GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5005, 9 April 1877, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The agricultural statistics for the present year give the following returns Number of holdings 4473, of which 2760 are freehold land. Broken up but not in crop, 130,046* acres ; land in wheat, 92,417 acres. Estimated pr0duce,2,707,625 bushels. Oats—7s,3s4acres; estimated produce, 2,106,800 bushels. Barley —16,047 acres, estimated produce, 508,701 bushels. Hay—17,123 acres, estimated produce, 21,213 tons. Land in grass—3l6,o7B acres. Potatoes—3434 acres ; estimated produce, 25,886 tons. Other cro acres. Total amount of land under crop, including sown grasses, 653,487 acres. The Government are now calling for tenders for laying the permanent way on the Mungaroa contract (No. 1) of the Wellington and Masterton railway. Steps ax - e being taken for the more particular survey of the line between Featherstoa and Masterton.

In Wellington city during March there were 60 births, 24 deaths, and 24 certificates of marriage issued.

During the month of February 12,854 acres of land were sold in Wellington provincial district, deposits to the amount of £6576 being paid upon the same. The railway traffic returns for the Southern railways during February are as follows: Canterbury division: Passengers, &c., £8246 os. lOd. ; freight, £10,203 2s. Bd.; total, £18,449 3s. sd. Oamaru division: Passengers, &c., £B3B 4s. 6d. ; freight, £862 13s. 4d. ; total, £I7OO 17s. lOd. Dunedin : Passengers, £4577 9s. 2d. ; freight, £4393 7s. Bd. ; total, £8970 16s. lOd. Invercargill: Passengers, £1636 18s. Bd.; freight, £2789 14s. 4d.; total, £4425 16s.

Mr. J. H. Wallace on April 4th sold the leases of the Kai warra and Hutt Bridge tollgates, for the twelve mouths from sth April, 1877, to sth April, 1878. The Hutt tollgate was put up first, and started at £7OO, and advanced slowly to £9OO, at which figure it was withdrawn by the auctioneer, who then stated that the reserve was £I2OO. The Kaiwarra tollgate next was offered, and started at £I2OO, rising slowly by £IOO bids to £2300, at which price it was bought by Mr. C. Thompson, the present lessee. 'The auctioneer stated that the sum for which it was knocked down was precisely the amount of the reserve placed upon it. We regret to have to announce that Mr. William Dorsett, a gentleman who has been connected with Wellington for the past thirtysix years, died on April 2. Deceased was well known to all old colonists in this part of the country, and in common with them had seen Wellington rise from the position of a mere fishing village to the prosperous condition it is now in. He never had taken a very prominent position in public affairs, but he was a member of the first Provincial Council. He was a justice of the peace for the colony, and had always been a sociable good settler. His age at the time of death was nearly seventy-five.

The Easter collections for ministers of the respective Church of England parishes took place on April Ist. At St. Paul’s the Easter service was exceedingly plain, and only in slight particulars differed from the ordinary service. Worship was commenced by singing the 118th hymn “ The foe behind, the deep before,” the Psalms were chanted and the “ Te Deum” was sung to Jackson’s music-instead of to a double chant. These were the only changes made in the order of morning service. In the evening service was as usual. As an anthem, Pergolesi’s “ Gloria in Excelsis” was beautifully sung. The collection amounted to £62 3s. lid. At St. Peter’s, Bridgewater’s service was used. The collection amounted to £27.

A most praiseworthy work was completed on April 2nd in the shape of a working bee for the clearance of the Catholic cemetery from rubbish. There were about 150 workmen engaged in this labor of love, under the able command of Mr. Trenore. Everyone seemed to work with a will, the enclosure for the nonce presenting a scene, after a hard day’s work at burning and grubbing, of a resting-place more of the living than of the dead. There are many other bodies who might take a useful hint from the above. At 1 o’clock the work was completed, and the Rev. Father Kearney thanked the assembled workmen, who, after three cheers for the clergy, gave three cheers for Messrs. O’Neill and Trenore, whooriginated this truly useful working bee. We believe we are correct in saying nothing has been seen of the transit of Vulcan in any of the colonies ; had it been seen, in every probability the fact would have been telegraphed. Mr. H. C. Russell, Government Astronomer, New South Wales, writing to the Herald on March 24, says:—“We have seen nothing; but such negative evidence often leads to positive results—and it must be borne in mind that Vulcan may have passed in the night, and been seen by those in the sunlight; or it may be that it has only passed near the sun. The data upon which M. Leverrier had to base his calculations are, however, so meagre that he would not express himself definitely, saying only there might be a transit on the 22nd March ; but the conviction that there is a Vulcan is gaining ground.” In reference to the powder manufacturing case the following communication has been received by Inspector Atcheson from Sergeant Reid, of Wanganui - A native chief named Raiaka came into Wanganui on Monday and reported to Mr. Wood, R.M., that a man named William Moffatt had been for some time manufacturing powder in the. Upper Wanganui District, about 200 miles distant from Wanganui. He (Raiaka) produced a sample of the powder, which he and other natives observed the man make in their presence. He now held possession of the sample, and an information had been laid, and a warrant issued, for the offender’s arrest. It appears that the man came to the district about two years ago from Auckland, in which place he was “ wanted” for forgery. He gave a check to a native named Hoani Hiti for £SO, for goods and cash received, and when the native presented the cheque the bank officials proved it to be a forgery. The cheque was signed by Robert Graham, the name he was then known by. A correspondent writes that the new bridge across the Manawatu River, on the road from Palmerston to Fitzherbert (and ultimately to Wellington), is fast approaching completion. It will be a fine structure, being 805 ft. long, consisting of seven spans each 85ft., and seven spans of 30ft. as the approaches. These latter are all complete, as well as two of the main spans, and a third one more than half; at the present rate the work is proceeding there will be five spans completed by the end of April. The pile-driving in this bridge has been very hard in some of the piers, but would have been finished two months ago had it not been for the delay caused by the constant freshets in the river at the end of last year, on account of which it wassuspsnded for that time. However, there are now only eight piles to drive, which will be finished the first week in April. This bridge was designed by Mr. J. D. Baird, the Provincial Engineer, and is on the Howe truss principle. It will be a magnificent looking bridge when complete, as well as strong. The piers consist of two rows of piles, five in each row, with an angle pile to form the cutwater; the whole is well-braced and covered with 2.lin, planking upon the outside of the piles from water-level to the cap. The contractors are Ihle and Co., 'but the work is being carried on for them by Mr. George Hughes, so wellknown as an energetic man and bridge-builder. He carried out the construction of the Manawatu gorge bridge for Mr. H. McNeill (for which there was so much credit given by the Government), and many other large bridges on this coast, as well as some very heavy works in Auckland and elsewhere. The bridge will be open for traffic in about three months if the weather is favorable for the work. This will be a great boon to those settlers who are now waiting for the completion before going to live on their land. Mr. Millar, who was Government inspector in the Wairarapa, has been over this bridge since the work was commenced, „ j

i‘ brilliant meteor was observed at Wanganui n d Opunake at about 8.30 p.m. on M« :-e!i 13 It lasted about twenty seconds, and passed from about north to south.

Tin- war.oli kept for the expected transit of Vulcan proved to be fruitless so far as discovering the object of search went. All the apparatus was in splendid order, and some excellent photographs of the sun were taken. Several beautiful sun spots were visible on March 21st and 22ud, but they went off on the 23rd

A train on one of the Canterbury lines recently rar into a flock of sheep crossing the line. Several of them were killed, and others scattered in all directions. The locomotive took away with it traces of the slaughter, but the machinery was in no way injured. A large and commodious hotel is being erected at Porirna, on the site of the old Ferry Hotel, which was recently burnt down while Mr. Nelson was the landlord. The hotel is being erected for Mr. McGrath, to whom we wish success.

The Taraoaki agricultural statistics for 1877 have been published. They show—Holdings, 745; wheat, 1016 J acres; oats (grain), 711 acres; barley, 48 acres ; grass, 82,340 acres; potatoes, 596 acres; other crops, 268 acres. Total, 85,159 acres. Total increase of acres under crop, 24,584. The Bight Rev. the Bishop of Wellington returned on the 9th March from his pastoral visit to Otaki and Rangitikei. The visit was satisfactory, as showing considerable progress on the part of the Maoris of those districts in religion and civilization. Confirmations were held at Motoa, Otaki, and Matakiwi (Rangitikei). The number of candidates confirmed at the different places mentioned were—At Motoa, 19 ; at Otaki, 27 ; and at Matakiwi, 19. At Maitakiwi the Maoris have just erected a new church, the cost, £4OO, being defrayed entirely by themselves. The old India, which has been used in this port some fifteen years as a hulk for the storage of coals, has been sold by Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. for the sum of £lO. Latt-rly the old vessel became so leaky that steam power had to be used to keep her from sinking, the ordi ary windmill not being sufficient. Mr. Smith, an oyster seller on Lamb-ton-quay, has bought her. She was taken round to Evans Bay on March 15, where it is the intention of her owner to sink her in a small bay just round Point Jermingham, to be used as a breeding bed for oysters. We understand that the promoters of the Wellington Tramways Company have by last mail sent final instructions for steam car engines to Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, engineers, London ; and the first will be out in sufficient time for ballasting purposes. The rails ordered about six months ago are expected in Wellington shortly. It is well enough known then that the tramways must be in full working order by the end of this year; but when the rails and engines are here, the time occupied in laying down the whole line need not be more than three months. The contractor, Mr. Brown, is already making extensive preparations for the station buildings, Adelaide-road, and doubtless has completed his arrangements for sleepers, metal, &c. The j Patea Mail says that a well -to- do settler of good social standing from the Rangitikei District is reported to have been in treaty for the lease of about 6000 acres of native land a few miles from Patea. It is believed negotiations have terminated successfully. It so, another good settler, with his flocks and herds, will soon be in the district and help on its growing importance. From the same journal we learn that Dr. Wilford, of the Hutt District, Wellington, has purchased about 700 acres ot land in the Otoia and Opaku Block. Arrangements are said to have been already made for commencing to stock the land, as the above-named gentleman intends to go properly into the farming business. The Timaru Herald gives a description of an artesian well which has been bored through the solid rock underlying the clayey soil of' Timaru with success. Sir. Yardley has a shaft on his premises at the edge of the cliff, 26ft. deep, with a tunnel on a, level with the bottom of the railway extending to the face of the cliff. In the portion of the tunnel underneath the shaft, he dug a well 36ft. deep, the bottom being the solid rock. Through this rock he bored for 46ft. —the last 16ft of which was alternate ly porous bluestone and red sandstone. When this depth had been bored the water gushed up so quickly that it rose a distance of 61ft. 6in. in 20 minutes, or a distance of 15ft. 6in. up the well, the distance from the top of the water to the level of the tunnel and railway being 14ft. 6in. The depth of the whole sinking is thus 102 ft. from the surface of the cliff, and the water rises to within 40ft. 6in. of the top of the cliff. The water is perfectly clear, and has been pronounced by several to be entirely free from brackishness and altogether pure. The customary serenity of the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston South was disturbed on the 2nd inst., when the local gentlemen of the long robe had a stormy passage-at-arms. A question asked one of the witnesses in a sheep-worrying case by Mr. Catamore having been objected to by Mr. Fraser, the following dialogue is reported by the local Times as having resulted : —“ Mr. Catamore : What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander—presuming my learned friend to be the goose. Mr. Fraser ; Your learned friend, sir, will not take any of your sauce, at any rate. You are only an advocate in this court, sir, the same as myself, so please to remember your position. Mr, Catamore : Of course, your Worship ; and I am prepared to take your Worship’s judgment for three sheep. The other damage done is not known, and you therefore cannot state it. Mr. Fraser : Really, this is perfectly monstrous for you to dictate to the Bench in this manner ; it is disgraceful to come here and attempt to prostitute justice as you are attempting to do. Mr. Catamore ; Keep cool, my friend ; keep cool. Mr. Fraser : Keep cool ! lam as cool as a cucumber, sir, to use an ordinary phrase. Mr. Catamore : Well, I am prepared to take your Worship’s judgment for the three sheep. Mr. Fraser : Then, sir, you may take with it my judgment upon you, which you have already got.” A little before Mr. Fraser had called Mr. Catamore “ impertinent.”

With respect to the fate of the white-fish recently imported we believe Dr. Hector has received a letter from Dr. Farr, of Christchurch, reporting the total loss of the shipment sent to Canterbury to be hatched out. The loss seems to have occurred in the following manner. When they were first hatched it was observed from time to time that the numbers increased in the lowest boxes, and it was discovered that they passed through the perforated zinc placed at the lower end of the boxes with perfect freedom. This had always been found sufficient to prevent the smallest trout escaping, and the authorities in Christchurch having heard of the, great weight the white-fish grew to, believed it consistent to think ere the ova reached them that no other preparation than that already made for trout and salmon, which had proved so successful, was necessary. Fine muslin was strained over the zinc, which for a time had the desired effect, but it was soon found that die food clogged that material, so that it required constant attention. Then one morning the water was found overflowing the boxes, and all but six or seven of the fish gone. Search was made for them, and a few were found dead on the floor, but nothing equal to the number in the boxes. Dr. h arr expresses a doubt, as'the ova were so small, whether they were those of white-fish at all, and that is a matter for further enquiry ; but there seems at present to be nothing to warrant such a suggestion, as some much larger fish than the white-fish come from exceedingly small ova. The foregoing relates to the first shipment ; the second shipment was lost during the passage to Southland. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. have at last decided upon the nature of the buildings to be erected on the valuable site on the reclaimed land purchased by them from the Municipal Council some two yeara ago. the buildings are to be of brick, and will consist of two warehouses, each 100 ft. in length by Soft, in breadth. One will be used as a free store and office, and the other as a bonded store, giving on the whole storage room for 7000 tons. Even these buildings will not take up the whole of the land, but will leave several valuable frontages,

It is estimated that the colony’s wheat surplus for export will reach a million bushels. By the last mail (says the Canterbury Press) some eggs of the best description of American '■ brook trout, the salmo fontinalis, have been received by Mr. A. M. Johnson, of Opawa. Although the percentage of good eggs is very small, there is every probability of a few hundred being hatched. Many previous unsuccesful attempts have been made to introduce this particular variety, which takes the fly readily, and_ is unsurpassed as a game fish. The foatlnalis is only found in the Eastern States, consequently a very long railway transit has to be added to the ordinary risk.

Ameeting of the shareholders in the Reformer Newspaper Company was held an Monday, 19th March, at Mr. Frassr’s rooms, Manners-street, for the purpose of. discussing the advisableuess of increasing the capital of the company from £SUO, a.s at first agreed upon, to£l(H)0. It was stated that applications had been received for 526 shares in Wellington alone, and therefore it was unanimously resolved by the meeting that the capital should be increased to £IOOC. The secretary was instructed to communicate with other towns in the colony, with a view to getting the paper represented there ; and Mr. Hooper was instructed to visit Dunedin and Christchurch,, for the purpose of selling shares and obtaining subscribers to the paper. Writing ot the case of Pooley, the English cricketer, who committed a violent assault recently, the Lyttdton Times says that the Court was densely crowded at the hearing of the case against Pooley, the English cricketer, charged with assaulting Ralph Donkin, and in a case in which Pooley and Bramhall were jointly charged with wilfully and maliciously damaging clothing valued at £36, and certain plans and tracings valued at £6O, the property of the aforesaid Ralph Donkin. In the formercase Pooley was fined £5 and costs, and in the latter the defendants were committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. The defendants were liberated on bail, each having to enter into his own recognizau ;e of £2OO, and to find two sureties in £IOO each. Messrs. J. Hirst and W. Haddrell were sureties for Pooley, and Mes rs. J. Hirst and J. Oram Sheppard for Bramhall. The parsonage now being erected by the vestry of St. Mark’s will shortly be completed. It is built on ground adjoining the church. The building will contain a drawing-ror n, diningroom, three bedrooms, study, kitchen, pantry, scullery, bath-room, linen closets, .front hall, and back passage, with washhouse and coalhouse in the outbuildings. All the rooms will be . plastered throughout. Externally the building fronts Sussex-square ; a verandah runs along the front of the buildings. The diningroom faces the harbor, and is lighted by a commodious bay window. The rooms are all lofty and well lit, and the building when completed will be very comfortable. Mr. C. Taylor is the contractor for the building, the plans having been drawn by Mr. S. Brown. i t is with regret we have to record the death of Mr. G. H. Tribe, M.H.R., which occurred at his residence on March 19. His residence in Wellington Province had not extended over a long period but sufficiently long to allow of his making his mark as a man of good sound common sense, as a kind-heated neighbor, and a staunch friend. After severing his connection with the Wanganui Chronicle , of which journal he was for some time editor, he came to reside in Wellington city, and at the time of his death occupied a very good position in the mercantile community. As representative for the electoral district of Totara in the House of Representatives he was distinguished for his tact. He knew when to speak and how to speak, and was always listened to when he did rise. He occupied a high position in the Masonic fraternity. The cause of death Was abscess in the head. The funeral took place on Wednesday, the 21st. The procession comprised a large attendance of the Masonic body, in addition to a considerable number of the leading citizens of Wellington. The following Past Masters acted as pall-bearers, viz.;— Brothers C. White, A. Koch, T. McKenzie, E. D. Butts, T. J. Ladd, C. M. Igglesdeu. D.D.G.M. Toxward and the officers of the District Grand Lodge were chief mourners. The D.G. Chaplain, Rev. C. H. S. Nicholls, assisted by the Rev. Brother Newth, performed the funeral service. At the conclusion of the ceremony the brethren, according to ancient custom, went to the open grave, and each threw a sprig of accacia into it. The chaplain then read the Masonic oration in a most impressive manner ; after which the officers and brethren returned to the Masonic Lodge in Boulcott-street. In the death of Mr. Tribe, Wellington sustains a loss. He resided in this city for some considerable time; had many interests here, and a large circle of friends,' to whom he was endeared by an open, frank manner, and a truly kind disposition that distinguished him always. In addition to this, however, the deceased gentleman had it in his power, and often exercised that power, to be of service to Wellington, as a member of the House of Representa tives. Whilst having at heart the interests of the important mining district of Totara, for which he was member, his sympathies were likewise connected with Wellington; and his departure from among us will be generally re gretted, as a friend and a good citizen. A very curious circumstance occurred (says the Rockhampton Argus) to which we were eye-witness. A thoroughbred gamecock was busily engaged with his wives picking a bone which was lying on the grass. About fiftyyards distant was a brigalow tree, and on one of its branches was seated a large hawk, watching the fowls very attentively, and apparently envying them their feed. The gamecock, on his part, kept his eye upon the hawk, occa-ioually crowing and showing symptoms ot wanting a fight. Suddenly the hawk flew up in the air, described a circle, and, with the speed of light; shot down among the frightenedfowls. But blood was to the fore —the cock stood his-ground, and as the hawk approached him, he flew at him, and hit him so hard that he brought him to the ground, and before those who were looking on and wondering could reach the spot, the hawk was as dead as Julius C»sar. We have heard of a sparrowhawk killing a gamecock.by lying on his back and ripping him up with his talons when hi* enemv spurred at him, but we are of opinion that the above tragedy, the truth of _which can be vouched for by several eye-wfitpesse?, is without parallel. The Agues returned to port on March 11th, after successfully laying the remainder of the new Cook Strait”cable. The first portion, it will be remembered, was laid over three months ago; but several miles being required to make complete connection, she had to stay hers till it came out from England. It arrived in the Adamant the other day, and was as speedily as possible transhipped to the Agn»s, which vessel left here on the evening of the 9th for Worser Bay, where she came to an anchorage for the night. Themorning following, at 4.30, she was on the cable ground, the end which was buoyed being taken on board, and splicing operations were commenced and successfully accomplished. The cable was then paid out, the vessel coming in as near Lyell Bay as possible ; the surf was, however, found to be too heavy there to allow of the end being taken on shore that day, and on Sunday morning the surf was still too heavy; but as the day wore on the sea went down and the end of the cable was placed in the boat and taken towards the beach. Here, however, an unfortunate accident happened—the capsizing of a boat, and the drowning of one man—particulars of which will be found elsewhere. The sad occurrence caused considerable delay, and it was well into the afternoon when a rope was made fast to the end and taken ashore. Four horses were then yoked on toit, and at 4.30 p.m. the second Cook Strait cable was successfully laid, the end being afterwards taken to the cable-house, and at 6 o’clock p.m. the connection was complete. Mr. Gregory Taylor, the Agnes’ electrician, and Dr. Lemon afterwards tested the cable, and at 10 o’clock it was ascertained that communication was complete. The work was performed in a manner which reflects credit on Dr. Lemon and all concerned in its performance. Mr. A. McColl, who for the last twelve years has occupied the position of lithographic printer to the Otago Provincial Government, and has just arrived in Wellington to enter the General Government service, was, before leaving Dunedin, entertained at dinner and presented with a gold watc’-

We are indebted to Mr. Monteitb for tin; following return of patients in the Provincial Hospital during and ending the mouth of March, 1877 Admitted : Males, 18; females, 4. Discharged: Males, 14 ; females, 8. Died; Males, 2. Left in Hospital : Males, 30 ; females, 7 ; total remaining, 43. As usual Good Friday was observed by a large portion of the community with as much solemnity as Sunday. At the Anglican and Catholic churches divine worship was held, and in pretty well every instance largo congregations attended. The services were exceedingly plain and penitential. A large number of persons who hold different opinions regarding the observance of the day travelled into the country, and the railway was largely patronised. The following interesting particulars of a great land sale in Christchurch are from the Press :—The sale of Messrs. Rhodes and Wilkin's estate in the Amuri County, known as the St. Leonard’s, and cut up into runs, with stock, agricultural farms, township sections, and suburban lots, took place at Messrs. Miles, Hassal, and Co.’s wool salerooms, Herofordstreet, on Thursday last. As might have been expected, there was a very large attendance. The conditions were one-third cash, the balance extending over six years, with annual instalments, bearing 7 per cent, interest. Ihe first lot submitted was the “Mount Palm Block,” of about 11,935 acres 2r. 15p., with 9000 sheep. The first bid was £20,000. When £24,000 had been reached bids of £SOO were taken, and at £27,500 the auctioneer intimated that he had received authority to take bids of £250. This produced another bid, and no more being procurable, the property was knocked down for £27,750, to Mr. Robert Chapman, the well-known merino breeder of Canterbury. The next lot was the “North Cape Block,” of about 1610 a. lr. 38p., ■with 2000 cross-bred sheep. The first bid received was £SOOO, and ultimately the property fell to Mr. Kobert Chapman for £7OOO. The third offered was the “ Isolated Hill Block” of about 17,425 a. Or. 2p. with 13,000 sheep. The run was knocked down for £43.000 to Mr. John Macfarlaue of Kaugiora. “ Shearing Paddock Block ” of about 4094 a. 2r. 12p., with 2000 sheep, was withdraw at £7250. The “Pahau Block” of about 5675 a. 2r. 3p., with 4000 sheep, was knocked down at £16,500 to Mr. E. Bethel, late of tSelwyn. “Kaiwarra Block,” of about 19,18'' J a 2r. 15p., with 15,000 sheep, was withdrawn; at £38,500. “Humnni Block,” of about 6351 a. 2r. 29p., with 5000 sheep, was also withdrawn. The cream of the property was next brought forward. The “Homestead Block,” of the acreage of 24,446 a. Or. 38p., with excellent working buildings, and 26,950 sheep, 82 horses, and 55 cattle. £60,000 was the first bid offered, and very rapidly the bids ran up to £70,000. Not all the auctioneer’s eloquence, however, could fetch another, and after dwelling a number of times for “ the last time,” the Homestead was withdrawn at the owners’ bid of £/e,OOO. “South Cape Block” of about 1610 a lr 38p, with 1000 cross-bred sheep, was the last of the runs on the catalogue, and was started at £3OOO. Shortly after the start £IOO bids were taken, and eventually Mr. T. Greig, builder, of Christchurch, became the owner at £3700, the result causing considerable applause. Mr. Aikman then commenced with the farm lots. The hour was, however, late, and as the attendance thinned rapidly, only the following lots were quitted'; —Lot 34, 75a lr Ip, at £o 15s. per acre, to Mr. Jones ; lot 35, 105 a 3r 39p, at £3 10s., same purchaser ; lot 86, 151 a lr 36p, at £3 per acre, same purchaser ; lot 39, 77a lr 14p, at £4 12s. 6d., to Mr. Fraser ; lot 42, 104 a lr 27p ; lot 43, 110 a 3r 24p ; and lot 44, 101 a Or 24p, all at £3 17s. 6d. per acre, to Mr. George. Mr. Aikman intimated that this would close the sale, but that the remainder of the farm lets—including those withdrawn that day—and the township allotments, would be submitted on an early day, of which full notice would be given, The gross proceeds ■ realised for the day amounted to nearly £IOI,OOO. As” a proof of the increase in the value of land in the neighborhood of Marton, the Advocate mentions that recently two lots were sold, one at £7 and the other £5 par acre. A few years since the same lots were sold for £3 and £2 los. per acre respectively. The land lies on either side of the township and within a twenty minutes’ ride of it. One lot comprised 40 and the other 250 acres.

The Ciutha Leader learns on excellent authority that a gold rush may very soon be expected in the direction of the Waikaka. Some Chinamen have recently made from £ls to £2O per man per week at from 40ft, to 50ft. sinking. Some of the knowing ones from Tapanui have already left for the ground. The following mining news from the Thames Advertiser of March 22nd is more extensive than anything received by telegraph : —“Not only have mining matters improved very much in the Moanataiari and Albumia mines, but there is a decided and marked change for the better in the Eed Queen locality and the Waio-Karaka. The latter district has been for a considerable time previous toths Moanataiari find the largest gold producer, and although at no time rich, yet the large reefs and steady yield from the City of Loudon, Queen of the May, Bright Smile, and Queen of Beauty mines gave, until the collapse of the Bright Smile Company, handsome dividends to their respective shareholders, besides employing a very large percentage of the mining labor of the field. Everyone is acquainted with the difficulties encountered in again starting the Smile pumps and starting the Piako Company to work the Bright Smile and Bird-in-Hand ground. We are glad to learn that the prospects of this part of the field are again brightening. There is a very marked improvement in the Queen of the May and Queen of Beauty, and a fair show in the City, while the Piako Company, which has been lately worked so plnokily, has developed a splendid reef on the No. 7 level fully 13 feet thick, the prospects of which are exceedingly encouraging. Energetic efforts are being made to open out the low level and start the big battery, not only on the stuff from Nos. 1 and 2 reefs, but also from the Bird-in-Hand lodes, to which a drive will shortly connect with the Piako shaft. r lhe Bird run of gold was a good payable one. We understand that several #f the Piako tributers are also likely to do well. The decision of the You.i" New Zealand and Welcome directors to accerfl the Waitekauri Company’s terras to conhelt with a tramway has had the effect of stiffening their respective stocks in the sharemarket, and gives a warrant that this part of Ohiuemuri is likely shortly to receive a thorough trial. The Young New Zealand lode has become more defined, and improves in appearance as driven on. The shares in the Moanataiari advanced most rapidly in value yesterday. In the morning the market opened with sales at £9, and at the close last evening there were buyers at £l6, hut no sellers. This price makes the value of the mine and plant £216,000, or an increase in value of more than £200,000 within three weeks.” Lately there have been a great many bush fires in the country districts in the immediate vicinity of Wellington ; but little damage has been done, Mr. Taylor’s bush at Tawa Plat has been on fire during the past two or three days, birt we are glad to say that nothing of any particular value has been destroyed. Harvesting operations are reported to be proceeding satisfactorily. Three gentlemen left Wellington on a shooting excursion to Otaki on Thursday, April 29. and bagged between them in two days over one hundred and fifty duck. This we think for not experts in the handling of the fowling-piece something extraordinary, and it speaks well for Otaki as a district for the enjoyment of sport.

Easter Monday was kept a high holiday, and from an early hour largo numbers of people travelled by train and by everv conceivable kind of vehicle into the country* Both the Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt were crowded with townsfolk, whilst on the other hand a great many people from the country found their way into Wellington. The Athletic Club sports, the only public amusement provided, were well patronised.

The balance-sheet of the assets and liabilities of the provincial district oj Taranaki shows that the amount to the debit of the province at the end of 1876 was upwards of £45,009.

On March 18th Bishop Hadfield hold a confirmation service at St. Mary’s, Karori, when niue candidates were admitted to the rite. We have heard it stated ou pretty good authority that Mr. Macandrow, M.H.E., is about to permanently leave the colony. He is disposing of his property iu ( Jtago, or has already disposed of a considerable quantity of it, and is about to settle iu California. Notice is giveu that the partnership hitherto existing between Joseph Joseph, Walter Isaac Nathan, and James Goldsmith, under the style of Jacob Joseph and Co., has been terminated, aud that the business will be carried on iu future by Messrs. Joseph Joseph and Walter Isaac Nathan as heretofore.

Captain Pethridge, who for a long time was marine superintendent in this colony for Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., and who is now returning to England permanently, has been presented by the merchants of Canterbury with a purse of sovereigns to purchase a service of plate in England. We learn from Auckland that the Charybdis returned from Samoa with oranges on Thursday, March 22. She brings Captain Dunlop as prisoner. He went to Samoa iu the cutter Vincent ; has no certificate ; signed articles here iu January as boatswain. A master mariner named Hayes went as commander, but left the vessel in Eangitoto Channel. Dunlop took her on. At Apia ho was arrested by the Consul, and fined £SO for not having a certificate, also £5 for not keeping a log. Not paying the fine he was sent here as a prisoner, and the schooner Vincent was sent back under the command of Captain Labaltza. The authorities here think the Consul exceeded his duty; they decline to proceed further. McArthur and Co. got cargo returned on board by this action of the Consul. A table submitted to the Dunedin City Council shows the income of that Corporation to be —The portion of the £IOO,OOO loan to be taken into this year’s accounts, £30,000 ; subsidy of Is. on a Is. 3d. rate on £209,000, £10,430 ; rents, £7IOO ; licensing fees, £2200; auctioneers’ licenses, £550 ; building regulations, £260 ; theatres, £l2O ; markets and hawkers, £2OO ; sundry licenses, £4OO ; dog tax, £360 ; refund from insurance companies, £200: proceeds of Is. 3d. rate, £14,125 ; other sources, £7SO ; making a total of £66,775. The expenditure includes Charges against the subsidy, £3000; maintenance of main road, £2OOO ; interest and sinking funds on loans, &c., £13,397 ; lighting, £3024; sanatory, £I7OO ; maintenance metal, £2OOO ; parliamentary costs, £600; salaries, £5079 ; leaving a deficiency of £2624, with a Is. 3d. rate. The Finance Committee recommend a Is. 6d. rate.

Messrs. Robertson and Co., of the Phcenix Foundry, are constructing machinery for boilin" down purposes to the order of Mr. George Hunter, who, we understand, intends sending it to his sheep station at Parangahau. The work is almost completed, so that, apart from the plan, the dimensions can be seen. In the first place, there is a Cornish boiler, which, from the nature of its build, generates the steam much more rapidly than the ordinary boiler, the distance between the plates being narrower, whilst the furnace extends from one end to the other. To supply the boiler with water there is a pumping engine of about twohorse power, which in case of fire breaking out on the station could be used with great effect, as it will throw a powerful stream of water. It is a very compact piece of machinery. The boiler supplies steam to three vats, which are capable of holding 100 sheep at one time. The size of each of the vats is 4ft. in diameter, and Bft. high, and they will be placed in an upright position, alongside of the boiler, with which they will be connected with pipes attached to the dome on the summit of the boiler.

The Wellington Chess Club opened the season at the club rooms, Willia-street, on Monday, the 19th instant, by a match in which their vice-president, Mr. Benbow, contended against all comers (members of the club), he playing no less than ninegames simultaneously. The match evoked much interest, but still Mr. Benbow was too strong for his antagonists, and again added a strong testimony to the opinion already entertained by all those who have had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with his play, that he not only is the strongest player in Wellington, but by far the strongest' and best chess player throughout the colony. Out of the nine games of which the match consisted, he won eight, the only game (a consultation one) that did not fall to him, being won by Messrs. Whittem and Alcorn, who showed some remarkably strong play. With regard to the game played between himself and Mr. Worgan, which ranked among the most interesting, Mr. Worgan, after some brilliant play, ultimately resigned, and the game was consequently scored to Mr. Benbow. Mr. Worgan, however, still continued viewing his lost game, and after some time asked permission to renew it, believing he saw some feasible way of extricating himself out of his difficulties. The request was at once acceded to, and Mr. Worgan, after much careful play, won the finish of a game which he had before resigned, and which by all chess etiquette had already been scored against him. Benbow v. Worgan Benbow Benbow v. Brown Benbow Benbow v. Guinness Benbow Benbow v. Whittem and Alcorn.. Whittem and Alcorn Benbow v. Orbell Benbow Benbow v. Beeves and Bishop Benbow Benbow v. Didsbury and Green Benbow Benbow v. Giles and Thane Benbow Benbow v. Anderson and llonvood Benbow A country paper relates a rather rich incident which occurred at the Governor’s ball at Westport ;—“ Ic seems that the gentleman who had the general direction of the reception arrangements, thought the ball would be incomplete without a master of ceremonies, and accordingly appointed to that office a youth not unknown to Eeefton and Lyell, of the name of ‘Teddy Clemens.’ On the vice-regal party entering the ballroom and taking up position to opea the dance, the music struck up, when the redoubtable ‘Teddy’ cried out, ‘ Top lady and bottom gent, swing in the centre.’ This piece of direction, it seems, was not acted upon with sufficient alacrity, whereupon the indefatigable ‘ Teddy,’ who had taken up a position at the elbow of his Excellency, gave the latter an unmistakeable push forward. The Marquis, instead of diving ahead into the arms of his lady vis-a-vis at the command, turned round and looked unutterable things at the diminutive M.C.; but ‘ Teddy ’ was not to be ‘ put away’ by even the darkest of the vice-regal frowns, and accordingly took no notice of his Excellency, but repeated the direction in a much louder tone of voice. At this stage his Excellency beckoned to his aide-de-camp, and a few minutes later ‘ Teddy ’ was quietly yet ignominiously ‘ acruffed ’ out of the room. How the dancing got on without ‘ Teddy ’ history does not relate ; but he having declined to leave the precincts of the ballroom until he was paid his fee, obtained the amount, and proceeded to have a ‘ fly round. ”