GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4483, 2 August 1875, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The City Corporation has recently disposed of three-quarters of an acre of the reclaimed land to. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull, of this city, in consideration of the sum of £BOOO and a*" piece of land at the rear of the Provincial Buildings. * This latter piece of land was sold to Messrs. Turnbull and Co. some time ago for the sum of £3OOO, but it is now estimated to be worth quite £6OOO, so that the value the Corporation acquire in exchange for the threequarters of an acre is £14,000, or at. the rate of about £19,000 per acre. This is a price, though said to be below the real value of the land, which completely proves that the scheme of reclaiming land is more than merely reproductive, and the transaction demonstrates the great value of the Council's endowments. The site for the new Wellington hospital possesses two very desirable qualities, viz., an abundance of fresh air and a freedom from the noise of the town. The grounds are between nine and ten .acres in extent, situated in close proximity to the lunatic asylum. These will be laid out in extensive gardens and pleasant walks for convalescent patients. As an elaborate description of the building appeared in our columnß some time ago, we will .not trouble our readers with anything further concerning it, except to remark that it is to be built of brick.. Such a sight will be truly refreshing where we have so many wooden buildings. As there is an abundance of good clay on the grounds, all the bricks will be made on the spot. A machine is on the way to this place, capable' of turning- out about 48,000 bricks weekly. It will be erected on the grounds, and worked entirely by prison labor. Preliminary to levelling the site for the building, all the.top soil is being removed, to be utilised in laying out the gardenß. The. time in which the place will be completed is two years. The deaths in the Thames district during the month of June were 10 ; previous month, 49. Births during June, 41. Figures for quarter ending June 30 : —Births, 113; deaths, 102 ; marriages, 14. The Maoris assembled in great force at Te A-o pa to celebrate a ".tangi" over the remains of a deceased Maori woman named Annie.

We learn by telegram from Gisbome that a shock of earthquake was experienced in Poverty Bay at 11.48 p.m. on the 17th mat.

His Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Normanby gave a ball at Government House on the night of July 22nd. Invitations to the number of about 500 were issued.

A fine coasting steamer, sixty tons register, was launched at Auckland, on the 15th July, to the order of Captain Casey, for the coast trade.

• Mr. A* G. Howland, of Christchurch, has patented an ingenious contrivance called a shaft clip, for attaching shafts or poles to vehicles. Its qualities are simplicity, safety, and greater facility in attaching or detaching .shafts, and economy. At the sale of Crown lands held on July 6th, by the Commissioner, the blocks Akiteo and Paraekaretu were put up'. Sections 214 and 215 of the Akiteo block were sold at the upset price, ss. per acre, to the Hon. A. G. Tollemache. These sections contained respectively 2237 acres and 1219 acres. Mr. Brandon was the purchaser of section 28 of the Paraekaretu block/ The upset price of this seotion, which contained 126 acres 2 roods, was £1 per acre. It was sold for £260._ The remaining sections in this block, which was a large one, did not find a purchaser. The provisional meteorological report for June shows the highest average temperature in the shade to have been at Auckland, 54-3, and the lowest at Christchurch, 42-8. The greatest rainfall was at Hokitika, 14*130 inches ; the least at Dunedin, 1-810 inches. At Wellington the average temperature was 49-S ; the rainfall, 4'883. All the single women that were landed on the 14th July from the Lammershagen have found employment as general servants at the rate of from 9s. to 12s. per week; Fifty of the single men will leave for Wanganui, Foxton, and other places by the first opportunity; they are all farm servants. Twelve Italians, who were employed on the Mount Cenis tunnel, have been engaged by Mr. McKirdy, the railway contractor. Had the weather been fine, the master of the barracks expected that a great number of the married couples would have been engaged. ' The New Zealand Insurance Company's halfyearly meeting was held at Auckland on July 14. The report showed premiums £75,330, being £15,115 of an increase over the corresponding half-year of 1874, and £22,783 over the last half-year. The marine losses were about the average, including the Cospatrick, Blencathra, Gothenburg, Jason, and other first-class vessels. The losses, including estimate for all claims accruing prior to May 31, amounts to £26,444. After deducting all expenses, there remains a credit balance of £19,686. Out of this a dividend of 20 per cent., absorbing £13,834, was declared. The report was adopted. A perfect skeleton of a humpbacked whale from Akaroa, thirty-two feet long, was received at the Christchurch museum on July 8. This addition to the museum is particularly valuable, as hitherto, of the selections of the humpbacked whale in Australian waters, the earbone only is known to the scientific world. The vital statistics for the boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, during the month of June, have been published. The total number of deaths for the month was 152. The highest proportion of deaths was in Nelson, being 3-28 to the 1000 of population, the lowest at the Thames, being 0-73 to the 1000. At Wellington, the proportion was 1*65. The violent deaths were five. Of the deaths, 40 were those of children under 1 year. The births were 61 in excess of those in May. The deaths were 59 fewer in number than the deaths in May. Of the deaths, males contributed 97 ; females, 55. 59 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 38-16 per cent, of the whole number; 40 of i these were of children under 1 year of age. The deaths of children under 1 year of age were 10 fewer than in May ; the deaths of those from 1 to 5 were 26 fewer than in May. There were 12 deaths of persons of 65 and upwards—l male of 71 in Auckland ; 1 male of 66 at the Thames ; 2 males of 72 and 81 in Nelson ; 1 male of 82 in Wellington; 1 ,female of 70 in Christchurch ; and 3 males of 65, 67, and 78 respectively hi Dunedin. The deaths from' zymotic diseases were 33 in June, against 81 in May.' The reduction was principally attributable to the largely decreased number of deaths from measles (6 in June, 26 in May), typhoid fever (17 in June, 27 in May), and dysentery and diarrhoea (1 in June, 13 in May). Of 17 deaths from typhoid fever, 4 occurred in Auckland, 1 in the Thames borough, 3 in AVellington, 5 in Christchurch, and 4in Dunedin. The deaths from local diseases were 76 in ' June, against 73 in May ; and the deaths from developmental diseases were 12 in June, against 20 in May. There were 5 violent deaths in June, against 12 in May. One of the violent deaths, in Christchurch, occurred through injuries received upon the railway. In an article "on the occupation of . the people," as disclosed by the Census abstracts, the Guardian, remarks : We learn from the general report of the Registrar-General that the classification adopted comprises 2470 persons (of whom 17 are females) who are engaged in the service of the General or Provincial Governments, or in the defence or protection of the country. But it is evident on the face of the returns that the actual number of persons so engaged is very much greater. For we find it expressly stated that " the system adopted in the classification was that under the term 'Officers of the Government' the following were not to be classed :—Law Court officers ; persons employed in working railways or electric telegraphs.; persons under Boards of Education ; persons in port or harbor services; persons in lighthouses ; in museums, observatories, hospitals for the insane, industrial schools, botanic gardens, sewerage and water ; in the pilot service; and printers,'binders, &c, in the Government Printing-office." After this information it is not suprising that the Registrar-General candidly admits that "it is impossible to give the exact number of the persons who are employed by the Government," or rather, by the ten Governments of New Zealand. Wherefore these apparently capricious distinctions should have been made, we do not pretend to explain or understand. There may possibly be some sufficient reason for them, but we freely confess our inability to discover it. Why, for instance, should Post-office clerks be included in-the class of officers of the Government, and the employes of the Telegraph department be excluded t And the same question naturally arises with regard to other branches of the public service. Further on it is stated that Officers of the Law Courts number 102 _; those of the Railway department, 214; in the harbor, pilot, and lighthouse services there are 111 persons ; and in the telegraph offices, 338 : in all, 765, increasing the total number of public servants to 3235. But these are not all.. A considerable further addition could also be made by including teachers in Government schools, the printers and binders in the Government' Printing-office, and all those engaged in museums, observatories, hospitals, industrial schools, &c, &c. The RegistrarGeneral assures us that "it is impossible" to give a more "complete return ; but we venture to think differently; and it is so really important to the taxpayers to know how many servants they support and maintain, that it seems,to us to be the duty of the Assembly to call for a full and accurate list. In the absence of definite information, we shall probably not be very far off the mark if we assume the total number of persons in the receipt of Government p)Sy at 5000. This will of course include Provincial as well as Colonial officers. Now, the present population of the country may be estimated at 300,000 —it was a little under 295,000, exclusive of Chinese, wheh the Census was taken. Of the total, 68,665 were males above 21 years of age. The proportion of Government officers to population is, therefore, somewhat remarkable ; for it is as 1 in 60 of the entire population of the colony, and nearly 1 in 13 of the male adult population. If even boys of 15 years old and upward are included in the estimate, the difference is not very great. Of the latter there are 8108 enumerated in the Census, and these added to the adults, as Stated above, give a total of 76,873, which still shows the extravagant proportion of about 1 paid public'servant to every 15 males of the above-stated age in the population. It is, seriously, time to inquire whether this huge army of officials is absolutely necessary for carrying on the business of the State.

Taking advantage of the presence of Mr. T. M. Hardy Johnston, who visited Otago professionally in connection with the_ Kakanui harbor works, the provincial authorities have retained that gentleman to value the railway from The Bluff to Winton, which will be handed over to the General Government as soon as the valuation is fixed. The proceeds derivable from,the sale of the railway will; according to the compact agreed upon at the time of the reunion of ,the.„prQyinces of Otago and Southland, be applied exclusively to the construction of public works in Southland.. Mr. Johnston has also been requested to report upon the possibility of transforming Jacob's River (the port of Riverton) into a harbor, and while he is on the spot the Otago Government will probably have The Bluff harbor surveyed also. His report upon Kakanui harbor, which was reviewed at length in these columns, proved Mr. Johnston to be a worthy successor to the late Mr. Balfour, and in employing him to report upon its harbors the Otago authorities display great wisdom. The Kakanui works, it may be mentioned, are to be proceeded with shortly, Mr. Johnston having received instructions to prepare the working plans. We are informed that the Typographical Soiree Committee have made a final settlement of the accounts. The total receipts were £53 95.; the expenditure £5 95.; leaving the handsome sum of £4B for the member on whose behalf the entertainment was got up. The committee inform us that they received the sum of £1 ss. from Dunedin, generously contributed by some members of the craft in the southern city. The WangauniHerald says : —"The Scandinavian newspaper, before alluded to, will soon become an established fact, writes a reliable correspondent; but it appears that the scheme is different from what has been said about this formerly. The plan is to publish a combined English and Scandinavian paper, the latter to appear as a supplement to the former, and with a name of its own. It will be open to the subscribers to take both or either of the editions, the subscription being fixed for the combined papers. A company has been floated for the erection of a printing office in Palmerston, where the papers will be' published, and as the cause has been received and supported with enthusiasm, we may look for its speedy realisation. English and Scandinavian editors and printers, as well as plant and site for the erection of the printing office, are already secured, so the buildings will be started in a short time. In connection with the printing office, but wholly as a private enterprise, will be a stationery shop, with English and Scandinavian library and reading-room ; and I understand; that a good assortment of books is already ordered from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark."

A Taranaki paper gives the_ following humorous account of a recent crisis in the Provincial Council there :—" An unexpected crisis occurred in the Provincial Council this morning ; more sudden and startling than the renowned ousting of the twenty-eight days Stafford Ministry in the General Assembly by the Hon. Julius Vogel, though the results and benefits following were not so lasting or substantial. On Council meeting at the xisual time, the minutes were read. The first notice of motion was to have been meved by the Provincial Secretary, but neither he nor any other Government member was present. The Speaker could not explain. Business was brought to a dead stand, To break, the suspense caused by the sudden collapse of the Government, Mr. Speaker suggested that he leave the chair, upon which it was proposed that there be a general move up towards the Government seats, which being done, placed Mr. Elliott in the position of Provincial Secretary, with Mr. Peacock as Provincial Solicitor. Before attempting to proceed with business, ..an explanation was needed. Mr. Elliott, having been placed unexpectedly in the honorable position in which members viewed him, from no wish of his own but through the unexpected defection of the Government, felt that the magnitude of the trust imposed upon him required that the 'situation' should be carefully scanned. Matters of grave importance to the future wellbeing' of the province required consideration, and it would be necessary that a consultation with his colleagues should take place. The words following, uttered brokenly and with emotion, were interprets d to mean that an adjournment to Cottier's would be desirable, where tots could be partaken of in comfort at Government expense, and a new programme drawn up. At this juncture the Provincial Solicitor entering the chamber, looked at the astonished members, at the clock, and then at his own watch, and said : ' Why, the Super's clock is half-an-hour slow !'" The Bruce Herald of a recent date has very great pleasure in being able to announce that satisfactory samples of potteryware in every respect have now been produced at the New Zealand Royal Pottery Works, Milton. The white glaze is all that could be desired, and the " body" of the ware has been brought out of an excellent color. Samples just completed have been sent to Dunediu in the hands of Mr. Kinnear, the company's canvasser, who should now speedily succeed in floating the remaining shares. We have to congratulate the company and the district upon the success of the experiments made, which have already resulted in the certainty of a superior marketable article being produced from material within our reach in any quantity ; and as the question of the production of white ware has hitherto been the only drawback urged by not a few against taking shares in the company, these should speedily be at a premium in the market. Intending applicants should therefore lose no time in seeing them. The Taranaki Herald gives the following particulars regarding the desire of the natives to have the Mokau opened, concerning which some items from our own correspondent appeared in our telegraphic columns lately : " We learn that Epiha Karora, who arrived in town at the beginning of this week, has brought letters into town to the Government, asking that the steamer Waitara may be sent to the Mokau with the Government Native Officer as a representative. .It is said that there is a large amount of produce at Mokau waiting to be shipped. A late visitor to the Mokau has informed the Budffet that he was most heartily welcomed by natives and chiefs who had been taking part in the Tongaporutu meeting, and that great disappointment appeared to. exist at their invitation, which, it was stated, had been sent to officials in town, not being attended to. The meeting, called for the purpose of discussing the land and other questions, and arranging the basis of trading operations, was utterly useless, because no Government representative was present. Tatohona, Wetere, and other leading chiefs were there, and all favorably inclined. Te Kooti, who is said to carry most weight with the Maori King, was in attendance, and is said to be more in favor of trading than even the other chiefs. He is willing thUt both coal and gold should be worked. Te Kooti is very dressy, and sports a gold watch and massive chain, and treated the visitor with every kindness and presented him with a Maori mat. Te Kooti now appears to he the best friend the pakeha has got, and has thrown in the weight of his influence on the side of opening the country generally.- Epiha has also caused a telegram to be sent to Sir Donald McLean, stating that the leading native chiefs at Mokau are anxious for the river to be opened to trade, and on account of no action being taken by provincial authorities here, has asked that the Luna might be at once sent up." None but smokers can fully appreciate the value of a pipe in time of trouble. This fact was touchingly illustrated in the Resident Magistrate's Court on July 23. Two men were up on a charge of violently assaulting a woman. They were remanded till Monday, and on leaving the dock, a sympathising friend who had been watching the proceedings anxiously, put something into the pocket of one of them. He was detected.in the act by the vigilant sergeant, and he likewise was taken into custody. The person was searched, when it was discovered that the sympathising friend had merely presented him with a pipe as a salve for solitude.

'; Kaokao, a celebrated Hauhau chief, who during the late war directed their engineering operations, died at Taranaki on July 14th. His death will relieve Government of much difficulty in procuring the further additions of territory.

The total city assessment property rateable in Dunedin for 1875-6 is £187,000, against £150,000 for last year. The German residents of Auckland have resolved to form a club. About thirty-five were present at the meeting. The land sales in the province of Canterbury are still making good averages. The amount realised at the bi-weekly sale held on July 14th ■was £4BOO.

.At a special meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company, held at Christchurch on Wednesday afternoon, July 14th, the resolutions adopted were—first, to empower the directors to borrow money by the issue of debentures or otherwise, with or without security; the second to alter the date of holding the annual general meetings of the company from the month of January to August in each year. The chairman of the Board of Directors said he was glad to inform the meeting that the debit balance of £14,000, which existed on the profit and loss account at the last annual meeting, had entirely disappeared, and the capital of the company was returned in stock. Five ships had. been ordered. He believed they would be completed during the current year. They would surpass the standard required by law, which. Lloyds require for first-class certificates, and were being built on the most approved principles. The company has succeeded in obtaining offices, at a very low rental for London, at 83 Bishopsgate-street. Since the last annual meeting the operations of the company have been very successful. The Bluff and Dunedin, especially the former, contributed a good share of the business to the company's ships. The directors, in view of increasing the business of the company, had resolved to make a call of 50s. on the capital —2os. on the 14th August, 20s. on the Ist October, and 10s. on the 14th November, allowing 8 per cent, rebate on advance payments.

A correspondent of the Southland Neics states that an "experienced ploughman," recently engaged by a country settler, appeared rather nonplussed when he saw the implement he professed to know all about, and innocently asked what " that 'ere thing 1 * was. This, of course, at once bowled him out, and he then admitted he had been an omnibus man in London nearly as long as he could remember.

We learn from the local paper that an old chief at Papawai, near Grey town, died on Saturday last. His name was Piriki, and he had the reputation of being one of the most honorable and trustworthy natives in the Wairarapa. Mr. Hirschberg has, we learn, testified his respect to the deceased, by presenting a bullock to his friends for the tangi. The numerous deaths which have occurred lately among the Wairarapa Maoris, have cast a gloom over the natives generally in this district, as they are somewhat superstitious in assigning causes to them. The Nelson hop crop is thus spoken of in the Colonist : —"We have much pleasure in publishing the following statistics of hop cultivation in the Takaka district, supplied to us by an esteemed correspondent. The writer adds : ' Notwithstanding the gardens in this district are only two years old, the plants have been wonderfully productive. The soil on the banks of the rivers is found to be very suitable for its cultivation, being of great depth and of an alluvial formation. I may also mention that Mr. James Reily, Waitapu, regaled his hop-pickers with a really substantial supper and other amusements. Mr. James Spittal, Lower Anatoki, 2J acres, 44801b5.; Mr. James Bridger, Takaka "River, 1£ acres, 35511b5.; Mr. James Reilly, Waitapu, 2 acres, 44801b5.; Mr. Francis Y. Hicks, Motupipi River, | acre, 5001bs. ; Mr. Alexander McFarlane, Anatoki, J acre, 11201bs. ; Mr. Alfred Dodson, Long Plain-road, J acre, 5001b3. ; Mr. Edward Plummer, Upper Takaka, acre, 11201bs.' "

The Cambridge correspondent of the WatIcato Times says : —" Mr. Richardson, of this place, has just supplied a great desideratum through simple, though ingenious means, viz., a continual supply of water to those who choose to avail themselves of it. Mr. Richardson's invention consists of a pumping machine by which he can utilise the gentlest breeze on a summer's day. A common half-inch crank of iron is placed on a wooden gin, horizontally, with common wind sails at one end, the same being kept full to the wind by means of a large weather vane. The bar has a dip or crook of sin., which gives play to the pumping rod attached perpendicularly, and the sails being set on by means of springs, they are so constructed as to court the slightest vrind and create motive power. By this simple and inexpensive method water can be obtained from a depth of 25ft. for about £2O, and at a greater depth all that is required will be a force pump, instead of a common one, to obtain a continuous supply of water in the dry season. The last few years of drought have convinced us of the benefits ,of irrigation. We are now placed within reach of a remedy, and hope to see the farmers' and others avail themselves of its advantages, either for watering cattle or reservoirs, or any other purpose where water is required in great quantities." At the native meeting on July 7, at Amahu, about a new building, the chief Renata made an important speech. He said he had been asked to contribute to the fund for the redress of native grievances. He had already given ,£4OO, which had all gone to lawyers, but there had been no result. . He should give no more. I Advised his people to do the same. Said he, like all other men, had grievances, but he found when he went to the Government and made proper representations he got relief. That Government had done much for him and his people in the matter of roads and schools. When he was dead Government would care for the education of the young. Much money was being collected by the committee for the redress of grievances, but it was all going the same way as his £4oo—to the lawyers. The speech will be a heavy blow and great discouragement to the repudiation party, for Renata is a very influential chief. The Taranaki JBudyet gives the following amusing description of certain costumes apparently prevalent in New Plymouth:—"A Maori, minus trowsers, shoes, stockings, and shirt, but with a shawl around his waist and wearing a coat, has lately been perambulating the town with an umbrella. One of the boatmen this morning turned out in a new-fashioned rig for rainy weather, consisting of a young lady's waterproof with tippets, fastened at the throat by an extensive brooch." At the meeting of the Athenseum Committee Mr. James Price Kennedy was unanimously elected Librarian, out of thirty-six candidates. The gentleman selected is a recent arrival from England, and is, we hear, well qualified for the position. The Bill to incorporate the Athenseum has been prepared, and will be brought before the House of Representatives in a few days. Small land slips from the hill in rear of the courthouses and police station, are of rather frequent occurrence. A quantity of earth fell away from its base between Sunday night and Monday morning, caused by the slight fall of rain ; and it is apprehended that the cap of the hill, which projects considerably, may at any time fall and crush the cells immediately beneath, and, as a natural consequence, the inmates thereof. In other parts of the colony, and in mountainous districts generally, official records bear testimony to the fatal results attending these land slips, which give no warnin"' of their coming. In the present case, for instance, it might be supposed that there was no immediate danger ; but it would be well to take steps to prevent the possibility of such a catastrophe as that mentioned above. It simply means the cutting a slice from the face of the hill, for the performance of which work the labor required would be inconsiderable.

We learn by telegram that a shock of earthquake occurred at Queenatown at 4.15 a.m. on the 23rd July. It lasted nearly one minute. A meeting of the committee appointed at the late public meeting of pioneer settlers was held on Tuesday, July 27th, at Mr. Wallace's commercial rooms, George Crawford, Esq., J.P., in the chair. The memorial to be laid before Parliament was agreed to; and has been presented to Parliament. The document is a brief history of the struggles of the early settlers up to the termination of the colonising operations of the New Zealand Company, when the Otago and Canterbury settlements were founded.

The settlers of Wairoa held a meeting on. July 19th to choose a new name for the township. They selected Waverley. Mr. P. A. Buckley, M.P.C., partner in thefirm of Hart and Buckley, has received the appointment of. Provincial. Solicitor. Mr. Buckley doe 3 not hold a seat in the Executive. A new line of coaches ia expected to start running between Wanganui and Hawera. There is already a tri-weekly communication. It is said that the owners of the new linft contemplate running on alternate days with thepresent line. The Commissioner of Customs has appointed the following bondingwarehouses:—A detached wooden building, covered with iron, situate on section No. 41, at the rear of the premises known as Finnimore's stores, Taupo-quay, town of Wanganui, and known as Wright's bond; and a two-storyed building built of brick, situate immediately at the back of Messrs. Jacob Joseph and Co.'s store in Willisstreet, Wellington, and known as Jacob Joseph and Co.'s bond.

We have been requested to state that the soiree in aid of St. Mary's Convent Schools, lately held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, left a. balance of £92, after defraying all expenses. This is a handsome sum for one entertainment, and shows what may be done,, by combining amusement with instruction, for a benevolent object. There is still a heavy debt on the bchools, and we understand that the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood, Bishop of Wellington, will deliver a lecture on August 4—the O'Connell centenary—the proceeds to go towards its datura.

On Wednesday, July 21, a score or so of our Danish immigrants might have been seen filing along our main thoroughfares, en route for the Masterton district. Each man carried his gun on shoulder, and a considerable swag, consisting of bedding, clothes, and, it has been hinted, a plentiful supply of bread, meat, and hard-boiled eggs. Thus equipped, each man appeared to have made up his mind, after the ancient Norse fashion, to act well his part in replenishing and subduing the earth. There is offered for public inspection at the offices of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, a.neat model of a novel style of woolpress, lately patented by Mr. Speedy, of Castle Point. It consists of two boxes, one stationary, and the other a travelling box. The two boxes are filled, simultaneously, and the travelling one being'placed in position, the power is exerted by means of two strong ropes passed over the plattern and working through a slit on each side of the box, and which are tightened down by a windlass on each side. It appears that 4001 b. bales can easily be turned out by this press. The advantage that is secured by this woolpress is simplicity of construction, as the whole can be formed of wood by any intelligent bushman. Incidents crop up daily in augmentation of the great mass of proofs that demonstrate how essential to our progress is the opening up of railway communication. A consignment to this port of Hobarton shingles has been brought under our notice. Of course, nothing can be said against this importation as a mere matter of business. If Hobarton shingles can find a profitable market here, well and good. But it must not be forgotten that we have any amount of white totara and pine growing on the other side of the Rimutaka and throughout the province, awaiting the shingle-splitters. But until the railway is completed the demand will be practically limited to the locality in which the timber is found. It is not too much to anticipate that this branch of industry will receive a great impetus when the railway is completed, and that a large export trade will be opened up in this commodity. Taranaki can furnish its quota of amusing incidents to the general fund. The Budget of the 10th inst. tells us that there was a lively scene on the beach that morning. It appears that an A.C. had some time ago arranged to get married. The assent of the lady had been given, permission of the authorities had been granted, and inspection of the lady by the sergeant in charge arranged. The expectant bridegroom, on preUminaries being settled, had advanced cash to the expectant bride, with which to purchase household fixings, he himself having worked heartily and well (being a , handy man) in making other useful household goods. The formalities which it is necessary for any member of the A.C. to go through before being permitted to make two into one by getting wed, usually occupy a considerable time. In the interval between the assent o£ the lady being given and the arrival of the permit, the match had been broken off, and the money which had been advanced for fur- - nishing purposes returned. In a while the match was agaia made up, the house taken, fixings bought, when again there was a split. The lady was about leaving by steamer this morning. The A.C. called in the aid of sthe5 the police and prevented the departure. As a wife was not to be had, he appeared determined to have money. The scene on the beach .this morning was highly entertaining to numerous spectators. " . i A Wanganui paper has the following:-!—A vessel was lately discharging her cargo! of timber at one of our wharves, when a piece of scantling fell overboard and floated down with the current. On seeing this" prospect of obtaining salvage, a new chum waded intoj the river and secured the prize, of which hej at once asserted his intention to retain possession. But to this proposal the owner of the. CE»rgo expressed a difference of opinion, affirming that the timber was his,. and having formally demanded possession, which, the other refused, a policeman was called upon to arbitrate. After much argument, the owner agreed: to allow the salvor half the value of the timber for his trouble, and when asked what he considered a fair value, he nanjed the amouiit, which was Is. The salvor considered for a moment, and quickly handed to the other sixpense, to which, it being his own proposition, he could offer no objection, and so the matter was settled, the new chum doubtless thinking that timber was pretty cheap in this country. Our Taita correspondent, writing under date July 19th, says : —"At. the last meeting of the committee of the Taita library, a cordial vote of thanks was passed- to Mr. Fitzherbert M.H.R., for a very liberal donation of books he had presented to the library. With the donations of Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr. Horsfall, this local library now numbers some hundreds of volumes, and the perusal of the readable books helps to" while away the winter evenings. The class-room of the Taita school has been recently lined by the Board of Education, and the evening school meets in it.co . ' three nights a week. There has been intimation about a revival of the Taita Band of Hope that ceased to meet when the measles prevailed in the district, and there has also been a desire expressed to have a singing class on one evening in the week. To show. you how absurd the complaints against the Board of Education are in the matter of firewood, I may mention that when the Board asked estimates to be sent in, it was found that the Te Aro and Taita schools were highest, and the Thorndon school only one-fourth of each of these. The Board, wisely as I think, decided on giving a cord for each fireplace—precisely four times as much as the Thorndon, and onehalf the Taita estimate—thus laying down as a principle that the comfort of the pnpils is not beneath their notice, and avoiding such questions as the size of the room, width of the fireplace, and comparative cost of firewood in town and country, as being matters of minor importance. Those who are so ready to complain of the present arrangement should point out a better."

Mr, J. P. Leary, assistant sub-overseer, was on July 24th presented by the employes of the Government. printing-office with a valuable selection of standard works. In making the presentation, Mr. Didsbury alluded to. Mr. lieary's long connection with the office, extending to eleven years, to his excellence as a workman, to his faithful and thorough discharge of duty, and to the high character he had won and maintained for himself, and assured him that he carried with him the best wishes of those with whom he had been so long associated. Mr. Leary made a suitable reply. He leaves the printing office to join Messrs. Kirkbride and Monaghan, who have recently started the Kangitticei Advocate. He makes the sixth within the last twelve months who has left the Government printing office to assume the proprietorship of a newspaper.