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Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 441, 29 January 1890, Page 4

Our Waikato correspondent writes : “ Huntly of course has its fiaxmill, which is situated on the west bank of the river and is turning out a good article. Tawhiao, the Maori King, is at his settlement at Maurea, nearly opposite Rangiriri, taking things easy. I saw it stated that he had gone to Mercer to arrange and prepare for the Jubilee visit of the Maoris to Auckland, but this is not so. He was returning simply from Mangakavva to the bosom of his family. Te Wheoro is the chief who will see to the Jubilee proceedings being duly carried out. I cannot conclude without again stating that there is universal disgust throughout Waikato at the paltry arrangements made to enable visitors to go to Auckland and back for the Jubilee ; and many cannot get down, as it takes, at the lowest, three days to go down and return and see one afternoon’s sport.”

The Tasmanian Government Statistician, Mr R. M. Johnston, has recently published in a tabular form the statistics relating to the population of that island colony. The area of Tasmania is 26,215 square miles, and the population on the 31st December last was 151,470, as compared with 146,149 on the same date of the previous year. The number of births during 1889 was 4,751, a decrease of 26 on the previous year There were 2,102 deaths, showing an increase of 66. The total immigration for the year amounted to 23,443, and the emigration returns show that 20,771 persons left the colony. The excess of immigration over emigration was, therefore, 2,672. The population per square mile of the colony on the 31st December last was 5'78 ; the birth rate for the year was 31 *93 per thousand, and the death rate was 14 T 3 per thousand. The population during the year increased by 5,321 persons, or 3*64 per cent., as compared with the previous year, and of this increase 2,649, or 49‘78 per cent., was due to the excess of births over deaths, whilst the remainder,2,672, or 50'22 per cent., was due to the excess of immigration over emigration.

A special meeting of the Crown Lands Board was held on Jan. 23, to avoid the necessity of holding a meeting on the next ordinary date, which falls in Jubilee week. A synopsis of sales effected since the previous meeting was submitted as follows : —Cash sales 5,110 acres, £75 15s 9d ; deferred payment 2, 89 acres, rent £5 10s 6d; perpetual lease 5, 239 acres, rent £ls 3s. Further discussion took place with reference to an application, to lease the Tauranga Recreation. Reserve, and it was agreed that the upset rental be £1 per section, the leases to be for 21 years. In deference to a wish expressed by residents of Great Barrier, it was agreed to withdraw the lease of 500 acres of land at Okupa Bay from sale to preserve the rights of guradiggers. The Board declined to grant an application for leave to cut flax on an island in Cox’s Creek, the ranger having suggested that the, flax should be allowed to grow for a few years. Numerous other applications of little public interest were also considered and disposed of. The third series of wool sales was commenced at Dunedin on Jan. 23. The attendance was good, and competition was fairly active, especially for light-conditioned fine half-breds and cross-breds, ‘which realised prices about on a par with those ruling a fortnight ago ; while heavy in grease, earthy, and badly sorted had less ! attention. Merinos of every description were less favoured; and prices were M to Id lower, several lots being passed.

The Right Reverend Roman Catholic Bishop left Fiji by the last trip of the s.s. Birksgate, on a visit to Noumea to confer, says the “ Levuka Times,” with the authorities there regarding the demand of His Excellency the Governor of Fiji, that the Bishop should haul down a French flag hoisted at the Bishop’s Court, Suva, as a compliment to a French man-of-war in harbour at the time. Though the Bishop hauled his flag down, he has not surrendered. W hatever the legal aspect of the question may be, we think the Governor’s insisting on the flag being hauled down both impolitic and unwise, and the protest against "the captain of the French man-of-war saluting the Bishop, differs little in character from the flag incident. Our Governor, we fear, has displayed trap de. zele. Since the Bishop’s arrival in Fiji a very ancient and obsolete custom has been revived. On several occasions on his leaving a coast town the leading people have shown their respect to him by raising the anchor of his boat ready for his departure.

The race between Hearn and Stephenson for the Championship of Hew Zealand is to be decided early next month, and is beginning to attract some attention, It is over five years now since there was a contest for the honour, as Hearn - has been allowed to hold it j unchallenged since January 2nd, 1885, when he defeated Harrington. We have heard very little of Hearn’s training, but he is sure to be hard at work, and will no doubt be in good form to meet his : younger opponent. Stephenson; arrived Sydney about the beginning of this week, and has been steadily at work in Wellington Harbour since. Being an j Auckland boy, the contest will be awaited j with much interest in the province.