Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 51, 28 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Vital Statistics.—The Registrar. General's report on the vital statistics of the principal towns of New Zealand during the month of December, 1883, gives the following: — Births, 412; deaths, 148- We note that the highest rate in the proportion of deaths to the 1,000 i 8 in Caversham, with I'oo ; and the lowest in the Thames, o'l9. Auckland is Vl7; Wellington! 0.99; Christchurch; 1'56 ; Dunedin, 0'93; Invercargill, 1 'OO ; Lyttelton, 0'45; Nelson, 0'50; Timaru, 0'24; Oaniaru, 0'32; Hekitika, I'oo I Napier, 0'65 | New Plymouth, 1'34; and Wanganui, 0-60.

Th® Sheki> Act. —ln the New Zealand Gazette of the 17th instant, the quarterly return of infected sheep on the 31st December last gives the following names as owners of infected sheep:—Auckland Sheep District: W. Wilson and Henry Wright. Wei* lington Sheep District ; J. Dempsey, J. Fleetwood, H. Jacob, Gregor McLeod, R. Neilson, W. B. Paterson, R. T. Shields, A. Straehen, J. B. Summerville, V. Smith, and G. T. Bayby. North Wairarapa Sub-divi-sion : J. C. Andrew, John Cross, H. Beiliss, Johnston and Co., Hon. W. W. Johnston, Handyside, Roberts and Co., E. Meredith, jun., George Moore, Elder and Co., Wm. Leveston, E. Meredith, sen., W. W. Taylor, and Williams and Beetham.

Bather a “ Sell.”—Jumping at conclusions hastily is a prevalent weakness of some papers, and we find that one journal at least in this island has graced its leader column with eulogies on Bishop Moran, of Dunedin, imagining he was the gentleman, instead of Bishop Moran, of Ossary, who had been appointed Archbishop of Sydney.

Kawbu Township —As showing the enterprising spirit of some gentlemen—members of our small community—we note that Mr. H. J. Enn and Mr. Maude have each made an investment of four sections in the promising little township on the opposite coast. Although the prices paid are high, there is little cause to doubt but what the speculations will turn out most favorable; in fact, we hear that building operations have already com. menced there, and that the Red-Bibbonites are the pioneers.

Wesleyan Concert.—As will be seen by reference to the programme in our advertising columns, the Wesleyan concert in McFarlane’s Hall on Tuesday night promises to be a great success. In addition to all our local talent, we see the services of Mr. Flood, pianist, of Napier, have been secured, whilst Mr. Sigley will preside at the organ.

Saturday's Land Sale.—The following is the result of the land sale held by Messrs. Graham, Pitt, and Bennett on Saturday of some of the remaining sections on the Whataupoko:—E. F. Harris, Block C, Section 7, £64; Glyn, Block C, Section 9, £69; ditto, Block D, Sections 10, 13, and 14, £7O each; ditto, Section 11, £79; ditto, Section 13, £77 j Gibson, Block D, Section 6, £751 Sievewright, Block D. Section 53, £5B; Tutohen, Bloch D, Section 28, £6l; Bull, Block D, Section 20, £6l.

Bicrcuss.—A. wager for £5 having been made between Messrs, Boylan and Bannister, the latter backing himself to perform the journey from Page’s Corner to Bruce's woolshed, Ormond, in If hours, on a bicycle, started on his journey at 2'40 on Saturday afternoon. The rider had to get a ticket from Mr, Currie, of Ormond, which he had to produce on his return as a voucher for the distance having been covered, It was not until the allotted time had passed by 11 minutes that Mr. Bannister put in an appearance, thus losing his wager by that time.

Bmabt Work Mr. F. D. Bich writes as follows to the Otago Daily Times Will you allow me through the medium of your paper to direct the attention of the public to the advantages of travelling by the splendid steamer Takapuna. Just fancy, Sir! I did a fair day’s work on Saturday — delivering sheep, riding round giving orders, etc.—before leaving home (Palmerston), up to half-past ten, when I left by express train for Lyttelton, and here I am (Monday) going up the Manukau harbor, with every prospect of doing a reasonable afternoon’s business in Auckland, thus bringing the two great centres of population in the Colony—Dunedin and Auckland—within one clear day of each other. Although the company’s other steamers are second to none, yet, with stoppages, they take five and often six days to accomplish this. I have travelled by the Takapuna in both rough and smooth weather; it is all the same—she is always up to time. As a steady sea-boat, combined with despatch, good accommodation, and attention, I feel sure this steamer is not surpassed, and I question if she is equalled. During a residence of twenty-one years, I have been about fifty trips from Otago to Auckland, so can speak with some degree of confidence.”

Thb Direct Steamers.—The New Zealand Herald is our authority for stating that “ the New Zealand Shipping Company have made arrangements so that, for the future, all their direct steamers on their passage out from London are to call at Hobart. This will prove of great value to the consignees of goods on board the vessels, as also to the friends of possengers by them, as they will be able to judge to a day almost as to when the steamers should arrive at the port to which they are bound. The Aorangi, which arrived at Wellington on Thursday last, was the first vessel of the line to carry out these instructions, and the Doric, now on her voyage to this port, should put in an, appearance at ths place named during the present week."

iNTiUfinEs of the Kiwtks.—“ Our readers will remember the letter purporting to be signed by the native members of the House of Representatives, which was published ftt Home, and created a good deal of discussion. The letter was traced to Mr. Mcßeth, of Wellington, who had already made himself known is a sympathiser with Te Whiti. It seems that the natives of Tawhiao’s particular section have lately pulled themselves together, and are anxious to defeat the plan which the Native Minister is carrying out with the assent of Bewi, Wahanui, and the other great chiefs. This design was to have external surveys made, and to have the titles ascertained By the Native Lands Court. Tawhiao, and those around him, have called Mr. Mcßeth to their counsels to assist them in devising means for the defeat of the Native Minister and the chiefs of Ngatimaniapoto, and that gentleman came up by the Takapuna on Monday last, and left next morning for Waikato, with Mr. Sydney Taiwhanga. Tutawhiao, the king’s eldest son, was in town when Mr. Mcßeth arrived; but did hot go to Waikato with him. It is reported that Sydney Taiwhanga paid Mr. Mcßeth’s expenses, and that one object of the visit is to further the arrangements for Tawhiao’s trip to England. Some people think that behind all this native intrigue is a European force in the shape certain individuals who are averse to the opening of the King Country through Ngati. maniapoto and the Native Lands Court. The opposition is not to be made light of. The Native Minister and the Lands Court will act firmly enough, but no one knows what effect this action will have upon the minds of the Natives. Tawhiao’s power is still consider* able, and would indeed be exceedingly formidable if he were a sober man, possessed of mental power and energy.”-- X. Herald,

A Barb Tree,-—The Marlborough Exprcos has been shown a leaf 5 feet 6 inches in length, and fully 9 inches across in the widest part, which was cut off a palm-like tree at a height of some 3000 feet above the sea, on a mountain in the Upper Belarus. Mr. Goulter informs the Erprw that this is the first tree of its kind he has ever come across in the Colony, and the only other persons we can ascertain to have ever seen similar trees are Mr. Wilson, of the Survey Department, and three men working for him, who found a couple of trees near the summit of Mount Stokes, in the Pelorus Sounds district. Mr. Wilson and his men, though all most experienced bushmen, had never seen a similar growth before. The tree has the appearance of a very large-leaved cabbage tree, and has probably grown from seed of one of the larger classes of palms indigenous to the Islands, and brought hither by chance by some migratory birds.”

Good News.—“ We (N.Z. Herald) are glad to learn that Mr. Seymour T. George, M.H.R., whose hand was injured by the explosion of a shooting gallery gun at the Onehunga races, is progressing well. The wounds have already commenced to heal nicely, and except that the hand is bound up and in a sling, no one, from Mr. George’s appearance, would think he had so recently sustained a dangerous injury.”

Te Kooti at Tauranga.—The correspondent of the N.Z. Herald, writing from Tauranga on Tuesday last, sends the followingTe Kooti arrived yesterday at Kairini, with about a hundred followers. His standard-bearer carries a large white flag, with a Union Jack in one corner, and the inscription—which is an explanation of his professed mission—‘ Te Rongopai ’ (the Glad Tidings) in gold letters upon its ample folds, Te Kooti is a lithe, stalwart, and well-knit man, of benevolent, intelligent appearance, with beard tinged with grey, though evidently still in the prime of life. Two of his fingers are missing, and his face shows the scar of a bullet. Yesterday he was attired in a well-fitting mackintosh, tweed trousers, and slippers. He walks about and converses unreservedly with his own people and the few Europeans who have visited the settlement, but though he shows an intelligent appreciation of the present and future, and converses unreservedly upon both, he is silent upon the past, stopping all enquiry on that point by the remark that those days are now past, and that henceforth Native and European must live in peace and amity, and mutually forget and forgive. This is the ‘ rongopai ’ which he is carrying to the tribes. To-day he goes to Judea, and from thence to Wairoa, Te Puna, Katikata, Waikato, West Goastj Taranaki, and Wellington; to the latter place, one of hia bodyguard added, only if it i» thought advisable. Con* versing freely with this grave and quiet man, it is hard to imagine that he was but a few years ago the scourge and terror of the North Island. The accoutrements of his body, guard bear the arms of Her Gracious Majesty, but whether the pouches, dfce., contain anything more dangerous or warlike than pipes and ‘torere,’ deponent sayeth not.”

Valuable tar,-’‘An exceedingly valuable addition to the flocks of this Colony, has been made, per Aorangi, by Mr. Larkworthy, of the Carnarvon estate, Manawatu, It consists of a number of Hampshire Down sheep, a breed which is celebrated at Home for the quality of its mutton and the early maturity of 4 the lambs, Several of the ewes lambed on the voyage, there being ten lambs in all, including several pairs of twins. The remainder of the ewes are likely to lamb shortly, Now that mutton forms one of the staple exports of the Colony, these sheep should be highly prized. In addition, there are two Lincoln ram lambs. The whole of the sheep have arrived in excellent condition. On being landed, they were taken to the wool stores of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, where excellent quarters were provided for them. They will probably be shipped to their destination to-day.”

The North Island Trunk Railway.—“ A public meeting was held in Feilding on Monday night last, and passed a strong resolution, asking the Minister for Public Works to proceed with the survey of the central railway route, starting from Feilding, in accordance with the promise made by the Hon. Walter Johnston eight months ago. A resolution was also passed, urging Messrs. Stevens and Johnston, M.H.R.s, to use their influence with the Minister to commence the work at once.” A telegram, dated from New Ply. mouth on the following day, states that “ Mr. R. Donkin, C.E., who for the last three years has been prospecting Mokau at his own expense, is in New Plymouth, and states that he is in a position to point out a good route for the railway between Taranaki and Te Awamutu. When Mr. Bryce passed through Mokau he told Mr. Donkin his experience should be made use of, but for some reason the Government have not thought proper to give him charge of a party.”

The Sparrow Nuisance. —A contemporary reports that “ the sparrow nuisance has become so general and grievous in Waikato that the farmers are awakening to the necessity for concerted action to abate it. Immense flocks may be seen in the corn-fields stripping the heads of wheat. In one large wheat-field

belonging to Mr Isaac Coates, near Cambridge, fully four acres of wheat adjacent to the fences have been destroyed, while other portions of the field are more or less injured, and thia sort of thing is prevalent throughout the district. At the meeting of the Cambridge Board on Saturday it was resolved to communicate with the local governing bodies throughout Waikato to get them, in conjunction with individual farmers, to set apart a day in the month of Juhe and lay poisoned wheat in public places on that day. Whilst on this subject, it may be well to refer to the only partial success which follows the use of poisoned wheat even in frosty weather. The hard husk of the grain is not favorable for the absorption of the poison, and in the South farmers have found by experience that the medium for poisoning email birds is husked oats. There need be no hesitation in resorting to the plan proposed by the Cambridge Board, on the plea that as the sparrow is required to keep down the caterpillar and other iniiect pests, it is unwise to exterminate himi There is no fear of extermination, and with ail tlieir efforts there will be enough sparrows’ and more than enough left to do thia work.”

More Presents from Mr. Mackelvie.— The Auckland Herald reports that •’ His Lordship the Bishop of Auckland, Dr, Cowie, has received a letter from Mr. Mackelvie, advising the despatch of several pictures by the ship Opawa from London. That vessel arrived on Friday with the pictures on board. All are the works of artists of the highest repute; The following is the list: —“ Dawn of the First Easter Sunday,” by Armitage, R.A.; Sea Urchins,” by Armitage, R.A. ; ‘ from the Pier,” by Samuel Webb, the figures by G. Earl; Incident in the Franco-Ger-man War,” by L. Aeam ; “ Bavarian Peasant,” by E. Harbinger ; “ On the Road,” by F. Putaani. These are sent for “ the people of Auckland, Mr. Mackelvie sends the-story of each picture on a piece of paper at the back. It would appear that even these presents are not to complete and determine the obligations under which Mr, Maokelvie has already put the people of Auckland. His name cannot fail to be closely associated with the art history of this city and provincial district. The pictures contributed by him belong to every school and class of pictorial art. Mr. Mackelvie hopes that they also “ may be appreciated.” There can be no doubt that they will be prized, for they are of great value, whether considered as works of art or the gifts of a munificent friend. We hope that before many weeks are over we shall see a beginning made with a building suited to accommodate the very excellent art treasures which we now possess.”