The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 158, 6 July 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1871.

German Patriotic Fund. — It will he seen by advertisement that a meeting of the subscribers to this fund is to be held at the Fleece Hotei, to-morrow evening, at 7 o'clock. Collingwood. — The Lady Barkly arrived from Coljiugwood this morning but brings no news of special importance. The crushing at the Perseverance battery is still being proceeded with, and the machinery is working most satisfactorily. Steamer Murray. — Au accident occurred to the Murray at Westport on Sunday last, when, on goiug to assist, the Wallabi which had strauded on the previous Thursday, she giounded, and wns driven ashore on the north spit. After being lightened by discharging a portion of her coals, she was got off at the next tide without having sustained any injury. A little later the Wallabi also was floated. A.n address signed by many of the most influential members of the community was presented to Capt. Palmer, of the Murray, in acknowledgment of his readiness to assist, the Wallabi in her dangerous predicament. The Trout. — A splendid fish, measuring 2ft. 2in. in length, aud of girth in proportion, was this morning discovered in a hole just below Campbell's Mill, where the waste water runs into the Eel Pond. A large number of persons paid their respects to the illustrious stranger immediately on its becoming known that it was on view iv this secluded spot, and eventually it was caught and conveyed lo the Maitai river, Where, after a few minutes' reflection upon the unusual treatment to which it had been subjected in its overland journey, it swam merrily away, and will no doubt, be looked up to with I considerable respect for the future by its speckled brethren as a traveller of some little experience. A few of the fish that were bred iv the hatching ponds were turned into the Eel Pond some two years ago, and there is every reason to believe that this particular one had retired into the privacy of the mill stream to carry out certain arrangements of a domestic nature, which, however, will be more successfully completed in the river, where the young fry will be able to take their exercise more freely. The Wellington papers coutain an advertisement giving notice that an application will be made at the next session of the Geperal Assembly for leave to bring in.ja-liill to make provision for the construction and maintenance of Waterworks for the City of Wellington. The s.s. Auckland. — There has been a lengthened inquiry into the loss of the s.s. Auckland. Captaiu Walker attributed the loss of the ship to a heavy in-setting current after the easterly gale. The general evidence supported that view of the case. Tbe Navigation Board censured, primarily, the company,- and, secondly, Captain Walker. Hon. Julius Yogel and the Caledonian Claim. — A gentleman, at Auckland writes to^^as follows: — I have seea in anmain^mmtlnn papers in Wellington, a statgnent that the Hon. Julius Yogel hajj^TOiTeited his interest in the Caledonian •Claim for non-payment of calls. I have seen the books of the Company, and have seen the receips for Mr. Vogel's dividends on fourteen shares, £1680 to this date, and more to follow. . If he sells out now he can clear £3,500 or more on his interests. — Star. The Late Prize Firing. — The Gazette of Friday last gives full and detailed information with regard to the firing for the General Government prizes iv 1871. It appears that 15 money prizes amounting in all to £101 15s fell to the lot of the 25 competitors from the North Island, and that the 21 competitors from the Middle Island carried off 34 prizes of a total value of £413 ss. This was divided among the Southern Provinces as follows: — Nelson, £3 ss; Marlborough, £59, and silver medal; Canterbury, £4; Otago, £281 10s, Champion belt, gold medal, and two silver medals; Southland, £55 10s; Westland, £10. The administration of justice at the Maori Magistrate's Court, Moeraki, Otago, appears to " be conducted ! upon principles somewhat peculiar— the only punishment . for offences of whatever description, being fine and forfeiture. The other day a; European settler » canted Haberfleld had his pig stolen by a native. He afterwards found' the "Mftd-tyua'Heri* o( the animal concealed beneath the roots of

a tree near a creek, and having possessed himself of them, took proceedings against the thief in the Native Court. The award of the Court was that the«defendant should forfeit to tbe use of plaintiff in perpetuity his mare and foal, and also pay into Court the coats of the suit, amounting to £11. Our correspondent thinks that should the Maori a-jain give way f- the weakness of pig-stealing after such a lesooo, the only conclusion that can be arrived at is — that he must be v^ry fond of pork. The Convict Muirhead. — Thomas Pollock Muirhead, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of his comrade, George Gilfillan, both memoirs of ihe Armed Constabulary, is the same person who discharged a revolver one Sunday about two years ago, opposite the Rutland Hotel, during the morning service in church, thereby creating some confusion and uneasiness. It was supposed then that Muirhead was suffering from delirium tremens. "The Moses Taylor." — We learn from a private letter that the news of the fatal ocurrence on board the Moses Taylor created so much excitement at Honolulu, that, some of the passengers by the Nevada on their way to San Francisco, refused to proceed in the Moses Taylor to San Francisco unless the captain would have a survey held upon her boilers by a disinterested board of competent engineers. A protest was; being signed by the passengers headed by" Dr. Featherston, against proceeding in the Moses Taylor, unless the survey was held. — Southern Cross. The Wellington Post of Tuesday evening last says: — The Kaimanawa possible digging**, which at one time created something like a furore iv Wanganui, may possibly come on the tapis yet, as some prospectors from the Napier side have been looking them up. A report published by one of them states that they spent three months in prospecting the western slopes of the Kaimanawa ranges, more particularly one river, named the Waitikau, running N.E. and S.W., aud flowing into the ■ Waikato; they traced this river to its source, a distance of thirty or forty miles, finding gold in small quantities the whole distance. Canterbury Flax Association. — On Thursday last, at a meeting of ' this Association, two letters fronTDr. Hector were read, one of which announced that the Flax ExhiWftion will probably take place in August next, and that the Commissioners hope that all exhibits .will arrive in Wellington by the end of July at latest. In the other Dr. Hector says that tbe Government are now concluding the purchase of a flax nursery at New Plymouth. The following resolution was carried at the meeting : — " That the Chairman, on his visit : to Wellington, be requested to wait upon the General Government and Flax Commissioners, and urge upon them the necessity of some arrangement being made to receive; the use of Mr. C. M. Oliver's process for preparing the fibre of flax." — Lyttelton Times. "The Morning Star." — The proprietors of the Auckland Evening Star have determined to publish a morning paper, to be called the Morning Star. The prospectus is written intentionally in a strain of wild extravagance. The following is a specimen : — " It will not be an Auckland paper, nor yet a provincial paper, neither a colonial paper — in fact, no paper at all, but a sun — a blazing sun — and not a satellite, illuminating space with its effulgence. It will be the unflinching advocate of royalty — religion — freedom — and the uncompromising: enemy of Communism,} the Devil, and Tom Russell. In the person of the Colonial Treasurer it sees Apollyon, and touching him as with the spear of Ithuriel, will reveal his horns and tail, and : his cloven hoofs to an amazed people. Its speciality, however, will be its perfect independence, in fact, in this respect it\vill exemplify the character of the hjrd that perches on the Rocky Mountains aud flaps the North and South poles with tbe wings of freedom. " We learn from the Post that it is in contemplation, should sufficiently encouraging prospects be held out, to establish a rope, baggiug, and woolpack manufactory in Wellington., The cost of the plant for a rope walk, including steam engine, tar vats, and every other essential, would amount to the sum of £1,000. If to this were added all the necessary machinery in the shape of looms, &c, for manufacturing the woolpacks. and bagging, the estimated cost would be neatly £2,000, the looms required costing £48 each. It may be said in. reference to this proposed undertaking that it is eminently a branch of local industry which should be fostered and encouraged by the Governmantduring its infancy, id jjeyery 'possibje^ way. Already, a bonus has been offered for the production of cloth, blankets, and paper, so : that one migh t equally '.well be offered to the man who would produce here the first thousand 1 wool packs : 6r : "c'orri- sacks from New 'Zealand 4U&J " 'TiKis surely a "very unsound policy, when the ,ra,w material' of 1 tiiW^e Wil&d lifW foutia *k:

abundance at our very doors, that it should not be utilised in a manner which would not only add to the real wealth of the Province, but at the same time afford profitable, employment to a large number of the settlers. " Pregnant in Meaning." — The Post of Saturday last says: — "The speech of Mr. Fitzherberr, in proroguing the Provincial Council yesterday, was brief in words but preguant. in meaning, * * * * The total appropriations for the year commencing on- Ist April, 1871, and ending 31st March 1872, amount to the sum of £117,226; while the estimated probable income is set down at £34,256, thus showing a deficiency of £82,970." Our contemporary fears that " a few timid people may hold the opinion that to borrow further is imprudent, and will result in the Province sinking deeper in the mire than ever, but nothing," he says, "can be more fallacious than this view." Then follows a bright picture of the wonderful prosperity that is to be the result of this system of living upon credit, which concludes thus: — "It follows, therefore, that to. borrow mouey which will be expended on such objects as must in the end ensure a repayment of a hundredfold in the increased development, progress, and wealth of the Province, is a proposal justified alike by reason and common sense." So, before this, bas argued many a floekowne*.. when borrowing money for the purposdof fencing and improving his run; so has thought many a farmer when mortgaging his property with a view to draining bis land, or increasing his conveniences for working the farm ; proposals that at the time appeared to bo "justified alike by reason and common sense," but which experience has shown ttfhave been but short cuts to the Bankruptcy Court. All this borrowing to pay old debts is indeed very " preguant/ in meaning." / Poll Tax on Chinese. — Commenting 1 upon tbe recommendation of the mining commission that a poll tax should be placed on Chinese, the Dunstan Times remnrks : : — "In making a tour lately through the Lakes district, where the Chiuese miners number two to one of their j European # confreres, we were astonished' by the work undertaken by the former. They were actually taking gold in large quantities from places that had been abandoned for years by the Europeans as impracticable lo work or unremunerattve. Parties to 'the number of fifty were laboring and living together, all directed by one head, and the whole working harmoniously. Success cannot help following such efforts, and it at once occurred to us that, to hold our way, we must do the same. The system adopted, we ought to accomplish wonders. No difficulty could present itself but what could be got over ; and instead of being frightened at the Chinese, the Chinese would be frightened at us, and give us a wide berth. If European miners are only making sma'l earnings, they must learn to live with t them. It is time enough to eat the cake after it has been earned. Attention to this golden rule has been the architect of many a large fortune, while it is as applicable on a small scale as a large one. The sale of so many mining claims and water rights to the Chinese by the Europeans is greatly to be deplored, but it cannot be prevented, and our miners would think it most unjust were such ever attempted. It must pay to sell but to Chinese, or miners would not do so ; and as they generally pay very good^" prices for their purchases, it is clear that gold mining is to thera an exceedingly remunerative speculation. If they can do so well at it, surely, after so many years 'of ; practice, and our boasted strength and knowledge, we ought to do. infinitely better. Any unpredjudhjed person must see where there is a party of Chinese working, everything is done upon a system almost as elaborate as the details of a bee-hive. This is the chief secret of their success, and to successfully compete, we must adopt similar means. No special or class legislation can assist us. " Heavy Thunderstorm. — A late number of the Cape Argus gives an account of a tremendous thunderstorm/ which had burßt over the Vaal diggings^ killing three men and scorching others. The correspondent of the Argus 'says : — " At about eight o'clock the terror, culminated, • as three explosions of frightful violence burst iv rapid succession over the camp, the second being the worse. For a time every one seemed to have thought that he or bis tent had been the victim. There was a universal tremor in the air and the ground, and no wonder, for at the moment of the second flash the camp was struck at its centre,, and three unfortunate men were killed, while five others were stunned and scotched. The news jqi^ickly spread itself about,,, aqd deepened Mbe sense ' of? horror of which all were conscious,, even the bravest, ;•'• After this 'fatal act the storm seemed, satisfied, and sullenly passed. ; east' ./wiai-aV !t ''£.i [ nine o'clock aIV was ' comparatively quiet,"

MR. C. E. HAUG&ITON ON MAORI REPRESENTATION. Mr. C. E. Haughtou, M.H.R. for Otago, has recently delivered a Jecturo in Dunedin in behalf of the Library Fund for the Catholic Young Men's Society. The subject — " How we are Governed " seems to have been cleverly handled by him, and must have been a treat as delivered The following is an extract, as reported ' by the Otago Daily Times : — The Maori representation in the Assembly — a comparatively new institution — in his opinion, although it might be just theoretically, was practically a great mistake. The representation was confined exclusively to the Maori race, and they had consequently sent men into the House who -vere unable tq,speak or understand the language in which the business was carried on ; and who voted pretty much as they were told by the Ministry of the day. One of those Maori representatives was a great chieftain named Mete Kingi, of whom they had doubtless heard. That hon. gentleman had very peculiar notions of the functions of a legislator, j and had a number of weaknesses altogether beyond political weaknesses. For instance, he had a habit of walking away with the soap and*hair brushes belonging to the Lavatory.' — (Laughter.) Pc (Mr. Haughton*) that hon. gentleman one day on the 'beach 1 at WeMiugton with a hair brush sticking out of his pocket. — (Continued laughter.) That hon. member alse had a weakness which was unFor remainder of news see fourth page.

fortunately not confined to the Maori race — that of borrowing half-crowns and never repaying them. Mete Kingi very soon found out that the best time to borrow half-crowns was just before a division ; and he (Mr. Haughton) was sorry to say that having acted as " Whip " for one of the parties in tbe House, he was frequently the victim ; and the common honesty of that party had never prompted them to repay him. —(Loud laughter.) After sketching some of the other " little weaknesses " of the honorable member. Mr. Haughton said that on one occasion he met with Mete Kingi aud a colored colleague coming out ol a certain fishmonger's shop in Wellington, holding by the tail a shark about three feet long. It was a remarkable fact that for about a week after that occurrence, it was utterly impossible to sit in the part of the House where the Maoris were ; and everyone certainly pitied the unfortunate interpreter who had to sit amongst them. — (Great Laughter.) Mete Kingi made a speech once, and a very fair example it was. He said : " England is a great nation. [A pause.] The Maoris are a great people. [A pause.] The English have called us to this great house. [A pause.] We sit here." Then came the anti-climax : " They have • pounded my cow at Wanganui I Then he ended like an ancient chief of an Indian tribe : " I have spoken." That was the best speech he ever made. — (Much laughter.) He was sorry that just as members were getting iuto the ways of the first Maori members, four new ones had been elected. He was told — but he could not vouch for the truth of the story — that one of them had distinguished himself six years ago by eating a baby. He expected that hon. gentleman would be one of those who would support the present Ministry. — (Great laughter.) A Hint to Farmers. — Well, the proof has come ! The excellence of the pudding is found in the eating. Although, some weeks back I was apprehensive that I had erred in departing from the regular local practice of feeding down the young clover in the autumn and spring, with a view to consolidating, as it is thought, the soil through the treading of the stock, I am rejoiced to ascertain, now that harvest has arrived, that no oce in (he neighborhood has anything like such " seeds "to mow. The gang, strong men as they were, fairly groaned under the weight of work, the gaffer declaring that they should not get their 2s. per day. Years ago, when I first took a fancy to farming, among the books I perused was "Nisbet on Agricultural Chemistry," an excellent little volume of the sort. I must then have been struck with the sentence, " Every leaflet upwards-* hivs a rootlet downwards ; pnd if the. leaflet be taken off the. rootlet will not grow," for the fact has stuck as a burr to my memory ever since. Mr. Nisbet writes : — *' Now what does the clover do ? Every little leaflet which it shoots up into^tbe air sends a rootlet downwards, so that iv proportion to the upward growth of the clover is the downward growth of the root ; and when you have taken the clover away, you retain, in the shape of roots, several tons per acre of valuable vegetable matter, which, by its slow decomposition, affords nutriment for the narrow-leafed wheat, so that by employing in the first instance turnips for the barley and clover for the wheat, you accumulate in the soil a large quantity of material absorbed from the air, for the benefit of the after-crops. This may be clearly seen, if you consider the difference between cutting clover and seeding it off. It is generally believed that a man who feeds his clover off will get a better crop than one who takes the hay. If you cut clover at midsummer, and let it grow again, and then take another cutting in the autumn, you will afterwards obtain a far better crop of wheat. Every leaflet upwards has a rootlet downwards, and if the leaflet be broken off, the rootlet will not grow j so that if the sheep be fed upon the surface^e under-production is diminished. In exact proportion to the increase of the upper, is the increase of tbe lower ; and if you are always feeding oft the former with sheep, you will have but few rootlets below." An experiment |vas tried by a friend in Northamptonshire. " A field of clover was divided into two t - parts. The whole was cut at midsummer i half was left to grow 'again, and the othet\ half fed off. In October two pieces were staked out as regularly as possible ; all the roots dug up, carefully cleaned, aud weighed. The result was that where tbe clover had been cut once and eaten once there were 25 cwt. of roots an acre, and where it bad been cut twice there were 75 cwt. being a difference of two tons of roots an acre," which, containing so much nitrogen aa these roots do, constituted an exceedingly good dressing for the wha^tj crop to follow. The whole of this little! volume is full of tbe most valuable information for the sucking agriculturist.-— English Paper.