NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH. OCTOBER-NOVBMBER; For transmission hy the P.i1.5.0. Zeataniia, from Auckland on the tSth : October, to Europe, vin San Francisco. GENERAL SUMMARY. In another.,calamn»we publish a letter in full from the"'Attorney-General of tho Colony to the Agent-General in London, on the subject of immigration, in yrhich he says that .demands are coming in from all parts of the colony for more labor. There is a difficulty in procuring men to work on the railway contracts, and a great scarcity of shepherds, ploughmen, and general servants. The letter also desires tho Agent-General to arrange that no largo number of immigrants should be shipped in' London so as to arrive here during the winter months. A brisk labor market is generally admitted to be, a healthy symptom, although ’ it is undoubtedly to some extent due to tho influx of capital. Our increasing flocks and herds, asshown by the census returns and tho growing value of our exports, afford us a solid basis for congratulation i on our prosperity. The immigrants from tho Rakaia were at once engaged when they arrived here, and when the immigrant ship the City of Auckland was stranded upon our shores the competition for the services of the wrecked passengers was so keen ns to cause some amusement. The most benevolent offers of succour and assistance were made by people residing in towns throughout the whole of the Provincial District of Wellington, but. the rival bidders refused altogether to believe in the purity of the motives that actuated their philanthropic neighbors. Tho Napier townsfolk, to whom the immigrants were consigned, were especially sore on the subject, and looked upon any offer of employment to a shipwrecked immigrant ns a wilful attempt to defraud their town of her .rights. On October 13th we hoard that the barque Felixstowe had been cast ashore at the mouth of the Otaki River on the west const of this province. The master, Mr. Pigott, the chief officer, Mr. Lament, and two of the crew, were drowned through the.boat capsizing. The captain’s wife and the rest of the crew were saved. Our report of the inquest says:—Europeans, half-castes, and Maoris vied with each other in acts of daring gallantry at the wreck, and met with the warmest eulogy from the foreman of the jury. .

On the 23rd wo were again startled by the nows that the immigrant ship City of Auckland had gone ashore, nearly at the same place. However, the immigrants and crew were all safely landed, and since then we hear that the cargo has been partly landed. It is very doubtful whether anything can be done to save the ship herself. The Maoris again distinguished themselves by tho assistance they rendered at the time of the wreck, and by tho kindness and hospitality they showed the shipwrecked people afterwards.

This being the third wreck within a short space of time, an inquiry as to the causes that Jed to them was at once demanded in Parliament. An abandoned lighthouse on Mana Island, which is not far distant from the scene of these disasters, will be reinstated, and a vote of £19,900 has been placed upon the Estimates for the purpose of establishing another lighthouse upon this coast. The close of the September quarter has brought but the Customs returns and the balance-sheets of the various banks and insurance companies. - As these have come upon us about the same as a further abstract of the Census returns, this month’s summary contains an unusual quantity of statistical information.

The Census returns show that our flocks and herds continue to increase rapidly, the sheep alone aggregating over 13 millions ; and as our export of wool during tho past year has amounted to about 5-9ths of the total value of our exports, the, importance of this branch of our industry can hardly be overestimated. The recent fall in the value of wool will be severely felt by a large section of our community. Our export of gold during the quarter shows a considerable falling off; but a revival of tho mining industry is looked forward to with much confidence by many people. We hear of new reefs being discovered on the West Coast, and great results are expected to follow the introduction of the diamond-drill. The Customs returns show that the amount collected for tho past quarter was £365,493. In the corresponding quarter for 1877 it was £309,098. Owing to the recent reductions in the tea and sugar duties, and the other alterations in the tariff, our Customs duties may be expected to decrease. The reports of the different banks published lately are all satisfactory. The Bunk of New Zealand has determined to issue additional shares to the extent of £270,000. The National Insurance Company has declared a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent., and tho South British Insurance Company will pay 15 per cent, to its shareholders. The report of the Government Insurance Commissioner also shows very satisfactory results. The opening of the Wairarapa railway, which was treated of somewhat fully in onr last month’s summary, was delayed for a couple of days owing to a heavy rain which caused land-slips, upon the line. A full report of all the festivities is given elsewhere. We will only add that during the past three weeks tho line has been working satisfactorily, although, owing to a deficiency of rollingstock, the line is not fully equal to the' demands made upon its' carrying powers. The traffic returns of the section of this rail way "previously open show that the receipts during the past year ending September 30 were £4248, against an expenditure of £3051, equal to 71 per cent, of the earnings. The prices realised at a number of land sales during the .month prove that land still maintains a high value. Reports of the committee appointed to inquire into the state of our gaols, and the annual report bn the lunatic asylums bf the colony, show that a great deficiency of accommodation, exists in both cases. The votes passed for the asylums are greatly below the sum recommended by the’committee, and only a small sum has been appropriated for the enlargement of the gaols. At tho commencement of the month heavy floods were experienced over a great part of the. South Island. No less than 250 acres of valuable land wore washed away at Kaiapoi. At Balclutha an expensive bridge was destroyed, and the town itself was endangered by tho encroachments made by tho Molyneux River. At Queenstown alono tho damage done was estimated at £103,000. These floods were caused by a warm wind accompanied by rain, which melted tho snow on the mountains very rapidly, thereby flooding the low-lying country. We hear that the survey of the Waimato plains is progressing favorably. Hiroki, tho Maori who murdered a man attached to a survey party in that district, has been heard of though not captured. He is reported to have placed himself under the protection of a native chief named To Whiti, and is said to have been severely wounded by tho search party while'making his escape. The i Wellington steam, tramway is generally regarded as a success, tho shares being now held at a premium, and the traflic.roturns being highly satisfactory. Wo hear of a , discovery .of precious stones having been made in tho McKenzie country in the Middle Island, but tho report has not been confirmed.

Tho season has latterly been favorable for fruit-growers in this part of the. colony, and tho reports from farming districts hold out the prospect of a good percentage of-lambs in this province. The “ Gazette’’ published on Thursday calls for tenders for 100,000 tons of steel rails to he 1 made' from New Zealand ores. Tho advertisement we publish in full in another column. .The, “ Gazette ” contains the following paragraph.relating to tho contract; Now Zealand colonists who may have friends and correspondents connected with the iron manufacture are requested to bo good enough to draw attention to, the highly advantageous and profitable field for enterprise which this colony , presents to those who can bring tho necessary capital and practical experience to bear upon such manufacture.