WEEKLY EPITOME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 April 1874, Page 6

WEEKLY EPITOME.

"M. O." in the 'Daily Times,' under the head "Tunnel Eloquence, scathingly shows up the lip-deep professions of the Suoerintendent of Otago, in regard to (settling people on the land in h : « utterances on the occasion of the turning of the sod of the railway at Deborah Bay on the 26th ult. Speaking of the 'agricultural land' which the Superintendent said this line will open up, " M O " remarks ■ «• People uot acquainted with the country or the speaker, might infer from hw general tone that the hundreds of thousands of acres, referred w he alongside the line, or, at furthest, are in the neighbourhood of the terminus ; but one sentence points out that he alludes to the Maniototo Plains, separated by at least 40 miles from the nearest Dart of the line, and by a stretch of country singularly mountainous and diflicult of access. Concerning the quality of this Maniototo land • JNo one who has travelled over it, and who is aware that the growth of the staff of life is not promoted by a soil composed chiefly of shingle, or by a climate singularly dry during summer, and singularly stormy and severe during winter, will believe in his prophecies of the tuture greatness of this Province as a grain producer, if he founds his expectations upon it and similar soil. It would appear, however as if the sanguine nature of Mr Macandrew— l would call it the ' plucky ' if he undertook the ta<k himself rather than placed it upon others' shoulders — preferred that the very worst localities iv the country should ba subdued by man's art, and the more favourable parts left to uaiure and the sqmtter— else we would have had no Martin's Bay or Stewart's Island Settlement, and no proposal to the workmen at the Deborah Buy tunnel tj grow their vines and fig trees on the Maniototo P I ill LI o

Tns writer alluded te in the foregoing paragraph also says It is true their mentor on this occasion has pointed out to them'the -d vantages of " industry, subnet y, and frugally," and, he mi<rlit very truly have eaid, the necessity of these iv an extreme degree if they ever attempted to gaia their livelihood by cultivating these shingle beds. It \6, however, refreshing to witness his faith, and sea the easa with which he makes a railway through all the hilly country between them and the st-aboard— reminding one of the frequency and the facility with which Sebastopol was taken after dinner, with walnutshells for forts and nutcrackers for the advancing forces of France and Britain The census just completed shows the population of the city of Dunedm to be 18,471 souls. This is exolusive of the suburbs A testimonial has been presented to Mr J. Kelly, MH R New Plymouth, by a number of friends and constituents, as a recognition of Ins services m Parliament in promoting the construction ot the Wai. tarn railway. A couuesponpent of a Dunedin daily exposes " the very conspicuous efforts made by the Superintendent and Mr Basting to cain credit to the present Provincial Executive for their liberal administration of our laud laws— that subject which speakers of their party oonstantly cry out has been too much debated, when any aspect of it unfavourable to them is touched upon." The ' Daily Times 'came out a few days ago with an article headed •' Mr Vogel s latest scheme," in which it states it hai heard " a new surprise is in store for the Assembly, in the shape of a gigantic company, with a capital of £3,000,000, and a Government guarantee of 5 per cent., to monopolise the ent»re trade of Polynesia. Ihe capital is to be raised in England, under the above colonial guarantee. The prospectus will be confidentially circulated siiortly by the Premier, Mr Vogel, who has taken the project in hand." Following the j publication of thia information came a telegram from Wellington that

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"Th» statement made by the 'Otago Daily Times' that llrVogel would next session ask the Assembly for the loan of £8,000,000 to monopolise the trade of Polynesia, it contradicted authoritatively." The ' Daily Times ' subsequently stated -" It is quite possible that, before the Assembly meets, the amoaat proposed to be rsusad may be reduced, and that in other respects the proposal in its present shape may be modified ; but we distinctly assert,' notwithstanding the contradiction which has appeared, that a soheme of the kind we., hate named is on foot-, and that its essential features, are as we have stated them to be." Thb Auckland 'Stars' London correspondent states that the system of granting free passages has resulted in the shipment of an inferior class of emigrants, and instanced the passengers by the Dorette which left for Auckland on January 21st, with 340 emirants. The correspondent states that with the exception of the single women, they are much below the average. Tn third contest for the blue ribbon of aquatics in New Zealand tookplaeeon the 27th ult., on the waters of the Wajmakariri, and resulted much to the surprise -of everybody,' in the Hokitika crew winning. Many well skilled in matters aquatio, thought the chances of this crew almost nil. But though pulling with not * a little science, they showed )hat the muscle and sinew developed in goldmining were to the fore. The day was a glorous one, just a slight breese — not enough lo interfere with the outriggers — tempering the heat of the sun, and the river was in splendid condition for the race. About six thousand .persons were present, those coming from Christchurch being reinforced by a number of visitors from Wellington and elsewhere. It is said that the racing mare Spritsail has changed hands, Mr Joseph Beany being the purchaser. Although the price has not transpired, it is believed Mr Reedwood sold the mare at a high figure. Thb schooner Marion Rennie, which has arrived at Auckland from Levuka, brings news that the steamer Maogregor has been floated. H.M.S. Pearl tried to get her off for several days, but as all the strongest warps broke, was compelled to desist. Meanwhile, 200 tons of sugar and a large quantity of coal were thrown overboard, there being no means of landing them, and the steamer floated off on the 7t instant by herself. The Pearl having gone to Levuka, the Macgregor was taken into safe anchorage in Galoa Bay. She has a hole 12ft by 3ft in one of her forward compartments, which, is full of water. Otherwise, she is uninjured, and will be repaired as well as oircumstances will permit, and then taken to Sydney to be docked. At the Maori meeting, Eaiapoi, Canterbury, on the 26th ult. 500 male Maoris were present, including vioitors from all parts of the Middle Island. A large present of rood was made to the visitors by the Eaiapoi Maoris. Mr George Grey Tairoa, M.H.R., opened the proceeding in a speech condemnatory of the Government towards the Maoris of the Middle Island. Other speakers also expressed themselves strongly against the treatment of the Government to the Maoris of the Middle Island. No decision is yet come to. The ship Woodlark has arrived at Wellington with over 800 immigrants. Eighteen deaths occurred on the voyage, chiefly amongst the children, from infant diseases. The adults are all well, and but few children are still are still suffering from scarlet fever. There is no apprehension of any serious results. The detention it expected to be short.

Dobnwxix, of Queen street, Auckland, a butcher, has been sentenced to one month's imprisonmdnt, with hard labor, for assaulting and kicking one of his employes. The Bench would not allow a fine. The Mount Ida Pastoral Investment Company has purchased from Mr David Maitland the lease of two runs, consisting of about 69,000 acres of excellent pastoral country, about 20,000 acres of which are summer country, and the remainder can be depastured on at all seasons. ~ Together with the lease of the runs, they have purchased 21,000 6heep, and valuable improvements. The price is £21,000, and the Company has already been offered a figure for its investment in advance of that sum. It is anticipated that the investment will yield a profit of 25 per cent. The ceremony of opening the new Catholic Church of Arrow was performed on Sunday last. The attendance was large. The building is of stone. Only a part of the original design has been carried out, and that at a cost of about £700 for the builder's contract only. The Eight Rev. Dr. Moran, Bishop of the Diocese of Otago, assisted by the Rev. Father Larkins, Tuapeka, and the Rev. Father Mackay, pnribh priest, conducted both the opening ceremony, and afterwards that of the performance of High Mass. The collection amounted to nearly £100, and taken with the £150 given at the laying of the foun. dation stone, it shows that the Catholic laity have responded to the call made upoa them with a spirit of generosity worthy of commendation. The church is out of debt. — ' Wakatip Majl.' I touched my hat to the shamrock and " the wearin' o' the green," for it was St. Patrick's Day in the morning. What a muster of children, and what a power of music, and a plentitude of green' ribbons. The Domain swarmed with young children all decorated with green badges, or sashes, or belts, or neckties. There was a deartli of shamrocks ; for the weather had been so dry that the green earth ought to have worn on that auspicious day was a trifle rasset brown. One very satisfactory thing is that there was no row, very little drinking, and general peace, .and good fellowship. — " Cameo " in the ' Auckland News.'

At the meeting of the " Dinner Committee " at Christchurch for the purpose of settling matters in connection with the banquet at the Forresters' Hall, on St. Patrick's evening, the ordinary business of the meeting having terminated, the chairman, Mr Grey, said the next question for consideration was the desirability of establishing a St. Patrick's Society, which would be open to all Irishmen, of whatever creed or shade of political opinion. The objects of the society would be to make the celebration of St. Patrick's Day an annual event. From the great success attending the recent banquet, he was sure that large numbers would join the society, and he had no doubt that next year a place would have to be secured, which would be capable of accomodating three or four times as many persons as were able to gain dmission to the Forresters' Hall. It was resolved that a society be

form*], caUed thTeSL Patrick's Societj, and that all irishmen be eligible for membership.' r ' " " ■ Bishop Momur examined tHe female schools of flt. Joseph's; Dunedin, on Monday, Tnesdav and Wednesday, and at the conclusion of the examination distributed the prises. We understand that his Lordship is pleased at the effleieney of the schools. Tbm government tohool at the Arrow has, we understand, a daily average attendance of five. The Catholic school at the same p'.aoe has 30 pupils. ' " •'" ' ' " ' • ■fit Patriok'sDaj has been. ltept in good style in rarious parts of the Colony, and we are tony that we hare not space for the reports we'hare come across in many of oar exchanges. , An addition has been made to the teaching staff of St. Joseph's school for boys, Dunedin, in the person of Hr Desmond, a trained teacher who has served in Irish National schools. The boys are now taught drill by Hr Detmorid. The number of pupils is between 160 and 160, and the daily attendance is often 160. Wi observe by an 'advertisement in another column that in consequence of next Monday being Easter Monday, the fortnightly meeting of St Joseph's Branch No. 73, H.A.0.8.8., is postponed until the following evening (Tuesday).