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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2709, 23 October 1871, Page 2

Another Job. —An agitation has been gut up at Switzers on account of the sale of some fifty aero of alleged auriferous land to private parties. The matter is likely to become the subject of direct governmental employ.

Sudden Death. —We regret to learn that Mr Jha Deane, stevedore, of Port Chalmers, died suddenly last night when engag d in reading. We have not heard the particulars, but it is said heart disease was the cause.

The Chinese Immigrants, —One of the Chinese passengers per barque Union, died on Saturday last. 1 : is body w'as yesterday conveyed to the morgue, at Port Chalmers, and an inquest was to be held this afternoon. The remainder of the passengers were landed to-day ; three of the number were to he taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Religious.—The introductory services at St Andrew’s yesterday, in connection w'ith Mr Cow’s entrance on the pastorate of that Church, w'erc largely attended In the morning Mr M'Naughton preached from Corinthians I, ch. iii, v. 9 ; in the afternoon, Mr Keid, of the Wesleyan Church, from Corinthians I, ch, 1, v. 21 ; and in the evening the new pastor preached a very impressive sermon from John, ch. i, v. 23. Congregational. —Special services w'ere held yesterday in the Congregational Church, Port Chalmers, to celebrate the acceptance of the pastorate of the church by the Pcv. James Maxwell. The Rev. Mr Roseby, of Dunedin, preached morning and evening to crow'ded congregations. Collections were made on behalf of the building fund. We believe a tea meeting will be held to-morrow.

Martin’s Bay. —A miner known by the name of “ Fred,” arrived at Queenstown from Martin’s Bay on the 18th. He had travelled overlaiul in sealskin boots, and stated his mission to be fpr the purpose of organising a party to proceed to a portion of the beach near Martin’s Bay, where he stated he would guarantee to them from 18s to LI a day per man. The locality referred to is probably Big Bay. Tub Brogpen Contracts. —A reliable correspondent in Wellington telegraphs ; —“ The meeting here on Saturday about the Brogden contracts was a great failure. Wakefield made an awful donkey of himself, The members of the Assembly for the City attended, and said the House was the proper place for them to express their opinions. All the speakers acknowledged their ignorance of the terms of the contracts,” Mr Brogden has had several interviews with the Government, and the result will be made known to Parliament in a few days. Land Purchase in the North ■ suand. —A Wellington contemporary says : —We understand that the purchase of the valuable piece of country known as the Seventy Mile Bush has been successfully effected by Mr Locke, who was, with great good judgment, selected to perform a difficult and delicate duty. In the Hawke’s Bay district there had previously been purchased 240,000 acres, and Mr Locke has now sue coeded in purchasing 1.30,000 acres at what we may call the Wellington end of the Seventy Mile Bush. Thus the whole country between the Wairarapa Valley and Ruataniwha has been secured for settlement, and for the execution of such road and railway works as may be contemplated under the Immigration and Public Works Act.

Moke Mismanagement. —Every one will recollect the Tuapeka road between the Manuka Creek and Waitalmua, on which the Reid Government found employment for the unemployed for a few weeks nearly two ysars ago. and on which so much 'money has been spent. Now it appears the road is a “notable and scandalous” instance of unfinished work ; and it oidy requires a little more expenditure to finish what would be a good line of road, when some benefit would be derived from the thousands of pounds now lying uselessly invested ip broken metal and in formation. Some of the agitation now got up for a line of railway to l.awrance could be advantageously transferred to this matter.

A Hi-T to Flaxdressers.— The Flax Commissioners in heir report point out what have been the results of sales in London during 1870. Taking the proceeds of (1000 tons at L 140,500, and assuming that each ton has cost the manufacturers L2s— for manufacture and L 9 for freight and other charges—there will have been a loss to the Colony of L 9,500, on the expon from May, IS7O, to July, 1871. “Rut, as there would be a profit of Lit), 9,50 on the two 'first classes, the manufacturers of the remainder have lost over L2(),000 ; whereas, if they could have produced fibre of good quality, there would have been a clear gain, over cost of production of L 15,058, or a total

profit on the 6000 tons of more than L 26.000.” We trust these significant figures will have the effect of convincing producers that a good article will always command a remunerative price.

Political. —The Otago Waste Lands Bill, as passed through committee, has been denuded of many objectionable As originally drafted, the preamble committed the Legislature to the express on of opinion that the laws now in force “ have been found in some particulars to be injurious to the public interest by creating delay in opening land for purchase and impeding settlement.” This has been very properly struck out, as well as several phrases equally unimportant and useless. On the whole, the alterations are unimportant. It has yet to undergo the ordeal of a Committee of the whole ■ i ouse, and then to run the gauntlet through the Legislative Council, so that it is yet quite possible it may not be got through. If its passing would finally settle this long-vexed question, it would be well that it should lie adopted; but the chances are that, like all other Acts, it will be found good or bad c;ccordingly as it is administered. Canada Reef. Quite a mining mania has seized the ordinarily quiet inhabitants of Tokomairiro, on account of the recent {crushing of quartz from the Ocean View claim. Thus we read in the local papers of the reefs being visited by a number “of parties anxious to secure as early as possible a chance in the golden lottery which it is presumed has been opened on Table hilland of innumerable cases of jumping—the first in order of occurrence being the jumping of 500 feet of the Alexandra claim, which has been sustained by Warden Simpson, and the latest on Friday last, when Messrs Dyer and Carson pegged off a part of the Ocean View claim. Three weeks ago there was only twelve men at work on the reefs, while there are now upwards of sixty, and ten heads of stamps at work. As indicative of the value set upon the Ocean View claim the Standard states that L 250 was offered for a share and refused.

An Opera Company. —By the July Californian mail we were advised of the formation of an opera company to visit the colonies, and the last mail brought intelligence of their departure. The company is know'll as the States Opera troupe in California, where it piayed a most successful engagement, and to w'hich place it came with the highest endorsements, and consists of seven persons : - Madame States, prima donna; Cecchi, an admirable tenor ; Orlandini, a splendid baritone ; Suisini, a superb basso; with Giorza, an excellent singer; and Biscichanti, as impressario. They proceeded in the Nevada as far ;s Honolulu, where they were to remain until the arrival of the next steamer, and in her proceed to Auckland, there to perform for a fortnight, after w'hich they will probably perform in Christchurch, Wellington, and Dunedin, and later in Melbourne. The Californian papers bespeak for them a hearty welcome m the colonies.

New Invention. —A very ingenious appliance for solving the much-vexed question of milking by other than hand labor has been made by a resident of Christchurch. Its simplicity is alone a great recommendation ; and in speaking of a practical test of it, the Lyttelton Times says : - The invention consists of four silver-plated tubes for insertion into the teats of the cow’s udder,, and which being connected together bv mdiarubber pipes, causes the milk to fall in one combined stream. The milk begins to ilow immediately the metal tubes are inserted, and continues until the udder is emptied. Mr Wilson and the Rev. W. J. G. Bluett tried one of the appliances on a cow at Cashmere, and notwithstanding the delay natural to the novelty of the experiment, the animal was most effectually milked in nine minutes. When, however, “practice makes perfect,” the same feat can be accomplished in five or six minutes. Besides this, the appliance is also said to he a great boon in cases of sore or corded teatsa

Funeral. —On Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock, the remains of the late Mr James Carson, the well known and much respected officer of the gaol, were interred in the Southern Cemetery, in the presence of a large concourse of Tfie feeling of deep regret which his decease has occasioned, and the respect and appreciation of the high character which he has so long sustained, were publicly manifested at his funeral. The order of the procession consisted first of the hearse, afterwards the mourning coach, containing the Rev. D. M. Stuait and two young sons of the deceased, and in the rear all the available officers of the gaol, police, members of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, and tradesmen of the town, by whom the deceased was held in the highest esteem. The Rev. Mr Gow and several deacons of St Andrew’s Church were also in attendance. The Rev. Mr Stuart conducted the burial service in a very solemn and im-pros-ive manner. Thus was committed to the silence of the tomb all that remained of one who for years previously had been regarded as one of the most energetic and efficient officers of tho gaol. The San Francisco Service. —New Zealand may be justly proud of having attempted to establish a line so full of promises with her and the Australians. Already her conduct in the matter has not only tended to make ( her colonial resources better known, but her pluck has elicited the most favorable comments. ... In drawing atten-

tion prominently to this matter, it may be asked how does it interest the Goldfields ? Wc think it does so very largely, and that it was a happy idea to connect California and the South Sea Islands with New Zealand. Already great advantages have arisen. For instance in the knowledge of employing water-power; in new amalgamating processes ; and in obtaining a better insight into the Ch nese difficulty. The Goldfields can also afford to learn jnany a lesson from California, as to its spirit of 'enterprise in developing generally the mineral resources of the country. Further, there is in the common bond 0/ unity that it is so desirable to cement between mining communities. . . . The only rivals that wo have had to contend with are our neighbors. One would Lave imagined that Victoria and New South Wales should not have been jealous of us in our efforts to connect America by a direct line with the Australia • group. But it has been so. 'I he line now runs on to Melbourne and Sydney, and those Colonies will receive a very large benefit from the service without being called upon to contribute a cent towards it. 'the' very exertions of New Zeaand to |open the Apieppap market for wool will be a boon to Australia. Now will onr neighbors, who refused to support this new

line and throw the whole burden and weight upon us, seek to divert it from New Zealand and establish a branch line from the Fijis ? We are afraid that they will show ingrati tude for the kindness offered them, by so seeking to injure this Colony. Powerful interests, large invested capital, and ignorance of New Zealand will tell powerfully against her cause, and against her interests. We have also enemies in our midst. Anything coming from Mr Vogel is questioned as of yore. Nevertheless the service is much desired, and if the Colony has to make sacrifices to maintain it, we arc satisfied that the p ople of this district will uncomplainingly bear their proportion Wakalip Mail. A summoned meeting of tlie Pioneer Lodge A.1.0.0.F. will beheld tomorrow evening at the Lodge Hoorn, Oriental Hotel, at 8 o’clock. We have received from the Clerk of the .Provincial Council a copy of the Votes and Proceedings during session 29 (the last session), for which we return our thanks, A Special General Meeting of the Members of the Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association to consider the Licensing Bill will be held at the Fire Brigade Rooms tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, at 7.30. Special services for the Revival of Religion, which have already been held every evening for three weeks, and numerously attended, will be continued this week, in Hanover street Baptist Chapel, commencing at half-past seven o’clock. A Noonday meeting, from twelve to one o’clock is held for the same purpose daily in the Hall of Trinity Church, Stuart strret.