FLAX AS FREIGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 54, 5 March 1870, Page 2

FLAX AS FREIGHT.

o We take the following extrßct from the report of the Melbourne Merchant Shipping and Underwriter's Association : —

Hazardous Character of New Zealand Flax as Cargo. — The attention of the committee having been called to this subject, they instituted inquiries amongst practical men, and the result was quite sufficient to establish the necessity for adoptiug extraordinary precautions against the liability of flax to spontaneous combustion on shipboard.

In consequence of the character of the information hitherto obtained, and pendiug further investigation of the subject, your committee have deemed it advisable to recommend extreme precautions in carrying this article as cargo. The surveyors of the association have been instructed to watch the arrival of all New Zealand flax coming into the port, aud to examine it carefully and report upon it immediately to the committee. When perfectly dry and properly packed it has been allowed^ to be shipped, but in all cases it has been stowed by itself in a part of the 'tween decks, where it would be readily accessible during the voyage. All green flax or bales which have been wetted have been put aside and the bales have been opened out, and in some cases the flax hung up in suitable sheds to dry, so that noue has been shipped in a condition to render it unsafe. While heartily approving of every precaution being taken to ensure the safety of ships in which flax is carried, we cannot but think that a deal of unnecessary alarm has been created with regard to the liability of flax to spontaneous combustion, as it has never yet been proved to be more likely to take fire than wool. It is the old story of giving a dog a bad name.

For some time past there have been several miners prospecting the country up Fox's river, and, from rumors lately received in Brighton, it would appear that they have not been working there for nought. One party recently came to town and disposed of their gold, stating that about St. Patrick's Day there might be an application made which would cause sleepy Brighton to wake up again. Little has yet been ascertained as to the exact locality whence the rumor emanated, but it is known to be beyond Dalesford Terrace. — Westport Times.

The intense heat that has lately prevailed in Victoria has not been without its effect in produciug fires both in the bush and the field. On one farm afield of 60 acres of growing corn has been destroyed by fire which, it is said originated in a spark caused by tho share of a ploujih which was at work in an adjoining stubble -field. The flames caught the long stubble and travelled with immense rapidity to the field of standing com, the whole of which was sacrificed.

Bishop Perry has laid the foundation stone of Trinity College-Melbourne, which will be situated on the University reserve.

Idle and indecent application? of sentences taken from the Scriptures is a mode of merriment which a good man dreads for its profanation, and a witty man disdains for its easiness and vulgarity.

The average time of the transmission of the mail between New York and Saa Francisco is seven days, two hours, 23 minutes ; but it has been frequently done in six days 16 hours.

Railroads. — In the United States a total of 45,255 miles of railroad have been completed in the last 40 years, and are dow in operation in that country, besides 15,000 additional miles which are now in progress of construction. In a short time this list will be swollen to 50,000, which, taking 40,000 dollars as the average cost per mile, would make the capital invested in railroads in this country at 2.000,000,000 dollars.

Brittish Columbia is, it appears, to be included in the Canadian Dominion, which will then stretch across the continent from ocean to ocean. The colonists are not disinclined to the change, but are anxious, according to Governor Seymour's despatches, for local self-government, sharp retrenchment, and some help, or at least sympathy, from the mother country, which, says Mr. Seymour, so entirely forgets the colony that British immigrants have ceased to go there. The colonists want a road, however, as a condition of union with the Dominion, being at this moment, writes the Governor, "as near to Japan as to Ottawa." The tone of bitterness and despondency created by the laissezfaire policy of the Colonial Office is apparent in every line of these despatches. — Spectator.

Marrying' in Haste. — Le Steele, speaking of the girl fairs in America, give, the origin of them as follows : — The first English settlers who established themselves at Jamestown, in America were all bachelors. The treasurer of the Immigration Company, Sandys, thought, with reason, that the best method of fixing the colonists, was to give them the benefits of a family life, and resolved to furnish wives for them. He accordingly expedited 90 young girls from England to Virginia each one furnished with a certificate of good character. On their arrival at Jamestown they were submitted to the public inspection of the would-be benedicts. The girls were not constrained to marry against their wish, but the whole of them entered into the bonds of matrimony within twenty-four hours, thus proving that the cause of success in all things may be found in hitting the right time for operation, each of tbe husbands had to pay the passage of the girl he had, chosen for his wife, and which was fixed at 1201 b. of tobacco. The treasurer entered upon a second speculation, and sent over a second batch of females, putting their passage down at the increased price of 1501 b. of tobacco, to be paid by the fortunate husband, reasoning that a few pounds of the weed, more or less, would be of no accouut wheu the heart had spoken. The bachelors of Jamestown paid the 1501 b. of tobacco as the price of their happiness with the greatest alacrity. Thus the first European families were establised, in Virginia between the years 1616 and 1618, and such was the origin of the girl fairs in Americn, which institution has been handed down to our own time as regards America, but with the difference that now-a-days there is uo dearth of tbe fair sex.

As a field for labor (says the Melbourne Argus\ Australia should be able to present herself to England and to Europe as a united homogeneous Slate. For the Briton who quits his native shore there should be but one new Britain in the Southern Ocean ; for the immigrant there should be but one uniform mode of reaching these shores ; for the intending settler there should be but one law ; for the merchant there should be but one customs law ; for all of us there should be but one nationality. The future destiny of Australia lies in the one word Federation.