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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5321, 16 April 1878, Page 2

It is probable that in addition to the varied schemes which have been suggested for giving the city a large water supply, one will be pro : posed for bringing in water from a creek near the Hutt by means of an open aqueduct. The idea is to carry the water in an open race for the greater part of the distance, using pipes and flaming where a considerable saving in length would be effected. A storage reservoir would be constructed near Wellington. Great excitement was caused last evening by a report that a man had been stabbed on the! Tinakori-road. One version of the tale was that a murder had been committed, and ano-. ther'was that a man was supposed to be dying.! The news was brought to the police station by a messenger , who reached there about eight o’clock in a Very excited state and said that a man had been stabbed. He added that he had been told by a little girl that her father: was being stabbed with knives. Sergeant Smith and Constable Macdonald at once went off in a cab, expecting to find a serious case., On inquiry they ascertained that there had been a fight between an Englishman and a Swede outside the Karori Hotel, but no one had been stabbed, and both the men had gone away, neither being much the worse for the affray.' One had received a cut on the hand when he fell down, but it was said to have been caused not by a knife but by a piece of road metal. Ho arrest was made.

Telegrams are sometimes confusing, and it at times requires no small exercise of ingenuity to get at the meaning intended. But we give the following , up. The special cablegram which reached this office yesterday morning, referring to the late terrible murder in Ireland read as follows :—“Leitrim murder debated both Houses Paleo Palaver reporters excluded,” ■&c. The message might have left England as “ both Houses of Parliament but we hesitate to identify the Imperial Houses of Parliament with so suggestive a word as palaver. Three allotments in the proposed township of Kensington have been presented by Mr. Finnimore as prizes to be drawn for in the art union promoted by the committee of the Working Men’s Club. The committee will be glad to receive donations of all kinds, in land, goods, or cash, in aid of the funda-for furnishing the premises now in course of erection for the club.

Amongst the large number of visitors at the Circus yesterday were many country settlers, and the Maoris mustered in great force and seemed highly delighted with the wild beasts. Prosser drove his big coach into town in the morning from Pahautanui, crowded with natives, who returned evidently both pleased and astonished at what they had seen, and whose genuinely favorable reports of the entertainment will doubtless have the effect of sending iu from the country many of their brethren to-day. Indeed if the weather holds fine there are certain to be large attendances to-day. The Theatre Boyal will be re-opened on Saturday next with a sensational drama from the pen of Watts Phillips, entitled “Forsaken.” This piece ran for over 300 consecutive nights at the Adelphi Theatre, Loudon, and afterwards went the round of the English provinces, but has never been produced iu the colonies. The management of the Koyal are determined to do all in their power to make the performance a success. The whole of the company will appear in it, and it will be mouuted with entirely new scenery. The mechanists are now busily engaged night and day iu making the necessary preparations. ■ Several persons have reported to the police that they have had their pockets picked when in the crowd ontside the ticket office at the Circus. It is quite evident that some ex--pert thief is at work, and possibly a small gang may be acting together and taking advantage of people pressing forward to secure their tickets. The exhibition of “ The Blacksmith’s Dream,” now on view at the Arcade, MannersStreet, is visited by several hundreds daily, and the proprietor, although charging only sixpence, is doing a capital business. The show consists of a cleverly planned and wellexecuted model, showing a variety of mechanical contrivances in full work. .There are a number of men and women riding velocipedes, a railway train going at speed, blacksmiths working," niggers playing banjos, &c., a water-fall-and fountain, and a Punch and Judy show. The last is the greatest attraction, and greatly pleases all the young folks and many of the eld. The entertainment is well worth a visit.

' A telegram from Coromandel to the N.Z. Herald states that the Corby claim is turning out exceedingly rich stone.

A grand opera concert will be given on Easter Monday at the Odd Fellows’ Hall.

There will be a meeting of the Kilb raie road trustees at three o’clock this afternoon at Mr. White’s office, Panama-street. Notice is given that a late train will leave Wellington at a quarter-past eleven o'clock to-night for the Lower Hutt, returning from that place at five minutes to twelve-o'clock. The Auckland papers announce that Mr. Hugh Hart Lusk, M.H.R., will address the electors of the Franklin District at the Public Hall, Otahuhu, this (Tuesday) evening. Tenders are invited by the City Council up to Thursday next for the erection of a cottage for the custodian of the Waterworks reservoir.

The anniversary soiree in connection with the Lower Hutt Wesleyan Church will take place on Good Friday, when several clergymen and laymen are expected to address the meeting-

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday a temporary transfer of the license for the Princess Theatre Hotel, Tory-street, was granted from Mr. J. F. Margetts to Mr. A. Wheeler.

A new township is about to be laid out at Ohiwa Harbor, in the Whakataue County, on the East Coast. Ohiwa having a good harbor will eventually be the port of the Opotoki and Whakataue Districts.

The member for Waitemata, Mr. J. S. Macfarlane, has again presented to each of the different libraries in the district large parcels of useful books, appropriating in this manner the whole of the honorarium received by him for his attendance at Wellington. The N. Z. Herald takes the following from the Coos Bay (Oregon) News of Bth February : —“The two children, Walter and Lottie, travelling with Mr. Samwell’s animal show, and claimed by C. Morting to be his children, were, upon investigation, found not to be his children, the boy’s true name being ArthurAlonzo Nelson, having been kidnapped from Auckland, New Zealand, about three years ago. Receiving information, through Mr. Samwell that the children were being mistreated, we interviewed the boy, and after assuring him of protection, he informed us of his continued inhuman treatment at the hands of Morting. At Empire. City, for the offence of smoking a paper cigarette, Morting tied him hand and foot, and compelled him to lie in that position all night, and it appears his whole course towards the boy has been one of brutal cruelty. The boy. is but nine years old, and he was very anxious to be taken from Morting, which we did, and we shall see that he remains in good hands, where he’ll he properly taken care of and educated hereafter.— Since writing the above, Sheriff Aiken has taken the boy, and unless wanted by his parents, when discovered, he’ll adopt him.”. A communication to the editor of the Coos Bay News would be attended to ; or Mr. John Blaoklook, of Port Oxford, Curry Go., Oregon, U.3.A., would be glad to be of assistance, if requested. Amongst the many districts of the colony which are making satisfactory progress, although perhaps not so marked as that of some other localities, is the Bay of Plenty, which extends along the east coast of the North Island from Opotiki to Katikati, and inland to Taupo. The Bay of Plenty Times gives the following result of the census and agricultural statistics lately taken in the district :—The total population, including half-eastes, Chinese, and Maori wives, is 1407 'males and 1087 females, the half-castes numbering 167 in all. The total number of dwellings is 575, of which 33 are uninhabited or in course of building. The chief centres of population are Tauranga town, 797 ; Opotiki town, 391 ; Tauranga country sub-district, 309 ; Katikati aud Te Puna sub-district, 304 ; and Waioeka subdistrict, 243. The agricultural statistics show that there are 169 freehold holdings, 45 rented, and 28 part rented part freehold. The extent of land brokeu up but not under crop is 1953 acres ; in wheat, 414 J acres sown for grain only, the estimated gross produce in bushels being 9295; in oats, 251 acres (for green food or hay), for grain, 134 acres, estimated gross produce of grain, 2773 bushels ; in barley, 2£ acres, sown for grain only, estimated gross produce, 41 bushels'; in sown grasses (in hay), 536| acres, estimated gross produce, 747 J tons ; in grasses, after having been broken up, including such as in hay, 8752 J acres; grass, sown, not previously ploughed, including such as in hay, 7232 j acres ; in potatoes, 3X6J acres,-estimated gross produce, 15X0i tons; in other crops, 523Jacres. Total number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, 17,626 f acres. The following episode (says the New Zealand Herald of the 11th inst.) occurred a few days since, and is a good illustration of the progress of education among the native people of New Zealand. A-well-known aud greatly respected native in Waikato was served with a writ, and he applied to a well-known lawyer to aid him in defending the legal action against him. According to an Act of the General Assembly the testimony of natives must be taken in their own language, read over to them in Maori, and their assent obtained to the correctness of the statement taken ‘ down in writing. It was necessary to do all this in framing the requisite affidavits containing the materials of the defence, to be filed in the Supreme Court. The Maori defendant indicated his assent to the affidavit by the usual “kapai” (good). “Now,)’ said the lawyer, “ if you will call in a few days I will be able to report progress. You need not remain any longer.” “Kahore” (not at all),' was the Maori rejoinder, “I want to hear the translation in English, for people , not only make great blunders in writing and translating Maori, but very few English people can either write or speak their own language correctly. Kahore, read me the English.” The lawyer read the English version to his Maori client, who said it was “very good.” We learn the additional fact that the Maori client is a dissenting clergyman in the Waikato, a master of one of the largest native schools in the district for teaching English to natives, and that he is perfectly competent ,to give lessons to English folks-as well as to Maori hoys and girls. The native of New Zealand is likely to take a sketch of St. X’aul’s before it is “ in ruins,” or Loudon Bridge be “ brokeu down.”

The Navcastlc Ho aid says “We understand that £150,000 has been subscribed by influential merchants in Sydney for the purpose of starting a new morning paper. The delay in commencing operations arises from the fact that a general business manager and editor cannot be obtained in the colonies. Carte blanche has been offered to any competent man in England. We question, however, if a ‘new chum’ will be able to run successfully a journal in New South Wales.” The above statement should be taken cam grano sails.

The Bay of Plenty Times notifies that there will be a Native Lands Court at Maketu bn the 25th inst., and states that it is intended to carry out in their entirety the original agreements made by the natives with the Land Purchase Agents, and thus preserve the Maketu country in the interests, of settlement. The grape brandy distillery in Santa Cruz County, California, owned by George M. Jarvis, has been seized by Internal Kevenue officers, together with all the stock on hand, machinery, and 250 acres of land, valued at 20,000d015., on a charge of false returns made by the proprietor of the establishment.

! The important sale by Mr. Duncan, previously advertised to take place at half-past eleven o'clock to-day, has been postponed until half-past one o’cleck, for the convenience of buyers from the Wairarapa and other country districts.- . Mr. N. J. Isaacs will offer for sale, at two o’clock this afternoon, the privileges in connection with the Easter Monday sports under the auspices of the Athletic Club, consisting of a first and secondylass publican’s booths two fancy stalls, &c. These will ho offered without any reserve. Mr. Isaacs will also sell a quantity of general merchandise. Messrs. ,T. 11. Bethuoo and Co. will sell to-day, at two o'clock, a quantity of grass seed,recently imported from England, and several lots of imported leather of various kinds.

New townships appear to be tiro order of the day,' Ariother fresh one is announced at the Dower Ilutt,' called "Kew." hr the immediate vicinity of; the racecourse and tiro beautiful gardens of Mr. F. Laing and the late Mr. liudlain. First class building allotments in the now township are advertised for sale by private contract by Mr. Watty, Star Chambers.