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Evening Star, Issue 3274, 18 August 1873, Page 2

The Wanganui ratepayers have refused to impose on themselves a penny rate for a public library. Consequent on recent promotions in the police force, Sergeant MJCluskey, stationed at JSaseby, has been made Sub-Inspector. There was only one case disposed of at the Bankruptcy sitting to-day. Charles Shepherd received a final order of disehargo. Mr J. C. Stratford, of the Whau, near Auckland, preserves milk in a fluid state. He has severely tested the article, and the milk is preserved without any chemicals, and will keep in any climate, always preserving its natural flavor aud freshness. The Wakatip Mail advises the electors to return Mr l J yke on Wednesday. Now, it is generally understood that Mr Handers, who is also a candidate, is the editor of the paper ; and recommending an opponent in the manner he does is an example of selfabnegation rarely to be met with. A complimentary benefit was given to Mr M. A. Fox, the pedestrian, at the Princess’s Theatre, on Saturday evening. There was a good attendance in the lower parts of the bouse. The programme was of a mixed character, consisting of songs and dances. A recitation was announced to have been given by a well-known local amateur, who, however, failed to put in au appearance. The singing of Miss Sara and Mr Clifton was exceedingly good, and formed the principal feature of the entertainment. The following letter by Sir George Houston, of Johnston Castle, Scotland, wh>, some time ago, visited Queenstown on his tour round the world, appears in the Mail: Sir James Fergusson, who is a friend of mine, and have drawn his attention to your part of the world, and have told him what I think the Lake district might, with energy, become. A railway to the foot of the Lake is most important, but the secret of success will lie in the proper advertisement in Melbourne of the localities around Queenstown and the means of access there.” “ High Life below Stairs” was repeated at the Queen’s Theatre on Saturday evening; it was preceded by the comedy of “ She Stoops to Conquer.” There was a very large attendance, aud the entertainment passed off successfully. In our notice of the first piece in Saturday’s issue, by an oversight we omitted to mention Mr Musgrave’s interpretation of the part of Philip, which was performed in that gentleman’s best style. To-night the sensational drama of “Formosa” will be played, with new scenery, dresses, and accessories. Miss Marion Willis makes her first appearance at this place of amusement this evening. According to a paragraph in the Auckland Star, honesty is a virtue not to be found in abundance in Auckland. A “Mother ot a family” has waited upon the editor to request that he would inform the public she has found an honest butcher iu Auckland, who always gave good weight, and supplied good meat. This is a “ young man named Grant, trying to make a business by dealing honestly, and by having such a butcher she, as well as other poor people who deal with him, will save a large sum of money in the year. ” The same authority also states that a “young man to her own knowledge was recently discharged from an Auckland establishment because he would not put sand in 1 the sugar.” This young man ought also, she thinks, to be encouraged. The citizens of Dunedin will remember that on the occasion of the fire which took place in a building in Maclaggan street, next to; Messrs North and Scoullar’s furniture warehouse, a couple of months ago, the firebell was rung for a considerable time after all danger of its spreading had ceased. In bringing under the notice of the captain and members of the Fire Brigade a suggestion made by a correspondent, we do not wish to undervalue the services gratuitously and at great personal discomfort performed by them; we simply give it publicity in the interests of the public. Our correspondent suggests that if the members of the Fire Brigade, who are as a rule the first to arrive at the scene of a fire, were provided with a few skyrockets, one of which might be discharged as a signal to the person who rings the bell I that the tiro had been overcome, the neees-1

sity of needlessly alarming the inhabitants would be avoided. We think the idea worthy of consideration, and one that might with advantage be adopted. Amongst the prospects of the future is that of a pottery, which must at no distant date be established at Green Island. We have more than once noticed Mr Pollock’s coal-pits there, and some time ago had a sample of fine clay shown us, a bed of which, four and a-half feet thick, was passed through in sinking the shaft of the Prince of Wal-s pit. Believing it to be valuable, Mr Pollock smt to the Provincial Government a specimen, which has been analysed by Professor Black. He reports that from its purity, and the free silica disposed through it, it is well adapted for the manufacture of drain pipes, jars, flower pots, and earthenware in general. In the kiln it fires to a yellowish white ware, hard and gritty in fracture, very tough and susceptible of taking a good glaze, which renders it fit for vessels or household use. It is also well adapted for the manufacture of earthen crucibles for smelting ore and other laboratory purposes. An application of it to such purpose, the Professor continues, ought to create a useful industry. We have seen a specimen of it, burnt in the process of testing, which proves it to be capable of conversion into handsome pottery. The prospectus of the Poverty Bay Petroleum and Kerosene Company, whi«h has been before the public for some time, is, remarks the Southern Cross, another gratifying instance in proof of the great natural wealth of New Zealand, and of the Province of Auckland in particular. The petroleum springs at Poverty Ray are highly spoken of by persons competent to form an intelligent opinion upon such a subject, and Dr Hector, the head of the Geological department, gives a most favorable report as to the quality of the samples of raw petroleum oil submitted to him for analysis. He states:—“ The superiority of the flrstthree samplesis obvious. They will probably yield 50 to 60 per cent of kerosene on distillation ; but further experiments are necessary on this point.” It is understood that, since the first samples were forwarded for examination by Dr Hector, oil of still greater strength and purity has been struck at Poverty Bay, so that the prospects of the company appear to be improving in proportion as the investigation of the ground proceeds. Meantime the directors have ordered efficient boring apparatus from England, similar to that in use in the American petroleum wells. Messrs Gumming and Daniel, M.P.O.’s, were entertained at dinner on the Bth inst., by their constituents, who appear to be thoroughly satisfied with their action during the late session of the Provincial Council. Mr Daniel, in replying to the toast of the evening, is reported in the Metes to have referred in glowing terms to the prospects of the Western District. “ The Orepuki line, he declared, opened up sources of untold wealth in timber, gold, coal, and land for settlement. He stated that along the line already cut to Lake George many auriferous deposits had been struck, which would pay handsomely when water could be brought to them. He was strongly in favor of making an effort to obtain out of the loan for water supplv on goldfields a sufficient sum (about L3P,000) to bring in the Waiau to Orepuki, thereby giving profitable employment to a large additional population. He maintained that it would be better to pay for the Orepuki line in cash than in laud, seeing that the timber alone was in many places worth L 4 an acre. Regarding the telegraph, he said its extension to Orepuki would be shortly gone on with, and there was no good reason why the intercolonial cable should not be laid between tbe east coast of Tasmania, or Cape Howe, and Preservation Inlet—the former 300 and the latter 100 miles shorter than the Cape Farewell line. He denied altogether the accuracy of Mr Lemon’s statement that the tidal current was so strong ‘at the mouth of Foveaux !Strait’ as to render the landing of the cable either difficult or dangerous, and asserted confidently that he could have no knowledge of the locality. On the other hand, he (Mr Daniel) speaking from personal experience, could assert that a current like a sluice ran round Cape Farewell. The advantages that would accrue from opening up the country to the westward would be incalculable—settlement would take the place of desolation along a line of coast peculiarly adapted to become the home of men who would combine whale fishing, forestry, and agriculture.” The Monthly Concert for Prayer will be held in the Wesleyan Church this evening, at 7.30, A summoned meeting of the Court Enterprise, A.0.F., will be held tomorrow evening, at the usual time and place. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society will be held at the Society's office, Princes street, this (Monday) evening, from six to eight o’clock.