NORTHERN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2037, 15 November 1869, Page 2

NORTHERN NEWS.

Another mode of utilising flax has been adopted in Nelson. The Co'oir-st informs us that a Mr Symons has adopted a process of making mats of the root en Is of the flax, and turns out articles superior to anything of the kin I importel from England, at a much smaller price. They resemble the coir door mats, with 'dyed border, and Mr Symons, who is an engineer, as well as acquainted with the process of manufacture of this and other fabrics, can construct the necessary machinery for making the mats, which is very simple, and cnild teach children the method of construction. Sacking, matting of various kinds, woolpacks, scrim, r.nd s’milar fabrics, could all be ma ’e in an estab ishment with sufficient power and mechanical appliances. Flax manu'aotured for exnortation wdl always have a large demand, but much of the inferior product, tho tow “waste,” &c., could thus be readily utiised.

The following gives the returns of gold shipped from the Thames during the mouth : —Bank of New Zealand, 10,500 ounces ; Bank of New Smith Wales, 3,500 do ; Union Bank of Australia, 5,700 do ; Bank of Australasia, 9,500 do. Total, 29,200 ounces.— Minin / Journal, 30 Ih October. Te Heu Heu, the Taupo chief who recently surrendered to Colonel M ‘Donnell, is accompanying the Napier natives, who have been I relieved from active service at Taupo, on I their return to their homes. Tawhana, Kooti’s confrere, is also with them, in charge of Renata. Te Heu Heu has been sent for by the Government, and, according to the Hawke’s Bay pipers, it is their desire to deal leniently with him, as his def ction was forced upon him by Te Knoti, and since his surrender he has afforded ad the information in his power, and shown a desire to assist in M'Uonnoll’s operations. Much may be done through his means to secure the good will of the Taupo natives in future, which is a consideration too important to be neglected. The following notice appeared in a re?eut Oorrrninen'- Gazette :—“ The attention of the Government having been called to the law affecting the sale of land containing the precious metals, the Attorney General has advised that the precious metals do not pass by a sale of the waste lands of the Crown containing them, and that an injunction would be granted by the Supreme Court to prevent the gold being taken therefrom. In order, therefore, to protect the interests of the public and prevent auriferous lands being bought up by individual purchasers, it is hereby notified that it is the intention of the Government to cause the la v in this particular to be enforced.” The election for the Superintendency seems to engross the attention of the people i of Auckland, a’most to the exclusion of everything else. Party feeling runs high, and mutual recriminations are freely indulged in. Mr Gillies, a candidate whose poor prospects of succ.’ss seem to have soured Ids temper, said on the hustings that the Auckland Press was bought by the present Superintendent, and to this the Southern Cm.a replied as follows :—“ Mr Gillies accuses the Press of having been ‘bought,' and says that it is banded acainst him. It is painful to find an accusation so preposterously fa'se condng from the lips of a gentleman po-sessing so large a share of ability, intelligence, and knowledge of the wor’d. We have hitherto refrained from noticing it, because we thought that, when the excitement of nomination day had passed away, and Mr Gillies, in his calmer moments, came to read a verbatim report of his speech, he would feel ashamed of having made an accusation so utterly* unfounded, and have sought the first opportuney to retract and apologise for it. Mr Gillies has not done this, and it is therefore necessary not only to rebut the slamhr, but to call its uttcrer to account. We therefore emphatically assert that the assertion made by Mr Gillies, so far as it may have been directed against this journal, is scandalous, m,Vicious, and false. The assertion which Mr Gillies made at the hustings is ‘a lie which is all a lie,’ an I it can therefore ‘ be met and fought with outright.'” Mr Br uigan it is said will slnrtly begin a tour of inspection through the country, beginning with the West Const to make himself .actually acquainted with the force he is to re-model, and to determine upon spots for establishing posts. He has certainly made one appointment in his new force which will give general s itisf.icti m, that of Mr Revel, formerly aljntant to the East Wairarapa Volunteers, to be drill instructor at Wellington. No more competent man could have been found.