Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 124, 25 May 1872, Page 4

The Fiji Gazette says that, the emigration from Fiji is becoming alarming, and adds : — The Meteor flashed away for Sydney tbe other day bearing with her twentythree of the white population, many of whom we can ill spare, especially in these times. It is expected that the Norman now on berth for Sydney will carry away nearly an equal number of our friends. This is disheartening, but what else can be expected when, of late, disorder, disunion, and dissention have ruled paramount in Levuka. A Melbourne paper says : — Lovers are never tired of inventing sweet surprises for their mistresses, but we never heard before of a young gentleman presenting his beloved with a double perambulator before marriage, whatever necessity might arise for the use of one afterwards. At the Sandhurst Court recently, however, a Mr. Eustace sued a Miss Gill for one of these articles of domestic convenience, which he had presented as a gage; of affection while they were making uptheir minds connubially, and which, when the match was off, she had neglected to return with his' letters. Unfortunately for the reporter., who expected some fun, the' plaintiff did not appear, and Miss Gill remains the proud possessor of the perambulator.

In the Wellington Provincial Council one of the items in the Estimates was £15,000 as a contingent vote for public works. Against this, Mr. Andrews, one of the members, warmly protested, intimating his intention of moving the reduction of the vote pound by pound, and dividing 15,000 times if necessary, rather than allow the item to pass. The Government bad to give in. The Australian Overland Telegraph.—Government telegrams state tbat the completion of the overland telegraph is delayed by unprecedented wet weather. Operations were to have been resumed at the beginning of April. There is still a gap of 250 miles, but when reduced to 150, a horse express will be established. This is expected to be accomplished about August. Scurvy, rheumatism, and fever have broken out amongst the men working on the line. CrsTOMS Drawbacks. — A deputation from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce waited upon Mr. Seed, Inspector of Customs, last Monday, respecting Customs drawbacks. The deputation recommended a refund on all duty paid when the marks of the packages are undisturbed, and presented a scale of drawback on goods repacked. The deputation also recommended the abolition of limitations as to the time and the places for goods to be exported to. Mr. Seed concurred in the recommendations, and said the Government was anxious to remove all trade restrictions consistent with the protection of the revenue. The Proposed Freight Company. — The adjourned public meeting relative to the formation of a Freight Company was held at Auckland on Monday last, and was largely attended by the merchants. It was resolved to form a company with a capital of £10,000 in £10 shares. It is expected that only half the capital will be required to be called up. The money will be devoted to chartering first-class vessels in London', where the business in London will be conducted by competent agents under a London Board of Directors. At the outset the company will be co-operative and local, but it is intended, when tbe matter has been tested, to extend the company's business to all parts of the colony. A correspondent -sends to the Otago Daily Times a clipping from an English trade circular (apparently Tickle & Co.'s), showing the, dates on which the mails from the colonies were delivered in London. From this extract is taken the following : — " The Brindisi portion of the mail from Australia was, delivered with usual punctuality on Monday, the 19th February, dates being from Melbourne the 2nd January ; Auckland, N.Z., 23rd December. The New' Zealand mail, via San Francisco, even exceeded all prior mails in its delay, and, much to the inconvenience of all concerned was not delivered until Mcihday, 11th March, dates being from Punedin, 24th December; Auckland, 30ih December." From this it will be seen that mercantile men at home, ih common with those in the colony, have been suffering from the leisurely manner in which the San Francisco service is conducted. The Rise in Wool. — A correspondent of the Australasian writes : — Talking of wool, there is one point which I have not seen noticed, and which, I think, gives promise of high prices being' maintained for several future seasons. Wool got into increased, consumption through low prices inducing its introduction into fabrics in which it had not been employed before. This gave the market-its first fillip. Then during the late war the Germans and the French ate the sheep they used to shear — and wool yield differs from cotton crops in this respect, that it requires several years to increase the clip by multiplying the flocks. People who know, say that had Hugh Glass lived and had : his station mortgages not been • foreclosed, he would have been a rich man" now. The most careless observer must notice that there is an increase in the number of carriages in Collins-street, and I think the " rise in greasy" is not without its influence upon the improving value of upstanding; carriage pairs. '„._.;•/.i ?;' uaW '..:■>>. i-