CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S GATHERING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 3, 4 January 1875, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S GATHERING.

The sports were re3umed to-day, and, notwithstanding the posponement, promise to be well attended during the afternoon, as by two o'clock there were seven ov eight hundred people on the ground. The following is a li"t of the proceedings up to two p.m. : — Vaulting with the Pole— Krst priz?, 60s: E. Arnold, 9ft. Gin.; second, 30s, A. Arnold, Eive competitors. Putting the Stone, 221br — Eirst prize, 40s : G. Jennings, 27ft. sin. ; second, 20s, K. Kelling, 25ft. lOin. Six competitors. Plat llace, 300 yards— First prize, 40s : F. N. Joaea. Five competitors.

The expenditure of the Borough Council of Greymouth during the past year amounts to about £10,400. With reference to the Povery Bay Petroleum Springs the Auckland Herald says % — It would be a great thing for New Zealand to supply' herself with a product, the import of which is so great, amounting as it did last year to 251,656 gallons, valued at .£28,998. The retention of so much capital in the colony would be most acceptable. The G. R. Argus of December 26, says: — Mr T. M. Foy, C.E., and the Railway Pass Exploring .Party, have concluded their examination of the country about the Ahaura Saddle at the Amuri Pass. As in the case of the exploration of the Upper and Brown Grey Rivers, Mr Foy baa received every assistance and valuable information from the settlers along the route. The result of the examination of the Amuri Pass is said to be satisfactory to Mr Foy, but until a thorough examination of all the rival routes is completed, and a comparison made, it will be impossible to obtain an authoritative opinion as to whioh line of country ' possesses the 'greatest advantages for r&i]road purposes, Mr Foy is bow engaged ia exploring the valley of the Hope on the eastern watershed of the dividing range between the East and West Coasts, and the party will make a careful search for a pass known to exist between the head waters of the Hope River and the same of the Tito Eauro, one of the principal tributaries of the Ahaura River. Cattle-drovers and settlers in the locality assert this pass is the lowest and most practicable on the whole course of the range. It is to the south of the present pass, and at a sufficient distance from the river to obviate all danger from floods or landslips. A live relic of the late Mr J. P. Fawkner, the old colonist, and one of the founders of Victoria is, according to the Mount Alexander Mail, in the possession of the bellman at Tulbot. It is a gander— now thirty-two years old. Mr Fawkner brought it from Tasmania with him on one of his. visits there. The aged goose having survived so many Christmases, is to have perpetual immunity from gastronomic Christianity. The old one is lively, and still a splendid bird, and, singular to say, has a consort sixteen years of age among others in his harem. H.M.S. Sandfly, which arrived in Sydney on the 10th December, reports that while at Tapau Island on the I7ih September, the boats were visited by large numbers of natives, who, upon exhibiting unfriendly intentions, were dispersed by the firing of a few shots, and twenty of their canoes were destroyed, and two villages fired. On the 20th they approached the island of Santa Cruz. Here again largo numbars of natives came off. Trade was done with a few, but there being evidences of an, intended attack, preparations were made to repel it. It was noticed that the boys were all swimming for the shore, and as the natives were detected uncovering their bows and arrows, it was thus surmised that they meant mischief. The marines got their rifles on the after-deck, taking care to keep them out of sight. The natives, . who thronged the gunwale in large numbers, were becoming noisy and insolent. A blank shot was fired from the Bhip's gun, but had little effect in frightening them. At 11.15 a.m. the natives opened fire with poisoned arrows. Lieut. Nowell discharged bis revolver at the leading natives, and . gave the order to his men to commence firing, which the crew responded to with deadly aim. In an instant the natives were panic-stricken. Those on the v easel's gunwale either fell or jumped into the sea, many of them dead, other's wounded or struggling for the shore. The canoe's crew were so astonished at the effects of the rifle shotß that they jumped overboard and struck out for the shore. During the short time the engagement lasted about thirty natives were killed; the majority escaped into the bush. The Sandfly lowered her boats, and the crew spent the afternoon in destroying all the abandoned cauoes, some of which were very large; set fire to two of the natives' villages. Iu the evening hoisted in the boats, and kept a good watch in case of another attack. On September 21, proceeded on shore for water, taking a war'rocket in the boat, and fired at random in the bush. The watering party managed to get a supply under cover of the rifles of another boat. Oa two subsequent days the natives shewed themselves, but were dispersed by means of shot and shell. "Mark Twain,'' the well known American humorist — who in his time has been an editor, a reporter, a pilgrim, an insurance traveller, an architect, a political), a miuer, a traveller, a hunter, a rough-rider — has now added another to his numerous occupations, having just begun life on the stage. It is stated in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, that the liquor law at present in force in Massachusetts, has " produced nothing but opium eating, secret driuking. hypocrisy, black mail, and State constables." The law will probably be modified, or repealed, by the oew Legislature. A benevolent physician in Laporte v county, 'Indiana, gave a Fourth of July pic-nic lo 700 children, not even such delicacies as cake, strawberries, and ice cream, being omitted. He got back his outlays in colice, however, before the ..-.

At the meeting for promoting funeral reform, held at Christchnrch the other day, the Very Rev the Dean of Christchurch said: — "He thought the lime was come when some steps should be taken to bring about a reform in the custoiu3 connected with funerals. The pomp and ostentation observed at funerals were alike abßurd and painful to look at; and in addition to this the expense was large and unnecessary. Iu times of illness it was necessary to observe, in the majority of cases, the very strictest economy, and yet the money which was needed by a family was expended in the burial of a deceased relative, in consequence of the absurd custom which now prevailed. The wearing of mourning was slso expensive and unnecessary, and was detrimental to health at the same time. It was nothing less than tyranny to compel delicate women and children, to wear mourning in the heat of summer. Of course the doing away with the practice of wearing mourning would depend very largely on the ladies, but he thought this desirable end might be effected by the appointment of a committee of influential ladies to suggest what measures should be taken in the matter." At the same meeting the Chairman, Sir Cracroft Wilson, stated that for many years he had been a strong advocate of cremation. Of course this bad nothing to do with the present meeting, but the fact of his taking part in it wo:ild in no way interfere'with hia views on the subject of cremation. He was convinced that this was the best mode of disposing of bodies after death, and so far as he himself was concerned, he would direct that he should be burned instead of placed in a hole in the ground. He had seen soldiers buried on the field of battle. He had afterwards gone over that field, and observed what the jackals were doing with the bodies. The Henry Ward Beecher scandal (says the JS"ew Zealand Herald) haß no further developments, except that out of it have arisen eleven libels for damage. The amount claimed aggregates one aud a-half million. Beecher has entered suit against Moulton and Tilfcon, and the whole affair will shortly be dragged through the courts. Beecher recently returned from a visit to the New England States. Hia welcome to Brooklyn was a magnificent ovation. His church is now so crowded that, as Pat says, " it is full inside and out." It appears that the " getting-up" of wool may be overdone. That colour and purity are frequently obtained at the expense of quality of staple. A Tasmanian paper, on fie authority of a gentleman who recently puid a visit to Europe, states that one of the largest manufacturers and wool buyers in the south of Scotland informed him that much of the colonial wool was being ruined by hot-water washing; that it was being altogether overdone, and that their house, after much experience, would v not buy a bale of it. What between hot water aad over dumping, a good deal of wool has proved to be comparatively worthless when subjected to the notion of the machinery in mills. We have an opiuion of our own upon this matter. It is not the hot water that destroys the quality of the fleece, but the chemicals which have of late been introduced, and used for bleaching and giving the wool an artificial whiteness. — N. Z. Herald. When anyone out West relates a circumstance that takes more than two men to bolieve, they interrupt him by asking if hns a photograph of the occurrence. American papers contain a frightful tale of cannibalism. A party of prospectors got snowed up, and one of them killed his five companions and lived for some time on their flesh. A remarkable fish is said to be found in great numbers in the coast rivers of Alaska. It is about eight inches long, transparent, and the fattest of aU the finny tribe. This fat, however, has not the oily, rancid taste of other fish, but is like fresh lard. When the fish are dried the Indians often turn them to a novel and practical account — burn them in place of candles. They give a dear brilliant light, and are not liable to be blown out by the wind. Mr Manson, superintendent at Fort Simpson, says that the tail Bhould be lighted instead of the head, and each (ish will burn about fifteen minutes, A Dundee whaling vessel, the Arctic, was recently lost under extraordinary circumstancos. When the vessel was hopelessly ca'jght in the ide, the crew, 54 in number, made every possible ftfort to save provisions and clothing. While the operations were in progress, a fearful storm of wind and rain came on. The men were standing on the ice, without shelter, when one- half the vessel was crushed like a match-box. The other half caught fire, and from the inflammable nature of the cargo, there was soon a fire of immense brilliaucy. The heat caused the oil to melt, and all fiat remained of the ship sank amid a hissing cloud of steam. The Arctic I, ad on board 17 whales, 32 white whaleß, 8 oar whales, 10 seals, 3 walrusaee, ami 3 bottle-uosed whales. The crew Buffered great, privations before being rescued. The Sydney Mail gives the foliowiag hints on the mode of treating sunfctroke:—The patient should be instantly removed into the shade and divested of upper clothing, especially that about the neck and chest. Cold water should ba poured in a continual stream from a vessel held above the head and back of the neck; if after a time the good effeot of the cold on the great nervous

centres becomes apparent, and sensibility with the other suspended fuuetions is more or less restored, then blankets should be wrapped round the lower half of the body, and if the power of swallowing has returned, stiraulauts (any spirits will do, brandy being best) should be administered. When the patient has so far recovered he will bear removal to wherever may be most convenient to await medical treatment.