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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 160, 11 July 1867, Page 3

A General Government Gazette, published on Friday last, states that Dr Hector has been appointed Director of Meteorological Stations in New Zealand. We understand that, in addition to the names already mentioned as candidate for seats at the Board of Works, who will present themselves for election on the 29th inst, Mr. Barlow will probably be brought forward. Amongst the passengers by the Airedale, which left our port yesterday, were Major-General Sir Trevor Chute, K.C.8., and Major Baker, the Adjutant-General, en route for Auckland. Under the heading "Patent Slip for Wangaaui," the Times of Thursday last says: —We trust this announcement doesn't alarm our readers, much less horrify them with hideous ideas of lawsuits and exorbitant demands for compensation. There is nothing of the kind looming in the distance. Our Wanganui Slip is to consist of two ways —a cradle and a windlass : a very inexpensive affair, yet capable of hauling up small craft for repairs or a thorough overhaul. If constructed, it will be by private enterprise, and no doubt will confer a great benefit upon such shipping as trade to this port. We have already one of the best ironfoundries at any port of the kind in New Zealand. Messrs Ross and Milne can effect repairs as well as any firm in Wellington; and all we want is a slip to enable commanders of either steamers or sailing vessels to have a thorough repair of machinery, &c, in this port. The number of vessels that have been hauled up on the beach for repairs has been very considerable, and others have been obliged to leave in an unseaworthy state for repairs at other ports. We hope ere long to be able to report progress as regards the Wanganui Slip. The New Zealand Advertiser of the Bth inst., has the following items of Sydney news, received by the Ruahine: —Great distress has resulted from the late fearful floods in New South' Wales, and public meetings have been called in several places to establish a relief fund. The disasters caused by these floods are something dreadful, whole families having been lost. At Burrendong on the Mudgee, out of a family of twelve, nine were drowned. The Government is actively distributing relief to the most destitute, and the list of sufferers is appalling. At Richmond a mother and ten children were drowned, and at the Bulli four lives were lost. The bushrangers Thomas and John Clarke, were hanged on the 24th ult.

The two Maoris apprehended at Wanganui for murdering Mr. Hewitt were liberated without trial, partly because of the impossibility of getting reliable evidence. A Government Gazette published on the sth inst., gives the following returns of the firing for the District and Colonial prizes. The highest score in the district prize firing wa3 made by Corporal Christie of Otago, who scored 54. The provincial averages stand as follows: — Auckland: town, 20.86; country, 11.09; Waikato : Ist district, 19.04 ; 2nd do, 21.36 ; 3rd do, 21.90; Opotiki, 17.54; Hawke's Bay: Military Settlers, 14.94 ; Militia and Volunteers, Ist and 2nd districts, 14.13 ', Wellington : Castle Point, 11.80 ; Wairarapa, 26.16 ; Hutt, 33.09 ; Porirua, 26.81 ; Wanganui and Rangitikei, 22.53 ; Taranaki: Patea, 14.01 ; Military Settlers and Volunteers, 28,59 ; White Cliffs, 11.52 ; Marlborough : Ist and 2nd districts, 32.54 ; Nelson : Ist district, 31.74 ; 2nd do, 28.32 ; Canterbury : Ist, 2nd, and 3rd districts, 27.01 ; Otago : Ist, 2nd, and 3rd districts, 37.44 ; Southland, 24.88. Nelson thus stands fourth on the list this year. The following remarks are introductory to a series of memoranda on disinfection, received by the Colonial Secretary, in a circular despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated January 26, 1867. The memoranda are written by Dr. Simon, chief of the medical department of the Privy Council: — It is to cleanliness, ventilation and drainage, and the use of perfectly pure drinking water, that populations ought mainly to look for safety against nuisance and infection. Artificial disinfectants cannot properly supply the place of these essentials; for except in a small and peculiar class of cases, they are of temporary or imperfect usefulness. That no house refuse — not only no excremental matter, but also no other kind of dirt or refuse — should, remain on or about inhabited premises, is a first ,rule against infection. That the air within the house should never in any part of the house be stagnant, but should always be in course of renewal from without by uninterrupted and abundant supplies of fresh air is the condition of equal importance. And that all water meant to be used for drinking or cooking should be drawn from sources which cannot have been polluted by any kind of refuse matter, is a third most important rule for the avoidance of infectiou. If dwelling-places have within them any odour of drainage, particular examination should be made (1) whether the filth which house-drains are meant to carry away is retained in or near the premises in ill-made drains, or sewers, or cesspools, or perhaps is leaking from house-drains within the house and (2) whether, inside the house, the inlets of drains and sinks aro properly trapped; and (3) whether the drains and sewers are sufficiently ventilated outside the house. All water-closets within houses should have free openings for ventilation from and into the outer air. Of a cesspool, the the only true disinfection is to abolish it. In country places, where proper drainage is not provided, the nuisance of open privies may be best avoided by the use of the so-called earth closets. The home papers tell the following strange tale, which came before the Central Court, London, which has excited much interest in commercial, legal, and general circles. Mr* Wilkinson, the late manager of the Joint Stock Discount Company was sentenced to five years penal servitude for paying a private debt with the funds of his company and representing the transaction in their books as a loan to their creditors. Mr Wilkinson's salary was £3000 a year; he received £25,000 down for the goodwill of his business, and his wife had a handsome fortune; but there are no noblemen o

£100,000 a year who ventured to do the princely things this "city agent" was ia the daily habit of indulging his tastes in. Latterly he had two houses— one in a northern suburb, where he kept thirty servants, and another at Brighton ; and •when he gave a party at his marine residence, there was usually a special train in waiting to carry his London guests to and fro. For his own convenience too, when detained in town by business or pleasure beyond the usual "express", he would think nothing of engaging a "special" all to himself rather than wait for the late train. At his dancing-parties there was usually laid out in one of the ante-rooms an unlimited supply of gloves, mouchoirs, fans, bouquets, perfumery, &c, to which his lady visitors were invited to help themselves as their needs required ; and at his suppers a favorite delicacy was a York ham boiled in champagne ! Mr. Tennyson, the Poet Laureate, in a recent letter on the study of natural history, says — "I heartily agree with you in the desirablenesss of encouraging the study of natural history, especially among children, whose eye can be so easily educated to observe, and whose restless natures must have some occupation — and that too likely harmful if not good — at an age when nothing can be really indifferent if indeed, at any age anything can be really indifferent. The dullest country- can scarcely be dull, if, as child or man, the human being can look with seeing eyes on the things around him ; the most difficult outward circumstances can hardly be without remedy if he be aware of a small portion of the mystery and might of the nature that surrounds him. He ought to learn this practically."