New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 11, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 420, 11 August 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 11, 1849.

Through the kindness of Capt. Clark, of the Sisters, we have received a file of Hobart Town papers to July 26th. The latest English news via Port Phillip is to the 28th March, supplying many interesting particulars in addition to our previous intelligence via Sydney. They also contain important news from China and India via South Australia, of which we have made copious extracts. The news from India gives many interesting details of occurrences after the decisive battle of Goojerat. It is further staled that the Governor General in a proclamation dated 29th March, had declared the annexation of the Punjaub, and it was reported that an army of 8000 men would be required to be quartered in the conquered country. The followin g passage is extracted from the Governor General's proclamation :—: — "The Governor General of India has declared, and hereby proclaims, that the kingdom of the Panjaub is at an end ; and that all the territories of Maharaja Duleep Singh are now and henceforth a portion of the British empire in India."

Flax. — Experiments still continue to be repeated in the preparation of flax. We were shown some specimens prepared by Mr. Bannister from the green leaf by different processes, some by boiling, and others by steeping in cold water. We believe that common salt, with other substances, is used by Mr. Bannister for separating the fibre from the extraneous matter of the leaf. From the known properties of salt in attracting moisture, it will be a question how far the use of salt may affect the fibre, or whether this property of salt is neutralized by the other substances employed. In the mean time we hope the experiments will be repeated until a satisfactory conclusion is arrived at.