GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5051, 1 June 1877, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

In a recent number of the New Zealand Gazelle appears an interesting account of the number of holdings, the laud in cultivation, and the agricultural produce thereof, in New Zealand in February of the present year, being a summary of information already published in a more detailed form in the Gazelle, from time to time, as received from the several superintendent collectors. It includes also a comparison with the agricultural statistics of February, 1870. In each Provincial District the increase in the year 1877 over that of 1870 is considerable with respect to the number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, and it is satisfactory to remark the progress made in the North Island. For the year 1577 the number of acres under crop in the various districts is set down as follows : Auckland, 359,670;,' ; Taranaki, 85,1 BOJ ; Hawke's Bay, 325,913} ; Wellington, 580,718; Marlborough, 43.-101 J; Nelson, 8(5,538$ ; Westland, 52184 ; Canterbury, C53.383J ; Otago, 530,753,} ; making a total number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, of 2,682,757?. Thus it will be seen that Canterbury stands at the top of the list, with Wellington next, and Otago third. But Canterbury and Otago of course show up in the agricultural columns. Wellington has increased largely in the growth of grain, and we may 'confidently hope that the district will before very long take a prominent position in such returns for agriculture. As we have before stated, the return under notice is simply a summary of information already published, and it is therefore unnecessary to enter into further particulars. Generally speaking, however, we may state that the return iB very satisfactory as indicating marked progress all over the tolony.

A return of agricultural statistics of the provincial district of Hawke's Bay in February, 1577, is published. The differences between the estimated crops of 1876 and 1877, for the provincial district, are as follows :

-• 1870. 1877. Wheat (bushels) ... 1,017 .. 4,302 In. 2,745 Oats (bushels) .. 30,810 .. 37,723 In. 807 Barley (bushels) .. 2,808 .. 3,300 In. 55S l'otatoss (tons) .. 2,217 .. 2,105 Dee. 112

In the Gazette a statement is published showing the number, amount, &c, of money orders and savings banks transactions in the several postal districts of the colony during the quarter ended 31st March. There were issued 20,812 orders, value £50,705 ; and paid, 16,262, value £73,305. In the Savings Banks 2Ss7accounts were opened and 2263 closed, the withdrawals numbering 9054, value £178,106, and the deposits 14,824, value £170,211. The excess of withdrawals over deposits was £7895. The Wellington Post Office, viewed from the exterior, is certainly a not very imposing structure, but the recent alterations and additions which have been made to

." / have greatly increased the accommodation both for the public and tlie officials of the department. By the courtesy of the Chief Postmaster we were shown over the building on Friday, and were agreeably surprised to find what a great improvement has been effected in the interior. From the Chief Postmaster's room, which is now on the upper floor, and is approached by the front staircase, leading from the quay, a private staircase leads down to the mail-room, which is on the ground floor, and is a spacious and convenient apartment. It has been enlarged by the taking in of the space occupied by the oid verandah towards Grey-street, and of 'another space at the end of the passage to the private boxes. The desks, pigeon-holes, sorting tables, and other fittings are all new and suitable, and are so arranged as to offer the greatest facilities for the despatch of business. The public room is on the grouud floor, fronting Custom House-quay, and is fitted with a counter like that of a bank, so that people having inquiries to make are brought face to face with the clerk, instead of only seeing his head through a little trap-door for a minute or two, as was the case before the new alterations were effected. We understand that the cost of these improvements will be about £350, and certainly a very great deal has been done for the money. At some future day it is probable that the Custom House, Telegraph, and Post Offices will be under one roof, in a new and handsome building worthy of the capital of the colony from an architectural point of view ; but for the present, especially at a time when it is desirable to study economy, the accommodation now afforded will be deemed sufficient, we think, by th ■ great majority of people. The Ministry can undoubtedly claim credit for a very judicious expenditure in this matter, which will promote the efficiency of this branch of the public service here, afford every reasonable accommodation for the public for some time to come, and in which a due regard to economy has been carefully kept in view. At a meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce held on Thursday, May 10th Captain Holliday presented a sketch plau of a system of harbor works, showing how Wellington could in the course of time be supplied with six miles of wharf or quay accommodation. Captain Holliday has long held opinions on this question which were pretty well known to those most interested to be iu favor of a scheme such as he submitted, and which he was induced to work into definite shape recently in consequence of the great prominence given to the question of wharf accommodation, and the necessity of increasing the same. It is a very elaborate plan, and if worked out would be of immense value to the city commercially ; but the question of expense is the great difficulty. Before proceeding, however, to say anything in the way of comment on the plau, we may give an idea of its nature. It consists of a series of wharves, extending in a semi-circular direction from a point near Meech's baths on the Te Aro side to Pipitea Point on the other, from which it will be gathered that the plan is for the most part of a prospective character. These wharves vary in length from 620 ft. to 1300 ft, and there are in all fourteen of them. It is proposed n.lso to build a dry doc.!.- at t.h» To Aro end. An immense expenditure would be required to carry this idea out in its entirety, as a large amount of foreshore on both sides would have to be reclaimed. It is proposed, for instance, to reclaim all that shallow portion off Pipitea, and run out from the breastwork thus formed four of the wharves or jetties alluded to ; and the Te Aro reclamation would have to be an accomplished fact before the scheme could be given proper effect to. One advantage it has, however, which is this, that the work could be proceeded with gradually, and a wharf run out, as necessity and convenience might dictate, on the principle laid down in the plan, so that as the requirements of'the city and the wharf accommodation proportionately increased, such works would form a portion of one complete scheme. Of course a start could be made immediately on the completion of the reclamation now in progress, and one wharf or more be run out ; and these could be connected with the railway, to facilitate the loading and discharging of ships. Where the present wharf is Captain Holliday would build a series of projections in the form of steps, at which the smaller class of shipping could lie, and receive all the protection they at present have at any one of the Queen's wharf T's. As may be gathered, the scheme is of a most extensive character, and is only submitted, probably, as showing what might be done to afford the necessary accommodation for the enormous shipping trade which must in time arise in Wellington.

A correspondent writes : —" Few perhaps are aware that to the north- of Wangamii, in the country by safely traversing which General Chute and an Imperial army won renown, there are, instead of plains of fern and scrubby bush, hundreds of thriving farms, from which are drawn the main supply of that prime meat which goes a great way towards feeding the thousands in Wellington, of which all visitors from the neighboring coloniss speak in the highest terms, and in respect to which they make comparisons that are very flattering to our graziers as to the meat produced here and that raised in the Australian colonics. Hawera is the district that now supplies most of the cattle for the supply of Wellington, and is probably unrivalled in the world as a grazing district—indeed, it is a sort of pastoral paradise. On one farm in the locality there now is a thousand head of cattle, which probably could not be surpassed as a mob. They are the property of Messrs. Barber and Gear, and are a portion of their winter supply. Competent judges who have lately seen them all declare that their like has. never been seen in this colony before, the average of the whole being equal to the best of other herds in less favored localities. A change so marked as this in so short a period is a convincing proof of the elasticity of the resources of this country, and the adaptability of the laud of the North Island for grazing purposes, where a few years ago nothing was produced by the scattered natives but enough potatoes to barely keep them in existence."

At a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society it was stated that 200,000 salmon ova had been ordered from California. The secretary was instructed to write to the Otago Acclimatisation Society to make arrangements for a supply of trout ova. A letter was received from the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, apologising for the rumor circulated that it had not had a fail proportion of the salmon ova lately imported; the society were perfectly satisfied they had been fairly treated.

Mr. F. B. Passmore, Inspector of Constructed Railways in the North Island, has just paid a visit to the lines in the WanganuiManawatu districts. He was present at the opening of the Turakina line, and has organised the staff necessary for the efficient working of the line. He has also ordered the reballasting of the Foxton and Feilding line, and the replacing of heavy rails for the light ones used by the old tram on the FoxtonPalmerston Hue, which is being done gradually, so as not to impede the traffic. The line from Foxton to Feilding is almost level, its steepest gradient being lin 80. The steepest gradient of the Turakina line is 1 in 35.

During the month of April last 3237 acres of land were sold within the Provincial District of Wellington, the amount of cash received being £2626 16s. At a meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society itwas resolved, —"That application be made to the Auckland Society to join in importing 100,000 ova, 50,000 being salmon ova and 50,000 sea trout, and if possible 50,000 brook trout as well." The traffic returns for the southern railways for the month ending 31st March are as follows : Dunedin division : Passengers, &c, £3995 ss. Id.; freight, 12,21? tons, £4112 lis. lid.; total, £B-137 17s. Invercargill division : passengers, £1473 10s. 7d.; freight, 4910 tons. £2676 12s. Bd.; total, £4150 3s 3d. Christchurch division : Passengers, £10,221 7s. 7d.; freight, 51,017 tons, £21,585 Ss. 5d.; total, £31,800 16s. An unseemly disturbance took place in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church May 6th, at the 11 o'clock service. It seems that a majority of the congregation wished for the introduction of the English Presbyterian hymn book; but there are some dissentients. When service commenced yesterday morning by singing a hymn, Sir. J. P. Miller got on the platform and commenced to read a protest against the hymn book. Ultimately his voice was drowned by that of the minister and the music of the choir, but he ended by throwing his written protest at the minister, and it fell among the congregation. Much indignation is - said to be felt with regard to Miller's action. The new rush on the north sidu of the Teraniakau is attracting a deal of attention throughout the district. .• About 700 people are on the ground. The country is pegged off on all sides for a considerable distance, and it is reported that already twenty parties have struck on payable gold. Fully 300 to 400 persons cross and vecross the river daily from Kuinara. Strong dissatisfaction is expressed at the delay and the expense of tolls caused through crossing the river by punt. On May 4th a pub'ie meeting was held in the theatre, which was crowded, and it was unanimously resolved that the County Council of Grey and Hokitika be petitioned to construct a bridge over the Teremakau, and in the meantime to purchase the punt and thro>v open the ferry to the public free of charge. It will be remembered (says the local paper) that some time since the Manawatu County Council authorised the survey of the proposed line of railway between S.'indou and the Carnarvon junction on the Foxton to Manawatu line. We are informed that the survey of this line is now finished, and as the country through which it passes is very level, and the construction of a railway upon it will not necessitate a large outlay of capital, we trust that there is now a fair prospect of the Sandon and Carnarvon settlers being speedily connected by rail with Foxton.

A final meeting of the old Wellington Golden Crown Gold Mining Company was he'd at Mr. .Dixon's house, Cuba-street, on Tuesday, May Sth, for the purpose of winding up its affairs. There were present—Messrs. E. Dixon, J. Bowater, AV. B. Barber, J. Fitchett (treasurer), S. Levy (manager), and H. Mitchell ysecretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Levy stated that there was a balance to the credit of the company at the bank of £ls 75., to which had to be added per cent, interest, which would make a total of about £l6. It was unanimously agreed that the said balance should be handed over to the treasurer of the Benevolent Society, a worthy act, which we feel sure will be appreciated. We may state also that the treasurer and manager each refused to accept two sums as voted to them, desiring that the money should be devoted to the same laudable object. The old Golden Crown Mine in its time benefited many, and has been a loss to an equal number, or perhaps many more. BirS its day has long since passed, and its original glory is pleasantly recalled by this act. The Putea Mail of May 9th says:—"Waitotara is at present alive with excitement, by reason of the large number of natives who have assembled to discuss, and, if possible, amicably arrange as to disputed boundaries. What is wanted is that natives desiring to sell land may be permitted to do so without fear of interference afterwards on tli» r"** of nonsellers. It noii-aai™, oould be got to agree to hold their own, and allow others who want to sell to do so, one great hindrance to the acquisition of native lands by Government would be removed. The natives have to settle amongst themselves the boundary question—that in fact is the chief object <if the meeting, the power to stop sales of land on the part of those opposed thereto having been very much weakened of late on account of the growing desire on the part of large numbers of native owners to turn portions of their land into money. Up to Saturday last about 300 visitors had arrived, amongst whom were some celebrated chiefs and renowned fightingmen from far and near. The accommodation in the shape of whares at the pa is considerable, but quite inadequate for the number then present. Tents and raupo sleeping-places were being fixed up in all directions. Upriver natives had sent down abundant supplies of potatoes, kumeras, pigs, and other food relishable to their own people. Quite an arraj of canoes lined the side of the river. Two or three drayloads of beef had beeu sent by Kai Iwi natives. All sorts of conveyances might be seeD about the settlement, from the most fashionable make of buggy to rickety old drays. Horses were also well represented, one large paddock adjoining the settlement being alive with them."

The following annual report of the Otago Education Board was published on Friday, the 4th May. There are 105 elementary schools in the province, with a staff o£ 329 teachers. The number of children on the roll is 18,350 ; the average daily attendance is 11,210. The abstract of ages shows :—487 under five, 9537 from five to ten, 10,447 from ten to twelve, 3162 from twelve to fifteen, and 417 above that age. 17,791 attended the district schools, and 559 attended four free schools. The increase in the attendance for the year has been—number of enrolments, 2253 ; average daily attendance, 138 S ; the attendance at close of the year, 1441. The number of pupils returned as learning higher rules of arithmetic, was 2856 ; mathematics, 431 ; geography, 10,581 ; history, 1528 ; English grammar, 10,362 ; bookkeeping, 331 ; drawing or mapping, 5025 ; singing from notes, 6508 ; Latin, 271 ; French, 233 ; Greek, 6 ; sewing (girls), 4751. The attendance at the Boys' High School for the first quarter of the present year, was IS6, as compared with 159 at the close of 1875. The attendance of girls at the High school has largely increased, having reached 195 during the second quarter of last year, while the present quarter's attendance is 1S 3, of whom 20 are resident boarders, and 3307 received instruction in the School of Aits in 1576, being an increase of 1039 over the previous year. The Normal School afforded instruction to 700 children. 27 male and 2S female students had received traiuing as teaeners. During the year the expenditure on school buildings amounted to £20,735 18s. lid. The abstract of receipts and expenditure account of the education reserves shows—Keceipts for rent, leases, etc., Dunedin, £3660 13s. lid.; Invercargill, £1540 lis. 7d.; total, £5201 Ss. Gd. Payment*, total, £5201 Ss. In addition to reserves, there are portions of runs iu Otago and Southland Districts set apart as education reserves, but not yet Crown granted, Rents for such reserves were collected and entered as provincial revenue, and amounted last year to the following sums:—Otago, £5105 14s. 5J.; Southland, £1409 195.; total, £6575 13s. sd. The expenditure for salaries, chiefly on schools, was as follows:—Office expenditure, £2142 Id.; elementary and grammar schools, £23,439 Id. Boys' High School, £2709 10s. Bd.; Girls' do, £1513 lis. 3d.; High School (repairs, janitor, &c), £B2l 2s. 7d.; Normal School, £3352 16s. 2d.; sundries, £2077 10s. 4d. To this must be added a sum of £20,735 16s. lid., expended on school buildings and repairs, and the em" of £18,472 lis. 2d., raised by school committees from school fees, subscription, &c., w»d expended by them on teachers' salaries, repairs, &c, making the total expenditure £75,314 Is. sd. For the year the receipts, independent of the Government revenue, amount to £9273 3s. Bd., and the charge on ordinary Government revenue is £26,842 7s. Bd.

Kaore te One, an influential chief of the Ngitikawhata tribe, died at Palmerston on May 18th. Colonel Harington, who is well known as having been connected with the military in different parts of the colony, and as an excellent officer, has, we learn, left the colony for Europe, with the intention of seeking service in the Turkish army. The funeral of the late Mr. J. Howe took place on May 22nd, and was largely attended. Mr. Howe was one of the oldest settlevs here. He came out in the ship Clifton, and brought up a large family of sons and daughters, all of whom married and settled well. He was always a steady, honest, and good colonist, and was generally respected. He leaves S 6 grandchildren. The employes at Lindsay's boot factory played a friendly game of cricket on May 24 married against single. The single men were victorious over their fellow-workmen. In the evening all assembled at dinner, after which, among other toasts, the health of the firm was drunk with enthusiasm. The tables were then cleared, dancing was commenced, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The directors of the Te Aro Theatre Company met on "Wednesday, May 24, to determine upon the tenders sent in for the erection of the theatre. There were nine in all, and the amounts varied considerably, ranging f'.'om upwards of £7OOO to .£14,500. Messrs. Lockie, S. Brown, and Hanson were rather close; but the Litter being the lowest, at £7300, his tender was acceptor!. Dr. Schwarzbaoh, who was recently in Wellington, examined the sight of the Nelson College pupils on Saturday forenoon, with the following result :—Out of SI boys examined 6S had normal sight, 12 were shortsighted, but only one to any serious extent, and one was farsighted. Upon -this (says the Ndson Times) the examiner remarks :—The Nelson College being visited by boys from all parts of the colony the average percentage of a (mostly moderate) faulty refraction of th« sight of the New Zealand boys, between the age of 9 and IS years, may be said to be 15. In England it is about 20 per cent., and in Germany reaches the high average of 35 in the 100. Dr. Lemon, Manager of New Zealand Telegraphs, ha- nearly completed arrangements for opening the principal offices throughout all the colony at 1.30 a.m. every day. This arrangement is being made in consequence of the desire of the morning newspapers to publish the English news arriving in Australia up to 12 o'clock at midnight simultaneously with the Australian papers, and necessarily will be rather costly. The stations coming within the arrangement are Auckland, Napier, Grahamstown, Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Duuedin, ard luvercargill, and at all these stations an operator will sleep, in .order to be ready to take off the wirees anything that may come through. The operator at Wakapuaka has been supplied with an alarm clock to awaken him at the necessary time; and if he discovers that there is anything to be sent from Sydney, he will rouse the operator at the Blenheim and Nelson stations, the former passing the alarm on one side along to Wellington, which will communicate with the next Northern station, and so on till all are awoke, while,on the other hand, the Blenheim operator will pass the word on to Southern stations. To this end electric bells have been laid on at the offices above-mentioned. The arrangement came into force this week. The usual monthly meeting of the Wellington Teachers' Association was held in the Sydney-street schoolroom on the sth May, at noon, Mr. Holmes in the chair. There was a fair attendance of members. Letters were read from kindred societies in Blenheim, Patea, and from the Teachers' Institute, Victoria. Copies of a new periodical were forwarded to the president from Melbourne (the Teacher, a journal devoted to the interests of education), with a view to obtain subscribers in this colony. The secretary was requested to reply to the letters from Patea and Blenheim, and the president to that from Melbourne. Several other matters of importance to teachers were discussed and disposed of. It was decided, after some discussion, to defer the consideration of the Blenheim letter until the next monthly meeting, as the suggestions it contained were of too much importance to be murieJiy passed over. In reference to the Teachers' Conference, to take place in Christchurch on the 12th inst., it was decided that Wellington is not able to send a representative, as none of the teachers can be spared from their duties ; but the secretary was requested to write to the Canterbury Association, assuring them of the hearty sympathy of the teachers in the Wellington District, and conveying their best wishes for the success of the conference. We are informed that the Wellington secretary has since received a letter from Christchurch, conveying the information that the " AVellington Circular," of Jan. 20, 1877, will form the basis of the subjects to be discussed at the forthcoming conference.

The sulphur of White Island, near Tauranga, is reported to be almost boundless, and the Thames Advertiser says that the proprietors of the island are about to convert the material at hand into sulphuric acid as well as roll sulphur, flour of sulphur, &c. Hitherto the use of sulphuric acid in these colonies has been restricted to the narrowest limits, owing to the great cost of freight and packing charges; owners of many vessels refusing to take it under any conditions, others only as deck cargo. Sulphuric acid, itself the base of almost all the most useful acids, is made in England in vast quantities both from sulphur and iron pyrites, while its first cost bears no proportion to the prices charged out here; and so highly valued from an economic . point of view is this useful product, that it has been truly said that the measure of a nation's manufacturing prosperity may be taken by the quantity of sulphuric acid which it produces and consumes. The agricultural interests will also benefit by this new local industry. The carriage of bones to the bone-mill and back again to the farm can then be supersededby the employment of the acid as a solvent, which it effects in a short space of time, producing the valuable manure known as superphosphate, while the substratum of the island being of gypsum will be equally useful as a manure and for the manufacture of cements and plaster of Paris.

The New Zealand Herald says:—Considerable interest is felt in this commuuity with respect to the Native Lands Bill which the Government are to introduce into the House of Representatives in next session. It is known that the Bill has been drawn by Mr. Whitaker with the assistance of his Honor Judge Feuton, and that the advice of several gentlemen, who have been connected with the workingof the present Act, has been taken on points of importance. There seems a general agreement amongst those who ought to know something of the measure as to its general scope and design, and we have no doubt that the impression, whether founded on surmise or information, is correct. The' new Bill will, it is believed, be devoted mainly to simplification, which, after all, is the one thing needful with respect to native lands. The present laws are so complicated, so multifarious in their requirements as to witnesses to signatures and so forth, that it had become almost impossible to get a title for any piece of native land. The new Act, it is believed, will start with clearing the ground, and will then embody all the procedure necessary on the subject. The Government will stop the native laud purchase, system ; but of course they will take ample powers to complete the transactions into which they have entered. The constitution and working of the Lands Court will be made as plain and simple as possible, consistent with the ascertainment of the rights of the natives. There can be no question as to the necessity for a new Native Lauds Act, and wo believe that the present measure will fulfil the purpose for which it is designed. Mr. Wftitaker has taken great trouble with the Act, and we need not say that his forte as a parliamentary draftsman lies especially in Ma power of condensing and simplifying a mass of complicated provisions. Mr. William EitzGerald, son of J. E. Fit?.Gerald, Esq., was on May 4th admitted by his Honor the Chief Justice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. Mr EitEGerald was for a considerable time with Mr. Justice Gillies, and has more latterly been in Mr. Brandon's office

A Maori is writing to the Wananga for the purpose of discourairing w-ar dances. He says that thev are forbidden bv Paul, and that they are of the devil. We notice from our exchanges by the s.s. Gasby that the Australian colonies have joined in the expense of obtaining from the AgeutGeueral of Victoria a weekly message as to the progress of the Kusso-Tui'kish war.

As showing the want of genuineness which characterised the recent unemployed demonstration in Dunedin, the Otayo Daily Times says that only two or three men have applied for work at the Public Work's Office, Duuedin, although his Excellency, in reply to the unemployed petition, stated that the Government were prepared to find work on the railways for all who needed it.

The drawing for Mr. Gully's picture of Milford Sound took place at the Occidental Hotel on Thursday, May 17. The connnittve :lmsen to superintend were Messrs. Lockie, I ughes, and McKay. There was a good attendance of ticket-holders, the fortunate winner of thepieture being Mr. J. McDowell, No. 48, the 77th ticket drawn. To those interested in the acclimatisation movement—and who, we might ask, without fear of discovering exceptions is not ?—it will be pleasing information to learn that the trout liberated by the society in the streams of Wellington some time since have progressed favorably, having shown a remarkably healthy growth ; and we may add that some of those which were deposited in the water some years back have assumed large proportions—so large, indeed, that an unsophisticated lady in the country having :"ien one of unusual size, reported the fact to her husband by telling him that she had seen a large shark in the stream. Even making allowance for the highly imaginative power or ignorance of the lady in question, we must assume the fish to have been of considerable proportions. The opening of the Wanganui-Turakina line took place on May 17. The weather was beautiful, and the affair was a great success. A train of nine carriages and four trunks, crowded, the passengers uumberiug about 500, was taken out from Wanganui to Turakiua. Previous to starting, the engine was christened by Miss Durie, daughter of the late Major Duric, and named Guy Mannering. Owing to the stoppages at all the small stations, the journey out occupied one hour and threequarters. All the IV.rakina inhabitants turned out, with a great number of natives, to welcome the arrival of the train. Mr. Wm. Watt (Mayor of Wanganui), addressed the assemblage, congratulating the inhabitants of tile district on the successful opening of the line. He referred to its commercial advantages, and trusted it would further cement the bonds of friendship between Wanganui and Turakiua. He also hoped no time would be lost by the Government in continuing the line to llaugitikei, and completing the branch line into the town of Wanganui, so as to make the Hue payable. A luncheon was given by the Mayor and the Resident Engineer to the principal inhabitants. The whole of the arrangements were under the control of Mr. Roes and Mr. Christopher. John Bryce, member for Wanganui, and John Ballauce, member for Rangitikei, were present. Mr, Caselberg's store at Masterton was burnt to the ground, on the rooming of Sunday, 13th May, and the branch of the Bank of New Zealand adjoining had a very narrow escape, the whole of the front generally having been scorched and blistered, and the windows cracked. The origin of the fire seems to be unknown. Mr. Caselberg left the place about 10 o'clock, and the last person known to be in the shop left at half-past eleven. The fire broke out 3 a.m., and the residents of the township soon turned out and lent great assistance, property to the amount of about £3OOO having been saved. We believe the property destroyed was valued at £SOOO, and the insurance effected amounts to about £7OOO. The following are the offices in which the goods I were insured, together with the amounts:—National,£looostoek,£soo building; Southßritish, £IOOO ; New Zealand, ' £IOOO : Liverpool, London, and Globe, £ISOO ; Batavia, £SOO ; Northern, £IOOO ; Victoria, £IOOO ; Standard, £IOOO ; Norwich Union, £SOO, building. National rc-insured one third on stock with Loudon and Lancashire. Salvage reported to be £IOO. The damage to the Bank of New Zealand, which, is insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company, is reported to be £2OO. The Kennedy, which arrived on May 9th from the West Coast, has brought the first shipment of coal from the Coalpit Heath Company's mine, Greymouth. The coal is of a bright color, highly bituminous aud hard. We have no doubt, if trial confirms its good quality, there will be an exceedingly large sale for it. The new theatre in Tory-street fast approaches completion. We have already given a full description of the building from the plan drawn by Mr - . Chatfield, aud we may add that, as anyone may see who happens to be passing that way, the structure does credit both to the architect and builder. The Auckland Star states that before Te Pa Ti's trial, his father, a Maori named Moho, belonging to the Ngatihorua, a tribe residing at Watawata, visited him, and appeared to regard his son's position in a very philosophical light. " You pukuru the pakeha, the pakeha pukuru you, all right," said the old savage, and then he exhorted his son to behave himself while in prison, and not to give more trouble than he could help. The only thing which seemed to puzzle the old fellow was why Te Pa Ti should be kept in prison instead of being hanged at once.

The Otayo Daily Times of May 17 says:—We have altogether failed to discover any reassuring reason for the falling off in the Customs revenue for the quarter ending March 31. The total decline amounts to no less than £1!),705, when compared with the corresponding quarter in IS76\ Of this Otago's decline is no less than £1t>,079. There is a small increase in Wellington and Greymouth, and everywhere slse there is a slight falling oif. It must be confessed that the prospect is not a very pleasing one. Although immigration has not ceased, yet the Customs returns on ad valorem goods have steadily gone J own, ami this betokens not merely a loss to the public revenue. This, though sufficiently serious, is as nothing at all as compared with the decline in consuming power which su-h a reduction in Customs dues exhibits. We are not aware of auy especial circumstances that have tended to produce the unpleasant consequences to Otago which we have noted. Stocks, which last year were far too heavy, have long since been reduced to a.V.,t a proper level, and we should have expected the Customs returns would have shown a slight, ;, lcrease] jf a - av . thing, instead of so serious a l:u; n<r ' y\ r e cannot doubt but that a part of *S. difficulty here is caused by the non-completion m ...,",. main trunk lines ; but Christchmvh itself has fallen off to the extent of £273. We arc not, be it remembered, comparing this year with those in which a va:-t proportion of the Customs revenue was acquired from sources that were bound to run dry. We are-speaking-of the ad valorem duties in 1576 and 1577. and we must confess that we view the decrease as an unsatisfactory one, not only for this port and place, but for the whole colony. That the end of the financial year will disclose a material decrease in the anticipated Customs revenue-we have no doubt, and although the Assembly may decide to relieve the Consolidated Revenue of the payment in future "f subsidies to counties and boroughs, wo .-hall not be surprised if the imposition of a laud t;-.:: is proposed by the Government. On Saturday, May 12th, a meeting of il.e Council, Professors, and members of the < itago University was held, when the Chancellor, on behalf of the New Zealand University, presented Mr. Samuel Solomon with a diplor.a of 8.A., and Mr. Peter Seton Hay with a certificate of honors. The attendance was large. The Chancellor congratulated Mr. Solomon on the success of his scholiu-tic career, and delivered a longaddress, in which he referred to the difficulties which the University had to encounter, and the means taken to overcome them, and pointed out the present and future benefits which result from a sound v

intellectual training. It is intended to hold an Art and Industrial Exhibition at Wanganui in August. Exhibits will be received from all parts of the_ colony. The programme is to embrace all varieties of colonial industry and objects of art and scientific collections.

His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Hon. C. C. Bowen, will leave in the' Hinemoa for Lyttelton on June 4. "When in Chratchiircb the Governor will lay the foundation stone of the Christchurch College. His visit to Canterbury will not extend nincli more than a week. Throwing a cricket ball a hundred yards is sometimes spoken of as a great feat. \v e observe the well-known bowler of Canterbury, Sweete, threw the ball 102 yards the other day. As an ornithological curiosity an upcountry paper mentions that a gentleman residing near the Wairarapa Lake has noticed on his run two English larks, the one being pure white and the other as yellow as a

canary. A correspondent who ha 3 been at the trouble of going through the " Army List," sends the Iluwbis Bay Umtkl the following as a correct list the number of militia officers in New Zealand, (in addition to the medical staff, &c.):—Colonels. 3 ; lieut.-colonels, 12 ; majors, 45 ; captains, 191 ; lieutenants, 237 ; ensigns, 10S ; sub-lieutenants, 11. All these are liable to be called upon to serve if required. A correspondent of the Auckland Star states that Hobart Pasha, the present Admiral of the Turkish fleet, served on board the Calliope in New Zealand, and was known as the wild midshipman. On one occasion he was confined fur two days iu the guardroom at Wauganui owing to" a scrape. He was in charge of a gunboat in an attack on the Maoris at Porirua Harbor in 1547-4 S.

The Patca Mail says :—" A woman at present resident in the immigration barracks was woke up on the night of May 12th by smarting pains on neck and arms. It was discovered that a small black spider had bitten her in seven or eight places, the parts swelled and the pain was intense. Hot bathing had to be resorted to. and other remedial measures applied. The effect of the bites was felt for some days." The Waikato Times says:—We may shortly, we presume, expect to hear of tenders being called for for the construction of the extension of the Waikato railway from Ohaupo to Te Awamutu, as the survey was completed last week. A deviation from the line, branching off about a mile and a half north of Te Awamutu and running into that township, has been surveved, in accordance with the wishes expressed by tie Te Awamutu deputation, and the plan of it will be submitted for the consideration of the Engineer-in-Chief. The original line terminates at Mr. Goodfellow's paddock, some three-quarters of a mile from the township. The annual general meeting of the members ef the Wellington Club was held at the clubhouse onWednesday,May3o. There was a large attendance of members. The accounts were received and adopted. The committee were authorised to send Home an order for two new billiard tables and for suitable furniture for the room. A vote of thanks to the committee closed the proceedings. The annual meeting of the Wellington Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute was held on Tuesday, May 29; Mr. J. Woodward iu the chair. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and certain alterations in the rule 3 made. In consequence of the weather, doubtless, there was not a very large attendance. Had there been a fuller meeting, we believe a motion would have been tabled, if in order, for popularising the institution by introducing billiards, bagatelle, chess, draughts, and other games when the new building is completed. No doubt there would have been a very warm debate in reference to billiards and bagatelle, as a good deal of stout though irrational opposition would have been offered. It is hard to realise why in New Zealand, a colony in which the laboring clas3 has of late become so numerous and so prosperous, such a thing a 3 a workinginens' club is unknown. In other colonies they exist and flourish, and have done a great deal of good in providing favorite and legitimate evening amusement, separated from the baneful influence of the public-house. Were the new committee to consider this matter fairly, it is pretty certain they would come to a conclusion which would lead to the institution becoming much more popular than it now is. A crossing made of blocks of wood is being constructed on Lambton-quay, opposite the Bank of New Zealand, the work being carried out under the superintendence of the City Engineer. It is a sort of experiment, and if found successful will possibly be used more extensively. Whole streets are made in this way in parts of London City, and the blocks wear very well indeed. "We understand that the Government have for some time past been in communication with Sir William Jervoi.s and Colonel Scratchely, with a view to obtaining their professional opinion on the harbor defences of Hew Zealand ; and that latest advices render it most probable that the officers will • visit this colony after reporting for the "Victorian Government.

David Hardie (private of the Hutt Militia), William Gorman (private of the Patea Rifles), and Robert Cameron Neville (private of the Wellington Pvifles), have claimed the New Zealand war medal, and the Commissioner has allowed the claim.