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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 777, 10 January 1871, Page 2

At Wellington a youth named Cahill has been sentenced to seven days' imprisonment and a good flogging for stealing a bird's nest from the Botanical Reserve. He enjoys the distinction, according to the Magistrate, of being "the greatest blackguard in the town." , The " surrendered " Hau Hans at Wairoa are causing considerable anxiety to the settlers there. They number from 100 to 150, and have been allowed to retain their arms. The Waikouaiti Herald states that the "leg bone" of a moa was unearthed last week by Mr Thomas Kennard, while ploughing in a paddock on his farm at Goodwood. The bone measures over 3ft in length, and varies in thickness from 2iu to Giu in diameter. It is in a good state of preservation, and is undoubtedly a curiosity in its way. The Japanese who arrived at Auckland by the last Honolulu steamer, are a troupe of jugglers and acrobats similar to those who visited the Colony some time ago. They arenow performing in Auckland. There is, says the Lytklion Times, one part of the financial scheme agreed to last session, hitherto not much discussed, in which the Provinces of Canterbury, Nelson, and Otago are especially interested. We allude to the water supply on the gold fields. The importance of this subject is not sufficiently appreciated by the public generally, and we now mention it because we hope it will attract a fair share of attention at the forthcoming elections. Though it may not have struck the settlers in either Province so forcibly as it ought, there are material reasons why Canterbury and Nelson should support any well-considered measures which have for their object the full development of the Westland Gold Fields. The greater part of their supplies is now drawn from this side of the ranges or from Nelson. The trade with Melbourne, as any one may see who will take the trouble to consult the shipping intelligence published in the locai newspapers, is rapidly falling off, ami the disposition of the people of Westland is daily becoming more favorablt to the Province of which they once

'owned a part. The consumption of Canterbury and Nelson produce steadily increases, and it is of the utmost importance uir farmers, dairymen, and rjr.izier3 th.it the emand should, if possible, be increased. Chat money can be profitably and judiciously :X|>ended in the construction of water races n the West Coast, and that population of uany districts might be thereby largely lUimmented, admits of little doubt. If tuere should be any doubt on the matter, if there should be any reason to suppose that the ■Veatland and Otago gold fields are almost o • il together worked out. the G>>verimie*>t night appoint a Commission to inquire nto the whole subject and report U|j<m it before the first session of the iew Parliament. As the matter now stands, the population of the Middle Island gold fields is dwindling away b> de,'reei. The diggers are not leaving because i new fluid has been discovered in so »c other oart of the world, or because there is no gold bo be found, but simply because large works, altogether beyond the reach of private enterurise, are required. Were these undertaken at once, or were the diggers assured that they would be commenced within r, reasonable ieriod, the emigration now going on would cease. Men with a small amount of capital, which they naturally wish to employ, would wait for the completion of the necessary works, and this accomplished, those who have gone to Australia or elsewhere would return, with others in their train, to become consumers of New Zealand produce and payers of New Zealand taxes. In confirmation of the remarks we inadfi in our last regarding the inactivity of the Government in Native affairs, we take the following from the Thames Advertiser :— " Tt is rather extraordinary that the Government have as yet done nothing in the way of either securing the murderers of Mr Todd, or of protecting the settlers in the Waikato. Let no man pooh-pooh the idea that they are in danger. Every man living in the districts of Kihikihi and Harapipi runs a great risk, and especially in the present circumstances, when the Hau-haus are assembled together, and are excited. We know that the Government have not force sufficient to euable them to deal with these Hau-haus as they ought to be dealt with, but surely some further security might be given. It is not quite consonant to our notions of dignity that Tawhiao should be appealed to to aid us in apprehending the criminals, who are well known, but apparently the Government do not think' themselves warranted even in taking this step. The only notice the Government have taken of the matter, is in sending Dr Pollen to "inquire" into the circumstance?, and what that may mean we have no idea. We have heard it suggested that the motive for the murder was that the natives, finding that every act of aggression on their part was met by an issue of flour and sugar, took this means of obtaining sapplies from the Government." it seems possible that Canada will "cut out " Taranaki in the matter of iron sand. An English periodical says : — " Dr Sterry Hunt, F.R.S., resident in Canada, reports that on the north shore of the St. Lawrence there are deposits of magnetic iron sands, so abundant that they may be regarded as practically inexhaustible. Similar deposits exist also between Quebec and Montreal, on the shores of Lake Erie, and at the mouth of Lake Huron. The iron produced from this sand is described as of excellent quality; and to maintain this excellence, Dr Larue of Quebec has invented a machine, in which, by a series of magnetic magnets, the magnetic iron sand is separated from all the siliceous and other non-metallic substances. The operation is simple, - thonghit throws off a ton of the iron every hour; and it is said that two men can attend to ten machines From all thi3, we learn that i Canada may now reckon , magnetic iron among her natural resources ; the more valuable, inasmuch aa it is free from phosphorus and sulnhur. Will it lival the iron sand of New Zsalan 1, from which the well-known Taranaki steel is produced ? The question is one which should be interesting to metallurgists." . At Christchurch on Wednesday night last, an alarm of fire was sounded at the White Hart bell. Ln a few moments the glare indicated that the tire was in Oxford Terrace, close to St. Michael's Church. It had broken out in a store mid dwelling-house occupied by Mr Hancock, situate between Dr Parkersou's resilience and Mr Kent's premises. Fortunately, the niyht was sHll, or one or both of the a 'joining buildings would have stood in immi cn t risk. Tue Hook and Ladder Company turned out with great alacrity, as well as the other members of the Fire Brigade, with their respective engines. The tire had. male too much hea Iway, however, by the time the Brigade arrived, and consequently their efforts were mainly directed to the protection of Mr Kent's building. The steam fire engine was brought iuto play on the burning debris of Mr Hancock's premises, which were complefcly destroyed in the course of 10 to 15 minutes after the fire was discovered. The building, we understand, was uninsured, and the contents as well. Very few articles were saved. The fire, it appears, broke out in the dwelline-house portion of the building. Mr Hancock thinks that it was caused by the servant girl neglecting to put out the candle after retiring to bed. Ho lost almdlt everything, and the landlord, Mr Twigger, is also a loser to the extent of the premises destroyed. The following is a description of the manner in which Dr Featherstone was received at Wellington, on his return from Engknd, from the Independent:— " As the steamer ranged up to the wharf, people began to show some symptoms of impatience for the initial note to raising a hearty cheer, some thinking the proper moment had not arrived, and others that it should be called for by some leading person. Colonel Gorton, however, settled the queStion by jumping on a wharfinger's box, and the whole wharf-f ul of people joined in three rousing cheers and one cheer more. The crowd, and a great many of the doctor's personal friends, were eager to congratulate him on his safe return, but no unseemly hurry to get on board took place, nor was any one discourteous enough to intrude himself till the doctor received the welcome of bis daughters. Old friends, old colonists, and foremost men of the city went up a,nd paid their respects in true British manner, and parsed on to make way for someone else anxious to congratulate Dr. Featherstone on his return. Amongst those present we noticed the principal members of the Colonial Government ; the hon. the Premier, the hon. the Defence Minister, the hon»' the Colonial Secretary, the hon. the Postmaster-General, the hon. the Minister of Jnstice.h is Honor Mr Justice, Johnston, the members of the Provincial Executive, and a host of all the leading citizens of the city, besides a large number of ladies. A hearty and spontaneous cheer was given as Dr. Featherstone and his daughters stepped on to the wharf, and another crowning and equally hearty cheer as they drove off home. Everyone seemed pleased that the Dr. had returned, and that he had received such a hearty reception."