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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5250, 21 January 1878, Page 2

Sir George Grey and the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, accompanied by Messrs. Baker and Mitchell, will leave by the Hiuemoa on- Saturday next for Auckland. They intend to pay a visit to the Waikato and interview Tawhiao. Owing to , the indisposition of Mr. Justice Richmond the Court of Appeal will not meet until Thursday next. The Court -was occupied during Saturday with banco business. The Dunedin M.H.R.’s are being surfeited with deputations. By our Southern files we notice that hardly a day passes without some--body demanding an interview. On the 11th instant there were no less than seven deputations to Messrs. Larnaoh aud Macandrew. A deputation, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs. W. S. Moorhouse, M.H.R., and J. M. Thompson, is to wait upon the Premier, Sir George Grey, at 11 o’clock this morning, to ask the Government to make the afternoons of Monday and Tuesday, the 28th and 29th of January, half-holidays in honor of the Intercolonial Cricket Match, Australia v. Wellington. His Worship the Mayor has already invited the citizens of Wellington to- keep these ihalf-hnlidays, which we are sure they, will. No time is being lost in making all necessary arrangements, so we hope the public will respond to the request, and nothing then will be wanted but fine weather to make the affair ft success, In pur correspondence column ‘appears la letter frem Mr. G. E. Barton, the well-known barrister, in which he complains of the manner in which business is conducted by the officers of the Supreme. Court, and refers.especially to, the deffuty-fegistrar, Mr. Wilmer. Most people who have .to transact business at the Court will, we think agree with us in saying that a more'gentlernanly or obliging official than Mr. Wilmer it would be difficult to find anywhere, and wq should have thought it would be hard for. even-’Mr; Barton to . find’ fault in . thatdirection.'' Mr.'Barton is undoubtedly a clever man, an able lawyer, and a successfuladvocate, but he lias apparently an unhappy knack of getting to loggerheads with people, in a most extraordinary way.',

We have been informed that Dr. Hector who visited the Golden Point reef, near Pioton, the other day, will make a report upon the reef and the surrounding district to the Government. 'A great deal of interest,,, is felt hero respecting the discovery of the riclv.specimens that were exhibited last week, audit is hoped by many that the working of the Golden Point mine will lead to the opening up of a valuable goldfield. Mr. Mace and soma others, who went to. the mine with the view of investing iu it, were of . opinion . that the present holders should open it up more before taking any steps for erecting machinery. ; ■ We received no telegram yesterday from the Press Agency—much to our surprise—relative to the result of the intercolonial cricket match at Christchurch, and we are indebted to a private source for the information respecting the conclusion of the play on Saturday. It will be seen that the Canterbury men gave a .good account of themselves, aud we hope when the Australians come to Wellington that the cricketers of the Empire City will emulate their Canterbury brethren. Shortly after midnight on Saturday there was a very narrow escape from what might have been a serious fire in one of the most .central, and thickly built parts of this city. It appears -that at the time stated one of the ladies of the Opera Company looking out of the window of her bedroom/at the Empire Hotel saw that one of the outbuildings used as a fowlhouse, on the opposite side of the narrow passage running between the hotel ahd the adjoining premises, was on fire. She immediately gave the alarm, aud the landlord, his employes, and several of the lodgers at once proceeded to the spot, and by a vigorous application of the hose, the water fortunately being turned on at the time, the fire was extinguished within a very few moments of its being discovered. The night was a stormy one, and had the fire once got hold of the building the probability is that the whole of the valuable block would have been destroyed. The fire brigades', and a detachment of the police, with their usual promptitude, were on the scene of action within a very few minutes of the bells commencing to ring; but fortunately their services were not required. How the fire originated is at present a mystery. The damage done, as it happened, is very trifling. A small piece about a yard square is burned out of the wooden partition dividing the fowlhouse from the next outhouse, and the wall is charred-; but alight as the damage is, there can be no' doubt whatever that but for the discovery of the fire at an early stage, and the prompt measures that were taken to extinguish" it, a very disastrous conflagration would Rave ensued. 1

The Karori, Kaiwarra, and City ■ Rifle Volunteer Corps having resolved to test their respective l shooting merits a series of matches were arranged so that the different teams should be placed on fair and equal and terms. The three teams were to meet together on each others’ ranges in turn, and lire on the following conditions :—Each team, to consist of nine men, distances to be 100 and 500 yards, with seven shots at each distance, any position. The first match took place at the Karori range on Saturday last, whither the City Rifles and Kaiwarra teams, in charge of Captains Crowe and Thompson respectively, proceeded by coach. The firing was commenced and carried on throughout under the most unfavorable circumstances, the wind blowing in violent gusts across and up and down the range by turns, rendering good scores impossible. On the completion of the firing at the 100 yards the rival teams adjourned to Mr. Spiers' Temperance Hotel, where the Karori team entertained their opponents to luncheon in the large diniag-roora, which was tastefully decorated with’ flags, &0., for the occasion. Ample justice having been done to the “ good things,” Captain Monaghan in brief but complimentary terms proposed the healths of Captains Ciowe and Thompson, and said he hoped these friendly matches would continue, as they tended to create a spirit of rivalry which was most conducive to the welware of every volunteer corps. Captain Crowe, in returning thanks for the very liberal manner they had been treated by the Karori volunteers, said he not only hoped these’friendly 1 matches would continue, but he trusted every volunteer would see it was his duty to become efficient in rifle ' practice, as well as in drill. Captain Thompson also replied in brief but well chosen words. The firing was then resumed, and being all close together, great ;excitement and good humor prevailed. In the last j two . rounds the .City teamdrew ■ahead, while; the Kaiwarra men fell off a good deal, leaving the'seores at the finish,to' stand thus City Rifles, 34 ahead of Karori, and 4S ahead of ; Kaiwarra., The next match was then ; agreed to be fired at the Kaiwarra .Butts in a fortnight, after which three hearty cheers were given for Captain Mona. Ran and the Karori team. The teams then returned to town, all highly delighted with their trip.

All representatives of the 1.0.G-.T. at the Grand Lodge are requested to meet at the Odd Fellows’ Hall at half-past ten o’cdook to-day^ We understand that Mr. Marshall Wood, the eminent sculptor, to some of whose works we referred in a recent issue, has received an order to execute a bust of Sir Geoi-ge Grey. Mr. Charles Bright, the well-known free-; thought” lecturer, will lecture at the Polytechnic Hall on Wednesday and Thursday next. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. A very large number of people were present at the Arcade on Saturday night. Indeed it was literally filled to overflowing, and is evidently becoming a, very popular place for a promenade. The Kev. Mr. Beattie, whotecently came here on a visit from Melbourne, preached yesterday, morning andeveniugiu St. John’s Presbyterian Church.. His discourse on each occasion was -most eloquent and powerful, and was listened to with marked attention by a large congregation. The text in the morning was taken from St. Matthew’s Gospel, 13th chapter and 45th and 46th verses, and in the evening from St. John, 13th chapter, from the Ist to the 18th verse. The opening of the Grand Lodge Session of the i Independent Order of Good Templars, New Zealand North, takes place to-day in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. On Tuesday the soiree in connection with the. session of the Grand Lodge will take place. Tea will be placed on the tables at 6.30 p.m. After tea the chair will be taken by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, when addresses (Interspersed with music) will be delivered by the leading Good Templars of New Zealand, and also by some of our most influential citizens. A lifeboat presented by an anonymous donor residing at Wanganui, New Zealand (writes the Edinburgh correspondent of the Dunedin I’imes ), was launched at Oruden, Port Errol, on the Aberdeenshire coast, on the 30th October. Among those present was the Earl of Errol, whose daughter-in-law, Lady Kilmarnock, christened the boat the Peep-o’-Day. In the evening Lord Errol entertained the lifeboat’s crew at dinner at Slains Castle. A sum of ,£2OO has been raised, in the district for the'maintenance of the boat. • The great agricultural hiring fair was held at Newbury on the 18th October, says a Home paper, and some particulars of the wages given may be interesting to New Zealand readers. Carters commanded 14s. to 16s. per week, with £3 at Michaelmas (with or without cottage, according to . circumstances), • while undercarters were given 9s. to 125,, with £5 at Michaelmas. -Shepherds asked high wages, but

there were more shepherds than vacant places, owing'to the fact that through the depression of agriculture few sheep remain on some farms. Engagements .made varied from 12s. to 15s. per week. Domestic servants, with good characters,', were very scarce, and wages exhibited a marked increase on former years. The Princess Theatre, Tory-streot, will be opened on ■ Monday, the 28th instant, under the distinguished patronage and in the presence of his Excellency the Governor and suite. , The theatre will be. under the sole management of Mr; W. C.. Dillon, who will be supported by Miss Edith-Pender and an entirely new and powerful, company. The first- production will be J the beautiful play of “The Queen’s Diamonds.” The soeuery : and costumes have been prepared regardless of expense! ' The orchestra will be under the direction of Mr. W. H. Spiller, and no efforts will be'spared by the management. to make this an; attractive place of amusement for the public of Wellington. The St. George’s Hall programme attracted a very good house last Saturday night, when “Faust” was again put upon the boards, followed by a musical melange, in which Messrs. Cary, Lowe, and Miss Nye took part in various songs, which were very well received by the audience ; but the crowning piece of the night was a comic sketch in character entitled “ A Trip to the Continent,” which literally kept the house in a roar from beginning to end, it being quite a relief when time could be found for a pause in the hilarity engendered. The various “ situations” and denouements were irrepressibly funny, and, contrary to the usual style, startling,from their novelty, taking the house by-surprise, and eliciting a hearty laugh from the’ spectators, which in these hlasl days speaks well for the merits of the piece. “A Trip to the Continent” will be repeated to-night, when we strongly recommend our readers to: take a ' shorter “trip to St. George's Hall.” For to-morrow night the manager has made 'an engagement with two members of the Alleeu Troupe, who will appear on Anniversary night only. As an instance of : the resisting power of iron safes we have a very striking proof in the ; late fire at the railway station here. One of ■ Milner’s safes was standing in the office of the railway manager, with a safe of Tann’s make upon it. ;They were both subjected to what we might term the heat of a smelting furnace for nearly an hour. When the fire was got under sufficiently to enable people to approach the spot where the safes stood, they found the Milner’s safe bent into all sorts of shapes by the terrific heat, hut quite sound ; and on applying the key to the lock, they were much astonished to find that it unlocked with perfect ease. It is also a remarkable fact that on examining the contents they were found to he without the least damage ; even a small wooden shelf, that had been temporarily put in for the manager’s convenience, was not charred. Our reporter also saw a watch belonging to the manager of the railway, that had been put into the safe for care, going all rhdit, and none the worse for its fearful roasting. The Tana’s safe had fared somewhat worse. There was strong evidence of the fearful ordeal it had gone through, but it was plain it had not the iron sides of a Milner. The back was completely out, and the sides and front all burned out. The contents were

of course destroyed and useless. Some idea of the intense heat may he gathered from the fact that the rails within about ten yards of where the safes were standing were bent into all sorts of conceivable shapes. Referring to the cricket match between the Australian Eleven and the Combined Fifteen at Melbourne, the Daily Tdeyraph says;—“ It will, we think, be admitted that the Australian Eleven have acquitted themselves in a most creditable manner. There can be no question that the Combined Fifteen is by far a stronger team than was ever opposed to Lillywhitc’s men, and the conclusion is therefore inevitable that the Australian Eleven is superior to the last All-England team that honored us with its presence. Tins being so, wo can view their departure tor England as representatives of Australia with every confidence that the cricketing reputation of the colonies will not suffer in their hands. They have played a large number of matches already against. longer odds than the Englishmen, and it is a significant fact that they have not yet lost a single game.” “ Mexioana” writes to the Queemlander as follows Let me say a word for the goats. They really are very useful, and give milk in places that would have uone were it not for the goats. It used to be so in Maryborough and Ipswich, in both of which I lived for years. It is so now on these goldfields. We would not have so many rosy, sturdy children were it not for the goats. The great objection to. them is tleir roving, republican proclivities. But goats can be reclaimed, made useful and desirable members of society. They are so in Mexican towns in which I have lived. There they roam about gardens that excel, in careful cultivation and magnificence of the plants, the very best gardens of Australian towns. Even your vaunted Botanical Gardens would look tame in comparison with gardens in the city of Mexico, Vera Cruz, Mazatlan, and other cities, in all of which goats, well bred, civilised goats, may be seen browsing in peace and quiet. The goat, male and female, is a romp, and to cure the animal of that proclivity it is hooked. That is—when about four weeks old, the skin of the fore legs, from the knee upwards, two or three inches, is lifted by moans of a sharp knife. .The) tendou of the leg is raised, and from a quarter to half an inch of it is cut out. Then each leg is bandaged over. For two or throe weeks the young goat looks sad enough. It seems to have lost the use of its limbs, and

to be clone for, but eats away at grass or anything nice that is fed to it. Then the wounds heal up, but the friskiness of the goat is gone. It jumps about no more, but browses around in the very quietest fashion.. My supposition is, that a goat so “ cured” could not push open a gate were it to try. They do not appear to try, but grow fat and sleek to an extent that the roaming goat never does. And they: are such milkers, the Mexican goats are 1 I intend, during the cool weather, “curing'’ afew up here. ; The Ballarat Waterworks Commission at a meeting held, on the 21st December, adopted the following report;—The skill and ability of the engineer should be. recognised. by. being recorded on the minutes of the commission. Mi - .. Bagge had, displayed great ability and perseverance in designing and executing the Upper Gong Gong reservoir works. They considered it a rare achievement in engineering skill that the whole works appertaining to. an undertaking of such magnitude as the constructing a reservoir capable, of storing over 400, millions of gallons should have been designed, planned, and specified in all their details by one man, and that the reservoir had been successfully csrapleted after a labor of three and a half years’ constant and painstaking supervision, without so much as the alteration of a line or a figure in the original detailed specification of the work. This showed. a combination of rare qualities, both as an eng’neer and as a man, and Mr. Bagge's conduct had afforded the committee the most entire pleasure and satisfaction. No less than 12,000,000 acres of forest have cut down or burned over in the United States Much of the timber is used for fuel, 25 cities being on record as consuming from 5000 to 10,000 acres each. Fences use up much timber, and railway sleepers require the produce of 150,000 acres per year. The amount of pine and lumber timber yet standing in the forests of the timber States is estimated at 225,000,000,009 feet. The sum of 144,000,000 dols. is invested in the timber industry, employing 200,000 men.