NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY foil THEMONTIT. SEPTEMB'ER-OOTOBER. for transmission by tbs P.M.S.C. Zenlandia, from Auckland on the ISth October, to Europe, via San Francisco. GENERAL SUMMARY. Tho census returns of the colony have boon published during the month, and show the population of the colony to bo 414.412, exclusive of Maoris. There are nearly 2000 half-castes and about 4500 Chinese. In respect to the latter a long debate occurred in tha House of Representatives, in which the evils that followed the introduction of a host of such immigrants were pointed out in very forcible language by those members of goldfields constituencies who had been personally acquainted with the facts of the case. Tho Government closed tho debate by promising that if the flood of Chinese immigrauts that had been predicted showed any signs of being realised, the Ministry would impose a poll-tax iipon tho introduction of each Chinese immigrant. A few Chinamen wero_ not considered objectionable. Returning to tho census, it may beijremarked that there are in New Zealand 230,998 males, as against 183,414females,ndisproportionofthos6xo5 that explains the constant urgent nature of the cry which colonial ladies raise that they cannot keep a domestic servant. There must be a great many men too working for, orat any rate wanting, wives, and both parties draw upon the one limited fund. " .

The importance of the Maori race in our councils has been forcibly brought before the public during the last month ; English readers require to be reminded that we have four Maori members in our Lower House (House of Representatives), and two in the Upper (Legislative Council). The Maoris are believed to number about 40,000, and upon this basis of population their representation is too small, and is proposed to be added to. One member in speaking on the subject proposed that the debates referring to Maori matters should bo translated into Maori and printed. Another moved for tho whole of the New “Hansard” to bo translated into Maori. Tho expense of doing this was so great that even a colonial Government declined to adopt the proposal. The forthcoming opening of the Wairarapa railway forms one of tho most fertile subjects of discussion at present. Groat physical difficulties existed on this line, and the completion has been considerably delayed in consequence. Tho 12th inst. is the date of the opening, when a grand lunch will be given to the visitors at tho terminus of the line, to which both Houses of Parliament have been invited. A public holiday has been declared in honor of the event on tho 15th, when an illumination in "Wellington, and a picnic and tea party to all the children at school, probably about 3000, are parts of the programme. A ball in Feathocston, another in Wellington, and numerous schemes for varied amusement, are on tho tapis, in order to make the celebration a complete success. The portion last completed is the most difficult section, and tnpon it the Fell fengine has been introduced. The gradients are in some places as steep as 1 in 15, and tho third rail required by tho form of engine is thus very necessary. As tha train will take four hours to travel 45 miles, this line in New Zealand will not provide tho rapid transit understood by railway travelling in England. Twenty miles an hour is a fair average estimate of the speed attained here. The Rimutaka is an exceptional difficulty, and will some day or other, when bur means and bur population admit of it, be got over. A New Zealand “Gazette” of Octobers shows that tho number of miles of railway open for traffic is 1068, the four-weekly revenue being £44,059 15s. The total revenue of the financial year up to date (August 24) is £87,045 6s. Gd., and the total expenditure to date, £67,268 Is. Bd. Percentage of expenditure to revenue, 76 - 75. Report says that the Government has been very successful in gaining the consent of the Ohinemuri natives to the extension of main roads through their land. The matter has been in progress for years past, but the native owners would not consent till now. Tho purchase of the Ohinemuri goldfield has progressed very satisfactorily. An agitation has for some time been going on relative to giving an increased rate of pay to the police force. A committee was appointed to inquire into the matter, andreportedas follows: —Ist.That in the opinion of this committee the present pay of the police force is insufficient, and should be increased. 2nd. That long service pay should be given to members of the police force on a graduated scale, according to the number of years of service.

The ship Rakaia came in on Tuesday, the Bth, and landed her passengers all well on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, the 10th, before noon, out of about one hundred single women, every one open to engagement as a domestic servant was provided for;soraeofthom had as many as.fifteen different offers to choose from. A considerable proportion of these girls were nominated forimmigration by their friends in New Zealand, and were not looking for places as servants. About the end of last and during the first few days of this month heavy northwesterly winds, with rain, caused high floods and much disaster in the southern parts of the Middle-Island. In Balclutha ami its vicinity there has been perhaps the greatestsnffering, the town having been for daysin agreal measure under water. From Dunedin wo hear that the Clyde, Bannockbnrn, and Bendigo bridges have been destroyed. The Molyneux River was flooded ,/or over six days. These floods were iXiused by several days’ continuous rain with hot wind, when a large quantity of snow on the mountains melted, and so caused floods over the flat country below. In Canterbury the Rangitata bridge had 120 ft. of the structure washed away, but the bridge has since been repaired. The land revenue return published during the month shows that since the foundation of the colony out of a total area of sixty-four millions of acres there have been sold up to the ond of this year about thirteen million acres. The total figure realised amounts to nearly £10,500,000 sterling. The receipts during the past year were £1,477,000. The land revenue in Canterbury alone for the year was £1,123,000, and for the quarter ending September 30 it was £388,714. The Customs revenue for the quarter was £305,251. As our traffic is being subjected to revision iu the direction of free trade, and owing to the recent reductions in the tea and sugar duties, our Customs revenue will probably decline. The Wellington City Tramway seems likely to prove a groat success. Nearly 17,000 passengers were carried by it last week, representing cash receipts over £2OO, and pomising a very handsome return op the capital expended. The landing of some more tram locomotives is anxiously expected, when the receipts will probably increase very greatly. The cars are a great public convenience, and the fears which were entertained about the running of the engines in our narrow streets have proved to bo groundless. The horses employed in the streets become soon accustomed to the cars, and meet them without alarm. Civilisation among native vneesin Africa, Australia, or Now Zealand is generally believed to result in the extermination of the aboriginals. In disproof of this view a description of a fashionable Maori wedding which cook place near Palmerston is quoted ‘ —-A fashionable Maori weddingtook place at the VVaikouaiti ivaik on the 4th. The bride was a daughter of

Mr. E. Palmer, of Taieri Beach, and the bridegroom the eldest son of Mr. Pratt, tho native magistrate, and one of the most influential residents at the JCaik. The latter entertained, about 200 guests. A'number of speeches (says the Fahuersion Times ) were made, prominent amongst them being that of the host, who excused himself for notj furnishing wines at the banquet, and explained that since the year 1860 temperance principles bad been established at the Kaik, which he had strictly adhered to, and he had enforced them, as much as possible, amongst the Maoris. He was happy to say his conduct had had a most beneficial oftect. Thisnotico isinquito a polite form, and has a healthy tone, from the absence of the great drawback to" real civilisation, viz., the rum bottle. In a recent case of manslaughter tried in Wellington the after recording their verdict, asked the Judge if something could not be done to stop the selling of spirituous liquors m country districts to Maoris 2 Judge Richmond professed himself unable to suggest any remedy, but admitted that ninetenths of tho crime iu the colony arose from drunkenness. At an earlier stage iu tlio proceedings a learned M.H.R. had made some remarks to the same effect, so that all classes appear to recognise the evil. If this bo so, any reasonable legislation that could be proposed to restrict it would be gladly welcomed. New Zealand, like England, is sadly in want of advocates of temperance.

A number of people at Oamaru wore nearly poisoned by eating some brawn. When the food was submitted to a medical analysis it was discovered that vibrios were present in the brawn, and acknowledged symptoms of putridity; putrefaction was considerably advanced, though the seasoning present was sufficient to disguise the fact.