Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5070, 23 June 1877, Page 2

A strange report comes from Port Chalmers, the Press Agency reporting a tidal wave, the water rising and falling five inches in as many minutes. It is exceedingly strange that the wave should only have been noticed—at any rate reported—from one station, and we should be inclined to think that the disturbance must have been created by some local cause.

The defect in the time-ball apparatus was corrected yesterday, and the ball will again fall at 12 o’clock each day. Chronometer time will be given after observations with the transit instrument, for which a clear sky is wanted. The defect was a very simple one. The batteries were exhausted, and a pair of springs, which should be permanently closed to allow the passage of the electricity, had opened slightly. When these were closed all the gear was proved to be in perfect order. Due notice of a chronometer rating-day will be given in our shipping columns as before. An alarm of fire yesterday afternoon shortly after four o’clock caused a good deal of commotion in the city, and Manners-street was soon crowded with people all proceeding in the direction of the fire, which was ascertained to be at the Gasworks. The Wellington Brigade being nearest were first out, but tire Centrals soon followed with their carriage, drawn by two white horses. It appeared that the fire originated in the retort house. The hydraulic main overflowed, and the tar ran on to the benches iu the first room and ignited. Fortunately there was more smoke (which ascended in dense volumes) than danger, owing to the actives measures taken by the employes of the gas compauy. No water was allowed to be ussd, so that the otherwise valuable services of the Fire Brigades were not necessary; but a quantity of sand kept on the premises was thrown on the burning tar, and soon smothered the flames. Had water been used the effect would have been to carry the burning tarfarther, and possibly enhance the danger. Fortunately there was nothing in the house to burn, the root being of iron and the walls brick. The fire was completely extinguished within ten minutes or a quarter of an hour from the overflow of the tar, which, we understand, was caused by a stoppage iu the pipes connected with the hydraulic main. A great number of people were fearful that the occurrence would interfere with the supply of gas last night; but fortunately this fear was groundless. Never before in Wellington have we seen so large a crowd assembled in such a short time as there was yesterday afternoon, shortly after the fire-bells rang out the first notes of alarm, and the number of cabs opposite the Gasworks was something wonderful to behold.

A supplement to the New Zealand Gazette was published yesterday. It contains—A notification mentioning persons entitled to land under the Immigrants Land Act, 1575 ; proclamation under the Dangerous Goods Act, 1869, to the effect that the articles known as gasoline, dynamite, and lithofracteur shall be deemed specially dangerous within the meaning o£ the said Act ; regulations under the Marine Act, 1867 ; warrant abolishing polling place in the Wairarapa, and appointment of two other polling places for the same district ; appointment o£ llesidcnt Magistrates’ Courts for ridings in the County of Boduey, pursuant to 47th section of the Counties Act, 1376 ; appointment of Commissioner under section 31 of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876 ; polling places at South Bakaia appointed ; and a notice from the Sheep Inspector of the Bangitikei district. The case of Mullins v. Gillon and others, for rent of certain newspaper advertising boards, came before the Besident Magistrate’s Court again yestex-day. When the case was first heard, a claim was made for rent extending over a period prior to the date upon which the first formal demand was made, and Sir. Crawford’s judgment was to the effect that no such claim could hold good ; but he consented to the application of Mr. Barton that the question of payment for the period since the date of notice should be further considered, and the case was adjourned accordingly. Evidence was again taken yesterday, Hr. Bitzherbert appearing for the plaintiff. Having gone into the matter fully, the magistrate recorded a nonsuit, with costs.

The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Waipawa bridge contract (site No. 2), Poverty Bay, Cook County ;— Accepted—W. Sims, Urahamstown, £2987. Declined—P. Lanigau, Auckland, £3313 ; J. Briton, Auckland, £3191; M. McLeod, Gisborne, £3871 ; W. Cameron, Auckland,£3929; J. Briton, Auckland, £3904; N. Mclunes, Auckland, £lOl4 ; A. Watson, Auckland, £IOB3 ; 0. A. Berry, Gisborne, £5227.

An assault case of a peculiar character came before Hr. Crawford yesterday. The parties to it were Norwegians, and their attempts to explain the circumstances of the case to the Court, each according to his own view, ivere as entertaining as they were incomprehensible. In the first place, considerable difficulty was experienced by the Court iu making itself properly acquainted with the names of some of those who gave evidence, and an interpreter was engaged, who appeared to be influenced by the general fog that pervaded the proceedings. Prom what could be caught out of the mist, however, it appeared that plaintiff was indebted to defendant for the performance of certain work. They had a conversation about it, during, which an inability on the part of the debtor to pay was expressed. That settled the matter for a time; but the defendant went away to ruminate on the matter, and, to assist himself, took “ nobblers,” and went back to plaintiff, whose statement was to the effect that defendant beat him. Evidence was taken as to the nature of that secoud interview ; but very little could be gathered from it. Plaintiff calledawitness, from whom for a long time nothing could be ascertained other than that defendant had been subjected to attention .which resulted iu “ Eaugh-a-Balla'gb.” Such was the peculiarity of this man’s utterance. But it was evident that bis meaning was not made clear, so he was further questioned. Ultimately this was made out to mean that plaintiff had pushed defendant, who was thereby caused to t( fall iu a bucket, hence the “Fangh-a-Ballagh ” business; and further, that defendant, by way of retaliation, rose up and put the bucket on the head of plaintiff, who being thus ornamented lie immediately left. The Court considered that plaintiff had ruined his case by calling this witness, and accordingly dismissed the case, j bieoins.

There were ten civil cases ou the civil sheet at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday ; but they were nearly all settled or adjourned. The Governor has appointed polling-places at Tinui and Mauriceville for the Wairarapa constituency.

The Inspector of Sheep for the Eangitike' District has cancelled the clean certificate of Mr. Alexander Simpson, of Turakina, for a separate flock of sheep, 1300 in number. We understand that Mr. Pollock, late of the firm of Pollock and Young, while ou a trip to the South recently, purchased a boiling-down down plant, with which he purposes starting business in Wanganui. Mr. Baker and company, of Baker’s Hibernicon, left in the Tui on Thursday evening for Poxton. The Hiberuioon will show in Palmerston for one or two nights. It should do a good business there. The quarter day in connection with the insurance companies’ business falls due ou Sunday ou tills occasion, therefore it is necessary that all persons whose policies expire today or to-morrow should renew this morning. A well-known steeplechase horse, Nowhere, willbe sold by public auction to-dayat the Nag’a Head yard. It is stated that the only reason for disposing of the horse is that the owner is about to leave the colony. A young man named Keane was at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday committed to take his trial oh a charge of stealing £l4. Keane is quite a boy, and yet is not new to crime, having served a term of imprisonment for a robbery committed at Blenheim. He has commenced young. According to notice, a benefit performance was to have been given at the Theatre Royal last evening, on behalf of Sir. Sweeney, a rising young actor, favorably kno ,vn to patrons of the stage in Wellington ; hut the performance had to be postponed owing to the illness of Mrs. Hillsden, who we understand is in a very precarious condition. A rifle match between representatives of the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales is being arranged. How is it New Zealand never comes forward and challenges some colonial neighbor ? The Government of this colony is most liberal in its encouragement of marksmen; and though we might have to cry pecccivi in a cricket match, surely our riflemen would give a good account of themselves in an intercolonial contest.

It is reported that the Victorian Minister £or Education has given instructions for the preparation of a return showing the names of all unclassified teachers at present employed by the Education Department. This is with the view of making preparations for an event which, it is felt, must take place at an early date—the discharge of those teachers who, having had fair opportunities of obtaining classification, have failed to do so, and the filling of their places by applicants selected from the long list of licensed and certificated teachers, who, as things stand at present, must either await employment, or accept the teacherships of schools in districts the population of which is so unsettled as not aliord a prospect of increased attendance.

It is more than probable (states the Argua) that Colonel Scratchley will permanently take up his residence in Melbourne as deputymaster of the Mint. It is well-known that Colonel Ward, who is now away from Victoria on sick leave, has only about eighteen mouths to serve before he is entitled to retire on his pension, and as he is at present in anything but good health, he is very likely to apply to the authorities to be allowed to retire at once, and in that case Colonial Scratchley will, in all probability, receive the appointment. This will be a great advantage to the colonies, as Colonel Scratchley will then be a position ta supervise the carrying out of the defence works which may be recommended by Sir William Jervois and himself.

At the last meeting of the Christchurch City Council (says the Times) letters were read from nearly every municipality in Hew Zealand, agreeing with the proposal of the Christchurch City Council to send a delegate from each municipality to meet as a conference in Wellington for the purpose of discussing the questions of hospitals and charitable aid, and bringing pressure to bear on the Government in the matter. Councillor Hobbs was appointed the Christchurch delegate, and it was suggested that the conference should be held about a fortnight after the opening of the House.

The Temperance News of “Victoria congratulates its readers ou the fact that an avowal of proclivities in favor of curtailing the liquor traffic does not operate in a disadvantageous manner to candidates for Parliament. Of thirty-six members of the old Assembly, who were in favor of some restriction, thirty were re-elected; while out of twenty-eight who opposed temperance legislation fifteen failed to secure re-election, though of course it would be idle to attribute their nan-success exclusively to the position taken up ou these questions. Twenty-three members of the present Parliament, it adds, “ embody the practice of abstinence from intoxicants in their lives, thus constituting the nucleus of a goodly phalanx whom we hope to see arrayed agaiust the destructive interests of liquordom.” AVe have received from the Secretary of Mines, Victoria, a copy of the “ Reports of the Mining Surveyors and Registrars for the quarter ended 31st March, 1877.” It is a very carefully prepared document, and to it are attached clear statistical summaries of mining operations, and the results of such operations of great value. It seems there are about 40,000 miners in the colony, and these are divided into two classes—alluvial miners and quartz miners. Of the former there are 14,000 Europeans and the astonishingly large number of 10,660 Chinese. The quartz miues, however, seem to have no attraction for the Celestial, for there are but 130 engaged iu that occupation, while there are 14,478 Europeans. The machinery and plant in use upon the various fields is estimated to be worth £1,969,062 ; there are 1159 square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon, and there are 3292 distinct quartz reefs actually proved to be auriferous. The credit of the highest average yield is claimed by a Castlemaiue mine, which gave soz. Idwt. ICgrs. per ton, but there were only 23 tons crushed. The deepest sinking is recorded at a Pleasant Creek mine, which is down a depth of 1940 ft. The quantity of gold exported for the quarter is set down at £52,7900z, For many months past, says the Melbourne Arrjns, experiments have been conducted by electricians iu England which, if brought to a successful issue, will go far towards revolutionising ocean telegraphy. Cables, as at present laid, have to be constructed in a very costly manner in order to ensure perfect insulation, and to prevent that dissipation of the electric current which would otherwise take place. The idea, however, is now entertained that this insulation may not be necessary, and that with instruments of a very delicate kind, the current transmitted through the uninsulated wire may, notwithstanding the dissipation iu the transit, yet be sufficient to record the message. Should this theory bo brought to any practical result, insulation might be dispensed with, and cables consisting of nothing but the copper wire could then be laid at a greatly reduced cost. How far these experiments have proceeded, and with what prospect of ultimate success, we are not iu a position to say, but a communication has been received by the Government from South Australia, suggesting the desirability of withholding any definite action ou the question of duplicate cable communication until the results of these experiments have been ascertained. It is pointed out that if cables can be laid down iu the manner suggested a groat reduction could bo made iu telegraphic charges, and the rates reduced from 10s. 6d. a word to ss. Valu.uii.e Discovery for the Hair. — If your liatr is turning grey or white, or falling off, use •' The Mexican Hair lienewer." for it will positively restore in every case Grey or White hair to its original colorwithout leaving tlie disagreeable smell of most “Restorers/' It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of tiro hair on bald spots, whore the glands are not decayed. Certificate from Dr. Versmann on every bottle, with full particulars. Ask your nearest Chemist for “TiieMexioan Hair Kenewer," prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493 Oxford-street, Loudon, and sold everywhere at 3s. CU pci bottle. -[Aon