Councillors Miller, Ramie, and Buckley against it. The Mayor, and Councillors Moss and Krull were appointed a Finance Committee, to whom sliou'd be referred the examination and payment of all accounts presented, and the general supervision of all monetary matters wasentrusted in their charge. The resignation by Mr J. B. Keyword of the office of Town Clerk was read. The Mayor said lie was exceedingly sorry the resignation had been sent in, for the books of the Council were getting into better order than they were ever in before, aud be could not help thinking it was an unfortunate thing for the Council. Coun cillor Krull agreed with what the Mayor had said, and stated that Mr Ileywood had done wonders during the short time he had been in their service, and he regretted very much they were about to lose his services. This terminated the proceedings. The transference of the £IOOO from the wharf account, effected by Councillor’s Krull’s motion, will enable the Council to clear off the many accounts with which members have been badgered at every meeting for months past. The nresent turn in the tide is one that must be gratifying to ratepayers, contractors, and employes alike.

At the meeting of the Benevolent Soc:ety held on Tuesday afternoon at the City Council offices there were present J. C. Crawford, Esq., (Chairman) Bishop Hadfield, Rev. Archdeacon Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. E. S. West, Rev. Mr Knell, Jonas Woodward, Esq., Hon. C. J. Pharazyu, and L. Levy, Esq. A number of cases of distress were relieved and some contributions received. In reference to the case of the sufferers by the late tire at Carterton, on behalf of whom pn application was put in for

assistance, the following resolution was passed : —“ That as the case of the sufferers at Carterton does not come within the objects for which the funds of the Benevolent Society were contributed, the committee regretting that thev cannot directly assist,requestL.Levy,Esq,the Hon. J. C. Pharazyn, and other members of the committee to receive money on thiaaccount, in conjunction with the Rev. A. Knell and other gentleman in Wairarapa; also, that this resolution be advertised in the local papers.”

A case of a complex kind was heard on Thursdav morning at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, the facts of which had to undergo a process of filtration before anybody but the lawyers and clients could understand anything of it. About the year 1865 a person named Bradshaw borrowed a sum of money on mortgage from Messrs Luxford & Mace, and after soma time the mortgage deed was placed in the hands of Mr J. H. Horner for collection of the interest due. The necessity for placing the deed in the hands of Mr Horner was only explained by the fact that the business papers of Mace & Luxford were bandied about in au ah hue e.t ah liac manner. Mace, it seems, did receive some of the proceeds from the mortgagor, but Luxford never received a farthing, and although he had at one time full power by consent of his partner to cali upon Horner to deliver up the deed he neglected to do so, for the presumable reason that the land upon which the money had been lent was not considered of much value. Recently the Provincial Government have taken up portions of the Hutfc river bank for the formation of approaches to the new bridge, and in this is included the portion mortgaged to Mac? aud Luxford. Luxford thereupon applies to Mrs Horner, as legatee of Mr J. H. Homer, to deliver up the deeds, but she refuses to do so on the plea that certain amounts for commission, due by the firm, remain unliquidated. When the deed was placed in the possession of Horner there was a stipulation, also unaccounted for by the evidence, that neither parties should receive the deed from Horner without the consent of the other. Luxford and Mace having had some difference recently, the latter forwardedpnstructions that Mrs Horner should not give up the deed, an injuction which she of her own inclination was very eager to observe. This was an entanglement from which his Worship could hardly free himself, particularly as Mr Borlase raised the strong objection that one partencr could not sue without the consent of the other, and the Gordian knot had to be severed by an order that the deed should be delivered to Luxford, on the ground that the right of Mrs Horner to retain it did not seem very clear, no claim for commission being established, and further that Mace had received partnership moneys of which no account had ever been rendered to Luxford. Leave was reserved to Mace to enter an interpleader. A further complication then arose, which threatened to defeat the whole of Luxford’s plans. The Counsel who argued so energetically against Luxford’s right to the deed was Air Borlase. Air Borlase has already declared in spite of the verdict of the Resident Magistrate, that the title of Luxford to the land once owned by Bradshaw is bad. We have yet to hear what the Provincial Solicitor will say when lie is asked by the Provincial Government to testify to the validity of the title presented to them by Luxford previous to the completion of the purchase.

The annual tea meeting was held at the Pahautanui school-room last Thursday, but the proceedings were not carried out with that vivacity which lias characterised many of the meetings of previous years, in consequence of the unpleasant weather throughout the afternoon and evening. Air J. 11. Marriott repeated his visit to the district and gave one of his amusing entertainments. On the following day the children resumed the attack on the edibles which had worn out the assaults of the previous day.

The Pahautanui Volunteers have returned a representative for Canterbury; Corporal G. Carter having obtained a total of 72 points. In this respect both of the Porirua Companies have been more successful than the City Volunteers.

Major Heapliy, V.C., of Wellington, has been appointed a Trust Commissioner under “The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1870,” for the Wellington District.

Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying the foundation for Counsum'ption and Wasting, the use of Savory & Moores’s Pancreatic Emulsion and Pancreatine, already so highly’ approved by the Medical faculty, will he found among the most potent remedial agents ; they effect the digestion of Cod Liver Oil and prevent nausea, while they efficiently supply the place o .’ the oil when the stomach rejects it. These facts are attested by the published records of medical men, extracts from which accompany each bottle, price from 2s to 21s. Savory & Moore, 143, New Bond Street, London, and all Chemists. Norn —Savory & Moore’s name and trade mark on each bottle. April 22 1871. 53w.

Roads, bridges, tramways, and jetties form the subject of advertisements which have occupied considerable space in our paper of late, and in none of the branches of industry affected by each of the descriptions of work named is there any superfluity of labor at hand. The prophecies of a prosperous era uttered previous to the commencement of the year, have not waited long for the reality. In all portions of the town, but chiefly in the central positions, extensive erections are being proceeded with, and in no small measure is this flourishing sign attributable to the action of the City Council in effecting the purchase of the reclaimed land from the Provincial Government. For the completion of the works beyond the radius of the town and suburbs it would be useless to blink the fact that all the effects of a paucity of labor will be experienced. Artizans and all classes of laborers should study the signs of the times, and we would point out to them that no more favorable season than the present could be chosen in which to take advantage of the new emigration regulations for the purpose of bringing out friends and relations from the old country by means of the system of nominated passages. We combine the two matters of labor and emigration because they intimately concern each other in this way. When the railway and other large works are initiated it is natural to suppose that the labor on the spot will be first absorbed, and it is most desirable, if those engaged are to become permanent colonists, that they should be persons selected by colonists themselves —by persons already permanently resident amongst us—who may be supposed to have a knowledge of the class of persons required and the fitness of those whom they nominate to meet the conditions of colonial life. Thus, by the payment of a nominal sum our artizans have it in their power to say who the persons shall be who are to participate in the coming prosperity. Should they decline to avail themselves of a scheme framed with the single object of aiding the working classes, it is to be hoped in future they will denounce the senseless cry of blatant demagogues who take every opportunity of attributing to the Government the desire to shovel on to our shores the paupers of England. To return to the subject of works. Those of interest to this province, for which tenders are asked, are the making of twenty-one miles of tramway from Palmerston to Foxton, the construction of a bridge over the Waingawa and another over the Tauherinikau, the forming and metalling of a road from Wanganui to Kaiiwi, the driving of a tunnel 400 yards in length for the Wellington waterworks, the formation of roads in the Rhodes’ Highway District and in the Mungaroa Highway District, and the erection of the four sheds on the wharf and general repairs to the wharf itself. This speaks of a briskness in public works which is equalled by the briskness in private trade. The ceremonies of to-day must be admitted to be appropriate to such an agreeable condition of affairs. No move gratifying proof of the active administration of the present Provincial Government can be found than is contained in an advertisement elsewhere, which though it gives no more than a bare sketch of a plan for the disposal of the lands of the province, contains evidence of the exercise of the true functions of government in the endeavor to effect the settlement of the people on the soil by placing every facility in the way of selection and purchase. A reference to the advertisement explains that the lands will be offered for sale at the Crown Lands Office, Wellington, on Alondav, the 26th February, and that they are of three classes—town, agricultural, and pastoral —situate in the following districts : Wellington city, Harbor district, Hutt (Upper Mungaroa), Wanganui and Campbell Town, Foxton, Palmerston, Fitzherbert, Carnarvon, Alotoa, Karere, Alfredton, Rangitumau, Pahau, East Coast, Whareama, aud Awiiea. All the sections are surveyed, so that purchasers will not be subjected to the annoyance and irritation caused by the absence of well defined boundary lines, a want which has given rise to considerable litigation and done as much to impede settlement in this province as any one of the deterrent influences from the effects of which the Province of W ellington has suffered, amongst which may be mentioned her contiguity to disturbed districts on either hand, and the peculiarly trying phases in her history created by the collapse of the New Zealand Company. Not the least of the difficulties in this manner bequeathed were the arrears of survey which formed so conspicuous an item in the schedule to the Wellington Debts Bill of last session, and vve therefore observe with pleasure that his Honor the Superintendent has taken steps to prevent province being involved in similar difficulties in the future. The lands to be offered amount in the aggregate to 68,522 acres, and will be disposed of in sections of a size suitable for small farms. We hope to see the opportunity taken advantage of by persons of small means, lor whose advantage the sale and its

conditions have been specially arranged, An agent, Mr W. Alzdorf, has bee® appointed to be in attendance at Palmerston for the purpose of affording information to persons intending to select from the Manawatu lands offered.

Applications for the office of Town Clerk must be sent in to the office before Friday, the 9th instant. Tiie schooner Shepherdess was on Tuesday sold by auction for £2OO. The quarterlv district meeting of th® Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Wel - lington District, was held at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Porirua, on Thursday, The district officers and deputies from the several Lodges in Wellington, the Hutt, and other places, were in attendance, and all sat down to an excellent dinner provided for the occasion by Mr J. Bromley, of the Ferry Inn. The business was proceeded with at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, a very creditable building, opposite the hotel. P.G. Thomas Madeley, Grand Master, occupied the chair. From the returns of the several lodges, and the auditor’s report and balance-sheets, which were read by the G.S., P.G. E. Bannister, it appeared that nearly £l5O had been paid on account of sick members and medical attendance, and £3O in funeral donations ; and six new members had been initiated during the past quarter. Some discussion took place on the subject of the establishment of dispensaries, a project which had met wit Li a complete success in Alelbourne and its vicinity, where they had been started by the Friendly Societies in their respective localities. It was resolved that the subject should be discussed in the several lodges during the ensuing quarter, with a view to some action being taken upon the matter. After the disposal of some other routine business, votes of thanks were given to the district officers, and the meeting was then adjourned until April next.

A plaint, rather singular in its circumstances, was heard at the Resident Magistrates Court, at Charleston, on the 13th inst. A man named Bowman had found a £5-note in front of an hotel kept by one Patrick Regan, and handed the note to Regan to take charge of in case inquiry should be made for it. Subsequently Regan said he had himself lost a £5-note and the one found by Bowman must be the one lost. Some corroborative evidence as to the finding of the note was given by a witness, and the Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff. The only difficulty he said he had was as to how far the plaintiff as a mere finder could maintain Lis action in trover against the defendant. On that point, however, the law had been laid dow’n in Armorie v. Delamisie, reported in Smith’s leading case, that if a person having fouud a jewel or other article entrusted it with another person and the latter convert it to his own use, the finder may bring an action against the other. He therefore had no hesitation in giving judgment for plaintiff'. Mr Todd, auctioneer, has been elected Alayor of Hokitika in place of Mr J. B. Clarke resigned. A fearful number of fatal cases of sunstroke have occurred in Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales. The heat is reported to be unprecedentedly hot. At Dunedin, on the 11th instant, Air Thomas Henry Goodsir, a surgeon, residing at Portobello, was fined £2O, with the alternative of three months’ imprisonment, for dropping two plugs of tobacco, so that they might be picked up by some prisoners who were working at Anderson’s Bay.

It was announced the other day that Mr John King, the only survivor of the Burke aud Wills exploring expedition had died. The exposure and privations which he underwent as a member of that ill-fated party irreparably injured his constitution and no doubt sowed the seeds of the malady jwhicu caused his death, viz., pulmonary consumption. About three years and a half ago indications of consumption made their appearance, and the symptoms gradually became more formidable. A month or two ago he was removed from his residence, Octavia street, St. Kilda, to the house of his sister at Carlton, but without any beneficial result, and a few days before lus death he was taken ba'ck to his own home. Berkley, Sept. 1869.—Gentlemen, I feel it, a, duty I owe to you to express my gratitude for the great benefit I have derived by taking Norton’s Camomile Pills.’ I applied to your agents, Mr Bell Berkley, for the above named Pills, for wind in the stomach, for which I suffered excruciating pain for a length of time, having tried every remedy perscribed, but without deriving any benefit at all. After taking two bottles of your valuable pills I was quite restored to my usual state of health, filease give this publicity for the benefit of those who may thus be afflicted.”—l am, Sir, yours truly, Henry Allpass.—To the oroprietors of Norton’s Camomile Pills.

The §l2 Lever Watch, No. 13 580, pur chased from Chas. P. Norton & Co. 86 Nassau street, New York, January sth, has been carried by me over six months, with a to al variation in time of only 26 seconds, without the slightest regulating, and presents the same brilliancy of color as when purchased.—JAS. R. WJLSON, Sec. American S. M. Co. N. Y., Now York, July 10, 1870.

The Inangahua correspondent of the “ Grey River ArgUR,” writing from Reefton on January 18th, states:—“l am informed that a gentlemen, well known in Greymouth, has purchased an interest in the Prospecting Co’s claim, Shiel s, at the rate of £3BOO perono-eighth share, and as he possesses an intimate knowledge ot quartz reefs generally, this points to the conclusion that he is perfectly with the appearance of the reefs. The Government have succeeded in effecting an amalgamation of °ffi'l eS^ lid , a reduction of expenditure in Westland, j Mr Harvey, Crown Prosecutor and County Solicitor of Westland, has been appointed District Judge of the Westland judicial district, and also Examiner ot Titels under the Land Transfer Act. We believe that for the offices of Judge and Examiner combined Mr Harvey s salary does not exceed £6OO per annum. Three large whales have been driven ashore opposite Mr Joseph Herberts residence, Tautari, Cape Turnagain. The “ Bruce Herald” says during last week lots of working men and sub-con-tractors have been offering their certificates for labor done on the Clutha line at even less than 10s in the £. This arises from the failure of M'Leod and Co s contract ; and our contemporary points with a chuckle to the first experience of the benefits arising from the administration of the public works scheme. He knows as well as we that the General Government were always opposed to small contracts ; and if it had not been for the agitation got up by the Southern Dengue, and the pressure brought to bear m Parliament on the Brogden contracts, the Clutha section of the line would, have been in Mr Brogden’s hands ere now. The West Australian correspondent of the “Argus ” writes as follows on Dec. 6 : Governor Weld arrived at the Vasso on the sth instant, after a long trip through the southern districts by the sea coast. His Excellency was only accompanied during a part of his journey by an orderly and a native, and he would appear to have “ roughed it ” in thorough bushmau style; exploring large tracts of uninhabited and almost uuknown country, pushing his way across rivers, over bogs, and through dense scrub, and living upon bush fare tor many days. The result of the firing at Dunedin for colonial representatives shows the supremacy of the Otago marksmen over the whole of the colony to be not one whit diminished. Captain and Adjutant Atkinson has forwarded to us the following ♦telegram of the men who have qualified. Erom the scores given we infer that the tiring was at the 400, 500, and 600 yards range, and it will he observed that Mr Christie is, somewhat singularly, the lowest scorer but two out of the seventeen whose names are given. _ The following are the scores: —Dixon. 54; Blalch, oO ; Key, 50 ; Buchanan, 49; Brown, 4b ; Wilson. 45; Henderson, 44 ; Cowie, 44; Reid 44; M'Laren, 44; M'Farland, 44 ; Lean, 43 ; Marshall, 42 ; Hutchinson, 41 ; Christie, 41, Taylor, 40 ; Muir, 40. The Oamaru and Hampden men have yet to Robert Johnston, a laborer, working on the Port Chalmers line of railway at Blanket Bay. was killed a few days ago. A blast had been put in the tunnel leadin" to Sawyer’s Bay, the train had been lighted, and all had sheltered themselves—he amongst the rest. As the blast was rather long in going oil he raised his head above the stone behind which he was sheltered. Just then the explosion occurred, and a fragment ot rock struck him on the forehead, killing him instantaneously. The “Otago Daily Times and the “Lyttelton Times” both contain paragraphs complaining of the inefficiency or the telegraphic service under the manage merit of Greville’s agency m New Zea-

The people of the Tuapeka distiict, Otago, have worked themselves up into a state of quartz excitement. Nearly every individual carries a specimen in his pocket. Casing, dip, and dwts per ton supplant the weather as standaru topic ot conversation ; and an alarming amount of practical and scientific know,edge of quartz reefing has been developed by parties hitherto deemed densely ignorant on these points. The premonitory symptoms of quartz fever are appearing. A strange phenomenon was observed at Nelson the other day just before dark. A dense mist was at the time enveloping the summit of the Maungatapu when suddenly there was seen a thin spiral column, connecting it with a heavy cloud above, the result of which was that the mist speedily broke, all the moisture having apparently been sucked up into the cloud above. The electric telegraph will soon be in operation over the whole ot the civilised globe. Wo learn from our last English papers that messages can now be forwarded to Nagasaki (Japan) by the cables of the Great Northern Telegraph Company, the Russian land lines, and tae cables of the Great Northern Telegraph, China and Japan Extension Company, at the rate of £4 6s from London, and £4 / a from the country, per message ol twenty

words, including address. Messages if addressed “Post Nagasaki’ are also received for other places in Japan, and no extra charge is made for postage. Owing to an interruption of the cable between Nagasaki and Shanghai the company cannot as yet forward messages to China.