Summary of the Month.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4727, 1 March 1884, Page 4

Summary of the Month.

The Native King, who,, by the way, is one of those prophets whose fate it is to meet with little honor in hia own land, unless from a '-'carousing " point of view,is about to pay a visit to England, accompanied by a few chiefs whose influence is of small degree, and who would probably undertake an expedition to Kamschatka or Siberia if they saw free passages and expenses paid, for them. The Home mission will, it is to be hoped, be carefully listened to, and Tawhiao and his chiefs given full audience, but we easily anticipate the result, frit will be a pitying acknowledgment of the imaginary wrongs, upon which such idlers as Sidney Taiwhariga and other natives, who care not for toil, bave so long been living on, and which will it is to be feared, provea prolific means of living to many a cute v Maori or Pakeha-Maori in the future.

ATannery and Boot Factory Campany is being established on the Thames, where the raw material for the first part of the industry is easily obtained.

The annual prize firing meeting of the N.Z. Eifle Association is now being held in Auckland. Nearly two hundred com> petitors are amongst the number present.

The annual meetings under the Licensing Act, which provide for the appointihent of Commissioners to regulate the existence of hotel licenses, have just been held, and although every effort was made ty the teetotal party &o secure the return of their nominees, the general public elected to choose their own candidates, and the Good Templar ■ ticket remained out in the cold.

Eight shocks of earthquake have been felt in various parts of the colony during the month, more particularly about the Southern portion of this island.

Bible-re*ading in schools is still exercising the minds of many persons who up hold the present secular system of educa» tion. There appears to be something in the way of anomaly in their support of a system, and their advocacy of a divergence from it. The goodness of the district as a unit in the sum of the colony's population is exemplified in the general falling off in revenue. Customs' duties are decreasing, particularly in the matter of liquor.

Otago and Canterbury have both beaten a visiting Tasmanian cricket team.

The resuscitation of the Triumph is progressing rapidly and satisfactorily. This work mast be most gratifying to those who purchased her. It is very likely that the steamer when reinstated will be employed in the frozen meat trade.

The Feeling in New Zealand regarding Colonial Federation seems to be somewhat divided. This colony is somewhat ambitious, it is generally of the opinion that it is a cut above Australia, and does not want to be tacked on the fifth con« tiDent—it has a bigger future before it.

The New Zealand Timber Company has declared a dividend of ten per cent, and'other'colonial companies are doing like wise. The consumption of timber is assuming rather large proportions in this portian of the colony, and there is every probability that the denudation of our forests- will have a very unsatisfactory effect on the place from the water supply as well as other points of view. • The Thames people have been going into religion rather 'stiffly during the past month. A branch camp of tha Salvation Army' has been opened, and a quartette of American evangelists have been holding; forth in a mosfe sensational manner, praying for reporters, and saying and doing all sorts of absurd things. Both parties have been well attended, but more by. curious audiences than sincere adherents.

The returns show the number of immigrants who arrived in the colony during the month of January as 2628, against ■ 860 emigrants. Five men narrowly escaped death on February 9th. They were in in a rail* way truck, in front of" which was trolley loaded with rails. One of these slipped off, and catching under a sleeper, the top end was forced right through the truck, which was overturned. Fortunately, none of the men were seriously hurt, though one was badly.bruised. ' In a rifle match, 20"men a side, 7 shots each at 200, 300, and 500 yards, the Thames Naval Artillery were beaten by the Rifle Hangers. The scores were _ 1281 and 1315 points respectively. A case similar to the sinking of the Austral occurred at" Whangarei lately. .The s.s. Waitaki had taken in 150 tons of coal at low water, and a port beiDg left open, when the tide rose- she was with difficulty prevented from diving. A platelayer named Edwards, at Ormondville, Hawkes' Bay, in a fit of delirium tremens, murdered his wife and four children; he first siunned them while asleep, and then deliberately cut their throats. Parliament is further prorogued till April 7th. William Henry Morgan, a fireman at Te Awamutu, Waikato district, blew his brains out on. February. 12th; supposed to have been temporarily insane. Some time ago a petition was got up to rf _, ( / annex the suburb of Parawai to the "~* ' Borouph. A counter petition was organ* ised, and through some extrordinary bungling by the Government, a small section of about 10 acres, with only 11 householders, has been proclaimed a separate ward of the Borough, and three members are to bo elected' to represent it in the Couucfl. Thejqcal Choral Society gave its third r concert }bu ; : February 14th; the parts taken being selections from " The Ancient .Mariner," and the operetta " Breaking the Spell." , £ A cutter 40ffc. loDg, built by Mr B. Stone to the order of Mr M. Casey of this town, was launched on February 15tb, A child named Isidore Campbell, aged . about 4 years, fell into an unprotected water , hole on February 15, and was drowned. Surveyors laying out a railway route in Taranaki were turned back by Maoris, who stole their provisions and instruments. The refractory natives are few in . number. At the licensing committees- elections in Auckland, the temperance candidates - gained a complete victory, polling 5506 votes against 3235 by the licensed victuallers, It is said the victory will depreciate hotel property £50,000 A regatta is to be held on the Thames - on,the 17th inst. A powerful committee has been formed, and a successful meeting jjj anticipated, '

About £50 was collected in this district by the local branch of the Irish National League. A small screw'steamer Built, here'has just been launched. This in the second constructed on the Thames for local owners within a little over a jear.

A hurricane which passed across the Pacific recently produced a great effect on the East Coast of the North Island last week; In the vicinity of White Island, which is commonly called Sulphur Island, on account of the large depdsits of that article on it, the sea broke in 17 fathoms of water, and the force of it may be understood when it is stated that two 561b rails were broken short off.

Large preparations are being made for the exportation of frozen meat. Stores capable of containing 10,000 carcases of mutton are being erected in Auckland, and the necessary tinning apparatus and machinery has been imported from America.

A carcase of mutton, shipped in Dunedin five months ago, and which was taken to London and brought back, was partaken of at lunch in a Wellington Club a day or two, at the invitation of the Shipping.Company's manager, and found to be excellent in flavor and condition.

The Otago University has appointed Mr A. C. Strode, who is now at Home, to represent it at the tri-centenary of the Edinburgh University to be held shortly. The Auckland« Baptists are building a tabernacle to cost over £8000.

Some indignation was recently felt in Auckland on account of the Fire Brigade turning out and refusing to attempt to put out the fire, owing to the Insurance Companies not contributing to the expenses of the brigade at fires outside the city limits. Sir Eobert Douglas, Bart., lately an M.H.E., died at Wanganui of cancer on the 2)Bth February. 'J he deceased came to the colony as captain of the 57th Eegiment, and sat in the last Parliament. The people here have hopes that with the aid of English capital they will succeed in constructing the railway line between here and Te Aroha. A Mr Bitso at Home has been in communication with the local directory anent the matter. The rabbit pest is being greatly decreased in the colony, principally through poison being laid, but a general attack of tubercolosis has greatly reduced their numbers in the South Island.