GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4459, 5 July 1875, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The Registrar-General's report on the vital statistics of the boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, dining the month of May, is published in the Gazette. The total births for the month were 258, and the deaths numbered 211. Of these there were at Auckland ,37 births and 48 deaths the Thames, 24 births, 29 deaths ; Wellington, 57 births, 25 deaths ; Nelson, 23 births, 12 deaths'; Christchurch, 38 births, 39 deaths ; Dunedin, 68 births, 44' deaths ; Hokitika, 13 births, 14 deaths. According - to the returns, the deaths from zymotic diseases were 81 in May, against 80 in April. There is to bo found, howew, *■ considerable difference in the causes of death. Measles were still epidemic in.some places. The deaths from this cause had decreased in Auckland from IS to 5, but had increased at the Thames from 4 to 12. This disease also caused 6 deaths in Hokitika. Typhoid fever caused 27 deaths in May, against 16 in April.'’ The largest number of deaths from this cause occurred in Christchurch. A largo increase in the deaths from local diseases, especially of the respiratory organs, is noted. These latter increased from. 15 in April to 30 in May. Gut of six tenders sent in the Hospital trustees on Monday, June 7, accepted that of Messrs. Barry & McDowall, at £25,914, for the erection of the entire structure. 'A lengthened discussion ensued upon the question of ways and means, the expenditure indicated above being a liability of some magnitude for such a body to undertake. Fortunately the trustees are richly endowed in reserves, a largo portion of the property in the neighborhood of Pipitea Point being vested in them. The site of the present hospital and a considerable portion of the other property will have to bo sold to meet such a large outlay, and in view of the adoption of this course, power was obtained during the last session of Parliament. Preparations for the erection of the new building will be at once set on foot. The arrangements for obtaining a new organ for St. Paul’s Cathedral, Thorndon, are progressing very satisfactorily. By the outgoing English mail an order will be sent to Lends and Sons, of London, to build an'organ to coat £750, whioh.it is expected will be,in Wellington in about nine months. Tho order will take two months to roach' Home, and after an organ is built it is customary to allow it to remain two or three months in the factory, during which time recitals are given and means taken .to discover any defect or flaw. The instrument will then be three mouths on the passage out; so that even were the utmost expedition adopted, it cannot be in the colony before tho time stated. This, however, will have its advantages, for tho vestry in the meanwhile will have time to carry out tho alterations, to the building (including the construction of an organ chamber), which are to be completed by tho middle of next summer. Financially no difficulty will be ex-. pcrienced, for tho contributions to the organ fund are already very considerable, and the choir is to give a series of entertainments for the purpose of augmenting the fund. The Jewish Pentecost began on the Bth by religious service at the synagogue. On the 9th all tho Jewish places of business were closed, the religious observances of the feast extending over the , 10th when evening service was again held at tho synagogue, business being resumed on the Hth.

Henry Jackson, Esq., and Patrick A. Buckley, Esq., are gazetted governors of the Wellington College. The additions to the Museum are fast approaching completion. From their present appearance, it is evident they’will be greatly superior in design and style to the old building. We notice by our exchanges that a paper recently started at Wangarei, an important country district in the Auckland has, in its very first number, pronounced decisively in favor of the abolition of provincialism. The Rangatikei Advocate says it is miserable in Marton to be without any means of recreation but the billiard-room or the bar.. The Advocate supports the establishment of a reading-room. Captain Wheeler, who recently brought out the Union Steamship Company's vessel Hawea to Port Chalmers, was, we find by the Otago Daily Times, entertained at a dinner at the Criterion Hotel, Dunedin, by the passengers, as was also Mr. Banuatyne, chief engineer. The news (says a Poverty Bay paper) from the artesian well at Makaraka is not very encouraging. Mr. Garry has attained a depth of 161 ft.; he is still driving through stiff clay, extremely difficult to penetrate. The unpropitious state of the weather has materially impeded progress, Consequent upon the action taken by the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Woodward, and Mr. Levin, acting on behalf of the Chamber, and Mr. Hunter and Mr. Bunny acting for the Provincial Government, will form a committee " to ensure the representation of the province at the Philadelphia Exhibition. The excavatioES and levelling which have been undertaken by the inmates of the lunatic asylum, under the direction of Mr. Seager, are fast approaching completion. The alterations when effected will greatly add to the appearance of the establishment. The trees lately planted in the grounds appear to be growing up exceedingly well.' The health of the inmates is good. . The North Otago Times says;—“ ‘ Who’ll buy a side of mutton for 2s.?’ was the cry at more than one butcher’s shop on Saturday evening, in Thames-street; and the meat offered, though small, was as good as any person could want to eat. This surpasses the old boiling-down times, when shilling legs of mutton went a-begging. Indeed, wo lately heard a butcher offer a customer six legs for 2s. 6d.” We notice that a “Bradshaw’s Guide for the Colony ” is about to be published shortly by Messrs. Dalgleish and Reid. The rapid extension of our railway system renders such a work indispensable, but the “ Guide ” will not confine itself to railway matters. Steamboat and coach time-tables, rates of fares, postaland telegraph guides, and a mass of local information will be included, llie work will supply a pressing want. ■ The Taueru bridge is not a thing of the present, but. preparations for its erection are in full swing. Mr. Francis, the contractor, who built the°Te Ore Ore bridge, has his hands fully employed just now cutting timber for the’uew bridge, which, according to the terms of the contract, must be cut- while the sap is down, and undergo five months’ seasoning before being put into the bridge, which will bo an accomplished fact by the middle, of next summer, and thereby increase the facilities of communication between the Wairarapa townships and the Ea'st Coast. Mrs Valentine, wife of Mr. N. Valentine, of the Hutt, died on Sunday morning, June 13, at four o’clock. Mrs. Valentine suffered severely during the past twelve months from disease in the jawbone -which defied the best medical talent of’ Wellington and Melbourne, whither Mrs. Valentine went a few months ago, in the hope of obtaining relief, which, however, proved unavailing. The funeral which took place on Tuesday, was attended by about 150 persons, most of whom were, old residents in the city, who were present a mark _of respect to the family, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine ranking amongst the pioneers of the province.^ We recently mentioned the death by accident at the Grey Valley, of Mr. William Corbett, well-known in this province. From particulars to hand we find that Mr. Corbett •whilst walking along the tramway on the 20th May last, over No Town Creek, slipped,_ and fell ' a distance of some 10 feet, receiving injuries which caused his instantaneous death. Mr. Corbett was one of the older Wellington settlers, having came out here in 1851, and took a somewhat prominent part in public affairs, having been a member of the Provincial Council in 1858. He surveyed the small farm settlements in the Wairarapa, and left the province for Otago in 1800, where he was for some time employed m laying off roads. He had been from that time until he met his death, employed in the exercise of his profes • sion at different places in’ almost every part of the South Island.

By'last mail (says the Bruce Herald) a gentleman residing in Balclutha received a letter from England, which is rather a curiosity in its way, and is to him a reminder of a very unpleasant incident in his life. All will yet remember the great forgery case in which Sir John Doan Paul, of the firm of Strachan, Paul, and Bates, bankers, figured as -the criminal, and was sent into penal servitude. The letter refered to was a noticeof the declaration of two dividends in the estate of that firm, and that for a debt of £SOO the recipient could have 125.,. less postage, upon sending a receipt for the sapie. The last we have heard of tho baronet was that his worthy lady had joined him in his penal abode, and had managed to secure his services as her servant. ■ The ■ trowel used by his Excellency at tho laying of the foundation stone of ■ the Presbyterian Church was manufactured by Mi - . Marriott, Lambton-quay, and is a faultless piece of workmanship. It had the following inscription neatly engraven, surrounded by an elegant traced border Presented to his Excellency the Most Noble the Marquis of .Normauby, K.C.M.G., Governor of New- Zealand, on his laying the foundation stone of St. John s Presbyterian Church, Wellington. Juno 29, 1875.” On the back is the design of an open Bible, with the words, “ Love ye one another.” It is right to state -that Mr. Marriott, who executed the whole of this work, is one of our oldest settlers, having emigrated from London to Port Nicholson in 1842. He is now over seventy-six years of age, and the performance, for so venerable an artist, is really surprising. A very' handsome specimen of pottery work has been exhibited in the ’ window of Messrs, Lyon and Blair, stationers, of Lamb-ton-quay. The article under notice is the property of Mr. J. M. Perrier, of this city, and was presented to .him by the secretary of the Tokomairiro Pottery Works, whore it was made. The design is a floral device, in which can be traced passion flowers, dahlias, roses, &c., all formed with a delicacy and a fidelity to nature highly suggestive of the skill of the artificer, and demonstrating the plastic nature and general suitableness for pottery purposes of the material of which it is manufactured—the better kind of clay found ip tho Tokamairiro district. As a work of art it is really very pretty, but its utility lies in the evidence it affords of tho commercial value of the industry of which it is a representative. Mr. Pilkington, the Thorndon schoolmaster, has received gratifying proof that the recent prosecution has done lum little damage in the eyes of those who have carefully studied, the case, and whose opinion, therefore, in such an emergency, is worth having. A number of gentlemen who heard the evidence given in court, and others who formed their judgment upon the published reports of the case, have notified Mr. Mowbray, the head master of the school, of their willingness to bear any share of the court costs which shall entirely relieve. Mr. Pilkington from expense. This course, however, is not likely to bo adopted, as the masters of all the town schools, private as well. as public, have come forward with creditable promptness and volunteered to relieve him of all costs. Had the case been a flagrant one, tho masters as a body would no doubt have stigmatised as readily as they sympathise, so that this tangible proof of their sincerity of fooling is valuable. But not so valuable as this is the letter of sympathy which at present is bein" voluntarily signed by gentlemen of standing, whose names will bo published when the letter itself is presented to Mr. Pilkington.

The man whose reported loss in the Masterton district we recorded last week turned up on Thursday all right.

Provisional recognition of Edward Pearce, Esq., as Consul at Wellington for Sweden and Norway, appears in Thursday’s Gazette, The appointment of Alexander James McTavish, Esq., as Acting German Consul for Wellington, has- been gazetted as recognised by his Excellency the Governor. Inquiries are being made through the Colonial Secretary’s office as to the whereabouts of one William Harris, who arrived in Wellington by the La Hogue in 1874. The last information respecting him received by his friends was to the effect that he was about to proceed to Christchurch. We hear that the keeper of the Hutt tollgat'o has carried out his expressed intention of issuing a summons against Mi - . Hastwell, proprietor of the Wairarapa coach, with the object of testing the tollbar ' question in another form. The case will, we believe, be heard on Wednesday. The number of births registered in the Wellington district during the month of June, 1873, was 91, of which GS occurred in the city of Wellington.' The deaths in June, 1875, were 25, of which IS took place in Wellington city. There were also two stillbirths-. During the last quarter 240 births and 89 deaths were registered, as compared with 185 births and 77 deaths in June, 1874. • •riiyhli ■ . * Letters of naturalisation, under the Aliens Act, 1866, have been granted ii\ favor of the under-mentioned, persons, viz. : —Carll Yortt, blacksmith, Greenstone ; John Ludwig Marks, Tailor, Invercargill; John Joseph Schneider, Tailor, Invercargill; Jacob Alsweiter, cooper, Invercargill; George Erederick Worrier, carpenter, Invercargill; Jozeph Davies, licensed victualler, Dunedin ; Manoel Joaquin Silveira, farmer, Great Barrier Island. The following appointments in the Public Works Department have been gazetted : David Carnegy Simpson, engineer, from 20th January, 1875 ; Edmund Lane, engineer, from 20th January, 1875; Thomas Forth Eotherham, locomotive and traffic manager, from 20th January, 1875 ; Horace Budge, locomotive and traffic manager, from 20th January, 1875 ; John Alexander Wilson, cadet, from 30th January, 1873 ; Daniel O’Connor, cadet, from 26th February, 1875 ; John Beveridge, cadet, from 6th March, 1875 ; William Stone, locomotive and traffic manager, from 20th March, 1875; William Andrew Leslie Donald, clerk, constructed railways branch, from 14th June, 1875.