English and foreign Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 800, 30 June 1870, Page 3

English and foreign Items.

THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN in LONDON,

[From the European Mail, 23nd April.] In connexion with emigration, extensive buildings have been prepared at Plymouth tor the reception of such emigrants as may be despatched from that port, under the auspices of her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners or the Agent-Greneral for Victoria,. The Corona was advertised to start for Melbourne on April 21. She carries out some 400 statute adults. I understand that Mr Verdon's advertisement for domestic servants in the Times and other papers has attracted numerous applications from that class, seldom less than seventy a day bjing received. On April 8, I took a trip to Grraveoend to inspect the Indus, which sailed on that date for Brisbane with a splendid selection of emigrants, as far as one could judge from appearances. Mr Sot hem (Lord Dundreary) paid a visit to her just before she started. She was formerly one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's line of steamer-, but was some time ago purchased by Messrs Mackay, Baiues, &, Co., and converted into a sailing ship. T uit firm deserve the greatest credit for the efficiency of the shipping arrangements in carrying out the scheme of Queensland emigration, and it would be a thousand pities if they were taken out of their hands. They have gained so much experience now in this particular class of business that it would be a difficult matter to replace their services. The Indus is a magnificent vessel, and her admirable fittings-up are specially adapted to enhance the comfort of the emigrants? who seemed on the occasion in question to be in high spirits and good humor with everybody and everything. The cheers that greeted the visitors on leaving the ship in the evening did one good to hear. Mr Douglas and Mr Wheeler were both on board, superintending the arrangement for the comioi't of the emigrants, up to the very last moment, and more consideration and careful supervision it would be impossible to desire. This is the first 'vessel sent out under the regime of the present Agent-General, who may be congratulated on having bis own efforts so well seconded by the ability and long experience of Mr Wheeler, • By-the-bye, I noticed a por-

I trait of Mr Douglas in a number of a jS ydney Illustrated paper that reached m» recently, which certainly is not a very flattering one. It makes him out to have a huge monstrosity of a nose to begin with, that ha? no existence in the original. If he should happen to see it, I should think it will excite his risible faculties. Thonext emigrant ship for Brisbane is the Young Australia, which sails on May 6. The report I referred to in my last letter about the Ramsay, in respect to her having been recused by the Queensland authorities, turns out to have no kind of foundation whatever. It appears that she was simply one of two vessels intended to sail to a northern port of the colony, and was withdrawn merely because the project of sending emigrants to that particular locality was postponed. Everyone who has setm the Ramsay speaks of her as a remarkably fine strong ship, and one of the healthiest vessels afloat. It is quite certain that had there been the least foundation for the rumor iu question, she would never have been sent out by Mr Ottywell, even though he might have had to break hi 3 contract, and incur loss by so doing, lie intends to despatch the Monarch with emigrants on May 26. Sir G-eorge Grey presided on April 4> over a debate on emigration at the Victoria D.scussion Society, in which Miss Faithfull and other ladies took part. Some of the fair speakers we:e so bold as to venture to express their ap» probation of the Malthusian doctrines as a remedy against the increasing evil of over-crowded population. Mr John Douglas was amongst the visitors. On April 7, a few young women, domestic servants, assisted by Mr Morley and other friends, left Bristol for London to proceed to Queensland. The Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation have decided to send out a commissioner to Canada immediately. Colonel Maude having become a member of tho Board, Mr C. Stuart Bailey, a gentleman of considerable experiments in colonization matters, has been appointed

secretary. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have forwarded a telegram to the Commodore on the Australian station, directing him to send a ship to the Auckland Islands, to search for some supposed castaways rumored to be there.

The European Mail says:—The importation into this country of JSTew Zealand Flax, (Phormium-beiiax) is a subject which ha 3 been frequently talked about, and some enthusiasts have even ventured to assert that the plant might be cultivated with advantage, if not in England, certainly in Ireland. ~No one who has seen the fibre cleaned, or who has tried its strength, can deny that its appearance and quality are sufficient to recommend it, indeed even to cause it to become a desired article of commerce, either by cultivation or import. Some few at home have been urging its introduction in the soil that grows the wellknown commercial flax (Linwm usitatissimum) An engineor in a mill in Indiana doesn't wear long whiskers any more. They caught in a shaft revolving 600 times a ninute the other day, and the result was a clean shave for his face, and a close shave for his life.