SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 428, 13 February 1875, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency.) Auckland, Friday. A lady has written to the papers complaining of the introduction of bnrmaids to the Volunteer Ball. A private telegrum from Mr. Lodder states that the water is pumped out of the Pretty Jane. Operations are suspended owing to the wan* of proper appliances to raise her.

Christchurch, Friday. The Press, this morning, says that Mr. Joshua Strange Williams has accepted the Judgeship offered him by the Government, and will enter upon his duties in Otago.

Wellington, Friday. The ship Howrah will sail to-morrow for London. Her cargo consists of .over 2,000 bales of wool, valued at .£120,000.

Napier, Friday. The ship Hudson, from London, has arrived. She has brought 205 souls, all well. One death, (infant) and two births took place on the voyage. 500 British birds have arrived by her. She has made a fine passage of 83 day« f.oai land to land.

(From tho Daily Southkkn Cross) Christchurch, Thursday. The process of fumigating the ship ' Rakia' was commenced yesterday, and the baggage, after fumigation, will be landed at Ripa and Quail Islands. A child, landed from the vessel, died of measles yesterday, but otherwise the general health of the passengers is improving. The promoters of the Female Refuge have bought two acres of land as a site for a building, and the inmates are to be classified. It is intended to provide accommodation for 20 who have not been in gaol, and for K> who have. The funds available lead the promoters to think they can accomplish this. Charles James, treasurer of the local City of Christchurch Lodge of Odd Fellows, has decamped with £360. It belonged to the funds of the lodge. Mr. Edward Jerningham Wakefield, has written a long letter to the Lyttleton Times with the apparent object of showing what difference exists in the cabinet on the subject of the future disposition of the provincial land revenue. He says that these differences are personal in character, and are fomented by the treasonable and underhand practices of some members of the Minist-y. The Times, remarking on Mr WakefieTd's letter, says he is evidently troubled with a severe attack of correspondence mania, as hardly a fortnight elapses without bringing one or more of his letters, bristling with facts and figures, deductions, imputations, suspicions, personal attacks and nasty sayings. His letter published to-day amply fulfils this description. After replying in detail to the letter, the limes proceeds to notice that portion referring to the possible departure of the Hon J. Vogel from the country, and says if Mr Wakefield topes to curry favor with the electors of Cbris*cKin-ch by indulging his natural tendency for slander at the expense of Mr Vogel he will find himself very much mistaken.

Dunedin, Thursday. Two men were killed to-day when working in a tunnel, by the roof giving way. Their names are Patrick Dempsey and Thomaa Kerr,\ the latter being the foreman. u

A smart trick is reported »o have been played lately by a Yankee slippyr oc the Spanish authorities. He entered the port of Bilboa under the pretence of commanding an Amprican man-of-war, and sent a te'eejram to Serrano announcing thot b« was instructed to prevent American merchantmen from larding guns for the CarliHa, and took ndvantega oi the confidence thus gain^dl to land 27 g?ws fa* the came Cavliiti.

any JLintish Colony daring the last ten years has been more rapid than that of New Zealand. It population has lisen, within chat period, from 164,018 to 295,490 ; its exports, the produ.-e of the country, have increased in value from £3,342,891 to £6,461,687, and its revenue from £1,206,908 to £2,753,181. The land under cultivation, including' what has been laid down with artificial grasses, has nearly quadrupled during the de( ad », and the exports of wool have been more th- n trebled. According to the Agricultural statislus, which were made up in the month of March last, the pastnres of New Zealand carry nearly 400,000 more sheep thau those of Victoria do, the census for the former Colony giving a return of 11,704,853, and for the latter, the sum of 11,323,080. As might be expected, the vital statistics of thoso islands bear striking testimony to their general salubrity, and go to prove how congenial the climate is to the British race. In England nearly 16 per cent, of the children borft die before the age of one year ; but in New Zealand the proportion is 10.81 ; while in Victoria, last year it was 11.3 ; so that this Colony does not suffer much by comparison with one which is proverbially healthy, and which enjoys, like all islands, a more temperate climate than the neighbouring Continent. The deaths from phthisis in New Zealand in 1873 constituted no more than 565 per cent, of the total mortality, as against 10.52 per cent, in England ; but as the Eegistrar-General points out, a comparatively large number of persons arrive in that Colony afflicted with diseases of respiratory system ; so that no correct canclusious can be drawn as to the normal death -rateVrom -phthisis in New Zealand. There are l^Ssquattino-rufcs in that Colony, with a total area of 14,622,594 acres ; while in Victoria there are 894, comprising 25,830,641 acres. The area of land under cultivation in New Zealand is 1,503,355, as against 904,996 in our own Colony ; and the relative produce of the soil in the two colonies may be estimated from the following figures :—: — - —

Acres Sown. New Victoria, Zealand Estimated Victoria. I Produce^ NewZealand, Wheat Oats Barley Potatoea 349,976 332,425 110,991 109,472 25,333 22,123 88,349 11,614 Bushels 4,762,289 1,711 451 502,606 Tons. 61*757 Bushels 3,301,6152 3,292,50 C 606,492 Tons. 109.522