INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4271, 27 November 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

NORTH ISLAND. AUCKLAND. The prize winners in Mr. Abbott's sweep_ on the Melbourne Cup are as follows : —First prize, £SOO, James King, Haricot. Second prize, Mr. Musjid, Protos. Third prize, Messrs. Giles and Grattan. King, says the Echo, who is the lucky holder of the winning ticket, is quite a lad, and resides at Corornandel. This money, should he use it carefully, will give him an advantage that few young men have in beginning life. The necessity of a training ship, or of some other means of receiving "Arabs" from off the streets, says the Echo, is nowhere better exemplified than in Auckland. In no other town in New Zealand are so many bare-footed, miserablelooking, young ragamuffins to be found as in this city. The streets swarm with them. At the various corners of quiet streets they may be seen, engaged in the pleasant pastime of "pitch and toss." Now and then these boys are caught by the police indulging in petty larceny ; they are brought before the Resident Magistrate, and in consideration of their juvenility are let off. Having experienced this leniency, they consider they may commit crime with impunity, and in many instances do so for some time, until they again find themselves in the clutches of the police. Perhaps, when charged a second time, these gamins are sentenced to imprisonment for from twenty-four hours to forty-eight hours. The Resident Magistrate frequently remarks upon the insufficiency of the law in its present state, as it does not allow him to punish youthful offenders •who may happen to be under fourteen years of age as he would wish, namely, by ordering that they should be flogged. Sending them to ga.nl nimply elomoraliaca tlieni ; tlieylettve far worse than when they enter its walls. The real question is, what shall we do with them ? Mr. Beatty, chief warder at Mount Eden gaol, had an exceedingly narrow escape from serious injury or death, on the 11th of November. He had been resting for a time in one of the sentry-boxes overlooking the prisoners at work, and had just left the box when an immense mass of scoria rolled from the heights above and smashed the box into splinters. A large share of the prizes at the Caledonian Games in Auckland, were taken by "Volunteer McLean, of the Thames Scottish Company. Out of six entries, he secured five first prizes and one second.

There were sweeps in Auckland over the Melbourne Cup race to the amount of £2500. A wonderful draught of fish -was caught in the harbor last Saturday afternoon by the Maoris, says the Bay of Plenty Times. We should think that 10,000 fish of all kinds were netted, and distributed in hundreds to all who would take them away. Again we ask, why is a fish-curing establishment wanting in Tauranga? Hawks are frightfully destructive and very bold in some districts in the neighborhood of Auckland. On Sunday week John Kennedy, the cook of Mr. Charles John Taylor, at the Tamaki, was in the garden gathering some kitchen herbs, when a blackbird closely pursued by a large hawk flew for refuge to hi 3 breast, cowering in the utmost terror. The hawk followed, perched on Kennedy's shoulder, and seized in its beak his hand, which was protecting the blackbird, tearing out a little bit of flesh from one of his fingers, and was with difficulty driven away. The depredations of hawks on poultry in the neighborhood have been very great; and they are so wary that it jb difficult to get within shooting range of them. Kennedy shot one a few weeks ago which measured over three feet across the extended wing from tip to tip. A native woman named Herena died a few days since at Waerenga-a-hika, says the Poverty Bay Standard of the 18th inst., under circumstances which have excited grave suspicions as to death being the result of natural causes. Herena was the wife of one Ebenezer Tipuna, who had been in the habit of ill-treating her ; but pending the inquest which, we believe, will be held, we withhold any further remark. The natives are reported to be greatly excited over ~ said, to see if they will shoot Tipima or hand him over to the civil authorities. A wire network has been placed round the top of the columns supporting the portico of the Union Bank at Auckland. This has been done to prevent the sparrows from again building their nests there. The Maoris have completed the building of a church at Kirikiri. It will be consecrated on Monday next, the 30th inst. An accident happened at the quarantine station, Motuihi, on Saturday last. Some of the Hydaspes's passengers were engaged in fumigating the baggage, when one of the furnace pipes burst. In consequence of the mishap a quantity of the passengers' effects were burned and destroyed before the same could be extracted from the oven. Mr. Fenton, the Judge of the Native Lands Court in Auckland, has received instructions from the General Government that he and hi 3 Court are to remove, as soon as circumstances will permit, from Auckland, in order to be established in Wellington. TARANAKI. The Pariaka natives have, for a number of years, says the Herald, been like so many sulky children. Europeans might visit them, but they did so under a sort of protest from Te Wniti. The natives would neither yield to any request that might be made, nor refuse it. In a sort of pouting way they would neither say "yea" nor "nay." But we are glad to hear that this prejudice against the white population is gradually wearing away, and that, a better feeling towards vis prevails amongst the more sensible portion of the natives living in that district. During last winter the road along the coast by which the Coach had to travel through the Pariaka district, became so bad that the coach polei were continually breaking, and it became abaolutely necessary to repair the road. Mr. Parris accordingly got a few Europeans to do this. At first no opposition was made to it; but when a very bad place near Warea was being repaired, Te Whetu (the native connected with the murder of Brady, some eight years since), and several of his followers came down and stopped the work. The Europeans then moved to another place, and they were again interrupted. The affair having got to Te Whiti's ears, he sent for Te Whetu, and whatever that chief said or influence he used, further obstruction was removed, and the road was repaired. If the natives permit this ■work to be proceeded with, we should imagine they would throw no impediment in the way of the telegraph being erected. Last week, four of the constabulary nearly lost their lives through poisoning. The men had gone into the bush, and eaten more kiekies than were good for them. Peeling hot and thirsty, they went to the surgery for a cooling draught, and tartar emetic was given them in mistake for cream of tartar. Dr. O'Carroll was immediately sent for, and proceeded to the White Cliffs the same night, when he used effectual remedies to counteract the poison. The lato genial weather has been highly favorable to young birds. Numbers of fledglings may now bo seen trying their young plumbs. Young pheasants are especially numerous, and may be seen in the open districts running by the sides of the road. Some of them are so tame that they may be taken by the hand. *ln these piping times of peace, says the News, when the rifle is about to be laid up in the Government armoury, our young men will have to take up the fowling-piece, and instead of the long steady aim of target practice, will havo to drill themselves in snap shooting. Pheasants are increasing so fast, and the complaints of the farmers of their ravages in tho seed corn are becoming so loud, that sporting must speedily become a necessary duty. a ctmioua case bes-oue tije coubt. A somewhat amusing case came before the Resident Magistrate oa Thursday last (says tho Herald), when a summary conviction could not be obtained because it was impossible to make defendant (who waß deaf and dumb) eomprohond tho evidenco of the prosecutor. Tho defendant (who was an aboriginal native named Kopumipi) is a powerful young man, and was charged by Mr. Snell with assaulting

him. The native was born deaf, and is, consequently, deprived of the power of speech. He is well known in this place by the name of "Colson's Dummy." Mr. Kobert Seott was sworn to interpret the charge to defendant. This he professed to do by graceful and rather amusing signs, and he then informed the Court that the native thoroughly understood _ the nature of the charge against him—that is to say, he was upon his trial for unlawfully assaulting Mr. Snell and biting him upon the nose, and that he pleaded not guilty. This state of things appearing satisfactory, Mr. Snell (whose nasal organ showed marks of having been severely bitten), then gave his evidence ; after which Mr. Scott was requested to interpret it, sentence by sentence, to the defendant. It soon, however, became apparent to the Court that this could not be done, as the defendant had never been taught tho dumb alphabet; and, to add to the difficulty, Mr. Colson's son (who had also been sworn to interpret) declared that the native was under the impression that he was charging Mr. Snell with having struck him with a stick, and not that Mr. Snell was proceeding against him for the assault. Under these circumstances the Court was of opinion that it would be impossible to summarily convict the defendant upon a charge which he could not be made to comprehend. After an adjournment it was eventually settled by consent that he should be bound over to keep the peace for six months, in two sureties of £25 each. This was accordingly done. HAWKE'S BAY. It is currently reported that an old and respected settler in Hawke's Bay, Mr. Charles Nairn, of Pourerere, purposes endowing the Church of England institutions of that province with a gift of £IO,OOO. Three locomotives are in Napier, for use on tho Nupiei- mid Hastings railway.

MIDDLE ISLAND. OTAGO. Mr. J. Morton, the engineer of the steamer Wallabi, met his death by drowning on Friday night week. The vessel was at Kaitangata, on the Clutha River, and the deceased fell in the water whilst stepping from the steamer to the wharf. He leaves a wife and two children. A short time ago a friend persuaded him to insure his life for £2OO with the Government. Mr. A. 11. Shury, who has been long and favorably known as an officer of the Union Bank at Dunedin, has received the charge of the Ashburton (Canterbury) Agency of that Bank. On Saturday week a number of the customers and his fellow-officers _of the Union Bank, and a few personal friends, met at Wain's and presented him with an address and a purse of sovereigns, on the occasion of his departure from Dunedin. The presentation was made " as a slight recognition of his uniform courtesy and obliging manner as an officer of the Union Bank during the past fourteen years." The Clutha Leader states that Mr. Stevenson, manager of the Henley Estate, Taieri, is engaged in the improvement of that fine property, which extends to 5500 acres freehold, and 600 acre 3 leasehold. Of this, 2700 acres are sown down with a mixture of the best and most suitable grasses, and other 1500 acres will be sown down thi3 season. There is also a nursery upon the ground, in which is being reared gums and American timbers for planting out in belts, crescents, and squares throughout the estate. This will afford a shelter for the stock in the meantime, and upon arrival at maturity, will give a handsome return for timber. So luxuriant is the grass upon the estate during the summer months, that it is almost impossible to eat it down. Last year 800 fat cattle were sent off the estate to the Dunedin market, besides 9000 fat and 4000 store sheep. It is expected this 'year there will be fattened 800 head of cattle and 25,000 sheep. An embankment i 3 now being erected round the entire estate. It will be eight miles in length, and of which nearly the half has already been accomplished. The embankment is 14ft. wide at the base, 4ft. in height, and upon the outer side it will be sown with "flooding will be avoided, as the embanlcnient; will be higher than the highest known flood which has ever occurred in the district. There is still a large area of swamp to be reclaimed in the Taieri.

Amongst the numerous buildings being erected in Kensington and Caversham are three hotels. Two of these are situated along the line of the Ocean Beach road, within a hundred yards of each other. The first is nearly completed, and contains about fourteen rooms ; and the other, to comprise a similar number of rooms, will be pushed on with all possible speed. We understand that they will cost respectively £llOO and £ISOO. The hotel at Caversham is being built of brick. The cottages and shops that are in course of construction are of various designs. A prisoner named James Frazer has been received into gaol at Dunedin, from Oamaru. He stands committed for trial by Mr. Parker, R.M., at the ensuing criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at Dunedin, on tho charge of having, on the 7th instant, forged, uttered, and disposed of a cheque on the National Bank of New Zealand, at Oamaru, for the payment of £33 145., and purporting to be signed by John Reid.

CANTERBURY. A man named O'Brien ha 3 fractured his skull by falling from a railway truck. He is likely to recover, but with the loss of hearing. An accident, which, fortunately, was not productive of serious results, happened to the Oxford mail coach on Monday afternoon last, at Moeraki Downs, says the Times of the 18th inst. Shortly after the coach left Messent's Hotel, on the down trip, the horses shied at a dray, and despite the efforts of Mr. Seaton, the driver, the coach was drawn into the ditch at the side of the road. The sudden shoclc threw Mr. Seaton and the two passengers riding on tho box seat into the gorse fence, and the horses dragged the coach along almost on its side, with one wheel in the ditch. Mr. C. Young, a passenger, got out, and succeeded in pulling the female passengers out by the door, but they fell heavily, and were very much bruised ; and a little child that was in charge of one of them miraculously escaped being killed. The other male passenger jumped out of the window, and got several bruises. The horses continued to drag the coach, until they were stopped some distance east of the river Oust. All the passengers were much shaken, but no bones were broken. NELSON. A fatal accident is reported from Takaka. Mr. George Winter and bis four children were in a dray when it capsized, and one of the children, falling under the horse, was trampled on and killed. An accident that is likely to have a fatal termination, occurred on the 3th, says tho Mail, to Mr. Job Palmer, who was driving a timber-laden dray near the Wairoa bridge, and in getting off it his foot caught in the edges of the timber and he fell, when the wheel passed over his chest, breaking several of his ribs. Ho was at once taken into the Bridge Inn, where he lies in a very precarious condition. Professor Ugly, at Zalatown, the Lyell, attempted a lecture on phrenology; but the affair being evidently a' swindle, the audience demanded their money back. This not being complied with, the Professor was given in custody on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences ; but was discharged on a point of law. Subsequently he was convicted of lunacy, and committed to tho Nelson Asylum. He wan known in Hokitika as Billy tho Cook. — Buller News. The Charleston Herald of November 4th, states :—" During tho past week tho existence of gold up tho Four-mile river has again been brought before the public by two miners—both old residents—exhibiting a small sample which they had procured some ten miles abovo tho Four-milo bridge, tho gold being found in a gravelly wash, and what is generally known as scaly gold, but of fair thickness. Tho men— Mr. Ireland and W. King—both express themselves as convinced that a run of payable gold exists thoro and over a largo extent of country, from which they obtained prospects in every

place they tried, and that with only rude appliances." A meeting has been held and steps taken to send out a prospecting party to examine the Eour-mile valley and district. A seam of coal has been found just below the surface at the harbor of Nelson. It is nine inches thick, and only of indifferent character, but it may overlie coal of better quality. The Inanrjahua, Herald is reliably informed that the reef in the Italian Gully Prospecting Claim has widened to two feet, and contains as good gold as previously when the thickness did not exceed six inches.

The Grey River Argus gives as an on (lit, that Mr. Eugene O'Conor had a practical but rather unpleasant illustration last week of the necessity of spending at least some portion of the famous £50,000 at a place where it is badly required. The Dictator was travelling between the Lyell and Christy's, and by reason of his horse stumbling or shying, Mr. O'Conor, although he is an excellent equestrian—and is, in fact, provincially renowned as an accomplished ■:equestrian—was unseated, and landed in a hole nearly a fathom deep in the middle of the "main road." It is stated at the Ahaura that the Provincial Secretary on extricating himself from his perilous position, "shook the dirt from his feet" as energetically a 9 he did on a former celebrated occasion in tho Grey Valley, and expressed an opinion to his travelling companion that they must have unaccountably wandered on to the track between Sandy McHardy's aud Squaretowru A gold discovery which promises to be of some importance, was reported at Ahaura on Monday week. The locality is a ten-ace on one of the tributary creeks of the Blackball, and between that river and Moonlight. The prospectors, James O'Connor and Edward Cullen, are granted a double area claim of 170 ft. by 85ft. They report being prospecting iu tho neighborhood for the last two months, and the gold has been found at the end of a tunnel, a distance of 40ft. from the face. The prospects are giveu at 2ozs. 12dwts. of gold from the quantity of dirt driven out to make room for four sets of timber, which, as the ground is dry, and easily worked, may be considered a very fair yield. It has been rumored for the last three months that something of value had been discovered in the Blackball district, but the report only took a definite shape on Saturday afternoon, in consequence of the claim of Cullen and O'Connor having been examined. The ground is already extensively rushed, both from Ahaura and Nelson Creek, but those who know that part of the country best, say that the terraces run for a great length even aud unbroken, indicating the existence of continuous leads or gutters more or less valuable.

Since the commitment of Antonio Perrin to gaol, in default of payment of the amount of judgment obtained by Messrs. Condy and Ewing, circumstances pointed to the likelihood of the defaulting debtor being possessed of sufficient property to satisfy his creditors' claim. A warrant of distress was again applied for and issued, and a search of the debtor's hut resulted in the discovery of a portfolio at the bottom of a shoe trunk, which contained a few notes, a gold nugget chain weighing two ounces, a Savings Bank deposit book showing a recent payment of £4O into the bank at Reefton, and a receipt from the agent of the Bank of New Zealand for a parcel, contents unknown. This latter parcel is believed to contain deeds and other securities, as the debtor is supposed to be a man of some means. Considerable credit is due to the bailiff of the court, Mr. Temperley, for the manner in which he succeeded in bringing to light the debtor's property. Perrin had thoroughly made up his mind to undergo the two months' imprisonment rather than pay a debt justly due for stores, &0., supplied for his own use. MARLBOROUGH. Mr. Sutton has presented to the Museum a portion of a large aerolite which he found on his property on the north bank of the Wairau River. An accident at the Perry to a horse and dray belonging to Messrs. Brogden and Sons occurred (says the Express) in a singular manner. It appears that the flapping of the ■fSSiSa <*£ b HrMnsg fi Tte r psafe across the end, and fell into deep water in the middle of the river. It was therefore manifestly impossible to do anything to save it, weighted as it was with the dray. The immigrants for Marlborough per the Ocean Mail arrived per Lyttelton on Thursday. Of the forty-four, which was the utmost the authorities would allow to be carried by the steamer, the bulk have been already engaged, or have gone to their friends. In fact, all that were remaining at the depot yesterday, 13th instant,. were two young men of the laborer clas3, who have places in view, and a married couple with one child, the husband being a gardener, who, having his family in the vicinity, intends to settle in Blenheim a 3 soon a 3 he can get a house. This absorption fully justified the opinion expressed by his Honor Mr. Seymour in the correspondence, as to the best time of year for their arrival. Of those left in Nelson one family, who had been nominated by a person in Picton, has followed him to the West Coast. The Carnatic, with the direct immigrants, is expected early in December, and quarters have been secured for a portion of them at Renwicktown.

A further crushing of gold has taken place at the Turner mine. The cake weighed 86 ounces, the result of twenty-one days' crashing. Tho same paper says Bhares were sold during last week at a premium on the paid-up price.

| The works for the improvement of the Opawa navigation, near Dillon's Point, have already proved very serviceable although far from completed. So much so that the Falcon, fully loaded, came up the river the other day in two hours from the bar, a feat she has not been able to accomplish for nearly twelve months; her time being of toner than not a couple of days. WESTLAND. A complete set of boring apparatus, to reach a depth of sixty feet, has been sent down by Mr. 11. Meyer to Messrs. King and Friend, of Okarito. It is the intention of its recipients to test the beaches in that district especially, but also other parts that are believed to bo auriferous. Tho same borers have already been used years ago in the neighborhood of Hokitika, and several runs of gold have been discovered by their means, but unfortunately water power to utilise the finds has not been available. Mr. C. Robinson, the Okarito mailman, reports that nearly all the roadmen are on strike, the want of punctuality in paying the wages being the alleged cause. A very necessary addition is being made to the Provincial offices in Hokitika by the erection of a strong room, and two additional rooms for tho Secretary's and Treasurer's depai-tments —departments which arc at present most indifferently accommodated. Among the buildiiigs upon which carpenters are busy at work may be mentioned the new Bank of New Zealand, which is rapidly approaching completion, new premises in Revell-street, for Mr. Ingram, watchmaker, opposite the Robert Burns Hotel, and extensions of ICellar's Cafe National, which now presents a largo frontage to both Weld and Kevell-streets. Wc observe also that tenders are invited for additions to the Union Bank.