TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5017, 23 April 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEK PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Sunday.

Captain Knott, of H.I.M. Hertha, has been appointed director of the Imperial Wharf, Wilhemshaven.

The agricultural statistics have just been completed for the Auckland district. The total decrease of land under crop is 2600 acres, but iu reality there is an increase. In the previous returns runholders returned the whole of the land in natural grasses as land under crop, but in the present return such land is excluded, only cultivated grasses being included. Deducting 30,000 natural grass from last year’s return there is an actual increase of cultivated land of nearly 37,000 acres. Tho returns also show a very large increase under the head of land broken up, but not under crop, the principal increase being iu the Waikato, Waipa, and Franklyn districts. A summary of the figures for the districts of Mongonui, Bay of Islands, Marsden, Rodney, Waitemata, Eden, Parnell, Newton, Onehunga, Frankin, Waikato, Waipa, Thames, East Coast, and Auckland City East and West gives the following totals : —Number of holdings—Freeholds, 3150 ; rented, 546 ; part freehold and part rented, 195 ; total holdings, 4191. Extent of laud broken up, but not under crop, 21,179 J acres in wheat; number acres sown for grain only, 1055 J ; estimated gross produce, bushels, green food or hay, 58144 ; grain, 2200 f ; estimated gross produce ; grain, bushels, 52,047. Barley,acres —Sown grain only,2o?i; estimated gross produce in bushels, 5424 ; hay, 96912acres ; estimated gross produce in tons, 11,7432. Grasses, after having been broken up, including such as in hay, 185,341 acres j grass sown on lands not previously ploughed, including such as in hay, 159,040. Potatoes—--39382 acres ; estimated gross produce in tons, 29,843, Other crops, 31812. Total number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, 359,070 f. Quantity of last year’s crop re*

maining on hand when the form was filled up —wheat, 161, bushels; oats, 115 bushels; barley, 262 bushels. A meeting has been held for the establishment of a working man’s hotel. About forty gentlemen and ministers attended the movement, amongst whom were Mr Justice Gillies, Colonel Hanltain, and Mr. Swanson. The Kev. Mr. Hassard gave a resume of his previous statement, and urged the necessity for such places as a resort for working men, where they might be able to enjoy mutually intellectual pleasure with all the advantages of a temperance hotel. A committee was appointed to make inquiries. New Plymouth, Sunday. Th.e banquet to the Premier will be given on Thursday next instead of Ist May, as previously advised. CniiISTCHUUCH, Saturday. At the sale of Griffiths’ stud of thoroughbred horses yesterday, thirty-seven animals realised 4943 guineas. The principal sales were—sires: Traducer, 800 guineas, to Middle Park Stud Company; Albury, 500 guineas, S. Nosworthy; Blueboy, 150 guineas, Delamaiu. Mares : Hammock, 325 guineas; Idaiia, 625 guineas; Maria Theresa, 550 guineas—all to Middle Park Company; Aurifera, 275 guineas, Nosworthy; bay filly out of Maria Theresa, 300 guineas, 11. P. Lance; Tell Tale, 300 guineas, Nosworthy. Three colts brought over 100 guineas each, and two colonial bred mares respectively 160 and 110 guineas. Dunedin, Saturday. The Marquis of Normanby and suite arrived at Port Chalmers this morning, and shortly afterwards were conveyed by special train to Dunedin. He was received at the railway station by the Mayor and Councillors, and a guard of honor with usual vice-regal salute. On behalf of the people of Dunedin the Mayor welcomed him to Dunedin, An address was then presented by the Town Clerk. It contained in addition assurances of loyalty, &c., and the following clause ;—“ We may venture to assert that the bulk of her Majesty’s subjects in this part of the colony view it as unfortunate that your Excellency has been precluded from paying them official visits more frequently. We hope your Excellency may find it convenient in future to travel in Otago ofteuer than hitherto you have been able to do consistently with your other arrangements.” His Excellency, in reply, said there was no duty more pleasing to him than to visit the various portions of the colony, but New Zealand was a large place. It took a considerable amount of time to visit them, and hey were aware that it was not always convenient to be absent for a long time from the capital. It was through no fault of his that he delayed it so long, and he would have been in Dunedin in January were it not for the illness of Lady Normanby. There were about 3000 persons present, and three hearty cheers were given for his Excellency. McLaren and a few of his followers were there, and had with them a dirty piece of canvas as a banner, but they were ordered to take this outside the station reserve. In anticipation of a disturbance a strong body of police were on the ground, but good sense p: evailed. The only annoyance created was an ineffectual attempt to raise a groan as his Excellency's carriage was driven away.

Riverton, Saturday.

Seventeen cases of scarlet fever are reported in town, none of which are considered very dangerous, bat the epidemic is rapidly spreading.

The lifting tackle of the Express having again parted, the vessel slipped back nearly to her old position, and owing to the strong tides little has been done in the way of raising her during the week.

In an article on Dr. Hodgkinson's address on Monday, the Western Star to-day says that Dr. Hodgkinson as exponent of the political situation in general, and his own conduct in particular, has not been happy in his allusions to gentlemen opposed to him. He would have been more effective without terming them traitors, scoundrels, &0., as he must be aware that, those he decries in such gross terms are men before whom he cannot hold his own. He disarms criticism by use of denunciation instead of argument. While disagreeing in toto with him, we cannot point to a reason more conclusive than recommending his speech for perusal.