NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 68, 15 August 1874, Page 7

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

We are rejoiced to learn by a telegram kindly forwarded to us from Wellington, that steps are being taken for the establishment of a branch of the H.A.C.B.S. in that city. A requisition has been for warded to the Charleston Lodge— in conformity with the rule 3of tho Society — bearing twenty-two signatures, and as soon as the necessary authority has been received from the Executive Directory, the formation of the branch will be proceeded with. At a meeting held for the furtherance of the object, Dr Forest occupied the chair, and strongly urged the necessity of, and tho benefits to be derived from, the Society. By telegraphic intelligence from Greymouth on Tuesday, wo learn that the Eev. Father Belliard left on that day for Christchurch, the sceue of bis future labors. Before his departure the rev. gentleman was presented with an elegant gold watch and an illuminated address by the residents, iv token of the esteem and respect in which he has been held, A meeting of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Association was held in St. Joseph's Schoolroom on Monday night, at which a large number of the members weru present. Two new members were initiated, and a numerously-signed requisition received from Invercargill making application for the establishment of a Branch in that town. In conformity with the rules of the Society, the application made to St. Joseph's Branch, which having been favorably received, was forwarded to the Executive Directory in Melbourne. We wish to remind our readers that on next Friday evening the Concert in aid of St. Joseph's School Fund -will be given in° the Masonic Hall, and apart from the very attractive programme prepared for the occasion, the object for which the entertainment is given is one that should recommend it to patronage. It must be apparent to every one that the fund available for educational purposes must be but a slender one, and it ia with a view to relieve a small portion of the burden which has fallen so heavily on the shoulders of his Lordship the Bishop, that the present effort is being made. We trust, therefore that the entertainment will prove as great a success in a pecuniary' point of view, as it is certain to be otherwise, from the ability of those ladies and gentlemen who have kindly volunteered their services. We omitted to mention in our report of the presentation to Mr Loughnan, in last week's issue, that the illuminated address was the work of Mr George, of Mills, Dick and Co., at whose establishment the volume was also bound. From the local journal we learn that since the arrival of the Rev. Father Cummins in Beefton a new spirit of energy lias takeu possession of the Koman Catholic residents, and numerous works arc in contemplation to raise the parish to a proper footing. A residence has already been purchased fov the reverend gentleman, arid it it besides intended to start the erection at an early date of a new church

building^ fully adequate to the strength of the congregation. A children's school has also been established, which is to be placed uader the charge of efficient teacher from the Ahaura school. A concert was given on the 30th wife., by the young lady pupils of St. Mary's Boarding School, Auckland, attached to Sb. Mary's Convent, and p:esidecl over by,the Sisters of Mercy, the proceeds of which were devoted to the improvement of the school. There was a numerous and appreciative audience present who seemed thoroughly to enjoy the performance. The programme was a largo and varied one comprising, songs, duets, choruses, and instrumental music. The manner in which the young ladies rendered some of the most difficult compositions, adds sidditional testimony to tho success which the Sisters of Mercy have already obtained.' The recitations also call for remark, owing to Ihe distinctness of enunciation with which they were given. The entertainment concluded with God Save the Queen. The remarks of the Premier with reference to the abolition of Provincialism seem to be heartily endorsed by the great mass of the people, and there can be but little doubt, now that the gauntlet has been thrown down, the energy and determination for which he is so characteristic, will carry tho measure to a successful issue, and rid the country of this expensive, complicated, and unnecessary piece of machinery. The ' West Const Times ' congratulates the Premier on his courage in grappling with, so formidible an opponent, and the great bulk of the press coincide with the views expressed, and advocate the abolition of the present system in both islands. While the members of the Select Committee were sitting in what was supposed to be solemn and secret concl ye with a view <o discover the infringer of the inviolability of telegrams, consider the horror evinced when it was found that the questions and answers put to and from each witness we re " wired " off to distant papers with a speed and punctuality hitherto unparalleled in the department. This was bearding tho lion in his den with a vengeance. The delinquent on this occasion, however, happened to be Mr Luckie, who havincr tendered an apology, was allowed to escape with a caution. If Mr Luokie, could in future in<luce the operators of the department to continue the same commendable celerity in the transmission of public messages as was notable on the occassion referred to, he would confer a benefit on the community. The Premier seems determined on taking the initiative with 'regard to tho aboliti >n of Provincialism in the North Island. A telegram received in the eiHy p-irt of the week stated that Mr Vojiel ha-lgiv.en ! notice in the Hou-e of Representatives lhab. on Thur«lav ho would j move :—(1): — (1 ) That, considering the altered circumstances of the col- my, I it is desirable that the provinces in tho North Island should be abolished ; (2 ) That Wellington should be madu the seat of Gorernment; (3.) That the land revenue sh»uld be made a loc.il revenue, according to what is known as the Compact of 1856, and that Government shall during the recess, consider how best to give effect to these resolutions. One of the immigrants by the ship Cartsburn brought an action in the Eesidont Magistrate's Court for recovery of £100 damages for an aggravated assault committed during the passage. The case was a most lengthy one, du>insr the hearing of which the most conflicting evidence was sworn ro, and part of which, in giving his decision, Mr Mr Bathgate characterised ai flat perjury. Tho plaintiff, who was an old Indian sergeant, possessing medils and pension for long and honorable service, was awarded £50 damages and costs. The ' New Zealand Gazette ' of the 30th ulfc., notifies that H ; s Excellency tho Governor has been pleased to rlisband the undermentioned Volunteer Corps, at their own request : — The Hawke's Bay Yeomanry Cavalry, the Wangauui Cavalry, tlie Mmtinratu Hifle Ranges, and the Wanganui Veteran Hides. Tho discontinuance of the services of the following corps is also published: — The Howick troop, Royal Cavalry, the Nos. 1 and 2 companies, Victoria (Auckhnd) Rifto Volunteer Cadets, and the Auckland Naval Volunteer Cadets. We regret to state that an accident attended with fatal result* occured in the Bay on Tuesday evening. It appears two men, no-tned Walker and O'Brien, hived a boat in Dunediu for the purpose of making a trip to the Peninsula. On arriviug at Anderson's Bay they stopped for some time drinking at an hotel, and on returning to the bench discovered a box, which they carried to the boat with, the determination of keeping. When some distanoo from shore, one of the men in attempting to throw a dojj overboard, capsized the boat, and both men were precipitated into the water. Walker sank immediately, but O'Brien succeeded in reaching the shore, though in an exhausted condition. On Wednesday the police were engaged in dragging for the body and succeeded after some short time iv re- . covering it. It was conveyed to the Hospital aiorgue where an inquest was held on Thursday, and a verdict in accordance with the facts returned. In answer to the notification of the actiug-secrotary of Public Works that the Government would provide temporary employment for tho lately- arrived immigrants, about fifty men applied and were set to work on Tuesday last. Those taken on are to be divided into two classes, the better ones reoeiving 6s and the inferior 5s per day. In addition to this, as the work on which thoy will bo employed is at Logan's Point, tents will be erected for the use of tho single men, and the married men will be conveyed to and from their work by the Government, and accommodation fjr thomselves and their families provided in the barrack. A deputation of tho Mayor and City Councillors waited on Mr MoKellar, on the samp day, with the object of the Government and Council taking some combined steps to furnish, employment, not only for those already in need of it, but also for a large number daily expected to arrive. After a long and serious consideration of the question, it wag ultimately agreed that the Secretary of Works should furnish the Council with a list of those men whmn lie considered most suitable to l>e employed on tho Corporation Work-*, and the Corporation would then use its best efforts to find a way of [ employing the men with advantage to the city.

The Immigration and Public Works Loan Bill provides for a four million fix per cent, loan, £300,000 to be devoted lor railways already authorised ; £50,000 for the gold-fields ; £60,000 for the North Island roads j £500,000 for immigration ; £390,000 for miscellaneous public works, including buildings, light-houses, telegraphs. Short dated debentures, with a currency not exceeding seven years may be issued pending the floating of the loan, but at ao one time is the amount of debenture to exceed the sum borrowed. The following return shows the amount of Customs revenue eelleoted nt, the undermentioned ports during the quarter ending 30th June, 1874, with the amount for corresponding quurter of last year :—: — Aueklinri, £55,552, as nt^ainst £43.638 in 1873 ; Wellington, £25,871, •gainst £22,096 ; Lyttelton, £42,821, against £28,831 ; and Dunedin, £88,200, against £66,578 in 1873. From the above it will be seen that the increase in revenue nt Dunedin has been £21.622, yielding a sum considerably over three times that of Wellington, double that of Lyttelton, and one and a half in excess of that of Auckland. Two goats were discovered the other day at Waipori snow bound in a drive, in which they had taken shelter from the storm. They had been missing sixteen days, und had evidently been imprisoned all that j time by the snow drifting over the mouth of the drive. During their enforced confinement (says the ' Tuapeka Times,') they each gave birth to a kid. When discovered the young one 3 were dead, and the old ones as may be imagined had very little life left in them. A meeting of immigrants has been held at Wellington, with the object of petitioning the G-ove v iimont that the remaining debt upon their promissory notes may be remitted. Several speakers alleged that they were unnble to obtain an interview with the AttorneyGeneral in London, though th«>y tried repeatedly, and that they were led to believe the Government would not trouble them for the recovery of their promissory notes unlvss they acquired property. By a ' Gazette ' notice, His Excellency the Governor has been pleated to appoint the following Mayors Justices of the Peace, under the '* Otaco Municipal Corporations Act 1865 : " — Messrs David Anderson Jolly, Cromwell ; Thomas George Betts, Queenstown ; Alexander Inne«, Arrowtown ; John Lyon Macdonald, Riverton ; Andrew McKinnon, Port Chalmers ; Thomas Pratt, Invercargili ; James Samton, Alexandra ; Samuel Edward Shriinski, Oamaru. Mr John Ho ny will has been appointed Luputy -Registrar of Marriages, &c.