COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 163, 23 April 1874, Page 3

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(FROM THB ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS AGENCY) — ♦ AUCKLAND. April 13. It is stated that the General Government, intend to lend £50,000 at 6 per cent., to the Thames Companies, with a view to test the deep levels on the field. April 15. There is little doubt that Sullivan has left Auckland, but the authorities keep his destination a strict secret. The report that he left for England originated from the fact that his passage was taken in the Hindustan, but on learning the character of the proposed passenger, the agents returned the money and refused him a berth. The Governor’s meeting at Ngaruawahia will only be with the Europeans and friendlies. The Superintendent informed a deputation of the School Committee that, in addition to £7 500 of the education rate, the Provincial Government advanced £12,000 to the Board of Education for school purposes last • vear - April 17. Tames Crawford, master of the cutter Ellen, endeavored to take a cargo up the River, to Captain Peacock's farm, at the Head, but the natives civilly refused to allow him to go up without paying “black mail, in consequence of which the vessel returned. The Cambridge settlers are subscribing for a presentation to Mr. Mackay, at a> publ.e diimer, in recognition of his services in the Waikato district. April 18 Mr. Stewart writes to the Times (r) this morning stating that it is nearly certam special small farm settlements will be formed in Povertv Buy ln t ,e °£ One hundred families all with small capital, will be settled at these places within ten months; they are to come from the North of Ireland. WELLINGTON. April 15. The vital statistics for March give the births and deaths in seven of the towns of the lon y, as follows Auckland, 45 births, 18 deaths ; Thames, 19 births, 14 deaths; Wellington, 40 births, 23 deaths; Nelson, 13 births, 8 deaths; Christchurch, 40 births, 23 deaths; Dunedin, 61 births, 25 deaths; Hokitika, 20 births, 4 deaths. Being less than in February, which showed 292 births «id 140 deaths. A grand ball was given by Messrs. Brogden night, in the Theatre, at which over 500

persons were present, amongst whom were the Premier, and Mrs. Vogel, ,he Superintendent, Mayor, and members of the Legislature. The affair passed off satisfactory. HOKITIKA. April 14. The Claud Hamilton arrived yesterdav, full of passengers for the Palmer river gold-fields. Seventy passengers were booked at Greymouth, and the same number offered here, but only twelve were taken. DUNEDIN. April 16. The case, White v. McKellar, has been settled, defendant agreeing to pay £5OO to the plaintiff. Professor Black has sent in the analysis of the water supplied by the Water Company. It confirms Dr. Bakewell’s report ’hat the water is utterly unfit for domestic purposes. April 18. Captain Hutton has reported the existence of a very valuable coal bed at Tokomariro, extending over sixty square miles, the seams being from three to twenty feet thick. The bed is estimated to contain one billion tons of coal of good brown quality (not lignite.) It is expected coal from this bed will be sold in Dunedin at 12s per ton.