INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1049, 25 February 1873, Page 4

INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

The Bruce Herald learns that, at last, the Kakanui sandstone, is about to he introduced into the Melbourne ■market, this really excellent building material having been adopted for the erection of the new Scotch Church, Collins street, Melbourne (Hetherington's), the contracts for which amouut to uearly £20,1)00. Mr David Hunter, of Dunedin, has contracted for the supply of 20,1)00 feet of the best Kakanui stone. A specimen of the true Thea Bohea is to be seen, says the Lytteltou Times, in the Government Gardens. It is planted in tho open air, and is growing vigorously. There is also another specimen in the propagating house, in fruit. Mr Armstrong ha 3 hopes ot ultimately acclimatising this plant. A Bay of Islaudcorrespondent, writing to an Auckland paper, says .-—The depression which exists in Auckland has communicated itself even to this' remote district, and universal growling lis the order of .the day. Business is a reminiscence of the past or ananticipaqion of the future —of the present it is not. Since 'the opening up of the country inland and the establishment of townships there, a large proportion of the trade which formerly centered here has been diverted ; and this place now derives its chief support from the ; annual' Visit of the whaling fleet which puts in hare for stores and recruits. Then for a few months all is bustle ; and activity—die village scandals and £ petty animosities sinking into insignificance in the eager pursuit of the " almighty dollar." Meanwhile we drag on a miserable existence, a prev to all those afflictions which beset the -idle and unoccupied. The village doctor sighs for an epidemic, and looks forward with impatience to the next ■; accouchment; thevillage photographer grows thinner and thinner—all look melancholy and dejected. But the good time is approaching, and already c are the steamers bringing us numerous visitors in search of health, tho picturesque, or relaxation from the anxie- ' ties of business life. The natives are bringing in theirj garden produce, and largo.quantities of gum collected during the winter months, the proceeds of which fall chiefly into the hands of the publicans, if one may judge from the number of these noble savages who are to be met with in thevyarious stages of intoxication^ The Wanganui. Herald in an article • on the decline of the Native Eace says : —" We regret to learn that many of the most numerous and powerful tribes, residing -on the Eangitikei, Manawatu, Waikauae, and Otaki rivers, are being literally decimated by sickness of various kinds. Where a few ; years ago were large, cultivations, forimidable pahs, and a numerous population, there are now but a few old men and women,ruined fences and over-grown gardens. Whares tapued or in a state of decay, rotting canoes, and scattered bones, alone remain-to 3how .where once wasa populous and busy settlement. .Yearly statistics ; unerringly prove that so far from the Natives being benefited by their religious, political, andsocisl intercourse with ourselves, the reverse is the case. Disease and death are on the increase, and crimes, often of a heinous nature : are committed more frequently in proportion to the progress of their acquaintance with our manners and our customs, our habits and our views, our treachery and-our falsehood. This seems an appalliug picture, but nevertheless it is a true bill." The Now Zealand Herald says : Prom what wo have heard at various times from-correspondents in different - parts of the province, and especially up North, we are led to believe that at >the present time illicit distillation will ibe carried on to avery considerable extent. The many intricate bays, and almost inaccessible -coves along the coast, present great facilities for the erection of illicit stills. In many of the country stores and hotels, or grogshops, as they are called, we are informed that spirits are sold which have never paid duty, and that semo of the mountain fastnesses, generally in the vicinity of navigable rivers, are perfect nests of distilleries. A rope of immense size, supposed to be the largest that has ever been manufactured in New Zealand, has been •made at Lloyd's Steam Hope Works, Auckland. The rope, which is thirteen inches in circumference and 90 fathoms long, was ordered as a capstan rope by ithe United Pumping Association, at ithe Thames, and was completed on the ■day following that on which tho order was given. It took the whole of the power of Mr Lloyd's engine "to drive the machinery to make the rope, which, when it left tho works, weighed 1 ton 1 cwt 1 qr.