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Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 222, 2 May 1872, Page 5

A Game Country. — In order to make New Zealand a game country. Mr Hursthouse recommends that the Government contribute LIOOO a year to all the young Acclimatisation Societies. Important to Meat Companies. — Lt may be interesting, says the Argus, to shippers of preserved meats to know that among the late telegrams which have come to hand this mail there is one dated 15th March, which reports a very dull market in London for preserved mutton, and exporters are cautioned against making further shipments at present. Gaol Return. — The following is th e state of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending April 25 : — Awaiting trial, 0 men ; 0 women ; under remand, 0 men, 0 women, penal servitude, 26 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 44 men, 15 women; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women ; in default of bail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 1. Total. 73 men, 15 women. Received during the week, 8 men, 1 women ; discharged, 11 men, 2 women. The Waggon Dispute. — Quite recently the two morning papers at Auckland have been engaged in a regular hammer-and-tongs squabble upon waggons. The Herald began the strife by coming oat one morning with a furious onslaught upon the Government because Messrs Brogden and Sons had called for tenders in Dunedin for a number of ballast waggons to be delivered at Auckland. The Herald, of course, indulged in its usual exaggerated style ; and according to the language it employed, the Government, or Messrs Brogden, or both, had been guilty of some fearful abuse. Although the strongest advocate of free trade, the Herald in this instance however failed to appreciate the argument that if waggons could be supplied more cheaply from Dunedin than by the local makers it was the truest economy to procure them from the cheapest sourse, and regarded the whole business as a wanton insult to the trade reputation of Auckland. The Cross t<ok the question up ia direction opposition to the views of the Herald, and defended the action complained of on the ground that the manufacturing powers of Auckland were not equal to any large or urgent demand. Aud so'the duel of words went on day after day, and so it would no doubt continue but for the amusing and rather important fact that neither Messrs Brogden nor the Government had ever called for tenders for wa-.'gons in DuneJin! The. whole of the fuss had been caused by one of those canards for which that extremely reliable journal, the Evening Post, is distinguished/

Among the members of the Corps Diplomatique who appeared at Versailles on Nevr Year's Day was the chief of the Japanese Legation ia& bis two attaches,

Court op Appeal. — The sittings of the Court ef Appeal will be opened at Wellington on Monday, May 13.

Journalistic. — The Taranaki News has changed hands, and is now the property of Mr Charles Brown, late of the firm of Brown and Duthie, and formerly Superintendent of Taranaki.

The Waitaki-Moeraki Kailway. — From what appears in the Oamaru Times, it seems that Mr Bell, one of Mr Brogden's staff, will commence the survey of this line in a few days.

Singular Circumstance. — In Oamaru, on Monday last, was observed an apK'e tree in full bloom— the circumstance ing due, no doubt, to the mild humid weather.

Appointments. — Professor Black has been appointed analyst for Dunedin, under the '■ Adulteration of Food Act, 1866," and Mr Hy. Orbc-11, of Wai^ouaiti, an honorary inspector of sheep for the Province.

Religious. — The CongregationaMst, a new magazine published in London, reports that the Rev. 1). Johnston, of Glasgow, has accepted a call from Dunedin.

A Slight Mistake. — The Canterbury papers have had telegraphed to them that the last yield of the Heart of Oak claim, Carrick range, was 2553 ozs. from 175 tons of stone, instead of 253 ozs.

Tub University. — On dii that the ladies are about to take steps to found a scholarship to commemorate the admission of women to the University classes. W,e. wish them all success, and feel sure that an appeal to the public will meet with a cheerful response.

Railway Construction — The Hon. F. D. Bell, in addressing his constituents at Invercargill the other day, said that Messrs Brogden could now commence the Mataura railway ; and if they declined to undertake it, the Government would at once place the contract open for public competition.

Attempted Suicide. — The name of the man employed on the station of the Hon. M. Holmes, who attempted suicide on the 15th inst., is George Ross. In a fit of mental despondency, arising from domestic troubles, he out his throat with a razor, severing the wind-pipe, but escaping the jugular vein. He is said to be an old man, is under the care of Dr Fleming, of Oamaru, and is likely to recover. Value of Mount Ida Goldfield. — The Chronicle in an elaborate article attempts to show that Mount Ida is entitled to claim L 6.750, representing 52,000 oz*., as her share of the gold duty collected in 1871 At the port of Dunedin ; and that the district is a larger contributor than any other to goldfields revenue generally. Immigration. — It is satisfactory to know that the new regulations lately issued by the General Government have already given an impetus to immigration of a kind in everyway desirable. By the mail just left, applications for nominated passages on behalf of 57 statute adults were transmitted to the Agent-General in London from Canterbury, aud 44 from Otago. The majority of the persons nominated in both Provinces are ploughmen, farm laborers, and domestic servants. Testimonial. — The friends of Sergeant Naden, who during his period of service in the Otago Police Force was stationed at Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown, and Waikonaiti, will be glad to 1- am that tbe inhabitants of Queenstown have forwarded to him a very handsome testimonial in recognition of his servipes as a police officer, and of his intrepidity on more than one occasion in saving life on .Lake Wakatip. Mr Naden is now serving in the Armed Constabulary. Novel Defence. — One of the most singular and amusing defences set np against a charge of creulty was that of Mr Joy, at the Auckland Court recently. A man stood charged with having cruelly ill-used a bullock, when Mr Joy contended that this could not be the case, as the hide of the bullock after it had died fetched three shillings more than what a witness swore he got 1 for the skins of his beasts, upon which no alleged | cruelty had been practiced. By this mode of reasoning it may be alleged that to beat a bullock has no other consequence than to increase the hide in value. The charge of cruelty was dismissed. An Expensive Lark. — One Samuel T. Kerr appeared in the Mayor's Court this morning and pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking lamps in St. Andrew street. ,In evidence it appeared that the defendant and a friend being on pleasure bent last evening, entered into a controversy as to the efficiency of the police, the result was that Kerr offered to put to the test the well known saying that a " man in blue" was never to be found when wanted. A bet of LI was made as to the result. Kerr, without any more ado, took np some stones and eh ed them at a lamp which hung over an excavation in the street, and succeeded in demolishing the panes. Unfortunately, however, for these "rollicking rams," Constable Cottar happened to be in the immediate neighborhood ; and to his astonishment the wagerer found himself in durance vile. This morning he paid 40s and costs for his amusement,— Star 25th. Municipal Subsidies, — Mr Fish's proposal for a confer. nee of country mayors to consider the advisability of petitioning the Provincial Council to endow or permanently subsidise municipalities, meets with favour from the municipal councils interested ; but is not so regarded by a section of the country press. The Dunstan Times gives the latest utterance on the subject. It considers ma* nicipal institutions, as at present^conducted, too costly and cumbersome, and points to the absurdity of Cromwell, Clyde, and Alexandra, townships within a short distance of each other, being separate boroughs. " If the Province is to be divided into shires," remarks our contemporary, ''and a country system inaugurated, there is every chance of ous being able to dispense with np-oountry Municipal blessings entirely ; and, considering such a change imminent, it is unwise to seek further endowments for our municipal life until we know where the change in our form of Government is going to be. In addition to the foregoing objection, we may state our dislike to seek any relief or aid from the Ptovincial Government at all ; and were we, for » moment, Jto induceja belief in" the minils of our readers that such aid would be given, we should only Btate what we believe to be most improbable, as to the wants and wiahea of up-country districts, tbe Provincial Council has always turned when possible, a deaf ear. We want nothing more to do with the Provincial system than help to bury it speedily and safely, even if we get something equally bad in its place. It is highly probable were Mr Fish's proposition entertained by tbe Provincial Council, it would not be sanctioned by the powers above. . But, at all events, if such endowments are necessary, and the various municipalities are to be maintained, we prefer to wait for such endowment from the <* esembly than to hope for or receive ought from tor -ProrindalCpßucil." • ■ -: . ■ .... i

A Novel Present. — The agricultural correspondent of the Greg River Argus for the Grey Valley, has been presented with a testimonial by the farmers up river. The gift was in the substantial form of a ton of horse-feed. '

Fast Young Men. — The departure of the Zavistowski Sisters (the burlesque actresses) for California, has enabled the Auckland papers to give us a little enlightenment as to the manner in which they were regarded by the young swells ot Auckland. It appears that they have been the rage there — have been " boqnetted," " champagned," and picnicked ad libitum. The number of presents (says one writer) these girls have received from said fast young fellows must be very great. lam told that a subscription list was opened for the purpose of purchasing them a piano to wile away the time across the Pacific ; but although the young fellows were willing enough to pay for the pleasure of the girls' actual society, they were not willing to pay very dearly for anything that would enhance the pleasure of their departure, consequently the gallants who had put their names down for L 5 and LlO "called off" at the last minute, and the young girls went without their piano. It was perfectly sickening to see the crowd of young bloods that went to see them off, and who kept kissing their hands to them till the vessel was nearly aut of sight.

A Rich Claim. — For some days past Mr Warden Beetham has been investi§ating a case of encroachment at the Upper hotover. One Henry Eager is the complainant, and Grace • and party the defendants, the damages being laid at L 12.000. After a week's trial the Warden aud the Assessors found for the plaintiff in the sum of L 8,255 damages and costs ; but the dse will not end there, as notice of appeal has been given. The Mail makes the following reference to the case :—": — " There is no doubt, however, that skippers has been wouderfully rich, and that the Otago Daily Times, when it challenged some remarks of ours, as to the distributive yield of gold about a year ago, was in possession of pretty correct information. It attr.buted the yield very justly to one or two rich claims at Skippers. In this ca«se celcbre we have strong corroboration of the assertion that, between several parties of miners a large amount of gold, equal to LIOO.OOO, or L 150,000 was taken out and shared — within two years — between less than a dozen men. The actual time of working was far le3s than the two years, for the run of gold was followed, when struck, with keenness of instinct known only to miners when on ' good gold. 1 The assessors have refused an application, in conjunction with the Warden, for stopping the working of defendant's claim."

An Amusing Story. — The old days of Victoria and Otago are reproducing themselves on the West Coast. At Reef ton, the Resident Magistrate discharged a prisoner without a judge's order. The incident of Thomas Gaffney swiming the Inangahua, and running down what, at Keefton, is called, the Straud, in a gossamer suit made by nature, has been already recorded. He was taken to the lock-up, where there was one man temporarily provided with accommodation. This poor fellow awakened from the " snore of the just," stared with astonishment at tbe " new hand, V begged the Magistrate, who, be it understood, has to sleep in the lock-up, to allow him to go OHt and sleep in a tent adjacent, declaring by all kinds of protestations that he would return faithfully. . The R.M. was in convulsions at the ludicrous incident, and the Sergeant of Police reporting that the man had behaved himself well, he was discharged. But it did not end there. In about an hour the discharged returned, begging the. R.M. to give him "a line to hie mate," saying that that faithful observer of " law and order" would not admit him unleaa he had the magistrate's authority. The magistrate did not see his jurisdiction to grant the line, but he sent the man along with the Sergeant, who, we understand, authoritatively made all things right.

A Colonial Candidate. — The Soutliei n Cross gives the following report of an extraordinary speech made by one of the candidates at a recent City election : — "A call for the unsuccessful candidate brought Mr Greenaway forward. He said : I have a lot of property in the place. lam the richest-man in New Zetland. I always pay my way. I have plenty of money. My set stood by me, and I stood by myself. If I have a lot of property, it is mine, and all paid for. What did Mr Jones go and write in the papers .for, saying I had resigned? If I bad resigned, where am I ? Ain't I here ? That does not look like it. I have lent a good lot of money at times, and if I did charge interest 1 didn't always get it. You try it on and see if y»u would. I haven't got the Queens-street mob at my back. It wouldn't be hard to buy some of them out. 1 have always paid twenty shillings in the pound, and I mean to. lam not elected, that don't say I haven't influence. 1 have lots of property. What's the good of going away out of town and spending a lot of money. Let us cover up inside little by little, and go on steady. My opinion is that there's nothing being done ; and if I had gone in I would have said something that would have let the people known what it was all about. lam the richest man in New Zealand, and if people want money they know I have got it. If I do charge interest, what of that? Other people charge too.— The speaker here moved off the stage sideways, and the meeting separated, after a vote of thanks being moved to the Mayor by the successful candidate.

The Prize Firing —The Ofcago Volunteers are not alone in their condemnation of Col. Harrington's conduct. Our telegrams to-day convey a brief indication of the feelings of the Auckland ; while the Post has a word or two on the subject. Thus writes that journal, " Enquiries lead us to believe that this dissatisfaction is as well grounded and generally felt as it is certainly openly expressed. His conduot is described as having been arbitrary and offensive in every possible way, and his manner was such as to destroy all confidence in his impartiality. So strongly do many of the representatives feel on the subject, that they have declared that they will not, if qualified attend next year's Colonial rifle meeting if Colonel Harington is in command. His whole aim throughout the meeting seemed to be to curry favor with Resident Ministers and other great people, and he cared not' how he treated the representatives or the officers of bis staff, so long as he could use them as a means towards this end. At the presentation of prizes cheers were heartily given for almost every one connected with the meeting, but a civilian standing by had to repair the intentional omission of Colonel Harington's name by calling for three cheers foi him. These were given, but a considerable number of the men refused to take part in them, and they were, therefore, of the most feeble description. When the northern representatives'were leaving Lyttelton, Colonels Harington and Packe saw them off, and as the steamer left the wharf three ringing cheers were given by the men for Colonel Packe, but no notice was taken of Colonel Harington. If the Government really has the good of the volunteers at heart, it will be found necessary, we Imagine, to make some alteration 1 in Wgard to the office ef inspector.?'