NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH.

NOVBMBER-DBOEMBER,

r transmission by the P.M.S.C. Australia, from Auckland on the 20th December, to Europe, via

San Francisco.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

During the past month news of a political character has been very meagre. The talk about town has been languid, and the post-sessional utterances have not yet developed anything very now or startling. Onr Premier is supposed to be enjoying repose after his political labors at his island homo in Kawan. Even when thus unobtrusive there aro not wanting some who look upon this step as a calm before a storm, and make up for the want of any real news by imagining the mischief which is supposed to bo always brewing in the Premier’s brain. Thus it is commonly reported that the other members of the Cabinet and supporters of the Government are engaged in the task of sounding the depths of tho sea of politics, and that Sir Geoegb will steer the Ministerial ship in accordance with the reports that are sent in to him by his colleagues. Neither Mr. Ballance, at Rangitikei, nor tho Colonial Secretary, 'at Dunedin, seem to have met with much support when they addressed the public. Mr. Sutton, at Napier, made a severely critical speech, reviewing the action taken by the Government during the past session, and was very well received. The conduct of tho Ministry in abandoning the Electoral Bill because a radical innovation introduced by them was not accepted by the House, appears to have seriously shaken the confidence of the public in tho good faith of the present Ministry, and even the practised stump-eloquence of the Premier may fail to reassure his hearers when ho next addresses them in public that the present Ministry deserves any continuance of their support. Mr. Sheehan is trying hard to redeem the errors of tho past by interviewing Rewi and tho obstructive Natives in tho King country. Tho Maori chiefs aro too astute to be cajoled by promises ; they listen patiently, but refuse to obey the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. The withdrawal of large sections of land from sale by the Government has raised considerable discussion, and has been severely commented upon. A large in-dignation-meeting was held at Tauranga, to protest against the action of the Government in connection with the confiscated lands in that district.

The Mayoralty election afforded food for talk for the Wellington public during the past throe weeks. The respective merits of the two candidates were not much discussed. Mr. Deansfxeld, whose re-election has been secured after a close contest, has several times filled the office of Mayor. He had, moreover, no blots on the history of his term of office such as those which marked his opponent’s career when the latter was Mayor of Wellington. Mr. Hutchison, however, appealed to the class-feelings of the working-men, and so far succeeded in obliterating the memory of what had occurred when he was in office that his chance of election was considered about equal to Mr. Deansfxeld’s. A difference of two votes only in the latter’s favor shows how correctly their chances were reckoned by those who were inclined to make wagers on the event. The decision in the case of the Press Agency against the proprietors of the “Poverty Bay Standard,” for piracy of telegrams, has been generally accepted as a proof that some amendment in the law of copyright in respect to newspapers ; s needed. Messrs. Holt and McCarthy desired to restrain the above paper from re-publishing the telegrams sent by their agents, without paying for the fight. Under tho existing law, tho Judges are agreed that this cannot be done, and consequently all those papers which pay for services rendered by the Press Agency help to furnish news to their less enterprising country rivals, who make use of the same items, but decline to pay for them.

The Prince of 'Wales’ birihclay -was celebrated with all due honor in the colony this year. In Wellington the Amateur Athletic Club held their sports upon the day on which the celebration was held, which, for convenience sake, was fined for Monday, instead of Saturday. In tiunedin a grand volunteer review was held, which came off very successfully. The holiday in town was greatly enjoyed, the weather being fine, and the sports provided at the Basin Reserve of good quality. The Wairarapa Pastoral Show proved a complete success, the number of entries showing a considerable increase, and the quality of the exhibits was good. The Governor made an excellent speech on agricultural topics to a thoroughly sympathetic audience, and a day or two later showed his appreciation of the quality of the stock in the district by purchasing a pair of carriage horses for his own use. The first flower show of the Horticultural Society in Wellington was held under difficulties, as the stormy and boisterous weather during the previous week or two had made any kind of successful floriculture in the open air almost impossible. In spite of these drawbacks, however, the flowers shown formed a very creditable exhibition, and it was a great pity that a thoroughly wet day interfered with the attendance.

The county elections throughout the Colony have now come off, and as the date approached considerable interest was shown by the public in the results. In many cases members of the House of Representatives have been chosen as councillors, and now that only about half a dozen counties remain in which the Act has not been brought into force, the County system may be said to have established a firm footing. Some modifications of the Counties Act are demanded, and will doubtless bo introduced before long. The reports from the different mining districts display a very hopeful tone. The result of the introduction of the diamond drill is looked forward to with much interest, and the prosecution of the work of furnishing a sufficient water supply on those goldfields where it is needed, will probably cause a great revival in this branch of industry. The commencement of certain harbor works at Wanganui, on the west coast of this province, was entered into during the past month. Considering the paucity of good harbor accommodation on the West Coast of this Island, this work must be fregarded as highly important to the district and not without interest to the Colony at large. The season, so far as it affects the farmers, has been on the whole good during the month. Although in Wellington thejrainfallhasreachod a totalof six inches during October, on the east coast in both islands dry weather has prevailed. Down at Waimate, in Canterbury, and in the Hawke’s Bay District, considerable bush fires have occurred. In the former case especially there have boon heavy losses incurred, a Mr. Studholme having suffered losses which are estimated at £40,000. From tho South wo hoar that since then there have boon some good rains, which have matoria ll y benefited tho crops, Tho pastoral folk have had a good lambing season, and the high prices realised for some first-class imported merino sheep from Australia prove that in this colony good blood is highly valued. A patent has boon applied for by a Mr. Wilson, of Canterbury, for an improved form of reaper, which is to make use of tho straw for binding tho sheaves. If this invention proves a success it will bo a

groat boon to the settlers throughout tho Colony.

It is with regret that wo record two more wrecks within tho last week or two. The steamship Taranaki struck op a small island off Tauranga in a fog, and 'shortly afterwards became a complete wreck. Fortunately no lives were lost. Since then the Southminster, a Canadian vessel of 1200 tons, went ashore, on her way from Lyttelton to Wellington with part of.a cargo of Yankee notions, reapers and binders, &o. She was wrecked in foggy weather on the Shepherdess reef on the 29th ult. No Jives wore lost, and a portion of the car''Q has been saved. Hopes are entertained that the Hyderabad, which wont ashore on the west coast of this island some weeks ago, may be got off almost undamaged.