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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 316, 23 September 1874, Page 2

It is remntk^il by the Nautical Magazine that "How to get firat-clas3 seamen, especially for long voyages, is a point worth studying. Tbe influence of emulation is all powerful. It is being tried more and more in our educational srßtPtn. We are* glad to see that one at least of the first-class firms of shipowners is up and doing in the same direction. Here is a specinoen of the : plan, and we heartily recommend it: — 'To our seamen —ln order to encourage the eeanran in our employ in good conduct we gram ihe following rewards: — Ist. The seamen who shall at the end of a voyage o } Uio a certificate signed by the captain of very good conduct shall receive 2s 61 per month for the whole voyage above the rate of wages agreed upon when they joined the ship. 2od. S«am«n continuing in our service shall be entitled to the good conduct reward above named, and shall receive mv additional 2e. 6d. per month (together ss. per month) at the cud of rach voyage with 'Very Good Conduct ' certificate. Ship's articles will be always filled up according to the current rates of tbe port. 3rd. It is our intention to advance all officers and seamen according to merit as opportunity offers in the employ. Note — A library being provided for the benefit of the crew, it ib hoped advantage will be taken of the privilege. Seamen having no home at the port of discharge ar

strongly advised to join in the Sailors' Home.— -(Signed) Balfouk, Williamson and Co., Liverpool.' " A North of Queensland journal, the Cooktown Courier — the nearest to the Palmer and Endeavor goldfieldg — states that the natives lately killed, cooked, and ate a miner who was at work in Gregory's Gully. They afterwards killed another at the Upper Camp. The latter was a native of New South Wales, but as he waa not in eatable condition the savages contented themselves with mutilating the body in a frightful manner. It is bad enough to risk the chance of being starved on those far away flelds without being used to keep aboriginal cannibals from starving. It appears to have been established to the satisfaction of the people of Sydney that their capital is built upon a great coal-field, the depth of which is calculated at 960 feet. It appears probable that an attempt will be made to work the field, as the depth is trifling compared with that of many coal mines now worked profitably in England. The Forbes Times (Victoria) states that information has come to hand giving particulars of a most diabolical outrage which has just occurred on one of the stations down the river. It appears that a man named Byrnes, engaged on the Eremeran station, went into the men's hut the other day, and demanded from the cook that his dinner should be got ready for him. The cook replied that he would have to wait until the dinner wag ready at the usual time, whereupon Byrnes made a bit at the cook, and the blow was returned. Byrnes became enraged, and threatened to put the man in the fire, and immediately carried his fiendish threat into execution, for he threw the man on the burning logs and held him there until bis legs were literally roasted. The unfortunate victim died the next day. A magisterial inquiry was held, and Byrnes, having been secured, was committed to take bis (rial at Bathurst. Singularly enough, Byrnes is the prosecutor of a of a man who is now lying in the Forbes gaol on a charge of horse-steal-ing, and who is to be tried next month at the Forbes Quarter Sessions. (For remainder of News see fourth page.)