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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2027, 3 November 1869, Page 2

Queensland. — The following extract from the Governor's speech on proroguing a recent session of the Parliament, well illustrates the steady progress that the country is making in the development of the various elements of wealth:—“ln January, 1366, the land iu cultivation amounted to 14,414 acres, and in January, 1869, to 39,321 acres. In the same period the area of cultivation of maise had extended from 6,224 to 12,663 acres, of wheat from 2,068 to 3,783 acres, of oats from 348 to 1,263 acres, of cotton from 478 to 11,154 acres, and of sugar-cane from 449 to 3,396 acres. In 1865 our export of copper was 221 tons, and in 1868 it reached 1,088 tons—whilst our export of gold, in the same time, increased in value from L 92,938 to L 593,516 sterling money. In January, 1866, our population was 87,775, and in January, 1869, it had become 107,427. There was then 13,723 persons engaged in gold-mining alone. The knowledge of these things, accomplished by a people numeric »lly so small, strengthens our belief that by the continued resolute application of our capital, labor, and skill to the development of the magnificent natural resources of the Colony, aided by steady accessions to our number of industrious settlers, we shall, under Divine Providence, become a prosperous and wealthy community.”

Maori Courtship.— The Wellingon Independent, of the 9th inst., has the following story ; —Those who are acquainted with the manners and customs of the Maoris are aware that there obtains amongst them a mode of national betrothal, not unlike that which regulates the state marriages of older and more civilised nations. The proposals of marriage come from the tribe instead of the individual, and if accepted, the good faith and honor of the tribe are pledged, not only to the girl, but to her tribal relations and friends. By inter-marriages of this kind, strong tribal alliances were established ; ami in former days when “might was right,” these unions were of great political importance to the tribes concerned. We were lately shown a bona fidb offer of marriage of the kind we have noticed, and as it illustrates the nationol custom, we have obtained permission to publish the letter. [Translation]: Waikarapa, Porangahau, August 31, IS6O. To John and to Nelly—Friends, salutations ! The greeting over, this is the word. The desire of the tribe is towards the Rangitane (tribe). Great is our desire to have one of your daughters as a wife for our tribe. But why multiply words I The request is for one of your daughters to be given over tons. If you consent, it is well. If you approve, send us a letter by Renata, the bearer of this. Ended. From Te Ropiaa, and from all the rest of us. ” The letter is a perfect model in its way, and its practical businesslike tone is worthy of imitation. An Important Discovery,—According to the Nottingham Journal a very great improvement in the steam engine, amounting to a substantial discovery and invention, has just been patented by Mr Warsop, of that city. The improvement consists in forcing heated air into the boiler of the engines now in use—the air and steam together passing from the boiler to work the engine The inventor has a separate apparatus for pumping and drawing the cold air through a coil of pipes, and so heating it before it enters the boiler; but the cold air may also he taken directly into the boiler, and be made to take up its heat entirely from the water in it, The advantages offered by the invention are stated to be threefold. ‘ ■ First and foremost, a saving of more than 40 per cent, in secondly, an increased amount of power compared with the ordinary steam engine ; and thirdly, a diminished supply of water for boilers.” A further advantage is also said to deserve attention, viz., “that the action of the air on the water is very beneficial, keeping it in a constant perturbation, thus tending to prevent slating.” The same journal states that experiments have been made in Nottingham ; and the results, as worked out by Mr Amos, the chief engineer of the Royal Agricultural Society, and other practical engineers, verify the above statement of advantages. If these results should be confirmed by further trials, the importance of the invention will soon be felt —not the smallest advantage being, as the Nottingham Journal points out, the increased length of the voyages it will enable steamers to make without re-coaling. The salmon fisheries of the Severn have been very productive recently. Thera have been good catches, and the result has been that salmon is selling at Is per pound. This is an approach to the good time coming which Mr P. BucAaud has promised us, when the king of fish shall become an ordinary article of food at poor men’s tables.