GENERAL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5638, 25 April 1879, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

, The ceremony of administering the oaths to' his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson as Governor of this colony took place on the verandah in front of Government House at noon on April 17. A guard of honor, composed of thirty men of the Armed Constabulary, was drawn up in front of the gubernatorial residence. The members of the Ministry present were the Hon. Sir George Grey, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, the Hon. Mr. Fisher, the Hon. Mr. Ballance, and the Hon, Mr. Macandrew, the Hon, Mr. Stout being absent at Dunedin through illness. The Commission, signed by Sir Michael Hicks-Beaeb, was read out by Mr. Foster Goring, Clerk of the Executive Council, after which the oaths were duly administered by his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond. The guard of honor then saluted, the flag on the lawn was hoisted as a signal that the ceremony was completed, and a salute of seventeen guns was then fired by H.M.S. Emerald. Owing no doubt to the unfavorable state of the weather, the attendance of the general public was small. The Hon. Lady Robinson and tome members of her family occupied seats on the verandah, and amongst those present we observed Bishop Hadfield, the Venerable Archdeacon. Thorpe, Colonel Reader, and Mr. Seymour George, M.H.R. The ceremony only lasted a few minutes. His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson left for the Bluff on April 19th in the Hiuemoa, where he arrived on the morning of the 21st. The Governor, on landing, was received by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Nichol, and the councillors, who presented an address of welcome. After receiving his Excellency’s reply the school girls presented Lady Robinson with a beautiful green-house bouquet, with which she expressed her gratification. The parly then walked up the wharf, under a large evergreen arch bearing the words “ Welcome,” and started for Queenstown, where he remained till the 24th. He then proceeds to Invercargill and Riverton, and will leave there by special train for Dunedin on the 26th, remaining at the latter place till the 2nd of May. He goes from there to Christchurch, stopping at Oamaru to lunch, Timaru to sleep, and paying a flying visit to Ashburton. He will stay in Christchurch till the Bth, when he will return to Wellington, colling in at Akaroa en voyage, and anticipates being back in Wellington on the 9th. A circular has been printed embodying the above, and forwarded to the chairmen of all County Councils and the Mayors of all the districts that he will visit on this trip. The Hon. the Postmaster-General will accompany his Excellency. The following wrecks and casualties are reported by Mr. R. Johnson, the officer in charge of the Marine Department, during the year ending June 30 :—6l casualties were reported to this office, 52 of which occurred on or near the coasts of the colony.. Of these, 23, affecting vessels of an aggregate of 4162 tons, were cases of total wreck (in this, however, is included the Hyderabad, which it is possible may be recovered), while 29, affecting vessels of 3479 tons in all, were cases of partial loss only. The number of lives lost on or near the coasts of the colony was 20, viz,. 5 from the Lionel, 6 from the Excelsior, and 4 from the Clan Alpine (all hands in these vessels being lost), 2 each from the Echo and the Zion, and 1 from the Queen Bee. Nine casualties were reported as having occurred beyond the colony, consisting of 6 total wrecks, with an aggregate tonnage of 1615, 2 partial losses (tonnage 2588), and 1 case of only loss of life. The total of lives lost in these oases was 12, viz., 7 from Hinemoa (lost with all hands), 2 from the Emma, and 1 each from the Bencleuch, Kedar, and Kentish Tar.

Though the recent Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the special settlement at Jackson Bay has exonerated all persons from blame, or imputation of any kind, that locality - does not seem to be a favorite resting place for the - immigrants who have tried it. When the Stella, after taking down the Commissioners, &c., returned from Jackson Bay, there was a complete rush to get on board her and escape from the lively district. No less than forty-nine were brought away, sadder, but wiser, individuals; and it is hardly probable that enterprising colonists will be found to occupy their places. The West Coast of the other island seems to bo generally in a bad way, for no less than sixty, in addition to the Jackson Bay refugees, came lip in the Stella from Westland, where they found it impossible to earn a crust. The latest accounts from that part are simply deplorable, and everyone is flying from there who can by any means obtain a passage. Unless something very speedily turned up, both great commercial and general distress may be looked for from the whole of the Westland centres of population. The services of the Wellington Naval Brigade have been officially accepted, ‘

There were 182 new claims to vote sent in to the Registrar on the 31st March. The light dues collected at the various ports of the colony daring the year amounted to £11,517 19s. 2d., being £482 15a, more than for the previous year. ■The amount paid into the colonial exchequer by the banka and joint-stock companies of this colony under the Stamp Act for the year ended 31st December, 1878, was no less an amount than £26,082 19s. It is therefore a mistake to suppose that all our monetary institutions, both large' and small, are not already taxed. - ' ■ While in Christchurch Lord Harris gave some of the prominent players to understand that on his return to England he would endeavor to arrange forgetting together the strongest team of gentlemen players in England, to include Grace, Steele, and the Hon. Mr. Lyttelton ; and that if the projected negotiations came to a successful issue the team would come out iu two years from this time and play in New Zealand before going to Australia. . The Tenui correspondent of the Wairarapa, Daily says “ that Messrs. Bennet and Elders, of Langdale, are turning into good account what was known and dreaded as the Hungapakeha Swamp, which is about seven miles long. There is quite a number of men employed in digging a substantial ditch to drain this properly, and no doubt reward will follow their enterprise, for it is the best of land, and ere long should this firm be disposed to sell smiling homesteads will take the place of what was a miserable swamp.” Dr. Hector, the Chairman of the New Zealand Commissioners, has now received plans showing the space alloted for this colony in the Sydney International Exhibition. The situation is in the most favorable possible position. The space on the main floor is 75ft. by 75ft., 5625 square feet, with a proportionate amount iu the galleries and basement, in as near as possible corresponding situations. A small amount of space will also be available in the part of the transept facing the New Zealand court, say about 600 or 700 feet, for the exhibition of trophies and articles of a similar character.

On April 3rd the Wellington Young Men’s Christian Association held their first annual social gathering at their rooms. Though the weather was inclement, a large number sat down to tea, which was followed by a meeting in the large hall of the Athenaeum, when addresses were delivered by various speakers, and the evangelistic choir discoursed sweet music. During the after meeting, the late secretary, Mr. Luther Halliwell, was presented with a very handsome timepiece by the members of association. The presentation was made by the president, Mr. J. G. Holdsworth, who, in the course of his remarks, spoke of the efficient and self-denying services of Mr. Halliwell while acting as secretary of the association. Mr. Halliwell, who knew nothing of the presentation, and was visibly affected, spoke a few words of thanks, and hoped he would always have the welfare of the association at heart.

During the last week the Manwwatu Times has had the following;—“During the past week Mr. R. H. Rhodes and Mr. Robert P. Rhodes, the brother and nephew of the late Mr. B. Rhodes, paid a visit to Palmerston. The latter gentleman, who has just arrived from England, in addition to some £22,000 cash, has inherited 1250 acres in the Bunnythorpa Block, and it was with the view of inspecting that property that both gentlemen: were in the district. They were highly pleased with the land, and the owner not only gave Messrs. Thynne, Linton, and Co. authority to have 200 acres felled, cleared, and laid down in grass, but also instructed that firm to look out for a further 700 acres. We understand that the elder gentleman has over £200,000 invested in land, and that it is the intention of his nephew to return from England—whither he sails shortly and settle upon his Manawatu property." The Press says:—“ The meeting of the committee of the late fete in aid of the Kaitangata relief fund was held last night, when a statement of accounts, as far as was practicable, was submitted. The total proceeds of the day-and night amount to about £750. This with the amount on the Mayor's list, and that of Messrs. Bird and Paul, brings the total contributions from Canterbury up to over £I3OO. The hon. secretary was presented with a testimonial, subscribed for by the members of the committee, in recognition of the zeal displayed by him in carrying »ut his duties. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies and gentlemen taking part in the performances, both on the grounds and and in the evening, and also to those who had written off their accounts as subscriptions to the fund. The question of the formation of a fund from which assistance could be given to such cases as that of the widow and children of the la's Sergeant-Major Kerr was discussed conversationally. It was resolved to appoint a subcommittee, to whom the winding-up of the matters connected with the fete was remitted.”

Mr. J. A. Bird, secretary to the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, has received the following communication from Mr. Monckton Synnott :—“Blinders Wool Warehouse, March 1/. Bear Sir,—l have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your letters of February 26th and March Ist, the latter containing the post office order for £lO sterling, ■which was acknowledged in the following day’s Aryus (March 14th). I was very sorry not to have donor’s name. I did not write when sending the printed forms for collecting names and subscriptions, being pressed fer time at the moment, and I thought they would explain themselves. : The' collections 1 will fall very far short of my hopes and expectations; but still I expect to get enough to send away another fa ; r lot of yarn, to be treated exactly as suggested in the heading of the . forms. With respect to the samples of wool you hare po kindly collected for the purpose of sending them to the Japanese Government, I would suggest their being packed in one or more plain but neat deal boxes, divided into boh-voniont-sized compartments, and the whole lined with a bright blue paper, each box to contain four or six fleeces ; they should net cost more than a few shillings each, and the blue paper sets off wool to great advantage. I hope you will not cease to urge, both on your Chamber and on squatters, the great benefit a trade direct with China and Japan would confer upon every interest in your colony.—With best regards, I remain, dear sir, yours very truly, Monokton Stnnott.” We understand that the seven-ton guns recently landed are to be erected in the following places:—Oh Somes Island, on Hastwell Point, and across the bay under the lighthouse. The difficulty is ’ how to get them to their respective stations without proper machinery and appliances. A week’s hard work and Scotch navigation was required to get the signal gun up to the top of Mount Victoria, and it is not half the size or weight of those just come to hand. It will tax; the ingenuity of all concerned to place the new guns, but even when they are in situ it will require a great deal of ingenuity and professional skill to set them up. From inquiries we have made it is doubtful it there is more than one man in the colony who could be trusted to perform the work satisfactorily. We refer to Sergeant-Major Mouatt, formerly artillery drill instructor for New Zealand. That gentleman is at present in Wellington, and is employed in the Land Tax Department. It would be very advisable to secure his services for the work.

A correspondent writes:—“Which is correct, the London Times correspondent or an evening contemporary’s view of the fund from which the £44,000 for defences is to be derived !” In reply, we extract from Hansard of October 7th what Mr. Ballanoe himself says on the subject:—“ Honorable members will remember that when I delivered the Financial Statement I referred to a particular item, ‘ Harbor Defences, £44,000,’ which I suggested might fairly be borne by, or made a charge against, the Public Works account. These harbor defences are not for the present, but for all time. It was from the fact that we had sufficient revenue to spare that the £44,000 was placed on the miscellaneous estimates to be provided for out of revenue. The amount which we shall lose is £48,000 — £30,000 from beer tax ; £IO,OOO the joint stock companies tax; and timber duty £3ooo— altogether, very nearly the amount which is charged against revenue for the harbors of the colony. . . . . We think the best way to meet the difficulty is to make the £44,000 a charge upon the Public Works account, which, to my mind, can fairly be done. It was our desire to bring as many charges as possible over from the Public Works account, and make them chargeable upon the revenue, in order that the Public Works account might be reserved, or rather conserved, for the making of railways and for immigration purposes. I stated in the Financial Statement that any surplus of revenue might fairly be placed to the credit of. the Public Works account. If our revenue should show more than ordinary elasticity, the £44,000, and more, would still absolutely come out of revenue, because the surplus of revenue would be placed at once to the credit of the Public Works account.” As there is every probability of a serious deficit in the revenue, it would appear that the London Times correspondent's statement in this particular is correct.

The amount of duty collected at the Custom House, Wellington,' for the month of March, was £20,036 11s. 2d. During the month of- March there were 74 births in Wellington, 54 deaths, and 33 marriages.

Two hundred and fifty nominations were forwarde.d home by the San Erancisco mail, which left on' March 30, for immigrants to Wellington, The meteorological table gives the rainfall for the month of February in Wellington at I'(in.,'and at Hokitika daring the same period 16'8in. fell, on seventeen rainy days. At New Guinea fifteen out of twenty men, with their wives and children, lauded there by the John Williams, have already died through poison and fever. The following is the return of the patients admitted into and discharged from the Provincial Hospital, Wellington, during the month of March -.—Admitted, SO ; discharged, 26 ; died, 3 ; left in Hospital, 64. The following appointments are gazetted : Mr. J. W. A. Merchant to be chief surveyor, Mr. O. W. Adams to be geodesical surveyor, and Mr. G. W. Williams to be inspecting surveyor for Wellington Provincial District. Permission to the Council of the University of Otago to borrow £IO,OOO is gazetted. The security given will be a mortgage, and the interest to be paid shall not exceed 8 per cent. The object of the loan is declared to be for building and other purposes. The new Odd Fellows’ Hall lately erected at Newtown is a fine commodious and wellappointed edifice. It is tastefully decorated, and well lighted. The building includes a good sized stage, with ante-rooms, which will be found of great convenience to the residents of this suburb.

It is somewhat strange that the Ministry should abandon their organ, the Ne%o Zealander, and sell it to a West Coast stranger. No doubt the transfer was made after due consideration. It is said that the proprietors found that a subsidised journal was too costly a toy to be maintained for any longer time. The change has had the effect of doubling the price of the paper. It will be seen by the vital statistics for the month that there were 63 births both iu Wellington and in Dunedin in February last. There were 53 deaths in the former and 29 deaths in the latter town. Twenty-six infants under a year died in Wellington, only six iu Dunedin. In Christchurch there were 53 births and 45 deaths of infants under a year old.

Reference was made the other day to the manner in which the address to the Marquis of Normanby from the City Council was got up by the gentleman to whom its embellishment was entrusted. Some photographic views were bound up with the address, which we desire now to mention were executed by Mr. Gibb, late of Nelson. This gentleman, who has settled in Wellington, is making a name for himself in landscape photographing.

A gentleman living not many miles from Wellington recently advertised the fact that he had £SOOO to lend. Within an hour or so of the publication of the notice he accepted an offer of 12 per cent, for the money, which was lent for three years. The security offered was said to be worth four times the sum borrowed. If this be true, and the report comes to us on good authority, money must be both scarce and tight. The first consignment of wheat from Wairarapa to Wellington was dispatched on April 5 through the agency of Mr. Thomas Pilcher. As a large yearly increase in the acreage of land under crop has been constantly recorded, a price for Wairarapa wheat may yet be quoted as a regular item in Wellington price lists. No doubt the cheap freight per rail has caused this traffic to be attempted, and our knowledge of the large areas of land suitable for grain-growing in the Whareama and Ureti districts warrant the expectation that the traffic may be expected to develop into an important one within the next few years. A large meeting of footballers was held at the Princess Hotel oh April 3rd, for the purpose of forming a new club to play the Victorian rules. A club was formed 1 and named the Reform FootballOlub. Thirty odd members were enrolled, and the following office-bearers were elected ;—President, the Hon. J. Sheehan; vice-presidents, Andrew Young, Esq., W. Levin, Esq., J. H. Whitelau, Esq.; captain, W. A. Sandilands ; secretary, George Page ; treasurer, J. A. Rowe ; committee, Messrs. J. A. Salmon, T. W. Robinson, Bentley, Barnett, and A. G. Young; match committee, Messrs.' W. Sandilands, J. Sandelands, and Geo. Page. During the Maori war in 1860 (writes a correspondent of the Wairarapa Daily), on the day after the battle of Wairaiki, a volunteer stationed in the Omato stockade observed a Maori near the Wairaiki Pa, the distance being about two miles. The man used tin to make a sufficient elevation for his rifle, and tried the experiment to see if the rifle would carry so far, and having taken a careful sight, fired. An officer standing by with a field-glass observed the Maori spring into the air and fall down, after which they proceeded to the pa, and found him dead, shot through the heart. Active operations have been taken preparatory to the erection of the new Episcopal Church at the corner of Willis and Ghuznee streets, Te Aro. The new building is to be erected on the site of the old one, and therefore it was necessary that the old building should be removed before commencing the erection of the new one. The work of removal commenced at 10 o’clock on Tuesday, April Ist, and before dark the same day the building was removed 150 ft. back. When the size of the building removed is taken into consideration (some 85ft. by 65ft.), and the short time occupied in doing it, the result must be highly satisfactory to all concerned. There was the additional disadvantage that the original building had been added to four or five times, and consequently was in so many pieces ; yet, notwithstanding this, the work was successfully performed, without the slightest injury to the building, in the short space of time mentioned above. The work was performed by Messrs. Murdock and Rose, the contractors, under the direction and supervision of Mr. Thomas Turnbull, ■ the architect for the new St. Peter’s Church. The building is the largest that has been attempted to be removed in Wellington, and the success attending its removal is highly creditable to both architect and builders. The old church will be used as a place of worship during the erection of the new one. The Poverty Bay Standard says:—Mr. John Harding, of Mount Vernon,' Waipukurau, in addressing a temperance meeting at Oaversham, Dunedin, a few nights ago, said that he had been a pledged total abstainer for fortyfour years ; he never had reason to regret that he had taken the pledge of total abstinence, and the longer he lived the more convinced he was that he was the better for it. The intemperate habits of the people, which arose from their drinking customs, he pointed out were, on the testimony of unprejudiced witnesses, the most fruitful source of vice and misery. When at Lyttelton he . had asked the gaoler there how many total abstainers he had in custody, and the reply was “ Not one.” If it were not for the drink traffic most of the gaols might "be turned into warehouses, or put to some other purpose than that which they now served. ; The amount expended in intoxicating drink in this colony was about £2,000,000 per year, and if the money had not thus been spent there would, he believed, have been no reason to have gone out of the colony to borrow money for our public works. Mr. Harding also vouched, from personal observation, forthe great success of the restrictive liquor laws in operation in the United States. It has been the custom of visitors from other places in the colony to speak in unfavorable terms of the shops of Wellington, and to compare them with business establishments in their respective cities in disparaging terms.. Latterly, however, the case has been to a very, great extent reversed, as a patrol of the principal thoroughfares will disclose. Large business establishments have of late to a very considerable degree. In the ironmongery line of business, one of the most noticeable features in the way of improvement is the opening of the new ironmongery warehouse on Lambton-quay by our enterprising townsman, Mr. McCredie. As is well known, Mr. McCredie became the purchaser some time ago of the premises nearly opposite the Government Buildings known as the old Club. Both internally and externally the place has undergone a complete alteration, and it is now one of the largest and prettiest shops in Wellington to look at. Mr. McCredie has a great deal of space at his disposal, and consequently he is enabled to display his varied and extensive stock to the best possible advantage, it would occupy too much of our space to describe the various showrooms in detail ; but anyone visiting Mr. McOredie’s establishment will be easily convinced that there are few other places in the same line of business which will compete with it in the colony. - During the passage of the Wave Queen, from England, two melancholy occurences happened. The first was the mate of the ship jumping overboard, and the second the washing overboard of Mr, E. Graham, a cabin passenger, during a heavy gale. _ Particulars _of both events will be found in the shipping column.

During the quarter ending the 31st March last there were registered in Wanganui 60 births, 29 deaths, and 29 marriage certificates were issued. The marriages were solemnised, 9 by Wesleyan ministers, 7 by Anglican, 6 by Presbyterian, 5 by Roman Catholic, and 2 by tbe Registrar. A movement is on foot to procure a peal of bells for St. Paul’s Cathedral, and from what has already transpired there can be no doubt that the proposition will meet with the support which it deserves. A little rivalry exists between the two parishes, and the Thorndou people are unwilling to be outdone by -the parishioners of St. Peter’s. We understand that those who have been consulted in the matter have promised a liberal support, and the opinion is general that tbe parishioners of St. Paul’s are quite as anxious for a good peal of bells as their brother parishioners at the other end of the town.

A presentation, which was a most gratifying and pleasing surprise, was made at the Hospital on April 4th to Dr. Keating, who is about to leave Wellington. Dr. Johnston, who acted as spokesman for the deputation, in a most kindly and complimentary way expressed the regret both of himself and of all the officers of the institution at Dr. Keating’s retirement, and their good wishes for and interest in his future career. Dr. Johnston referred to the good feeling and harmony which had prevailed among the officers of tbe Hospital during Dr. Keating’s residence, and spoke in the most flattering terms of Dr. Keating’s own services. He then presented, on behalf of the donors, a handsome and valuable black marble clock, which bore a silver plate with this inscription;—“Presented to Dr. W. F. Keating by Selina Sutherland and officers of the Wellington Hospital as a token of their respect and esteem.” The clock was accompanied by an address from the officers and patients of the Hospital. Dr. Johnston then, in his own name, presented a valuable microscope, which he hoped Dr. Keating would find useful in his future practice. We notice that the Government have decided to withdraw the 16,000 acres of land on the Waimate Plains advertised for sale on the 6th prox. Almost the whole of the Press in New Zealand had disapproved of the contemtemplated sale, under circumstances which would have deprived the colony of a large amount of revenue which at a more favorable time would have been derived from it. We are pleased to find that the Ministry have reconsidered their determination.

The monthly meeting of the Teachers’ Association was held in the Thorndon school on Saturday, April sth. There was a good attendance of teachers from town and suburban schools. The usual routine business was gone through, and some important notices of motion were given. Mr. Mowbray read the first part of his promised paper on teaching music in schools, and said he would read the remainder at some future meeting, as he had found that he could not do justice to his subject in one paper. The first part of the paper dealt with the subject generally ; the next section will deal with the method of instruction. Mr. Holmes will read a paper at next meeting on drawing in schools. ■ The ease against the young man J ones tor manslaughter terminated on April Bth in a verdict of acquittal, and the decision of the jury appeared to meet with general approval. Outside the Court there were manifestations of sympathy and congratulation for the accused.

The Wellington Choral Society gave a concert in aid of their funds at the Imperial Opera House on Tuesday, April Bth, and it must have been a source of satisfaction to its members to see all parts of the house so liberally patronised. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Robinson and family, the Governor’s suite, and a number of officers of H.M.S. Emerald were present, and on the arrival of his Excellency and party the National Anthem was played by the orchestra. Handel’s “ Messiah " was the task which the society undertook, and, without feeling any desire to be hypercritical, it would besayingtoomuch to assert that the performance was anything approaching a thorough success. The orchestra, for its calibre, acquitted itself very satisfactorily, and all the accompaniments were admirably played. Some of the choruses were remarkably effective, but generally speaking they dragged very considerably, through the want of ■ a sufficient amount of spirit being infused into them by singers. Gf individual efforts Mr. Page’s recitative, “ Comfort ye my people,” and the air, “Every valley shall be exalted," were veryflatly sung. Mr. Hollister distinguishedhimself in the next recitative and ; air (“ Thus saith the Lord” and “But who may abide”). The contralto recitative “Behold n Virgin shall conceive,” and the air “O Thou that tellest good tidings” were given in a creditable manner by Miss Randall. It must surely be Mr. Widdop’s intense musical enthusiasm which prompts him to assume a prominent position like that he occupied last night. The burthen of the solos rested on Mrs. George Ootterell, and this lady acquitted herself exceedingly well. Considering that Mrs. Lovien took up the recitative “Then shall the eyes of the blind” at a moment’s notice, : her execution of the task thus Suddenly assumed was far from discreditable to her. In the quartettes in the second part of the programme) all lovers of music must have been glad to observe Mrs. J.-E. Fitz Gerald. Mr. Parker conducted most ably, and Miss Cherritt did duty as organist with marked satisfaction. ■

The annual ■ meeting of the Wellington Athletic Football Club was" held at the Star Hotel on Monday, April Bth. There was a good attendance, and. from the’ energy displayed there is every probability of the club having a very successful season. The following officebearers were elected: —Captain, Mr. A. Campbell; secretary, Mr. G. Campbell; committee, Messrs. G. Wright, Leckie, Dumbell, Cooper, Burns, Hickson, and Berry. Mr. Berry, on behalf of the club, proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring captain, Mr. Welch, who is about-leaving Wellington. The success and general welfare of the club Mr. Berry said was in a great measure attributable to the energy and attention which Mr. Welsh at all times devote! to the game. -Mr. Welch replied in appropriate terms, and remarked that thoughhe was leaving Wellington he would carry with him pleasing recollections of the club. The finances of the club-are in a satisfactory condition, as it starts this season with a small balance to its credit/ The report of last year’s matches were read, and showed very good results. It was arranged that the two first matches this season would bo between the Wanganui and Nelson Clubs, l The following particulars regarding the Taieri County may be read with interest:— Taieri County—Number of freehold holdings, 342; rented 171, part rent and part freehold, 65; extent of land broken up, but not under cultivation; 3719 acres; in wheat sown for grain only, 1722. acres; estimated gross produce, 177,412 bushels; in pats, for green food or hay 2807 acres, for, grain 9733 acres; estimated ■ gross produce; of grain, 881,437 bushels; in barley, sown for. grain only, 206 acres; estimated gross, produce, 8385 bushels; in sown grasses, in hay; 711 acres; estimated gross produce, 1081 tons; in grass after having been broken up, including such as in hay, 28,429 acres; grass, sown on lands, not previously ploughed, including such as in hay, 19,609 acres; in potatoes, 571 acres; estimated gross produce, 3514 tons; in other crops, 3334 acres. Total number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, 47,614. Quantity of last year’s crop remaining on hand when the form was filled up—Wheat, 35,251 bushels; oats, 4670 bushels; barley, 65 bushels. A Mastorton Farmers’ Club has been formed, and on Saturday, April 12th, we learn by the 1 VuivdTdp'X Daily , a ■ dinner to, inaugurate the Association was held at the Club Hotel, .Masterton. Mr. G. Beetham, one of the members for the district, and a number of the leading men of the locality attended the festivity. It was stated that the Club was intended to run concurrently with the Pastoral Association of the Wairarapa, and should the anticipated harmony be preserved between the two bodies, nothing but the best results to the agricultural interests of the Valley can arise. We need hardly add that we wish the Club all possible success. ! . ■ • ..

We extract the following from the Timaru Herald :—“ We have heard of a great many comical instances of blunders, intentional or otherwise, in filling in the valuation forms for the land tax, but the oddest of them all was reported to us a few days since as having occurred in this district. The owner of a considerable acreage of nnfeuced tussock land put down the natural value of his property at £2OOO, but reduced this sum to £SOO for taxation —thus claiming exemption from the tax altogether—by valuing his • improvements’ at. £ISOO. The valuer could not see any ‘improvements’ except a lean-to, worth, perhaps,' £SO; and on inquiry as to how the £ISOO was made up was rather staggered to hear that the proprietor classed as ‘ improvements’ two mortgages which he had effected on the land, one for £BOO and the other for £7OO. The valuer heartlessly refused to accept these as improvements, in spite of a’liberal offer on the part of the proprietor to ‘ throw the shanty in ;’ and the latter says, he doesn’t think much of Sir George Grey if he won’t let a poor man get a fair start in life,” ■ - .

The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Springfield contract of the Malvern Branch Extension Bail way :—-Accepted : 1' ■ Benham, Christchurch, £10,353. Declined : C. Watty and Co., Christchurch, £11,092 ; Jno. Fraser and Go., Christchurch, £11,753. We have received the following from the Public Works Office :—The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the wharf contract of the Wel-lington-Woodville railway : Jas. Leokie (Wellington), £16,753. Declined: Coffey and Dixon (Wellington), £17,633 ; Samuel Brown (Wellington), £18,616 ; JSaunders (Wellington), £18,720; Oornfoot and Stenhouse (Christchurch), £18,758; Barry and McDowell (Wellington), £18,899; W. Howe (Wanganui), £22,989. We are officially informed that the following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Shorthand contract of the Waikato-Thames railway : Accepted—J. J. O'Brien, Thames, £8393. Declined—Thompson, Heart, and Co., Shortlaud, £3425 ; Robert Smith, Grahamstown, £10,918 ; P. Ferguson and Co., Auckland, £11,800; R. Ferrall, Auckland, £11,872; John Briton, Auckland, £12,412 ; James Darron, Auckland, £12.730 ; John Brett, Auckland, £12,835 ; and H. H. Adams, Auckland, £13,759. The new Roman Catholic Church at Masterton is nearly completed, and is to be consecrated by Bishop Redwood on Sunday, May 4. The new church is in the Gothic style of early architecture. The tower and spire are much admired for their beautiful proportions, and the building as a whole forms a prominent feature in the landscape. Mr. T. Turnbull is the architect, and Messrs. Bishop and Hawkins the builders.

The Hon. Mr. Macandrew has given an order to Mr. Smith, of Taranaki, to make eight wheels for railway carriages out of the Taranaki iron sand. Four of the wheels are for the Sydney Exhibition, and four are for test purposes on the New Zealand railways. There appears to be a difficulty about obtaining the use of the company’s furnaces and plant, but Mr. Smith asserts that he will be able to perform the work in the small foundry on the Devon line.

A soiree took place in the Dixon-street schoolhouse on April 17th to bid farewell to the Rev. Mr. Reid, who left for the North by the steamer Taiaroa at midnight. Several addresses were delivered speaking in the most eulogistic terms of Mr. Reid. A presentation was made to him in the shape of a picture, containing photographs taken by Mr. Clark of the members of the Young Men’s Christian Association. After the presentation took place the soiree was held in the adjoining room. Mr. James Gndber, of Cuba-street, was the caterer, and the refreshments he provided gave every satisfaction. Among the festivities observed on Good Friday we learn that an impromptu picnic took place among the carpenters of this city, who, with their wives and friends, took a trip to Lowry Bay and Pencarrovv Head in the s.s. Moa. The notion occurred to a few members of the craft rather late to realise what was Originally intended, namely, a re-union of the trade in a festive manner, but it is intended, from the success which crowned the attempt on Good Friday to hold a succession of such festivities on all proper opportunities which may arise, and doubtless the best wishes of all are with them in their object. The effect will be to emulate and foster feelings of good fellowship, and dispel that estrangement and jealousy which often are noted as existing between the employes of firms which are not really antagonistic. We may mention that Mr. Mitchell, of the building firm of Mitchell and Thomson, handsomely contributed towards the funds required on the occasion. .The Manawatu Herald says “ A circular was printed in Maori at our office a few days ago. It was an invitation to the natives of Wanganui, Rangitikei, Wairarapa, Manawatu, &c., to attend a great native meeting at Otaki on January 1, 1880, for the purpose of commemorating their conversion from heathenism to Christianity. The circular was. signed by Ihakara Tukumarn, Moroati Kiharoa, Horomona Toremi, Matene te Wiwi, Karanama Kapukai, Hoani Taipua, Takarei te Nawa, Hoani Meihana, Ropata te Ao.” - The Wairarapa Daily says A man in Masterton was summoned the other day for £3, and great was his wrath. When his auger subsided and reflection resumed its sway, he took the summons round to everyone who owed him money and said, “Look here, you must pay me, or I shall be sent up for 28 days.” The Creditors handed up their money, and before night our friend had collected £3O on the strength of the £3 summons ; and his last prayer before retiring to rest was for another summons to be served upon him. The Gem of the Sea Lodge, No. 74,1.0.G.T., located on board H.M.S. Emerald, Wellington, opened a lodge session in Mr.Redstone’sSohoolroom, Courtenay-place, on April 12 th, by the permission of the officers and members of the Pearl of Peace Lodge; Wellington, who kindly gave the room up for the above lodge to hold their session, being their first visit in this colony. . After business was done, the doors were thrown open for the visiting lodges and the public to pay their congratulations to the sailor . Good Templars ; after which they had harmony, when the Lodge Deputy of the Pearl of Peace, Wellington, kindly consented to take the chair. The programme then commenced by members and visitors singing the “Qde of Welcome, Friends of Temperance after which Mr. Brown sang a song. Mrs. Smith sang “ Nancy Lee ” very nicely indeed; Mr. O’Oonnell sang “ A Mother’s parting gift to me.” A number of other songs were nicely rendered. The following items are from this month’s “ Evangelist ” '“ The Rev. Mr. Wohler, for many years Maori missionary at Ruapuke, has been obliged by infirmities to take up his residence on Stewart Island, where there is a Maori settlement, and' which the Ruapuke Maoris statedly visit.—The Rev. L. Mackie is engaged in preparing for the press a memoir of the late Dr. Cameron, of St. Eilda.—The Waitahuna congregation presented their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Skinner, with a purse of fifty sovereigns on the eve of his departure for the old country.—Mr. John Ferguson, who took his undergraduate course at the Otago University and completed his theological training in Edinburgh, is expected to leave Edinburgh in next June for the work of the ministry in Otago.” ; A story vividly illustrative of the relations prevailing between the two races (says the Auckland Herald) is'at present current in Waikato. One of the settlers residing near the King country thought that a present of a £lO-note would be acceptable to Rewi, and sent him that sum with the usual message, “Great is my love to you.” The message was duly delivered, hut the great chief magnanimously and respectfully declined to touch the money. Perhaps he was suspicious enough to distrust the motives of the sender—who knbvvs ? These Maoris are really beginning not to have much faith in the disinterestedness of the pakeba character. Perhaps the story ought dramatically to terminate here, but alas for erring human nature, an addition has to be made ! The person entrusted with the money has either neglected or refused to give it back. Legal proceedings have been threatened. According to the agricultural returns published in the Dunedin Morning Herald the total number of acres under crop in the Peninsula County-is 2399 acres ;■ in Taieri County, 47,514 acres; and in that part of Waikouaiti County south of Waitaki, 2739 acres. Fiji files to the 28th nit. report that Messrs. Pringle, Black, and three natives who left Lavulavu in an open boat are still -missing, i—The schooner Tubal Cain having been got off the reef at Ono has arrived at Levuka.—A patent slip is to be erected by an American speculator.—The schooner Coronet arrived from Auckland on March 14th.—Mr. Fitzmorris, of Yasowas, has been murdered by a native with whom he had a dispute about the price of trade. The native chopped him over the head and horribly mutilated the body.— At Waiuuma, "Fauna Lavu, Mr. Le Brooks was stabbed in the stomach by a native woman, and at last advices was in a critical state.— The Royal Engineers will leave shortly for England.—The thermometer has been as high as 90degs. in the shade. —The Swedish turnips per Winifred from Auckland, being a novelty, were bought at good prices. The Otago Daily 'Times says :—“There is a great pressure of business on our railways, and the department has all it can do to prevent a block, owing to the insufficiency of station accommodation. Temporary provision, however, is being.made, and,, although the lines are covered with loaded trucks all the week, there is not much reason to fear that any serious delay in the delivery of goods will take place. The additional sidings which are being laid down between Crawfurd-atreet and the Harbor Board offices are approaching completion, and before, long some of them will be used, and the discharge of the trucks will thereby be greatly facilitated.” -;

A man named Robert Drew died at the Hospital on April 10th, throngh the breaking of a blood vessel. Drew was a single man, and had only been admitted to the Hospital hall an hour before he died.

Mr, R. Hall, of Tairoa (says the Thames Advertiser) has in his possession a curiosity in the shape of a piece of clear kauri gum, with a leaf of beautiful gold in the centre. The lump was found amongst some bags of gum which that gentleman had purchased, and how the gold came to be embedded in it is a complete mystery. The Dunedin Morning Herald says ;—“ Mr. Dornwr 11, butcher, George-street, had exposed at his shop door last evening what is believed to be, perhaps, the largest sheep ever killed in Dunedin. The ewe in question was reared by Messrs. Smellie and Young, of Mosgiel, and the carcase weighed no less than 2141b5., being about 13in. thick between the shoulders, and 7in. over the ribs.”

The Dunedin Morning Herald says ;—“ A train on fire is happily a rarity in this colony, but a case occurred on Monday last which has been kept very quiet. The train leaving Waikouaiti for Dunedin on Easter Monday (a day when a large number of passengers might reasonably have been expected) at 3.35 p.m. was full to crowding then, and yet hundreds bad to be picked up on the line as it came on. No provision had been made for an extra number of passengers, though the authorities must have known from the number of return tickets issued that they would be awaiting transit. A dozen on each platform of a carriage, the seats crowded, and as many standing between as could find footroom was the state, when suddenly a cry of fire was raised, and it was discovered that a heated axle had fired the woodwork. Cries, yells, whistles, shrieks failed to attract either the guard or the engine-driver, hut providentially some workmen on the line saw the danger, and by them the driver was informed by signals. Grease and slackened speed eventually did all that was required." Prospecting continues to be carried on at Wetberstones in the claims we (Taapeka Ttme>) have from time to time mentioned. The Black Horse Company’s main shaft is dowu 196 ft. without any more favorable change in the character of the stuff.—The Derry Walls contractors are making good progress with their work, having reached a depth of about 250tt. without striking any blue cement.—The Homeward Bound are down 127 ft. They have had the blue cement for a good distance.—The Dauntless have got to a depth of 60 feet with their new shaft, and are pretty free from water. The Tuapeka are still driving up the reef and continue to get good prospects. We expect this will be the next company to erect machinery after the Premier. The reef applied for by Messrs. Storry and Arbuokle on the hill behind the Young Ireland claim looks extremely well. The men who were employed to drive for the reef at a lower level succeeded in cutting it a few days ago. They are now taking out some very likely stone. A gentleman living in Parnell (says the New Zealand Herald) brought to the Auckland Institute a genuine tuatara lizard, which had been caught at the entrance to the Domain tunnel. As our readers are no doubt aware, these crested animals have never been found except on s»me detached island on the East Coast, such as Karewa, the island where the Taranaki was lost. And, worse, it is stated that this very individual, when caught, had just killed a hen, and was about to attack another. He was taken, so to speak, redhanded, and the circumstances injure the reputation of all bis kith and kin. It has hitherto been thought that the tuatara lizard, although admittedly ugly enough for anything, was quite harmless, but if the accusations made against this Parnell specimen are true, then it has hitherto been existing on false pretences. Most people thought it lived on air. It was 1 believed that the tuatara had been exterminated on the mainland in “the struggle for existence,” by cats and rats, and therefore that it was confined to such islands as Karewa. Probably, however, the lizard feeds on the" eggs of seafowl, and if it kills a hen it may also kill a gull occasionally. But how such a sluggish animal can manage to capture a gull or a hen is a puzzle. But how did this specimen get to Parnell ? The most reasonable supposition is that it was brought up by some of those who visited Karewa after the wreck of the Taranaki, and allowed to escape by its ‘ custodian. , ,

A Southern exchange says:—" A meeting of those interested in the timber trade of Waimate was held in the Royal Hotel on Friday even-, ing to consider the question of the scarcity of railway trucks. Mr. J. A. Connell presided, and the following resolution was unanimously carried, —That irretrievable loss has been sustained by the principal exporters in Waimate through scarcity of trucks on the railway, and this meeting deems it imperatively necessary that the fact of there being a vast accumulation (about 1600 tons) of exports at the Waimate station, should be signified to the Minister of Public Works and Commissioner of Railways ; inasmuch as not sufficient trucks being to hand, the whole of the export trade of Waimate (which is considerable) is paralysed, and such trade and the prosperity of Waimate seriously retarded, and that the Minister of Public Works be requested to remedy this stats of affairs at once.” The Auckland Star, of April 18th, says “ The insolvency returns of New Zealand for 1877, which have only justseen the light, are ; not favorable to the reputation of the colony for commercial stability and improved credit. During the year, 648 declarations of insolvency were filed in the Supreme Courts, and 346 in the District Courts, making a total of 994, being an increase on the declarations and statements filed in the previous year of 452. It is satisfactory to notice, however, that Auckland figures :very well on the list, the. total for this; city being 91, against 230 in Christchurch, 180 in Dunedin, and 101 in Wellington and Wanganui. The failures in Wellington were heavier in amount than anywhere else, the liabilities being £161,860 against £81,113 in Auckland, £119,454 in Christchurch, and £67,599 in Dunedin. The aggregate amount of assets, as shown by the statements filed, amounted to £381,027 ; the liabilities exceeded that sum by £245,789, which gave promise of a substantial dividend. The return, however, omits to give the amount actually realised by the creditors and the average dividend that fell to their lot, which is a very different thing.” A new variety of fern has been discovered in the neighborhood of Dunedin by Mr. West, the well known plant propagator. He discovered a large plant, which he divided into three, and fortunately found a number of

fertile fronds. All who hare seen it pronounce it a new variety. Mr. Arthur Beverley says of if.—“ A curious variety of lomaria jluviati has been found by Mr. West, in the employ of Law, Somner, and Co., seedsmen. The usual form of this fem is simply pinnate, consisting of fronds having twe rows of roundish nules. In the new form the rachis or midrib branches repeatedly towards the extremity, fo that each frond terminates in a tuft of foliage. The fertile fronds also show a tendency to branch, which seems to indicate that the variety may become permanent under cultivation. Proliferous varieties frequently occur amongst British ferns, particularly when grown in soil containing a superabundance of the particular food which they require. They bear a similar relation to the normal state that double flowers bear to single ones. This is, perhaps, the first lomaria which has been observed sporting in this way.” A meeting of the creditors of W. H. Farnail was held at Auckland on April 21at. His liabilities were sworn as £32,500 ; against this Mr. Farnall has put in as an asset a claim of £ISOO against the Government. The brigantine Meg Merrillea arrived at Auckland on the morning of Tuesday, April 22nd, from the South Sea Islands with a cargo of copra. She reports that the native troubles at Kotumah have subsided. When passing Arno Island they heard reports of guns proceeding from the shore. They hove- • to, and some white traders came off in a boat, stating that the natives were fighting, the rival parties being assisted by 100 natives from the adjoining islands. Great preparations are being made by the Thames and Ohinemutu natives for the Waikato King meeting, which commences on April 26th. A large cavalcade of natives leave here and Ihinemuri to-morrow for the King country, to be present. Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan are expected there on Sunday. The Otago Education Board’s annual report has been issued. It shows that the number of schools in operation at the end of the year was 154. In these 334 teachers were employed. This shows an increase of 4 4 teachers during the year. Xu 1878 the daily attendance at the Dunedin schools averaged 2912, and m aU school* 9707. and at the close of the year the respective totals were 3480 and 12,599. The figures for 1878 show a very great increase m the average attendance at the pubhc schools of the district The report states that the Education Act being baaed on the system of free and compulsory education it is best m an absence of the adequate supply of school buildings and teachers, or of means of * el ?' the compulsory clause should be a dead. letter that the Board being charged primarily with the advancement of the interests o_£ education it feels it would fail in its duty if it did not point out the utter inadequacy of the funds at its disposal for carrying out the objects of the Act.