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Evening Star, Issue 2813, 23 February 1872, Page 2

The Reichelt Case. —On dit that this vexed case is at length settled, the in surauce companies and Mr Keichelt having come to an understanding which will render the proposed application for a new trial unnecessary. The Wakatip Election. —It is reported that Mr Macassey will bo supported by Bishop Moran (now in Queenstown), because he is opposed to secular education aud in favour of the aided schools clause ; and that in consequence the Catholic party to a man will not vote for him. The conespondentof the CromweH Aryus says Mr T L. Shepherd is exerting his interest in Mr Macassey’s favour. Foreign Assurance Companies.An Otago settler informs the Bruce llerohl that he insured in the International Company in 1845, since, which year ;ic has paid his premium regularly, and by last mail he was informed that the society bad gone to the dogs and made over its business to the Providential Company, which latter company, on completing an investigation of the affairs of the former, informs life assurers in it that they can only allow one-half value for its policies. A Lucky Escape.—We learn that yesterday Mr John Hughes, bailiff, narrowty escaped being slabbed by a person wh sc property had been sold under a distress warrant for rent. The occupier of the hou~e would not allow the removal of the goods, and seized the landlord’s bailiff, when Mr Hughes interfered to prevent a breach of the peace. The wrath of the debtor was immediately turned upon him ; he drew a knife from his pocket aud msde several strokes at Mr Hughes, luckily without effect, aud was ultimately restrained from further effort by the bystanders, Maori Laborers. —In the Leeston (Canterbury) district, Maori labor is largely used by the farmers. Some discontent was at first expressed at them being employed when white men weye ]to be obtained, but the trial of the colored labor appears to have been completely successful. It is stated that for care and quietness they are not to be surpassed by any gang that visited the district. One farmer informs the Lytle ton Times, that, after experience both «t home and iu the Colony, he never met with men so determined to do justice to his corn, so careful of fire, aud obliging about the place. Valuable Discovery, if True.— Mr W. 8. Lockhart, in a letter to the West Coast Times on the subject of a new propeller about to be patented iu New Zealand, that is certain to effect great improvement in the speed of vessels, and it is more than probable that the passage between Liverpool and New York mav be reduced to six days, and that between Melbourne and our little port, with onr class of vessels, fitted upon the new principle, three days and a-hali will be the maximum, without an increase of consumption of fuel, and that the invention wil all but annihilate the unpleasant vibration experienced iu vessels fitted up with paddle or screw. Agricultural. — We learn from the Bruce Herald that samples of oats grown last season by Mr Borne, West Taien, from seed imported from Scotland at 20s a bushel, yielded an average of 90 bushels per acre ; while his oat crop yielded 80 bushels to the acre. Hops have been successfully cultivated by Mr Borrie, and Mr Murray, Glcnore. The sight showers of rain that fell in the Tokomairiro district last week but slightly interfered with harvest operations, which in all the districts are being rapidly pushed on, and a large breadth has been cut and considerable quantity housed. Although the accounts from some localities are favorable, as a rule the yields will be very short of the average. The Pacific Mail Service.—As an evidence of film interest taken in this service by our American cousins, wc may state that Mr J. Iv, Evringer, general agent on the Facilic Coast for several American railway companies, but more especially for the Pennsylvania Central, has been making a tour of the Australasian colonies, with a view of “ diagnoscing” the traffic. Mr JSmngcr informs us that the interest taken in the line by commercial men in America is both general and substantial, and that the several railway companies arc determined to leave no stone unturned iu order to promote the traffic and secure the comfort and convenience of passengers from Australasia to Europe. Garrick Reefs.—We learn from the Aryus that a very promising reef ha been struck at a depth of 55 feet, in th shaft of the Rob Koy claim, adjoining thee Heart of Oak. This lode when first discovered w r as fifteen inches in thickness, with oolcl visible, and the walls of the reef arc well defined. The new Royal (Standard Company finished a crushing of 120 tons on Tuesday, the yield being about 40 ounces of gold. The stone crushed w'as taken from a slope ten feet in width ; and although the average does not equal that of several forpier crushings, the great facility with which tlfe claim can be worked enables the company to clear expenses with a very small yield of oold. Trial crushings from two of the claims at Pipeclay Gully gave the following excellent results : Nil Desperaudum, 9 ozs 12dwta; Robert Burns, 12ozs. The average per ton was 1 oz 4 dwts from the Nil Desperaudum, and 1.1 ozs from the Robert Bums. 'Phis bears out the opinions expressed by our travelling reporter in his last batch of “ Ways'de Notes.” The San Francisco Line.— The Sydney correspondent of the Aryus writes : Messrs Vogel and Webb are still here, but they cannot do much till the political situation is mole defined. The deputation from the

Chamber of Commerce had an interview with Sir James Martin, who did not seem to be very warm on the project. He explained that he had no money at his command, as all that the Assembly had voted had been used up before the close of the year, and he also intimated that Mr Vogel’s demand of L 25.000 a-year was out of the question. But he softened down somewhat towards the proposal that Mr Webb should have a monthly subsidy at the rate of C 15,000 a year until some permanent arrangement was made. But as there are parties interested in not allowing Mr Webb to get bis foot in, it is not certain that a resolution to tl.is effect would be accepted by the Assembly. Meanwhile Mr Wt bb is a good customer. Owing to the necessity for some considerable repairs, he lias spent about Llß,oooin ourpon in four months, and, what is more to the purpO:e, he admits it to be a cheaper port than San Francisco for everything except Hour and potatoes. This argument is being worked with considerable effect. The Greymouth Floods. —The subscriptions collected in Christchurch, up to the 20th inst., had reached 1 200 ; and Mr Fish has succeeded in collecting nearly LIBO in a couple of day-s. At a public meeting at Invercargill the other day, an inlluential committee was appointed to canvass the town. The Grey River Aryus of February 14 has the following : —The work of relieving the many persons who were serious sufferers by the late Hood is being actively attended to by the members of the Belief Committee which has been appointed, and by the ladies who have interested themselves in obtaining subscriptions and contr butions of clothing. A considerable subscription, as well as some supplies of clothing, have been obtained, and a distribution has been made for the covering and comfort of those niost distressed. As will be seen by the report of the proceedings of the County Council, those subscrip’.ions have been supplemented by a vote of Ll5O for temporaryrelief, and judging by the tone of the Hokitika press, and by the kindred spirit of the inhabitants, there will not be wanting, on the part of the public, that sympathy for which there is at present so much necessity. At the same time the Mayor has communicated with the Mayors of nearly every municipality in the colony, and has already received warm expressions of sympathy with the sufferers, and promises of assistance. The distress caused by the flood is necessarily hard to compute, the destruction of property being only a small part of the loss and inconvenience, but whatever amount may be collected, the Relief Committee, will, no doubt, witn the mod judicious expenditure, iiud that all that they may receive will be required. It has to be remembered that the loss is not entirely a local one, but that it has extended over a very wide area, and measures will doubtless have to be devised for [including the country districts, both as regards the subscriptions and the distribution of relief. The Third Anniversary of the Mornington Total Abstinence Society will take place at Mornington on Monday evening, 26th inst.