Correspondence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1634, 4 December 1874, Page 450

Correspondence.

B3T We Invite temperate discussion in this column on ail matters of public interest; but do not identify ourselves with the opinions of Correspondents. The Early Press of the Colony. TO THE EDITOR OF-THE HAWKE's BAY TIMES. Sir, —As an old settler, I have read with great interest in your paper of to-day the speech ot Judge Chapman at the meeting of the Press Club in Otago, but I am surprised at some of the blunders he has made in that Rpeech—[ thought his memory would have served him better. Will you allow me to correct one.

The first New Zealand newspaper—- " The New Zealand Gazette" did not become the " Wellington Independent;" but Mr Revans, the proprietor, sold the plant to Mr Robert Stokes, who then started " The New Zealand Spectator." Many of us old settlers were of opinion that Mr Revans had treated his staff very shabbily, and this feeling was so strong that funds were subscribed by way of loan to set the late Gazette staff agoing on their own account. Thay were four iu number, MrThouias M'Kenzie, Mr Muir, Mr Fellingham, and Mr Vincent (brother to the Charl ist lecturer.) Vincent went to Sydney on behalf of the firm,and bought the plant of "The Wellington Independent." He afterwards left the Colony. Muir and Fellingham are dead. Mr M'Kenzie lately sold the concern to " The N«w Zealand Times" Company, retaining an interest, and is still on its staff. To " new chums " these things may be of no interest, but they are matters of history; aud I think such mistakes as those made iu the speech I have referred to ought 10 bs corrected whilst some are left who know the circumstances. Another mistake I notice, which may have been made by the printer, and not by the Judge. It was on the 22ud January, 1840, not 24th June, that the first batch of settlers arrived at Wellington. The 22nd January is still kept as a holiday iu coinmewicration of their landing.—l am, &c, John Harding. Mount Vernon, Ist December, 1874. A project is on foot in Christchurch for floating a company, with a capital of £IO,OOO, to erect a new theatre. Mr Allen, of the Opera Company, is taking an active part iu the matter. Notwithstanding a fresh case of scarlet fever to a child at the Quarantine Station, Auckland, the single men and women per llydaspea were to be brought to town on Saturday. There are several cases of scarlet fever in the city. At Aldershot, a private of the 20th Hussais, named Thomas Smith, deliberately shot his officer, Captain J. D. Bird, who died almost immediately. Smith had been awarded seven days' punishment drill, and the murder was committed while the troop to which Smith belonged was at bail practice at the rifle range, Cassar's Camp. The Architect understands that the painting on which Miss Thomson is at present engaged has for its subject a scene from Waterloo, and represents one of the desperate charges of a party of French cavalry against an English infantry regiment formed in a hollow square. Tin subject is far more difficult than the " Roll Call," aud will fully test the artist's power.

Tne Melbourne Age records the following freak of fortuue to one of the suburban agents of that journal named Perceval (well known in Nelson), who has received the welcome news that a sum of £IO,OOO has fallen to him, and that it is probable he will be before long the Earl of Egtnont. Fo:. several years Perceval was in New Zealand, where his career was not very successful, and recently he went over to Victoria and established a news agency iu North Collingwood. The American correspondent of the New Zealand Herald says :—The Presbyterian Assembly is engaged trying one of their number on account of an absolute divergence from the doctrinal dogmas of his Church. Both the Methodist aud Presbyterian pastors refuse to believe that any unfortunate black sheep will be subjected to the punishment of material fire, or any tire at all, save that of a guilty conscience. They also decline to accept the doctrine of a future judgment, believing that the judgment now is, aud not to come. Iu fact, they are unorthodox altogether, and are, alas, representatives of the religious views of two-third 3 of America.

The lace-makers of Devonshire are at the present time in a state of great distress owing to a caprice of fashon, which has for a time at least, put a stop to their trade. Siuco the introduction of the ruff the demand for lace has been much reduced, and the puor lace-workers are quite in despair at this stagnation. By calling attention to the fact it is hoped that a fresh impetus may be given to the sale of Honitou lace. Her Majesty with her well-known kindness has shown her usual sympathy for the poor by sending an order to Houiton for 14 yards of very fine delicate lace. This commission from the Queen lias spread a joy through! the whole lace-making district; the rumour is carried from village to village, and numerous willing hands have set to work to execute tlds most opportune and welcome commission.

The latent "Yankee notion" is thus described by the Californian correspondent of the New Zealand Herald :—Paper Hour-barrels ia the most recent invention) and bids fair to be a great industry in San Francisco. The paper is prepared from wheat straw, and the barrels are made both in the ordinary way and by pulping ; the latter process will probably be preferred. For lightness, compactness, and durability, they will excel the ordinary flour barrel. Sugarmakers here declare the straw barrel will answer their purposes much better than the wooden one now in use. Would not your New Zealand flax make a coarse paper suited to such articles of industry ? The pulp of the flax (probably such portions of it as are unfit for cordage) would make a white paper suitable for the press. This is the opinion of papennakers here. You have a mine of wealth in the phormium tenax of greater value than tho Thames. Why don't you start a paper-mill ? A company has just been formed here to manufacture what is termed " Seamless paper packages," from straw paper, including barrels, kegs, tubs, buckets, caddies, &c.