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Evening Star, Issue 2805, 13 February 1872, Page 2

New Coinage. —Some of the new sovereigns recently imported from England are in circulation. They are a very handsome coin, bearing on one side the head of her Majesty, with the usual inscription ; and on the other the George and Dragon, with the date 1871.

Crops in Canterbury. Farming operations in the Ashley and Waipara districts are finished, and the Lyttelton Times draws a doleful picture of the harvest. About twenty bushels per acre is expected of wheat; about twenty-five of oats, and about twelve of barley. The potato crop is an entire failure. The accounts from the Downs are almost as bad.

Coal Research. —The Government Assistant Geologist was absent for three weeks in examining the coal deposits ®f the Southland district. He visited the Mataura, Castlerock Station, Mounts Hamilton and Linton, Orepuki, and the Hokanuis, and the result of his discoveries is, that there were found nine out-crops of brown coal ; three of bituminous coal, and three of superior lignite.

The “Gazette.” The following notifications appear in the Neio Zealand Gazette of the 6ch inst. That in terms of the report of the Joint Committee on Colonial Industries, a bonus of L2SGO will be offered for the first 100 tons of printing paper manufactured in the Colony, on the following conditions : the required quantity to be completed before June 30, 1873; the weight of each ream to be not less than 30 lbs ; the reward to be paid on the certificate of a duiy-appointed Government officer. Mr C. D. R, Ward to be district judge for the Oamaru and Timaru, Tofiomairiro and Clutha, and Western districts ; Mr W. G. Filleul to be clerk of the District Court, Oamaru,

Aquatic. —Auckland will not be represented at the big boat race on the Heathcote next week. The reasons which have led to this step are explained at length in the Southern The crew’s outrigger was to have been m&npfiictured at the Thame?, but on the “coach ’• visiting the builder, he found there was no probability of the boat being ready in time. The Thames Club came forward to assist the men out of the dilemma, by not only offering a good boat, but volunteering to Jit her with outriggers, and make other alterations at their own expense, and with this the crew were satisfied, and determined to do their best. After their entry money had been paid, and passages taken in the Wellington, the Auckland Club met, and decided not to send down a crew. There was a nice “ rumpus ” over the matter at the time the Wellington sailed—the said rowing club being pitched into in strong terms by all the local papers. Unemployed Labor.—Dr Feathorston ought to get plenty of emigrants in London, judging from the superabundance of labor which the following paragraph from the South London Press indicates .-—The authorities of St. Thomas’s Hospital are advertising for a head and third dispenser, specifying that candidates must possess the dispensing certificates of the Society of Apothecaries or of the Pharmaceutical Society. The first is to receive LIOO, and the second LBO per year. Princely salaries for such a rich and Royal hospital to pay ! No doubt they will be inundated with applications. Apropos, a tradesman in South Loudon the other day advertised for a clerk at 18s a week. He|jreceived t 3OO applications, and apiopgst them were two M.A.’s, one 8.A., about twepty who could speak different languages, and aboqt the same number who had received college educations. Alas for education !

The Revenue. —The full returns of the Customs revenue collected at the various ports of the Colony during the year 1871 are to hand. As has already been stated, there is a falling off as compared with the previous year of £34,000 ; but, unfortunately, the comparison of the two years which is published in the Gazelle, does not enable us to distinguish upon what articles the revenue has receded. The only ports at which the Custom’s revenue for 1871 exceeded that of 1870 were—Thames, which shows an increase of L 0,815 ; Nelson, L 353 ; Lyttleton, L 2,807;' and Timaru, L 1,349. Auckland shows the large decrease of L 19.204 (as a set off to which is the Thames increase ; so that it is fair to assume that the decrease may to that extent be attributed to the facilities for bonding goods at the Thames) Wellington, L 1629 ; Napier, L 4581 ; Westport, L 1558 ; Greymouth, L 6.735 ; Hokitika, L2 ; 517 ; Dunedin, L 47 ; Invercargill, L 1,372 ; and the decreases from other ports range from LSO to Li>oo. The order in which the principal ports stand in regard to their contribution to the revenue for the past year is as follows:—Dunedin, L 86.741 ; Auckland, L 148,403; Lyttelton, L 194,522; Wellington, L 56.933 ; Hokitika, L 44,921 ; Greymouth, L 38.684 ; Nelson, L 29.759; Napier L 22.520 ; Invercargill, L 20,635 ; Westport, L 18.405 ; Wanganui, L 14,673 ; Thames, L 12,857 ; Timaru, L 12,485. Mr Reeves in Southland. —The Resident Minister, on his way through Invercargill a fortnight ago, was interviewed

by the local railway committee, who impressed upon him the necessity of the formation of the Invercargill to Woodland’s section of the • Mataura Eailway at once being proceeded with, so as to relieve the road of the great traffic at p rose at upon it, which threatened to be productive of serious consequences. Mr Reeves informed the deputation that the line was one of those which had to stand over until Mr Brogden’s arrival in the iSouth; and if the Government could not complete arrangements with him, the work would be contracted for otherwise. If they arranged with Mr Brogden, he would be requested to press on with the first section of the line. With respect to the Kingston line, it was the intention of the Government to have it done by local contracts, those contracts to be taken upon sectional parts. The railway question having been disposed of, the deputation laid before Mr Reeves the urgent necessity of extending the Bluff wharf into deep water, at a cost of from LSOO to JL7OO, so as to allow of the largest vessels going alongside to load ; and to this request .vir Reeves replied that if the Province handed the Bluff railway over to the General Government, he would take upon himself to say (hat the thing would be attended to. Air Macandrew thereupon remarked—“ Make a present of it like and Mr Reeves replied, “Yes, make a present of it. The guage will require to be altered and various other costly things done before it can be rendered a part of the system.” Apropos of immigration, Mr Reeves is reported to have said that the general system had not yet been decided upon, but when regulations on that subject had been framed, they would he given such publicity to as would enable everybody to understand them.

Port Chalmers. - The death of William Foggarty at the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday night as announced in our last night’s issue was what was expected would result from the severe nature of the injuries received, and created a feeling of profound sorrow in the locality in which the accident occurred ; and particularly in the minds of those with whom he had associated, as having been employed in the construction of the Graving Dock from its commencement, he was well known at Port Chalmers, and his quiet, respectable, unasuming manners had won him the respect of all who know him. The occupation of quarrymau is a dangerous one j hence in prosecuting the work the necessity of a constant and careful supervision, But a few weeks ago a poor fellow was killed by a stone thrown by a blast. This man, it is said, had been frequently cautioned not to expose himself. In the case of Foggaity this is not said ; he, it appears, was at the work allotted to him; his mate, who was also exposed to the same danger, nari owly escaped, and whilst rushing from under the falling stone, received several slight cuts aud bruises. When the men commenced work that morning a mass of shattered rock, known to be dangerous, lay above them ; it was not expected to fall for a time, for a day or two previously an unsuccessful effort had been made to dislodge and precipitate it; but, after that effort had been made, a blast or blasts had been exploded in its immediate neighbourhood. Assuming this to be correct, the sudden fall of rock is accounted for - , and the serious accident resulting is an earnest appeal to those in authority to take such steps as ipay conduce to the protection of the men engaged on railway a pd other public works from being unnecessarily exposed to danger. This done, a provision should be made, where a large number of men are employed, for the treatment of cases on the spot in case of accident. At Port Chalmers there is yet no such provision; and though the resident medical men have ever been ready to respond to any call made upon them, tb,a sufferers would have to be forwarded to the Hospital at Dunedin whether they were fit t,6 -bear the fatigue or not. To a person in pain an'd in danger, the exposure, loss of time, and other evils is a serious consideration, and would aggravate his sufferings; and in some cases probably tend to destroy the chance of recovery.

Messrs Reynolds and Bathgate will address the electors at the Masonic Hall this (Tuesday) evening,? at 7.80., ou the subject of the recent session of the Assembly. The entertainment which was to have taken place at the Middle District School this evening, has been postponed on account of the inclement weather to Thursday evening next.