Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2125, 26 February 1870, Page 2

Dunstan Races.—The following are the results of yesterday’s races : —Hurdle race, Poison ; Handicap, Wild Boy ; Ladies’ purse, Musician ; Free handicap, Wild Boy ; Consolation, Nelly Gray. San Francisco Mail Service There lias been an alteration in the selection of boats with which to open the Californian seam line. Instead of the Rangitira, the Wonga Woxxga has been selected to lead off, and there can be no doubt about her capability to do the work in the time. New Zealand Flan. —A gentleman just returned from the Aorth informs us that in Wanganui it has been discovered that New Zealand flax prepared without the use of water is better in color, and in every respect superior to that to which water has been applied. They are also saving the gum obtained by splitting the leaf, as it is found so useful ill the manufacture of envelopes in England as to be in great demand there at high prices. Deputation.— It wax expected that a deputation from the Provisional Committee of the Port Chalmers Railway Company would have waited on his Honor the Superintendent this morning, and Captain Fraser according to appointment was present, but after waiting more than half-an-hour to have preliminary conversation with the deputies, and some time after the specified time for receiving the deputation as no one attended but himself, he allowed it to lapse. Supreme Court.—The following is the calendar of prisoners for trial at the .Supreme Court at Dunedin, before his Honor Mr Justice Ward, commencing on the Ist of March Janies Carter, embezzlement at Lawrence ; George Hagcrty, assault with intent to commit rape at WestTaieri ; same, attempting to commit suicide at West Taiori; Eugene McCarthy and Christopher Francis Le Grand, larceny at Oamani ; John M'Crath, horse-stealing at Oamani ; John Nicholas, uttering a forged cheque at the Waitangi River ; H< nry Charles Richards, forgery at Lawrence ; Alexander ’Wiseman, embezzlement at Dunedin ; Edward Charles Young, embezzlement at Oamani ; Edward Sutton, stealing from the person at Moa Flat.

Thu Atiien.eu.m.— By this mail the following new books have been received by the Athemenm :—“The Last of the Tasmanians,” by -Limes Bonwiek ; “Hereditary Genius,” by Francis Galton ; “The Earthly Paradise,” part -S’, by William Morris ; Fronde’s “ History of England,” vols. 11 and 12 ; “ Parliamentary Reports of Keeper of Public -Record’s “ Lijc of Mary Russell Mitford,” M vols., by L’Estrange “The Irish Land,” by Campbell; “ Vokram and the Vampire, or Hindu Devilry,” by Richard F. Burton, F.R.G.vS. ; Freeman’s “Norman Conquest,” vol. H ; “ Pioneering in the Pampas, ” by Seymour ; and Tennyson’s new book of (poems, “The Holy Grail.” These have come by mail packet via Suez, and it will be observed that several new books of interest are in the list, especially Tennyson's newwork, and “The Irish Land,” by Campbell. Promenade Concert.— The. promenade concert by the choir of St. Paul’s Church took place at St. George's Hall, last evening. The room was tastefully decorated with flags and banners of various countries, and on three sides refreshment tables were arranged, presided over by ladies and their friends, at which the hungry and thirsty were bountifully supplied with viands of the best quality. It is somewhat unfortunate that the term “parochial gathering” was given to this pleasant soiree, as it seems to have had a deterrent ellect upon many who would otherwise have been present. Perhaps one good ellect resulted, as the attendance was so numerous that had there been many more present, the room would have been uncomfortably full. Several songs, glees, and choruses were given, and the piano accompaniments were ably played by Mr A. Towscy. Miss Edhousc and a well-known amateur sang with taste and elleut. hi the course of the evening tlfe Lord Primate of JS'cw Zealand gave an address, in which he pointed to the advantages derivable from social gatherings of that character, as they tended to bring members oi the church together, and to unite them for the prosecution of common duties, and common objects. Ho pointed out the advantages resulting from an effective choir in the services of the church, and showed that the choristers had a duty to perform, in leading the congregation in the part they had to take in public worship. Referring to the missionary work of the chm-cli, ho sho-vved that lay mcmWi s might be eminently useful in visiting Ihe sick, or the ■ anility schools, and iu oilier Christian duties. After a few words, descriptive of the labors of the Melanesian mission, he expressed a hope that be would lie able to introduce the Bishop of Melanesia at the meeting of the Gene) .1 Synod, which he said would take place in Dunedin next year. The evening passed off pleasantly. The abundant remnants of the feast arc to be given to the children of the Benevolent Institution for dersert to-morrow.

Woon as Dangerous a Cargo as Flax. —The following letter appears in the Autlrnlnxifui, and curiously bears out the assertion that the underwriters increasing the insurance on flax, is not warranted under the circumstances, taking into consideration the mainmr in which wool is often shipped : of loss by lire of the Lightning at Geelong, the Blue Jacket at sea, the City of Melbourne not long ago, and others, I do think it time for some (me to call the attention of insurance companies, shipping agents, and others interested, to the manner of shipping wool at our principal Victorian sea-port. As regards washed wools and scoured wools, I wish to say nothing in this note ; hut as to grea-y wool, it is well known to anyone in the trade that there is groat risk in shipping it, unless it is shorn and carried to its shipping port perfectly dry (being so much more apt, especially when damped, to heat, and cause what is so called spontaneous combustion) I also know from experience that many squatters, who shear in the grease, having many hands living on their stations during shearing shearing time, which undoubtedly is very expensive, wish to have their sheep shorn as soon as possible, forgetful that greasy sheep carry any wet or moisture much longer than washed sheep. The wool so shorn is pressed into bales as soon as possible (in most eases warm from the sheep’s back), and then sent on shipboard. Great risk is run as to its getting rains or wet on its transit to Geelong, Lcliuca, Melbourne, &c., in a great part owing to the ‘’negligence of carriers not keeping it secured on the way; but the owner says to himself ‘ If I insure it well on its way to London I’m all light.’ Who insures the lives of the passengers and crews who travel in such wool-laden vessels, or who docs, or should properly, examine the state of such hales before being shipped ?” I have just now read from the Wesirrn Press (published at Camperdown) of November 27, “ Some number of bales were slapped in the Lightning after it had been proved by the usual ‘dumping’ process that their contents were not only damp, but positmly wet, for the water oozed out of the bales when pressed on the wharf at Geelong previous to shipment.” Professor Gamgee and Meatpreserving.—Mr Verdou has forwarded to Victoria a memorandum from Professor Gamgec respecting Ins new process of moatpreserving. Me (Mr Ver-lon) says—“ Yon will observe the great advantage over all other plans which I Tofefsor Gamgee proposes to secure in the carriage of meat in a per fectly fresli state, so that when oil’ered for sale in Europe there will be no perceptible difference between meat freshly killed and that imported preserved by his process adding that after he )Mr Verdon) had seen some of the meat preserved by this process, he induced the professor to forward the memorandum in question, accompanying it with two pamphlets. Moreover, a quantity of the meat so preserved has been forwarded to Victoria per emigrant ship Crusader, some of it to lie tried on the voyage, and the rest to be delivered in Melbourne in sealed packages. Professor Gamgee prefaces the memorandum in question by expressing an opinion that Colonial Legislatures ought to provide some reward for the invention of the best process of utilising Colonial meats, hinting that though lie expected his own reward to come in various ways, some public or official recognition would be very welcome in case of decided success. Hu announces that his provisional specification will leave by next mail. The memorandum is as follows The prevention of imported and purely contagious cattle disease, the great demand for fresh meat in England, and the importance of utilising the animal produce of distant countries, led four years since to the first experiments, which have resulted in the satisfactory preservation of the carcases of animals by a process that is inexpensive, and readily carried out on the largest scale.” Carbonic oxide gas combines with blood or fiesh coloring matter so as to enable this to react on the reducing or decomposing action of sulphurous acid. Well-burned and dry charcoal absorbs (55 times its volume of sulphuric acid. In this way a compound is obtained of uniform strenth, great affinity for oxygen and moisture, and which can easily be measured, weighed, or handled in boxes for the purposes of meat preservation. A gradual, certain, and sufficient diffusion of a given quantity of sulphurous acid is thus obtained in chambers in which meat is suspended. The sulphurous acid is prevented from injuring the meat and taste of the meat in a great measure, by the previously secured actions of the carbonic oxide. It attacks the surface, however, is dissolved, and penetrates gradually to the deeper parts of the tissue and into the bones. It remains in the meat partly unchanged in solution, and partly in combination with soda and potash in the form of sulphites. Animals to be preserved are caused to inhale carbonic oxide by enveloping their heads in an airtight hood, which communicates with a gasbag or gasometer charged with the gas. When insensible, and in bullocks or sheep the inhalation occupies from 50 to 70 or SO seconds, the animals arc bled. They arc then dressed as usual. Pigs are dressed'in their usual way. The kidneys, as well as other internal organs, are removed. Animals that have been shot or otherwise slaughtered, arc subjected in chambers to the action of carbonic oxide gas, which is readily absorbed by the blood and tissues. Having secured this preliminary condition, the carcasses are hung up in chambers full of carbonic oxide, pure or in combination with other "uses, and boxes containing from 21b. to 511).° of charcoal, well charged with sulphurous acid, for every lOUlb. of meat, arc placed therein. The whole is left undisturbed for seven or eight days in the case of sheep, 10 days for pigs, and IS or 20 days for bullocks. The Rev. Mr Nolan will preach at St. Joseph’s to-morrow morning and evening, in aid of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Melbourne.