GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5401, 19 July 1878, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The following tenders for the Waipuku bridge contract of the Waitara-Patea railway have been received at the Public Worka Offioe, Wellington ; Accepted : D. Glenduming, Auckland. £1993. Declined ; W. G.Basaett, Wanganui, £2920; K. MacGfonagle, New Plymouth, £2955; J. L. O’Brien, Thames, £4041; Denhy and Eowe, Wanganui, £5142. There was a special meeting of the Uity Council on Tuesday afternoon with regard to the proposed Te Aro reclamation. There was a good deal of talk, hut nothing was done beyond deciding to postpone the subject under discussion until the new Bill, is ready’.for circulation amongst members of the Council. There is a great scarcity of labor in J eudi.,"- (says the Advocate of the 15th inst), and willing hands accustomed to bush-work, and mechanics of all classes, would find there a remunerative -field of operations and good prospects. .

A.'New Zealand Gazette extraordinary, published on the 22 ud June, cells Parliament together, for the despatch of business, on Friday, the 26th of July next. John Bathgate, Esq., is appointed to fill the

seafcin the Council of the University of Otago * rendered vacant by the resignation of the Hon. .James Macandrew. Sixty-four coursing licences arid 163 shooting licenses were taken out in Oamaru this season. It is “expected that pheasant shooting will have to be temporarily stopped next year. It has been rumored that Mr. Thomson, Surveyor-General of the colony, has resigned that office. Mr. Jackson, the officer in charge of the Wellington District, has been mentioned as Mr. Thomson's probable successor, n The following tenders have been received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Ohaupo contract of the Kaipara-Punui railway Accepted.—W. Foughy (Auckland), £22,516. Declined.—-D. Fallow (Auckland), £23,952.; J. Jay. (Wellington), £25,712; Topham and Angus (Auckland), £32,428 ; Boss and Dunbar (Auckland), £33,263 ; Allan Maguire (Auckland), £33,734. Mr, J. F.E. Wright, manager of the Phoenix Goldmining Company, Collingwood, has received from the* mine a piece of smelted gold, weighing about 5 ounces. The company, with a view to finding out the value of some of the quartz, which is greatly impregnated with pyrites, sent by the Ringarooma a parcel of fiye tons to be operated on at the works of the New North dunes Mining Company, dunes, Victoria. This company has probably one of the best gold-saving plants in the world. Mr. Adam Porter (says the N. Z. Herald) has received a letter from the Under-Secretary for Goldfields, stating Jbhat if the Ohlnemuri Mining Assciation will employ a given number of men at the' rate of ss. per day upon hona fide prospecting, the Government will pay onehalf of this amount from time to time to au

extent not exceeding £2OO, on the production at the Colonial Treasury of vouchers duly certified by the warden.

Mr. J. Smith,of Blenheim (says the Express), is 2 about to start another industry in Picfcon, by commencing the curing of herrings in a different manner to any before tried here. The promoter is having the necessary appliances constructed for preserving fish in a similar manner to sardines, and he believes that a ready sale can be effected in the Colonial market for goods of a prime description. The herrings, so far as we can learn, will be put up iu one and two pound tins, and will be prepared in a variety of ways. If the speculation answers as it is anticipated, employment will'be afforded to some 12 or 14 persons. - Wo have seen a copy of the new railway map of New Zealand which was issued with the July numberof “ Bradshaw’s Guile.” It is a very great improvement on the maps previously issued* by the proprietors of . this very useful publication, and reflects much credit upon, Mr. F. H. Tronson, by whom it was drawn; and it has been very well lithographed at Mr. R. Barrett’s establishment. The railways throughout the colony are clearly shown, also the main coach roads and the lines of route taken by the steamers. To the travelling portion of the public this map will be most useful for reference, and it, proves that Messrs. Dalgleish and Reid are keeping pace with the times in making their monthly guide os perfect as possible. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on June' 24th, before J. C. Crawford, Esq, R.M., and J. Martin, Esq., J:P., Thomas Kennedy Macdonald was summoned for that on or about the 9th of May, 1878, at Wellington, he did act as a conveyancer, the said Thomas Kennedy Macdonald not then being a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Mr. Travers appeared in support of the information, and Mr. Edwards on behalf of Mr. Macdonald. From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Macdonald’s clerk drew up a lease, charging a guinea for the transaction, which was put down, as commission. The case was dismissed without cost*, the Resident Magistrate saying: “ Considering the evidence on both, sides, the information can hardly be sustained. I- consider it not proved that the guinea paid was paid for the drawing of this deed ; but I rather think it was paid in the way of commission. It appears to me that Mr. Best, not having been iHstracted by Mr. Macdonald, and acting beyond the scope of his ordinary duties, and Mr. Macdonald knowing nothing about the preparation of this the responsibility; if any, rests with Mr. Best, and not with Mr. Macdonald. I shall dismiss the case therefore, and shall not allow costs, as no doubt an irregularity has occurred, and it occurred in Mr. Macdonald’s office/’

The group o£ buildings used as the Supreme and- Resident Magistrate's Courts, the polios quarters and offices, and the land on whiclr they stand, were sold at auction on June 25 by Mr. B. J. Duncan. This property comprises undoubtedly one of the most valuable freeholds in the city, having a frontage to Lambton-quay of 107 ft. 3in., and it was naturally expected that the bidding would be spirited, and that a large price would be realised. These prognostications were fulfilled, for the property, which was offered in one lot, realised the highest figure, we believe, ever reached for real estate .in Wellington, viz., £153 per foot. After some discussion as to the amount of advance which should be made at each bid, it was agreed the advances should be made at not less than £1 per foot. The bidding was started by Mr. Portat £IOO per foot, which was rapidly followed- by bids of £lOl, £lO2, and £lO3. A bid was then madeof £llO, followed by one of £l2O. The bidding then quickly rose to £l4O, when there* was a slight pause, after which it ran up rapidly to £l5O, when there was another pause, after which the bidding proceeded spiritedly until the large sum of £153 (making a total of £16,371) was bid by Dr. at which price it was knocked down to him, amid considerable applause from the bystanders. Dr. Bailer bought for himself and partner, and not for any person or firm out of Wellington, as has been stated. Mr. E. W. Mills bid £152 per foot on his own account, he havi ig previously bid for the Colonial Insurance Company up to £l3O per, foot. Amongst those present were the Hon. the Colonial Secretary (Colonel Whitmore) and the Solicitor-General (Mr. Reid.) The buildings, which are in.excellent repair—almost as good as when they were put up about fourteen years ago—were built by Mr. John Cell, of Cuba-street, Mr. J. Carter being the architect. Me. Duncan afterwards sold a freehold allotment, with a house thereon, the property having a frontage to tylarjoribank-stfeet of 30ft. Mr, Erwin was the purchaser at £875. Mr.‘ Sellar was the buyer of another similar property at alike figure.

Xu order to have a ss. and 2s. postage stamp ready for issue by the first July, the date at which the Government desired to bring them into use, some ingenuity had to be displayed in making a die. After consultation Mr. Kirk, the electrctyper at the Government Printing Office, bit upon apian which would obviate the necessity of sending to London for a die at a cost of somewhere about £SO, and much loss of time. Mr, Kirk took the die for a twopenny stamp, and filled up with composition the part on which were the letters stating the denomination, and also the ornamental groundwork in the corners. ■ A mould from this showed the Queen’s head, and but little else, most of the rest pt the stamp being a blank surface. Then that was put in the electrotype bath, and after £t was removed, the denomination of the stamp was engraved on the foot of it, thus making the die complete. From this 120‘moulds in gutta-percha were made, which were placed in the electrotype bath,; and tbe plates thus obtained having been mounted, the printing of the stamps could be commenced. They are struck .off In sheets 120 at a time, and the stamp thus produced is certainty a very good one,, though it is not quite so clear as those madefrom the original die. The mode adopted has saved a sum of nearly £SO, and has avoided a long delay. ’ . We understand that a contract for the building of a convent and schools at Hokitika was signed on June 21. The want of sufficient schools for the female youth of Hokitika has been long painfully felt; but through tbe earnest exertions of the Rev. Father Martin, the indefatigable pastor of the district, ten nuns of the same order as the nuns of the Wellington Convent are now on, their way from England to advance the great cause of education, at Hokitika. The buildings contracted for are in the Italian style of architecture, and capable of accommodating ten nuns and about. 250 children, and are designed, strictly in ao- ' cordance with the best recommendations of the Council of Education in England as to form, height, ‘ventilation, floor area, and cubical space. The buildings, when completed, will do honor to the Catholics of Hokitika. The architect is, we hear, Mr. Charles O'Neill, of Wellington, who has, it is said, already been the architect fdr several important schools at Home, the plans for which were examined, ' approved of, and sealed by the Commissioners of Education of England. . William Nowsham Blair, Esq., M. Inst. C.E., is appointed to bo engineer in charge for the Middle Island, from the Ist of May last, and John Blackett, Esq., M. Inst. 0.8., for the North Island, from the 16th of May laafci

We believe-a cheque for £ISBO. being the duty on the. ©state of ; the late Mr.'George Moore, wai handed to the Government : on June 25tb. ‘ • . *

Me-srs. Mace and Arkell have sold their brewing business to Mr. T. G. McCarthy, who also takes over the interest held by the firm in many hotel* in Wellington. At a meeting of the Abhemeum Committee held on Saturday, June 22nd, Mr, Hamilton, manager of the Thorndon bath*, was appointed librarian, and Mr. Gosley messenger, \ We believe that Mr. Patrick Buckley, of the well-known legal firm of Hart and Buckley, will shortly be called to the Legislative Council.

D’Urville Island Copper Company’s shares are at a high premium, 10s. being offered on. 2s. 6d. paid up. The result of one ton smelted was 30 per cent, of copper. Great interest continues to be manifested in the cement at Weatherstoue’s. Another claim has been applied for. Several other applications are contemplated. j Twenty-three thousand applications have been received for the 2900 unallotted shares in the Colonial Bank offered by the directors to public tender. . The Waimca Plain Railway Company have ordered 3000 tons of rails and two locomotives from ICngland. Higgiuson, late in the Government service at Wellington, will be appointed engineer to the company. Mr. Larnacfh and Mr. James Rattray have resigned their position as directors of the Colonial Bank. Mr. Matthew Holmes and Mr. J C. Wright have been appointed in their stead till next meeting of the shareholders. A conference of Thames and Waikato delegates has been held, to consider a Bill to authorise the construction of tho Thames Valley railway, upon a guarantee of 7 per cent, interest secured from Government (2 per cent, by local rates). Various amendments were suggested in the Bill. The following are the numbers of the letters, books, and newspapers which arrived on June 28 at the Wellington Post Office by the Suez mail :—Via Brindisi : 478 letters, 98 books, and 655 newspapers. Via Southampton; 255 letter, 120 book, and 1550 newspapers.' The following letters, &c., were despatched on June 28 Via Brindisi; 413 letters, 7 books, and 17 newspapers. Via* Southampton: 439 letters, 13 books, and 199 newspapers.

it may not be. generally known that one of the results of the Cable Conference in Australia will probably be so large a reduction in the rates charged for Press messages, that should the business remain as . at preseat, there would be a loss to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company of some £20,000 a year ; but It is anticipated that the wires will be so much more freely used at. the lower scale that the income derived from the Press will be increased. Whatever* may be the result financially, the change will be a great boon to the public, as it will enable newspapers to have much fuller cable news than can now be obtained, except at a very serioun outlay. Most important arrangements are now being carried out in the Hawke’s Bay district by Mr, Rees, solicitor for the natives,' relative to several large runs held under titles disputed bv the original owners. ‘ln the case of the VVhataupoko Block (Mr, Barker’s run) all the orautees but one have agreed to the arrangements proposed by Mr. Rees, and have signed a deed purchasing Barker’s interest for £47,500. On the completion of this deed the run will then revert to the -original native owners. . These persons have also appointed Mr. Rees, along with two native chiefs, to be trustees. Thousands of acres of this valuable estate on the opposite side of the river to Gisborne, at. present used as a-aheep-walk, will then be opened up for agricultural purposes. The Taranaki Herald of the 19th ult. says : — u Yesterday afternoon some of our local pig iron was 4 run down’ at Vivian’s foundry, with a view of testing its adaptability for use .as water-pipes for the borough. The experiment, of course, created considerable interest, and many of our prominent townsmen were present, including in their number some members of the Borough Council. It is but fair to state that the testing operations were carried on at considerable disadvantage, as the furnace used on. the occasion was a very old one ; nevertheless, the result of. the trial proved most satisfactory, exciting the admiration of all interested, the metal running with great freeness. - At 3.65 p.m.-the ore was placed in the furnace, and in twenty minutes from that time the whole operation, including the placing of the metal in the mould, was concluded. Only tea pounds of steam was used during the process. A pair of model 1 railway disc wheels’ and a four-inch waterpipe were the subjects of this experiment. Mr. Smith’s zeal aud assiduity were of great service in bringing the matter-to such a successful issue. We are Informed that a pair of railway wheels from the same material are about to be prepared at Mr. Viviau’s foundry to the order of the Engineer for Public Works.”

The New Zealand Herald of the 20th June reports the opening at Auckland of the works 'erected for the preparation or refinement of sulphur from what may be called the raw materia], which is. said to be abundant on Whale Island or White Island, as well as in several places inland in the Bay of Plenty. The demand for sulphur is very large, even already, in these colonies, where it is extensively used for the preparation of shoepwash. ■ It used also to he regarded as a specific for a particular form of cutaneous disease iu the human subject which was supposed to have some occult association with oatmeal as a principal article of food; but although the necessity for its employment in that way is rare in this favored colony, the fact of the establishment of a. new and useful industry, which utilizes a native product and makes us independent of supplies from abroad in any article of common use, deserves a public record. We wish Messrs. Pond and Tunny all the success their enterprise merits, and hope that the manufacture of sulphuric acid will follow the sublimation of the sulphur without delay, and that it may be produced in quantity on such terms as will make its use general in tbe preparation of soluble manures for agricultural purposes throughout New Zealand. ■ The West Ooa&l Times of tbe 12tb June says: “About 1800 salmon fry were safely deposited in the Hokitika, Arahura, and Kokotahi,.rivers last night. The fish arrived at about 6.30 p.m., by the Waipara, from Greymouth, and were received by Messrs. Boaar, H. L. Robinson, the County Chairman, and other gentlemen, on arrival at the wharf, in splendid condition, there not being ■an unhealthy fish amongst them, and the whole of them being, most lively and vigorous. Since the last consignment was reoe ved the .young fry have grown to a good size, some of them being from tour to six inches in length. They were, on being lauded, transferred into gallon tins, which were swung across express' waggons, and carried tq their destination. About 806 of the fry were taken iu this way to the Arahura River in charge of Mr. A. King, of Learmonth and Co.’s office, and were set at liberty above the bridge. The remainder were liberated in the Hokitika River above Glossop’s, and in the Kokatahi River, near Graham’s, by Messrs, Rae and Dale- There was not one sickly or dead fish in the tins after the journey over the Kanieri-ioad, although-it was, owing to the late rains, somewhat rough. Altogether upwards of 6000 fry have now been liberated in the Hokitika, Teremakau, Kanieri, Kokotabi,, and Arahura rivers, so that the fish ought to bo thoroughly acclimatised in these waters in a few years’ time. Captain Bignell, of the >Vaipara, is entitled to the thanks of the community for his attention on different occasions to the interesting cargo he so kindly undertook to land here.” At a meeting of the directors of the Wellington Patent Slip Company held on June 25 the resignation of the Hon, John Johnston as a member of the board was handed in and accepted.' Mr. Edward Pearce was elected to fill the vacancy, and Mr.' George Hunter, who was chairman, having resigned that office for the purpose of enabliug Mr. Pearce to occupy his old post at tho board, he was elected chairman of the company.

The Westport Times states that Messrs. Stewart, Beatty, Phillips, and party prospecting in the Karamea District have lately struck "round which proves, payable, and although difficult of access during the present season, is likely to attract miners as soon as fairer weather sets in. ■ The expenditure of a small sum of money in opening up a track would he of infinite service.

We are glad to note that the Waka Maori is about to be launched again. The want of a journal printed in Maori, for the information and improvement of the natives, has been greatly felt of late, and both Maoris and pakehas have contributed to the new enterprise by becoming shareholders in the company formed for the purpose of starting it. The necessary plant has, we are informed, come to hand, and the publication will bo commenced at Gisborne without delay. The politics of the new journal will be liberal and independent, we believe, h'or the present, the publication will be fortnightly; thoro will be 24 pages of reading matter, English arid Maori, besides advertisements; and as the circulation promises to be large, the paper will afford a good medium for ; advertisements. Wo wish the adventure all success.

'lt is stated that a petitions being got up in the Electoral District of Hokitika against the return of Mr. Seymour George, on the ground of bribery, corruption, and treating. The cabin passage fare, from Wellington to San Francisco ha* been reduced from £46 to £4O. Travellers can also now bjok through at Wellington to Liverpool, the fare being £76. Four tons of copper ore from the newly discovered lode near the old Dun Mountain mine, Nelson, were shipped by the Tasso to Newcastle on June 29, by J. Newport, the proprietor. Two of the locomotive engines intended for. new trainway have arrived, and several more are expected .almost immediately, together with carriages aqel other rolling stock. In a few week*, therefore, it may confidently be expected that the line will be in order, and trains running at frequent intervals from Pipitea Point to -Mr. Moody’s Hotel on the Adelaide-road. If the undertaking turns out successfully, of which at present there appears every probability, the lino will be extended to a point at Newtown near the proposed public recreation ground. - # • The City Council had a lengthy meeting on July 11th, when the constantly recurring question as to what are the best terms that can be made by the Corporation with the Government as to the Thorndon reclamation, was again brought up. It was ultimately agreed that the arrangement made between the Government and the Mayor, by which tho Government are to receive £89,000 for tho laud which is to be banded over to the Corporation, was agreed to. This appearsto b© satisfactory to the citizens of Wellington. In respect to the To Aro reclamation, which' matter is still in ■ abeyance, pending Legislative action in Parliament, three plans have been prepared by the Municipal Eugineerfortheconsideration of tho Council. A special meeting on the subject is to be held on . Tuesday next. We understand that the question of extending railway communication to Karori is likely to as-mino a tangible shape, and that practical results will ensue, A meeting of influential gentlemen owning property in the district has been held, and an engineer has been requested to go over the route, and give an estimate of the cost of a preliminary survey. Upon ascertaining this a meeting of the settlers will be called to take the matter into consideration. The work will be carried out under tho District Railways Act of last year, and we learn that the settlers will be ready to tax themselves to an amount sufficient to pay the interest on the outlay. The amount required annually for interest is estimated at £1500; and it U stated that this will be readily guaranteed by the residents and others interested in the progress of the district. From the balance-sheet of St. Paul’s Church, Thorndon, it appears that during the year ending 30th June satisfactory progress has been made financially, the general offertories being £ll3 in excess of those of last year. It will be necessary, however, for the parishioners to give even more liberally to -meet the extra expenditure occasioned by the appointment of Archdeacon Thorpe os assistant curate, which no doubt they will do, seeing it is quite impossible for one clergyman to do the work of this important pariah. The debt upon the church .has been reduced from £I4OO to-£llOO, a sum of no less than £3OO having been paid off during the past year. Archdeacon Thorpe will arrive in Wellington during the coming week, and will at once enter, up-m his duties. He will be a great acquisition to the parish of St. Paul’s, which is to be congratulated upon the appointment. The amount received for the past year from general offertories was £7BB 15*. 9d.;’ special offertories, £236 11 d.; seat rents, £420 Is. Id ; and sundries, £2l 3s. 4d. The ordinary expenditure was £607 17s. 6d.; variable expenditure. £lB5 10s. 6*1.; and special expenditure, £702 3s. 2d. The total liabitities were’set down as £1132 195., Id., and the assets, as seat rents in arrears, £95 los. 6d., and cash, £ls 15s; 7d.; total, £lll 11s. Id. ‘ The church and other buildings and property do not seem to be included in the assets.

A Gazette of July 11 contains a list of claimants entitled to receive Government scrip under the Manawatu Land Orders Act, 1877, as follows:—Thomas Wilmor McKenzie, of Wellington, entitled to receive Government scrip to the amount of £4OO, in satisfaction of laud orders Nos. 245 and 252, lodged with the Commissioner, the value of the same being £2oo. William Hickson, of Wellington, New Zealand, entitled to receive Government scrip to the amount of £2OO, in satisfaction of land order No. 142, the value of the same being £IOO. The other claimants are John Lees, of Rahgitikei, executor and trustee under the will of Lawrence Daniell ; John Harnett, of South Australia ; Charles Sumner and Frederick Farrar, of London, executors and trustees under the will of John Ellerker Boulcott; John Henry Lance, of Surrey, in England, trustee under the will of Henry Agliohby Aglionby ; and John Hall and William Batterthwaite, of Lancaster, in England, trustees under the will of Richard Baynes Armstrong; John Haining, of Plymouth, in England ; Joseph He Castro, of London ; William Henry Burnand, of London; John Holmes, of Leeds, and John Vernon, of Lancaster, in England, trustees under the will of Samuel Holmes ; Jacob Montefiore, of London ; John Edward Wainhouse, of Halifax, in England, trustee of Robert Wainhouse ; Sir William Hutt, of the Isle of Wight, in England. . The first general meeting of the Union Insurance Company was held at Christchurch on Tuesday, July -2nd, • the Hon. J. T. Peacock, chairman of directors, presiding. There was a large attendance. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said it was unusual to submit a report for nine months, and the directors would have preferred twelve months, but by the articles of association they were bound to have a meeting within the first year. He thought the shareholders would agree with him that there was every .reason, to be satisfied with the progress made by the company. The income from the premiums might have been greater, but the directors determined to pursue a conservative policy, being convinced that a large premium did not always mean largo .profits. Several risks 'had been refused which subsequently came to grief. The heavy amount paid for re-insmances, coupled with the small losses, indicated the cautious policy of the directors. The directors would not recommend a dividend, but that the profits, £14,142, be carried, forward to the next year. He felt sure that the shareholders would agree with them that it was batter in the outset of* a new company to strengthen their financial position in this way against a rainy day., After paying a compliment to the officers* of the company he said the directors proposed to extend the operations of the company wherever presented themselves. Favorable comparisons .might be made with the'business done by other companies during a similar period of their existence, more especially when it was considered what increased competition this company had to face. All preliminary expenses had been cleared off in preference to distributing them ovter a series of years. The business of the company" was progressing favorably, and he urged the shareholders to co-operate with the directors in extending it. The directors recommend that a general meeting of the company be held annually, which, for many reasons, would be preferable to halfyearly meetings. The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. John Anderson, and carried unanimously. Messrs. W. D. Carruthers, W. Montgomery, and John Studholme, retiring directors, we re-elected. It was resolved that the annual general meetings be held during the first week.; in July. The balance-sheet presented shows the amount of receipts from premiums to have been £42,355; from transfer fees, £IBB ; and interest, £791 ; total, £43,335. The.expenditure has been : Fire and marine loaves, £3799; preliminary expenses, £2473; stationery, £1263; re-inaurances, £10,516; discounts, commissions, and charges, £11,140; leaving a profit balance of £14,143, which the directors recommend to be carried forward to next year. Votes of thanks to.the directors, manager, and officers of the company concluded the business.

The Greymouth Customs ■ returns for the year ending June 30th were as follows Customs receipts, £39,276, as against £40,438 last year ; imports, £165,950, as against £150,092 ; exports, £188,807, as against £165,241 ; gold exported, 80,060 ounces, as against 78,560; coal shipped, 25,948 tons, and 430 tons coke. The Sheep and Cattle Inspector has sent in the following return of cattle arriving from foreign ports into the port of Wellington from the 31st December, 1877, to the 30th June, 1878: —Four Berkshire pigs, Mr. D. Wilkie; one bull, Mr. Meredith; one merino ram and three merino ewes, Messrs. Bethune and Hunter—all imported from Melbourne, and arriving here in a healthy condition. - At a meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, on July 3rd, it was stated that the City Corporation had arranged to rent the hulk Camille for the purpose of storing the shipments of kerosene expected to arrive. The chairman wag requested to make inquiries ns to the establishment of a Sailors Home for this port. A letter was received from, the Government stating that no alteration could be made in the pilotage and harbor rates until power to do so; had been obtained from the. Legislature next session,

A meeting of shareholders in the Auckland Steam Packet Company have declared the com* pany finally wound up and dissolved. . It is contemplated. to form a company at Dunedin wlth-a capital of £IO,OOO to establish steam communication with the Peninsula side of the harbor. The annual exhibition of the Christchurch, Poultry Society was held on June 28. There were 370 exhibits and a large attendance of the publicThe following are the returns of Government land sales in Canterbury for the past twelve months ;—Town lauds, 94 acres, realised £2490 ; rural lands, 654,168 acres, realised £1,108,902. ' While S. V. Crosse, dentist, Christchurch, was experimenting with vulcanite, it exploded, blowing Crosse some distance away, seriously injuring him. It is expected he will lose the sight of one eye. The following appointments are notified in the Surveyor-General’s Department : —Robert Wallace Stanley Ballantyne, draughtsman; from Ist June, 1878. Arthur Blundell Wright, draughtsman; from Ist June, 1878. William Charles Cotton Spencer, cadet; from Ist April, 1878. *■

Mr. Mansford, late Resident Magistrate at Dunedin, Is now installed in the office of R.M. at Wellington, in the room of Mr. J. C. Crawford, who retires on. a pension. Mr. Mansford is also appointed Judge of the District Court here, which will commence Bitting in October. Mr. J. M. Dargaville has sold his timber business at Northern Wairoa to the Auckland Union Sash and Door Company for £25,000, but retains 1590 acres of freehold along tho river banks, subject to the company’s t znber rights. This land will be cut up into small farms, and sold to bona fide settlers. At a meeting of the Timara Harbor Board to consider the tenders for the construction of the 300 ft breakwater, the following tenders were opened:—Rosa and Dunbar,.Wellington, £10,037 (informal); Sibley, £12,479 15s. 4d. (labor); Allen and Stumbles, £11,479 6s. (labor only). The latter was accepted conditionally. - The Canterbury Agricultural Association have passed resolutions in favor of the reestablishment of a National Agricultural Association for the Middle Island, aud expressed an opinion that Christchurch should be the head-quarters of the association, and that the first exhibition should not be held till 1879.

The farmers in Canterbury are taking active measures to cope with the sparrow nuisance. Meetings are being held in the various county districts to devise means to kill the birds. Poisoned wheat is most generally adopted. The following instance of rapid comrnumtion between this and London is worthy of record. On Friday night a private telegraphic, message was despatched from this city to London, and tho reply was in New Zealand on Monday morning. From 1873 to 1877 inclusive about forty million feet of timber have been cut by sawmillers out of the Southland forests, .while but £4878 has been returned to the State.. The royalty (says the Dunedin Star) charged is unquestionably too light. A return of lands sold and deposits received in the provincial district of Wellington during the month of June last is published in a Gazette of July 11th. From this it appears that 833 acres, 2 roods aud 33 perches of land have been sold, for which £1167 13s. 4d. has been received in cash, and £360 in scrip.

Mr. M. R. Miller reports the sale of Colonel Lambert's freehold estate, at Lambert Ford, Ruataniwha, 7160 adores and 6000 sheep, all cattle, horses, and plant, to Messrs Gillingham and Sons, of Lambrook, South Canterbury, for £30,600. Twelve months ago Colonel Lam* bert wanted £21,000 for the estate,, but no one would give chat sum. Eighteen mouths ago the property was valued at £IB,OOO. On July 10th the survey of about 400 acres of the sandy country on th 3 peninsula between Lyell Bay" and Evans Bay was completed, and measures will now be taken to secure possession of it -on behalf of the city, under the provision of the Public Works Act. This may he considered the first step in the direction of carrying out Mr. Clark’s drainage scheme,' Probably the next will be the introduction of a Bill into the Legislature for providing the funds necessary for the works.An Auckland saw-mill merchant (Mr. Geo. Holdship) has lately purchased from the natives (says an exchange) a block of land consisting of 2706 aci’es, called the Kauri Putete block, located in the Hokianga District. Upon this land are growing the finest 'and largest kauri trees ia the North Island; and the land, although somewhat broken, is of good quality. The price paid for this magnificent properly is understood to be £1250. A little more than 10s. per acre paid for good land, which may be rich in kauri gum, and upon which are hundred of thousands of kauri trees worth pounds each.

The Rangitikel Advocate of the 4th instant says:—“ The Manchester Corporation has now over thirty miles of metalled road completed within its boundaries, including four miles outside them made to give access to Awahuri. There will be additional eighteen miles by the new year, though that is probably more than will be accomplished during the summer season. That distance includes ten and a half miles to the Gorge ; metalling at the Feildiog end of the block, say four and a half miles ; and about three miles on the Kimboltou-road. This, with the necessary culverts and bridges, means r lot of work. At present there are over eighty men employed -at different contracts in the work ot clearing and formation of new routes, which are let in small jobs, so as not to inconvenience those working further on. The Corporation value the services of Mr. Jackson and his survey staff principally from the fact that former surveys were very loose. Some lines were taken over most impracticable routes, and in one case the road laid out was afterwards found to be quite impassable. In opening up new country by good roads, previous to sale, the Corporation is doing practical work, which will in the end prove the advantage of the system .over the old provincial plan of selling land without any means of access to it. By laying off and mak. ing good roads before sale the value of the land is enhanced in'a proportion greater than the cost of the road construction, and the risk of subsequent dispute and litigation is also greatly diminished. Such experiences of the earlier history of the colony have not been lost sight of,- and the Manchester Corporation will shortly be in a position to point to the plans of its estate with satisfaction and pride, as showing a large extent of fine agricultural country available for settlement. A few years more will see even greater advancement as well in the towns of Halcombe and Feilding, and the yet embryo township of Ashhnfst, ns in the magnificent districts by which they are surrounded.”