News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 52, 20 January 1872, Page 12

News of the Week.

Mr Justice Jolmston lias been appointed (Vmmissionor under the Lundon and Whitaker Claims Act, 1871. Mr M‘Donald is the successful tenderer for the excavations to be performed for the Patent Slip Company. _ Captain Johnson and Captain Edwin have been appointed Examiners ducting the examinations of ships’ officers under the provisions of the Merchant Ships’ Officers Examination Act, 1870. Mr Eolleston, Superintendent of Canterbury, Mr Justice Chapman, of Dunedin, and the Hon Mr Mantell, of Wellington, have been elected members of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute for the year 1872, and have been gazetted as such. The resignation by Captain MTherson of his seat as member for the Waikato is notified in the General Government Gazette, i Mr T. 11. Hill has been appointed Native Agent on behalf of the General Government for the negotiation of the purchase of lands from the natives of this province. JVIr Hill will act under the direction of his Honor the Superintendent, W. Eitzherberfc, Esq. We direct attention to an advertisement elsewhere which furnishes all necessary information with regard to the obtaining of money from the Government under that part of the Immigration and Public Works scheme relating to the water supply to the goldfields. The fees payable under the Eand Transfer Act are practically illustrated by the scale which is published in another part of this paper. The advantages are stated in terms so free from ambiguity that we are altogether relieved from the duty of recapitulating or interpreting the primary considerations. A system by which property may be transferee! at a moment’s notice, and at a mere bagatelle in cost, is one that should supersede any The sittings of the Supreme Court, Wellington, for the year 1872, have been ari-anged as follows : —ln Banco, at eleven o’clock, on the days following January 15, March 11, April 15, May 10, July 10, September 2, October 21, December 3. In Bankruptcy, at eleven o clock, on January 23, March IS, April 16, June 3, August 5, October 22, December 2. Minor Jury Sittings, at ten o’clock, on January 23, March 19, June 4, Septemher 3. Divorce and Matrimonial cuttings, at half past ten o’clock, on January 23, April 16, August 5, December 2. Vice-Admiralty Court, at ten o clock, ou January 23, April 16, August 5, Decernl)6r 2. The Auckland “ Herald” states that Mr Farnall, M.H.R., has accepted an appointment under the General Government in connection with the immigration scheme, and proceeds to Europe by the ship City of Auckland. His seat in the Assembly will of course become vacant.

After a duration of a week the strike in the building trade was brought to a conclusion on Saturday, the meeting of carpenters and joiners, held at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, having decided to accept the final offer of the master builders as embodied in the resolutions passed by them as the result of their interview with the deputation from the men. The resolutions were: —1. That forty-six hours constitute the week’s work. 2. That the employees be paid by the hour. 3. That the question of wages be a matter of arrangement between each employer and his men. 4. That the number of working hours per day be eight, excepting on Saturdays, when the hands shall work six hours, finishing the day at three o’clock. 5. That the foregoing rules be binding on all the master builders of Wellington. We are glad to learn that Mr Andrew Young, of Cobb and Co, has purchased the interest of the late Mr Shepherd in the coach line between Wanganui and Taranaki, and that now a direct line of uninterrupted communication is established between Wellington and New Plymouth. One good result of this arrangement is that the through fares will be considerably reduced, and we may be sure from the experience this province has had of the indefatigable efforts of Mr Young to open up its interior communication that the new line will be expeditiously aud punctually managed. Passengers may now book with Cobb and Co direct through to New Plymouth at rates considerably below those charged "while the line was under separate management. The theatrical performance given by the amateurs of the various volunteer corps in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on Monday evening, was remarkably successful. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Bowen, and family honored the company by their presence, and the Hall was well filled. A guard of honor received his Excellency on his arrival, and, by the permission of Captain Pearce, the band of the Volunteer Artillery attended, and enlivened the interludes of the performance. The following is the text of the Juries Act passed during last session of the General Assembly The verdict of not less than five-sixths of any jury empannelled to try any issues or to inquire of or assess damages in any civil cause shall be taken and accepted as and shall have all the consequences of a verdict of any such jury under the existing laws relating to juries ; provided that no vordiet not arrived at unanimously shall be taken till the jury have retired for a period of at least six hours aud have intimated to the Judge presiding at the trial that they have considered their verdict and that there is no probability of their being unanimous. The importance of a few minutes delay was brought into prominence last Friday morning in the Supreme Court. Mr Borlase appeared on behalf of the Bank of New Zealand to oppose the discharge of Charles Seacombe, but as he could not positively aver that the debt due to his clients had been proved, and there being no other opposition, the bankrupt was discharged. His Honor had scarely retired from the bench when a telegram was placed in Mr Borlase’s hands, conveying the intelligence that the debt had been proved and the usual formalities complied with. If the message had been delivered first in the Supreme Court, instead of at the learned counsel’s office, it might have affected the case. As it was, it came too The cup presented by Shaw, Savill and Co for competition at the Wellington Regatta, was exhibited last week. This, with the two others to be rowed for, should create an incentive greater than has existed previous to any other anniversary celebration. Altogether the Regatta Committee offer £llO, which will be divided amongst fourteen events. It turns out that the latest telegram received from England was not supplied by “ Reuter” to Greville and Co, but that the “ New Zealand Herald” was indebted to a private source for information that on the 12th December the Prince ot Wales had passed a restless night and that the symptoms of his disease were less encouraging. From the same source we are informed that the Prince contracted his illness at Lord Londesborough’s house, near Scarborough, Yorkshire, and that several guests who visited the house at the time were attacked with fever, amongst them the Earl of Chesterfield, who has since died. On Friday and Saturday evenings the settlers at Kaiwaiwai never retired to rest owing to the bush fire that was raging, and which threatened the destruction of their homesteads, but it spent itself before inflicting any great damage. This was not the case with a fire which burst out on the main road leading to Morrison s Bush, on Monday morning, and which rapidly spread over a paddock belonging to Mr Tocker, burning down his fences, and doing other injury. At one time it was feared the whole plain would be on fire, but the wind not being very strong at the time it was with some difficulty kept under, assistance having come from GreytowD, Tauherenikau and elsewhere. It did most damage on Mr Yennell’s run, destroying 4000 acres of grass and about

two miles of substantial fencing. A temporary lull and change in the wind prevented the destruction of Battersea House, which was at one time in great danger. The heat is intense this (Tuesday) ingA few days ago we intimated that a new code of regulations under which assisted passages would be granted to immigrants from the old country had been published in the General Government Gazette. These regulations have been re-issued, and are accompanied by the form which must be filled in by persons in the colony applying for passages for friends in England. It will be remembered that under an act of last session the emigration arrangements of all parts of the colony were taken out of the hands of the Provincial Governments and placed in the charge of the General Government, and amongst other matters in connection with the emigration scheme the Government were instructed principally to bring out immigrants nominated by persons living in the colony who guaranteed their passages. Under the new regulations persons in the colony applying for nominated passages on behalf of their friends are required to pay the sum of £5 for each adult, and £2 10s for each child between the ages of one and twelve years. Infants in arms, under one year, free. This rate being only ’for the ship passage from England to the colony, the cost of reaching the port of sailing in Europe and proceeding up the country to their friends after arrival in the colony, will have to be defrayed by the emigrants themselves. Another regulation stipulates that free passages will be granted to single women between the ages of 12 and 35, provided they are able to produce proof of good character to the satisfaction of the AgentGeneral in London. In the event of any emigrants declining to emigrate, whatever money may have been deposited with the Government will be returned to the applicants so soon as the Agent-General in England shall have apprised the Government thereof; but in the event of any Emigrants applied for accepting the offer of a passage in a particular ship, and so, by failing to present themselves for embarkation at the time arid port appointed by the Agent-General in England for the sailing of such ship, be left behind, the passage money and passages will be forfeited. The Agent-General in London will have power to refuse passages where the intending Emigrants are in ill health, or in any way unfitted, according to his judgment, to undertake the voyage. Even the sanctity of a place of worship is not secure from the depredations of the miserable thieves of the city who deliberately lay themselves out for the commission of theft of the most contemptible kind. On Friday night last the Jewish Synagogue on the Terrace was broken into, and several articles forming part of the regalia employed in carrying out the tenets of Judaism stolen. Wholesale plunder seemed to be the plan laid down for accomplishment, as the whole of the valuables, equal to something considerable in specie, were carefully packed and placed so as to be conveniently at hand for removal without difficulty on tho return journey, which the finding of the articles in the position mentioned proves to have been unexpectedly interrupted. This is not the worst of tho business, however, for traces of an intention to commit a still more heinous offence were also discovered. The floor of the building was saturated with kerosene, and the only hypothesis in this matter bearing the semblance of probability is that on the removal of the second load of valuables the place was to be set on fire, so that the idea of the commission of a robbery might never suggest itself unless by the failure to discover the molten metal among the ruins. The building was watched by the police during the whole of the night succeeding the day of the discovery, but the thieves appear to have been birds at a stage of development quite equal to the ruse contre ruse kind of strategem. Hot the slightest clue has been obtained as to who the marauders are, but when found they will no doubt be made examples of in a way befitting their deserts. Wantonness and cupidity of such a description must needs be dealt with by no feeble band. This and another case of a week ago point to the necessity of some action being taken by the Government, say, the offering of a reward of £IOO or so for the evidence of an accomplice such as would convict the actual culprit. At the firing for the district representatives at the Adelaide Butts on Monday, only one member out of the eleven who fired succeeded in qualifying. Although the weather was thought by people not immediately concerned to be exceedingly fine, in actual test it proved not to be so, in consequence of aggravating puffs of wind which blew across the range in opposite directions defying all attempts at allowance for windage. This may be better understood by the mention , of the fact that Mr M'Tavish, justly considered the most steady shot of our volunteers, failed to qualify at any stage. The first stage fired was at the 200 and ! 300 yards ranges, and two of the eleven : passed ; Craig, of the Veterans, making

31, and Gray, of Ho 1, making the exact number required—3o. The ranges for the next stage were 400, 500, and 600, and Gray again managed to make the exact number, the last shot being a most lucky one, as nothing but a bull’s-eye would make the total required. This he fortunately made, and the 40 points constituted him the only representative which Wellington will hnve at the firing for the colonial prizes. The Porirua men fired on Saturday last, and succeeded in obtaining three representatives: Lieut. Greer, 74; Private Greer, 75; and Private Gordon. 74. A meeting of the members of the Horticultural Society was held on Thursday night iu the side room of the Odd Fellows’ Hall, but in consequence of tire unusual manner in. which the preliminary proceedings were conducted we are unable to inform our readers of the nature of the subsequent business done. Our reporter complains of the careful abstinence on the part of the officers from any attempt to provide accommodation for the representatives of the press, who were present to report the proceedings. On this point we take the opportunity of repeating a reminder we have employed in one or two similar instances of recent occurrence, and that is, if public bodies desire their proceedings to be reported they must exercise some little foresight in providing the very scant accommodation which a reporter always expects to find. Of this, however, we do not much complain; the want may have been the result of oversight, not neglect. But we may reasonably complain that not even the usual courtesy was shown of placing the Report of the Directors of the society at the disposal of the reporters. We should have been glad to further the interests of the society by publishing the report had it been supplied to our reporter in the usual manner. A native named Arawara, resident at Waikanae, has committed suicide by blowing out his brains. The suicide had been unwell for the past eighteen months, and becoming tired of a lingering existence with no prospect of recovery relieved his melancholy in the manner above stated. We learn from our Aucklaud files that the Government of that province have received the sum of £20,000 from the General Government, as payment for the land purchased by the province for the Auckland and Drury railway. Mr Walker, the champion rifleman, has forwarded to Dunedin an intimation that he is willing to meet Mr Christie again should the latter feel inclined to issue a challenge. Mr Walker thus makes known his feelings in consequence of the statement which appeared in the telegrams in'thenewspaper stating that Mr Christie’s friends were anxious that he should fire again. Mr Walker explains that the £IOOO is too much for him to find, but be is willing to “ go” £250, and has no doubt his friends will find the remainder. If Mr Christie will agree to fire in Auckland, Mr Walker is willing to have a new rifle range built, each to practise on it for a fortnight or so after Mr Christie’s arrival, and everything to be definitely settled previous to making a start. If Mr Christie so desires, Mr Walker will not have the range built until he arrives. Mr Walker also says that he has written to Sydney regarding the rules disputed on the last occasion, and, though he does not say so, the arm that is sure to be used is Mr Walker’s favorite small bore. Mr Walker concludes by expressing his willingness to meet Mr Christie “ on level terms, the best man to win.” The South Melbourne Gas Company, now being formed, will supply gas at a maximum price of 9s per 1000 cubic feet. The ratepayers of the Upper Muugaroa Road District are notified that the assessment for 1872 can be seen at the Post office, Upper Hutt, objections to which will be heard at the Highland Home, on Thursday the 18th inst, at 2 p.m. The whole of the Chinese population of Wellington was iu Court on Saturday last, the occasion being , the hearing of two cases which constituted the whole of the business done. Since the affair of Ah Eook the Mongolians seem to have lost heart in the effort to sustaiu the favorable opinion their energy and industry had gained for them amongst their European neighbors, and, the spell having been broken, they are gradually brushing aside the restraining barriers of public decorum and self-respect. The garden on ihe Adelaide Road furnished another Court case, in which an emente was narrowly avoided, a timely recourse to the assistance of a policeman preventing an appeal to the bowie. Ah Gee, the man stabbed by Ab Fook, appeared • to give evidence, which he did in a very clear manner. He had all tiie appearance of being very weak, which is not surprising after the statement of Dr Grace that his recovery was miraculous. In connection with the stabbing of a man, the knife with which the wound was inflicted can only be correctly described as a murderous looking one, being a large butcher’s knife with a point favorable to making an entrance and gradually extending to a width of an inch and a-half. The blade is about eight inches long, more than three ,

'inches of which had penetrated the proj secutor’s body in a particularly dangerous | region, the direction from which the I thrust was made fortunately avoiding a vital organ. The prosecutor in this case, and the witnesses in tho other, being faithful disciples of Confucius, took the oath after the beautifully simple manner of blowing out a lighted candle. All Eook seemed to feel his position very much, and showed no disposition to question the truth of the statements made by the witnesses. His nervousness was so great that when asked to sign the paper in answer to the question whether he had anything to say why he should not be committed for trial, he could not, although he made several attempts to do so. A meeting of the settlers of the Lower Wairarapa Valley was held at the Wharekaka Hotel, Waihanga, on Saturday last, when certain proposals which had been made by the Provincial Government were taken into consideration. It appears that the Government had forwarded a plan of a punt for the Waihanga Ferry, the estimated cost of which was £260. The Government proposed to pay a moiety of this amount on the condition that the settlers contributed the other moiety. To this proposal the settlers would not object if the whole of the grant to this province out of the £IOO,OOO allotted to road boards by the Payment to Provinces Act be so allotted ; but if. on the contrary, a portion of that grant is reserved for provincial purposes, then the settlers intend that the cost of the punt should be paid wholly by the Government. A circular letter from the Provincial Secretary was read stating that the sum allocated to the Lower Valley road district out of the grant in question was £79 16s, though the amount of £3OO had been raised in rates for the present year. After some discussion, R. Barton, Esq, J.P., was voted to the chair, and the following resolutions were adopted: That this meeting expresses its great disapprobation of the smallness of the amount of the grant in aid of the rates allotted to this district; a heavy rate having been readily assented to by the ratepayers under the expectation that at least an equivalent amount would be pro vided by the Provincial Government. That the Payment to Provinces Act having financially benefited the Provincial Government of Wellington there is no sufficient reason for withdrawing from the District Road Councils any portion of the grant of £IOO,OOO made by the General Legislature for the purpose of assisting in the making of roads. This meeting is therefore of opinion that the whole of the road grant should be appropriated to assisting the various districts in the formation of roads. That if this course be adopted the district will gladly contribute its fair share of the cost of the erection of a punt, but this meeting is of opinion that if such course be not adopted the cost of erection should be paid by theGovernmentoutof that portion of the £IOO,OOO grant paid over to Provincial Governments for provincial purposes. A resolution was carried to the effect that in the opinion of the meeting the District Highways Act should be amended at the forthcoming session of the Provincial Council, with the object of revising the boundaries of proposed districts, so that they may be rendered more workable, and of introducing such other alterations as may be necessary to remove existing objections. There is a general impression that the present districts are too large to enable them to work satisfactorily ; and while such an impression exists it will tend to increase the difficulty complained of. The following is the report of the committee of councillors appointed to inquire I into the system by which the accounts of the City Council are kept:—l. That the collector of rates shall be furnished with one hundred receipts at a time, each receipt being stamped with an impression of the City Council seal crossed with the Mayor’s initial for the Corporation’s security, and that at certain periods the collector’s statements of receipts shall be checked by an officer of the Council. 2. That all accounts presented for payment shall be accompanied by an order from some officer of the Corporation authorising such expenditure, and also by a receipt from some officer attending to the delivery of the goods for which payment is sought. 3. That when the statement of the bank account, is given the clerk shall also state at each meeting the exact amount of rates in arrears and the rates lie has collected in the interim, instead of quarterly as heretofore. 4. The present system of book-keeping is to be reported upon by the Town Clerk to the Committee, and on the result of that report decision will be taken as to the future system. With reference to the negotiations going on in England for the formation'of a company to work the iron sand at Taranaki, the “ Taranaki Herald” of the 10th instant says : —Letters from Mr Chilman were received by the mail yesterday which state that although nothing definitely has been settled with regard to the formation of a company, yet the negotiations he has been engaged in are progressing. Mr Chilman, we learn, will return to the

colony by the mail steamer which leaves England on the Ilth January, and may therefore be expected to arrive here about the end of February or beginning of March.

We have had the pleasure of witnessing during the last few weeks several trials of Mr Pownall’s flax scraping machine,, and inspecting the improvements whiclu the inventor has found desirable from* time to time. And we are glad to say that according to all appearances Mr Pownall has succeeded in effecting alterations which make bis machine the most perfect and efficient of any that we have seen in the colony. Some difficulty was experienced at first owing to the tendency of the fibre to catch in the scrapers and become involved in the machinery, but that has now been entirely obviated. The present machine consists of two small cylinders connected by spur gear. Upon each of them are securely fixed eight quarter-inch raised steel springs—four being sustaining and four scraping. As the cylinders revolve together, the' scraper upon one is brought into close contact with the sustainer on the other, and this action is then reversed, thus , alternately scraping both sides of the split leaf of flax as it passes through the cylinders. The contact of the springs is regulated by adjusting screws upon an India rubber lied fixed on the bearings,, notwithstanding there are only four scrapers, the small feeding rollers, which, are planed out of wrought iron, are made to travel at one-half the speed of the cylinders (about six hundred revolutions), being as fast as the flax can be fed into the machine, every part of which is strongly and perfectly finished to enable it, without any disarrangement, to withstand a large amount of wear and tear, and much praise is due to Mr Hurley, the engineer, of this town, for having so speedily brought it to its present working perfection. The flax comes out of this machine almost entirely clean fibre, only very minute particles of the cuticle remaining quite loose on tho outside* which shake off when the fibre is dried. The flax seems to require little or no-after-treatment, except drying and cutting off the extreme end which has. escaped the action of the scrapers. The fibre is not in the least degree injured ; there is no percussion on the leaf, but a regular scrape, which strips off the epedermis as cleanly as a Maori could do it with his shell. The color is preserved a clear cream, and young leaves come from the machine and dry a perfect white. We took samples from the machine just as they passed through it, and having them in our office, we find that the remaining scurf easily shakes off after drying, and the fibre is clean and strong. A paragraph has been going the round of the papers praising flax produced by a machine said to have beeu invented by Mr White, of Auckland, samples of which he had sent home, and also to the Elax Exhibition at Wellington. Mr White applied for letters patent for his alleged invention, and lodged a provisional specification, which appeared, on investigation, to be nearly a fac simile of Mr Pownall’s flax scraping machine under a new title of “ friction or rubbing.” Opposition was lodged by Mr Pownall, under the Amended Patents Act, and Mr White has been obliged to withdraw his application for the granting of a patent. Mr Pownall has submitted to us some samples of flax—or phormium fibre,” which we believe to be the correct designation—■ which after having passed through his machine were subjected to a simple process of brushing afterwards so as to remove the whole of the particles of skin that were left in a loose state after the first process. We have compared these samples with others the produce of Constable’s process, and we have no hesitation in saying that the fibre of Mr Pownall’s manufacture is greatly superior. The clear white or cream color so much desired by buyers in the old country is satisfactorily preserved without any deterioration of the fibre. Some time ago a paragraph went the round of the Auckland papers conveying the purport of a letter received by a Mr White of Auckland from a person in Scotland, which was to the effect that £75 per ton would bo readily given for thirty or forty tons per month, if the fibre were equal to that sent home for examination. As it has been proved that Mr White's process was a piracy of that invented by Mr Pownall, the public will be able to understand tho real value of Mr Pownall’s invention—an attempt to take advantage of which was recently defeated by Mr Pownall under the Patents Act, Mr White being the trespasser upon the rights of the real inventor. The Government are pushing on tho public works in the Aucklaud province. We take the following from tho Herald” of the 11 th instant, with regard to the coal mine line at Kuwakawa:—• Our readers are aware that among the works authorised last session of the General Assembly was the construction of a railway from the Kawakawa coal mine to deep water. The length of the proposed line is eight miles, and the amount on which interest may be guaranteed is

£40,000, or at the rate of £SOOO per mile. This estimate, we understand, includes a wharf at the place of shipment. We are glad to find that steps are being taken to have this important work initiated without delay. So far as the Provincial Government is concerned, they showed every disposition to effect an arrangement, by means of which the Bay of Islands Coal Company can avail itself of the liberal provisions in the Public Works and Bailway Acts of last session. The Colonial Government, by virtue of the powers conferred by the above-named acts, are prepared to made the line to deep water, the coal mine and mining districts adjacent being assigned by the province as security for the expenditure, The company, on its part, gives ample security to the province. With the view of initiating this important colonial public work, the Minister for Public Works (Mr Ormond), the Superintendent (Mr Gillies), and Mr Whitaker, on behalf of the Bay of Islands Coal Company, proceeded to Bussell yesterday, in the p.s. Comerang. which was chartered for the occasion. These gentlexnen were accompanied by Mr Carrutlieis (Colonial Engineer-in-Chief), Mr Brogden, and Mr Henderson, C.E. Mr Carruthers will lay off the line of railway when in the district; and it is presumed that Mr Brogden will undertake the work. However that may be, it is certain that it will not be long delayed, now that a start has virtually been made. Early last Saturday a gentleman residing at VVadestown discovered that his dog, an old harmless pet of the family, had been cut in a most brutal manner. On Wednesday morning another dog in the same district was found to have been cut in a similar way. In both cases drops of blood were traced sofar as to fix the locality of the commission of the offence, and a clue of evidence is already in hand which is confidently expected to lead to the conviction of the guilty party. There can be no excuse for wanton cruelty; the law provides for the death of trespassing dogs, but protects them from inhumanity. The “Thames Guardian” of the 28th ultimo informs us that Hori, one of the party of Todd’s murderers, is dead. He died at Hauturu; he was the man that wounded the half-caste Nopera. Mr J. E. Erringer, the gentleman who arrived in the Nebraska and furnished to New Zealand the latest and most interesting item of information as to the condition of the Prince of Wales, is Ihe representative of the Pennsylvania Baiiroad Company, of San Francisco. He has proceeded to Sydney, in companv with the Hon. Julius Vogel and Mr W. H. Webb, his object being to assist, on behalf of his company, in obtaining the co operation of the Australian Governments in continuing the line of steamers light through to Australia. By our files we observe that President Grant’s message recommends that the Webb’s line should be substantially subsidized by Congress ; and, no doubt, the suggestion will fructify in the next session of the American Parliament. We have every confidence that the visit of Mr Webb to Australia, in company with the Colonial Treasurer, will result in the eventual co-operation of our feilow-colonists of Victoria and New South Wales in carrying out and firmly establishing the San Francisco, New Zealand, and Australian Mail Service. To assist in the accomplishment of so desirable a coalition it is almost an essential consideration that New Zealand should consent to forego the luxury which experience has proved to be the weak part in the contract, namely, the needless and expensive condition which renders it imperative that these large steamers shall call at all the coast ports from Auckland to Port Chalmers. If the people of this colony can so far exercise a wise discretion as to subdue or entirely obliterate local prejudices on this point there seems little ground for fear that the negotiations with the Australian Government will be suecessful. Apropos of Dr Featherston s success in North Germany, we are informed that Mr C. A. Curtis, of Ingestre street, in this city, some months ago wrote to the “ Nord Deutsche Zeitung, ’ the “ Breslauer Zeitung,” and two other papers circulating among the agricultural districts of North Germany (to the columns of which papers Mr Curtis has access), describing Dr Featherston’s mission to England and the inducements which New Zealand held out to agricultural settlers. Mr Curtis has frequently seen large numbers of German immigrants leaving their native country for the United States; they consisted chiefly of the younger sons of farmers, and they invariably took with them small capitals, ranging from £SO to £250. Being of the opinion that a similar class of settlers might be induced to come out here, with advantage both to the colony and themselves, he wrote the letters referred to, which, no doubt, com ing from a fellow-countryman who has resided several years in New Zealand, have been of some assistance to Dr Featherston. The agricultural population of North Germany are intelligent and well educated. They are also likely to readily assimilate themselves with the customs and institutions of this colony.

Some time ago it was stated that several of the Norwegian settlers at Palmerston had left that district for Napier. A correspondent at Palmerston sends in the following upon this subject:—“ I notice in your issue of the 30th December your own correspondent says that several of the last immigrants are on the move for Napier, where work is more plentiful. This seems to imply that the Norwegians are leaving the district, and apt to mislead the nublic at large. Had your correspondent said that one married couple had left he would have been more correct; several of the single men go to and from Napier, yet I believe all look upon this place as their permanent home. The one in question, who has only earned £lB since his arrival, has been unable to go 1 far from his home, owing to sickness in his family. All have had every opportunity of earning good wages at Government work had they chosen to accept of it. As in all communities, here we have some grumblers who are full of complaints and refuse to work, except at most exorbitant rate of wages. I hear of one married man who is threatening to prosecute the Government for not giving him work, and to my certain knowledge he has had work offered him by Government and private individuals, but declines to take it except at very high wages. Upon the whole we may conclude that the majority of the Norwegians are satisfied with their location, and that the Government scheme, so far as they are concerned, is a complete success.” We take the following from the Wanganui “ Herald” of the 18th inst:—The alienation of land from the natives is a part of the Government policy which is being carried out on a small scale in this district. The natives are very anxious to sell, and small patches of good land are likely to be acquired within a few months. Major Kemp is negotiating with his countrymen for the block of 46,000 acres on the Turakina river, and Colonel M'Donnell has had several conferences lately respecting other blocks on the Wanganui- The amount of land which is likely to be purchased in this way is considerable, and we presume the Government intend making immediate use of it in settling immigrants thereon. Colonel Fielding’s experiment in the Manawatu country may be followed by others, and the accession to the agricultural population ought to be considerable with the next few years. There are few who can be aware of the vast quantity of confiscated land in the colony which is now inviting population ; and strangers might possibly suppose from the purchases referred to that the land available for settlement was in proportion to the wants of the latter comparatively meagre. A return of the confiscated lands has just been published, in which 1 we find a total area of 3,940,000 acres, > of which 1,580,178 acres are now “ available for sale.” This enormous quantity of land will provide in the most liberal manner for all the immigrants we are likely to receive lor a long time to come. To come within our immediate limits, we find at Patea a confiscated area of 360,000 acres, and at Okatuku 138,000 acres, all under the jurisdiction of Mr Commissioner Pharazyn. Of this there have been given in reserves to natives 30,000 acres, military settlers and immigrants 45.000 acres, and land sold for cash or scrip 1703 acres. Takingthequantity disposed of in these ways there remain at the disposal of the Government 421,297 acres. If we acceptthereasonable hypothesis that through rebellion the native reserves have been forfeited, this amount would be in creased by the sum of 30,000. Out of this, we have Mr Fox’s authority for stating that 100,000 acres might be thrown open for settlement to-morrow, or Mr Wray’s (this gentleman is a surveyor at Patea) that 137,000 are available for the same purpose. To some of this land the Wanganui natives have preferred a claim, and it is expected that by the assistance of a Maori expert who arrived here the other day from the East Coast, Mr Pharazyn will be able to clear tbe whole of the land from the incubus of loyal native demands.

Where tbe digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying the foundation for Counsmnption and Wasting, the use of Savory & Moores’s Pancreatic Emulsion and Pancreatine, already so highly approved by the Medical faculty, will be found among the most potent remedial agents ; they effect the digestion of Cod Liver Oil and prevent nausea, while they efficiently supply the place o fthe oil when the stomach rejects it. These facts are attested by the published records of medical men, extracts from which accompany each bottle, price from 2s to 21s. Savory & Moore, 143, New Bond Street, London, and all Chemists. Note— Savory & Moore’s name and trade mark on each bottle. April 22 1871. 52w -

The §l2 Lever Watch, No. 13,580, pur chased from Chas. P. Norton & Co. 86 Nassau street, New York, January sth, has been carried by me over six months, with a total variation in time of only 26 seconds, without the slightest regulating, and presents the same brilliancy of color a 3 when purchased. JAS. R. WILSON, Sec. American S. M. Co. N. Y., New York, July 10, 1870.

The attractions offered for the disposal of time on Monday, are of a nature sufficientlv diversified to suit all inclinations. The chief of these, and the one which, will of course be most extensively patronised is the regatta in our own harbor, and we are justified in the statement that the races of Monday will be as closely contested as those of any previous year. The crews are as equally balanced as it is possible they could be, though as is usual,® each is confident of success. Certain it is that all have been hard at work for the last three weeks, and an additional amount of enthusiasm has been imparted to those engaged in the great pulling races of the day by the entrance of Mr Lennox’s new boat. Of the sailing races very little has been said and it is probable that the feature of interest in the s ailing races of last year will be absent ou Monday, namely, the entrance of the Minnehaha and other Nelson cracks. As a rule there are persons in every community who fail to dis cover any delight or amusement in either sailing or pulling races, and for this section is provided a trip to the Hutt or a share in the alfresco enjoyments provided by the Bechabites at Mr Tuchen’s paddock. The Hutt fete offers an inducement of which no doubt both old and young will avail themselves. An enticing programme has been prepared in which is comprised a cricket match between the Star Cricket. Club of Wellington and eleven Hutt cricketers, other sports being provided for the remainder of the assemblage. A luncheon consisting of all procurable delicacies is promised and is included in the charge for admission to the grounds, which is half-a-crown. The Bechabite picnic is not noticeable for any particularly defined programme. The members of the Order will assemble at their usual place of meeting, the Presbyterian Schoolroom, where a procession will be formed, and, beaded by the Garrison Bund, will proceed to the ground chosen, from which the various events in the regatta will be visible. Various games will be provided for the indulgence of the agile, and a large marquee for those who prefer quietness-and shade. The charge for admittance to the ground is 6d, and this includes the right of entry to the grand stand or marquee. The success of the good things mapped out for Monday hinge upon one commonplace consideration the state of the weather.

Horace Snelgar, the man charged with lunacy last week, was brought up at the B,esident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, and discharged, the week s abstinence from alcohol having completely restored him to reason and to comfort. On being discharged, he expressed his determination never to touch drink again. “Incorrigible Poll” (Mary Ann M'Gregor), who had been out on the spree all night, and applied to be locked up only a few hours before the sitting of the Court, appeared to make response to the familiar sound of the words, “ drunk and disorderly—what have you to say ?” “ Guilty, your Worship ; guilty to all of it.” “Then you are sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.” “Thank you.” And being half sprung, Poll made a whole spring out of the box with a jaunty air, apparently quite delighted.

An accident of a distressing nature occurred on the Tinakori road last Thursday, by which a son of Captain Croucher had his thigh broken. It appears a man named Andrews was in the habit of driving up to Mrs Croucher’s door, where the children usually ran out to meet him. On the day of the accident they did so, and just as Andrews drew up his horse the lad to whom the accident happened climbed up the shaft, but before he’was safely seated some children who were standing by addressed the orthodox directions to the horse to move on, which he did rather suddenly and threw young Crouclier to the ground. The dray was rather heavily loaded with timber, and one of the wheels passing over the boy’s body in an oblique direction from the right shoulder fractured his thigh close to the abdomen ; so close, indeed that had the wheel passed over the body two inches higher the accident must have proved fatal. The little sufferer is in a fair way of recovery, the fractured limb having been safely set. This is the second accident of the kind he has sustained, his collar bone having been broken on the former . occasion. The occurrence of Thursday vas purely accidental,the driver of the cart being a person very fond, of the children and very careful in attending to his horse.

The “Daily Times” informs us that what is believed to be an important discovery has been recently made on Islay Station, near theMataura.in the discovery of a seam of coal, which is said every sense to be equal to the best English coal, giving forth a strong glow and caking in the same manner as the home coal. Our informant, who saw it burning, tells us that from the bituminous matter it exhibits when burning it contains gas. As the coal is near the surface, and only partially explored, the extent of the seam cannot be ascertained. It is within eight

miles of the line of the Southern Trunk Bailway, and should it prove equal to present appearances there is no doubt an important discovery has been made. The balance of immigration over emigration in the province of Otago for the quarter ended Dec. 31st, 1871, was 2516 males and 394 females, including 1903 Chinese. The Dunedin “ Evening Star” is indebted to the Superintendent of Otago for the following :—A seam of good coal, ten feet thick, has been struck at Orepuki, and traced for three miles where it increased to fifteen feet thick. A tramway might be made through Totara Groves fit for railway sleepers. The country is auriferous. The distance is fifteen miles to Biverton, and the tramway would serve as a road for the goldfields. We copy the following from a letter to the editor of the “ Pall Mall Gazette “ I notice that several correspondents in the daily papers have recommended strawhats, or a cabbage leaf, as a protection against sunstroke. The theory involved in this suggestion is diametrically opposed to the prevailing practice throughout tbe East, where the natives generally wear a thick turban, especially when travelling in the sun. In like manner the roving Bedouin, in addition to his long hair, covers his head, face, and neck with a thick doubled keffiah, bound round the head with several coils of rope made of camel’s hair. Our countrymen in India, civil and military, have learnt to imitate this custom by investing their ordinary tops with a padded covering of white cloth, to which a flap is attached protecting the nape of the neck. But does sunstroke result directly from the sun falling on the head ? My impression is that it does not, but that it is rather, in the first place, a consequence of physical exhaustion induced by fatigue or otherwise, in very hot weather, thereby leaving tbe system powerless to resist the direct action of the sun. If this view is correct, then the best precaution against sunstroke would be to guard against exhaustion. Laborers and others, when exposed to the sun, should not be overworked, and when at work should be provided with plenty of water to drink, which is one of the best preventatives against exhaustion under such circumstances. Allow me to illustrate this by a striking instance in point. The town of Mogul is about ten miles distant from the village of Telkeif. Year after year numerous casualties from sunstroke occurred among tbe wayfarers between the two places. There was not a drop of water to be found on the road, and the villagers generally were too lazy or indifferent to carry it with them. At the suggestion of a medical man the Pasha of the district ordered a supply of water to be provided midway between the town and village from a convent at some distance off the highway. I can testify from personal knowledge that fir several years after cases of sunstroke on the road were of rare occurrence.” On the writing desk of the Bev Mr Watson, whose murder of his wife has occasioned so much excitement in England, were found several manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts are in Latin, and among them has been found written on an ordinary slip of paper, and lying ou the corner of the table, the following, under the circumstances, somewhat extraordinary one: —“Felix in omnibus, fere rebus prseterquam quod ad saxum attinet feemineum. Ssepe olim amanti nociufc semper amare.” Which may be thus freely translated—“ Happy in almost all things except so far as concerns a woman as hard as a stone. It has often ere now hurt a loving person to persist in loving or always to love.” The “ Evening Herald,” of the 4th inst, states a circular has been received at Bangitikei from the Post Office, in which the name Bangitikei is objected to for the township, and giving the residents twelve days in which to select another, otherwise a name will be chosen for them. Tbe “ Herald” proceeds to say that the settlers are firm, and adhere to the resolution to stand by Bangitikei. If the Post Office authorities give it a new name, it will not be recognised in correspondence. When the prison gang were returning from work on Wednesday afternoon one of the prisoners, a Greek, named George Angell, attempted to address his Excellency the Governor, who was passing at the time, his object for so doing being that he might obtain a remission of the sentence he is undergoing, which is for life. This is the second offence of the kind against the same man, and he is to be brought before the visiting justices for punishment. The “ Boss News” states that the claim belonging to Mr Cassius, of Hokitika, at Boss, has turned out splendidly, and, although the owner does not wish his returns known, we have good reason to believe that its profits have for some months exceeded £IOOO per week. Its owner is now reported to have bought the adjoining claim, in which all is ready for deepening the shaft, and no doubt another good claim will soon be opened there,

We are informed by the “Lyttelton Times” that a few nights ago a shocking occurrence took place in Christchurch. At about 10 o’clock loud screams were heard to emanate from a house occupied by a Mrs Barnard, in Taylor’s lane, off Madras street north, and it was . found that the wearing apparel of the unfortunate woman bad caught fire. Before the flames could be extinguished very severe injuries were sustained by Mrs Barnard, and it is possible they will prove fatal. She was intoxicated when discovered, and when taken to the hospital, by the police, was quite insensible. Nothing is known as to how the occurrence originated. The following relates to the strike of policemen in Canterbury. The “ Lyttelton Times” of the 17th says The action of the Provincial Council in reference to the reduction in the pay to sergeants and constables of the police, brought about a very serious contretemps yesterday. During the morning all the men stationed in Christchurch sent in their resignations, and in the afternoon refused to go on duty, whilst from every outstation within reach of the telegraph resignations also came to hand. The matter had in fact resolved itself into a strike, which has every appearance of being taken up throughout the province. For some considerable time there was nota policeman to be seen on duty in the city, and the citizens were general in expressing their opinion that the attempt to reduce the rate of pay to present members of the force was a step in the wrong direction. Inspector Pender, on being informed that the men refused to go on duty, and that those- on duty had returned to the depot, communicated with the Commissioner, who at once waited upon the Provincial Secretary to lay the matter before the Executive. On returning thence, he ordered the men to parade, and informed them that the Government had not yet reduced the rate of pay, and that, before doing so. a month’s notice would be given to all members of the force. Under these circumstances, be would give them ten minutes to consider whether they would resume duty, and, after a brief consideration, they decided to do so, but with the understanding that immediately notice was given of a reduction in their pay, they would discontinue their services. The Provincial Secretary made an explanation to the Council last night. The first Parliament of Fiji has had a sitting, and from the results obtained representative government seems fairly and satisfactorily established. A gentleman writing to the “New Zealand Herald’’ describes the effect of the doings in Parliament as likely to exercise a good effect upon the islanders. He states that the session has just closed, after sitting six weeks, and all feel pretty sure of the success of the movement now, as all the chiefs have given in their allegiance, including Tui Thakau, the principal chief from Vanua Levu, who has been the last to join. One of the greatest mountain chiefs has come in, which will make it comparatively easy to conquer the inland tribes. In a telegraphic communication from Grahamstown the correspondent of the “New Zealand Herald” states that Mr Mackay has just come down the river, aud reports that every obstacle in the way of the erection of the telegraph has been overcome. He persuaded Mere Euru to take a trip in the Fairy. She was much pleased. They steamed down to Cashel’s and back. Mr Bayard Taylor, in a letter to the “ New York Tribune,” pays a well merited tribute to the qualifications of the Scandinavians as colonists. His estimate of the people is exceedingly high, higher even than that with which he credits the Germans. Although there may be diverse opinions on that particularity we are not disposed to be contentious with a man of such extended travel as Bayard Taylor. Describing a portion of his journey through America he says “ While the train halted,|l made the acquaintance of a Norwegian member of the Minnesota Legislature, who was fully American in his faith and expectations. He announced a large and continuous Scandinavian emigration to this region. After an experience of fifteen years, the Northern element may be considered as not only a successful but a highly important addition to our population. The Swedes and Norwegians learn and adapt themselves to our State and county organisation more readily than even the Germans. I am glad to find them as bright and simple-hearted and contented here as in Scania or the Guldbransal. There is in them the seed of a grand race of men and women.” Berkley, Sept. 1869.—Gentlemen, I feel it a duty I owe to you to express my gratitude for the great benefit I have derived by taking Norton’s Camomile Pills.’ I applied to your agents, Mr Bell Berkley, for the above named Pills, for wind in the stomach, for which I Buffered excruciating pain for a length of time, having tried every remedy perscribed, but without deriving any benefit at all. After taking two bottles of your valuable pills I was quite restored to my usual state of health. Please give this publicity for the benefit of those who may thus be afflicted.”—l am, Sir, yours truly, Henry Allpass.—To the proprietors of Norton’s Camomile Pills.

We learn from the Melbourne “Argus” that whereas the Education Board of Victoria asserts, in its own reports, that the attendance at schools in Victoria is better than in other parts of the world, the registrar-general shows that out of 370,883 children, 226,221, or more than half, attend no schools at all. Even these figures are open to correction, being only taken from statements made by parents, and made by them quite ad libitum, and in their own favor. These statistics show (an insignificant result) that 144,662 children in Victoria receive schooling; and of this number, again, it is said that 20,666 receive instruction at home, 30,542 attend unclassified schools, and 50,685 so-called private schools —about all of whom nothing is stated, how long they attend school in one or several years. According to a local account, Mr Hallenstein, mayor of Queenstown, is likely to have a walk over for the seat in the Assembly vacated by Mr Haughton. The “ Tuapeka Times” publishes some rumors on the subject, which must be taken cum grano. Mr Shepherd, it is stated, will resign his seat for the Dunstan district, and contest the election for Lake Wakatip, as that has been long his favorite constituency. It is also on the cards that Mr Bradshaw will accede to the request of his Teviot constituents, by resigning his seat for Waikaia district, and enter the lists for the representation of the latter district. Canterbury papers state that three whales were in Akaroa harbor on the 13th inst. When they were first observed, they were within a few chains of the beach fronting Mr E. C. Latters property and in very shoal water, quietly heading for the shore ; but apparently finding their position unsatisfactory, they turned about and made for deep water, when they sounded and got away. A boat was put off, but to no purpose. Mrs Watson, of the Tararua Ferry, had a narrow escape of being burned out a day or two ago in consequence of the raging of a bush fire in that neighborhood. The stable, which was situated only sixty yards from the dwelling house, was consumed.