INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4435, 7 June 1875, Page 6

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

NORTH ISLAND.

WELLINGTON.

We understand that the district engineer has taken over the portion of the Waitotara road which was lately metalled, and about which so many complaints have been heard. If the metal was all supposed to go through a 2J-inch ring, which, we believe, are the terms of the contract, such a ring in this instance would require to be an elastic one.— Wanganui Chronicle. A correspondent sends us the following particulars regarding the Manawatu Gorge bridge : —“ The bridge was designed by the Engineer-in-Chicf for a railway and road bridge, and was let by tender in July, 1873. Actual work commenced in December, the interval being occupied in getting material on the ground to commence the work. Cement had been telegraphed for to England. The length of the bridge is 415£t., consisting of five spans of 40ft., one of 20ft., and two of 13ft. Oiu., and one main span of 162 ft., on nibble stone masonry piers 50ft. high, off which the arch springs. The floor is on top of the arch, and is 74ft. above low water.' The width of the roadway is 14ft. 6iu. Total cost about £12,000. The Manawatu river rises in the Ruahine ranges. I may add that when on the spot Mr.- McNeil showed me a mark on a tree 40ft. above the ordinary level of the river, and told me that floods had been known to rise to that height.” A correspondent, writing from Eoxton on the 6th of May, says:—“l regard the 6th of May as a red-letter day in the Manawatu .settlement. James Collins, Esq., merchant, on that day was wedded to the daughter of T. U. Cook, Esq., one of the first settlers in the district. Mr, James Booth, at the breakfast which followed the completion of the ceremony, proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. Dr. Hewson gave the health of the father of the bride, and took occasion to observe that from that day might be dated a new era in the progress of the settlement, while he drew a glowing picture of the district, its beauties and its prospects. The demand for labor is still unsatisfied in the Wanganui district, judging from the following paragraph in a local paper : —■“ Work is still plentiful, and although a considerable number.of immigrants have been sent to Wanganui and Rangitikei during the last year, so many that it has been thought by some people that the labor market would be glutted, there appears to be hardly any decrease in the demand. Especially is this the case in the country districts, where a large number of men could at present find employment.” An unfortunate result of an accident to a young immigrant, who only lately arrived in the province, is reported by the Wanganui Chronicle, which says:—The young man named Jones, who was so severely injured by a fall of gravel at Marton, is being restored to convalescence by very slow and painful degrees. His back has been seriously, and, it is feared, permanently injured, and his foot is still much swollen, not induced apparently by the compound fracture which his leg sustained so much as by some foreign and poisonous agency. As he is just entering upon manhood his crippled condition and tedious recovery bear very heavily upon him. We regret to record the death of Mrs. Gray, of Eoxton. The deceased lady was the wife of Mr. Alexander Gray of that town, and the daughter of Mrs. George Waters of this city. She had endeared herself to all around her by the many kind acts for which she was remarkable. Her death was very sudden, for she was only taken ill on Saturday evening, the 16th instant. The funeral took place on Wednesday last at one o'clock. It was attended by almost the whole of the inhabitants of Eoxton, audbusiuess was suspended during the afternoon. • An accident to an old settler in the Hutt— 1 Mr.; William Abbott, formerly of the 65th reriment, and a pensioner—was reported on May Bth, and it was stated that the injuries he had sustained were severe. He had fallen over a bank of the river, on his way home. We are glad to learn, from a report received by the police late last night, that Abbott has only sustained a few scratches and bruises. Mrs. G. Cawood, wife of a well-to-do farmer, near Marton, took an overdose of laudanumon the 11th May, having previously locked the door. The husband on breaking the door open found her dead in bed. She was a young woman, and usually very lively, but had lately been in bad health and low-spirited She was taking laudanum by medical advice. Circumstances point to suicide. She came from Wairarapa, where she has a large number of relatives in comfortable circumstances. An inquest will be held. A serious accident—serious in the loss it entails upon an old Wairarapa settler—happened on Monday on the Bimutaka Hill, about mid-day. One of Walker’s teams was coming into town with a load of timber, having seven horses in the team, in consequence of the heaviness of the roads, and when within about fifty yards of the top of the range, on the Featherston aide, the driver had to pull up, through some other teamster having left his waggon in a very narrow and dangerous part of the road. It is necessary to explain that the horses had been taken away from this waggon, so that it was impossible to move it, and Walker’s driver had to proceed with the greatest caution to get past. The apprehensions of danger were, however, too well grounded, for just as the two waggons were abreast, the road gave way at the side, and Walker’s waggon and seven horses were precipitated over the cliff. The weight of the load smashed the vehicle in two before it had got far down the face, and the parts, with the load and horses, continued their headlong course in an indescribable mass until a large tree obstructed their further progress at a depth of about 60ft. from the road. With the assistance of some teamsters, who came along some time afterwards, three of the horses were got up all right; two were so badly injured as to render it doubtful whether they will be fit for further service, and two were found to be killed outright. The accident is entirely attributable to the thoughtlessness of the driver who left his team in such a dangerous position. Possibly Mr. Walker has no means of obtaining redress, but whether he has or not such culpability is deserving of the severest reprehension.

AUCKLAND. (FROM our own correspondent.) Auckland, May 18. The unopposed election o£ Sir George Grey to the Superintendency must not he regarded as indicating that a majority of the people are in favor of the continuance of the present system. The thing was principally arranged by a ring of capitalists and old identities, and those who regard provincialism with hostility considered the abolition of provincialism so certain, that they did not think it worth while to oppose Sir George Grey, seeing that the question must be definitely settled in a lew mouths hence. I think I shall not be far wrong in predicting that tho naked facts revealed in Mr. Wood’s Financial Statement will raise a storm of indignation in the country districts. All along, even when the finances of the province were in a comparatively flourishing condition, the Waikato, the Northern districts, and the Thames, complained that tho revenue raised in those portions of the province was principally spent in the metropolis, and that they did not receive anything like their fair proportion of the money. The winter is coming on, there are roads urgently needed in the country districts, miners are rushing hither and thither, and clamouring for roads to every little “ rush," tho Board of Education is heavily in debt, and yet not a shilling will be available. Of course every one expects, iu_ some vague, way, that aid will come from the General Government, and a great many have unbounded faith in Sir George Grey's ability to raise money by some occult means. But tho scales have fallen from the eyes of many who erstwhile were most sanguine. Sir George Grey’s speech gave a most dismal view of tho condition and prospects of the province, and suggested no remedy. Those who reposed unbounded faith in him appeared to think that, like the Heathen Chinee, he had some great winning card concealed in his sleeve, and they awaited the

Financial Statement. It has been delivered, and the last hope is shattered. The idol of clay is breaking up. A few still point to the forthcoming session of the General Assembly as the panacea for Auckland’s troubles, and all sorts of rumors are afloat as to the mighty things which our Superintendent is incubating. I am inclined to the belief that Sir George Grey and Mr. Reader Wood have deep design in presenting the financial condition of the province in the very worst possible colors. It will afford a strong ground of appeal to the General Government and the Assembly, and at the worst will be an excuse for an ad rntsetecordiam cry. Mr. Reader Wood concluded his Financial Statement by stating that aid must come from the General Government; how, he could not even guess. The Echo says if this is all the present Executive can suggest, the sooner we make up our minds to decently kmy provincialism the better, and the Cross has sounded the knell of provincialism at every •opportunity. OUR FINANCIAL POSITION. The bare fact is, that at the end of Juue the province will be in a state of impecuniosity. The estimated sums receivable up to the 30th June are as follows : Capitation allowance Confiscated lands , Ir. Goldfields revenue , Licenses Loan sinking fund Pilotage ; ™ £17,550 _ The liabilities to he met within the same period Liabilities to bank Payments to departments .. ■■ '. uw £10,012 As I telegraphed you, the Estimates are only for six months, viz., till December _ 31, the Superintendent being desirous of awaiting the action of the General Assembly. The anticipated receipts for the six mouths are as follow ; Land fund 451,000 Capitation and special allowance .. 9,000 Goldfields revenue (i.OOO Pilotage Water rates j? 00 Licenses .. .. .. ■ • • • 000 Sheep Act 300 Slaughter-house 000 Miscellaneous .. 1,000 Revenue .. .. .. •• ..£19,200 From Loan For Public Works £3,000 For new slaughter-house .. .. 2,500 Sale slaughter-house site .. . - 1,100 £6OOO The estimated expenditure is as follows : Executive £1,200 0 0 Legislative 035 0 0 Waste Lands 495 0 0 Public Works 2,030 0 0 Police .. .. ■ ■ • • 3,943 10 0 Relief 2,000 0 0 Hospitals 2,000 0 0 Lunatic Asylum 2,800 0 0 Gaols .. .. .. .. 3.250 0 0 Goldfields’ department .. .. 1,750 0 0 Harbors 3,000 0 0 Total £23,703 0 0 In addition, there are the following miscellaneous items : Inspection weights and measures £l6O 0 0 Inspection slaughter-house .. 50 0 0 Inspection of sheep.. .. .. 600 0 0 Government analyst .. .. 150 0 0 Laboratory 50 0 0 Land and insurance,. .. .. 175 0 0 Dispensary 100 0 0 Ferries ..' .. .. • ■ • ■ 250 0 0 Steam services 1000 0 0 Public Health Act 200 0 0 Repairs buildings 300- 0 0 Printing, &c. .. .. ■. . ■ 500 0 0 Contingencies .. .. .. 750 0 0 New slaughter-house .. .. 2500 0 0 Interest H 3 10 0 Total £0790 10 0 You will see from these figures, therefore, that without including the £3301 17s. 7d. of Special Orders, already voted, the expenditure is estimated to amount to £30,494, against a possible receipt of £25,800. I think it will be found that some of the items of receipts have been underestimated, especially that of “ Land Fund, £IOOO. As to education, there is a probability that at tte end of the ensuing six months it will come to a sudden standstill. 1 ’ The education commissioners have received about £II,OOO out of the poll tax, which realised £12,000. £SOOO has been borrowed from the bank, and £SOOO has been received out of provincial revenue, but at the very least £IO,OOO will be required for tbe ensuing six months, and by levying another rate for the whole year.and still remaining in debt, the Board may contrive to pull through, but I think it is very questionable whether the required amount will be forthcoming. The tax is exceedingly unpopular, and the next will be resisted to the utmost. Altogether things look gloomy. NATIVE LAND PURCHASE. In consequence of the statements contained in the Superintendent’s speech, regarding the character of the lands purchased by the General Government out of the £250,000 set apart for the purpose, a select committee has been appointed to inquire into the matter, and £3oo' has been placed on the Estimates for the purpose. It is understood that this committee will prolong its inquiries until after the close of the present session, and that their report will form the basis of an attack on the General Government in the Assembly. THE GOLDFIELDS. Of course I know that what I am going to say now will be called rank heresy by a section of the Auckland Press ; I expect to be set down as a sort of Judas Iscariot, a traitor in the camp, and all the rest of it, but truth compels me to say some ugly things. In the first place, then, let none of your readers he allured either by telegrams or newspaper articles, respecting the rushes in all sorts of directions which we hear of daily. First, there is a general flutter, jubilation, and exodus to Ohiuemuri, Telegrams, pigeongrams, and correspondent’s letters teem with glowing accounts of “splendid prospects,” “good shows,” gold “ showing freely ” in high levels, low levels, and no levels at all; of specimens calculated to yield tens of ounces to the ton of stone ; of buildings going up, shares selling, and a kind of pyrotechnic display of brilliant colors. By-and-bye we are told that Dan Leahy, or Lanky Bill, is doing' something mysterious in another distant quarter, that pieces of gold-bearing stone arc being exhibited to a favored few, that moonlight flitting and pegging-out is the rage ; that somebody has either struck a reef, or confidently expects to do so by driving a few feet further in a particular direction, and so forth. Then came rumors of litigation and inaction, of jumping, and then of a new rush elsewhere. The public eye is dazzled with a grand kaleidiscopic view of rushes and finds. You have barely time to begin to study too closely the actual results Of one rush before your attention is diverted by another. By this means the newspapers contrive to keep things moving, to get up little effvervescent sensations, and to turn an honest penny. One wonders where all the big capital letters come from. You cannot take up a paper without seeing some largo black headings about “ Important News ” from somewhere or other, “Splendid Find,” See. In this way Paeroa, Mackaytown, Waitekauri, Tairua, Puriri, and other places have been played, and there is an ample stock of cards left yet. We are told of mysterious sales of gold, but none of them are authenticated. We hear of wonderful finds in a vague sort of way, but the discoverers are said to he jealous of any one sharing in their untold wealth, and therefore reticent; but somehow or other the gold returns aro not a whit increased, in fact they have fallen off. The miners have been on a wili-o’-the-wisp chase of tho fickle goddess, the winter is coming on, tho roads and tracks will be impassable in wet weather, and general loss and discontent, if not worse, must be the result. The newspapers are much to blame for feeding this gold-fever, instead of encouraging steady industry ; and the temptation to speculation in business sites has a good deal to answer for also. Don’t let any of your readers beguiled. Wait a bit. The places in which these wonderful discoveries are said to have been made arc extensive enough to absorb tho entire population of tho colony. There is no fear of all tho ground being taken up. FAREWELL TO SIR O. A. ARNEY. There was a very large muster of friends on tho wharf to bid farewell to Sir G. A. Arney, who goes home to attend to the affairs of his brother, who is ill. It is hardly likely that ho

will ever return to New Zealand. People at a distance cannot understand the esteem and regard in which he was held by all classes of the community. At the farewell demonstration the Bar was largely represented, and all the leading citizens of Auckland were present. Addresses, identical in terms, were presented by Sir George Grey on behalf of the inhabitants, by the Mayor, and by the chairman of the Harbor Board. Sir George Arney appeared to be very deeply affected in his reply. PROVINCIALISM AT THE THAMES. When I wrote the above respecting the probable feeling of the Thames people in perusing the Financial Statement, I had not seen an extract from tho Thames Advertiser, which I now append ; —The Advertiser reviews Mr! Reader Wood’s Financial Statement, in which it sees the death knell of provincialism. It says Canterbury aud Otago are not so wealthy as they thought, but “Auckland is neither more nor less than dead-broke. She is down past all hope of being put up again.” Tho functions of the Provincial Government, it argues, are gone, for it has no money to spend on public works. It winds up its remarks as follows ; —“Surely every living thing, aud especially every governmental organisation, ought to have decent excuse for being in existence. At the end of the six months there will be a deficiency of some £7OOO or £BOOO in the education scheme alone. Never had treasurer a more melancholy story to tell, and when Sir George looks at the figures, he must see that all hope of preserving the province is gone. Let him frankly acknowledge this, aud he will find abundant work still in seeing that this part of the colony is not left in a disadvantageous position as it has been hitherto, mainly by the operation of provincialism —for if that system had not existed there would have been no such thing as the land compact of 1856, which gave all the Southern Island to the province there. And when the provinces are interred, which ought to be done as soon as possible, the best efforts of our best men will have to be devoted to the colony, or it will soon bo in a plight not much better than the province of Auckland is now.”

The measles are killing; Maori children by the score at Matata, and along the East Coast. The natives are paralysed by superstitious notions, and are adopting no measures to cure, but are letting the children die like sheep. The natives of Kopua refuse to allow Europeans to shoot there this year, although the place is swarming with pheasants. They allege as the reason that permission might tempt some of the bad ones amongst them to commit murder, and to cause trouble. Anyone trespassing is to have his gun taken away. A return of work done in the Auckland gaol during the year shows productive work, £3865 4s. 9d. ; unproductive, £lOl4 125.; expenditure, £5387. The annual report points out the want of a library and chapel. The visiting-justice reports that small sentences, especially of drunkards' and vagrants, cause an increase in the number of criminals. Education seems to have no great deterrent influence. Out of a total of 964 prisoners 373 were drunkards. The Bay of Plenty Times of the 19th says : “We do not remember ever having experienced such heavy rain as has fallen at intervals during the last ten days. Low lying lands have been submerged for several hours to a depth of three or four inches, and the rivers and streams are much swollen. Had this rainfall occurred some two or three months ago, the appearance of the country would have been very different, and the coming winter not so trying to cattle as it undoubtedly ■will be. A fatal accident occurred on the railway on May 25th. The driver of the train from Auckland to Ellerslie, on arrival at the latter station, about 5 o’clock, reported he had met with an obstruction on the line about midway between Bemuera and Ellerslie, which the engine jumped over. A man was despatched down the line, when at the spot indicated he came upon the mangled remains of a man who had evidently been nm over by the train. The body lay across the metal, the skull being cut in twain, and one of the legs severed from the body. Life was extinct. The remains were picked up, and conveyed by the return train to the Auckland railway station, where the police identified the body as that of William Shields, a notorious vagrant, who was lately discharged, by the magistrate upon his promise to go the Waikato. He was seen at the races with, gambling appliances. Upon examination last evening, it was found that the severed leg was missing, and one of the police was despatched to find it. Mr. Header Wood moved the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, In introducing it, : he said that after making his statement the Council would see that the force of events alone would compel some alteration in the relations between that Council and the General Government. " It was probable the income for the half-year ending 30th June, 1875, would be— Capitation, £3290 ; confiscated lands, £7OO ; gold revenue, £I2OO ; hotel licenses, £11,500 ; sinking fund, £6OO ; pilotage, £350 : total, £17,550. The estimated expenditure was—Liability to the Bank at the present date, £9712 ; payments to different departments, £7OOO ; total, £16,752. Various causes might operate to equalise the amounts, and it was probable that they would finish the half year about clear. He would now proceed to the half-year from Ist July to 31st December. He estimated the receipts from the land fund at £10,000; capitation and special allowances, £9OOO ; goldfields, £6OOO ; pilotage, £SOO ; .vater rates, £300; licenses, £500; Sheep Act, £3O ; slaughter-house, £600; total, £19,200. To this add for public works out of the £40,000 loan, £5500; sale of old site of slaughter-house, £llOO ; total, £25,800. On the other side there were departmental expenses to the following amounts ; —Executive, £I2OO ; legislative, £635 ; waste lauds, £495; public works, £2630 ; police, £9340 ; relief, £2000; hospitals, £2OO ; lunatic asylum, £2BOO ; gaol, £3250 ; goldfields, £1750 ; harbor, £3OOO ; miscellaneous, £10,592 ; total, £34,295. This would leave an apparent deficiency of £8495, but a sum of £3BOI, included in the miscellaneous, was already paid, making the actual deficit between £3OOO and £4OOO. How this was to be made up he did not know, for every item had been cut down to the lowest limit, and could not be further reduced without disturbing social order. Astopducation, in whatever other respects a success, financially it was a failure. The amount expended to the present date was £21,000. The rate yielded £II,OOO ; there was obtained from the provincial revenue £SOOO ; and borrowed from the Bank £SOOO. Eor the next six months they could depend on £IO,OOO or £II,OOO as before. This would satisfy the wants, leaving the deficiency at the Bank untouched. Mr. Wood concluded a most clear and concise statement with the remark that this statement showed them it was necessary for. the General Government to make some provision or other for the decent carrying on of the Government of the province, or things must come to a standstill. They had only an authorised overdraft of £15,000 to depend upon. The debate was adjourned. The Echo on May 15 speaking of the condition of provinces says :—When a system of Government is no longer possible it ceases as a matter of course to be suitable, and however excellent provincialism may be thought while it is possible, absolute failure of all means of usefulness, or even as Mr. Woods says, of living decently, must drive its strongest advocates to seek change, and we think that already this province has censed to have means of living decently as a province. It has ceased to have any funds for public works. It must take all the revenue for its offices, and leave the country districts and goldfields without aid in their struggles. It must therefore cease to be more than a mere machine of offices and departments, and must rule over, without aiding, the struggling settlers in their difficulties. An excursion train ran to Mercer on May 19th. About forty guests of Messrs. Brogden were invited. The journey of forty miles was accomplished in one hour fifty minutes. The Board of Education held a special meeting, and intend to levy the full amount of rate authorised by Act, viz., on householders, 20s. ; other males, 10s. The money is absolutely required for expenses and arrears.

The Provincial Council has passed .a grant of £IOOO to Mrs. Williamson.

J. W. Waller, timber merchant, Auckland, has failed for £20,000. A sailor on the Tien Tsin fell from the maintop on May 14th, and fractured his skull. Rewi’s party distinctly deny the report that Sub-Inspector Northoroft was followed by Te Kooti. Hopkins Clarke, Esq., follows Rewi down the Coast. • Major Mair has returned to Waikato, through domestic trouble. A specimen, obtained by the Superintendent while at Tairua, was tested,' and yielded at the rate of 54Jozs. to the ton. Mr. Sheehan gave notice of motion ; “ That it is not expedient such change be made in next session of the Assembly, but in a new Parliament, aud that any such change should be general throughout the colony.” Flans and specifications of the Auckland dock, to enable English contractors to tender, were in the Mikado’s mail. It is feared they have been lost in the Schiller. The Harbor Board sent a cablegram inquiring. A man named Andrew Petersen, a packer, has been drowned in the Kauarranga Creek He was crossing on the back of a horse, which also. carried a load of grain, when the current carried both away. Man and horse were’ drowned. The Provincial Council has carried a motion -in favor of levying an export duty of £5 per ton on all gum sent out of the colony, the proceeds to be devoted strictly to education ; and resolved that - the Superintendent memorialise the General Government to give effect to this resolution. Thomas Renuington aud George Lane, two seamen of the American whaler Tamerlane, at Russell, attempted to swim ashore to desert. Lane sank and was drowned within a hundred yards of the beach. ’ Renniugton was subsequently found sitting on a rock in an exhausted state. In the Provincial Council on May 13th, the Superintendent transmitted a message, recommending the appropriation of £IOOO for the late Superintendent’s widow. The address in reply was adopted unanimously. During the course of debate Reader Wood stated that the Superintendent would not accept responsible government. In the Provincial Council on May 20th the following resolution was carried : —“ That in the opinion of this Council the time has arrived when some change should be made in the dual system of government at present existing in the colony. That the whole of the Provincial Governments of the colony at present existing should he abolished, aud a more effective aud local form of self-government instituted.” The motion was carried by 19 to 14 on a division. A Maketu telegram to the Star on May 14th says ;—“ An important meeting between the Arawas and the leading Kingite chief, Rewi, took place last night. Rewi said the Government had been bothering him for eight years to make peace, and he had refused unless the land was returned. Sir Donald McLean, on his last visit, promised to return it. Therefore you see me among you. You ought to stop selling the land, and cease interfering between us and the Government. You do not fight for love of the Government or the pakeha—you fight for money. Thus you want to keep your bad habits, going on in your drunkenness and profligacy. He prophesied that before long the pakeha would be glad to ask protection from the King. He said Waikato knew that other Powers were arming against England. He spoke of the Sandwich Islands. There was a Maori king there, and European subjects. The Waikato would never give up their king. Henare 'Te Pakuatua spoke well in favor of the Government, and completely turned the tables on Rewi. He, said the Arawa had watched the King, and could see no good to the natives from his rule. The Waikatos were welcome as' friends to Maketu, but not as agents of the King. The Waikatos loft at daylight for Whakatane, where there are eight hundred natives to meet them.” TARANAKI. (from our own correspondent.) New Plymouth, May 27. There is a little Mokau talk on just now. A number of Maoris pass through New Ply-, mouth about once a month to and from Tariaka. They are mixed as to age, sex, and standing. Some are chiefs of note, men of travel, who speak English well, and who know aud are known to Sir Donald McLean, and have interviewed him as well in Wellington as in their own native districts. Some are boys, some young men. Occasionally women are of the party. Arrived at Tariaka, the oracles of the Maori prophet Te Whiti (the telegraph obstructionist) are listened to, and there is much feeding. Many of the natives who pass through New Plymouth often come long distances, and are not generally very communicative. The natives have a few friends in town with whom they are tolerably, free. The friendship of the Mokan natives is much sought by such white men as are interested in Maori doings ; and some are, or profess to be, well posted up as to probable future doings. The ominous shake of the white man’s head after an interview with any of the natives who may be travelling to or from the meeting, on the question being put of “What news,” indicates that more is known than is wise to tell. Mokau news is served out much after the fashion in which a goldminer speaks of the locality or prospects of a reputed new find.' There is a good deal of the mysterious about it. “We could a tale unfold, , but will not.” There is very little doubt but what many of tho Mokau natives are anxious for European intercourse and facilities for trading. The kindly manner in which such white men as have now and then made their way to the districts are treated, gives ample evidence of such being the case. There is little question, in spite of prohibition, but what some men have been in Maori territory, and that a few are sufficiently intimate with influential natives as to be assured of safe conduct. It is said that a volunteer crew could be made up at any time, at a short notice, who would gladly man a cargo boat and go to Mokau, if permission were granted by the authorities, and that there is not the slightest doubt but what they would be favorably received. One man has lately been in the Maori district, who, a few months hack, was taken up the river about thirty miles. The Maori King has a white man with him—chiefs of lesser note desire to have white men that they may become familiar with European customs and devices, Te Wetere is said to have a strong desire to have his white man, and has by deputy, and in person, pleaded with the King for permission. Many chiefs readily .make friends with white men, and once the ban is removed will quickly make a selection. To he a chief’s adviser and help is an object of ambition with some men. The position would bo one of profit. A late visitor to the forbidden territory says that Te .Wetere has been successful in his mission to the King, and that the permission sought has been granted, as well as liberty given to trade, but that the conditions or desire have not yet been formally made known at tho Native Office. The late visitor takes credit for having helped to bring about this change, and is of opinion, with many others, that except for the occasional visits of white men, and intercourse with natives when in town, the opening would not have been agreed to for a long while to come. A few days will prove ’ whether or not the statements aro correct, aud whoever may get the credit, there can be no doubt but good will result from the opening of tho Mokau to traders. Several folks aro auxiously waiting for the chance ;• and if facilities for communication were easy, it is not unlikely that there would be a slight rush of mon and goods. There is plenty of room, and no doubt all who are anxious will get well placed. At tho present time Maori law is being carried out with a high hand in their own locality, especially in regard to unfaithfulness on the part of the women, of which there has boon several oases of late. • TJtu is sought and obtained on any and every pretext.. If the river should be opened, a new direction will bo given to native energy, and stimulus will be given to production. - ; High tip' the river plenty of wheat is grown, and the late visitor said natives would be only too glad of tho opportunity of exchanging their own produce for European wares.

The visit of the Superintendent of Taranaki to Wellington has slightly raised the hope® of dwellers in this isolated part of the colony. The names of persons whom the General Government propose to elect as members of the Harbor Board are generally approved, but it seems to be a long look ahead before there will be a harbor. The General Government have already been a long time in selecting persons, and if it takes as long to elect them, we may expect to have summer here before the first consultation be held. Of the need of a harbor for the winter season there can be no question. Two steamer's have lately had to pass without landing even passengers or mails, and a small vessel had the other week to run to sea on account of a change of wind, and was not seen again for fully a week, when she again showed up to have the small remaining portion of her cargo taken out. There is no wonder that New Plymouth people are patient, and not easily worked up to boiling pitch, there is so much compulsory waiting in so many ways. Persons desiring to leave by steamer have to be out of bed at all sorts of unearthly hours if the steamer happens to be coming from the North, for fear of losing their passage. The steamer might arrive at daylight and be away again, within an hour, or she might not make the roadstead till nine or ten o’clock, or, in the winter season, being bar-bound at Manukau, might be a day or more behind time. There is no direct telegraph line to pass the time of sailing along. All our telegraphic information is a day behind time, even from near places. Daylight is the safest time for intending passengers to be ready for starting. The only place of accommodation at such an hour is the open beach, and both old and young folks may frequently be seen patiently waiting for hours the arrival of a steamer. The practice, and really the only safe plan, is to take the first boat to the vessel. If cargo has to be landed, passengers may have the pleasure of waiting another hour or two, or more, in the roadstead before the steamer starts. Storekeepers (only a few have risen to the dignity of nierchants) have to wait patiently during the landing of cargo. A part of a consignment may happen to come off in an early boat, whilst the remainder may not be brought off for several hours. The expectant importer has to patiently wait and shepherd his goods till he can make up a load, and then again wait until a dray can be secured to take them away. Then, in regard to the mails there is waiting. The cargo boat goes off, loads cargo, takes in mail and passengers, which occupies an hour or more, according to the weather, before reaching the shore. Then the mail is carried along in a dray to the postoffice and sorted. For the small staff em.ployed the sorting is expeditiously done. But on the arrival of a heavy mail there is much waiting. In connection with the overland coach mail from Wanganui there is much waiting. The coach might happen to arrive between five and six o’clock, or at any hour between that and midnight. From about seven to nine at night tradesmen may be seen patiently waiting for the arrival of the coach or the sorting of the mail. - Never a growl. The non-arrival of the coach or the passing of a steamer does not seem to flurry people much, they are so used to waiting. In wet weather the wonder is that the coach shows up at all, as the road in places is simply frightful for want of metalling. There are clay hills in plenty, along which sleighs would run with ease, and how horses manage to keep their feet with a loaded coach behind them is simply wonderful. In the matter of the Harbor Board a lively interest is taken by a large portion of the inhabitants, and much anxiety is shown in regard to it. Prompt action was taken by the Provincial Government in the doing of their share of the business. It seemed almost as if they had determined to turn over a new leaf. But it was of no avail. The old waiting system was forced upon them by the General Government, who have notevenyet appointed theiiqquota of the board of members, although they have been selected ; and as the . Governor is on his pleasure trip, and Ministers are variously engaged and scattered, it is hard to guess when the appointments will be formally made. The want of a harbor damns the prospects-of the province, and kills every bit of the go-, aheadism new-comers may happen to have. It is a common practice for bagmen to decry the place for its slowness, and yet they get dulled and subdued even by a very short stay. Happening to miss the steamer or coach, there is no help for it but to wait. There is no getting out of the place by other means ; and they quiet down. The province has waited very patiently for immigrants although in great need of labor, but ' there now seems some prospect of getting a regular supply. Cash buyers, of land are wanted, but are deterred from coming for want of the readier communication with other parts of the colony which a harbor would secure. The railway is slowly progressing, but is not generally thought to be of much value either till more is made or a harbor commenced. Even the Waitara Eiver, which it was expected would be turned to good account as a port of entry for small steamers, is’partly blocked up by the wrecked Paterson, and its usefulness thereby marred. There is plenty of really good land, but very few cash buyers. Deferred payment applicants are abundant ; but the Government do not appear anxious to encourage that class of settlers, and a slightly higher price has been fixed on that portion of the Moa block (GOOO acres) which will shortly be offered for sale. A member of the A.C. Force just now being tried for forgery has had to wait over seven months for his trial, and has during the whole time been securely lodged in gaol and kept in suspense. From one cause or another, the Supreme Court sittings have been adjourned. As only three cases have come on for hearing, after so long waiting, Judge Gillies concludes that we are a model community.

The Palea Mail, of May Ist, has the followlowing local items : —“ Mr. North, of Carlyle, was the successful tenderer for the Kakaramea Town Hall, the contract price being X'l 11. The building is expected to be completed by the end of June. —We are glad to learn that the Provincial Secretary has made arrangements for the carrying out of several resolutions relative to this district which were passed at the last session of the Council, viz., the erection of a pilot-house at the Heads, buoying the channel of the river, fixing mooring posts, and raising snags. The Herald has an article on the Native Department. It says ; —This district is sacrificed to suit the view of the department and the exigencies of Government. If the coast line of road and telegraph are abandoned, it ■will only be a manifest victory to the Opposition, and throw the acquisition of territory back for years. The Government by not completing this work is strengthening the hands of the minority amongst the natives who are opposed to a progress policy. It concludes by saying that the Government art; exhausting the patience of the people, who suffer by it, and quietly submit to the wrong done them. The Herald says that over £6OOO advanced to immigrants leaving England is owing, and little has been collected. The single men are conspicuous in their not paying. The Taranaki Herald advocates the setting apart of large blocks of land in the province for purposes of public recreation. The idea is a good one, and should be carried into effect if possible. The Taranaki Budget says ;—“ The Immigration Agent, in speaking about the outcry for immigrants for Taranaki, said he considered credit was due to the Provincial Government for the readiness with which they had adopted means for housing immigrants on their arrival here.” The following singular incident is related by the Taranaki Budget ;—“ The taking of Waireka pa, on the 28th March, 1860, will be well recollected by ‘old identities,’ and especially by volunteers, who received their baptism of fire on that occasion, under Captain Cracroft. It was the first engagement in which the volunteers took part. Amongst the severely wounded, was Mr. E. G. Kawson, chemist, who, if he had acted in the orthodox fashion, would have quietly quitted life under such a

limb shattering as that he received. However, with good attendance, a good constitution, and a genial climate, he lived on, and has ever since been content to hobble along with one leg” shorter than the other. New-comers are soon told ‘ why that limp,’ by such as but too well recollect the occurrence. A bullet passed through the upper portion of the thigh bone, severing it completely in two, as well as shattering it lengthwise, as far down as the kneecap. The extent of the injury could never be properly ascertained. But life was spared, and the limb made sound enough to hobble along on. About twelve months ago, a slightly painful sensation was experienced at the kneejoint by Mr. Bawson. About four mouths ago, horseback exercise had to be foregone, on account of soreness of the knee. On Sunday last, after several poulticings, a small piece of bone was observed protruding above the flesh. Each morning showed a further projection and widening of the base of the protruding bone, till last evening it stood out a full inch, and on being gently pulled it came out of the flesh. The bone is a jagged piece, about two inches long and three-eights of an inch thick at the widest part. It appears to have been most singular that a piece of bone should have been imbedded in the flesh for fifteen years, and then have worked its way out of the flesh. The bone has probably travelled the whole length of the thigh. However, the cause of pain is removed, and friends of Mr. Bawson will be glad to hear of so singular an occurrence, and hope that it will leave him freer to move about than has lately been the case.’ The Patea Mail (rf last week says :—“ At the B. M. Court yesterday (before Major Turner, 8.M.), Eruke, a Waitotara native, was charged by Mr. Jas. Biddle with stealing a wether hoggett. The prosecutor in this .case is the person who has had so much trouble with the natives in trying to keep possession of his land, which the natives claim, and who are now living on a portion of it. Mr. Biddle stated in const that during the last few mouths he had lost over 400 sheep through the natives and their dogs. We trust the Government will at once take steps to set thismatter right. The hearing of the case was adjourned for the evidence of Mrs. Biddle.” The Taranald Budget says '“ Information has been given by natives to one of their white friends that the Maori King's two chief advisers have arranged for a meeting with the Native Commissioner of this province in regard to the Mokau. After a hard struggle on the part of Te Wetera, the King’s consent has been given to the opening of the Mokau Biver to traders,' including steamers, sailing vessels, or boats. It is not desired that any white settlement shall be established, but that there shall be freedom in regard to trading. The occasional visits on the part of white men to the district, and of Maoris to town, have gradually broken the ice and led to this result. There will first of all be a big meeting at Tongaporutu, at which the Maori King’s chief councillors and Te Wetera will be present. Letters will be sent in to the Government, probably within a fortnight, intimating the wishes of the natives, and appointing a time and place of meeting for the arrangement of conditions. The action of the Maoris in this matter is said to be quite voluntary, and will only be made known at the native office on the letters being brought in to town, and on which occasion a request will be made for a steamer to be taken up to the Mokau with the party.” HAWKE’S BAY. Mr. Ormond has been elected for Hastings, Mr. J. L. Herrick for Hampden, Mr. E. Towgood for Petane —all unopposed. Mr. Ormond said that at the close of last session he had announced that he would retire from the Superiutendency, and then he fully meant to do so. Since then proposals were made in the Assembly for the abolition of the provinces, and next session an effort would be made to carry them out., He was in favor of the change being made in the form of local self-government. Many friends, including recently - elected M.P.C.’s, asked him to continue in office for the present, and he consented, if it was the wish of the Council, but would hold himself free to retire if there was no change. If done away with in a year, he would be in a position to wind up provincial affairs in Hawke’s Bay. He denied the statements made at Clive by Mr. Buchanan, that he had influenced the route which the railway should take. He had done all he could to push on the Hawke’s Bay railways, but left the line of route to the en-. gineers. He also replied to other statements of Mr. Buchanan, and said the worst kind of lie was one with just a little .truth in it. He considered Mr. Buchanan had adopted a very unmanly course in making aspersions against him in his (Mr. Ormond’s) absence. Mr. Buchanan’s statement that Mr. Bennett was a Government nominee for Clive was utterly untrue. At Petane, Mr. Towgood dwelt on the wants of j the district, particularly of a bridge at the Spit, and advised the residents to memorialise Sir Donald McLean, as member for the district iu the Assembly, asking him to get £SOOO placed on the Estimates next year for the'purpose. He pointed out the great advantage of inner harbor improvements. Sir Donald McLean gave a big entertainment to the Maoris at Hastings on May 13th. About 100 went there and back by rail. Sir Donald wasnot there himself. Mr. Locke, 8.M., spoke ; also Paora Apatu, Kihuoa, Hohepa Tamamutu.'Bawira Kohia, and others. They expressed loyalty to the Queen ; appreciation of Sir Donald McLean’s services ; a desire to live at peace with the pakeha, and a wish to participate in progress and. civilisation, &c., &c. Everything passed off satisfactorily. A memorial is in course of signature to the Native Minister, asking him to use his efforts to get placed on the new Estimates £SOOO as a grant-in-aid for the proposed bridge at the harbor, conneotingthe eastern andwestern spits. The estimated cost is £IO,OOO. _ The Provincial Council have made a grant-in-aid of £3500, and further action will probably be taken this session. Tenders for the Provincial Banking Accounts were received on May 20. That of the Bank of Australasia was accepted; terms, seven per cent, on amount of daily balance, being two per cent, above what was given last year by the Union Bank. The Herald, in view of Mr. Vogel’s illness, recommends short Parliamentary sessionget the Estimates passed, and leave the abolition question to next Parliament. Messrs. Barker, Cable and Co. have made arrangements with the Government to give up the possession of about 75,000 acres of land near Wairoa, held by them on lease from the native owners for about £2OO a year. The amount of consideration given by the Government has not transpired.

MIDDLE ISLAND. OTAGO. (from oub own correspondent.) Dcnedin, May 8. The Governor arrived in town yesterday, but there was very little demonstration on the occasion. It is true that a half-holiday had been proclaimed, and the banks and Government offices were closed after one o’clock, but it was not till past three that the citizens put up their shutters, which were taken down again as soon as the “ procession” had passed. His Excellency and Lady Normanby (in the same carriage with whom was his Honor the Superintendent), arrived at the Water of Leith Bridge (the entrance to the city). They were here met by the Mayor and members of the Corporation, who presented them with an address, assuring them that we were all very loyal, and enumerating the great public works which were going on in Otago, and giving it as their opinion that Dunedin was “ the ” city of the colony. If they did not say this in words, they left it to be inferred ; and so I have no doubt it was inferred by his Excellency, who replied in a short speech, in which he stated that he had always heard Dunedin was the Queen City of the colony ; that he had been everywhere surprised by the signs of improvement visible, and so on, full particulars of which you will find in the local papers. And then, as the day was cold and bleak, and threatened rain, the “ cavalcade,” consisting of the Governor’s carriage and two or three private vehicles, drove on amidst a very dismal effort at a cheer. There wore comparatively few people in the streets, and nowhere was the

slightest enthusiasm displayed. A few flags were visible, but very few. The Governor was driven to the Club at Fernhill, where he will take up his residence during his stay m this city. The aristocrats of the Club have taken up their residence at the rooms lately vacated by the Press Club, who, in their turn, now occupy the rooms once occupied by the aristocrats at Wain’s. On arrival at Fernhill, a few dismal-looking volunteers presented aims, the band struck up “God save the Queen," the artillery fired a salute, and so ended the first chapter. On the whole, the entrance of his Excellency into Dunedin was not a success. People say they are getting used to the aristocracy, and that nothing less than a prince can rouse them to any enthusiasm. The case of Barrowman v. Stevens, at the Supreme Court, was an action brought by a late passenger of the ship Auckland against the captain, for false imprisonment and assault during the voyage. The defence (which was taken by commission, the ship having left port) was that it was necessary for the preservation of order to iron the plaintiff, who had been getting up monster meetings of the passengers, for the purpose of growling at everything that was not to their liking. A committee had been appointed, of which the plaintiff was head, and it was alleged that this gentleman had informed the captain that he must do as they wished him to, or take the consequence. Some of the witnesses for the defence stated that had it not been for Barrowman’s- arrest in all probability there would have been a mutiny on board. Plaintiff was confined in the hold for a few hours. ■ The, damages claimed were £SOO ; the jury gave a verdict for £SO. In the way of public buildings, Dunedin is. undoubtedly ahead, by a very long way, of the rest of the colony. We are now to have another addition to our street architecture, and at the same time to our public buildings, in the shapeof anewtelegraph-offioe, theplans of which are out, and which is about to be commenced immediately, next to the Custom-house.: This was greatly required, for the amount of telegraph work now carried on in the present inefficient premises is enormous. The new building is to be finished in a twelvemonth; for every week that it remains unfinished over that time the contractor is to pay a penalty of £IOO. At last the Princes-street award business has been finished. The amount allowed is nearly £27,000. Great indignation was yesterday expressed at the appearance of the various items of the award in the Daily Times. - The arbitrators looked aghast; each thought his fellow-arbitrator to be a traitor in downright earnest, and great indignation was manifest on all sides at the publication of the award before it was intended to make it public, while it was secured in the safe, and while moreover the arbitrators were pledged not to disclose the amounts until a certain time- a day or two ahead of that when the award appeared in the paper—had elapsed. But, of course, all are just and honorable men, and each and every alike professes the most entire ignorance of how the matter “ could have crept into the paper.” - The working men have at length a club of their own, and in all probability it will be a success. For a very long time it was doubtful whether it would ever come into existence, although it was taken in hand by a few gentlemen who stipulated that the working men might have the ordinary privileges to be enjoyed at gentlemen’s clubs, but that they must not be allowed to “ drink beer” on the premises—a piece of impertinence which the working men resented, and the thing fell to the ground, but it has been taken up again by the men themselves, and is being brought to a successful issue. They will make their own rules, and are quite capable, I have no doubt, of deciding for themselves the question as to whether it is “ to beer, or not to beer.” The Provincial Council was opened on Monday, with all the honors. The Superintendent made a tremendously long speech, a great portion of which related to the abolition of the provinces. As I telegraphed you this portion in full, I need say no more on that head. The Council, so far’, are going through their work very steadily, and I don’t think their sitting will be a very protracted one. On the first day of the session, Councillor Fish distinguished himself by calling the attention of the House Committee to the fact that last session the drinks supplied were very bad. He trusted there would be an improvement in this respect for the future. He did not drink much, but what littlehehadhe likedgood. “Man wants but little here below, nor wants that little long,” observed a member; upon which another hon. member was heard to remark sotto voce, “ That may be ; but, my young friend, I generally find you are as thirsty as a Fish —and it’s not such a very little you take after all.” Ddnedin, May 22. Since last writing, a great political storm has arisen, and in its course through the Provincial Council has fallen with a heavy weight upon the Executive, which, succumbing to the blow, has resigned in a body, leaving to other hands the task of guiding our provincial applecart through the rocks and quicksands of political life. The session commenced with very fine weather indeed, and it was not until the Financial Statement had been made that the Opposition showed any sign. Then Mr. Bastings, who was but a few months ago Goldfields Secretary—from which position he was ousted in anything but a satisfactory manner—brought forward a want of confidence motion on the figures adduced by the Treasurer ; and after a long debate, the motion was carried by 22 to 20. The division was taken at past one in the morning, and in a very full house. On meeting the next day Mr. Beid, the Provincial Secretary, announced that the Executive had placed their resignation in the hands of his Honor the Superintendent. On the previous evening a wish had been pretty generally expressed by the Council that Mr. Beid should form part of any new Government that might be put into office, but this he positively declined to do. I hear to-day that the new Executive will consist of the following : —Mr. Bastings, Provincial Secretary and Secretary of Works, and Mr. Fish Secretary of Bailways —the latter a newly created office ; Mr. Stout will act as Provincial Solicitor, and Messrs. Green and Sumpton will be non-official members of the Executive. The appointment of Treasurer has not yet been decided upon. The Council meets again on Tuesday, and there is a pretty strong impression abroad, at least outside of the Council Chambers, that before another week is over the new Executive will also be ousted. We shall see if that impression is correct. The announcement of Mr. Vogel’s long stay in Europe has been received in different ways by different people. A gentleman connected with one of the newspaper offices here, who had just received .the news from the telegraphic office for an “ extra.,” met Dr. Pollen close to the telegraphic office. The worthy Doctor had not heard the news, and on the newspaper gentleman—who also happens to be an M.H.R. —showing him the telegraphic slip containing the intimation that Vogel would not be back until September, the Doctor’s face became as elongated as Mahomet’s coffin. A very different effect, however, was pi-oduced upon the Superintendent, who happened to join the party at this moment. “Why, what’s the matter, Pollen?” asked our bluff and jovial head of affairs ; “ do you find vice-regality too much for you !” Dr. Pollen smole a sickly smile. The man of letters and M.H.8., as aforesaid, then showed the “ slip ” to Macandrew, whose face expanded to the broadest decent width, as a perspective of political battle in the council halls of Wellington flashed across his brain, and he saw the abolition party without a leader, lying ■ bleeding and defeated. We have had a big meeting about the money authorised to be paid for the widening 0 £ Princes-street, and resolutions passed condemning the action of the City Council. The thirm is looked upon as monstrous, and little less than a swindle. Already other meetings of ratepayers have been held, and iu all proba bility the majority of the councillors will b called upon to resign—which they certainly will not do. A well known merchant in this city, and agent for one of the insurance companies—Mr. Geo. H. Campbell, of the firm of Calvert and Campbell—is very much missed here just now.

He' took hia departure suddenly yesterday, m the ship William Davie bound to Hongkong, and he did this without so much as bidding adieu to a numerous but select circle of friends and creditors. Tina coming to the earn of certain parties who were very anxious about him, a sergeant of police was despatched on hoard with a warrant for hia arrest; hut Campbell was hidden under the sofa in the captain s cabin and the capture waa not made. It is now said that for the last three or four years ho has not been solvent, and that when everything comes out a bad case will be shown. Ihe insurance company for which he "'as agent will, it is thought, suffer to a considerable extent. Ho has, too, been the min of a very worthy tradesman, who, through a bill for him for a considerable amount, lias brought himself to an insolvent condition. This o-entleman was for some time a City Councillor, but has now thought fit to resign in consequence of this affair. He is much respected, and great sympathy is felt for him in his present misfortunes. And, while on this subject of bankruptcy and distress, X may wind up by stating that Burke, the brewer, has just filed a declaration of insolvency. The library of the late Mr. Wilson Gray was disposed of by public auction on May Bth, ■ by Messrs, McLandress and Hepburn. It consisted mostly of legal text books, with a sprinkling of well-selected miscellaneous works. There was a numerous attendance of buyers, most of whom were of the legal profession. The bidding on the whole was spirited. An individual who has been carrying on an extensive crockery business in Dunedin for some time, and who a day or two ago found it necessary to seek the protection of the Com*t of Insolvency, departed for Hongkong in the ship William Davie yesterday, in a remarkably hurried manner. Hews has been forwarded from Stoppers that the Nugget Reef Tribute have struck quartz five feet thick, with gold that will yield five ounces to the ton. The news was sent here by a well-known speculator, but requires confirmation. A lad named Finnerty fell through the cap of a ballast waggon on Saturday, May 22nd, and was so badly 'mutilated by several waggons passing over him that he died in the hospital the same evening, after one of his legs had been amputated. An inquest was held yesterday and again to-day. The jury returned a verdict of-manslaughter against John Tibbetts, the «>< man who drew the catch or fastening while the train was in motion. The jury added a rider, that the contractors for railway lines should he compelled to have copies of rules and regulations posted in a conspicuous position for the guidance of workmen. A man named Hammond, a storekeeper at Mcßae’s Flat, committed suicide by tying a 2Slb. weight round his neck and drowning himself. ’ He was discovered by His wife in a pond in the paddock in front of his own store. * The Star of the East Company, Garrick Ranges, finished a very satisfactory crushing on Saturday last. The cake of retorted gold was 2600z5. for 230 tons quartz, viz., 160 tons from the old reef, yielding 480z5., or Odwts. per ton ; and 70 tons from the new sheet of stone, yielding 2120z5., or 3ozs. 3dwts. per ton. The return of the quantities of gold received per escort for the year 1871-5, ending on 31st March, shows as follows '■ Totals: For April, 95550z5.; May, 72650z5, ; June, 10,6290z5. ; July, 39110z5. ; August, 70530z5. ; September, 10,801ozs. ; October, 12,9400z5. ; November, 10,7170z5. ; December, 17,9150z5. ; January, 73780z5. ; February, 75570z5. ; and March, 92910z5. The grand total was £114,450. A shocking accident occurred on the Port line on May loth. A man named Boorland was walking along the line on his way home, and when near Pelichet Bay his foot caught in what is technically known as a cow-trap, that is some cross pieces of wood over the ditches at the side of the line; he could not extricate his foot, hut called out for help, and some persons ran down the line to stop the train which was then due. The night, however, was so dark that the driver could not see a length before him, and all the train ran over the poor fellow’s left leg, and of course crushed it to mincemeat. It appears that had the man been possessed of sufficient presence of mind he could have escaped without a scratch hy lying down between the metals. The leg which was caught in the cow-trap was not injured, hut when Boorland saw the train approaching he put out his leg instead of getting himself together and lying flat. He died in the hospital on the morning of the 18th. At the inquest, a verdict of accidental death was returned, with a rider that it was the duty of the Government to have gates at all crossings, and lights kept burning at same at night. The Otago Guardian says ; —“ The position of the landed estate of the province is disclosed in the report of the Commissioner of Lands for the year ending 31st of March last. Otago proper, it is estimated, contains 13,360,640 acres of territory, but of this area 2,346,240 acres are classed as barren, and 284,800 acres are occupied by lakes, leaving 10,729,600 acres only available for practical use. Of these, 9,684,734 acres have been either let or sold by the Crown. During the year 1874, the total land revenue derived from Otago proper amounted to £179,266, made up In this way Sales of rural land, £90,994 ; town land, £BB2O ; license fees for depasturing stock on runs, £16,484 ; assessment on stock, £63,681 ; fees on issue of pastoral leases, £24 ; fees on transfer of pastoral leases, £1914 ; miscellaneous, £41,292. Fractious are here omitted. The return of ~Vthe territorial revenue 'raised in Southland covers a different period, namely, from 31st March, 1874, to the same date in 1875, during which space of time it amounted to £116,962. The squatters’ foes will be able to ruminate over the fact that in Otago 6,464,218 acres are held under pastoral leases, and ■ 20,000 acres under licenses. A table attached to this report shows that, up to the Slat March last, 56,377 acres of land were thrown open for sale'on deferred payment, of which 37,204 acres have been taken up, 19,173 acres being still on hand. In conclusion, let ns note that the total ram we have received from our landed estate—that is, the landed estate of Otago proper—since 1854, is £1,961,371, a paltry amount compared with the area sold and the quantity held under lease for so many years.” The third half-yearly meeting of the National Insurance Company was held on the afternoon of May 10. Fifty shareholders were present. The chairman (Mr. Larnach) recapitulated the business done by the company since its formation, and referred to its highly satisfactory condition. The adoption of the report having been proposed and seconded, Mr. R. Leary, as representing a large number of shareholders, moved as an amendment that £12,500 (being 2s. 6d. per share) be added to the capital account, in lieu of being carried to the reserve fund as proposed. A company showing such handsome profits as the National could surely afford a large dividend. The money, if carried to the capital account, would still be retained, and would be available for many purposes which may be required. Mr. Dunning seconded the amendment. In answer to a question, Mr. Leary explained that what he meant was that of the £30,000 proposed to be carried to the reserve fund, £12,500 should be earned to the capital account. This would not affect the dividend. The chairman added that the matter had been under consideration before the report was drawn up, and it was thought more desirable to get the reserve fund up to £30,000 before making an appropriation in the manner indicated. The directors had in view, on some future occasion, to increase the capital account as Mr. Leary had indicated. Mr. Leary demanded that a ballot should be taken on his proposal, as he wanted to give some six or seven people whom he represented, and who were not personally present, an opportunity of recording their votes, Mr. Reeves asked if it was proposed to amalgamate with the Now Zealand Insurance Company; and Hr. Kennedy having stated that ho should oppose any proposal of the kind, a ballot was taken, the amendment being negatived by 3 to 1. Messrs. W. J. M, Larnach and Robert Wilson (the retiring directors), wore re-elected. Mr. R. A. Low was elected a director in place of Mr. Richard-Oliver. Messrs. A. O. Begg and W. Morris were re-elected auditors.

The ship Gloucester, for Hongkong, takes a number of Celestials, and 3462 winces of gold, valued at £13,385. A meeting of the South Island natives commenced at Tairoa Heads on May 25. The object is to hold a grand korcro about payment of two millions indemnity to the natives of this island from Government. About fifteen natives were present. There waa plenty of kai, ancl John Wesley, a native, was appointed chairman, after some hours’ discussion. The meeting is likely to last three weeks. The ship Don Juan having been unmoored from tlie railway wharf was towed by the steam tug Geelong as far as the Heads, when the steamer’s warp was cast off and the Don Juan anchored. Telegraphic intimation having been sent to the Government, an answer was immediately transmitted by wire to Port Chalmers, in consequence of which Pilot Stevens proceeded to the Heads and boarded the vessel. In the meantime steps were taken by the Commissioner of Customs, in order to obtain from his Excellency the Governor the necessary authority to preclude the ship putting to sea. This having been prewired, Mr. Hackworth (Collector of Customs), accompanied by Captain Thomson (harbormaster), proceeded to Port Chalmers by the 4 p.m, train, and orders were at once issued to the Customs authorities there to proceed on board, and personally serve Captain Charles Clark, the master and part owner of the ship Don Juan, with a copy of the Order in Council, duly approved by his Excellency, restricting the vessel’s departure from this port until ordered to he released by a competent Court of Appeal, or by order of the Governor. These proceedings were opened in consequence of a report of survey furnished by Captain William Thompson and Mr. David Stevens, who were appointed hy his Excellency’s orders to survey the vessel and report thereon. In consequence of the heavy sea on last night and the number of persons it was found necessary to take to the vessel, the steam tug Geelong was chartered for the occasion, and at seven o’clock, the following Government officers being on hoard, she started from the railway-pier—Mr. Monson (tide surveyor), Mr. Croker (landing waiter). Captain Thomson (harbormaster), Capt. McCallum (piermaster), Segeant Neil, and two police officers, the Customs boat crew and the shipping reporters of the Guardian and Daily Times. Having made a smart run down to the Heads, the Geelong was run alongside the Don Juan, and Mr. Monson proceeded on board, accompanied by Captains Thomson and McCallum, and personally served Captain Clark with the Governor's order under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1873, restricting him from taking the vessel out of port until the case had been decided by a Court of Appeal. Having done this, Mr. Monson instructed the tidewaitvr, Mr. Croker, to remain on board, and similar instructions were given by Captain Thomson to Pilot Stevens, These gentlemen being left on board, the Geelong, with the remainder of the party, returned to the port. No obstruction was offered by any person on board the Don Juan to either Pilot Stevens or the Customs authority. It is likely the vessel will he brought up to the anchorage in the course of the day, to await the result of an inquiry into the matter, which no doubt will take place at an early date. CANTERBURY. The third annual Presbyterian Synod opened on May IDtli. The Rev. N. McGaman was elected Moderator. Sixty-seven hoys and thirty-one girls have entered in competition for the Provincial Scholarships’ examination, which commences on Ist June. The Foresters offer a three-year scholarship for competition by sons of members of the order at the same time as the competition for provincial scholarships. The Freemasons also offer a scholarship of the same kind. The Acclimatisation Society having offered Is. each for the destruction of hawks, as a. protective measure to imported game, three hundred hawks have been killed during the last week. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on May 20th, a committee was appointed to consider the advisability of taking steps to have this province represented at the Philadelphia Exhibition. The Provincial Government have promised to pay all necessary cost of getting exhibits together and forwarding them. The members of the Canterbury Operative Plasterers’ A-sociation have issued a notice to the effect that after the 31st of May they intend to demand an increase of wages of one penny per hour, and cessation from work at one o’clock on Saturday. The Presbyterian Synod on May 20th unanimously agreed to request the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, if there, was no immediate chance of a union of the Presbyterian Churches of both islands, to take steps for the union of the churches of Otago and Canterbury. The Synod then adjourned until 16th April, 1876. Frederick K Pavitt, late steward of church property estate, was brought up again on remand at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on May 20th, charged with embezzling £l6lO from Christ’s College funds. The case was fully proved. The prisoner, who was defended by Hr. Joynt, made no statement in defence, and was committed to take his trial on all six charges brought against him. The total defalcations in the six cases are £5733, hut there are other amounts which may not come before the Court, bringing the total up to £6890. The execution of John Mercer, for the murder of Isabella Thompson, took place,on. Friday, May 7th, within the precincts of the Lyttelton gaol. He slept soundly the previous night, and took a good breakfast. The Rev. J/Fergusson, Presbyterian minister, was with him at a very early hour in the morning, but he paid very little attention to religious matters, and appeared thoroughly careless of his. approaching fate. He was exhorted to make confession just before leaving the cell for the scaffold, and wrote in a firm hand • on a paper referring to the murder, “ I am innocent of this crime.” He walked with a firm tread to the scaffold, attended by the Rev. J. Fergusson. After the rope had been adjusted, he said in a very firm voice, “Farewell gentlemen ; may God have mercy on my soul;” and while the cap was being drawn down he was heard to say, “An innocent man.” Up to the last moment of being visible his features wore a kind of halt smile, which, however, some said was natural to him. He died very easily, only one or two faint spasms being perceptible after the drop fell. After hanging twenty minutes, the body was taken down and removed to the deadhouse. The features of the corpse wore a calm firm look, in no way distorted. The medical examination proved that the neck was not dislocated, and that he died of suffocation. If he had been released two minutes after the drop he would have survived. Fourteen persons were present at the execution. The previous evening Mercer said to one of the gaolers, “It will ho deuced cold work hanging at eight o’clock in the morning. I hope I shall he allowed an hour’s walk, or a nip, before it takes place.” . In the Provincial Council on May 11th, the Secretary of Public Works made a long_ statement of the estimated expenditure during thc ensuin" year. The estimates include buildings and works, re-votes, £215,980 ; new votes, £85,109 ; Municipalities and Road Boards, revotes, £22,878 ; new votes, £15,000 ; Immigration, £3OOO ; Railway Works, re-votes, £142,244 ; now votes, £163,180 ; Government Offices, re-vote, £14,540. By not proceeding with the erection of the museum additions, and by using one "wing of the normal schools for college purposes, instead of erecting a college, and by cutting down other items m the unexpended vote of last year, the Government hope'to effect a saving of £70,446, and as £186,000, previously voted for works now in progress, will not have to bo paid dining the current year, the estimated cash deficit, 31st March, 1876, was reduced to £24,584, though the actual deficit, including the deferred liability of £186,000, would be £110,584. The debate on the estimates was postponed until this evening. The Government policy is generally approved, and it is expected they will be able to command a good working majority.

WESTLAND. (fikbi our own correspondent.) Hokitika, May 14. The special settlement at Jackson’s Bay is advancing as satisfactorily as could be expected. There have been sundry efforts to throw cold water upon the project, and not a few misrepresentations have been made' for that laudable purpose. Cue of the rumors which has been circulated is that several of the settlers have loft dissatisfied. This is perfectly true, but it is only half the truth, and as the matter is of some importance to the colony, it is worth while to give the actual facts. The number of those who left dissatisfied was four ! Of these, two Scandinavians showed the white feather because they did not like the work ; one Scandinavian, because he could not get “plenty of gold ;” and one Euro]ieau because he could not stand being without fresh meat, of which on one occasion the supply ran short. Comment upon those facts is unnecessary, hut their use for the purpose of creating an impression unfavorable to the whole scheme affords a striking example of the ingenuity of perversion of which jealousy is capable. The explanation is, that the project emanated in the first instance from the Superintendent, and is being carried out under his direction. Now, there are not a few persons in Westland who cannot find it in their hearts to forgive Mr. Bonar for being Superintendent, and hence a good many of his official acts are not criticised but slyly misrepresented. Ido not say that he is an ideal Superintendent, or that his administration is free from blunders. But it must be remembered that the Council has forced him to take an entirely inexperienced Executive, the members of which, although very good fellows, and conscientious withal, cannot be regarded except as apprentice politicians and administrators, even by their admirers. A track is at present in course of construction through Haast Pass, to connect Otago with Wesland. The pass is the easiest in the whole line of range, ancl the work, therefore, is regarded as one of considerable importance. This undertaking is being carried out hy the Otago Government. Progress, however, is extremely slow, as only five or six hands are at present employed. It is hoped that, if not before winter, at all events in the spring, the work will be pushed vigorously forward, as it is only by the construction of such roads as this that Wesland can emerge from that condition of isolation which at present renders it almost a separate colony within New Zealand, and which has acted so much to its prejudice in the past. The portion of the great Southern road which is to connect Totara with Okarito, is being steadily constructed, and from all I can hear, the method of its construction is such as will ensure it against becoming useless or impassable in a few years—like many smaller roads in this and other provinces even though the amount available for its maintenance may not be large. A hope was expressed by the Council that the General Government might be induced to cany this arterial work southward to Jackson’s Bay, and no doubt the Executive has ere this suggested to the Public Works Minister the desirability of the extension. It is, in fact, a matter which admits of no doubt so far as provincial interests are concerned, and it is as certain as anything well, can be that it “ must be for years, and' it may be for ever,” that the poverty of the provincial exchequer will prevent the local government from doing the work at its own expense. Whether or not the central Government will think the work of sufficient importance to ask for an appropriation at the next session of the Assembly is of course a matter for speculation. I believe, however, that, regarded as a means of promoting colonisation, there can he few roads in the colony whose construction would he productive of so much good, and open up so varied a field of industry as would this. NELSON. The Nelson Mail deprecates the “correction ” of the Superintendent by the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Conor. It remarks“ Is it for edification, is it for the good of the province that the Superintendent, its elected head, and the Provincial Secretary, the head of its Responsible Executive, should be wrangling and bandying words about the ratio that the revenue of the last year hears to that of the one which preceded it ? The Superintendent stated that there was a slight decline, Mr. O’Conor that there was a slight increase, and a considerable portion of his speech was devoted to proving the correctness of his statement, We have not gone into the matter sufficiently to pronounce an opinion as to which of the two is in the right, nor do we mean to, for what can it matter whether hy a manipulation of figures the revenue of one year is made in a slight degree to compare favorably or unfavorably with that of another ? This little, petty, miserable squabbling is unseemly in the extreme, and calculated to_ lower our Provincial Government in the estimation of our neighbors, who are never unready to enjoy a laugh at the expense of Nelson, Only too justly can they do so now.” Writing on the unavoidable absence of Mr Vogel, the Nelson Evening Mail has the following remarks : —“lt was with very great regret—a regret that will, we are sure, be shared by the whole colony—that we yesterday learned from our telegrams by the Alhambra that Mr. Vogel’s health is in so precarious a state that it will be impossible for him to be in New Zealand at the next session of Parliament. What complications his absence may lead to it is impossible to say,-for it is well known that the Ministry of which he is the head is terribly deficient in debating power, and that, however good they may be in managing their various departments and in carrying out the work of the Government during the recess, they are quite incapable of meeting the Parliament and explaining their actions to the satisfaction of the representatives. It has been said that whenever Mr. Vogel was compulsorily absent for an hour or two, he invariably found everything at sixes and sevens on his return to the House. What then is to be expected when the master mind and mouthpiece of the Government is away for a whole session ? Honest, hard working, and able in administration though they may be, it will surprise not a few if the Ministers of to-day are to be found in office at the close of the coming session. Upon who may he their successors it is yet a little early to speculate, but the name of Sir George Grey maybe ment'oned with some degree of certainty.” Says the Nelson Colonist of Tuesday last ; “Another of our oldest Nelson settlers has been taken from amongst us. Since 1845, when he first landed here, ho has resided at Wakapuaka, and has followed the occupation of a farmer for many years. He was beloved and respected not only by his neighbors but by all witii whom lie had come into contact. He has been a member of both the General Assembly and the Provincial Council. The deceased gentleman was seventy-one years of age at the time of his death, the cause of which was a spinal complaint, the result of an injury received hy a fall some months ago. Although in the early stages of his ilness he had suffered great pain, yet for a short time before he died he was comparatively easy, and death carried him off whilst he was asleep. In Mr. Mackay, Nelson has lost one of her best and most energetic settlers, but his memory will live long after tlie grass has grown over his last restingplace,” MARLBOROUGH. Michael Higgins, a prisoner in Picton gaol, escaped on Saturday, May 22nd, at six o'clock, from the gaol yard, by climbing over the wall by means of three night buckets piled on each other. He was recaptured at six o’clock the same evening, at the elevation, one mile and ahalf from Picton, by Sergeant Seanlan and Warder Skinner. When arrested ho had no irons, he having, as he said, removed them with an axe. Ho is the same man that escaped a few weeks ago, and is under sentence for obtaining money by false pretences from Brogden and Sons.