GENERAL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5710, 18 July 1879, Page 6

GENERAL SUMMARY.

His Excellency the Governor was favored with real “ Queen’s weather ” on Tuesday, on the occasion of his opening visit to Parliament. The newly-formed Wellington Naval Brigade turned out in great strength, and formed a guard of honor while the Volunteers took up a position on the reclaimed laud, and fired the salutes—the first commencing as the Governor entered the Legislative Council, and the second on his leaving it. The carriage of his Excellency was accompanied the short distance it had to go by two mounted troopers, who acted as a body-guard, A large number of the general public turned out, and both the Council Chamber and the House of Representatives were as crowded as they could well be. In the former the ladies mustered in great force and in brilliant costume, and appeared to take a lively interest in the proceedings- There were also a large number of ladies in the Lower House, but not nearly so many as in the Upper. Nothing was done in the way of business beyond the purely formal, and the House adjourned before half-past three o’clock.

We learn that it has been finally decided that the new railway buildings are to be erected on the reclaimed land, between Mills’ foundry and the rear of the Government Buildings. It is notified in the Gazette, as we stated a f=w days back, that the Rev. Charles Meysey Thompson, M.A., has been appointed Private Secretary to his Excellency the Governor, vice the Hon. Henry Stuart Littleton, resigned. The election of Henare Tomoana and that of Mr. Stewart, at Dunedin, are both considered to be points scored against the- Ministry. Messrs. Swanson and Hodgkinson are believed to be inclined to join the ranks of the Opposition, and a good many faces were to be seen at the Opposition caucus on Monday whose owners are not generally regarded as belonging to that party. Nevertheless the Ministry are confident that they will be able to make a good fight of it. A rumor which received ministerial sanction to the effect that, even if he retained office till then. Sir G. Grey proposed to resign at the end of the session has been authoritatively contradicted.

We understand that Mr. T. Turnbull’s design has been accepted, subject to certain conditions, for the new Wesleyan Church to be built iu Tarauaki-street. There were two other designs sent in, one from Mr. E. E. Jones, and the other from Mr. Schwartz. Our readers will be glad to learn that at a meeting of the Te Aro Public Hall Company, held on Tuesday, steps were proposed to be taken for building a new theatre on the site of the Imperial Opera House. • The half-yearly meeting of the Wellington Working Men’s Club took place at their rooms on Monday, about fifty members being present. In consequence of the destruction of the premises of the club by the late fire in Man-ners-street, the meeting was adjourned till Monday, the 11th of August, when the report and balance-sheet will be presented, and the election of officers will take place. The revision of the rule o occupied about three hours, and it was resolved that the club should be registered under the Friendly Societies Act of last session, some necessary alterations having been made in the rules of the club in order to comply with the Act. To show the feeling of the settlers in the districts affected, it may be stated that amongst the petitions on Tuesday laid upon the table of the House of Representatives was one presented by Major Atkinson, and very numerously signed by the settlers of the Okato district, praying the House not to release the Maori prisoners from custody until they had first undergone punishment for their offences. The explanation of the object of the petition drew forth a very distinct “ hear, hear,” from all parts of the House. The great necessity that exists for the proper development of our coalfields is not alone considered by the residents of this colony, but it is also making itself felt iu some parts of Yictoria. In a late issue of our contemporary, the Australasian, we find the following telegram from Echuca, a rising township on the river Murray :—“ At the Borough Council meeting to-night it was stated that it was almost impossible to ohtainNew Zealand coal for generating gas, owing to the collapse of the Melbourne trade with New Zealand.”

At a meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand, held at the Athenreum Buildings, Wellington, on Thursday, the 10th July, the President, C. D. Barraud, Esq., read an address giving a brief account of the present position of the society, showing that since the first meeting of nine of those in business in Wellington in July, 1878, to talk over the desirability of forming a Pharmaceutical Society of New Zea'and, when they formed themselves into a committee to draw up rules and confer with others throughout the colony, the work had so far satisfactorily progressed that the rules which they drew up had been unanimously adopted with but few alterations. Eighty-five members, forty-one associates, and seventeen apprentices had enrolled their names and sent in their subscriptions. Steps had been taken to register the society under the Friendly Societies Act, some thinking that was the proper course primarily to take, but the benevolent element in it was not of sufficient importance to bring it within the scope of the Act. The great object now to be obtained is an Act of the General Assembly to give the society a legal standing, so that it can enforce rules and make a certain amount et education and the passing of examinations by those entering the business compulsory. Proceedings are being taken in this direction, and it is to be hoped that a measure so manifestly for the protection of the public will gain the hearty support of the members of both Houses of the Legislature. The opening services of the United Methodist Free Church, Courtenay-place, were continued on Sunday, good congregations assembling in the spacious church which has recently been completed. The Bev. I). Dutton preached in the morning, the Rev. W. Kirk in the afternoon, and the Rev. H. B. Redstone in the evening, a prayer meeting being held after the evening service. Collections on behalf of the building fund were made at the conclusion of each service.

The Manawatu Herald, of July 11, says : “ Mr. S. M. Baker informs us that a day or two ago he travelled inland from Otaki to Waikawa. At the Waikawa end he noticed a considerable number of men engaged upon the inland road, felling bush, forming, &c. A number of Europeans are engaged upon the work, although the contract has been let to the hapu owning the land through which the road passes, according, to the agreement made with the natives. Mr. Baker speaks of the land along the line of road as extremely rich.”

With respect to the strike among the railway navvies the Wairarapa Standard furnishes the following particulars : —“ There was some excitement in Carterton on Friday afternoon. We learn that some navvies who had been engaged on the Waiohine railway contract, and who had previously struck work owing to a reduction of wages, armed themselves with sticks, stones, and other missiles, and waited on ten fellow workmen who were engaged on the Carterton-Taratahi portion of the contract, and demanded they should cease working at the rate of pay offered by the Government, viz., 7s. 6d. per day. The workmen at first refused, but perceiving they had nothing else offered them, joined the strikers. The whole body of men, numbering 150, proceeded to the house of Mr. Mason, the engineer, and demanded the reason why the wages of the men on the railway line should be reduced. Mr. Mason came forward, and expressed his surprise at the tone taken by the workmen, and advised those present that during the present dull time, when capital was scarce and labor plentiful, it was not politic on the part of those present to demand an increased rate of wages, and further urged that if they desired employment it was absolutely necessary they should agree to the terms offered by the Government. The workmen would not listen to reason, and adjourned to the Marquis of Normanby Hotel, where they drowned their grievances in the flowing bowl.” Wi Mahi Te Kangituhe, an Arawa chief, at a meeting in Cambridge Hall in connection with the candidature for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, gave a«», outrageous exposition of his views respecting half-castes, whom he pronounced to be bastards, and charged them with mischievous interference. In connection with land-selling, he would bring the subject of half-castes before Parliament. Marsh shocked the feelings of the Europeans who were present by alluding to the founder of Christianity as being of similar origin, and said it did not matter now, as he had gone to Heaven. Several Europeans were so disgusted that they left the hall. Marsh said he saw nothing in Scripture to warrant the condemnation of illegitimate children. In his land purchase ideas, Marsh condemned both the Government and private speculators, who were creating so much confusion. The private purchaser tried to undermine the Government, and the Government tried to get land too cheap. The Government should fix a uniform price. Marsh said he would give the remainder of his thoughts before Parliament, and the meeting closed with a decided antipathy to the candidate.

The Customs revenue at Timaru for last quarter amounted to £6215, against £5802 during the corresponding quarter of last year. The registrar’s returns for Christchurch and district during June are as follows : —Births. 167; marriages, 29 ; deaths, 39. For the half year the returns are—Births, 1023 ; deaths, 443 ; marriages, 213. Shareholders in the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will be pleased to learn that an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum has been declared for the six months ending the 30th June. Holveraton’s claim, near Hyde, continues to give splendid yields. Last week, on resuming operations, 30ozs. of gold were got the first day, 48ozs. the second day, 90ozs. the third day, and on Saturday 1200z5., the men working only six hours a day. Andrew Murray, manager for Kirkpatrick and Glendinning, Dunedin, stands committed for trial on a charge of rape on his own child. He was in receipt of a salary of £4OO a year. The magistrate refused bail until steps could be taken vesting the-custody of the child in some suitable guardian. The citizens of Dunedin have followed the example set them by Wellington of introducing steam tramway cars in their streets. On July 7th the cars were running to the Water of Leith, and were well patronised. The engines appeared to work well on the line, it being level, hut the difficulties witli the steep gradient on the main line along Princes and George streets have yet to be overcome. The sale of the Henley estate, held in Dunedin on July sth attracted a large attendance, and a great many sections were sold, nothing being passed. Ten farms, averaging about 180 acres, realised from £8 to £ls per acre. The highest price was £l9 10s. per acre, for a small freehold. The principal putchasers were Messrs S. B. Cargill, James Shand, John Roberts, and Donald. The sixth annual report of the Otago Female Refuge is published. There are at present eight women in the Refuge, and nearly all of them are steady, industrious, and well conducted, and some have become , trusted helps. In addition to these, eighteen women have been inmates for Iqnger or shorter periods during the year. Three of these have left to go to service, and are giving C'ery indications of reformation, and one of these three has been comfortably married. Of the remaining fifteen the committee can give no good accounts. We learn from the IVairoa- Free Press that four young whales were recently washed ashore on the Mahia beach, Hawke’s Bay, and captured. Out of two of them were extracted a couple of miniature whales, perfectly formed ; the larger one measured sixteen inches, and the smaller one not over six. The informant adds that they are preserved in spirits by a Mr. Bendall, who intends to forward them to the Wellington Museum ; and further, that they are a curiosity which it has taken a long time to obtain.

A telegram from Ohinemutu states that Mitchell and Edwards returned from Galatea and Paroa on July sth, having succeeded in overcoming all difficulties connected with the survey of the Kaingaroa blocks, containing about 400,000 acres. There are five parties of surveyors on these blocks, and unless delays are caused by the Government there is every prospect of these lands being speedily opened for settlement. The natives, who were the greatest objectors, are now most anxious to have the surveys carried on. All the difficulties which Mitchell and Edwards had met with not only emanated from dissatisfied tribes, but was partly instigated by a person who was lately on the Government Land Purchase Commission. His letter was produced at . a great native meeting at Te Paroa, but fortunately the natives present treated the letter with contempt. The banquet to Judge Bathgate, at Dunedin, on his leaving for England, was a great success. In the course of his speech he said that it was not generally known that his appointment as magistrate was unsolicited and wholly unexpected. When the offer was made by the then Premier, he refused to accept it unless the whole of the Cabinet, without a dissenting voice, approved it. Out of 13,000 cases brought before him during five and a half year’s magistracy, only twenty-five cases had, been appealed against, and of these twenty-five appeals the Supreme Court upheld eighteen. He had no holiday save one week at Christmas during that time, and he thought he had now earned a lengthened holiday. At the last meeting of the Manawatu County Council, Mr. Halcombe moved a resolution applying to the Government to place £15,000 at the disposal of the Council to open up the Omatakapua Block of 140,000 acres, by a road in continuation of the Kimbolton-road, the vote to be recouped to the Treasury out of the 20 per cent, payable upon land revenue to the county. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Carr, and after some discussion, it was declared carried by the casting vote of the chairman.

The following table will show the growth of some of the up-country towns in this Pro-

There is now on view (says the Christchurch Globe') at the establishment of Mr. M. Sandstein, jeweller, of Cashel-street, a very handsome ripergne, the glass vase being supported by a frosted silver fern tree, some 2ft. high. At the foot of this there is a figure of a Maori chief, fully accoutred for the front, judging from the fact that he holds a sword in one hand and a rifle in the other. Around the trunk of the tree are also three roots of flax, the whole design being one of the prettiest ever seen in this city. The design and workmanship were carried out by Mr. Sandstein, arid reflect the highest credit upon his taste. The silver tree stands upon a polished pedestal, consisting of a large number of pieces of New Zealand wood fitted together in the best style of marqueterie working. The silver comes down from Auckland, and is the product of the Thames goldfield. The dpergne is to be forwarded to the Sydney Exhibition, and will certainly do no discredit to the manufacturers of this class of goods in Canterbury. At an entertainment got up in aid of the Halcombe school enlargement fund, Sir William Fox delivered an excellent address. In the course of his remarks Sir William said that the system of State education he considered about the best that could be devised, and he felt shame and remorse that they had allowed so many valuable years to pass without any colonial action being taken in the matter of education, as in consequence of this neglect not one-third of the youth of the colony had during those years received a proper education. The Provincial Governments which had been swept away were good at spending money, but they were not good at taxing themselves, even for so important a matter as education. In some of the provinces a household tax for education had been levied, but they dare not enforce it; in fact, in Auckland it had produced what might be termed a rebellion. The natural consequence was that the education formerly imparted had been very poor, and the teachers were men ill-suited to impart instruction.—Mr. Halcombe also made some very practical remarks. It was difficult, he said, to foretell in their younger days what the future career of the boys would be, and what special education each might require. But there could be no doubt that to the girls would be committed the charge of the households of their generation ; and he would gladly see an effort made both in and out of school to give them some instruction in this direction. It was lamentable what ignorance existed amongst young women of the most simple domestic matters, and he trusted that the hint would not be thrown away. From Oamaru we learn that at about eight o’clock on the morning of June 19th some workmen at the breakwater observed the body of a man floating between Macandrew and Normanby wharves. They soon got it ashore, but the features were unrecognisable, as the body had evidently been in the water some time. On searching the clothes several receipts were found, which tends to show that the deceased’s name was John McGregor. He was evidently a horse-dealer, as there were receipts tor the purchase of horses in different parts of Otago. Deceased is not known here. In his purse were found one £5 note, a £1 note, half a sovereign, and some silver, together with a cheque for £l7 3s. lid., signed by Alex. McLean, and another for £3, signed R. R. Orr. On the body was also found a bottle of whisky, the seal of which was unbroken. It is conjectured that 'deceased went down to the wharf to go aboard a steamer for Dunedin at night, and fell over the wharf. At the inquest held on the body a verdict of “ Found drowned” was returned. The deceased was a native of Bewley, in Scotland, where his relations now reside. From the evidence of Alexander McLean, manager of Waikatai station, it transpired that McGregor shook hands with McLean in Oamaru, and said he was going to Dunedin, and from thence to Scotland. He then proceeded towards the breakwater to take the steamer for Dunedin, and was not seen alive since that time.

The following are the vital statistics for the borough of Wellington for the month of June : —Births, 57 ; deaths, 16 ; marriage certificates, 19. The following is the return of patients.in the Wellington Hospital for the month of June:— Admitted, 23 ; discharged, 18 ; died, 1 ; left in Hospital, 71. The Wairarapa Pioneer Prospecting Company has decided to continue its operations for another two months, Mr. Allan is about to start again for the head of the Ruaraahunga. A handsome steamer, built by Moutray and Crosbie to the order of Cress Bros., was successfully launched on July sth. She is 105 ft. over all, with 17ft. beam, and a tonnage of 90 tons. Her coat will be about £6OOO, and she is intended for the Wanganui trade. & “ I will pour out my blood on the land,” said a native at Gisborne to Captain Gudgeon on a recent occasion during a dispute as to the ownership of part of a run. “ I don’t care a straw whether you do or not,” coolly replied the captain, and the native went elsewhere to seek sympathy. The pupils of the Terrace School were entertained on thenightof July 2 by the masters with an exhibition of dissolving views. About three hundred young people and their friends were present, and enjoyed themselves very much. The entertainment was preparatory to breaking up for the winter holidays. The new church being erected at the corner of Ghuznee and Willis streets, to replace the present building in which the parishioners of St. Peter’s worship, is being proceeded with rapidly. It presents an imposing appearance, and will form a most important addition to the fine buildings with which the neighborhood abounds.

It is said that notwithstanding the hotel and boarding-house accommodation at present available in Fielding, contractors living at Cheltenham have had to return there after coming to Fielding, through inability to obtain sleeping accommodation. Cheltenham is a new township on the Kiwxtea Block, and is about eight or ten miles from Fielding. The total Maori population in the North Island, including half-castes, according to the last census, was put down at 42,819, of whom 19,286 were females, and 23,533 were males ; whilst of the latter 14,153 were returned as over fifteen years of age. The numbers cannot be taken as altogether correct, but they were as near the mark as possible, considering the habits of the natives, and their moveable propensities. It seems probable that the contract for the formation of the Wingatui section of the Otago Central railway will be vigorously prosecuted. There are about 200 men now engaged at the work, and the cuttings have been commenced as far as the first tunnel, which is more than five miles from the Wingatui station. Mr. J. S. Mollison is the engineer in charge of the work, and Mr. Alex. Fraser the inspector. Speaking of the Californian salmon, the Lyttelton Times says ; —“A large number of these fish are still at the Opawa fish-breeding establishment. Their greatest enemy has proved to he the kingfisher, which is attracted by the fish leaping out of the water after flies. Losses have also been occasioned to the various fish by ducks. Recently some of these birds, belonging to a neighbor, killed 15 salmon, which were remarkably fat and well grown. Some measured 7\ inches; the smallest 4J. Although not possessing the flavor of salmon, the fish proved very good eating. Oue of the largest was found full of milt, a fact which would lead to the conclusion that the American variety come to maturity for reproductive purposes much earlier than the English.”

The police received information on June 24th that a man was living in a cave close to Lyell Bay in a perfect state of destitution. Sergeant Anderson at once sent a constable round, and he found a man named William Persse in a state of nudity, and halfstarved, there being no food of any kind in the cave. In answer to the constable, the unfortunate man said he had lived principally on boiled seaweed and a few fish which he managed to catch. He is well known to the police, and has several times been brought before the Court for vagrancy. The poor fellow has been living in this cave for about two months, existing, as well as he could on anything he managed to pick up. A well deserved compliment was paid to Captain Wheeler, of the steamer Wakatipu, for the able manner in which he brought his ship to port through the late severe gales. The following address was presented to him on arrival by the steerage passengers:—“Wellington, 23rd June, 1879.—Sir, —We, on behalf of our fellow steerage passengers, beg publicly to show our appreciation of the able manner in which yon have, with the aid of Divine providence, and the officers under your command, guided your ship through the perils and dangers of the recent unprecedented boisterous passage from Sydney to this port. For, notwithstanding the fine sea-going qualities of your good ship, we feel confident that without the able management of yourself and officers, we could scarcely hope to have reached our destination. Although thankful for having reached the haven in safety, we deeply regret the loss of one of your men overboard during the height of the storm. Trusting you may long live to still successfully guide your ship through the dangers of the deep, as you have in this instance —We remain, sir, on behalf of our fellow passengers, yours truly, Thomas Saxon, H. J. Human.”

We have been shown a very handsome album, which is to be sent to the Sydney Exhibition as a sample of the skill in bookbinding attained by the Wellington establishment of Mr Burrett. It is a demy-folio volume, full bound in morocco, in dark green .leather inlaid with crimson and fawn-colored ornamentation work. The style is known as modern antique, illuminated, and great taste has been displayed in the get-up of the volume. The gold scroll and arabesque, all of which has been done by hand, is a marvel of neatness, and is both chaste in design and handsome without being gaudy. We understand that, the gentlemen entrusted with the work were Messrs. T. Hall and R. Thompson, and we hope that their skill and painstaking care may be rewarded with a prize or honorable mention at the Exhibition.

According to the Wanganui Chronicle, the Kai-Iwi section of the Northern line was officially opened on Saturday, June 28. After most unaccountable delays, the general manager received a telegram on Friday to declare the line open for traffic forthwith, and accordingly the announcement was given in Saturday morning's Chronicle, and the first train started at 11 o'clock. The short notice and the miserable weather combined was enough to spoil any opening, and the result was that as many as three passengers presented themselves for Kai-Iwi, and two additional on the return journey. It has probably just occurred to the Government that it would be highly desirable for Mr. Bryce to be able this evening, at Waverley, to refer to the Kai-Iwi railway as an established fact.

Considerable excitement took place on the wharf on Tuesday, July Ist, in regard to the strike of the seamen. It appears that the hands on board the steamer Rangatira, which arrived on Tuesday morning, refused to work if their wages were reduced. They were getting £7 per month, but their employers resolved upon a reduction to £6 a month. A number ■of hands on the wharf at once shipped at the reduced wages, and were set to work discharging the steamer’s cargo. The old hands commenced hooting at the newly shipped ones, and at one time it looked as though there was every probability of a row occurring. A messenger was sent to the police office, and a couple of sergeants soon made their appearance on the scene, which had the effect of quickly dispersing the crowd. Nearly all the seamen on the New Zealand Company’s steamers have resumed work at the reduced rate of wages, viz., £6 a month in place of £7. The engineers and firemen, however, stubbornly held out, and as their places could not very well be filled the ordinary rate of wages was given them. One man in particular during the strike was doing all in his power to stop the seamen from shipping under the regular wages, and he was one of the first to ship at £6 per month. Some months ago we announced (says the Manawatu Herald) that the Maoris of this district had determined upon holding a meeting at Otaki in January next, to celebrate their conversion to Christianity. We understand, however, that in accordance with a generallyexpressed wish, it has been determined to hold the meeting in Manawatu, though the exact spot is not yet decided upon. Copies of. circulars recently printed have been sent to Governor Robinson, the Native Minister, Bishop Hadfield, and a large number of native chiefs and clergymen in all parts of the island. In the circular, the meeting is called a jubilee. G. N. Gair, manager of the National Bank at Tauranga, committed suicide on June 26th by shooting himself. No reason can at present be assigned, as he is stated to be solvent. The bullet entered the left temple, death being instantaneous. Mr. Gair had been drinking heavily for some time past, and a day, or two since asked a gentleman here which was the best place to shoot himself. Mr. Hallam, a Cambridge University man, has been selected for the new Classical Professorship at Canterbury College.

From Westport we hear that a seam, eigh feet thick, of splendid hard coal has been found at the higher level in the Wellington mine. The Dunedin Education Board are building schools in the city which will cost £7OOO. They will accommodate 3500 scholars. The annual report of the Canterbury Orphan Asylum shows an expenditure of £1903 14s. 10d., making an average weekly expenditure of 7s. 5Jd. per head. The amount received for maintenance of children from private sources was £331 12s. The average number of children in the Asylum for the past year was 98. A murderous assault has been committed at Christchurch by a man named William Henry Strong on his son, two years of age. The man, while intoxicated, dashed the child’s head violently against a door. The child is not expected to recover, and the father is now in custody.

A great rush has been occasioned at Kumara through a lead of gold being struck near Westbrook, on the west side of Greenstone Creek. Parties were out all night with candles pegging the ground off in all directions. Nearly 500 are on the ground now. The prospect obtained is Idwt. to lldwt. to the dish. Should the lead be traced, as expected, it will be an extensive field.

For brevity the electoral address of Henry Pukuatua as published in the Bay of Plenty Times in English and Maori, may well stand as a model. It is as follows :—“ To the Electors of the Native East Coast Electoral District. Friends, —I am a candidate to represent your suffrages in the House of Representatives, and will do ray best for you if returned.—Heptabe tb Pokuatua.”

Some natives recently caught in the Waiau, a tributary of the Wairoa river, a strange fish, which they describe as a large fish about 18in. long, which, when cooked, was of a red color, and remarkably fine eating. The Acclimatization Society liberated three years since a quantity of salmon fry in the upper waters of the Mohaka, and there is little doubt that the stranger was a well-grown American salmon. There is no native fish that has red flesh, and we may therefore take it for granted that the efforts of the Acclimatization Society have been crowned with success.

In an article showing the relative positions of the Maori and European races in New Zealand, the Taranaki Herald says ;—“ For the information of those who are not able to get at statistical records, we may state that the European male population over twenty-one years of age in New Zealand at the last census was 116,000, and of those 45,302 are in the North Island. The Maori male population over fifteen years of age in New Zealand was 16,623 ; but when the natives north of Auckland, the Arawas, and those in the South Island are deducted, the numbers are reduced to nearly half. The following is the number of Maori males over fifteen years of age living in the centre, and on the East and West Coasts of the North Island -Upper Waikatos, 2070 (this includes all ages); Raglan, Kawhia, and Aotea, 448 ; Mokau to Waitotara (Taranaki district), 1335 ; Wanganui River, 705 ; Thames, 677 ; Tauranga, 4SB ; Maketu, 787 ; Opotiki, 959; East Coast (Cook County), 1799 ; Wairoa, 918 ; Hawke’s Bay, 610 ; Taupo, 264 ; making a total of 11,000. When the natives who are friendly and others not disposed to fight are deducted from this total, we do not suppose the number would nearly reach 5000. In Taranaki 1335 is the number of natives who are over the age of fifteen ; and deducting the odd figures for friendly natives, we leave, say, a thousand able-bodied men ; whilst of Europeans of the same age. the statistics show three thousand. What chance would the natives have against such odds ? It would really be a friendly act on the part of those who have communication with the natives if they pointed out the above incontrovertible facts to them.”

According to the special correspondent of the Taranaki Herald, the following account of his ancestors was given by Te Whiti at the Parihaka meeting :—“The Maoris originally came from Egypt, where, for their sins, they lost the protection of God. They wandered about like men blind, until they arrived in New Zealand. For many generations they remained in the same state of ignorance, until the pakeha arrived with the Bible. To their great surprise they found it written in the Maori tongue. After diligent study and great thought I found that I belonged to one of the lost tribes of Israel—one of the lost sheep that strayed in the wilderness. I felt inwardly that I was destined to accomplish a great work in the world—to gather the lost sheep into one fold. I saw that the pakehas were like gods—everthing they willed to do they could accomplish, from the most minute to the most complex and gigantic work—all was within the compass of their power, Notwithstanding all their power they lacked faith—the faith that of old could remove mountains. Although they can take the dead inanimate iron, and embue it with life so that it will work like a horse, they have not the faith to walk upon the waters. Although they can encircle the earth with electricity and converse from pole to pole, their faith fails them if they say to Mount Egmout be thou cast into the sea. God has made them instruments of his will to bring back to light the lost sheep who have been straying in the -wilderness, by preserving the Bible and handing it back to the Maori.” The “ own correspondent” of the Auckland Herald gives the manner of Te Whiti’s conversion as follows :—“After the meeting at Parihaka was over, I had an interview with Te Whiti. He was very affable, and seemed willing to converse with me. He explained to me how he became converted, and a prophet. He said when the first war was commenced, Reiraenschneider, a missionary at Wairoa, presented him with a large Bible, and told him to hold fast to the good book, in which he would find all that was good and true and holy. Te Whiti said he read it for a time, without any good resulting. He persevered, and still he was like one foolishly groping his way. At last, like St. Paul, the scales fell from his eyes. A great light shone into his mind, and the words of the spirit flowed from his lips like rivers of water, swelled by the raising of the sea. He has gone on in this course of inspiration until he now believes himself to be Jesus Christ, and that his second advent is nigh at hand.”

There is a man named Heine down on the Otago goldfields who deserves to make his pile, if pluck and endurance are worth anything. Most people have heard of the Arrow river, along which great finds were made in the early days. The river in one place falls 150 ft., and twelve years ago the idea was conceived of boring a tunnel under the fall to the bed of the river above. Several companies took a hand at the work, but caved in one after another. Six hundred feet of tunnel had been made when the last company gave up in despair, the difficulties and dangers of the work having become positively frightful. The tunnel had got into a heap of piled up boulders, which might give way at any moment and drown work and workers. Nothing daunted, Heine bought up all claims for an old song, and not being able to find a mate to face so many dangers, he actually set to work alone early last year, and kept to it steadily ever since. The floods of last summer broke into the tunnel, and nearly put an end to Heine and his venture, but he contrived somehow to repair the damage, and recently struck the drift of wash dirt under the river. It is generally believed in the district that there is an immense deposit of gold just above the falls, and there ought to be, for nothing less than a cartload of dust would repay Heine’s Herculean labor.

The Auckland Herald special correspondent gives the following translation of a portion of Te Whiti's speech at the Parihaka meeting ; —Te Whiti then addressed the newspaper reporters, who were present taking notes of what he was saying, thus : “ When I speak of land, the survey, and the ploughing, and such matters of little consequence, the reporters’ pencils fly with the speed of wind ; but, when i speak of the word of the spirit, they say this is the dream of a madman. They are so intent in accumulating wealth that nothing appears to interest them except what is in some way connected with the acquisition of wealth. The storekeeper who has succeeded in acquiring wealth by short weight and inferior articles, and the numerous ways of picking and stealing known only to the initiated, who steal the land of the Maoris and acquire flocks of sheep and herds of cattle ; the men who would take the bread out of the mouth of the widows and fatherless, and acquire riches by so doing—are all looked upon as gentlemen of property, while the humble seekers after truth are passed by unknown and unheeded. The time is at hand when their goods will rot ; their ships will rot in their harbors for want of sailors to work them; the merchants will wring their hands in despair when they and all their accumulations melt away like the morning mist before the rising sun.” The speech was not delivered all at once, but at different intervals, when the natives were not speaking. An inquest was held at the Empire Hotel, Masterton, on Monday, July 7, by Dr. Spratt, the District Coroner, on the body of the late Eonald Robertson, a cadet on Mr. Cockburn Hood’s Station, at the Upper Tauern. The verdict of the jury was, of course, “ Accidental death by drowning, on June 28.” The deceased was supposed to be about twenty years of age.

There were received from London, by the last San Francisco mail, 4426 letters, 1856 books, and 1246 newspapers ; and from America 297 letters, 100 books, and 620 newspapers. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales has been pleased to appoint C. J. Toxward, Esq., to be the successor of the late Sir Donald McLean as District Grand Master of the English Freemasons. We understand that the patent arrived by the last San Francisco mail

The Wairarapa Standard announces in a recent issue, in double leaded type, that tenders are at last invited for the Greytown branch railway contract. A more important announcement, adds our contemporary, to the people of Greytown it has never before been our good fortune to make. A meeting of gentlemen interested in cricket matters was held on July 9th at the Pier Hotel, with the object of forming a new club. The attendance was large, and a strong committee was appointed. The idea of the promoters is to endeavor to make the national game a greater success than it has hitherto proved in Wellington, and also to provide for more frequent practices together. The adjourned meeting of ironworkers was held at the Central Hotel on Saturday, July sth, Mr. Harrison in the chair. Statements were received from men belonging to the various foundries concerning the reductions they had sustained in their wages, these varying from Is. to 6d. per day among the higher waged men. Others again reported that no reductions had been made in their cases. After considerable discussion, a motion was carried to the effect that the reduced scale of wages be submitted to. One of the men observed that his employer had promised to raise the wages again when more work came in. The Ranyitikei Advocate understands that sections in the township of Croftou are being disposed of very fast, there being now a sufficient number sold to pay for the erection of a bridge, and the formation of one of the streets. Reasonable prices have been asked, and every facility afforded to encourage purchasers to settle in the township. This township was at one time offered in sections by Sir William Fox, to parties who would guarantee that no intoxicating liquors should be ever sold on the premises erected, and no money was to be charged for the land in consequence. We are not aware whether the same condition still exists, but as the terms “reasonable prices” are used, we should imagine that there has been some modification of the original covenant. The examinations of. pupil teachers for the Wellington Education Board district are proceeding simultaneously in the Thorndon and Greytown Schools. Thirty-two candidates, mostly or the fair sex, have come up for examination in Wellington, and twelve or thirteen in Greytown. On Tuesday morning the subject was English grammar, and in the afternoon geography. On Wednesday arithmetic was.given for the morning exercise, and history for the afternoon. To-day the subjects will be drawing, reading, recitation, and such other extra subjects as the candidates may prefer. The examination papers were prepared by Mr. Kenneth Wilson, Principal of the College, and Mr. Lee, secretary and inspector to the Board of Education. Mr. Lee conducts the examination in the Thorndon school, and Mr. Wyatt at Greytown. The examinations, we might state, are exclusive of candidates and first-year pupils, who may qualify by passing the higher standard under the Board of Education. The results will not be made known for a tew weeks to come—probably some time next month. During the last three weeks the Government have despatched seven or eight survey parties up the river (says the Wanyanuillerald) to make the outline surveys of country lately purchased from the natives. Roughly speaking the area to be surveyed begins at a point about fifty miles up the river, extending as far as the Retaruke and Kirikau blocks. Eastward the surveyors will work as far as the Ruapehu, and twenty or twenty-five miles west of the Wanganui river. Altogether about one and a half million acres of some of the finest land in the colony will have been added to the Crown lands, and with such a magnificent back country our town need have little to fear for its future, Wanganui being the natural outlet for this immense block. It will take about twelve months to complete the outline surveys, and in course of the ensuing year the Government ought to be in a position to throw open a considerable portion of the land for settlement. We may congratulate ourselves and the colony at large upon the progress made with such an important piece of work. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul s, Thorndon, was held on July lltb, at the Church-room, Tinakori-road. The churchwardens, in their report, refer with regret to the illness and absence of the incumbent, and the retirement of Mr. H. T. Clarke (churchwarden) and Mr. W. Mowbray (choirmaster). The appointment of the Rev. J. B. Otway as assistant curate, and Mr. Parker as organist and choirmaster, are mentioned, and also the introduction of chorister boys. The revenue for the past year, from offertories and seat rents, amounted to £1227 125., being an increase upon the previous year ; but owing to the large expenditure there is a deficiency of £227 os. 4d. To meet this certain members of the vestry and others have come forward and given their promissory notes, so as to enable the expenditure of the parish to be carried on. The churchwardens have applications for seventy-six sittings, which they are unable to provide ; it is hoped, however, that the opening of the Church-room in the Tinakori-road (lately acquired from the Standing Committee, at an annual rental of £100) for Sunday evening service, will help to meet the demand for increased church accommodation. Parishioners are reminded of the resolution passed at a special meeting to the effect that the parish should contribute £2OO towards the erection of a new residence for the Bishop. In accordance with that resolution the debt of the parish has been increased £IOO, and a further sum of £IOO will have to be borrowed to meet the engagement. The seat rents in arrear amount to £6B 18s., and the parish liabilities to £1421 4s. 3d.

At Mr. Baldwin’s performance on July 10 th there was a very good attendance, and a new selection of clever tricks was performed as usual with very good effect. Messrs. Hope, Mace, Captain Holt, and a well-known clergyman officiated as a committee, and, as usual, tried hard to secure the performers, but without success. When the clairvoyance scene was opened intense excitement prevailed, and this was greatly enhanced when a Mr. Murphy brought a sealed envelope, the contents of which he affirmed were absolutely unknown to Mr. or Mrs. Baldwin, and asked Mr. Baldwin if he was prepared to answer the question contained in it. The visitor said that he would decline to let go of the envelope until it had been answered. Professor Baldwin asked to be allowed to take the envelope with the lights turned up to press it to his wife’s forehead in order to provoke a feeling of sympathy between the medium and the letter. Mr. Murphy declined to let the envelope leave his possession in any way, but held it up in sight of the audience. The professor agreed to attempt to reply, but was uncertain of success. After several other hidden questions had been asked and solved, Mr. Murphy’s question came before the clairvoyante. It ultimately appeared that the envelope contained a double question, as follows’:— “ When did Captain Cook land in New Zealand ? and when did he take possession ?” Both these questions were, we believe, correctly answered. Mrs. Baldwin began by describing all the incidents in connection with the landing, and explained how the boats were driven back, and had to make a second attempt. She then, in reply to questions, said that Captain Cook landed in New Zealand on Thursday, the sth of October, 1768, and took possession on Wednesday, the 15th of November, 1769. A desire was expressed by some of the audience to know who Mr. Murphy was. It was explained that he was a gentleman who had been in business with Mr. Plummer, and was well known in Wellington. A gentleman in the audience also got up and certified that Mr. Murphy was a gentleman whose character was unimpeachable, and the affair created a great sensation, and the result was greeted with enthusiastic applause. The effort required from Mrs. Baldwin was so great that she nearly fainted after giving the replies alluded to. A very large meeting was held in Christchurch on June 26 of the New Zealand Bail way Employees Benefit Society, Mr. Conyers in the chair. The report of the committee was very satisfactory, notwithstanding the losses to which the society was put in the early stages of its existence. It was stated that the amount of arrears was very considerable, and it was suggested that the subscriptions should in future be stopped out of the men’s wages. The Commissioner strongly recommended an amalgamation of the Otago and Canterbury societies, which he said there would be no difficulty in effecting. The North Otago Coursing Club meeting for the New Zealand Waterloo Cup commenced on the morning of June 24th on the estate of the Hon. Mr. Holmes, Oamaru. There was the largest attendance of spectators ever seen at a coursing match in the colony, and hares were very plentiful.

It has been resolved to establish juvenile lodges of Odd Fellows in Christchurch. The first sod of the Akaroa Railway was turned on July 9th by Mr. G. Robinson. Walter Hill, the actor, died suddenly on on June 21, from disease of the heart. A project is on foot to get up a monster benefit for Mrs. Hill and family. The following gentlemen have been appointed Justices of the Peace;—Messrs. C. J. Harrison, Marton ; R. Langdon, Whareams ; and G. A. H. Rockel, Carnarvon.

Notwithstanding the cry of hard times on the West Coast goldfields, we notice that the tidy sum of £l3O was realised from a single concert and ball in the small district of Kanieri recently, given in aid of the Westland Hospital. The Union Insurance Company’s report for the year shows a credit balance of £30,374 17s. 10d., which it is proposed to dispose of as follows Dividend of Is. 3d. per share ;to credit of reserve fund, £20,000 ; balance carried forward next year, £4124 17s. lOd.

A dividend at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum for the half-year ending the 30th ult. has been declared by the Wellington Trust and Loan Company. The Canterbury Press says that there is a lady in that province who has given birth to twins eleven times in succession. The children are all alive.

A well-known Hebe who dispensed alcoholic and other liquors in an hotel not a hundred miles from this office, became enamored of one of the Armed Constabulary, and left recently for the front. The object of her affection left a fortnight previous, and it is said that from that time she knew no peace. She mixed the most curious decoctions for her customers, till at length they dropped off their usual calls, not believing in the style of “ mixed drinks.” Miss eagerly perused the telegrams in the papers referring to native affairs, and at length she thought war was imminent. Her pent-up feelings could stand the awful suspense no longer, and she made up her mind “ to go and join the army, a soldier for to be.” She has at length departed, not, however, to soothe the savage breast, but to attend to the object of her affections, should he require any tender assistance.

Mr. W. Nome is sending exhibits of New Zealand wood to the Sydney Exhibition. The most singular item in the collection is a slab of fern-leaf mottled kauri. One side is a rough corrugated trunk, just as if stripped of the bark and varnished, and a peculiar fact in connection with it is, that at regular intervals over the surface there are deep indentations of the exact size and perfect shape of the leaf. On the reverse, and polished side, these leaves are most distinctly defined, looking just as it they had been parted. The whole trunk from which the specimens have been taken was marked in precisely the same manner. So interested are samn.fi with it that a number of the pieces have been eagerly purchased. Sir George Grey carefully inspected it, and intends trying to produce similar arboriferous phenomenon by implanting a leaf in a young sapling. Intelligence with regard to the operations at the Taupo wreck states that during the recent gale Mr. Gouk was compelled to lower the vessel, owing to the danger of the vessel bumping a hole through her bottom on the blocks. Another attempt was made on June 30 when she was lifted a distance of two feet. It was anticipated that the vessel would be floated next day, when a final lift was to be made, and if successful Gouk will get canvas on and pump her out. She will then be towed on to Auckland. All preparations for commencing were made, when a heavy sea coming in with the tide, carried away a portion of the gear, rendering all work utterly useless. The contractors have been most unfortunate in the weather, this being the third time the sea has damaged all the gear. The contractors have finally abandoned the wreck. A supplement to the Government Gazette, which was issued on June 23rd, contains a notification to the effect that the Hon. William Swaiuson has been sworn in as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand. The Hon. Mr, Swainsou is a very old politician, and there will be few in the colony, we should imagine, but will be glad of the honor which has been conferred upon him. Mr. Swainson was a member of the Executive Council prior to the introduction of Responsible Government into the colony, and occupied the position of Attorney-General for a period of about 15 years, from the 10th of August, 1841, to the 7th of May, 1856. Although Mr. Swainsou was not a member of the General Assembly, which was opened for the first time on the 27th of May, 1854, he remained in office until the establishment of Responsible Government in the year 1856, as did also Mr. Alexander Shepherd and Mr. Andrew Sinclair, who occupied the posts of Colonial Treasurer and Colonial Secretary respectively. The mention of these names recalls a very early page in the history of New Zealand, and brings us back to the time when Sir George Grey, K.C.8., was only simple Captain Grey, and reminds us of the time when Captain William Hobson, R.N., represented the authority of the Crown in this colony. Mr. Swainson has now been so long out of view that he will scarcely be known by latterday colonists, but all those who shared in the early struggles of the colony will remember him, and will be glad to hear of the honor which has been conferred upon him. It is with deep regret that we record the death of Mr. Richard Barton, of Fernside, near Featherston. He was at one time spoken of as the future member tor the Wairarapa district, and it was well known that if he had agreed to come forward no other candidate would have stood a chance. He was one of the most popular men in the whole district; as a member of the District Road Board, and at one time chairman of the County Council, he earned the respect of all who came in contact with him. In private life he was known as a true colonial gentleman, straightforward and truthful to a fault, and sans pear et sans reproche. His name was not often seen in print outside of his own district, nevertheless there was no man in the Wairarapa whose reputation stood higher than Mr. R. Barton’s. He was quite a young man, and his future was full of promise, until a year or two ago, when he was attacked by a painful illness affecting his lungs, and we now learn that he has at last succumbed to its effets. Friends and relations will mourn the loss of one who cannot be replaced, and throughout the whole of the Wairarapa his death will be regretted far more sincerely than those living at a distance can well conceive. Hospitable, kind, thoughtful, and honorable, poor Richard Barton has passed away at, we believe, not more than thirty-five years of age. The funeral took place on Monday, June 30, at Featherstan, and was one of the largest ever seen in the Wairarapa, where the deceased gentleman was so widely known and highly respected. The Rev. Mr. Coffey, of St. Mark’s Church, performed the funeral service in a very impressive manner.

We extract the following from a lengthy account of the ejectment of the Maoris from Mr. Livingston’s land to the other side of the Waingongoro river :—“ There is a limit to the patience and endurance even of people accustomed to wait for the Grey Government, and that limit is reached now. The ultimatum said ‘twelve o’clock,’ and now it is scarcely ten, but the British Lion’s tail is up, and he is bound to make history right off, and he does it. The struggling Maoris are held, the bullocks yoked to the drays, the ploughs put into them, and in spite of the frantic efforts of the men, and the gravel-slinging of one of the women, the teams are driven off. When they have a good start, the natives are allowed to follow. All is done as quietly as possible ; not a blow is struck, and scarcely a high word spoken. The only thing approaching violence, or a threat of violence, occurred at the bridge, when the Maori men went off the road, and appeared disinclined to cross, some of them sitting down. Several voices cried out, * Kapai the stock-whip !’ and one thong was uncoiled. Whatever they may believe about Te Whiti's power over bullets, it was at once apparent that they mistrusted his control of stockwhips, for they were quickly upon the bridge.” The Lyttdton Times of the 24th, in describing the late gale, says : —“ The heavy gale of last Friday night has probably given the harbor authorities at Lyttelton a fright which they will not easily forget. But the fright will be useless if it is not followed by precautionary measures. At first sight it seems curious that a number of vessels anchored out in the stream should drift across the harbor without attracting any attention during the whole of a long winter’s night During the afternoon the severest storm ever known in Lyttelton came down on the harbor. Quite a fleet of ships of various sizes, representing in the aggregate a value of many thousands of pounds, were tugging at their anchors when night closed over the scene. During the hours of darkness, the ships and the anchors, and the thousands of pounds’ worth of property went plunging painfully and surely towards destruction. When day dawned the good people of Lyttelton left their beds, rubbed their eyes, and failed to see a single craft of the many that the darkness had hidden from their gaze in fancied security. Immediately the wildest rumors prevailed. The vessels were gone, that was certain. Eumor at once, in the usually land and calm

fashion of that admirably correct authority, proceeded to assign to each a thrilling tale of disaster. Some were grinding on the rocks of the shore in a state of hopeless wreck, some had been blown out of the harbor and were going to pieces in the furious surf of the Forty-Mile Beach, none were likely to escape becoming matchwood in a few hours. The population was naturally excited, but the authorities apparently were calm. Gradually it became kuowu that the nine vessels were not wrecks, but that they were in imminent peril. The first sign of official readiness to go to their rescue was given at nine o'clock by the departure of the steam-tug Lyttelton from the wharf. By midnight, eight out of the nine vessels had been taken back to their anchorage ; the gale had gone down, and so had the ninth vessel.”

1874. 1878 Foxton... ... 291 563 Palmerston ... 193 880 Feildiog ... 195 759 Marton ... 339 593 Bulls ... ... 239 611