RECENT DISCOVERIES IN NEW GUINEA, DURING THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. BASILISK,

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 300, 30 October 1873, Page 7

RECENT DISCOVERIES IN NEW GUINEA, DURING THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. BASILISK,

* By Beaupord Meelxk, Esq., Photographic Artist of Holteiinan's Exhibition Civilisation is advauceing with slow but unfaltering steps against the last strongholds of barbarism. China and Japan, like.lndia of more than a century ago, have already felt; the influence of that mysterious power which comes from the west, and even the long benighted regions of the Papuan archipeligo are now on the eve of also realising it. A kind Providence seems to direct discovery so as to meet dio requirements of the world's energy and commercial heroism. That terra incognita of the orient, New Guinea, so long a region for speculation aud conjecture, is likely to be soon brought within the domain of authentic geographical knowknowledge. It was like a prevision on the part of her Britanic Majesty's Government to anticipate the possible wants of the age, by commissioning a gallant naval officer to undertake an expedition for the purpose of gaining some information of a land likely at no distant day to be of great importance in Eastern enterprise. i Captain Movseby, of H.M.S. Basilisk, had received his instructions for the examination of a part of the New G-ninea coast, some time before the people of these colonies began to speculate on the probable advantages of opening a more extensive trade with the tropical islands, and with Japan, China, and India, and before Queensland had commenced negotiations for an ocean postal and mercantile route via Torres Straits. New Guinea, lying as it does between 0-15 and 10' S. lah," and 131and 149 - E. long., is obviously an admirable geographical centre, at which Eastern, Asiatic, Polynesian, Australian, Malayan trade will 'before many years converge. That England should occupy a prominent position, is only a natural introduction to great future achievements. The particulars given of New Guinea in this sketch may be confidently relied on. They are, in every respect, genuine, and may be accepted as "information received" from the very best sources. The writer considers himself personally responsible for his statements offact. Astohisinferences, he believes the premises on which they are founded will justify them. He has sanguine, though by no means exaggerated, hopes in the future of the great tropical island, some of the products of which will add to the variety and interest* of the forthcoming Exhibition with which he is connected. He thinks that a history of peaceful industrial achievements — of moral progress — will yet be written of the now almost unknown Papua, and that its Bird of Paradise* will bo blazoned on as prominent a shield as that which is supported south of it, bufc less beautifully, by the kangaroo and the emu. It may be as well to mention here that the area of New Guinea is set down st 275,600 square miles. Its population is conjectured to be about a million. It is separated from New Holland on the south of Torres Straits ; from New Britain and New Ireland, on on the east by Dampier's Straits j and from, Gilolo/ on the ' northwest, by Pitt's Straits. Dampier, D'Entrecasteau, Bougainville, Cook and other illustrious navigators have visited it, or its adjacent islands, and given much geographical information about it. It was' reserved, however, for Captain Moresby, of H.M.S. Basilisk, to discover -ibe rnosb attractive and importaat portion of this great island. Captain Moresby commenced his. cruise from the Eastern coast of Australia to New Guinea in the early part of the current year. The Basilisk left Somerset, Cape York, on the 24th January, and reached Bramble "Say flat, s 10, lon. 143 40) on the Bfcb of February following. Before reaching the principal island, several small isles — several of them not uninteresting—were visited and observed, such as the Brothers, Jarvis, Cornwallis, the warrior, Cocoa-nut, Dalrymple, Darnley, and Murray Islands. - "When within a, few miles of Bramble Bay, on the afterhoonolthe ßth of Februray, a somewhat exciting scene broke the monotony of the voyage, and gave Jack what he always enjoys, a bit of fun.-".- It would appear that one of the monster turtles of these latitudes had come into close proximity with one of the paddle-wheels of the vessel, and received a shock £ov which, -it'jwas alfco-

gether unprepared. Some excitement . in capturing the disabled "creature ensued. Officers and men pursued the chine in boats, and sucoessf ully capturedthe singular object of their pursuit. It quite repaid them for. their trouble, and rather astonished theiir by its size. No one on board Tiad seen the like' before. At first sight it was thought to be by some a luggerhead, by others a hornback ; but at last it became evident that it was a large species of turtle. Its back was a glossy black, but underneath, it was curiously mottled with dark and white spots. The shell was comparatively soft j it could easily 'be pierced with a penknile. The creature weighed 4801 b, and formed an agreeable addition to the ordinary bill of ship's fare — particularly in the shape oorf r soup, which would have made a London alder- . manic gourmond's mouth water. The vessel, holding her course along the coast, was brought to anchor off the mouth of what ap]jeared to be a large river in Beclscar Bay, [lab. 9-15 S., long. 14-650' E.] on the 13th Febuary. The coast of the bay, as far as the eye could scan, was low and swampy, and fringed with mangroves. There was a village of considerable size near the mouth of the river-, in which some missionaries had resided"" for. some months. They were in an unfebled state of healch. The climate at this particular place does not seem to be very salubrious — quite exceptionable, in fact, in reference to other parts of the country — probably, on account of it low-lying situation, and the swampy character of the contiguous land, two of the missioneries and their wives wer<= suffering from an acnte attack of fever and ague, and had to be conveyed on board for medical treatment, and weresubsequently taken to Somerset, Gape York, where they proposed to remain to recruit. The captain and several officers gallantly endeavored for three whole days to explore the river emptying itself into Ecdscar Bay. Their efforts were not without trouble, particularly as they were assailed by mosquitoes of a size so large that " Hexham greys " of the Hunter River District, in New South "Wales, might be oalled babies compared to them. They seemed to like the flavor of Anglo-Saxon blood, as they paid incessant attention to the white men of the party. The river proved to be shallow, full of snags, and with a rapid current. To add to the annoyance of the explorers, it rained heavily. This was certainlydisagreeable, as the party could not land and form a camp. On the pleasures of this part of the 'expedition a very lively song whs composed, and afterwards snug by its author, Lieut. Hayter, at one of his popular " Evening Readings !> on board the Basilisk. The burden of it was, of course, the miseries of the Redscar expedition. The vessel next proceeded along the coast to the southward ; but some difficulty was experienced in avoiding , the, numerous reefs that -lie to the south of Redscar Head. While at the ' Bay several natives came on board, while many more moved round the' ship in canoes. They were shy and destitute of clothing, save a bit of matting fastened round their loins. The average height of tht> adult men . seemed to bo about five feet five inches. They looked well made and muscular, but were not so clean nor apparently ' so healthy as others of the aborigines with whom the crew of the Basilisk ' subsequently became acquainted. The vessel was brought to anchor off Redscar Head on the 15th, and there she remained till the forenoon of the 20th, in order to enable the several exploring boat parties to prosecute their examination of the coast south of Redscar Head, a duty which they seem to have performed with great zeal. ; On the morning of the 20fch, the ship get underweigh, and soon came in ( sight of one of the boat parties, the men of which came on board in great 'glee, announcing wifeh enthusiasm that they had found a beautiful harbor on the coast, only a- few miles to the southward. Next day — Fisherman's Isle having been previously passed — an opening in the reef, about a mile in extent, was perceived, and the vessel stood in towards the land. . Between the reef and ' the mainland, and in a direct line from the opening in the reef barrier, there is deep water — at least sixteen fathoms at low tide. The mouth of .a port here presented itself, through which the Basilisk passed, and ; then entered a quiet, land-locked harbor. The opening was subsequently named Port*. Moresby, and the latter Fairfax Harbor. The situation is lafci1 tude 9.30 south, longitude M<7.10 east. I This beautiful poi^t received its designation from Captain Moresby, in honor of his father, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby, the officer „ through whose instrumentality, abouE 1 twenty years since, -'the Pitcairn Islanders wei-e conveyed.to their present horne — that « Eden of the Pacific "—Norfolk Island. Fairfax harbor and its surroundings form a. beautiful picture, soft in outline, and of tropical richness of color. Its. unexpected features inspired the men connected with the expedition agreeably — they felt indemnified for all the dullness and troubles of thir voyage. In the first place the entrance to Port Moresby is excellent, the land on each side rising gently to a considerable elevation", the highest point being over 800 feet above the sea level, and luxuriantly timbered. Three small but . picturesque islands add to the surprising beauty of the bright scene. Past' Jane Island, and the then still

calmer waters of the inner haven, they proceeded to the^ irregular but well sheltered ba^in, hereafter to be known as Fairfax harbor. The frame of swelling landscape which encloses this spot is in harmony with the tranquil cbar'acter of the whole picture. Sparsely wooded semi-circular hills rise above the beach, but the slope upwards is not abrupt — the eye being' never offended with hard outlines. The baain is well adapted. for large vefsels, the depth being from seven to four fathoms, the latter the minimum within a few yards of the'*beaqh. The hills abound with wallaby and other game. There are several considerable villages in the vicinity of the port and harbor. Taro and Yam gardens brighten the sides of the slopes, and a great variety of other vegetables wore seen. The natives appear to be quiet and inoffensive". They are short of stature, but well made and clean. The women wear a nicely made .petticoat-^bf gi'ass fibre, tied round the waist, and falling to the- knees, where it terminates in a variegated fringe. They also tatoo their arms arid breasts, and sometimes their faces, with pretty devices. They wear few oi'naments. The men, who are ■ rather good-looking, wear mat aprons. Some of them, probably as a symbol of rank or office, carry small stone axes. The cast of countenance of many of them is decidedly Israelitish, or rather Caucasian — another instance of the many which are to be found in the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. The chiefs and men of note amongst them ornament their head with the plumage of the cassowary, and the splendid feathprs of the bird of Paradise, whose native habitat is this sunny region. They also sport shell - rings, shell beads, and armlets of elaborately wrought matting. Some of the young swells wear a* pretty red flower iD their hair, and in many instances a portion of the helmet or conch shell in their noses. In fact all the vanity of attire would seem to be arrogated by these Papuan gentlemen. They were very willing to barter with the officers or crew, and were childishly delighted with the glass beads, glass bottles, pieces of red cloth, and other trifles which they got in exchange for their more valuable products. Lookingglasses at first amused them greatly, but they did not care about possessing any of them, deterred apparently by some dread of their powers. They never seemed to have seen a shoop before the arrival of the Basilisk, but they have abundance of cassowary and wallaby, the ftesh of which they highly esteem. Fish is also abundant, and j can be caught easily within the si ill , waters that lie between the barrier reef aud the mainland. Nothing is more characteristic of the Papuans than their order of architecture. The houses aie built on piles from six to ten feet high ; a ladder being used to lead up to the doorway. The piles are sometimes grotesquely carved and curiously colored. Although the natives were extremely kind to all the expedition, they did not like them to enter their houses; but whether they considered the presence of the pale faces would offend the Penates and violate the sanctity of the tabooed hearth was not satisfactorilyascertained. The weather was everything that could be desired during +he ten days theßasilisk remained in Fairfax harbor; and whenever the boats went"out exploring, the natives used to run along the slopes to keep pace with the voyagers, often endeavoring to outvie them. The Basilisk steamed out of port on the Ist of March, and without further adventure returned to Somerset to procure provisions, all hands thoroughly delighted* with their trip and its results. It was evident they had made a good impression on the simple-minded aboriginals. Part 11. The second trip of the Basilisk was begun on the 20fch March, 1873. Well supplied with provisions and other necessaries, the vessel then took her departure from Somerset, and came to anchor off the Isle of Yule,. on the 31st of March. Next day boats were sent ashore, and several chiefs, accompanied by natives, came ou board and bartered witb. the crew. A brisk trade was done in yams and other vegetables for trinkets and colored cloth, but nothing specially notable occurred, and the expedition left that point on the 6th of April. Further progress "was made along the coast, and r having passed a portion ofthe mainland of New Guinea, the Basilisk was brought to anchor off the Isle of Teste, one of the Louiskcle Group, on the 9th of April. The natives came off in great numbers in the catamarans to meet their white visitors, bringing with them cocoanuts, yaniSj and other vegetable products of a very excellent quality. Although i they seemed very much pleased to see the ship, and- evidently imagined she came for their special delectation, they required great coaxing, accompanied with sundry glittering or glaring bribes, to induce them to come on board. Friendly relations once established, they traded with wonderful alacrity, and readily" parted with ornaments, wooden swoi'ds, paddles, well-formed and beautifall v carved, in exchange for glass, &c. Several of the handsome dusky daughters attended the fancy fair on this occasion, dressed in their fibre petticoats ; most of them were of symmetrical figure, clean, and not bad looking. Notwithstanding a certain rumor as to the cannibal propensities of the natives, the captain and several officers lanced

" the day after the fail'," and were well received.-. Leaving Teste," the ship proceeded on her way to a point which was supposed to be the S.E. Cape of New Guinea, and came to anchor in a fine large bay, which the mon,with their usual free and easy style of nomenclature, called Iron hoop Bay, because of the large amount of business done there with the Papuans in iron hoop. This place on I being surveyed proved to be a group of islets. The natives came fearlessly on board, and brought a large quantity of wooden swords, paddles, headdress plumes, and other things, which they exchanged very freely for whatever was offered them : but iron hoop seemed to be the object of the more intense desire to the speculators. A great variety of stone-axes and various war gear was obtained. The sailors also laid up a quantity of fine bananas, cocoanuts, and fruits, besides curiously-made nets, baskets, fire-bags, and green-stones, like malachite. A kind of course flax is abundant, of which the skilled manufacture a strong rope, or trebly twisted twine. In no other place did vanity exhibit itself more unreservedly. The young men decked themselves out most *ostentiously — cutting their hair in fantastic shapes, or puffing it out straight, where it was kept in ray-like rigidity by means of a thick sooty paste, rathermalodrous. It was not unusual to see a dandy adorned as if he had to play the double part of a nigger Othello and lago — one side of his face being white-washed, and the other having an addition to nature's- smut, in the shaj-.e of an inky pigment. Could it be that they/iwero " playing the fool " and humbugging the pale-faces, after an original grotesque Papuan manner ? Nothing grimly or otherwise humorous, however, served to animate them in preparing those toilets. A hideous piece piece of yellow fresco-work adornod their broad black chests. Some daubed one side of their face red, and the other a bluish-black, and wore rod or yellow flowers in their hair, with streams of flossy flax fibre shooting out comet-tail like from behind. I believe a similarity of fashion is ofteu observable in our own Greorgestreet, when some of the fair sex are performing the block ; perhaps the Papuans only do it when they "go and do likewise " — who knows ? Dependiug from their male dandy's shoulders may be seen a chunam* gourd and spoon. Anything so irresistibly ludicrous as the sight which these variegated specimens of humani ity exhibited could hardly be produced by an {ecumenical council, of all the professional clowns in the world. Not a few of the Iron Hoop Bay exquisities adorn their manly legs witb a circlet of white shells, and wear a clumsy ornament (or what is intended for such) around their oily necks. Their canoes — in which they appear to take great pride— vary in length, from 15 to 50 feet. Ou the 14th the ship steamed past sjveral thickly wooded islands, and came to an anchor in a beautiful bay, called Yam Bay, so named on account of its plentiful supply of that commodity. The natives in this group often wear a human jaw-bone as an armlet, and take delight in it as if it were a special trophy. The crew got large supplies of crabs, clams, oysters, and other shell-fish, with abundance of pigi eons, the shooting of which afforded excellent spoii, but , owing to isles being so thickly wooded, it was difficult to pursue the game far. The mosquitoes fortunately do not abound on that particular region ; so that the men, after the day's work could sleep comfortably, the weather being capital. Some of their old friends from the Iron Hoop Bay — a distance of ten or twelve miles — visited them there. Opossums, native bears, and a nondescript kind of animal (but very good for food) were also found in'-abun dance. An occasional yonng pig, too, was found and j easily brought down. On leaving Yam Bay, (the surviving party being satisfied they had not determined the true S.E. point), the Basilisk steamed to a place on the opposite side of the island, which the men called Well Bay, because of a well they had dug tlfere. The island was named Haver Island, the here several days were spent and a flagstaff raised. ! On the 24th of April Captain Morseby, the officers, and most of the men, assembled near the well at noon. The British flag was unfurled from the flagstaff, and the captain read in the presence of the ship's company a pro- ! clamation declaring that hetoofc posses- | sion of tliis and the adjacent islands in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and by right of discovery. Three volleys were fired, and three hearty British cheers — loud, jubilant, and ringing — awakened the. echoes of* that long silent region. The music of advancing civilisation was never heard there before. The natives watched the proceedings at a respectful distance with evident interest and curiosity. They no doubt fancied the pyrotechnics were got up specially for their amusement; but the triple round of cheering rather dismayed them. They did not seem to realise the honor done them on the occasion — that of raisin<i them to the , dignity and privileges of British subjects. On the following day some further progress was made along the coast to an excellent watering place, where the vessel's tanks were filled. Proceeding on, nearly N.W., and having what was

thought to be .D'Entrecasteaux's Island on the right, the vessel passed some of Ihe most beautiful tropical spnts^ that had ever/been seen. ".The vegetation was luxuriant, and!'exnetdingly rich in tone and color." -It was supposed, on the authority of the oirl charts, that a direct course to China through those waters, in direction in : <jwhich the ship was proceeding, existed ; but investigation proved that they formed a deep bay gulf, and which was named Sir Alexander Milne Bay. In the distance wooded hills rose to a height of from 1200 to 1500 feet, and beautiful patches of yams and taro gleamed amid the openings of the landscape. .The native population was dense in this fertile locality, and numerous villages dotted either side of the bay, all the houses being built on piles as before described. As the ship passed along the coast, the natives, in great numbers, came off from the shore in canoes, and tried to overtake the vessel while in motion, displaying bananas, <fee, to induce her commander to stop. But she was kept on her course, and after making a run of about twenty miles, came into a beautiful bay, which was named Discovery Harbor. The ship remained there until the 30fch April, and during their stay this beautiful spot was the scene of much animated traffic and agreeable intercourse with the natives. It had already been proved that the land -on the opposite coast was not D'Entrecasteaux Island. On leaving the harbor, the Basilisk kept* on the same course, which was lield>on til] nightfall, when the ship was anchored amid a group of small, islands. Proceeding onwards the next morning, the land was found to be gradually sloping down to a point ; and this .point proved to be the long looked for. Cape, the termination of the great island of New Guinea towards the east. Here the Basilisk came to ancltor, about a mile from the shore. D'Entrecas'teaux's Island was, full in view, being only aTfew miles distant in a north-east direction. The natives here were also found to be very friendly and traded briskly with the ship's company. Here the Basilisk remained while those engaged in the scientific duties of the expedition were employed in perfecting their work, till the 3rd Majr. On that date a return to Well Bay was made for^ water, which having got aboard, the Basilisk at once steamed back towards Somerset — Cape York, everything aimed at having been most successfully accomplished. It would be difficult to over estimate the importance of this voyage of discovery. It corrects many preconceived erroneous* notions, and gives hopes of a brilliant future for New Guinea and its beautiful surrounding islands. One of the men on board the Basilisk asserts that during the voyage he found gold-bearing, quartz cropping up not far from the coast. His talc is one that some believe, and others do not. The following account 1 of the alleged discovery is given, as nearly as possible, in the terms in which it was related to me : — " The spot where gold is said to have been found is a few miles southeast of Port Moresby. The man who discovered it is the blacksmith on board the Basilisk. The pieces of quartz, impregnated with gold, which he brought away, and which are still in his ~ possession, are about 2ss ozs. in weight. The quartz is of a very peculiar kind, unlike any that gold diggers who have examined it had seen elsewhere. It has a bluish-grey tinge, and the gold is visible in specks, the largest of which is about the size of a pin's head. The man who found it says that the reason he said nothing about it at the time of" his discovery was, that he intended to get his discharge from the ship as soon as he could, and then endeavor to form a party and return to tlie place aud work it. He states ihat the occasion and manner of his finding it were as follows : The ship had anchored, a day or two after leaving Fairfax Harbor, and it being Sunday afternoon, alarge number of the men were permitted to go ashore. There were no inhabitants at the spot, and he, with several of bis companions, strolled some distance from the ship, when having got separated from the others, and being by himself, and about half a mile from the shore, he came to some very peculiar looking rocks cropping out of the ground. He had never been on the goldfields, and knew nothing about gold bearing rocks, but thought from what he had heard of quartz, and from the appearance of these rocks, rhafc thay must be quartz. Getting^a large stone, he succeeded with some difficulty in detaching a piece ; and, on examining it closely, saw specks of what he believed was gold ; he had no means of breaking aiijonpre pieces off the rock ; but the portion hedid break off afterwards, came in twoor three parts, and these are the pieceT of quartz he now has. Such is the story he now tells. "Whether it is true or not we have no means of ascertaining. It is certain that nothing was known by Captain Moresby or the officers of the Basilisk about this sjold finding, until after the ship reached Brisbane, where it leaked out from some of the man's companions on shore ; and reachins? the ears of one of the members of the Queensland Assembly, the Premier was interrogated in the House respect"-' ing it. Inquiries being made, of Captain Moresby, he ascertained that so far, at least, "as the -possession by the

man of pieces of gold-bearing quartz went, his story was corroborated." <■ A full consideration of the man's story aft i j r questioning him pretty closely docs not induce me to place implicit reliance on his assertions. His story may or may not be true ~ I leave the the reader to form his own conclusions from the story as it was told to me. The natives know nothing of gold ; they have no golden ornaments, and they probably, -would not value the precious metal so much as they do bits of iron hoop. Of course, consideriag the geological formation of the country, it is highly probable^that gold will be found there ; but there are other resources of the beautiful island, more likely to be of advantage to man than the precious metal. .It is a land teeming with abundance, well watered, and generally salubrious. Before concluding, I may state that Hayter Island, where formal possession in the name of the Queen, was taken of that "^part of New Guinea by Captain Moresby, is distant from Cape Tork,^about 250 miles, east-north-east. The names of Port Moresby and Fairfax Harbor were given in honor of the father of the commander of the Basilisk, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby, JR." IT. --The name "Of Hayter Island was conferred in honour of the first lieutenant of the Basilisk and that the Mourilyau Island in honor of the navigating lieutenant. The coast line of the newly discovered district, that is, "so^mueh of it as applies to the mainland^of New Guinea, or what may be called the New Guinea continent in distinction from the island formerly I supposed to forra 4 part of the mainland, is about 300 miles in extent; and this portion of the country, which had probably never been visited by any - European navigator v before, is beyond all comparison, so faf-as is at present known, the finest district throughout the whole extent of that vast couutry. Port Moresby and Fairfax Harbor are in the Gulf of Papua, about thirty miles south-east from Eedscar Bay, and on the south side of the great peninsula which forms the south-east termination of New' G-uinea, while Discovery Harbor is on the southern^ side of the little gulf or deep bay, which has been named Sir Thomas Dyke Ackland Bay, and which is bounded on the north by the peninsula which terminates New G-uinea at the east, called East Cape. I wish it to be understood that the accompanying map of j" the south east part of New Guine'a^andthe sketch of Port Moresby, are not given so absolutely correct in minute particulars. They were in fact prepared for rough sketches merely to give the reader' a correct idea of the position and outline of the newlydiscovered coasts and islands. Ifc will be seen at once by those acquainted with the outlines of those parts of the New Guinea coast as previously laid : ?> down in the maps and charts, that the south-cast portion of that country, instead of being a continuous peninsula, consists in fact of an archipeligp^, the islands of which are divided by broad navigable channels. ' I may state that the veiy large and interesting collection of weapons, utensils, ornaments, trinkets, natural productions, &c, brought by the crew of the Basilisk from New Guinea, is for the most part of vSuch a character as shows great taste* and ingenuity on the part of the natives, and proves that the people of those parts of the country from" which they were obtained are more advanced in civilisation than those of Eedscar Bay and other places which had previously been visited.

In a recent charge to the Grand Jury of "Westland, Judge Harvey made the following remarks on the necessity for enabling a-proper system" of classification to be carried out in ' the gaols o/ the colony. He said :—": — " I cau'fc help thinking that it is still our duty to raise our voices against the inconsistency of spending, money — £ feel I might almost say lavishly — in the cause of education, and at the same time withholding the comparatively moderate sum required to preserve a large portion of- the youth of the colony from contamination. We are fully "^alive to the danger of allowing diseased cattle in contact with those that are sound, but we grudge the expense of saving our youth from contact with moral disease of the worst possible type, and yet we delude ourselves by passing an act for enforcing prison discipline, and enjoining careful i classification, forgetting - ihab such I classification cannot be effected in the gaols of the colony as they exist afc present." Mrs Eobert Heir and her husband, j Mr Darrell (formerly known by the name of Price), is now in California. -. Mrs Darrell has- grown rich by 'successful speculations an Australian mines, and, in .company with her ' .Kuabaitd. is making a trip to Europe, "taking.- Sah-, Francisco en route. - F6T-" tile first time in New Zealand there is, di* shortly will be, a female consistency. In the of matter objecting to the issue of a certificate for a publican's license, every adults within the district in^ which the probosed house is situate, male and female will have a vote, should he or she be called upon to "exercise it In fact, should any public house be generally felt to be an intolerable nuisance, the fnir sex, of themselves anb by the influence they could exert, would have no difficulty in quashing the application for a renudl of the license.

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