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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5378, 22 June 1878, Page 2

Members of the Chamber of Commerce, City Councillors, and many of the public, were not a little astonished when they learnt the contents of the subjoined letter, written by the Under-Secretary for Public Works to the Chairman of the Chamber : Public Works’ Office. Wellington, 10th June, 1873. Sir,. —I am directed by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of yonr letter of the 14th instant, requesting to be informed what action the Government contemplated taking witli a view to provide increased wharf accommodation when the reclamation is finished. In reply I am to state that as soon as the reclaimed laud is out of the contractor’s hands the Government propose placing it in the market. For this purpose a plan is now being prepared, wherein provision will be made for enabdng the Go vernment to connect the main line with the proposed railway wharf whenever the tr.ffic shall be sufficient to warrant the Government in undertaking its erection. In the meantime, should it be considered desirable to connect the Queen's wharf with the railway, the Government will bo prepared to give the necessary instructions for its being done.—l am, Sic., Joun Knowles, Under-Secretary for Public Works. The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Si ellington A belief existed in the minds of the public that as much of the Thorndon reclamation as the Government did not require for a railway reserve and for public buildings would be transferred to the City Corporation on reasonable terms; which were taken to mean something like the actual cost of the works in respect of the area handed over, with a small margin added. Possibly there was no such basis for this understanding as would be in any way equal .to a legal undertaking, or a clear and definite promise by the Ministry as a body; but a distinct assurance had been given that the Corporation would be treated liberally in the matter of the reclaimed land. That now appears to amount to the city being graciously permitted to compete in the open market against all comers for the purchase of laud that should on fairly liberal terms be handed over to the city, so that the revenue to be derived from its lease would in the future give a never-failing subsidy in aid of ordinary Corporation expenditure, or of the construction of wharves and other harbor works. On the 22rd January, a deputation, who waited upon the Hon, Colonel Whitmore, urged the claims of the city to the Thorndon reclamation, and the hou. gentleman stated the question was one which would have to be dealt with by the full Cabinet. At the conclusion of his remarks he said—“ All I can say at the present time is, that I will advise the Government that the Corporation is the proper body to look after the harbor, and that therefore it is desirous to hand over the present reclamation to the municipality, and to be guided a good deal in its management of the railway terminus and wharf by its advice.” The Mayor : “I trust in dealing with the Corporation you will act liberally regarding the price of land and other matters.” The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said that whatevei they did would be in a liberal spirit. Doubtless the deputation retired quite satisfied that the promise that the city should be be treated well would be carried out. But this has not been the case. Indeed, it is proposed to put the Corporation on the same footing as any speculators or investors who may attend the auction sale. It is to he hoped that this most unexpected determination of the Government will be changed, and that the Hon. Colonel Whitmore will be able to bring his colleagues to take the view he did when he asserted that whatever the Government did would be in a spirit of liberality.

A new Zealand Gazette, of Thursday’s date, received by us yesterday, contains the Regis-trar-General's report on the vital statistics of the Boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, during the month of May, 1877, from which wo take the following : 1

The births were 9 fewer than in April ; the deaths were 6 less in number than the deaths iu April. Of the deaths, males contributed 51; females, 45; 37 of the deaths wore of children under 5 years of age, being 38'54 per cent, of the whole number ; 28 of these were of children under 1 year of age. There were 5 deaths of persons over 65 years of age : 2 of these persons were males and 3 were females; X female of 76 died in Wellington; 1 female of 91 at Nelson ; 1 male of 67 and 1 female of 77 at Christchurch ; and 1 male of 70 at Dunedin. 96 deaths were registered iu the seven boroughs during May, against a total of 102 during April. At the Boroughs of Thames, Nelson, and Dunedin, there were fewer deaths in May; but in tho other boroughs _ the number of deaths was slightly greater than iu April. Of the Zymotic diseases there was a marked decrease in the number of deaths from diseases of the Miasmatic order, the numbers having been 28 in April against 14 iu May ; of these deaths those from Whooping Cough wore 3 less in number than in April; those from Typhoid and Continued .Fever 4 leas, and those from Dysentery and Diarrhoea 8 less. But there was a large proportionate increase in deaths from Diseases of the Respiratory System, the number having increased from 6 in April to 15 in May, owing to the largo number of deaths from Bronchitis'and Pneumonia. The deaths from Phthisis increased from 5 in April to 9 in May. The subjoined table shows the mortality for the two months at each town from six Zymotic diseases of the Miasmatic order and also the deaths from certain inflammatory diseases of the lunge. These causes of death have been distinguished from [the others of the classes to which they belong, as being the most important special diseases which give rise to sudden increase in the death-rates of towns, and the prevalence of which is closely connected with sanitary condition and climatic iufluence'bf tho Reason on health. Four deaths

resulted from accident in the month of May. A carpenter was killed by falling from a scaffold ; one child was burnt, and another suffocated ; and one accidental death was undesoribed as lo calise. The deaths during May, 1877, amounted to 104, being eight more than in May, 1878. In the former month scarlatina caused 14 deaths, but only one last mouth. —An abstract of meteorological observations for the month of March last is published, showing that, except in the southern stations, the rainfall was much below the average, and fine weather experienced. In the South, however, it was at times severe, and excessively wet and stormy. A slight earthquake was reported at Hokitika on the 11th at 9.35 p.ra. At Wellington it is recorded that there was very dry weather during the month, the maximum rain recorded on 10th, '4siu.; almost constant N.W, wind and generally strong, especially on Bth, 9th, IGth, 17th, 21st, and 24th, on the night of 9th reaching a gale, with rain ; on the 4th S.E. storm, with rain and hail, also stormy on sth from same quarter ; towards the end of mouth the weather more pleasant. The Gazette also contains the following notifications : Proclamations declaring certain lands open for sale within the mining District of Westland ; constituting the District Courts i f Wi Hi gtnn, Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, and Christchurch ; altering boundaries of District Courts of Txmaru, Oamarn, and Otago goldfields; declaring certain land within the Nelson South-West Goldfield exempted from occupation for mining purposes ; validating acts and proceedings of Dunedin Borough Council, &o. The following additional regulations under the Electric Telegraph Act are published, and are to take effect and remain in force for three months after the Ist of July next. Por the first ten words, exclusive of address and signature up to ten words, fid.; for every additional word, Ad. If nny sum payable shall inclnde the fraction of a penny, then one penny shall be payable in lien of snoh fraction. In addition to the above charges, postage will be required as follows Telegrams to be delivered within the postal delivery of the terminal telegraph station, by letter-carrier or otherwise, Id.; telegrams to be delivered by letter-carrier or otherwise outside the postal delivery of the terminal telegraph station, 2d. A Resident Magistrate for the riding of Whangarei County is appointed under the provisions of the Counties Act, 1876. Authority is given for the making and laying down of roads over lands granted to natives in the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay Provincial Districts. The following appointments have been gazetted ; —J. Allen, Esq., to be warden of all Wardens’ Courts within the Provincial District of Marlborough ; A. Dillon Esq., of Shag Valley, Otago, to be a justice of the peace for the colony. D. A. Tole, Esq , to be receiver of native land duties in Auckland. J. A. Wilson, Esq., to be a Judge of the Native Lands Court. L. H. B. Wilson, Esq., to be chief clerk in the Marine Department. W. H. Warren and T. Gale, of Wellington, to be certificated accountants in bankruptcy. Notice is given that the Pahautanui corps of Rifle Volunteers is disbanded at their own request. Lists of Crown lands for sale at Invercargill on the Bth July, and at Westport on the 31st July, and Reefton on the 3rd inst., are published.

Boroughs. E timated population Total Births. Total Deaths. Proportion of Deaths to the 1000 of I Population. Auckland 13,732 41 19 183 Thames 5.425 10 3 *55 Wellington 19,037 77 20 1*36 Nelson .. 0,003 18 7 1-06 Christchurch .. 13,402 42 20 1-49 Dunedin 22.401 8810 •72 Hokitika „ 3.244 11 5 1*64 Total.. - 200 00 -