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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4393, 19 April 1875, Page 2

By the arrival yesterday morning of the barque Edwin Pox, from London, the colony receives a valuable addition of 259 souls to its population. The new arrivals appear to be up to the high standard of the immigrants who have lately come to New Zealand, and have arrived iu port free from disease. The Health Board boarded the ship and inspected the immigrants yesterday morning, and everything being found satisfactory the ship was passed as clean. Several friends of the passengers boarded the ship during the afternoon. The immigrants will be lauded this morning. Wellington hospital appears at present to be free from any of those cases of broken limbs which were so numerous some three or four months ago. There are some cases of fever, which are progressing as well as could be expected. One thing is very noticeable, and it ought to bo remedied as soou as possible. It is this : If we are correctly informed, the out-door patients are strictly forbidden.to air themselves in the beautiful grounds in front of the hospital, and are cooped-up like moulting fowls in a dreary bade yard, with no view, and no sunshine. The effect of having access to the front would while away many weary hours, and do the patients immense good. The reason assigned is, we believe, that it would spoil the effect of the grounds, and be objectionable to the inhabitants of Hobson-street and its n.ighborhood. The authorities of the hospital might order that each of the inmates be compelled to wear a becoming dress—say a loose dressing gown, furnished by the hospital—when in the front garden, which would not

only be an additional ornament to the appearance of the hospital, but one strictly in keeping with the usages of kindred establishments in other countries.

The schooner Julius Vogel, in dropping down to the wharf from Meeeh’s slip yesterday morning, fouled her fore rigging with the threemasted schooner May’s jibbom, snapping it clean off and carrying away the wire port guys. Strange to say, the Julius Vogel sustained no damage, a fact which indicates tlie substantial manner in which she has been rigged. At the time of the accident the mate was in charge, and it appears his action in moving the schooner from her safe anchorage at Te Aro beach was in direct opposition to the captain’s instructions, who happened to be on shore at the time. The schooner was only launched from the slip at two o’clock yesterday morning. The damage is estimated'at about £25. The appointment of Inspector of Machinery for the Wellington district, lately resigned by Mr. Levistam, of Nelson, has been given to Mr. H. A. McGregor, foreman at the foundry of Messrs. Davidson and Co., Dunedin. A few evenings ago he was presented with a handsome silver lever watch, and a massive gold Albert chain and appendages, by a numerous body of his fellow-employes. A brooch was also presented to Mrs. McGregor by the firm. It was of gold, set with pearls and emeralds. The watch bore the following inscription :—“ Presented to H. A. McGregor, foreman, by the workmen of Messrs. Davidson and Company, engineers, Dunedin, as a token of their regard, on his leaving them. April 10, 1875.” A Maori named Trafford, at Bull’s, lately stabbed his wife and a man residing near. Soon afterwards he left the pa in the night, caught and saddled his horse, and rode to the edge of the bush, where the horse was found tied up two days afterwards. The Maori, however, has not since been heard of or seen, and it is supposed that he has committed suicide in the bush.

A copy of the, first issue of a new newspaper, the Waitangi Tribune (Canterbury), has reached us. It is well advertised, and has a very respectable appearance. Its principal leader treats of immigration, and condemns the manner in which the selection of emigrants has been conducted in England. Its local news appears to be well got up, and the “interesting stranger” has already its Christchurch and Wellington correspondents. We notice from the letter of the Tribune's Christchurch correspondent that the directors of the Bank of New Zealand are about to open a branch in Sydney, under the management of Mr. Holt, late of the Christchurch branch. We wish our young contemporary all success.

A contributor furnishes us with the following notes on music in England : —“ The people of Wellington who talk music will be glad to learn that there are several complete MSS left for performance by the late Sir Stemdale Bennett. It is to be hoped that his friends and executors will permit nothing to be neglected that would add to the reputation of the late distinguished composer. The general impression is that Bennett was at his best when fired with the enthusiasm of youth, and that the works of his mature age show no improvement upon those which inspired the friendship, and won the respect of Mendelssohn. The wonderful Straduarius violin (formerly belonging to the celebrated Ernst) now used by Madame Norman Neruda, and purchased by her for the tremendous sum of .£SOO from a connoisseur, is being compared in tone with another extraordinary instrument in the possession of Herr Wilholing, who, it is said, has been twice offered £IOOO to part with his treasure. The musical world of London still continues to rave about Herr Von Billow’s pianoforte playing. He has completely silenced his enemies, and has driven his admirers into excesses of praises, which might well be tempered by a little reflection and reserve.”

The Wanganui Herald of Saturday states that Buapeka, the highest in the North Island, the summit of which has hitherto been considered inaccessible, has been successfully ascended by Mr. E. Bichards, who accomplished his difficult task without a companion. As Mr. Bichards intends giving an account of his journey, it would be unfair to publish particulars now; but we may say that he left a mark on the top which, should the mountain again be ascended, will prove his statement. The 11th of March was the day on which Mr. Bichards reached the summit.

It has already been intimated that the report of Mr. Holloway, the delegate who lately visited New Zealand from the Agricultural Laborers’ Union, was highly favorable to New Zealand. The following summary of his report is forwarded to the Otago Daily Times by its London correspondent; —“ He reports that his candid opinion, after visiting all parts of the country, is that no industrious man who is willing to work need fear any evil with regard to the future in New Zealand. He considers it just the country for hardworking farm laborers, whose only capital is their strong arms arid muscles, as such capital invested in New Zealand, will be sure to produce abundant interest in the shape of liberal wages, smiling homesteads, and something laid by in the savings’ bank to smooth the declining years of life, instead of having to look forward to parish allowance : and a pauper’s grave. There is, he feels convinced, a great future before New Zealand. It the loans now being contracted are judiciously expended in the construction of railways and other reproductive works, the country is bound to go ahead, and eventually become a great and wealthy nation.” The Otaki correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle remarks :—“ The inland telegraph road from Otaki to Waikauae and Paikakari is now complete, and the removal of the wires to the new route will be commenced without delay. The natives have nearly altogether withdrawn their opposition—formerly the chief obstacle.”

Lurline distinguished herself greatly at the late meeting of the Australian Jockey Club, on the Randwick Course, near Sydney. She ran third in the Sydney Cup, carrying 9st., and was only a length and a half from the winner at the finish. The time, 3min. 36seo. —though the Australasian gives it as 3miu.. 35sec.—was the best ever made fortius cup, the shortest hitherto being The Prophet’s, in 1872, who did the distance in 3miu. 36|sec., carrying only 6st. 101 b. Lurline on the third day won the All-Aged Stakes, beating Llama, Redwood (Mr. Do Mestre’s two-year old colt by the New Zealand horse. Manuka, out of Spring Blossom), and Kingsborough ; but it will bo noticed that the last-named bolted and ran two miles and a half before the race was run. On the fourth day the New Zealand mare ran a grand race for the A. J. C. Plate, of 200 sovs., winning this, a three-mile race, in smin. 45sec., and beating easily three of the best horses in Australia—The Diver, Melbourne, and Groldsborough. The time is the same as the Barb’s in 1868 (when he was disqualified for not carrying proper weight) and as Dagworth’s in 1871 ; and was only excelled once—by Hamlet, who won the race in 1872 in smiu. 42sec.

Mr. John Stevena, of Rangitikei, haa purchased the splendid entire Sir William Wallace, which Mr. Benuie lately imported from the South. The price paid (says the Wanganui Chronicle of the 17th instant) was close on £2OO. A horse of such a superior stamp will be a welcome addition to the number of draught entires already in Rangitikei. Mr. and Mrs. George Case returned from Wanganui last night by the steamer Manawatu, and had another rough voyage—experiencing quite as much difficulty in getting back from, as they had in getting to, Wanganui. They performed there for two nights most successfully. The Rev. Charles Clark and Miss Christian left Wellington for Melbourne in the steamer Taranla, which sailed at eight o clock yesterday morning. Sir Hercules Robinson, the popular Governor of New South Wales, was a winner of not less than £2200, in stakes, at the late meeting of the Australian Jockey Club.

Mr. Gilligan’s filly Princess Mary arrived in Christchurch all light, to take part in the coming races there.

A telegraph station is now open at Hokv anga, in the province of Auckland.

We hear with regret, says the Otago Daily Times of the 16th inst., that the Tararua brought a private telegram, from London, dated about the beginning of the present mouth, [conveying the intelligence that Mr. Vogel had not yet recovered from his recent illness. Malcolm Gibbon, a sailor belonging to the barque Australian Sovereign, was charged by Captain Burch, at the K.M. Court on Saturday morning last, with refusing duty. In answer to a question put by his Worship, the prisoner stated he would not resume work, and he was accordingly sentenced to one week’s imprison-

ment with hard labor. The driver of the Timaru and Christchurch coach, whose name is John Meikle, has had the good fortune of being presented on his marriage day with a purse containing a hundred guineas, by residents in the towns along the line of road which the coach travelled, in token of the esteem in which he is held.

The Wanganui Chronicle remarks :—“ Mr. J. G. Holdsworth, Commissioner of Crown Lands, has arrived, but we understand his Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Secretary are not likely to visit the district while the Kangitikei election is exciting attention.”

A correspondent writes to the Southern Cross that he learns, on reliable authority, that the Imperial Government has intimated its inten-

tion to co-operate with the Australasian colonies in the matter of a submarine telegraph cable, connecting Fiji with the projected New Zea-

land wire. It is further proposed to make Auckland a permanent Naval Station, as the port is more centrally situated than either Melbourne or Sydney for the suppression of the slave traffic in the Pacific.

The Lyttdton Times of Saturday says ; The Government are losing no time in making arrangements for the visit of his Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Nor-

manby. A suite of rooms, comprising five sitting-rooms and seven bedrooms, has been engaged at the Clarendon Hotel, instructions also being given to Mr. Wagner to have them thoroughly renovated and suitably furnished. Arrangements will also be made for the reception of the vice-regal party as soon as it is known what his Excellency’s wishes are on the subject. The probability is, however, that it will not be of a very public character. The Bull’s correspondent of the Wanganui Herald speaks hopeful of the prospects of that locality. He says :—“ The entrance to the river is now becoming better known and appreciated, there being a short time ago the s.s. Egmont and the sailing vessels Blackwall and Hunter inside the month at the same time. The Hunter has been a regular trader here for some time past, and as goods can be always conveyed from the mouth to this township at the small cost of £1 per ton, I see no reason why goods from Wellington for this district, or even Marton, should go by Wanganui, except on rare occasions, when time is a greater object.”

The responsibility for the following story rests with the Wanganui Chronicle : —“The circumstances surrounding the last moments of a young man who died in the hospital lately' are very painful and not over creditable. The young man was a stranger in the placed—had no relations here, and but few friends. He had been for some time in ill-health, but was sufficiently well to permit of his accepting an engagement in a business house in town, which, however, he never filled, as he gradually became worse, and within a few days of the date upon which.he was to have entered upon his duties he was in his grave. He was lodging in a hotel in town, but when it became evident that he was rapidly sinking, the medical gentleman who was attending him applied for his admission to the hospital. The chairman of the Hospital Committee, to whom application was made, declined to accede to the request unless the certificate of the hospital medical attendant was procured, as this was the course . laid down by the committee to be pursued in all except urgent cases, such as accident. The doctor argued that the case in point was an urgent one, as the sick man’s life was not worth an hour’s purchase, and it was clear that he could not get the attention in the hotel that he would in the hospital. Eventually, as Dr. Earle’s certificate could not be obtained, in consequence of his absence from town,. the sufferer was brought down the stairs of the hotel and carried to the hospital, where he was admitted on the doctor representing that he had the certificate in his possession. After the patient’s admittance, no certificate being produced, a scene occurred between the keeper and the doctor over the dying man, whose agony of body was ' so intense that he prayed to be left alone to die. As fat, as we have been able to ascertain, we believe the above to be a plain statement of the facts of this case. It does not appear to us that much was to be gained by removing the sufferer, when he was believed to be past recovery, and the attendance he would be likely to receive at the hospital could hardly be an improvement on that he received where he was, when it is considered that there is only a man and his wife to attend on all the patients. Altogether, as we have said, the circumstances surrounding this case are very painful and nqt very creditable,” The manner in which goods are often landed at Napier—pitched out of vessels on the wharf, and left there for a general scramble amongst the carters—says the Havshe's Bay Herald, has been frequently commented upon, but the time-honored custom still 5 continues. As a rule, the carters are intelligent,- careful, and honest, so that things do not so frequently get adrift as might otherwise be the case. Sometimes, however, mistakes will occur, which would scarcely ever happen if a better system were adopted. An alteration in the landing and delivery of goods at this port is certainly one of the necessities of the increasing trade and commerce of the place. “We hear,” says the Wanganui Herald, “ that Mr. I. B. Oakley has been appointed agent for the Bank of. New Zealand at Marton, and that he will be succeeded here by Mr. Buddie, who is expected shortly to arrive from Wellington. While we might congratulate residents in the' neighborhood of Marton on having appointed to the management of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand a gentleman so well and favorably known here for his courtesy to all with .whom he has came in contact in his business capacity, and for Ins genial and kind manners outside of the office, we must at the same time express our regret at his removal We feel sure that Mr. Oakley will be appreciated in Marton for the same good qualities and thorough business capacity which have gained for him the respect and esteem of every one here.” More purchases of first-class home stock have been made in Melbourne for New Zealand. Presto, by Panic out of Louisa, has been bought by Mr. Holley, of Canterbury, for shipment to New Zealand. The Australasian says He is a horse with great size, power, and fine action, and if used with half-bred mares, should soon make a name for himself at the stud as a sire of upstanding carriage horses. He is a well-bred home too, almost own brother to Melbourne, the latter being- by Panic out of Myth by Kelpie out of Miss Louey, Presto’s granddam. As a racehorse, but for an accident he would have been quite at the top of the tree.” We also notice that V Mr. Holley has bought Marmion, by Panic out of Barbelle, by Peter Wilkins, who will be shipped in company with Presto. “The steamship St. Osyth,” says the Melbourne Argus, “ has performed the double feat of making the fastest passage recorded to and from Australia. Her homeward passage lias been accomplished in fifty-eight days, shehaving left Saudridge pier on Saturday forenoon, the 30th of January, and her arrNapv '

in England was notified at daylight on Tuesday, the 29th of March. The voyage was made by way of the Cape of Good Hope, so that it is probable she suffered a day or two’s detention in port there.” To this we may add that the Blackwall steamship Northumberland, also made the passage at the same time, from Melbourne to Loudon, in the same number of days ; but her voyage was made via Cape Horn. Sir Andrew Clarke, E.E., has been appointed to the new office of Director of Public Works in India. He was formerly Director of Works of the Navy, and Surveyor-General and Chief Commissioner of Crown Lards in Victoria.