GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The traffic returns on the New Zealand railways tor the four weeks ended 27th July, 1878, aud for the corresponding four weeks, 1877, are as follows : Four weeks Corresponding

The number of miles open for traffic is 1068. The working account, showing the total revenue ami expenditure, during the financial year 1878-79, to the termination of the four-weekly period ending 27tb July is as follows :—Fourweekly revenue to date, £43,585 11s. 6d.; fourweekly expenditure to date, £33,012 16s. 10J.; percentage of expenditure to revenue, 75‘74.

A New Zealand Gazette issued on August 22, contains the report of the Registrar-General on the vital statistics of tho boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika during the month of July last. The returns are as follows :

Total..' | 310 I 97 | —The deaths ot persons not residents of the boroughs, occurring at hospitals, have been excluded in all cases. The births were 68 more than in June. The deaths were 5 more in number than the deaths in June. Of the deaths, males contributed 63 ; females, 31 ; 30 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 30'92 per cent, of the whole number ; 21 of these were of- children under 1 year of age. There were 13 deaths of persons over 65 years ot age : 8 of these persons were males and 5 were females ; 2 males of 68 and 70, and 1 female of 79, died at Auckland ; 2 males of 71 and 80 died at Wellingten ; 1 male of 72, and 2 females ot 71 and 84, died at Nelson ; 3 males of 67, 69, and 75, and 2 females of 67 and 75, died at Dunedin. Ninety-seven deaths were registered in the seven boroughs in July, against 92 in June. There was in July a marked increase in the number of deaths in Dunedin and Nelson, and a decrease in the number of deaths in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Of the increased deaths in Dunedin, 8 occurred in the lunatic asylum. The deaths from zymotic diseases were only 7 in July, against 19 in June ; of those 7 deaths, only 1 were from miasmatic diseases, of which 1 death was from tjphoid fever, and 2 (both of infants) from diarrheea. Of the deaths from constitutional diseases, phthisis claimed 10 victims. There was a large increase in the number of deaths from diseases of the nervous system, but among these are included the 8 deaths referred to as having occurred in the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum. Deaths from diseases of the respiratory system amounted to 12, double the number of deaths in June from similar causes.

The annual meeting of the Young Men’s Christian Association was held on August 30. There was a very good attendance, and amongst those present were the Devs. West, Thorp, Paterson, J. Woodward, Esq, and J. G. Holdswortb, Esq. The proceedings were opened by the reading of a Psalm by Mr. Wood ward, after which prayer was offered up by Mr. Kirk. This was followed by the singing of a hymn, the delivery of the president’s address, and the singing ot another hymn. Mr. Price, late secretary of the kindred society at Nelson, addressed the meeting, and spoke eloquently of the part which the Kev. Dr. Somerville had taken in the founding of these Christian Associations, and of the benefits likely to flow from his visit to' the colony. He urged upon all, and especially the young men, to be zealous for fne advancement of true religion, aud to study self-culture. The Kev. Mr. West also delivered some appropriate observations to the same effect, as did also Archdeacon Thorpe. Mr. Holdaworth spoke of the Sunday work of the association, and showed how the services were attended by seamen and others, who, from a variety of reasons, did not go to church, aud who thus had the opportunity of hearing God’s word read and preached, who might otherwise not have such an opportunity. After some other ■ addresses, and prayer by the Kev. Mr. Paterson, the meeting, which was of a most encouraging character to the friends of the association, was brought to a close. Mr. Wakefield, in his admirable and critical review of the financial policy of the Government, compared the Colonial Treasurer aud the Minister of Public Works to two bears climbing up a pole for a seat at the top, on which there was room only for one. The seat referred to was the land revenue accruing from the laud sales in the Middle Island. The carrying out of the Public Works policy, to avoid excessive loans, will require the whole of this fund. But the Consolidated Fund will also require its assistance to meet ordinary revenue and the interest on loans already spent. Which bear shall occupy the seat ? Mr. Wakefield decides in favor of the Minister of Public Wo;ks, whose general policy he approves. Having criticised the beer-tax generally as costly to collect, and small in its result, he objected to the tax on the profits of the joint-stock companies as tending to drive away capital. If a critique like Mr. Wakefield’s is the candid advice of a friend, the Government may well echo the sentiment expressed in the words, “Leave me my enemies, but save me from my friends.” A meeting of the Anglican Bishop’s residence fund committee was held on Sept. 3. Present— Messrs. E. Pearce (in the chair), G. Hunter, M.H.R., Levin, Kobbell, Marten, and Powles. The following donations were reported;—Hon. J. Johnston, M.L.0., £IOO ; G. Hunter, Esq., M.H.K., £100; W. H. Levin, Esq., £SO. These amounts, together with the sums already subscribed, bring the total up to £963. The committee was ot opinion that contributions from the several parishes and the diocesan fund might reasonably bo expected in aid of the object in view. On behalf of St. Mark’s parish Mr. Hunter guaranteed £SO, and Mr. Do us Marten undertook to bring the question before the parishioners of St. Peter’s, Mr. Powles promising to do the same with reference to the St. Paul’s parishioners. With the sum already subscribed, and the prospect of its being shortly considerably augmented, there can be very little doubt that the object in view—the providing a suitable residence for the Anglican Bishop—will shortly bo accomplished. An extraordinary meeting of shareholders of the Phumix Quartz Mining Company was held in the company’s ollice, Custom House-street, on September 3. Mr. Gwynueth presided, and explained that the meeting had been called to consider some proposals to bo made by the local director at the mine, Mr.. Guinness. A survey of the mine made by Mr. Adams was laid before the meeting, and it was proposed that £SO bo expended in a new trial of the mine. A financial statement of the company was read by the chairman, in which the liabilities wore stated to be £1331 6s. 2 1. and the assets £l2Ol 7s. 4d. A letter was read from the manager of the New North Clunes Quartz Mining Company, stating .that a test ot five tons of quartz from the Pluonix Quartz Mining Company had been crushed as a test, and was stated to have been very satisfactory. Tho suggestion of Mr. Guinness for a new trial of tho mine was approved of, and the meeting adjourned. During an excellent speech on Sept. 2nd Hr. Wakefield “brought down the House "by a little pun which, constructed on the spur ot tho moment, and let off in an instant, was irresistibly fuuuy. “ If," said the bon. gentleman, “ the proposals of tho Government with refrenoe to the beer tax are calculated to make men sober, there can be not tho least doubt that their action in regard to joint stock companies will inevitably make money tight.”

A private letter received from Otago states that in consequence of . the recent snowy weather'id that province -many flockmasters will bo almost ruined, . ' . At the several Anglican Churches on August 25th there were special thanksgiving services .for the preservation of peace. Each of the churches was largely, attended both in the morning and evening. At a meeting of the Christchurch Cathedral Guild on August 23rd, it was stated that a proposal had been made that one of the transept columns in the cathedral should be erected as a memorial of Bishop Selwyn. It would probably cost £IOOO. The Right Reverend Bishop Redwood delivered a lecture at St. Mary’s Cathedral on August 26th on the subject of the relation of the Church to science. He argued that the Catholic Church was not antagonistic to science. There was a very large and attentive congregation on the occasion. The new steamer for the Patea trade, which is in course of construction by Mr. E. W. -Mills, is being pushed forward with all speed. The greater quantity of the ribs are already in their places. By the end of the present week a considerable change will be noticeable in the vessel’s progress towards completion. At a meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on August 27th it was resolved to communicate with Professor Spencer Baird, of Washington, with a view to the acclimatisation of tho American white trout in New Zealand, as well as to secure such a description of American game birds as is likely to prove useful in the colony. The ceremony of linking the last rail on the Dunedin and Christchurch line took place on August 26, between Waikouaiti and Palmerston South, in the presence of 200 people. The ceremony was performed by Mr. Blair, assisted by Miss Macandrew aud the Mayor of Dunedin. A luncheon took place afterwards. Tho first annual meeting of the Wellington Working Men’s Club was held on August 26th. The affairs of the institution appear to be in a satisfactory condition, and if the club is as well managed iu future as it has been in the past, of which there is every probability, it will continue to flourish, and afford an excellent incentive to tbo establishment of Working Men’s Clubs in othfer places which do not at present enjoy this advantage. The annual general meeting of the Fidelity and Accident Guaranty Company was held on Thursday, August 29 ; Mr. L. Levy, chairman, presiding. The report and balance-sheet presented to the meeting were adopted. The chairman reported that the business was progressing iu a satisfactory manner. The retiring directors were re-elected. The shareholders nominated for local directors at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin were duly elected. The auditors, Messrs. W. H. Levin aud E. Reeves, were re-elected. A preliminary meeting of volunteers was held at the Panama Chambers on August 21. The meeting was called for the purpose of forming a New Zealand Shooting Association, and representatives were present from, the ICaiwarra, Makara, City Rifles, Artillery, and Artillery Cadet companies. It was resolved that a provisional committee should be appointed to make the necessary arrangements, and to communicate with the companies of other districts, with a view to bringing up a report at a future meeting. The Southland Times of the 28th ult. says:— A serious accident occurred yesterday afternoon, near Winton, to Constable Mulhollaud. The constable was riding over a new piece of road about three miles south of the township, opposite the farm of Mr. John Thomson, jun., when his horse broke through the surface, and plunging violently threw the rider over his head. In the effort to extricate itself the horse'trampled on the face of Constable Mulhollaud, inflicting serious, but not fatal, wounds. The occurrence was witnessed by Miss Thomson, who gave the alarm, and surgical assistance was promptly obtained, and the hurts attended to. The accident is much regretted iu the Winton district, where Constable Mulhollaud is deservedly respected.

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce a very large number of new members were elected. The report was of a very satisfactory character, and ■ was unanimously adopted. The committee were glad to say that Lyttelton would shortly be in a position to undertake its defence in the event of war. They hoped that shortly there would be direct steam communication with London, as they felt that great benefit would be derived therefrom. They made passing reference to the West Coast railway and other matters, and among other things regretted with mortification that .New Zealand had not been represented at the Paris Exhibition owing to the s.npineness of Government. Referring to the scarcity of trucks on the railway last year, tho Chairman said he hoped they would not be subject to the same inconvenience next year. A committee was appointed to take into consideration the question of building a new chamber without delay.

At Messrs. Bethune and Hunter’s auction mart, Exchange Buildings, Manners-street, a very valuable property, comprising eight acres in the heart of the city of AVellington, was submitted to competition on August 29. At the commencement of the sale (after an excellent luncheon provided for the occasion) Mr. Hunter called attention to the fact, as stated in the Financial Statement of the Colonial Secretary, that the receipts for the year 1877-78 amounted to £4,445,566 ss. 6d„ an amount which compared very favorably with the returns from the colony of Victoria, where the population was nearly double. He also called attention to the statement of the Minister of Public AVorks, in his speech of the 27th inst., in which that gentleman said : “It has been alleged that the changes by which tlie construction of public works aud tho working of railways in each island has been placed under distinct heads, is the forerunner of some deep and sinister design on the part of some person or persons, and that it is studiously intended to lead up to the political separation of the two islands. I need scarcely say that such surmise is absolutely without foundation.” This he thought would be sufficient to show that there was no ground for believing the rumor current in reference to an intention on the part of the Government to introduce a scheme of separation which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the city. Mr. Hunter referred to this sale being hold at the old Exchange Buildings, at the head of the bay, which site he considered would, from its position, again become the centre of business.in Wellington, as it had been in former years. Lot 1 was then submitted to auction. It comprised nearly three acres of land, including Town Acres No. 162 and X 64, and the unoccupied portion of Town Aero 166, having frontages to Wellington Terrace, and to Dixou-street. Permission has been granted by the City Council to make a road through tlie block, and if constructed it will connect AVillis-stroet with AVel-liugton-torraco, . which will increase the frontages aud render the property valuable and accessible. This lot was knocked down to Mr. T. K. Macdonald for £5500. Lots 2 and 3 were not disposed of, but are now under offer and are likely to be sold. Lot 2 coinprises a block, containing- nearly three acres of land, including Town Acre No. 192, Town Acre No. 194,and the residue of Town Acre No 193 (all tho acre except tho portion occupied by Dr. Lemon and Mr. Morton.) These acres have a frontage to AVellington-terrace, and a passage will be left through Town Acre No. 183 and 191, by which access will be afforded to tho lower side of ttio acres. Lot 3 comprises a block containing nearly two acres of land, including Town Acre No. 187, and Town Aero No. 188, less a strip of land reserved in order to afford access to tho lower portion of Town Acres Nos. 192, 193, and 194. These acres have a frontage to AVollington-terraco and to Dixon-street. Tho German residents of AVollingtou celebrated tho unification of Germany by a supper and hall, which cook place at tho Polytechnic on Keptomher 2nd. There was a largo attendance. Mr. Krull, tho Gorman Consul, occupied tho chair. " Tho suppor was catered for by Mr. Tafner of tho Temperance Hotel. After supper, to which amplu justice was done by ttio assembled guests, the following toasts were proposed and duly acknowledged ;—“ Her Majesty the Queen,” “ Tho German Emperor,” “The Crown Prince,” “Frederick Charles,” “Prince Bismark,” “ Moltko and the Army and Navy,” Germany,” “ Tho German Consul,” “ New; Z salami, our Adopted Homo,” “Tlie Ladies," aud “Tim Press,” Tho hull was then cleared, when dancing commenced, aud was kept np with much spirit until the small hours ot tho morning. The Volunteer Artillery ball, which was held in the Provincial Hall on September 2nd was a very brilliant and successful affair. The hall was tastefully decorated, the music excellent, and the attendance most numerous. Dancing commenced at about nine o’clock, aud was kept up with great spirit until an early hour this morning. All present seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed, themselves. On Monday, September 2, a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Masonic Lodge for the North Island of Now Zealand was held, whim Brother A. Johnston was installed as G.P.G.M. After tho ceremony a banquet took place ot the Occidental Hotel.

The Suez mail, which arrived by the Arawata on August 22nd, nine days in advance of the contract time, comprised 382 letters, Bo hooka, and 478 newspapers via Brindisi, and 283 letters, 146 books, and 1625 newspapers via Southampton. A return of lands sold and deposits received in the Provincial District of Wellington during the month,of July is published in a Gazette of August 22, from which it appears that 1643 a. lr, 28p. were disposed of. The receipts in cash for the abqve period were £l2lß 10s. 7d., and in scrip £3O. A fatal accident occurred at Drake’s Elbow, on the Rimutaka, on Tuesday, August 20. A telegram received by the Inspector of Police gives the fpllowing particulars of this melancholy occurrence;—“William Stephens, a young man, a resident of the Upper Hutt, capsized his waggon at Drake’s Elbow, on the Rimutaka, and was killed, as well as two of the horses. This occurred between 6 and 7 o’clock this morning.” Deceased’s parents reside at the Upper Hutt. There was a charming unanimity iu the Council on August 16 over the Executive Councillor Bill, The measure, a short one of three clauses, provides that the Governor may appoint a member of the Legislative Council, not holding any Ministerial office, to be a member of the Executive Council. The person so appointed is not to receive a salary, aud his appointment is not to be considered an infringement of the Disqualification Act, 1876. The necessity of a second Minister in the Council was agreed to on all sides. A telegram was received on August 22nd by the Inspector of X J olice from the constable stationed at Carterton, to the effect that on the previous evening a man named Matthew Wild had been violently assaulted by two men, named respectively Thomas Neilson aud Carl Jensen, who were subsequently taken into custody. Wild is stated to have received a dangerous wound, extending for five or six inches across the crown of the head, and the report of the local surgeon, under whose treatment the man now lies, is said to be that the patient is in a very critical condition. , The Nelson Colonist of August 17th says : —•Some of the finest specimens obtained from D’Urville’s Island Copper Mine were brought to Nelson yesterday by Captain M‘Gee, of the a.s. Wellington. The ore now obtained in the different veius is so rich that pieces may be pared like pure copper with a pocket knife. There are now four shafts that hav* bottomed on the lode, which is five feet,thick where last struck, and the ore is far richer in quality than was ever anticipated. It would appear that the shareholders are in for a good speculati n. Referring to the settlors who recently left the Jackson Bay Settlement, the resident agent there, in his report to Government, says : —“ The departure of those adults who have left the settlement for good will be no loss lo the- settlement, and it would be a gain to the colony ..if they left it to-morrow.” The report speaks favorably of the ultimate prospects of the settlement, but complains of the Italian immigrants as totally unfitted for pioheers, owing to climatic influences and their previous habits of life. The report continues : —“There are some good men amongst them, as amongst other settlers, but the proportion is very small. , The settlement has been heavily handicaped by having such material to work with; bub notwithstanding there is not the least doubt of the ultimate success of tho settlement. The operation of the inevitable law of natural selection will no doubt result iu the survival of the fittest.”

The tea meeting held on August 22nd at thescboolroomin connection with the Congregational Church, Courtenay-place, was in aid of the Sunday-school, the object being to provide increased accommodation for the scholars, whose numbers are greater than the present building can hold. An excellent tea was provided, aud the room was tastefully decorated with flags, ferns, and leaves. At one end of tho building appeared bunting on which, in well-formed letters, appeared scriptural sentences appropriate to a Sunday-school meeting. Mr. J. G. Holds worth occupied the chair, and with the Rev. W. H. West and Mr. T. Potter addressed the meeting with much earnestness A report was, read showing that since the formation of the school in 1873 it had largely increased in numbers, create such an extent as to came the teachers to suggest the building of classrooms on to the schoolroom to accommodate the scholars, and help was solicited from all interested in the welfare of the school. During the evening the anniversary hymns were sang by the scholars and others present. The meeting was terminated at an early hour, having been much enjoyed by all. The I Vakil Maori is again afloat, with Mr. James Grindell at the helm. Wo have to acknowledge the receipt of an advance copy ot the first number, which is to.be published at Gisborne by the Maori Newspaper Company (Limited) on the 21st instant. It comprises 16 pages foolscap, is. neatly got up, the reading matter well selected, and there is a good show of advertisements. In his “leader” the editor says ;— 11 When the resuscitation of the Waka, Maori was first mooted a great outcry was made by certain parties whose aim and interest it is to keep the Maoris in leading strings at the expense of truth and honesty for their own ulterior purposes. AVe were stigmatised as venal, dishonest, and altogether corrupt. It was said in the pages of the qrgau-of these immaculate gentlemen that we ‘ might, by cunning tricks and barefaced falsehoods, try to sow dissension in the Maori ranks ;’ that wo might ‘ do something in getting stray town Maoris to write letters (to us) aud then pass their letters among Europeans as expressive of genuine Maori opinion.’ AVe could if we thought proper produce letters from many very respectable natives (not * town Maories’) making exactly similar charges against the organ of the Repudiation Party in Napier. The Waka was first published in Napier in the year 1863 ; and we defy these malicious detractors to show that even one ‘ falsehood ’ over appeared in its columns during the thirteen years of its publication. However, we can afford to laugh at such calumny, knowing as we do the high estimation in which the Waka has ever been held by the general body of the Natives throughout the colony, and tho eager expectation with which ' they now look for its reappearance. With respect to our obtaining letters from ‘ stray town Maories ’ only, we need merely say that wo are supported by large bodies of the Native people in various part? of the country, that a considerable number of chiefs of acknowledged standing and influence are shareholders in our company 7 and that several respectable Natives of known position aud intelligence are members of our board of directors.” The announcement ‘ that Mr - . Macandrew would on the 27th August deliver his Public Wovks Statement for the year drew a large number of visitors to the House, the ladies’ gallery particularly being well filled. .The Statement will be found in our parliamentary report. Of course in dealing with the recent administrative changes, Mr. Macandrew, on behalf of the Government, declared that they had not been made with a view of leading up to separation, though lie boldly announced Ids own belief in the righteousness and wisdom of a Separation policy, a remark not very well received by the House. In reference to railways in the Wellington province, the Government propose to take appropriations for extending the main north line from Maatertou to AVoodville. They declare for the proposal to make a line to Foxtm.via tho AVest Coast. The proposals of tho Government as to railway construction are represented by an expenditure of eight millions of money, extending over a period of five years, £4,650,000 being appropriated to tlie South Island, and tho balance, £4,350,000, to the North Island; the cost mainly to be borne by the sale of laud. As to roads and bridges, with the exception of works already commenced, the policy of tho Government was to absolutely close tho account so far as the colonial exchequer was concerned, to throw upon the local bodies the whole burden of providing for local works, notwithstanding the many hardships it would no doubt involve to some out districts. No middle course could be taken between granting every application and listening to none, aud the Government chose the latter, but they intended to revive the proposal brought forward by the late Government last year, but which tho House rejected, to make advances to now settled districts, tho particular advances, however, to bo specified. It was also mentioned that tho Government hulk in AVollingtou Harbor, no longer being required for present purposes, would be fitted up as a training ship for boys convicted of crime. Tho Statement was well received,audoooupiedabont an hour and a quarter in delivery. At its conclusion, Mr. Stout rose and said in view ot property in the neighborhood of tho proposed lines increasing in value, aud the probability of speculators rushing after the land, instructions had been given to the AVasto Lauds Boards to withdraw such laud from sale, especially in Canterbury. The House then adjourned. The return of patients in tho Wellington Hospital during tho mouth of August is as follows Admitted, 20 males, 4 females j discharged, 12 males, 3 females ; died, 5 males, 1 female ; left in hospital, 44 males, II females ; total, 55.

The number of births registered during the mouth of August last in Wellington was 78; of marriage certificates 31, and of deaths 25. At the last meeting of the Canterbury Waste Land Board 16,000 acres were disposed of for £33,000. Good promising stone has been obtained from the 640 feet level at the Big Pump workings, Grahamstown, The Dunedin vital statistics for August were as follows :—-Births, 121; deaths, 59 ; marriages, 26. The Christchurch Poultry Society have resolved to import a number of first-class birds from Euglanl. Twenty acres of land in the North-East Valley, Dunedin, have been purchased by Captain Baldwin for £9720, being the highest price hitherto paid here for suburban laud.

The Customs revenue at Timaru for the month of August amounted to £1538 ss. Id. Vital statistics for August : .Births, 23 ; marriages, 7 ; deaths, 10. It is expected that the southern railway from Dunedin to Invercargill may be completed within five weeks from the present time.

Robert Dagga, a well-known Otago wrestler, has accepted the challenge of Thomas, of Victoria, to wrestle for the championship of the colonies. The match will probably take place at Dunedin in November.

Peter Jowen, a sailor belonging to the ship Lady. Jocelyn, fell over the Auckland wharf in an intoxicated condition on August 31st, and was drowned.

The Auckland Timber Company held their half-yearly meeting on August 30. The report showed a profit of £2385, equal to 13 per-cent., which was carried to the new account as a working balance. At the sale of Stratford, Taranaki, a new Government township, on the Mountain-road, a number of quarter-acre sections were sold, one fetching £IBO. The total amount of the sale was £2215,

Designs are called fop a four-storey hotel, coutaiuing 135 rooms, which will be the largest in Christchurch, and which is to be built on the American principle. Mr. Wearing, of the Terminus Hotel, will be the proprietor. A young kiwi, which species of the feathered tribe is said to bo getting scarce, was captured a few days ago by a miner a little distance up the Moanataiari Creek, Thames. The bird will be presented to the Auckland Acclimatization Society. Letters have been received in Christchurch from the secretaries of the Melbourne, East Melbourne, South Melbourne, and Ballarat Cricket Clubs, in addition to the Bohemians, accepting the challenge of the Canterbury Association to play them on their respective grounds. An inquest has been held at Winchester, Timaru, on the death of Mrs. Lucy Edmonds, who died from injuries received from her clothes catching fire while burning tussocks on her husband’s laud on the Opuba River. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The husband was also badly .burnt, and taken to Christchurch, where his parents reside. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Standard Insurance Company was held on Sept. 2. The report and balance sheet were adopted, and a dividend of 10 per cent, was declared. The chairman and other shareholders spoke hopefully of the present and future prospects of the company. The Easttown railway’workshops, says the Advocate of the 2nd inst., are kept fully employed in keeping machinery and rolling stock prepared for the present traffic on the line. The employes have frequently to work overtime to keep pace with the requirements, the wear and tear being very great, especially on the first twenty milks from Wanganui. The employes on the Manawatu and Wanganui railway have agreed to form a Provident Society on the basis of a plan in operation in England'on the great railway works. It is considered desirable that all employes on the North Island railways should combine in forming such a society. A committee has been appointed to communicate with the men on'the other sections of railway works. .

The Hon. Mr. Sheehan, in the House of Representatives on Sept. 4tb, announced that on the previous night a telegram was received by the Government stating that a Maori woman had been murdered at Waiapu. He caused inquiries to be made, aud another telegram was * received to the effect that a Maori woman had been murdered by two Maori men. The murder was an ordinary one, aud had no political significance, and he had given instructions to have the murderers arrested and brought to trial.

To Whiti says, in reference to the survey of the Waimate plains, that the 17th of March next will be the Aceldama or day of blood, and after that the day of the death of himself aud brother at the entering of the gate (Pavihaka), evidently referring to the general amnesty,to take place at a meeting called by llewi on the ISthMirch. At the last meeting he said, “ Let the surveyors go on the land ; it is still mine. lam going to portion out not only the lands of New Zealand but the lauds of the world.” This is stated by those who are his interpreters to mean that he will advocate the individualization of the lauds.

An entertainment given on the 31st August at the Theatre lloyal for the benefit of a sick member of the Typographical Association was a great success. The ears of the Wellington public are ever open to the cry of distress, and when the nature of the case was made known, the' tickets for this concert sold quickly —for “ claims like their’s none advocate in vain”—the result being a crowded theatre. It is not necessary to criticise closely the efforts of amateurs, suffice it to say, that the affair as a whole went off with spirit. A substantial sum (£65) was realised, and all concerned may be congratulated on the success attained.

The following statistics (says a correspondent of the Dunedin Herald) may interest some of your readers. We have in Now Zealand 450 parsons, the numbers being as follows :—Church of England, 150; Presbyterian, 108 ; Koman Catholic, 57 ; and other denominations, 129—0 r about .one to every 880 of the population. There are 202 lawyers, of whom Dunedin claims 51, Auckland 44, Wellington and Christchurch, each 30, the balance being pretty evenly scattered—the proportion being about one to every 1100. The doctors muster 242, and Dunedin has again the lion’s share, 31 ; Christchurch following with 24, Auckland 21, and Wellington Ift—one to. every 1230 ; while of commission agents (those beings abhorred by lawyers), there are something like 350. It will be seen from the above that we are provided for in matters spiritual, healthful, and legal almost too well, some people may think. - The adjourned meeting of the law clerks of the city of Wellington was held at the offices of Mr. F. M. Ollivier on Monday, Sept. 2nd, Mr. Oliver Samuel in the chair. The draft rules were submitted to the meeting and finally adopted. The election of officers next took place, when Mr. Travers was elected president, Mr. Chapman vice-president, Mr. J. M. Speed secretary, and the following were appointed a committee t' manage the affairs of the society :—Messrs. Harrison, May, Deckle, Devine, and Perkins. A. very cordial vote of thanks was passed thanking Mr. Samuel for his exertions and for presiding over the meeting. The meeting was adjourned to enable the committee to make the necessary arrangements for the delivery of the first lecture. The society is one that is deserving of support from all members of the legal profession in Wellington, and should be one of the most flourishing of its kind in New Zealand.

A crowded and enthusiastic meeting of town and country people was held in Nelson on September 4th, to consider the Public Works Statement. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. J. W. Barnicoat, Chairman of the Waimea County Council, presided. Speeches were made showing how faith had been broken with Nelson in the matter of the West Coast railways. The following resolutions were passed unanimously: -—l. Moved by Mr. Acton Adams, and seconded by Mr. Sclanders, —That the essence of the Public Works policy was the construction of a main trunk line through both islands, and the people of Nelson supported the policy on that ground, and by the Public Works Statement of successive Governments, and by the Railway Act, 1873, the line from Nelson to the West Coast, and thence to Canterbury, was recognised as part of that main trunk line. 2, Moved by Mr. Joseph Shephard, and seconded by the Bishop of Nelson, —That, under the scheme now proposed to fill up the other gaps in the trunk system, the construction of the northern part of the main line in the Middle Island is indefinitely postponed, to the injury of the people resident in Nelson and Marlborough. 3. That this meeting views with the utmost alarm the proposal of Government to entirely exclude this district from all participation in the new works to bo undertaken within the next five years. 4. That the Nelson representatives be requested to bring the foregoing resolutions under the notice of the Government and before the Assembly, and to use their utmost endeavors to procure some material modification of the present Ministerial proposals, which, if carried into effect, will inflict Snuch gross injustice upon those residing in the northern part of this island.

It is said that no less than 3000 persons travelled by the tramway on Saturday last. The report of the Cpcoanuk Oil Manufactory Company, Auckland, showed a profit of eight per cent.

Mrs. Richard Taylor, alunatic, on her way from Manawatu to Wellington by the steamer Jane Douglas, jumped overboard on August 14, and was drowned.

Erancis Daniejp, a working man, who had been recently employed on Mr. Tancred’s farm at Taratabi Plain, Wairarapa, was found dead in a drain on August 18. He is supposed to have had a fit.

During the voyage of the Lady Jocelyn small-pox broke out on board soon after leaving London, but owing to the prompt action of the doctor, who separated the patients, the disease did not spread. . Ernest Bruce, an ex-lieutenant in the navy, has been committed for trial at Auckland on a charge of Larceny as a bailee in stealing a quantity of goods belonging to Mr. Bevan, a member of the armed constabulary.

The transactions of the National Insurance Company for last year show a credit to the profit and loss accorfßt of £21,253, out of which the directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 10 per cent. / The number of names on the new electoral roll for Wellington City is 3420, for Wellington Country District 720, and for the Hutt 490, making a total for the three districts of 4630. The Government steamer Hxnemoa with a party of Katikati special settlers, arrived alongside the wharf at Taurauga at 11 o’clock on August 22nd. The immigrants were welcomed by the Town Board, an address being read by Mr. Edgcumbe, the chairman.

A man named Lehman was discovered on August 21st in a very weak and emaciated condition at his house near Kaiapoi. The place was in a state of filth and thorough destitution. The man was removed to better quarters. Although in a starving condition, he has £4OO in the bank, and is a well-known miser.

A young lady, the daughter of Mr. Thomas Macky, Auckland, being on a visit to the Rev. Mr. Neill,- Grahamstown, left for a walk in the country, and not returning next day a search party was organised, composed of Maoris and Europeans, After the lapse of some 40 hours she was discovered in some tall ti-tree and fern by a Maori. She was then almost insensible from cold and wet.

Mr. Gerald Manning, clerk in the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New Zealand,, has been committed for trial on the charge of stealing £IOO, the property of the bank. Bail was taken, the accused in £3OO, and two sureties of £l5O each. Mr. Coster, manager of the bank, stated that after becoming aware of the theft he had allowed prisoner to go to Auckland, in order to see what steps the bank inspector, who was there, would take. The Canterbury Farmers’ Grain and Produce Store Company have purchased from the Government the lease of two acres of ground at Addington of! the line of railway, for the purpose of erecting large stores, which will hold, when completed, 1400ttons or 14,000 sacks of grain. The lease is for 41 years, at £670 per year, at the end of that time the Government to pay for all improvements.

A patient in the asylum at Hokitika named Healey escaped on August 17th through the skylight, and then scrambled over a «high precipice. He had ouly a shirt on, which he threw off when leaving the ground, alleging afterwards that he did not wish to be arrested for stealing asylum clothes. In a state of nudity he ran to the sea beach, then followed low water mark for some miles. He afterwards proceeded into the bush at the upper crossing of the Arahura, where he was found at six o’clock the same uight. He had had no food or clothing, but expressed an intention of asking for both at the first house he came to after dark. When found he was hiding from the police behind some bush. The Endowment Commissioners appointed for Auckland to divide the educational reserves met on Friday, August 16th. Mr. Tole mads a statement relative to the position of the Board in regard to reserves of district land set apart for educational purposes amounting to 34,561 acres, of which 384 acres are classed as town land, 996 acres as suburban lands, and 33,180 acres rural lauds. In apportioning the acreage the arbitrators have allotted 283 acres town lauds for primary education, and 101 acres for secondary education; of suburban lands, 749 acres for primary education and 247 acres for secondary education ; of rural lauds, 24,636 acres for primary education, and 8544 acres for secondary education. The Board has therefore a total area of 25,667 acres for primary education, and 8893 acres for secondary education. Only a small portion is leased. The revenue amounts to £I2OO. The amount of revenue collected at the Custom House, Wellington, for the month of August is over £21,000. This, we understand, is the largest sum that has ever been collected in one month at this port, and is accounted for by the fact of so many Home ships having arrived much about the same time. The ordinary revenue for a month averages about £15,000, aud it ‘will be thus seen that there is an increase this month of over £6OOO.

Dr. Hector, in his meteorological notes for the month of June, published in a Qa:eltc of Sept. 5, remarks ;—This has been a very cold, wet, and severe month throughout. The rainfall at nearly all places in excess, and frequent thunderstorms, with hail and snow, and prevailing S.W. winds. Very low atmospheric pressure throughout. Earthquakes at Napier on sth at 11T5 p.m., sharp, and on 23rd at 3T5 p.m., not so marked ; at Wellington on 23rd at 7.30 a.m., slight, direction S.E. ; at Nelson on 24th at 8.30 a.m.; at Cape Campbell on 3rd at 12.15 a.m., smart.

A few years ago a lady in this colony bequeathed her income to a brother who resided iu Loudon, but from whom she had not heard for seven years. Upon her death the executor took steps to find out the brother’s whereabouts, but letters were unanswered, advertisements elicited no information, and no satisfactory clue could be obtained. About twelve months ago a young man, one of the employees of this paper, left the colony on a visit to Scotland and the Paris Exhibition. Into his bauds the executor put the matter, asking him to use every endeavor to find the missing devisee. By the San Francisco mail on August 31st the executor received the intelligence that the visitor to Europe succeeded in finding the object of his search in a London workhouse. A man who, we understand, has lately been liberated from the Lunatic Asylum, made his way down the wharf on August 30 and indulged in several acrobatic feats on board the Abeona. He was noticed by several of the crew to be climbing aloft, and on being questioned by them as to “ what his little game was,” he replied that if anybody interfered with him he would hang himself at the yardarm. He eventually left the vessel, and said he was going to the Botanical Gardens. Mrs. Robert‘ A. Dargaville, sister-in-law of Mr. J. M. Dargaville, dropped dead jn Auckland on'August 26th while returning fromParnell Hill, of heart disease. William Kinley, a steerage passenger by the Lady Jocelyn to Auckland, but not one of the Vesey Stewart party, wont to bed on August 25th helplessly drunk, turned on his face, and was suffocated.

A young man named Huly, whilst practising gymnastics at Grahamstown, fell off the horizontal bat on to the mattress beneath, and so injured his spine that he is not expected to recover.

Information was received on 23rd August that the coroner’s jury which sat at Foxton to enquire into the circumstances connected with the death of Charlotte Taylor, an alleged lunatic, who was being brought to Wellington for medical examination, and who was drowned on the passage, have returned a verdict of manslaughter against the purser of the Jane Douglas, who acted as special constable, and the nurse in charge of the unfortunate woman.

The quarterly licensing meeting for the Hutt District was held at the Lower Hutt on Wednesday, before the Commissioners, Messrs. T. A. Mausford (chairman), Grace, and Beetham. The following were granted:—From Mr. Corbett to Mr. Williams, Albion Hotel, Taita ; from Mr. Prosser to Mr. Wiltshire, Travellers’ Rest Hotel, Taita ; from Mr. Ames to Mr. Bishop, Provincial Hotel, Upper Hutt. The application to transfer the license of the Golden hleece Hotel, Pakuratahi, fiom Mr. Webb to Mr. Montgomery, was adjourned for 14 days. The Tl’rttramp't Standard of the sth instant contains the following: —"We hear that the Lower Valley settlers have subscribed a sum of £I2OO for the erection of permanent cattleyards at Featberston. These, yards are intended to be constructed in the most substantial and desirable manner, and the various auctioneers of the district will have equal facilities accorded to them in connection therewith. —About £2OO has been subscribed to the fund raised for discovering the guilty person or persons who poisoned Kakapo at the last Castlepoint races.—We notice the Featberston school committee are carrying out the compulsory clauses of the Act. Two informations wore laid before the Resident Magistrate on Monday last against parents, and in one an order of the Court was made."

ending July 27, 1878. & a. d. four weeks, 1877. * s. a. Kaipara 325 15 8 .. 246 13 5 Auckland .. .. 3,236 10 8 1,474 7 4 Napier .. 1,791 2 7.. 1,553 0 0 Wellington .. 1,330 15 11 . 8G4 7 G Wanganui .. .. 1,910 19 0 .. CU 19 Now Plymouth •103 12 G .. 144 14 6 Nelson 4G0 2 3 .. 342 13 10 Picton 333 5 1 .. 339 15 8 Christchurch ..21,419 17 11 .. 15,354 11 B Dunedin .. 7,806 0 4.. 6,303 6 1 Invercargill .. 3,642 14 0 .. 2,G74 18 4 Grey mouth 067 U 3 728 3 6 Westport .. 206 1 4 .. 0G 15 11

Boroughs. E-li-Total - Total § rn 2 a popU’ lation Births. Deaths. ass-3 £2J| Auckland 13,732 54 12 *87 Thames 5,425 28 3 *55 Wellington 10,037 01 13 *68 Nelson .. 0,603 20 10 1*51 Christchurch .. 13,402 57 20 -1*49 Dunedin 22,401 70 30 173 Hokitika 3,244 8 ' “ - “