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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4121, 5 June 1874, Page 2

Ouit Wairarapa correspondent, in the absence of any stirring items of news, has lately written some paragraphs suggestive of local wants and improvements. One of these relates to the introduction of the Malva shrub, regarding which, he says : " I desire to bring under the notice of the settlers of Wairarapa the advantages of introducing the Malva shrub from California. The National Agricultural Society of Melbourne having procured some of the seed from California through the British Consul there, reports the Malva shrub to be a beautiful evergreen, growing equally well in wet or dry seasons, on low lands or hill sides, regardless of climate or special cultivation, attaining an average height of thirty feet in five years from seed carelessly strewn. Sheep and cattle will leave clover to feed on the large juicy leaves of the Malva shrub, and cows give more and richer milk when feeding on it than from clover. Cattle only browse on the leaves, which are rapidly replaced. The plant blooms during nine months of the year, and bees work on the leaves all the time. The stem of the shrub, which attains eighteen inches in diameter, after lying on the ground in the rainy season, becomes partially decayed, and exhibits a mass of fine, delicate, and strong fibre, capable of being used in the same manner .as flax ; one acre of these trees, after the first growth, will yield ten times the fibrous material that an acre of flax would, with the advantage that little or no labor is required. Thus the trees will assist in attracting moisture to parched c ountries, feed cattle, sheep, and bees, and also produce at an early date an article of commercial value in its fibre. Where this plant is abundant fevers and sickness are rare, as it acts in the same manner as the sunflower, which is known to remove malaria. The season for sowing Malva seed is immediately before the winter rains commence, and the plant when ten inches high ought to be transplanted. Considering the introduction of the Malva shrub to Wairarapa might lead to great public benefit, it is to be hoped that some of our leading settlers will move the British Consul at California to procure some seed, so that wo may not be left behind in the race of progress. Although our flax mills are now closed here, perhaps a new industry may yet be organised to prepare the Malva fibre, to farm bees, and to increase our export of cheese, butter, beef and mutton, besides improving the salubrity of the fine climate of Wairarapa."

The Inspector of Lunatic Asylums in Victoria has laid before Parliament there a report for the year 1573 which shows that at the close of that period there were 2359 insane patients under treatment in the Asylums of the Colony. During the year there had been an increase in tho number of sufferers admitted of 83 over the number discharged. This was a favorable result rather than otherwise, as in 1572 the excess was 226, but it was obtained by the greater number of the patients discharged who had either been cured or relieved. The total number admitted to the asylum during the year was 585. The causes of their disease were set down as follows : —Accidents, 14 ; anxiety, 3 ; childbirth, 14 ; death in family, etc., 8; debility (mental and bodily), 13 ; diseases of the brain, etc., 2 ; disappointment, 7 ; delusion, 3 ; epilepsy, 0 ; exposure, 6 ; hereditary, G ; idiotcy, 5 ; imbecility, 5 ; intemperance, 130 ; jealousy, 3 ; loss of property, 11 ; abuse, 1 ; melancholy, 3 ; natural causes, 1 ; opium-eating, 1 ; religion, 28 ; sedentary habits, 3 ; sunstroke, 11 ; unknown, 301.

In Silver and Co.'s journal, The Colonies, published twice amonth in London, middle-class emigration is very strongly recommended. Persons possessing property of sufficient value to bring them in £SOO or £6OO per annum, are advised to proceed to the colonies and invest in land, which would most certainly become much more valuable as the resources of a colony were developed and its prosperity increased. A young man doing this would probably find himself in the possesion of a magnificent fortune, if spared to live to a good old age.; and the advantage to the colonies would lie great if a number of educated English gentleman wore settled, here and there, all over them. Such a class of settlers would necessarily have great weight and influence, which" would be thrown into the best scale. And they would infuse fresh ideas into the minds of the colonists with whom they came in contact. AVe admit the necessity that there is for laborers to be freely imported, but it is scarcely possible to overlook the fact that, if a better class of emigrants could be induced to come out, it would be well for NeVr Zealand. A correspondent of The Colonics, who writes to strongly back up the idea, signs himself "H. B. T. 5.." These are the initials of Mr. Henry Bull Templar Strangways, who was for many years a leading politician in South Australia.