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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5580, 15 February 1879, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor arrived from Lyttelton yesterday. His private secretary (Mr. Be Potourel) has gone on to Melbourne to make arrangements. His Excellency’s farewell levee will take place to-day, and addresses from the City Council and the Working Men’s Club are subsequently to be presented to his Excellency. The party leave for Melbourne in the Ringarooma on Monday next.

Yesterday’s news from the Cape caused quite a sensation in town. It is but seldom that so great a disaster as that related in our telegrams per cable has to be recorded. The heavy loss of officers is much to be deplored, although it is not an unusual occurrence when European troops meet savageajffor the officers to be picked off, as New Zealand people know to their cost. In our telegraph news from Auckland the following paragraph appears :—• “ The Zulu king expressed his willingness to surrender some of the persons demanded by the British ultimatum, and pay a fine. He would also consider other demands if time were allowed. Sir Bartle Frere replied that the word of the British Government cannot be altered ” —which furnishes food for reflection for colonial readers. It is satisfactory to hear that large reinforcements were at once despatched from England, and that more will follow. There can be no doubt that if our Cape colonies are to be maintained, energetic means must be resorted to to secure the lives and property of British subjects. At the Cape, unlike other countries, the natives increase and multiply in spite of the presence of European settlers. Cattle form the wealth of the natives, as it does that of the colonists ; there is therefore a constant temptation to them to make predatory raids over the border.

The work of cleansing . the reservoir was commenced early yesterday morning, all the water being run off as soon as possible. : The state of the bottom of the reservoir was rather a surprise, for there was really little or no filth to be found—at any rate not a twentieth of the quantity which it was expected to find. There was a little slime, and a couple of barrowfuls of debris, and that was all in the nature of filth. Of course there was a considerable quantity—say a hundred tons—of earth at the farther end of the basin, the result of a landslip on one of the precipitous banks which gird the basin, but in this there was no filth. Two eels were found, and another was seen to disappear in the pipe._ It is pretty evident, therefore, that the impurities in the water canuot have been caused to any appreciable extent by the condition of this basin. Twenty-five men were hard at work the whole of yesterday in getting out the earth, but the contrivances they employed were of a rather primitive character. Three or four beams, supported by guys, were hung over the side of the basin, and each fitted with blocks, pulley rope, and bucket, two men filling the bucket and hauling it up, and others receiving it at the top. In one corner there was hung a staging, and buckets of stuff were handed up from one man to another till it reached the top. Perhaps for a job of so short duration it was not worth while fixing up a more elaborate apparatus, but up to 6 o’clock last evening not more than half the stuff had been cleared out of the basin, so that in order that the work may be finished to-night long hours must be worked. The flume erected, extending from the pipe through which the water enters the basins to the mouth of the main, worked very well. It was brought into operation about 5 o’clock, and the service pipes in the lower levels of the town filled, due arrangements being made for a stronger pressure should occasion require. There were a large number of visitors at the scene of operations during the day, and late in the afternoon the Mayor and nearly the whole of the City Councillors were driven up. Attention has been directed to the melancholy state of trade in Great Britain, as shown by our latest news. Strikes are general throughout the laud, and great distress prevails. The British Government is encouraging immigration to the colonies as a means of relieving the 'distress prevalent among the working classes. Every member of the North Wales Mining Union who desires to emigrate to Australia receives £l4, and those who wish to go to Canada receive £7 per head. This is a new phase of the emigration question, and has caused much comment among our townspeople. It is unfortunate that the value of our own staple product should also be included in the general depreciation. As wool is now worth about a third less than some two or three seasons back, it is evident that the power of wool-growers to employ labor must be greatly curtailed. Everything points to a <nrcat influx of imnrgrants here ere long, and it will be well for the Executive to make arrangements so as to find immediate employment for them as soon as they begin to arrive in large numbers. The piice recently offered for harvest hands in the Wairarapa, viz., 15s. a day, and the advertisement in the Wellington papers calling for pick and shovel men at 9s. per day show, however, that a considerable importation of labor might occur without flooding our market. The charitable aid question was brought before the City Council yesterday, “ informally” as we suppose the Mayor would say. His Worship explained what had transpired between himself and the deputation from the Benevolent Institution, as reported in the Times on Wednesday, and asked if it met with the approval of the Council. At the present time the Council had to find the money for providing charitable aid, it being deducted from their subsidy, and they had no control over the expenditure. Councillor Allan inquired whom the Mayor proposed to employ as relieving officer. The Mayor replied that he had been speaking to Mr. Johnson, who was known to Councillors as a very energetic officer. He was always about town, and therefore would have a great deal of information, and he was willing to undertake the work. However, the Council was committed to nothing. Councillor Fisher remarked that to his inind it appeared the City Council of Christchurch had found the best solution of the dif-

ficulty iu having constituted a body known as the Charitable Aid Board. It was a mixed Board, composed of the Mayor and one or two Councillors, two or three members of the local Benevolent Institution, and some other persons. The work seemed to be done satisfactorily, nnd was altogether apart from the City Council. The Mayor said that was exactly what he wished to do. Councillor Fisher went on to express doubts whether the Inspector of Nuisances would have time to attend to the new duties, for he understood that officer at present had scarcely a moment to spare. It might perhaps be better to employ some person disconnected with the Corporation, because it was exceedingly desirable to keep charitable aid apart from civic matters. The Council had quite enough to do witli the ordinary affairs of the city. It they were to perform the duties of a harbor board, and a charitable aid board as well as that of City Councillors, they would he requiring an honorarium of ,£IOO a year instead of £4O a year. The Council generally seemed to approve the action the Mayor had taken. The Australian news reporting the fact that the Kelly gang “stuck” up the telegraph office and the Bank of New South Wales at Jerilderie, and took away £2OOO, has caused much comment. A loaded revolver has been long known as an unanswerable argument when placed in the hands of a desperate man who is quite prepared to commit murder rather than take no for an answer. These Kelly outrages are but a proof of the wonderful power for mischief which can he exercised by a few determined men; many people believe that the converse is equally true, and that the power for good which can be exercised by a resolute man is almost infinite.

Messrs. Gf. Fisher and Popplewell, as representing the committee elected by the AntiChinese Immigration Committee, yesterday waited 'upon Mr. Hunter, one of the city members, with the petition to Parliament drawn up by the committee, and requested him to present it to the House at the commencement of the session. Mr. Hunter said he would gladly take charge of it, and see that the petitioners' views were fairly placed before the House. The petition bears some 2500 signatures, and there are still some sheets of signatures to come in from Masterton and other places. When these arrive, they will he attached to the petition. Mr. Barton, the other city member, has been written to by the committee and his support to the petition asked for.

.The season so far has been very dry, and there are many complaints from the country districts of injury done to the crops. The rainfall In January was considerably below the average. It was 2‘264 on 9 days, the average for same month previous years being 3'415. During the present month there has been no rain worth speaking of. There have been slight falls on three different occasions, but the total fall registered is only T2O. The temperature during January was mure variable than usual. The maximum temperature in the shade during January last was 81’4, and the minimum was 46'0, while in the same month last year the maximum was So'4, and the minimum was 50 2. The highest temperature this month so far has been 72’3, and the lowest 42 3.

Largo purchases of native land have been lately completed by Commissioner Booth in the Wanganui district. On the 7th inst. negotiations for the purchase of 150,000 acres were concluded, and altogether 400,000 acres are said to have been arranged for during the past few months. Taken upon the whole, the land on the west coast of this island is of first-rate quality, and the acquisition of large tracts of such fertile country by the Government is a subject for congratulation. The land is suitable for small farm settlement, and may well be devoted to that purpose. During the week we received a carefully written letter from an “ Old Colonist ” at Manawatu, and he, speaking upon what he believes to be thoroughly reliable authority, says that he believes the noted Titokowaru is thoroughly under the influence of Te Whiti, the chief who has undertaken to shelter the murderer Hiroki. Our eorrespondsnt believes that Te Whiti has been collecting a number of fanatical followers around him, and that the chief has some difficulty in restraining them from outrages upon the Europeans in the district. There is no doubt, he says, “ that Te Whiti’s fanatical followers will fight as soon as their prophet gives the word.”

Another unsatisfactory feature in connection with the late race for the Wellington Gold Cup has come to light in the fact that Mr. Knight, the owner of Lara, descended to the black-mailing process in connection with sweeps. He, or at any rate his representative, waited upon the gentleman who had drawn Kara in North’s sweep to give him to understand that unless £SO was paid him Lara would not start. The holder of the ticket, feeling himself in Mr. Knight’s power, agreed to pay the money. It is not all gold that glitters. Out of a £IOO prize £SO went to “ square ” Lara’s owner, and £lO for commission to the manager of the sweep. The glorious uncertainty of the turf is only equalled by its questionable morality. Our readers will observe by reference to our advertising columns that the Rev. J. W. Inglis, Minister of St. John’s, Ballarat, who recently arrived as representative of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria to the Synod of Otago, will preach in St. Andrew’s (AtheoiEum Hall) in the morning, and in St. John’s (Rev. J. Paterson’s) in the evening. Mr. Inglis’ reputation as a popular preacher will doubtless draw large attendances to both services. With reference to the series of lectureentertainments which Mr. Inglis proposes to give in the Imperial Opera House here we may state that it is the rev. gentleman's intention to hand over the proceeds of his lecturing tour in this colony as a donation to assist in reducing the building debt on his own church in Ballarat.

In answer to a question by Councillor Hunter, after the meeting of the Drainage Committee yesterday, the City Engineer said he thought the water would be a little better after the distributing basin had been cleaned out, but the basin had not been found to be so bad as was expected. As to filtration, he was now preparing plans of filtration basins, and would have them ready for submission to a meeting of the Waterworks Committee next week.

The Press, in an article on Mr. Saunders speech, says : —“ He mentions incidentally another matter which has created considerable feeling in the House, but which being of a nature personal to the members individually has not had much said about it in public. We refer to the constant and systematic abuse with which it has been a main part of their tactics to bespatter the Opposition members. In the House and in the lobbies it may fairly be said that there have been members ‘ told off ’—no other expression is suitable —for this species of annoyance. The three whips and the three scorpions were, during last session, as well recognised a party instrument as any other pari of the Government; machinery for the management of the House. By insidious whispers in the lobbies, followed up by a carefully prepared tone of virtuous indignation in the House, it was sedulously attempted to take from the Opposition the moral weight which is so priceless a support of the minority'. And while this has been done in the House, we may add that the abuse has by no means stopped there. Not alone our representatives in their own persons, but their constituencies also, have been made to feel the full weight of the Ministerial wrath.” Under the heading, “Our Water-logged City,” the Lyttelton Times says : —“ In reporting from time to time upon the progress of the North Avon drainage works, reference has been made to the startling manner in which Mr. Clark’s description of Christchurch as a “ water-logged city” was being realised. Great as has been the inrush of water in the course of catting the trench along Salisbury and Madras streets, the quantity is increasing enormously towards the North Belt, and at times it has been kept down only with the utmost difficulty. Commencing with the simple draw pump, the foremen of works had to resort to one and then two Californian pumps, then to a centrifugal pump driven by steam power, and now two centrifugal pumps, one being unusually powerful, are kept hard at it. Mr. C. Napier Bell, the engineer to the Drainage Board, in reply to questions, kindly computed the work which the pumps were doing on Monday and Tuesday, each being driven by a portable horizontal engine, running at 120 revolutions per minute. This gave to the pumps themselves 1000 revolutions per minute, and to the smaller one a lifting capacity of 400 gallons per minute. The larger pump was lifting 700 gallons per minute, and thus a total of 1100 gallons per minute was shown to be the rate at which the underground streams cut into were discharging themselves into the trench. It may be of interest to state that the centrifugal pumps are far surpassing the capabilities specified by the makers. To help them as much as possible they are set as low down as is found convenient, in order to lessen the height to which the water has to be lifted, and they are driven at a somewhat greater rate of speed than usual.”

Elevens from the Excelsior Cricket Club will play a scratch match at Polhill’s Gully to-day. Notwithstanding the dryness of the season there is a two months supply of water in the new storage reservoir.

Erom Napier we hear that Father Henneberry will commence his mission on Sunday, the 23rd ia.it., at Meauee.

The regulations for the guidance of surveyors licensed under the Land Transfer Act are published in the Gazette for general information.

Three nominated immigrants per Easternhill, which arrived in Canterbury last week, came on to Wellington on Wednesday, and were forwarded on to their destination—Wanganui.

The Union Bank announces in our advertising columns a dividend at the rate of 16 per cent, per annum. Shareholders will receive their dividends on application at the bank. The next meeting of the Wellington Teachers’ Association will be held on the first Saturday in March, when the president, Mr. J. Young, will read a paper on “Sanitary Arrangements in Schools.”

“i£loo,ooo a Year” was repeated at the Theatre Boyal last night to a fair house. Tonight a grand double bill is announced, when “ Slog’s Diversion” and “ Our Boys” will he played. The Rev. Josiah T. Hinton, of the Thames, will preach for the Baptist Church worshipping in the Forester’s Hall to-morrow. Mr. Hinton is a son of Howard Hinton, a well-known able Baptist minister. The New Zealand Shipping Company have received a telegram from London advising that the steamer Stadt Haarleem would leave Plymouth on the 12th instant with 600 immigrants for New Zealand ; also that the ship Paveoru had arrived at London from Auckland. We are informed that it is the intention of Mr. G. S. Sellar to bring Supreme Court actions against Captain Stafford in connection with yesterday’s litigation in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. One for false imprisonment and the other for defamation of character.

A meeting of the Drainage Committee was held yesterday, when, after a long discussion, it was resolved to adopt the Ohiro outfall scheme. The next step will be to make arrangements for going on with the work, and the City Surveyor will soon be busy with plans and specifications. The annual treat to the children attending St. Paul’s Sunday School will be held on Saturday next, at Belmont. A special train has been engaged, and will also take on the Kaiwarra and Johnsonville school children. There will altogether be 400 or 500 in the party. The Patea Mail of the 12th iust. says that Captain Wray having telegraphed to Wellington for immigrants—domestic servants and farm laborers—has received a reply to the effect that there are none available at present, but as soon as the Hudson arrive-, which vessel is expected dally, his application will be attended to.

Another little difficulty has (says the Bay of Plenty Times) arisen at Maketu, owing to the ejection of Mr. Thomas Smith from his run at Titirangi. This has been brought about by a native named Rota, who with a few other scoundrels seized all implements, food, &0., and dispersed the cattle. Mr. Smith has been in occupation of this land since 1871. The natives received fair value for it, hut have since learned the word repudiation. Great sympathy is expressed for Mr. Smith by the other members of the tribe, but Rota tells them he knows what to do as he has been informed by. Sir George Grey that they can eject any pakehas who are living on their lands.

Many, we (Bay of Plenty Times) believe, think that the flagstaff erected by the natives at Rotorua is simply an ordinary one painted red. This is not the case. It is a highly elaborate, and from a Maori point of view artistic piece of workmanship. It is in two pieces—a lower or mainmast, and a topmast—each being about 30ft. high. The lower part is square and tapers towards the top, and is about a foot thick at the base. It is carved the whole way up, each face having on it about twelve figures of that grotesque design peculiar to Maori carvings, the heads being nearly all at right angles to their bodies. It is painted or stained a bright red, and is surmounted by a ferocious looking carved head all eyes and teeth, and with a mop of feathers. At the base is set a figure nearly life size with a Jewish cast of features, and carved all over to represent tattoo markings, It is painted red and white. The yard is red, and has eight carved heads on it. A platform is being built round the base, and the topmast is only raised on particular occasions. The Maoris attach special importance to it, and say it inaugurates a new era, when they will take the management of their lands into their own hands.

From the Lyttelton Times we learn that the fifth annual general meeting of the Canterbury Sale Yards Company (Limited), was held at Christchurch on the 11th inst., Sir Cracroft Wilson, chairman of the company, in the chair. The secretary, Mr. G. A. Makeig, read the report, from which we make the following extract :—“Your directors beg to report that the number of stock passed through the yards from July 1 to December 31 last is 141,096 sheep, 8192 cattle, aud 1673 pigs, being a decrease on the previous half year of 25,013 sheep, 1226 cattle, and 1688 pigs ; but it must be borne in mind that much less stock pass through the yards during the second than the first half at the year. Compared with the corresponding half year of 1877, there is an increase of 15,640 sheep aud 352 pigs, but a falling off of 690 head of cattle. Your directors wish to bring under the notice of the meeting the desirability of increasing the capital of the company, which is at present limited to £7OOO, and cannot be increased but by a resolution passed at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, and they have, to save time and inconvenience, called an extraordinary general meeting for the same day as the annual general meeting, to consider and pass a special resolution to alter rule 8 in the Articles of Association to the original rule (No. 20, Table B), in the Joint Stock Company’s Act, namely—- ‘ The company may, with the sanction of the company, previously given in general meeting, increase its capital.’ ” A public trial of one of Gammon and Deering’s Harvester King Reapers aud Binders took place on Smith’s farm, Kingsdon, Canterbury. There were a good many farmers and others present. The machine was started in a very even crop of wheat, aud it worked splendidly both on the flat and on the steep slopes. The sheaves were all well bound, and the machine did its work much cleaner than a McCormick machine that was working in the same crop. All present expressed themselves highly pleased with the trial.

A writer in the Sydney Mail says ;—The patients at the Orange Hospital are possibly interested more than the average of mankind in an early solution being arrived at of the long unsettled problem—" Who shall decide when doctors disagree ? From a local account I derive the information that, in their unhappy case, the last comer of two disagreeing doctors decided in a fashion that left little chance for a reversal of his decision. Dr. Codrington, “ with characteristic generosity,” treated the patients on Christmas Hay to roast goose. Dr. Southam heard of the characteristic generosity, and with admirable promptitude administered an emetic to each of the patients under his charge who had tasted Dr. Oodrington’s benefaction. I confess I am curious to know what has been the relative mortality among ; Ist, patients who had no roast goose ; 2nd, patients who had roast goose plain ; and 3rd, patients who had roast goose with emetic to follow. And if it should have chanced that Dr. Southam administered emetic to a patient who had not had roast goose, it would be interesting to know also how he got on.

It is desirable, says the Wairarapa Daily, to direct public attention in a prominent manner to the dangerous condition of the Black Bridge, and with that view we report the opinion expressed on the subject by the County Engineer at the last meeting of the works committee of West County Council. Mr. King stated that the bridge was exceedingly unsafe, and might collapse totally at any moment. He did not think the structure could he strengthened, as the elasticity of the supports was utterly exhausted, and the peculiar manner in which the bridge had been originally built would render any strain additionally dangerous. He had very little donbt that if a start were once made the whole structure would go, and it would not surprise him to learn at any moment that such had actually happened. The only practicable course was to erect an entirely new bridge.” Excursionists wfll do well to remember that the bridge referred to is the first bridge north of Greytown, a mile or so beyond the town. The County Council will notify that the bridge is unsafe for loads exceeding four tons, but the paragraph quoted goes much farther than this.

The names of the members of sixteen Harbor Boards are gazetted. By private telegram we learn that Trump Card’s weight in the Australian Cup is Bst 21b, and Le Loup’s 7st 101 b. The return of cattle and sheep imported into Canterbury district at Port Lyttelton shows that 587 merino sheep, S thoroughbred racehorses, and -13 other horses, and 8 head of Brittany cattle, were imported between the Ist of April and 31st December, 1878. The IFni-a Maori says :—Private letters received by the last mail from friends of Sir Julius Vogel point to the probability of his return to the colony before Parliament meets. Should such be the case, he will he hailed with joy from one end of the colony to the other. His advent would be the signal for the immediate overthrow of the present imbecile and intriguing Government. Wellington is not the only place where the water supplied through the mains is of indifferent quality. In answer to a correspondent the Sydney Mail says : —“ The water supply of Svdney is far from being satisfactory at present, but we do not think that the appearance you mention proceeds from either of the cause's stated. The best plan would bo to bottle some of the ‘ milky water ’ and have it analysed, though, so far as we see, if you find it ever so much adulterated you are helpless. No family in Sydney should be without a filter, for unquestionably the water as supplied by the pipes, is generally deleterious."

Dwan and Kirton will sell to-day, at the Wilhsstreet Auction Mart, at 2 o’clock, a most recherche collection of jewellery and curios, accumulated in the last few months, to be sold without reserve and in accordance with the Pawnbroker’s Act. The public ought to attend this sale, as such a chance of securing genuine articles seldom occurs. Several other lines will bo sold, including a four-room cottage, with scullery aud out-house, situated in Craw*fordstreet, in tho rear of the Tramway Hotel, Adelaideroad.

Messrs. Beauchamp, Campbell, and Co. hold their usual Saturday’s sale of hacks, carriages, express aud draught horses, at 2 p.m. to-day.

A large sale of furniture, piano, carpetings, Ac., will be held in the Arcade to-day by Mr. Sideyatl p.m. sharp. At 3 p.m. the same gentleman will dispose of sections at Stratford Extension, which will bo connected by rail with New Plymouth by August next, as the contract for the line has been let. A number of freehold residences in different parts of the city including a six-roomed house and a four-roomed cottage iu Webb street near the Methodist Chapel, and some cottages in High-street, off tho Adelaido-road* Some sections at Petonc, and some at Palmerston, will also bo offered.