The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2558, 29 April 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1871.

Although the most striking features of English news are communicated to us through the papers .specially intended for circulation in the Colonies, there are under-currents at woi’k that do not so immediately attract attention, but which may ultimately very materially affect our future. _ Amongst others is one for the foundation of an English Mechanic Colony. The project was first mooted in that really valuable publication, the English Mechanic and Wovld of Science, h} a writer under the nom de plume “ Alexandra.” In the number published on the 9th of December, he expresses his conviction that “ a co- “ operative scheme of emigration is not only practicable, but may be attended with the most beneficial consequences. In that number the various fields of emigration are canvassed ; and although the attractions of the United States are admitted, the writer does not recommend that country. He says : I will merely mention, before closing this part of my subject, that during a protracted sojourn in a favorite State, where land, if found unclaimed, could at once be appropriated free of all expense except that of survey, and where I had frequent opportunities of meeting with my fellow-Britons, I never fell in with any, with the exception of one of those, who did not calculate ultimately on returning Homo-for reasons' assigned which I need not here repeat. Somehow, throughout the United States, there is a generally-diffused appearance of a Uft struggle painful to the experience of an Englishman.

After some few further remarks, showing that intense pressure on the moans of existence is common both to Great Britain and America, reasons are given for preferring the Australasian Colonies, and it is proposed to procure

A carefully chosen locale or territory to establish a Colony, which, though mainly agricultural at tho outset, shall gradually develop© itself Into an important social centre through the combined influence of its superior intelligence and its mineral resources and local advantages. The essential requisites in carrying out such a scheme, after making up our mind as to the class of emigrants, arc, first, a temperate, equable, and healthy climate. The possession of a territory of suitable extent, having a good proportion of superior agricultural and pastoral land—good resources in valuable minerals, particularly of iron and coal. A first class harbor for the principal seaport, with, if possible, a good nver. A situation, central and convenient for the export of its products to countries o>' districts less favoured than itself in point of climate or resources, and from whence it could import raw materials, the prodneo of other latitudes.

Any inhabitant of Otago might reasonably expect, after a statement of such essentials, that it would have been chosen. But either the Province is not what we who live in it imagine it to be, or we have not sufficiently spread the knowledge of its vast resources amongst the classes at Home who are likely to emigrate. We are inclined to believe that its resources and the light cost at which they can be developed are not generally known in Great Britain, and that a few statistics published by authority in such journals as the English Mechanic , would do much to commend it amongst the class of intelligent mechanics, as a place where skilled industry, aided by capital, may find ample room for profitable occupation. This, however, is not the result arrived at by Alexandra. He passes by New Zealand as “ too distant” from the larger populations of the Australasian Colonies, as we understand him to use the term, and commends Tasmania as “ the only spot of “ earth possessing the whole necessary “ qualifications for such a purpose.” Whether the scheme proposed will as sumo decided form or not, it is impossible to say. It is possible the attempt may be made, but, judging from Australasian experience of Colonies founded for carrying out special objects, they never do more than partially realise the purposes intended. Yet these mechanics, with their enlarged conceptions, are a most desirable class to have amongst us. Although before starting from Home they imagine they have a common interest, and are prepared to make individual sacrifices to carry it out, the wide fields for piofitable employment that would open out to them on their arrival at their para-, dise in Tasmania would cause many defections; but as pointing to the spread of the conviction that our individual strength is wasted by too much diflusion, and may be unmeasurably increased by well-conducted co-operation, the idea is suggestive, and should not pass unregarded,

The Telegraph.—lt is understood that Mr Lemon, General Manager of Telegraphs, has applied f r a court of inquiry to investigate the charges brought against him of acting in opposition to the regulations of his department. Maeeewiienua Reef. The local paper understands that the Maerewhenua Company has commenced crushing, but until the gold is retorted the result cannot be definitely arrived at. Meanwhile, from the appearance of the stone, it is believed that an average of two ounces to the ton will be realised.

A Narrow Escape.—A man named Person, was drivi"g a couple of horses and dray up the Waikari road, near the toll, last evening, but being under the influence of drink, lost contiol over the animal, which getting restive, backed over the edge of tbc bank. A woman, who was in the dray at the time, managed to jump out, but Person went over with the dray, but although he landed amongst the horses feet, escaped with very trifling braises. The fall was about thirty feet.

Rifle Shooting.—Complaints Imve reached ns of the manner in which the volunteers conduit their firing at the Anderson's Bay butts. It is alleged that very great carolesnesa is displayed, and the bullets find their way among the sand hills, far from where they might naturally be ex pooled to fall. One person states that a cow, far out of the range, was shot the orlier day. Perhaps the volunteer authorities will look into the matter.

Gaol Return.—The following is the state of 11. M. Goal, Dunedin, for the week ending April 29 : —Awaiting trial, I man, 0 women ; under remand, 0 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 91 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 51 men, 22 women ; debtors, 2 men ; total, 145 men, 22 women. Received during the week, G men, 4 women ; discharged durng the week, 8 men, 3 women.

Princess Theatre. —“ Douglas,” a tragedy, unique in its way, having been written by a minister of the Established Church of Scotland, was performed in Otago for the first time last night—the part of Young Norval being sustained by Mr Gonrlay, who, if not great in ilie character, is yet sufficiently go id to pass muster, a pro f of which may be given in the fact of bis having got through that absurd bombast beginning “ My Name is Norval,” without exciting the laughter of his audience. The lugubrious Lady Randolph was undertaken by Miss Carry (jeorge, who we regret to observe is still suffering from indisposition. Old Norval was played by Mr Musgrave, who bestowed great care on the part. The only other noticeable feature in the play was the Glenaloon of Mr Walter Hill, who performed the character so respectably as to make us doubt if low comedy be his forte. The “ Valet de Sham ” followed “ Douglas,” and the performance concluded with ‘’Pretty Mary,” an extravaganza in which the whole of the Gourlay family appeared. The extravaganza is well sprinkled with quips and cracks, songs and jokes, and gave groat satisfaction to an audience not so large as is usually seen within the walls of, this theatre on the benefit of an old-established favorite. The programme will be repeated this evening, being the last night ot the engagement of the Uonrlay family. Narrow Gauge Railways.—The

Indian Government lately commissioned a committee of four to investigate and test the merits of the Fairhc system, and to determine upon the best gauge for Indian railways. After a searching enquiry, au l the application of severe tests, three out of the four, viz , Colonels Strachey, Hick ins, and fiendel, recommended a 2ft. 9 in. gauge, and the fourth, Mr John Fowler, a 3ft. din. gauge. Mr D. (Jlitnio, 0. I'd, agent for Air Fairlie, who is now in Melbourne, is authorised by

that gentleman to say that ho will rind capital to build narrow gauge railways in Victoria or any of the Australasian colonies, by having a guarantee, and asserts that he is prepared to prove that every district requiring communication he will supply with good substantial lines, capable of carrying as heavy traffic as any line in the colony, at a cost not exceeding 1.5,000 and in many cases not more than L 4,000, per mile.

Women Stone-breakers. —-A paragraph recently appeared in on- of tho Victorian papers, stating it as a singular circumstance that a woman could be seen breaking stone metal in company with her husband. That a woman should claim equality with her husband in this rough work is not after alia rarity. In this “laud flowing with milk and honey” \vc, (Bruce Standard) have notice I two similar cases. Not a hundred miles from Fast Toiori, on the main road, a grey headed woman may be seen using the stone hammer with a heartiness and skill which would do no discredit to the oldest male hand at such a kind of work. Either her love of money nma. be intense or her necessity urgent to induce her to adopt such reputedly uufemiuiue employment.

A Probable Solution. —A correspondent of a Wellington paper gives the following probable solution of a puzzle : —I perceive in the English telegrams published by you to-day, that New Zealand wheat is quoted at Rotterdam at 45s to 565. From previous remaiks on the same subject in Colonial journals, I am under the impression that it is actually supposed that the wheat in question is the produce of this Colony. One naturally asks how our wheat should get to Rotterdam ? There are two Zealands, or anglice Sealands, in Europe—one is in the province of Holland, the other in the chief island of Denmark, celebrated for its wheat. New Zealand wheat, in the Rotterdam market, means the new wheat—the wheat from the last crop of the Danish Island of Zealand, not wheat from the Antipodes.

The War and its Costs.—The following .are given .as the actual French and German war debts up to the present time : North German Confederation: Prussian loan, 271 million thalers; bavarian loan, 5(5,020,000 thalers ; Radon loan, 4,575,000 florins; Wm-temberg loan, 9,000,000 florins ; altogether, 327,020,000 thalers and 13,575,000 florins, or about 1250 million francs, which is equal to L 50,000,000. Franco : 750 million of francs before the war ; 230 millions the other day ; altogether, one milliard of francs, or forty million pounds. Total of both countries, say L 00,000,000. The official returns show the total French losses in January to have been 350,000 men and 800 guns. The loss of men is distributed as follows Of Gen. Chanzy’s army, 24,000; of Gen. Royl’s forces, 12,000; of the array of Gen. Faidherbe, 11,000 \ and of the army

under General Bourbaki, 30,00(h Eighty thousand men are set down as having crossed into Switzerland, and the loss in Paris is estimated at 150,000. The total German losses in the month of January amount to 10,000 men.

Cricket at the Present Day.— “ John Fecrybingle” writes to the Melbourne Weekly Times “ Cricket isn’t a graceful game—it never was; but it’s grown less grace-fuller that it used to be. There was a time when a lad could stand up before Ins wicket,, and bo bowled at; now lies got to stand up, and be made a cockshy ok 'Hie w r ay of it is thus —The batter takes his place to be made batter-pudding of, if possible by the bowler, und to save himself from being smashed to a pulp, puts on a kind of armour, that makes him look like the portrait in the picture-books of an Armadillo. Then the bowler glares a savage glare noon him, smells the ball, shuts one eye, dodges backwards and forwards in a playful sort of way for two or three seconds, chucks his arms about wind-mill fadiion.and shies the ball, as you’d shy a stone at a street dog, as hard as he can pelt at the batter’s legs. What he wants is not to hit the wickets, but to cripple the batter and make him feel miserable. Very likely the ball does hit the latter somewhere in the stomach, or on the contrary; and if so he’s not up to the knocker for the next shy, and gets out leg be r ore wicket, or stumped or some game of that kind. When [ used to go on the cheap to Lord’s ground in the old days, but they didn’t play cricket like this, but they tell me times arc changed there as well as here, and that when a cricketer can hit another cricketer in the stomach, or the contrary, lie’s a happy man ” Courts of Conciliation.—ln Paris Courts of Concilia-, ion are estabished by law, and a majority of ihe differences between tradesmen and mechanics are settle I at one sitting. The loss of our note book by theft, at the lire of the Cosmopol.tan Hotel, San Francisco, obliges us to quote from memory. We believe that four-hfths of all the cases arc settled thus amicably ; and when appeal is made to other Courts, ihe decisions aie seldom reversed. it works this way in pract ce. Ihe judges are retired men of long oxpciionee in trad\ in a number of cases that we were permitted to near, the contestants, without lawyers, witnesses, or oaths, stated their cases respectively as a preliminary hearing. In most cases the judge quickly discovered which parly was wrong m lus notions. In this case he requested the oilier party to witndraw. Then he explained to me litigant the point ol error, assuring him lie could not gain by going to more open litigation, and advised malting terms with the opponent. In most ot the cases this 2> r ehniina'y became a final settlement: in very lew cases a rehearing and witnesses were called for. Hero is a lesson from which onr religious and other societies may take example. H any religions society desires to surpass its rival by doing good, by promoting harmony, and suppressing the evils of litigation and its attendant animosity and uucharitableness, let it bind its members to this means of adjudicating and atoning differences. Let tnem discard law books, and refer, as the Mohammedans do, to their Bible. In Christian Bibles, and m ad others except that of tlie Jews, there is one law for all—“Ho unto others as you would they should do unto you ” ; and it is not doubted that, as in Paris, competent m-.n can be found to dis'i'crn wisely the just application of that law of conciliation, — of Good and Evil,

Fire. —Mr. J. Elser, Tuakitoto Lake, has again had the misfortune to suffer a soiious loss of property by lire, t'n Thursday, at midnight, it was discovered that his stable was in liames, and before anything could be done it was completely burned down. Two valuable mares, a quantity of oats, and all the harness were also destroyed. It will be remembered that about twelve months ago a destructive lire took place ou tho same farm, under .mysterious circumstances. The present case is somewhat similar, as there is not the slightest clue as to how the tire originated. The Sergeant of police, Mr. Mallard, oa being unformed of the occurrence proceeded to the scene of the lire. On his return he informed us that there is almost a certainty that the lire had arisen from an accidental cause, Ou Friday last live men slept in the stable, ami it is kuown that th«y we.e smoking during tlic night. It is conjectured that they uiopt gome loose matches. The oats, upwards of 599 bushels, were only stored on Wednesday, and on Thursday afternoon Air. taler was in the stable when there was not the slightest symptom of any incipient lire. Of c mrsc tlicrc will be an inquest, when probably some further particulars may transpire.— Standard.

The usual fortnightly mooting of the Commercial Building and Alntual Investment Society for receiving subscriptions, &c., will be held oa Aiouday evening, Aiay 1, from 0 to 8 o’clock.