LETTER FROM THE OIL REGIONS.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1714, 13 August 1862, Page 4

LETTER FROM THE OIL REGIONS.

[Correspondence of the •* Boston Commercial Bulletin, I '] Mr. Editor:—At this beautiful location (a name familiar to all Bostonians), I have two subjects which interest roe much, and of which a description might not be uninteresting to vour readers. They are—Coal, and Oil. The two would make too long a letter, so I will in this give you. a short description of the o : I regions, or some of the principal oil wells. There has another excitement broke out on Oil Creek, and other localities are now all but in the shafc by the light from this. You probably read the description of the flowing well that took fire last spring, and burned to death some twenty men who where standing about when it caught fire. .Many thought the account then given all a hoax ; bat I "can assure yott eierr word was true. The amount of oil that flowed from that well was called fLbulous ; but when yon hear of this new well—which is situated on Oil Creek, abort four miles from its mouth, where it empu'es into the Alleghany river, on what is called the Tarr farm, and onlv about twenty-five rods from the famous flowing well called the Burnett well, on the Buchanan fermyou will perhaps believe the other account, if yon do not this. Two weeks ago, vestcrday, the men employed boring or drilling, just at night, as they were about closing work for the day, the fire getting low under tne boilers, they heard the "gas beginning to escape, or, ss thev call it, " blowing," and in less than twenty minutes, and as soon as thev could get their drills out B» gas took fire, and a stream of oil and gas al on are spirted up into the air from 200 to 300 fect-a.jet a fire from four to five feet in size, and oil &ms f liquid fire, together with the roar of gas escaping, mane an awful sight. There were but six men at to ume about the well, and they barely escaped with BgWi all being very badlv burned. The jet of fire from™ oil and gas spouting out of the well from 200 to burned for some four or five days, and could be «« form ten to t wentv miles off. The way it was £■■ was this: They piled on dirt from 20 to 30feet from 15 to 20 feet high, forming a sort of moonilrjOJ even now it will break out through this ja<m « earth, and the fire will stream up from it in i» different jets all at the same time, and the «»»» . gas rising from it reminds you of ft large oM-ww*"" coal-pit. -i—* ,«t There are seven streams of oil that have bona m from the side next to the bank of the Creek,, aW» and-a-half inches, and it is thrown with such tow ■ it actually spirts out from six to ten ««}fr£j, estimated that in twenty-four hours three tnobarrels of oil flow from the well. This may seem ulous, but nevertheless it is true. The JWP, offered to fill 10,000 barrels for 25 cents p««» provided they were furnished immediately, as « g losing it all— he not being provided with wn» tanks to store it. ~ There is a village of shanties (about 150,)g ten days after this well took fire they did notaiio* fires to be built in the vicinity. \0 There is another well en the Buchanan latin, the BcnDet well, which is a flowing well,, anens 40 rods of the one on the Tarr farm. 1 bis w» gj from 2,000 to 3.000 barrels every 24 boars j, time -, but now it flows from 1,000 to 1,200 ban* 24 hours. There is also another flowing wbUJ» % same place that flows from 500 to 600 barrel* W hours. :, . m.,.„ -h , saucthi The place so noted for Oil, called Tidioat* * fcft so flourishing a state as last season, many n» » rf for this new locality. It is something on wjCalifornia mining. As soon as new uigfc pgj w discovered they all flock to the new jf™ 1 here. You can stand and count over -,ow u the town of Tidioute, where they hav corn?** for oil; ard it is stated as a fact that witnro.» ck& of 29 miles there are now standing o.uw . There is one interval of some 400 acres, j stands over 600 derricks. Tidioute looks H» of masts. , . ef ..gson ° lO , There have been employed the gno 2,000 teams drawing oil, -fee-, empty barrels back, and goods. -****£%* *• there are from 1,000 to 1,200. The roads* it is almost impossible to get over them, anu get down it is hard work to get him up. v^ was drowned in water and mud a lew MB> H have no conception of the rq?<Js. *r organized police to keep the teams all' S J*| streets would be blockaded up so «g» no passing. It is not unco&mon to stand m & from 50 to 100 teams at a time, all in a ,t hotels, as they call them, are fefl to, ovcr«o**» ft{ ,b takes the uninitiated a long while to get; table. When the bell rings at »»eal om^ftr* 1 think the whole rebel army was maK«W a ta The* whole country is in a citcment. As for war news or any ot&ei g ln a they care nothing. It is claims, **%*£* smell of gas is almost unendurable. u» tfhen idea of the state off things here unless pro*** this will end others must tell, I cannot.

THE SYDNEY MINT. h* •< Sydney Herald'i Correspondent.*'] 3 Saturday, May 17th. , bit of Parliamentary intelligence to T " e °?i« Australian reader that I can record interesting of mu ch interest to New South this we **.„ 2 D 0 less than that Alderman Salmons Wales, y Stained a select committee " to con- '°^ Tue !l report upon the expediency of legalising aider and rep n United Kingdora> ofthe y^'' theMi ° tatSydne] '" fIOUSB OF CoIIMONS, MAY 13. . y rtn9n Salmous rose to call attention to Mr ' hof the Royal Mint in Sydney, which ,br llished in 1855, but under certain re*as in consequence of which tho Sydney (iP although intrinsically equal in value to sovereign.^j g()Vere i„ nj h a d on i v a limited curthe imP T 00 kiog at the great importance ofthe reney-. co i o nies, and at their most laudable AU3 - tr tv to defray their own charges, he thought it n be only gracious to make this concession Sallow their gold coinage to pass current here. ?; I ear) He moved for a select committee ( ' i'.w and report on the expediency of f SSSb circulation in the United Kingdom S 'sovereigns coined at the branch ofthe Royal Hint a • secon jj D(? t ne motion, reminded \ pillar dollar, which ob. • A the greatest circulation ot any com in the S «as "ever coined in Spain but in her lis The Australian colonies had shown a and loyalty to the Throne, T,i,; a little boon would bind them still more Jlothe mother country. (Hear.) Mr Hankey said that this was an imperial and J local auestion. When the Sydney Mint was faiiXd it wa« made a condition that the fiSSw* there should not be made a le * al tAnder" and nothing had since occurred which Miild change the views of the Government. The «ninin of that country had always beenjproduced in the country, and there were good reasons why "t should be; for it wtis necessary to guard against ' , )0 , s i!,itity that its integrity would ever be Umpered with. All our trading relations were ( r llated by it, w»d British merchants should Ilwavs he able to feel that British coin would pass ,i () L r tl ie world at a certain rate of exchange. Since 1851, £100,100,000 of gold had been produced in Australia, and if sovereigns coined there had been a legal tender in England this amount would have come to us in the shape of coin. But it was not wanted here iu that shape, somewhere about £00,000,000 only having been coined here ' durto" the last eleven years. The Bank of England had no exclusivo privilege in coming. It was merely used as the medium through which coin was obtained for the convenience of the country. It had no interest except that of preserving the integrity ofthe coin. But if Australian sovereigns should be made a legal tender here they would become an essential part ofthe coin of this country and ifauy tampering should take place with the colonial coin imperial interests would be affected. This was not a question for a committee, and he felt ver) much inclined to take the sense ofthe House against the proposition of hishon. friend. Mr. Childers supported the motion. The Chancellor or the Exchequer hoped the ha. member for Peterborough would not oppose the motion. He quite agreed that the subject was one on which every step should be taken with tb utmost circumspection and deliberation. It should be also treated as a matter of imperial interest. But the motion had in fact been brought forward on imperial grounds. He agreed also with his hon. friend that it would not be at all desirable that we should have this country flooded with Australian coin; but he had no apprehension of such a result. There was a natural security against it in the cost that must necessarily attend the operation. The fact, however, was we had authorised the establishment of a mint in Australia. That mint had been correctly described as a branch of the Royal Mint in England. It might be true that we had not a perfect identity in the composition of the sovereigns. The hon. gentleman had established a prima facie case for a committee. Tiiey would not commence the inquiry with a foregone conclusion, but would strictly examine into the question whether any inconvenience was to be apprehended. As to the recoinage, that was a matter which had been under the consideration of the Government, but the correspondence bad been carried on between several departments and the colonies, and the consequence was that it advanced at slow pace. The committee would have the power of bringing together opinions and comparing the ideas of those who were well informed on the subject. They would be able to determine the possible inconvenience as well as the probable advantage ot the change, and, therefore, he thought it would be desirable to concur in the motion of the hon. gentleman, to whom he tendered bis sincere thanks. (Cheers.) The rr.otion was agreed to.

FRENCH VIEWS OF ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH. [From (he "Sydney Morning Herald," July 25th.] The interest of the Great Exhibition, besides conducting to the British metropolis many foreigners who are desirous of " seeing with their own eyes, and hearing with their own ears" the sights and sounds which may form their judgment of England and her population, brings others there who transmit to the journals of their country what they read as descriptions of the London citizen and his great city. That these impressions should be wrong in many respects is certainly not wonderful. Englishmen are not themselves very successful enquirers or impartial delineators of French "manners and customs." It is furthermore a standing compliment of the Americans, that although of the same origin and language, the English traveller never even approaches the inner life of their citizens, and is utterly bewildered and lost when he attempts to penetrate the arena of their Government or the workings of their Constitution. In fact all nations look with prejudice on objects which are strange to them, and readily censure what they cannot comprehend. No nations have more illustrated these tendencies than the English and French, for although both have qualities which compel their mutual respect, they vary too much in their habits, aud have been too long rivals not to see each other's 'nperfections, and to take some little pleasure in exaggerating them. The French correspondents ot J«e " aris journals are now straining their ingenuity 0 Bet . °ff the appearance, the habits, and the peculiar temperament of their ally, John Bull, •hi Bome the representations are both intelligent' aQ d good-natured, even where they are not flatterof ttlese ' the correspondent of the Temps, iy L ocherer, describes the inferiority of London as a Clt y compared with Faris and its numerous monuments, streets, and quays. History, however, ? owa 'hat the capital of a military people governed V. a n Imperial sovereign will commonly possess " advantage; and Faris itself will require many a Aa Poleon before it will exhibit the architectural greatness of the cities of the Pharoahs. He notes, however, the absence of the military from our ""ets, and yet speaks of the Volunteers in a tone which 13 creditable to a Frenchman, accustomed i *o the magnificent army of France. He even goes \h 5, thaa this, and expresses an admiration of «« athletic materials of which our Voluntee wee is composed. He informs his readers that all wis comes from the Englishman's fondness for Peuestnan exercises, the practice of pugilism, and, •Wye all, the love of cricket. There are some »cts stated which have a novelty about themtli3t \ V a te alderman of this city would appear of doubtful exactness:nWil e .7 El, Bnihman who respects himself begin* his day by Eurotas-we mean the cold bath-whlch fortifies waM " d " **" M the constitution. He would feel that he was or at, 8 blnißt;lr if IIK (lul " ot Bive two or three hoars to a walk him ! aeacrt : !s country. Jf his means and his occupation permit H™*! S '"He. he will mount on horseback, hunt, or handle do «rt* i haa ,earm fr< >m a" early age how to tight, not as we bat in » ,hu . u 'yes,»nd Muging by chance bit arms round his body, attack IJ 110n »l manner, using his lists at once to parry and to lueoo ,'iii k . uows ,uat science and knowledge make "f }°[ a eJu' ln bwli| y strength, lie is aware that in a contest with UtZS w. a sl »oeb!ack M will have the upper hand because he m ""f c,k| U; and be thus exhibits the pacific assurance of a nob mi - ,ru,t " u " lv lo himself, We have often thought that the Heanl .»**" lt our Fra »« could receive, the most efficcious •IrnVl 1 , * el,en,le w«» strengthen our youtli, would be the in ro- " ° n ao "«i| ui of some national sporti Hke that of th» English,

anrt k adrtr«. !U? e * ercs » e « hat "cites emulation, requires force SraSffiS 1 a n ndtS ,a tL eV o e n7 P h .y.ical attitude", Jr?o 6 roacnhw J . rao " P° sil,ve mmD «. the Englishman is k We certainly attach no value to the pugilistic training which probably, never contributed to the ChC *"!? n ° f . one En K lish ™n in a thousand; out irom the following description of a French fight 2SR wa *r a u ns ate from a work (« Paul de Molenes ) published in 1858, the English style of pugilism is certainly not the worst. " I hare "seen " n e RS B, "iV he . firstda y sof the Garde Mobile! (WW), a fight with the natural arms, and I never I saw a more savage spectacle. A great circle was tormed for two men with naked busts, the legs covered with light pantaloons, their feet shod with boots destined to play a part in this struggle. The adversaries had neither the dignity nor grace of gladiators. After blows with the foot, and fist, the lips cut and the nose flattened, the ferocity of the combat began. One of the champions was bitten on the cheek, and at length rolled on the ground. You might imagine the duel was over-not at all. Ihe conqueror approached his adversary on the ground, and tore his face open with the heel of his boot. The man was then carried vanquished to the hospital, and I do not know that he came out again, at least by the gate of the living." We do not suppose that there is any English mob would permit a fight to proceed upon such a plan. Mr. Scherer, however, expresses the highest admiration of England as the temple and asvlum of liberty. He concludes thus:— i. " En ß lan(l >* tlle daisic la«'l of liberty; ami for this reason « is a holy land-a land which more than one exile lias turned to with gratitude. We do not now speak of political institutions, but of civil liberty, of the respect for the rights of all, of independence of exertion, of the space left open for individual action, of the mildness of Ihelawa, of the fewness of regulations. Elsewhere, regulations are the rule ; elsewhere liberty exists only where it it expressly stipulated; but in England it is liberty which is everywhere, and always supposed. Elsewhere civil life is encircled by a network, invisible but inextricable, of restrictions; but in Jbngland every man speaks, teaches, prints, meets, associates, buildi, travels, exercises his calling in industry and commerce, fills the professions, carriis out all his designs, free from hindrance from anything whatever but the equal right of bit neighbour, ror the truth of what we say, we fearlessly appeal to all who have crossed the Channel They may find England monotonous, its climate sombre, its towns ugly, its inhabitants stiff, its institutions Gothic; they may grumble and find fault as much as they please, bnt there is one thing they cannot deny, and that is that it is in England the man who loves liberty can breathe most freely. I'ranee and England are two great schools open for the instruction of the world. In the one, more importance is given to the perfection of 'he product: iu the other more importance is given to the happiuess of the producer. In France a more scientilically combined action attains with precision results more co-ordinate. Iu England, power is less concentrated, but it is more energetic, and more full of life. What is great with us is the thing : what is great with our neighbours is the man. In France, the state is everything, and the citizen little. In England, it is quite the contrary "

It must, however, be recollected that these gentlemen, when writing about England, are often writing against their own government. The Press of France carries on a war of inuendoes, and often reflections on the politics of other nations is a covert attack on the Imperial regime. Another writer, M. Assolant, has given adescription of London and its Sunday, such as might be expected frnra his outraged taste and light-heeled piety. It is even a grievance that the people speak English all day, to say nothing of their devouring raw beef, half-cooked fish, and continuing lawsuits from William the Conqueror. He observes that you are not allowed to walk all hours, b cause this would be quite improper and shoking [sic]. He observes that you must sing nothing but psalms on Sunday, we suppose he means in the streets. "Itis a country of savages, said a friend to me a few minutes ago.'' This, M. Assolant thinks too severe. He enumerates many things we possess, but all is spoilt by the "frightful vice" contained in the decalogue, which he says the English got from Calvin, and Calvin from Moses, who got it from the Priest of Egypt —hurrah! If the people of England are a gloomy, savage set, it cannot be denied that the bishops, according to his description, are very jolly fellows. The following account of their manners and customs will be recognised by every one as true to the life—supposing the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London sat for the picture : " The Bishops' in this country are as rich as bankers. They have palaces, lands, fields, and money, which they lend to the Sultnn.it 10 percent. They hoard up lor their wives and children, —for they are married and have families, like St Synesius, Bishop of Tripoli. Their sons are captains or colonels, ami (he reveuues of the Church do honours to the ladies. The liishop keeps his pack of hounds for fox hunting, and he is not last to follow the chase and to clear a hedge, for he is above all, a gentleman, and he loves sport. The Bishops, rich, enjoying good health, fond of good living, capital sportsmen, excellent horsemen (and sometimes, they say, excellent topers), will not willingly permit the laws of the Church to be violated in their dioceses : and, as they have the law in their hand they enforce respect to it. Bishops have seats in the House of Lords : they give their opinion on public affairs, and they vigilantly watch over the maintenance and augmentation of their revenues. They are ugly customers to deal with. They put in prison a poacher who encroaches on their land, and they punish with hue the heretic who does not go to prayer. As civil magistrates and as religious magistrates they are doubly to be dreaded. Add to this, that Bishops are the younger brothers of Lords, and that between them and their eldest brothers there is always a close alliance. In England, as elsewhere, the high clergy and the nobility are always together. Who makes the laws I The Lords and the lawyers. The Lords support with all their might the old feudal laws which were made by them and for them, at.d the lawyers do not detest this subtle, obscure, cheating legislation which embarrasses other citizens, and occasions a vast amount of litigation." The interesting information about the heretics who do not pray must be got out of the Act of Elizabeth anent going to church, the Five-mile Act, and the Conventicle Act of Charles 11. The learned Frenchman may have heard of John Banyan, and supposed him to be stil!, by some such cruel law, to be in the limbo of the bishop. There is, however, one thing that strikes him as noticeable, though not very consistent with his other statements.

'• la one thing only, but this is essential, their justice is admirable. They imprison noonc without knowing why. They have for personal liberty an inviolable respect. On this point we have much to learn from them, but I fear national pride will prevent

ns from profiting by the lesson : and, moreover, must we not save order, family, religion, the Throne, and property ? What matter if a citizen be kept in prison two or three months provided order be saved and prestrved from any attack .' And all our Governments, so different in everything else, have always marvellously agreed in this only, that it is better • one should perish for the salvation of all.' The English have other maxims. The Englishman prints and speaks freely on public affairs. Hence it is that London, with only 3000 soldiers, never has revolutions. The English Government is neither strong nor weak. When the public are not satisfied with it, it changes it without an effort. Two days back it was Sir Robert Peel; yesterday, Derby; today. Palmerston. What should people shaot at each other for i Each one has his tntn."

In France it is not so, and we fancy that it will never be, but upon condition of a more exact imitation of the English people. The reason why personal liberty is not accorded in France is because they have been accustomed to make street revolutions. Law will not afford its protection, but upon the condition that people are law abiding; for the civil force, which is necessary to prevent a party quarrel from overthrowing a dynasty, is fatal to personal freedom. Several good-natured foreigners have written to the Times under the impression that we shall be hurt by such sharp criticisms, and that it will imperil the relations which now so happily exist. But the English are not sensitive. Their most popular publications ate those which describe their foibles with most vigour.

TOBACCO CULTURE. (Prom the "Argui," June 17.) The civil war in America is communicating an impulse to the cultivation of tobacco in this colony, which promises to besumciently durable to enable that branch of industry to take so deep a root among us as to insure its permanence, borne special circumstance, or exciting cause, seems to be absolutely essential to the introduction of anew article of agricultural produce, of u new system of cultivation, in Victoria. Farmers and others who have migrated hither from the mother country are so obstinately wedded to its practices and precedents, that any infringement upon the old routine, any attempt to substitute a novelty tor the wheat, barlev, and oats, which form the staple produce of a British farm, is looked upon as rank heresy. The rules which were applied to the cultivation of the cool and humid soil of Englanci are made to serve for the guidance of colonial husbandry, under totally different conditions of soil and climate, and many of the natural advantages we possess are consequently neglected or perverted. Several years elapsed after the foundation of the colony before its splendid capabilities for the growth of the vine were preceived and turned to account, and we have scarcely begun the work of naturalising here the many plants possessing a commercial value, which llounsii in similar latitudes in other parts of the world. If public attention lias been at length called to the importance of cultivating the tobacco plant in : Victoria, it is only because the war in America | happens to have interrupted ftnq qioumsjied oqr

supply, and to have sent the price up to a sum which has alarmed consumers. It has been well known, for years past, that the tobacco plantwould thrive in this colony, that the demand for the manufactured article was extending annually, and that we were exporting large sums in payment for a commodity which we could produce as cheaply ourslvee, and the growth of which, notwithstanding the exhaustive nature of the crop, could not fail to prove highly remunerative to the planter. According to the statistics complied from official records in the registrar-general's office our imports of tobacco and cigars for the last five years have been as follow:

e Total £808,820 £256,873 So that we have expended upwards of one million starling, during the five years embraced above, s upon articles which experience Las shown might g be advantageously raised by ourselves. Our annual } consumption of tobacco appeard to be about j, 1,500,000 lb., for the growth of which eight or ( nine hundred acres of land would suffice ; and j Messrs. Loughnan, of this city, have recently published a concisely written pamphlet, in which j the profitable nature of tobacco planting is clearly pointed out, and some useful hints are given as to the best mode of cultivation. As the best season for sowing is approaching, | our agricultural readers may be anxious to obtain , some practical information on a subject of so much ; interest to themselves. A dark loamy soil is recommended as the best suited for tobacco culture ; and the month of August is indicated as the most eligible for sowing the seed. One ounce of Virginia is said to be sufficient for an acre ; the seed being deposited in the first instance in a bed prepared as if for onion seed, and covered with boughs to protect it from the frost. The subsequent processes are thus described : " As soon as the young plants are lit for transplanting, and in moist weather, draw them carefully, leaving as much earth to the roots as will adhere. Put them in straight rows with a dibble, three feet apart each way, the same as cabbage planting, leaving two shingles by each plant, to be placed in such a position as to shelter it from the noonday sun, and from sudden gusts of sharp wind. If a plant die, draw it, and supply its place from the bed. " When grown to the height of ten or twelve inches, heel the plants with a hoe very carefully, clipping between the rows to prevent thepossibility of weeds appearing. When they attain the height of one and a half or two feet, perform the same operation again, which will generally be sufficient. Attend in the afternoon to the suckering. " The suckers are small shoots, which sprout at the stem of the large leaf. Nip those off and also the top of the stalk, should it branch into suckers, or run to seed. By this means the leaf will become much larger, and this is a desirable object to the manufacturer as well as a gain in weight and price to the grower. "As soon as the leaf changes from green to yellow, it is ripe, ; cut early in the afternoon, at about two inches from the ground, laying the stalk carefully down so as not to break the leaves ; after sundown, or perhaps sooner, there will be no danger of breaking by its removal into a shed prepared for the purpose of hanging them up. This shed should be so constructed that the air can have free circulation, and the tobacco be well protected from rain and the ray of the sun. Inside place saplings across like tie beams, to which tie each stalk by the butt end (not crushed together). When the leaf is fit to takeoff the stalk, it will assume a dark yellow colour. In moist weather the leaf will be quite limber, and at such seasons take off ' as many as the hand will hold easily by the butt i ends, and tie with a single leaf, so as to hold them ( together." The subsequent classification of the leaves into large and small is recommended; and when banded ( it is necessary to stack the bundles, so that the tobacco undergoes a heating—a process which is afterwards repeated ; care being taken to regulate the operation in both instances, so as to avoid the destruction of the flavour. Messrs. Loughnan mention a ton an acre as a not extraordinary yield, and as, at the time thoir pamphlet was published, the unmanufactured article was stated to be worth 9d, per pound, this would give a return of £B4 per acre. They add that " there are purchasers for any quantity for ! manufacturing purposes." Here, then, appears to be a branch of agriculture which might be ad- ' vantageously combined with those ordinarily ; pursued by the farmer, holding out as it does, the promise of greater remuneration than is derived from the cultivation of many articles of produce. ' Indeed, the success of farming in this colony will always depend, t© a considerable extent, upon the ' variety of the crops cultivated and the consequent ' equalisation of the risks incurred. The agricul- ; turist who, to employ the language of the homely ' adage, deposits all his eggs in one basket, may be ' ruined by a single disastrous season ; but he who distributes them in several baskets, can afford the loss of one or two, because the unexpected pro- I duce of some of the others will compensate him for the partial calamity. In the soil and climate of Victoria, it is fortunately possible for the enter- ' prise of the farmer to take a much wider range, and to comprehend a much greater number of " objects than can be embraced by the agriculturist ', of the mother country; and the colonial yeoman, whose scheme of husbandry includes the cultivation [ of a vineyard, an orchard, a patch of mulberry trees, an olive garden, and a tobacco patch, combined with a dairy and a poultry yard, may securely ' deiy the vicissitudes of fortune and the acrdent of a bad season. '

Estimated Vdlur. Estimated Value 1856 1857 1858 Tobacco. ... £255,908 77,340 132,281 Cigar?. ... £70,521 73,209 57,537 1859 I860 213,213 130,072 26,393 23,213