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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1950, 5 November 1874, Page 2

A number of cases had to be adjourned at the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, owing to the absence of the Magistrate on district duty, and the impossibility of obtaining the services of two Justices of the Peace. la return for the honor of writing J.P. after their names, the gentlemen in question might at least consider it a duty to hold themselves in readiness to occupy the Bench when occasion requires. The Calcutta Sweep on the Melbourne Cup, which will be drawn to-morrow, is fast filling vp — there having been over 100 tickets already sold. After to-night the list will be closed, so that those who intend investing should not lose the last opportunity afforded them. As some doubt seems to exist as to the conditions under which the prize for the best cottage garden will be awarded at the forthcoming Horticultural Exhibition, we have been requested to state that the judges are Messrs F. Hamilton, W. H. Revell, and Mr Cox. The gardens are to be judged under five heads : — Cleanliness, neatness, fruit, vegetables, and flowers, for each of which a maxumin of ten points will be observed. The time of judging will be the day before the Exhibition. We may add that Messrs Barker, Cox, and Broadbent are appointed judges for the Exhibition. The "West Coast Times" says that the award between the Government and Mr Hungerford, for the purchase of Hungerford's Bridge, at the Arahura, is expected to be given in on Saturday next. Mr O'Conor, District Engineer, who is to succeed Mr Giesow, is expected to reach West'and from Christchurch this week. After handing over the various works, which will probably occupy a couple of weeks, Mr Giesow will leave for bis new charge in the North Island. We yesterday had the pleasure of viewing one of the most appropriate and handsome

gift books that could possibly grace the table of any one who desired to cherish remembrances of New Zealaud. it was a folio collection of New Zealand ferns, numbering above a hundred specimens, most beautifully mounted and carefully classified by Mr C. A. C. Hardy of this town, to the order of J. A. Bonar, Esq., and intended for presentation to Lady Pergusson. Mr Hardy's collections of ferns have enjoyed a wide celebrity, but this last botanical effort of his is equal to anything of the kind we ever saw. Most of the specimens have been only recently gathered, although perfectly matured and dried, but Mr Hardy has also added some examples which have been in his possession for the last ten years, all of which have, preserved their color and character intact. The collection is contained in a very handsome volume bound in red morrocco leather, and is altogether a gift of which Lady Pergusson may well be proud. The contract for No. 6 section of the Waimea Water-race was settled by the Government on Tuesday, and the tender of Mr William Smith, of Kanieri, for the whole of the work, has been accepted st L 19.462 13s. This includes the laying of the pipes for the whole distance of the race, two miles fifty-seven chains in length, also the construction of earthwork, tunnels, culverts, fluming, piping, and the other works specified, together with the furnishing of labor, plant, and materials, the materials being these supplied by the Government. The contractor is bound to complete the work within twelve months from to-day, and to maintain the same for three months thereafter, to the satisfaction of the District Engineer. There are 1098 cast iron pipes weighing about 2300 tons to be used. The "Inangahua Herald," of Tuesday, :ays : — "We regret to have to state that a breakdown of the A jax battery has necessitated a temporary stoppage to the crushing of the Gulden Pleece stone. It was caused by a number of the tee bh of the pinion-wheel being torn out, but it is expected that operations will be resumed on Monday, as a wheel has been ordered from Messrs Rae and Sewell, of Greymouth. It appears that 680 tons of the 1000 tons of stone intended tojbe crushed before cleaning up have been put through. It is intended to rough -clean the plates to-day, but the general cleaning-up will not take placo for a fortnight, when the crushing of 1000 tons will have been completed." An American paper says that Mr Sothern, after fulfilling engagements at Liverpool, Dublin, and Birmingham, was, on the sth of October, to be^in an engagement of eight months at the London Haymarket. Afterwards he purposes to make an extensive tour of the English provinces, to journey to Australia by the overland route, to spend four months on that continent, to return to England and play a farewall engagement at the London Haymarket, and finally to go back to America for a home. " The manner in which Sir Henry Thompson's famous proposal has been taken up in all civilised countries, leaves little room to doubt," observes the "Lancet," "that cremation, as a means of disposing of the dead, will soon supersede inhumation. The German Cremation Society in New York, numbering about 450 members, have decided on erecting a suitable hall, with walls of iron, 60ft by 44ft, containing b. rotunda supported by eight pillars. In the centre there will be erected an altar for religious ceremony, and upon a large stand in front of this will be placed the coffin. The ceremonies ended, the coffin would be gradually lowered by means of screws into a furnace, where it would be submitted to a hot-air blast of lOOOdeg Fahrenheit, [t is calculated that complete cremation would take place in an hour and a half, after which the coffin would be again returned to the altar. The ashes would then be gathered and placed in urns provided by the relatives of the deceased. Connected with the furnace there will be an apparatus for condensing the gases and smoke." Dr Hartwig, who has made numerous experiments to determine the point, states that the two first months of spring are the best in which to cut timber for building purposes, as it then contains its lowest per cent, of moisture, which he states to be 47 per cent. During the three previous months it has 57 per cent., and the three following ones 4S. He further states that properly seasoned timber should not contain more than from 20 to 25 per cent, of moisture, and never less than 10 per cent. If the moisture is removed to a still greater extent the wood loses strength and becomes brittle. Another authority states that if trees are felled as soon as they are in full leaf, and allowed to remain undisturbed until the leaves dry up and' fall off, the timber will be found well seasoned, the leaves having exhausted all the moisture. In connection with the breakdown of the Australasian and American Steamship Company, we find the following in the "London and China Telegraph " of August 13 :— "The acceptances of Paul S. Forbes (who has been of late years in London and Paris) for 1.40,000 have been protested, and judgment given on them. Mr Forbes was, up to June last, a partner of Messrs Russell and Co, of China, but these acceptances were given by Mr Forbes in his own . name, on behalf of a steam line from San Francisco to Australia, in which he took a prominent part. Of course ths company has gone to smash, and the unfortunate passengers who paid their passage-money have been victimised. It is to be regretted that a merchant of Mr Forbes's position and standing should be mixed up with so miserable a business. It is auofcher instance of the danger of allowing a partner to remain in a firm who does not confine his operations to business conneoted with the firm. To have a partner or partners roving about Europe, entering into all kinds of speculation, is an element of danger which firms like Messrs Russell and Co. should not incur. Oa the first rumor of the affair in London it was stated that the disaster would affect his firm, but inquiries at Messrs Baring Brothers dispelled any fears on this head, and we are glad to find that Messrs Russell and Co. will not be in any way affected by it. Mr Forbes is at present believed to be in America, but we understand his address is not known, and that he has other large liabilities, both here and there." Captain Charles Lacon Harvey, of the 71st Highlanders, deputy assistant t quarter-master-general of the south of Ireland, was disembarking troops from Her Majesty's ship Tamar, at Queens- , town, when the wife of a drummer in the 4th Regiment, with her baby, and some bandboxea which she was carrying, fell from the gangway of the steamer into the i river. Though the night was dark he jumped into the water, and rescued first the baby, and afterwards the woman.