Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4127, 12 June 1874, Page 2

The storm from the south-east, which had lulled soon after sunset on Wednesday, recommenced at an early hour yesterday morning. Long before daylight the wind blew strongly, and heavy rain fell. All day long the wind and the rain continued, with a watery mist in the sky, and so “thick” was the weather that at no time during the day could the signal station be seen. The s.s. Albion, from Melbourne and the South, was off the entrance to the harbor at an early hour in the morning, there can be no doubt, if she loft Lyttelton at the time announced by the telegraph, but the south-easter must have been “black” indeed in the Strait, for she was unable to pick up Pencarrow Head, and consequently, is still in the Strait. It blew so fiercely in the evening, and the night was sp thick, that Captain Underwood must have had a trying night of it. The Albion will get in, no doubt, as soon as the drift clears away. The s.s. Wellington went to sea at an early hour yesterday, on her voyage to the South. If “ the gallant captain,” however, had not been' as fond of a breeze at sea as one of “ Mother Carey’s chickens,” it might have been as well to have remained in port until the worst of the storm blew over. The Artillery Company have arranged the preliminaries for a grand ball to he given on the Oth proximo, in the Theatre Royal, the proceeds of which will he applied in augmentation of the Baud Fund. An extensive list of lady patronesses has been secured, and there is every probability that the affair will eclipse all previous volunteer balls given in the City. The interior of the Theatre upon the occasion will present an imposing array of flags, rifles, and glittering steel, and the effect is to be further heightened by the introduction of the battery guns. The company, in fact, intend to do the thing upon a grand scale. The charter authorising the establishment of a second conclave of the Bed Cross Knight Order of Freemasons in this City, was received by the English mail recently to hand. The conclave was inaugurated by Brother Lord, of H.M.S. Dido, during the visit of that vessel to this port, and has therefore been in actual existence for more than twelve months, hut the official ratification of the proceedings taken was only received a day or two ago, as announced above. The conclave at present numbers fifteen members. The boatswain of the Golden Sea met with an accident yesterday on board the ship, which is likely to lead to fatal results. The unfortunate man was assisting to unload railway iron, when he missed his footing and was precipitated down the hold, falling on a heap of railway iron. His right side was completely smashed in, the arm broken, and other injuries inflicted which rendered him* insensible. He was at once removed to the Hospital, hut had not recovered consciousness some hours afterwards. According to present appearances his recovery seems impossible. We notice that the Bank of New Zealand and the National Bank of New Zealand have between them shipped to London, per the Anazi, barque, from Auckland, no less than 12,2330z5. Ddwts. Cgrs. of gold, the produce of the Thames, Nelson, and AVestland goldfields. The value of the same is estimated at £48,729. The following paragraph, relating to the appointment of Mrs. Howard (formerly Mrs. Alpenny) as an emigration agent, appears in the Otago Guardian :—We feel bound to exonerate the present Government from all complicity in Mrs. Howard’s proceedings. We understand that she went home armed with a letter of recommendation from Mr. Reid, while Mr. Stafford’s Government were in office, but that on Mr. Vogel's accession to power, the Agent-General was informed that the Government did not consider Mrs. Howard a suitable person to employ to select immigrants for New Zealand ; and it was subsequent to the receipt of that letter by the Agent-General, that he was prevailed upon to send her on her Irish tour, of which we arc reaping the fruits in Dunedin. As we have already said, we feel constrained to make this explanation, inasmuch as a correspondent recently endeavored to excuse Dr. Featherston, and throw the blame upon the Colonial Government. Mr. W. Leatham, who is favorably known in Wellington as a successful public caterer, has been appointed to the charge of Bellamy’s during the coining session. The palpable advantages of such an appointment were manifest to the House Committee during previous sessions, and Mr. Leatham being the most eligible candidate for the office, his services have been secured. In another column, purveyors of meat and broad are notified that ho_ is prepared to receive tenders for supplies during the coming session. The canvass for votes to decide the election of Second Lieutenant of the Artillery Corps has resulted in the required majority being obtained by Mr. Fox, who will in due course be gazetted to the post. A meeting of Hospital Trustees was held yesterday at the Provincial Secretary’s office, hut the business transacted embraced no matters of public interest. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council which should have lakeu place last evening, was postponed till to-night, in consequence of the indisposition, of his Worship the Mayor. Mr. South, Clerk of the B.M. Court at Onelitmga, has been appointed Clerk to the 11. M. Court at Wanganui. Beda, the one-legged gymnast, appears to have met with an unsympathising guardian of the law, at Boss, in Westland. Beda endeavors, with groat courage, to earn a livelihood by following his profession almost without assistance, and under the disadvantage of not always having a roof to cover him while on the trapeze or the horizontal bar. In the streets of Boss he had put up part of his apparatus, when he was encountered by an angry official, who indignantly ordered Beda to “ move on,” threatening immediate arrest if ho did not do so. Hard lines for poor A death is reported by the Wanganui ] Jerald to have occurred in that district under suspicious circumstances. The deceased was buried on Friday without an inquest, though the facts are patent to the eye of the authorities. Mary Hcaly was cruelly assaulted in the beginning of May, her brutal assailant receiving seven days' imprisonment with hard labor for the assault. The victim was removed to the Hospital suffering from the effects of her beating, and gradually succumbed until death relieved her from her sufferings. She wasTraricd without an inquest. A man, who 'was known by the name of Hawthorn, has been hanged at Goulburn for an attempted murder near that town. He was suspected of at least half-a-dozen murders, and on the scaffold confessed to four of the crimes of which ho was suspected. _ The Sydney papers described the wretched criminal as “one of tho most heartless .and bloodthirsty of tho human tigers who have over infested the Australian wilds.”

We notice from the Gippslaud papers, (Victoria) that Archibald Campbell, who left that district five years ago for New Zealand, is advertised for by his relatives in Gippslaud. Noticing the death of Mr. Thomas Lockyer Bright, who died lately at Sandhurst, our contemporary tho Greg Mirer Argus says ;—As a public writer Mr Bright had few superiors ; he had great grasp of judgment, was a philosophical thinker, and was a most finished writer. Had his domestic surroundings been of a more satisfactory character, he might have risen to the foremost rank in his profession and lived to be a prosperous man. He was one of the West Coast members in the Canterbury Provincial Council, and assisted largely in furthering the interests of this part of the Colony. Latterly he was in very reduced circumstances, and we fear that he died in poverty. In describing the Governor’s speech at the opening of the Victorian Parliament, and the nature of the replies, the Melbourne correspondent of the Dunedin ,Star says;—“ln the Legislative Council, the committee appointed to draw one up, ‘ regretted that the question of the revision of the taxation of the colony ’ was to be allowed to stand over. Its adoption was moved by Mr. Wallace, and seconded by Mr.. Sargood, senior partner in the Dunedin firm of Sargood, Son, aud Ewen, the junior member of the Legislative Council. Mr. Wallace avoided comment, hut Mr. Sargood made a very good and somewhat lengthy speech, replete with sound practical sense. He especially pressed upon the Council the necessity of an early revision of the tariff, in order to prevent the utter annihilation of Victoria’s intercolonial trade. He was not sanguine enough to imagine ‘free-trade would be adopted for many years to come, but he was anxious for the establishment of an Australasian Customs Union as a first step towards colonial federation.’ He expressed his belief that Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, and South Australia, would be willing to unite on that question.” AUCKLAND. A very important item of news is forwarded to the Herald by its correspondent at Maketu. The result of the Te Puke Native meeting has been the sale of over 10,000 acres, and the leasing of 20,000 acres of good land, to the General Government, nearly all of it ready for occupation; and the settlers of which will have water' carriage through the whole of the block. An immense casting was successfully made on Tuesday, at Messrs. Fraser and Tiune’s foundry. It was a piston .for the Thames Pumping Association, and when completed will weigh between 31 and tons. Tho piston-rod, weighing about two tons, has also just been forged under the steam hammer, and is now in the lathe being finished. This firm have also in hand the boilers and engines for the new steamer Emu. A serious accident has happened to a • poor old man named Thomas Taylor. He went on board the barque P.C.E., lying alongside the wharf, for the purpose of begging some victuals, when he missed his footing in the dusk, aud fell headlong down the main hatch into the hold. The poor fellow still lingered, but was not expected to survive. A deputation lias waited upon the Superintendent with reference to the development of the mineral resources of the Kaipara district. Mr. Hull informed his Honor that recent discoveries of copper had been made, aud also that coal had been found in Mangawai. Dr. Hector had reported most favorably upon this coal, and the settlers wanted assistance to prospect the districts. Mr. Shepherd said he had been requested to wait on the Hon. IT. Vogel when that gentleman was in Auckland, for the purpose of asking for a sum of money to develop the coal resources of Mangawai. Mr. Vogel then promised that Dr. Hector should visit the district, and if he reported favorably the Government would be prepared to make an advance. Dr. Hector, however, had not yet visited the place. Sir B. Douglas said the Provincial Government owned about 1400 acres of land in the district which he represented, and on this land there existed coal, iron, - and limestone. His Honor said if Dr. Hector reported that coal existed he (the Superintendent) was certain that the Government would readily take the matter up. If they would not do so, then of course it would rest with the Provincial Government and the Council. He advised them to get a scientific man to report on the subject. The recent anti-education tax agitation in Auckland provokes the following decidedly severe remarks from the Thames Advertiser ; The mob of Auckland, a disreputable mass of rowdyism of which New York would be ashamed—appear to be the only persons in that city who take much interest or part in things political. Otherwise, the merchant princes of that city, and the merchants who are not princes, nor even gentlemen, confine their energies to plots and counterplots as to the graving dock and the water supply, and leave any political demonstration to be worked by a crew not existing in any other city of New Zealand, aud to whose doings and sayings therefore too much weight is likely to bo attached. Mr. John Black, one of the original purchasers of the Old Whau mine, being about to return homo to Scotland, has disposed of his interest in the company. In noticing the circumstances, the Thames Advertiser relates the following incidents which, though trifling, are indicative of prosperity on the part of shareholders in reefs;—Mr. Borthwiclc, the present manager, induced two friends to join with him in the purchase of the Old Whau mine when it was in the market, and sold for debt. He had not much inducement to offer beyond his firm belief that if a certain pilau of operations were pursued, the mine would be found a good playable one. On these repireseu-. tations, his friends joined him and purchased the claim, and have since carried out the pilau of operations then piroposed, with what success our readers are aware. One of the first to dispiose of his interest, which he did before the rich returns afterwards obtained were piroenred, was Capitain Orkney, of Dunedin; hut he made a spilendid pirofit, and in order to expiress his high opiinion of Mi’. Borthwick, ho sent to Mrs. Borthwiclc a handsome ring as a piroseut. It contains five pioarls and ton small rubies. Mr. Black, on his retirement, piresented Mr. Borthwick with a spilendid set of shirt studs aud sleeve links, rich spiecimeus set in gold, and a massive brooch of the same material for Mrs. Borthwick. Mr. Fred Somerfield, another shareholder, and a director, who has not retired, has presented Mr. Borthwick with a spilendid diamond ring and a handsomely-mounted meerschaum piipie. TARANAKI. The ] Hawkers’ Licensing ordinance, piassed last session by tho Provincial Council, has been disallowed by the Governor, some of the clauses being ultra vires. It is fair to piresume that there is a large,, high-living, and liberal-hearted literary staff on the Taranaki jVri os, a recent number of which contained tho following piaragrapih : “ We saw yesterday some splendid beef in the ' shop of Messrs. Rossiter and Son, and gave a large order at once. We believe in living on the fat of tho land. Whether Messrs. Rossiter and Son believe in our doing so, is another matter.” HAWKE’S BAY. New Government Buildings, on a very handsome pilau, are about to be erected in Napiier. Tho example of the Government has been followed by several citizens, and, among other buildings, a new Criterion Hotel will soon be hi course of construction. Tho building, it is said, will he second to none in New Zealand. Other hotels and a large number of shopis are in progress, or shortly will be so These are undoubted signs of prosperity. The Natives on the Mangateretere Block have been again at the work of destruction ou Mr. Sutton’s house. About three o’clock ou Saturday afternoon week, from 150 to 200 of them marched on to the ground, headed by Karaitiana Takamoana, M.H.E., Henare Tomoaua, and Manaena being also amongst tho most prominent, who ordered the three Europieans in occupation of the building to quit_ Tho order not being acceded to, the Native^

proceeded to take away the roof, and the' Europivuis left. The Natives then pulled the place to pieces, even to the piles and foundation of the chimney stacks, and carried the debris on to the road, and there piled it up in a heap. Mr. Karaitiana intimates that he and his friends intend to do the same thing’ on the Herotaunga Block, NET,SON. It is said that the Itev. Mr. Cross, who has recently arrived in this Colony, will prohahly he appointed to the Church of England incumbency at Charleston. The members of the Reefton Church Com" mitteo have under consideration a letter from the Bishop of Nelson, intimating- the probable early removal of the Rev. Mr. I'lavell to the Ahaura. The Provincial Engineer in his report hud before the Council, says the Government wharf of Nelson is getting so rotten that he cannot advise the Government to spend any more money in repairs. The cost of removing the Channel Rock at the entrance to Nelson harbor was .CO'ls, according to the Provincial Engineer’s report. The rook has been removed to a depth of 3 feet 3 inches below its original level. A depth of 10 feet G inches is now obtained on it at low water springs. The amount of rock removed was forty-three cubic yards. The s.s. Ino (says the Westport 'Times) returned from Ngakawhau on Sunday morning, partially laden with coal, the Ngakawhau bar being still too shallow to allow of her coming out with a full cargo. This is to be regretted, particularly just now, as the Alma is in port and could receive a cargo direct for the Melbourne market. To fill her up now will necessitate several trips of the Ino up to the mine.

WESTLAXD. Mr. Hawley, the officer in charge of the Greymouth Telegraph Office, is to be removed to take charge of the office at Timam. , Tile Westland Steamtug ami Freight Company, though losers to the extent of £2,000, are not desponding. In their report, the directors state -The company’s plant is in first-class condition, and arrangements have been entered into which will keep the vessels fully employed during the next few months, and which it is believed will he remunerative to the company. Overtures have been made at different times to the other shipping companies on the West Coast to amalgamate and form one “ West Coast Shipping Company,” and which we feel convinced would be the best for all concerned. As none of them feel disposed at the present time to enter into any such arrangement, your directors recommend that things go on as heretofore, feeling satisfied that for the next twelve months, at any rate, no money will be lost, and that in the meantime the company will better its position. It is understood by the Grey Id nr Argus that it is the intention of the Westland Provincial Government to bring into force regulations for the working of the Miners’ Eights Extension Act, 1872. This Act was passed for the purpose of enabling miners to work on both sides of the Grey Eiver without taking out, during the course of one year, two miner’s rights. All that has to be done is that a right taken out in one Province shall be presented in the other at the office of a Warden or Eeceiver of Goldfields Revenue, and upon the payment of two shillings and sixpence it shall be registered and carry with it the same privileges as if it had been taken out in that Province.