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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 893, 15 December 1870, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross has been in" formed that, from returns sent to the Superintendent's office, it has teen found that there is an excess of 40 lunatics sent to the Asylum this year, as compared with the previous year's returns. It is thought by those who ought to know something about the matter that the scrip mania, and Thames gold-field excitement generally, have had a good deal to do with the terrible increase. As an instance of the excitement caused in Melbourne on the arrival of the last English Mail via Suez, it is stated that at the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church the Argus " extraordinary *' was brought into the hall, and the Assembly suspended its sitting for nearly a quarter of an hour, while the Moderator read out the greater part of the news for the information of all present. In the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, on November 11, a lengthy debate took place on the Sale of Liquors Bill. Amongst other provisions it contains a measure that there shall not be more than one licensed house to every SO inhabitants, and that persons applying for a licinc3 shall present a certificate from the Mayor and Municipal Council setting forth that there is no objection to granting the iicence. Mr Stephen said that in Sydney, at the present time, there was a public-house to about every 30 electors. A writer in the Hobart Town Mercury offers the following valuable suggestions on the growing of root crops:—-r" My former suggestion was to plough the hay land as soon as possible after the crop was ojff, work it well, and destroy several crops of weeds as from time to time the seed vegetated. Sow the root seeds, and horse-hoe and harrow well to save hand labour, leaving the plants very thin, thereby giving the land a partial fallow, and at the same time producing roots enough to pay the expenses of cleaning, and have wherewith to improve the land by feeding stock in the yards and folding in the field. Now for my proof of the correctness of my statement: for four years previous to 1869 my average of wheat on this farm (owing to the too general plan adopted with our lands) was under ten bushels to the acre; 1869 average 16 bushels, and 1870 average 26 bushels, whilst many others, still pursuing the old plan, on equally good or better land, have not averaged five bushels." The Southern Cross, Dec. 6., says : At the time the unfortunate loss of the Tauranga occurred through the negligence of.the master of a coastwise trader in not carrying the regulation lights, it was thought that owners and skippers of the mosquito fleet had received such a shock by the sudden drowning of a number of their seafaring mates as would have induced them to attend to the proper equipment of their vessels in that respect-r-the more so, as the expense would have been small, and the additional trouble to their crews perfectly incommensurate with the advantage of increased safety to be gained. But no 1 like Auckland—although the " steed has been stolen " the door has not yet been effectively " steeked." We are credibly informed by a passenger who arrived here soon after midnight of the night before last by the Dawn, from Matakana, that, almost at the entrance of this port, they met, one after another, three small coasters carrying no lights whatever. Each one of them, on being hailed, and asked to show a light, returned no answer, but went on its way rijoicing that the law had been again evaded, and that by good luck another collision had not occurred. Surely, as our irate passenger observed, it is high time that some Marine Board, or other means of compelling a regard for human life, should be adopted. The fact that this, one of the fiuest seaports in the Australasias, should be almost the only one where ineasures of the kind are not adopted, js a crying shame, and needs immediate reform. Anything in the shape of a Marine Board here would be heartily welcomed by passengers in our coasting craft; and the remedy for the danger pointed out in the above respect is so simple and inexpensive, that, surely in default of other executive authorities, even the Water Police might be empowered by action in the present session of the Provincial Council to compel adherence to the Trinity Board Kules. It is gratifying (says the Southern Cross) to find that, after a Jong battle with prejudice and selfish rivalry, our coal is forcing itself into favor by ifs own intrinsic merits. Step by step the Bay

of Islands Coal Company have overcome every obstacle. Through a period of depression they still persevered in their strong faith in the qualities of the coal, and we are sure that no one grudges them the reward of their enterprise and public spirit. The impetus that was for some time given to steam trafiic by the demands created on the discovery of the Thames goldfield did much towards the development of the mine, and the patient and impartial experiments of local engineers ultimately established its reputation. It may be interesting to our readers to learn how extensively the coal is used in Auck.land. We have seen bond fide return? comprising the names of all firms and business people who consume the Kavvakawa coal, and we fiud that no less than 18 steamers trading out of Auckland use this coal exclusively. They comprise Australian, interprovincial, and local vessels. The Kawakawa coal is also ;used by all the brewers, brick and tile-manu-facturers, by five steam flour-mills, by three foundries—comprising bone-mills, coachmakers, rope manufacturers, flax and saw-mills; by glass manufacturers, and at the offices of the principal newspapers of Auckland. This is an extensive list, and will give one a good idea of the extent to which the coal is used, independently of th.e quantity consumed for household purposes. As the most recent gratifying proof of the favor with which this coal has been received, we may menr tion that the s.s. Auckland, which left here for Sydney on December 1, proceeded via Bay of Islands, where she will load 200 tons of coal. The James Paterson, took about 150 tons, and the A S.N". Co. have arranged that, in future, the steamers shall call at the Bay of Islands to coal each tr£p. We extract the following paragraph from the Wanganui Evening Herald of last Saturday :-r-About one o'clock this morning,' Mr H. B. Roberts, solicitor, was awoke by sounds which can be best described in his own words—" Smash \ Smash '1 Smash! " and jumping out of bed, and rushing to the front door, was still more surprised at coming into contact with a horse's head and receiving about his ears a shower of broken glass. The rider suddenly turned his l?orse arid rode off, ]\£r Roberts giving hot "hase in his night shirt. The rain was pouring down, like the glass a few minutes before, in torrents, and the shirt, becoming saturated with wet, adhered to Mr Roberts' legs and somewhat impeded his running. His position might at this moment be compared to the witch with the " cutty sark " giving chase to Burns (!) and his mare Maggie. After having reached Wybourne's between a quarter and half a-mile from home, the aged but gallant pedestrian, who seemed to rival some of the ancient Greeks at the Olympic games, suddenly came up with his nocturnal visitor. With great presence of mind Mr Roberts, extending his arm as if holding a rifle, cried ■'* B if you go one yard farther I'll stretch you a dead man I—and suddenly B —— bailed up. Unfortunately at this pass the presence of mind became absent, aod upon Mr Roberts dropping his hands, B ■ noticed that he carried no arms, and galloped off again, leaving " Cutty Sark " to make the best of bis position. Mr Roberts turned in to a neighbor's house, where Frank the Fiji boy was residing, and after relating his exploits to Frank, was coming out of the door when he saw a man and horse on the road. Thinking his old adversary was still hovering round him, he rushed at the man on horseback, caught him by the legs and pulled him to the ground, the man shouting furiously for an explanation. Mr Roberts accused him of housebreaking; but the imputation was instantly repelled, and the information volunteered, that it was B , who had ridden on before. Mr Roberts then returned to his house. Such is the account of a most extraordinary escapade, as narrated by Mr Roberts in our office this morning. The only explanation of the affair was that Mr Roberts had lent B —— some money without interest, and this was thought sufficient to make B s his enemy. The gentle swain who conjured up for the admiration of his " Philis dear" that pretty pastoral picture of the little farm by yon blue mountain side, and then, descending, like a wise man, from the poetical to the practical, Informed his future wife that it would be expected of her to mind the dairy while he drove the plough, was, we hope, in after lifg

thoroughly successful with his plans, and tfound Ms Phillis a greater adept at cheese and butter making than, judging from some of their products, some of our Now Zealand dairywomen seem to be. Who amongst our readers has not experienced fthe horrors of bad butter and ill made .cheese, and who that knows the country and the miserable appliances which many of the small farmers have for carrying on •the dairy business, could expect to see anything other than bad produce as the sresulc of it ? A close dirty, two-roomed sod whare is not the must convenient place in the ;world far stowing away pans full of milk, nor is the flavor of cheese likely to be'improved by being kept on a shelf in the bedroom. Cream kept-for a iweek before it is churned is very apt to .make jbad butter, and all these phases of ftreatmeut are carried on upon many small ;farms, and help to give Canterbury produce a bad name in other markets. And hence the low price of all kinds of dairy 'produce in our local markets at this time —a price so incommensurate with the trouble which its manufacture entails, that many of those who are in a position -to relinquish it do so, and take to gracing and corn-growing instead. But however -perfect the appliances, or skilful the manufacturer, there is always a large ,amount of dirty, slavish work about a dairy which makes it an objectionable thing to have about the house. The cows must be milked wet or dry, holiday or Sunday ; the butter must be churned, the .cheese pressed,; there can be no putting off until to-morrow, and so it is a tie to home, and often a serious inconvenience and nuisance. The American farmers have idved this difficulty by establishing .cheese factories, and it would be well worthy the consideration of those interested in dairy farming in Canterbury whether it would not be a move in the .right direction to follow their example. The idea has been mooted in Victoria, and we understand that several districts ,are actively engaged in making the necessary arrangements for commencing operations during summer.-r-Lyttelton Times. We (Canterbury Press) learn that Messrs. Belcher and Fairweather, ; of Kaiopoi, have secured another steamer — the s.s. Moa-r-to replace the loss of the Stuit, p.s., at this port. The price said jt-o have been paid is ,£2,600. The Wellington Daily Advertiser of yesterday says;—We understand that Dureen, the only prisoner at large who lately escaped from Napier, was discovered by a resident in the Manawatu .district, on Sunday last, crossing the river on his read to Wanganui. Information was given to the local police, who were immediately on the track, and we hope in a few hours to be able to record his rearrest. After the Ist January next the sovereigns and half-sovereigns coined at the Sydney .mint will be exactly the same in appearance as those issued at the Royal Mint in England, the home Government having granted the use of the Imperial die for that purpose. American whalers continue to make a harvest in New Zealand waters. Two lately arrived at Hobart Town, having obtained between them 675 barrels of sperm, and 300 barrels of black oil, besides about 1,500 lbs of whalebone, off the New Zealand coast. The action of the Victorian Government in stading a special agent to Galle ;t> learn the probability of Great Britain being drawn into the European war, has impressed the Imperial Government most •favorably with the activity and ■displayed by Victoria in the matter. W« mentioned on Friday on the authority of the Wanganui Chronicle that Golonel Al'Dounell had left his home in order to earn his bread .as a surveyor's -laborer. We hope for the credit of the Colony that this is not true, but, if so, it is a lively sample of the gratitude of Mr Fox and his .colleagues.* While billets are being manufactured by the seore for favourites —men who have no claims on ; the gratitude of the country nor are able to adduce a single reason why they should be appointed Ministers of Justice, Chief Registrars, &c, &c, an officer who has for years past served the Colony in the Held, and to whom the Ministry stand deeply indebted, is compelled to support hiuase'lf by manual labor. Put not your faith in Fox and £o.— Evening Post. December 12. The line ship Haleione is rapidly com dieting her loading, and in a few days ssl sail for Loudon. Amongst other

passengers she takes Mr Walter Turnbull and several members of his family, who are about to pay a visit of a year's duration to the old country. Jt would be superfluous in us to mention the high esteem in which Mr Turnbull is deservedly held % all who- have had the pleasure of making his acqaintance during his residence amongst us ; but we heartily join with his numerous friends in wishing him a prosperous voyage and a safe and happy return.—Evening Post, Dec. 13. The editor of the Wellington Advertiser thus facetiously speaks of a late theft: —'• Tempus fugit" was what Mr Selig, in the anguish of his heart, exclaimed on Sunday -evening, -when he found some one had stolen his clock. The thief was evi den fly a person well acquainted with Mr Selig's manners and customs, and with the fact that* the shop door was always left unlocked on Sundays for the convenience of visitors. The clock to which so ' violent' a fancy has been taken had been hanging up on the one nail in the shop for three years, and possibly the acquisitive gentlemen -thought it had hung there long enough. A new monthly magazine is about to be published in Wangauui, to be called " The Watchtower." The objects for which this periodical has been brought forward are stated >to be " the disseoiin* ation and defence of Bible truth, the exposure of infidelity, the suppression of intemperance, the advocacy of social progress, and the circulation of general ecclesiastical intelligence." We wish it success. Government have sent South for the volunteers in Christchurch a 12 pounder Armstrong gun, and for those in Duuedin 4 cohorn mortars. We learn from our Southern files that it is expected that after the departure of H.R..H. the Duke of Edinburgh for England in January next, his Excellency the Governor intends paying a visit to Otago. His Exeeell i ncy wiii probably reach Duuedin about the end of January or beginning of February. Lady Bowen also, we understand, intends visiting Dunedin in the summer of next year, when she will make a somewhat lengthened stay.