THE PROVINCES

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 31 March 1870, Page 6

THE PROVINCES

On Saturday, March 5, as one of Mr. Enys' shepherds was proceeding from the station in the direction of Lake Lyndon, he saw an aerolite fall, starling over Mount Torlesse and sloping towards Big Ben. Before teaching the latter, it burst into many pieces. The shepherd is unable to say on which side of Big Bon the pieces have fallen, as the aerolite burst over the hill. It was about 9.30 a. in. when the aerolite was seen. — "Canterbury v rimes 3 " March 19.

On the 7fch inst. two young men, named William Willis and John Webb, left Christchurch in search of work ■southward, and it is feared that one or both have met with a fatal accident in crossing the river Rakaia. It appears that they stopped at Dunsford's Accommodation House on the night of the day they left town, and next morning started to cross the river, but have not since been seen or heard of. During the day-, a swag was found in the river bed, and was forwarded to Cbristclrarch, where, by its contents, it was identified as the one which Willis had with him when he left home. The relatives of the young men are naturally in a state of great anxiety, and any information about them will be very welcome.

One day last week the second son of E. W. Stafford, Esq., a lad about years of age, while engaged in fishing in the Maitai River in company with his brother, fell into a pool in the stream above his depth. Although the boy had not acquired the art of swimsning, he managed to keep himself afloat until assistance reached him and brought him to the shore. — "Nelson Examiner," March 16.

The Wangapeka correspondent of the "Nelson Examiner" writes as follows :-^-owing to there being no lockup here, an inebriate the other day had to be handcuffed round a tree, which had a most ludicrous appearance'; he was find the customary pound which he paid willingly, as he said everybody must live. There would have been a case of perjury for the Supreme Court, but owing to there being no place to put the prisoner, I fancy the Warden took a lenient view of the case, and dismissed him with a <?aution.

Mr. Michie, the well-known Victorian Barrister, is now in Auckland. It appears that this gentleman has come to New Zealand for a change of air, and generally for tho benefit of his health. Tho Auckland papers suggest that some society or institution should get hold of him and let Auckland have the treat of one of his popular lectures. A discussion took place recently in the Auckland Provincial Council on a motion by Mr. Carleton that the Superintendent should be empowered to sit in the Council; and take part in the debates, but retiring so often as the Speaker should put the question. The motion was lost by a majority of 16.

Mr. St. John Branigan goes back to Wellington in a few days. His labours have not been of a very easy kind since his first ai'rival in this province. His tour of inspection is completed, and his visit has embraced the most remote stations, such as Haroto and others near Taupo Lake. It is somewhat fortunate he turued up here when Kooti nearcd the Waikatos. By his energy and prompt decision the large body of our men, half famished and short of ammunition, which suddenly turned up near the Waikato frontier, were provisioned and supplied in an incredible short space of time, and not the slightest delay occurred to our troops, then close upon Te Kooti. I perceive that some Southern papers, " whose wish is father to the thought," in their desire to have Kooti killed or captured, animadvert in more than strong terms upon the appointment of that gentleman to his present office, and continue to make " demilitarisation " the theme of continual attacks. For my pact, and from personal observation, I feel convinced that had Mr. Branigan been placed in the position he now occupies, with fuller powers, years ago, his system would at least have produced one result, the complete protection of our out settlements, of the lives and property they contain, at a cost tenfold less than what past aggressive policies have led us into, without the slightest result. Ido not think thafc the attacks to which I refer are worth much notice. I find that an article which appeared in your columns some days ago, speaking in high terms of Mr. Branigan has excitedthe ire of the " Wellington Post. " If the lucubration contained in that journal, and levelled at the Commissioner of Constabulary's head, are, as authoritatively stated, penned by the late Commander of the Forces, Colonel Whitmore, then, indeed, these attacks are beneath notice.

The total cost of the passages of immigrants introduced into the province of Canterbury since May, 1868, Was £13,411, the number of immigrants being 897, or about £15 per head; but of this sum £3,533 was contributed by (or for), the immigrants prior to embarkation, leaving £9,878 for the province to pay ; thus making the average cost on arrival a little over £11 per head, and when the promissory notes given by the immigrants are paid, the ultimate cost to the province will be £8,560, or about £9 >10s a head. A contemporary writes :— " A con-

sigument of the true and real English crow has arrived at Auckland by the City of Auckland, from London. The English crow is a well-known enemy and destroyer of the caterpillar ; and the introduction of the species into the Colony will be hailed with welcome we should imagine, both by farmers and market gardeners." Very good, but we apprehend the " rook is meant, the " crow " being a carrion bird, solitary, and of similar habits generally to the raven. ' However, it is a very frequent mistake to confound the crow with the common rook.

The "Thames Advertiser" of the 11th March, m reviewing the census of the Thames goldfield, says: — "We find that the total number of inhabitants on this goldfield is 12,490, while the population for the whole province by the last census was 48,321, showing that we have considerably more than one-fourth of the population of the province. The population of Auckland city is 11,200 ; and adding Parnell and Newton, is 17,670. The population of Shortland is of course greater than that of Grahamstown proper, but, dividing the goldfield of the Karaka Creek, we find that to the Shortland side we have 4,673, while on the

Graharnstown side there are 7,461. Shortland also has the advantage in the numbers who slept in each house having been taken, as many of those carrying on business in Grahamstown reside in Shortland. Comparing our population with that of other provinces, wo find that Taranaki has a population of 4359; Hawke's Bay, 5283; Marlborough, 4371 ; and Southland, 7943 ; so that we ara considerably superior to these four provinces."

Commenting on the destitution at the Thames, which has formed a topic for so much writing lately, the same joui'nal makes the following remarks : — As to the question of employment, the information given is valuable. We find that the "at least 1500 on the verge of starvation" dwindle down to 13, and even these, we suspect, have never wanted a meal. The number given as unemployed is 1223, and it must bo remembered that since the enumeration was made several hundreds have been employed on Government and contract works. It .must not be forgotten, also, that on a goldfield, whore men are continually shifting their places of work, there must be at any given time a number who are not working, but who are merely taking a day or two's spell between jobs. Taking these things into account, therefore, the want of employment and the destitution dwindle down very considerably. We may mention that 77 of the unemployed declared themselves to be waiting for the opening of OMnemuri. Fourteen men in the Hospital were not returned as employed or unemployed. The greatest number of unemployed were in the distinct between the Karaka and Moanataiari creeks, where there was one man unemployed to 3.9 of the total number of men, while in Shortland there was one man unemployed for every nine who were working. Hastings returned no men as unemployed.

During the time of tho Whangarci races, on the sth inst., intelligence was convoyed to a settler from Otaika, who was enjoying himself there with the day's relaxation, that his Wife had deliberately set fire to and burnt his house, some of his outhouses and fencing, and afterwards rushed into the river, near Mr. Taylor's residence, with the intention of drowning herself. A Mr. Lee, from this place who was passing at the time, went into the river and got her out in time to save her life — very much against her will, as she was firmly bent on self-destruction. A short time before the melancholy occurrence this poor woman had taken her three children out of her bouse to Mr Taylor's, and left them with that gentleman's housekeeper, so that it seemed to have been quite a premeditated act. Of course the house and all its contents were entirely consumed, which is a great loss to a very industrious settler, who has worked very hard to attain his position. This poor woman seems quite bereft of her reason Her husband was leaving by the Meteor on the sth inst., to place her in the Auckland Lunatic Asylum. His loss is estimated at nearly L3OOO. — "Grey River Argus," March 17th

The " Taranaki Herald " thus refers to hop picking there — We have been requested by Mr. Martin to state that he intends commencing to pick hops on Monday next. As this will be a novely in Taranaki, we should imagine, should the weather be fine, that a large number of persons will avail themselves of this opportunity of passing a pleasant day at tho hop grounds. His Honour the Superintendent and family, we believe, intend visiting Mr. Martin, on Monday next. We ("New Zealand Herald") notice in our advertising columns that Mr. William Shaw, carrying on business at Auckland and Shortland as Harnett and Co., has filed a deed of arrangement with his creditors. The proprietor of three journals started a fourth, the last at the exceedingly low price of — one penny. In England — in London, the metropolis — it is well known that with material at first hand, a penny paper cannot live with a less circulation than thirty thousand. Mr Shaw attempted to controvert this by issuing a penny daily in Auckland; and, as was foreseen by all who understood Caxton, has failed in his object.

A question arose at the Warden's Court as to the payment of assessors. Eight assessors were summoned to hear a case of Woodward v. Wild Missouri Gold Mining Company, which had been heard before, but iv which a rehearing had been granted. According to the provision of the Act, assessors may be dispensed with by mutual consent. This was done, and the question arose whether tho £2 which has to be paid into Court as remuneration for the four assessors to be empanneled, Bhould be divided amongst the eight, or should not be paid at all. After some conversation, and reference to the Goldfields Act, it was decided that no money could be paid if the case was not gone into with the assessors. These gentlemen were therefore discharged without remuneration. — " Thames Advertiser."

The electors of Mongonui (Auckland) have sent a requisition to his Honour the Superintendent (Mr. Gillies) asking him to come forward as their i^epresentative in the place of Mr. Ball, resigned. It is very unlikely any opposition will be offered to Mr. Gillias.

The last accounts of the Maori rebel state that Te Kooti may be anywhere. The last report is, that he had located himself about a hundred and fifty miles from Tauranga. The fact is, that the Government do not know where he has gone to.