Events of the Month.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4773, 26 April 1884, Page 4

Events of the Month.

Considerable sums are being expended on the County roads between here and the Hot Lakes district, and coach communication over them will in the future not be attended with such difficulty as it has hitherto been. A lad named Martin has been killed while trying to get on a tram swhile in . motion in Canterbury. His Excellency, Sir Woo. Jervois, has just paid a visit to the district, and in the course of two days paid visits to every object of interest about the place. The chief mines and haulage and crushing machinery >were carefully inspected by the viceregal party, and a trip was taken through the country, the visitors going up the Thames River by steamer and being shewn all local items of interest, and receiving , several presents from the Maoris. The Union S.S. Company's steamer Eotomahnna beat the mail steamer City of Sydney in a trip from Sydney to Auckland this month. Mr Justice Gillies has, in conformity with the will of his late wife, announced his intention to place £3000 at the disposal of the Auckland University for two . scholarships. A Swiss settlement, to be named Helvetia, is to be formed in New Zealand. The first batch of settlers is reported to ; hare left for their destination. The Salvation Army continues here, but there is no field for its operations in our midst; we have no criminal population. A few citizens who profess a strong belief in them and their proceedings, keep up the necessary funds, and so long as that continues we are sure to have them in the town. A few nights ago the street procession of the Army, which was singing in the main thoroughfares of the Borough, was hailed with a shower of decomposed eggs. A large dredge used by the Dunedin Harbor Board recently lifted 7000 tons of silt from the Port Chalmers Bar. This was more than had been removed in the previous five months. The intellectual status of the New Zealand Civil Service is improving considerably. Recently a prize was offered for an essay on " Pauperism," and the competition for the prize confined to the Service. The result was three essays, not one of which was deemed worthy of the prize. Centralism is being carried to extremes in the colony. The Government now proposes to work the Thames Hospital from Wellington, the seat of Government, where our requirements have hitherto appeared to be a sealed book. Individual regrets were expressed when the news of the death of Prince Leopold .arrived, but no public acknowledgment of the event in the town, beyond a " half« mast flag," was made. In Wellington the churches were draped in black. According to a colonial paper, New Zealand is suffering from a plethora of clergymen; the number of officiating ones being a minister to every 800 of the population, counting men, women, and children. ,

There is every probability of considerable alterations being made in the state system of education ; the present method has proved more expensive than the colony's means can afford, and would-be reformers are seeking for or suggesting remedies, but up to the present in vain. A total eclipse of the moon has occurred, commencing at 8 o'clock p.m. on the 10th inst.. and concluding at 2.30 o'clock a.m. on the 11th instant.

The kea, a native bird, has proved very destructive in the South Island to sheep. In one night 200 sheep were killed" by them, and it was found necessary by the station owners to offer a reward of as much as four shillings a beak for the remains of this .order of orrithological pests. ..; , , : •• The Tsukuba," a Japanese man-of-war, has been giving its officers and men a holiday in Auckland waters for the past few weeks, and the officers have been lionised and treated very hospitably by the people, returning the compliment handsomely. Apples weighing no less than 23ozs have been grown in our neighbourhood. Several severe shocks of earthquake have been experienced in the central portion of the colony during the month, more particularly were they felt in Wellington and vicinity on the evening of the 11th , inst. An Auckland Naval Brigade team of volunteers recently beat a crew from, the Japanese man-o'-war Tsukuba in a twelveoared race of two and a half miles in the Auckland harbor.

The natives seem earnest in tbeir teetotal resolves. Some time ago several chiefs decided npon resorting to a temperance system, and now being evidently decided that half measures will not suit them, they are opposing the institution of " canteens " in the Constabulary stations in their districts. The Baptist people in Auckland bare just had the foundation, atone of a tabernticle. laid, and £400 was placed on the foundation stone. A highly successful review and shamfight took place in Wellington on Easter Monday, and, the Minister for Defence, frho vii preMflt, was someirbat surprised

at the proflcienoy shewn by the foliictecrs who took part in it. Large shipments of timber to the Australian colonies still continue, and considerable portions of bush land are daily being opened op. Northern Queensland apparently absorbs a considerable quantity of our produce in ibis direction. Mr G. M. Eeed, an old New Zealand journalist, proceeds to England to start a newspaper to be devoted to the interests of New Zealand, at least so it is stated; it is further said that the organ is to be named the Angle-New Zealander. A very successful deerstalking party has just finished a trip to the island of Motutapn, a short distance from Auckland. At a recent sale of yearlings belonging to the New Zealand Stock and Pedigree Co. the highest price given was 245 guineas and twenty animals sold realised 1393 guineas. . Tbe visit of Sir Julius Vogel was for some time thought to have had a political significance, but now, according to southern papers the late member and premier has made Australia hia destination. It is not by any means an improbability though that Sir Julius' name will not figure in the list of new members for the \ A ssembly after the general election in November. A black swan measuring six feet from tip to tip of wings was recently shot by a local sportsman; "''■». During the carrying out of the eskb* lished Maori custom of destroying the personal property of deceased chiefs, recently, a sacrifice to the extent of £500 was made on the occasion of the death of a chief at Whareroa. The cultivation of sub-tropical plants is causing some interest in Auckland. The climate is very suitable for the growth of the mulberry, and silk worm industry, and the olive, orange, and lemon could be easily produced. A man named Goodward, who was convicted of a criminal assault on a woman while seeing her home from a Salvation Army meeting in Auckland, has just received a flogging in gaol, which was part of the sentence inflicted upon him. Two Wellington persons, one a bank clerk, have been horsewhipped for making insulting proposals to females. One so offended an actress, and was punished by the theatrical manager; the other annoyed a barmaid, who took tbe law into her own hands. A Government survey party between here and the King Country had recently to work for two months through very heavy country, consisting of thick bush and a succession of gullies. They went for five days without any other food than wild pig, and what was described as an agreeable change was clambering over hills 2000 feet high with heavy swags, and frequently fording rapidly running rivers. An early history society has been formed for the purpose of compiling the records of the southern portion of the colony comprised within the districts of Otago and Southland, and doubtless similar steps will be taken in connection with other ,parts of New Zealand. Mr George Hooper, brewer, a very old colonist died recently in Nelson, aged 78 years. He arrived in the colony fortytwo years ago, and carried on the same business up to the time of his decease. The Bank of New Zealand has held its annual meeting, and declared the usual dividend of fifteen per cent. The Chairman declared that notwithstanding the somewhat unfavorable season which had been experienced in wool and grain, the frozen meat trade, dairy factories and other industries promised to make amends for them. : , ■ ■