THE WEEK IN HISTORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 9

THE WEEK IN HISTORY

.... Briel note is here Of thinks largo-writ (and oft-times rod} In Man’s storied progress through the Ages, February 8— Mary Queen of Soots beheaded, 1587. - , Jules Verne, French novelist, born, 1828. . Hon. William RoUeston died, 1903. February 9 First printing press used in Lugland, 1471. Sturt discovered and name! JL>htling River, Australia, 1860. Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., oom 1838. First cricket match, England v. Australia, 1862!. Japan attacked Port Arthur, 1904. February 10— . .. Captain Cook arrives on third visit to New Zealand, 1777. Lord Charles Beresford bom, 1846. Transportation, to Tasmania ceased. 1853. , i Mrs Henry Wood, novelist, died, 1887. , , , Russia formally declared war against Japan, 1904. February 11— . , , Thomas A. Edison, inventor, bom, 1847. , ■■ ■ , Major Heaphy, of New Zealand Forces, won the Victoria Cross in engagement at Ma ngapiko River, 1864. February 12— Lady Jane Grey beheaded, 1555. Abraham Lincoln bom, 1809. London Custom House burned, 1814. Charter of incorporation issued to New Zealand Company, 1841. Te’ephone invented by Dr Graham Bell, 1877. Japanese Constitution proclaimed, 1889. Penguin wrecked, 75 live* lost, 1909. February 13— Catharine Howard beheaded, 1542. Trial of Warren Hastings began, 1788. Gold discovered near Bathurst, New South Wales, 1851. Rev. John Whitely and seven, other Europeans murderd by Maoris at White Cliffs, Taranald, 1869. Wagner died, 1883. Proclamation of amnesty to Maori political offenders, 1883. February 14— _ St. Valentine’s Day. Captain Cook killed at Owhyhoe, Sandwich Islands, 1779. Genera’ W. T. Sherman, United States Army, diea, IB9IA Sir Edward Stafford, three times Premier of New Zealand, died in England, 1901. FIFTY YEARS AGO. (Prom the “Wellington Independent.”) It is announced that a further sum of £l2O is being forwarded for the relief of distress in the Lancashire cotton factory districts, making about £ICOU contributed by Wellington Province. A fire in the Oriental bush spreads rapidly and hills at the back are soon a mas* of flames; fortunjatfly no damage is done to settlers’ property. Kingite Maoris from the Waikato arrive at Wanganui to discuss native affairs. They are accompanied by a criminal, Wirehama Mohara, who lately escaped justice for an attempted outrage on a white girl, and surprise is expressed at his behaviour, as he walks openly about Wanganui and Turalriua, armed with a horse pistoiKingite Maoris are also seeking converts at settlements nearer Wellington, about Waikanae. “Their reception has been variable; with the hingitoe it has been hearty; but by others they are looked upon as a lot of idle fools, ‘nui nui mungario and porangi,’ who would do much better by staying at home and cultivating the soil, and looking after their stock, than by wasting their time in gossiping expeditions over the country.” The death is announced of Tairoa, a prominent Maori chief in Otago, known in the early annals of the colony as “Bloody Jack,” and at one time most powerful native in the Middle Island. He was about seventy years of age. Mr William • Colenso has resigned from the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Council, and Mr J. D. Ormond has been elected to that body for the dis* trict of Porangahau. Drought is affecting the Wairoa (H. B.) district, and crops axe expected to prove a failure all round. Messrs Samuel Bealoy and Fitzgerald are in the field for election to the position of Superintendent of Canterbury, in succession to Mr W. S, Moorhouse, resigned. J Good returns are still reported from the Otago gold diggings. The Coromandel goldfields are quiet. It is stated that the Marino Board has decided upon Mana Island as the site for a Cook Strait light. Australian News.—Ten bushrangers have arrived in Sydney for trial by special commission. _ Plenro-pneu-monia has broken out in Lambing Fiat district. Heavy floods are reported in the northern districts. South Australian colonists are organising measures to send stock to the new country explored by Sturt, along the Darling. Cape Colony.—Drought is causing great mortality amongst stock. The civil war in the Transvaal district has ended.