A LITERARY RELIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 55, 18 January 1862, Page 3

A LITERARY RELIC.

We have before us an interesting and curious relic of the infancy of the press in Tasmania, which has been lent us by Mr. Worley, the auctioneer, who sells to-day the library and other effects of the hte Joseph Hone, Esq. It is one of the earliest copies (No. 4) of the Dcriornt Star and Yon Diemen's Land Intelligencer, the first newspaper ever printed in this colony. It consists of two pages little larger than post letter paper, and is announced to be " published by authority." The date is Tuesday, 20th February 1801, which we understand to have been a misprint for 1810. It opens with a brief leading article in the shape of a homily on the abuse of " Time ! Time !" (there were no politics in Tasmania fifty years ago!) and the remainder of its contents are a curious collection of paragraphs in prose and poetry. Here is an epigram which was thought worthy a place in the poet's corner of our first newspaper:— "On a person who complained that the candles he bought for illumination had been stolen. " Grieve not my friend for candles lo^t, Nor calculate on wfint they cost; For be assured this very night. Your candles will be brought to light."

The only shipping intelligence is the following, under the head of" Port Yews :"— "Sailed from the Cove on Sunday, the Utli inst, the ship Venus, for Sydney. She was, however, seen in the lower part of the harbour until the morning of the 13th, when she got clt.-ir out." Amongst the commeicial news we are told that " a supply of grain may be shortly expected here from Sydney," and that a regulation has fixed the price of wheat for the current yenr at lis., and barley at ,os. per bushel, and of beef, mutton, and pork, at 9d. per pound. In the domestic intelligence we lesirr that "some letters were received ovetlan:' from Port Dalrymple, by which it appenr that the settlers were fully occupied with their harvest, which promised to be productive."

This curious little momento of fifty years back, bears the autograph of Joseph Hone. — Hnhart Town Mercury, 28th Nov.

An Trhepressible Young Wojux.—Caroline Olsen is the name of a 3"oung lady belonging to Chicago, whose remarkable romantic disposition has been her greatest misfortune. Like many an older woman. Carrie was afflicted with the idea that her sex had as pood a right to see the world as man had ; but, instead of sitting helplessly down, and growing morose and snappish, under a sense of unjust restraint, she determined to break from that restraint altogether, and seek adventure in masculine attire. Leaving the comforts of a good home behind her, she cut the hair close to her head, some weeks since, donned a suit of her brother's clothes, and took flight from her paternal domicile to the lower part of the city. She flourished around for awhile in her new feathers, passing generally for a rather rakish sort of a lad, and making friends among the stylish generation at a rapid rate. Her age is only filteen ; but her stature is much above that of mature years; and she found no difficulty in passing for a 3'outh of seventeen or eighteen. Hei well-trimmed figure might have been seen very often of an evening lounging about places of public resort, visiting saloons and theatres, leading a careless and wild life generally. Finally, however the little stock of money she had brought from home was exhausted ; but so infatuated was the girl with her new masquerade, that she preferred enlisting for the war to returning to her home and her crinoline again. Joining a volunteer regiment, she was just about to start for Western Virginia with it, when her officer suddenly suspected her secret, questioned her, and discharged her. Not even this was enough to discourage Caroline ; for, upon quitting the ranks, she applied for the position of clerk in a broker's office, and was fulfilling the duties of that position with great success, when her father discovered her whereabouts and caused her arrest. Upon be ing taken before a magistrate, the poor girl cried bitterly, and promised to go quietly home. Her mother and brother received her as one risen from the grave; and her repentant demeanour seemed to indicate that she was heartily ashamed of her past conduct; but, scarcely had she returned to her proper habiliments, when the old thirst, for adventures came over her more strongly than ever; and she again fled from her father's house. This lime, however, she went in female attire ; and wandered around the city from noon until midnight, when a sudden feeling of despair seems to have driven her to attempt a desperate deed. At a late hour of the night the Randolph street bridge tender saw her crossing the bridge; and there was that in her nervous manner and hurried steps which caused him to follow her instantly, and seized her just as she was on the point, of casting herself into the river. Finding her rash plan frustrated, poor Caroline proved that there was s*t ill something of a woman about her, by bursting into tears, and proclaiming herself the most unfortunate girl in the world. She implored her captor to release her; but finding him firm in his determination to . cstoi'j her to her parents, she gave iier lather's address. By the time her father returned with the messenger sent after him, she had fully regained her self-pos-session, and was as perverse as unreasonable women always are. When the afflicted old man reproached her for her mad conduct, she re-plie-i very cnollj', that when one had nothing to live for, it was best to die as soon as possible. She was willing to go home again, but could not be happy there, and might better have been allowed to destroy herself at once. She was taken home in spite of her protest, and is still there we believe. How long she will remain no one can tell. The girl is evidenflv a maniac on the subject of what women's sphere is, and may be wearing inexpressibles again in less than a week, despite her unfortunate experience of them. " A wilful woman must have her way."— American paper.

Charge of Child Stealing. —At the Balisrat Police Court, yesterda}', a most ex traordiiiary charge was brought against a younm man named Scott, a commercial traveller for a Melbourne firm, which excited much interest, judging from the number of persons present, and the array of legal talent ensajred on both sides. It will be remembered that some twelve months ago, as then reported, a young woman nnmed Anne Walker, who was then in some occupation at Bath's Hotel, brought a charge of affiliation against Mr. ,"cott, when the bench made an order of £1 per week for the support of the child, whicii the prosecutrix swore wa^= his. The money has been paid since that time; but on Wednesday Mr. Scott and another perron drove to Mr Craig's country house, where Miss Walker is located as a domestic servant, and having acquired possession of the child, drove away with it The mother followed him to his house, and it seems that the child was subsequently sent to some other place. The mother then swore an information against Scott for stealing the child, and on this information a warrant was granted by Mr. YV. C. Smith, and Scott was apprehended about 12 o'clock on Wednesday night. A long legal argument ensued between the learned .gentleman on both sides yesterday, which resulted in the accused being discharged, as, according to the construction of the clause of the act under which the proceedings were brought, the Bench held that the father, or putative father, had a right to the child, and consequently the prosecution fell to the ground. Mr. Wisewould intimated that the case would find its way in another form into to the Supreme Court.— Ballarat Star, Jan. 3.

To the Editor of the Otago Daily Txmks. Sir 3 —Wishing success to the opinions you advocate a3 regards the separation of the governments of the Northern anil Middle Inlands, 1 enclose a printed document which may lead to tlie belief that honour, not less thiiu interest, rendei'S that separation expedient. I cannot subscribe to the opinions you are understood to advocate with respect to the claim of the Government to a trust of Maori land, as indemnification in part for the expenses of the war. 2Vo man can calmly review the events of that war without feeling that' the armies of Great Britain have been signally rebuked. It will be far more honorable to the English nation to receive the rebuke ns such, than to renew, a strife which has hitherto been resisted with such obstinate heroism. Who would like again to see the English army employed hi a cause the justice of which is doubtful 1 The Queen of England engaged to purchase the Maori lands when they themselves were willing to sell them. She prohibits her own subjects from buying, n^d the Maories from soiling, to any other party than herself She, the head of the Em-openn community, lays down these laws. Surely the just relation of things required that it should be from the heads ot the Maori community that the purchase should be made, and not from individuals. ■ „ This principle had been acted on until Governor Gore brown took exception to it, and declared that he would purchase from individuals. : I remember with what eclat at the time this declaration of the Governor's was received by a portion of the press of Auckland, which called it the getting in the thin edge of the wedge. This language, used by n portion of the press of Auckland, respecting a change to be introduced into the mode of acquiring their lands, justifies the apprehensions entertained by the Maories themselves as to its operation upon their own The mode of purchase attempted to be introduced would be accounted unfair in any market-place in England. If you take your goods to the market and there is only one merchant to purchase, your case is bad enough. But it becomes infinitely worse if you are not allowed to keep your commodity entire, and your antagonist whittles it down and takes only so much as suits his present convenience. It is no answer to say that the title of the Chief in question to forbid the sale was doubtful. It ought to have' been sufficient to the Queen of England that Ms title •was regarded as valid by the majority of the Maori people. .-.■•■■; • ■.•■■■'. . . ■ ; The printed document is sent for private information only, but you are at-liberty to make what use you think proper of the letter. It is the inhabitants of the Middle Island who have the chief credit of supporting the war, perhap3 without an adequate knowledge of the 'circumstances. ' ■ 'lam, Sir, Your obedient servant, John Russell.

Tokomairiro, Jan, 15, 18C2,

To the Editor of the Daily Times. Provincial Hotel, Dunedin, , January 17th, 1862.

Sir —In the mother country, by universal consent, the Post-office, and as a rule the Colonial Post-offices, are held to be the be_t and most satisfactorily worked departments of the government. I regret by experience to pronounce the -Post-office of the Province of Otago to be a "delusion and a snare". I have been in this part of Her Majesty's dominions about one hundred and twenty days, and the "greatest plague of my life", when' any mail arrived, has been to get my letters. The latest vexation occurred to-day,— a letter per "Lady Bird," and beariag- the Dunedin post-mark of December the 31st, being handed to me from the Post-office window. The letter was of much importance, and. I could not possibly believe my correspondent would be at all likely to neglect his duty —hence my perseverance to find the letter. ; Independent of my own applications, a gentleman has applied on two different occasions with orders on my account since the first of the month. After this, I made another effort on the 15th instant, which was to write to the Post-master asking him to place my letters in the box appropriated to the use of the proprietors of the Provincial Hotel—this was pronounced to be informal without Mr. Jones' consent. This beirjg obtained and signed, I handed it in at the Post-office window (stamp department) but this was of no avail.1 I again called there:this morning-quite upon speculation, as I had another chance of writing to-day per " Aldinga" when I was coolly handed, after all my anxiety and trouble, a letter marked per "Lady Bird" gahd with the Dunedin post-mark, December 31st, 1861. The envelope is enclosed, and you will please publish this with or without my name. Ihave reason to believe that the public out of the Province can hardly credit the gross inefficiency of the Post-office department. <

I am, Sir, ; Your's reypeetfullv, HENItY BAYLISS.

PUBLIC GRIEVANCE. To the Editor of the Daily Times. Dunedin, 16th Jan., 1862.1 Dear Sir, —Allow me to state a few facts in reference to the management of the Molyneux Ferry. Having occasion to cross the other'day, I found on arriving there that it was impossible to get across for a length of time, on account of the punt being hauled up for necessary repairs, and that the spare boat belonging to the ferry was employed for some private purpose a short distance down the river, and had been so for some days previous (which boat ought to be always at hand in case of any emergency). Indeed there appears to be no attention whatever paid to the public interests. ' ! The careless and indifferent manner in which the ferry is conducted formed the subject of remark of all my fellow-travellers. An enquiry from the proper quarter would perhaps be beneficial. I . Trusting you may find space for the above, and oblige

A TRAVELLER.

(To the Editor of the Daily Times.)

Waitahuna, 15th Jan., 1862.

Sin,—The Postmaster would confer a great boon on the digging community, Victorians especially, ' ii' he would cause to be exhibited outside the post-offices on the goldflelds, a weekly or monthly list of all the letters lying at these offices, and the Dunedin post office. It is the usual custom to exhibit such lists in Victoria, and it is found to be a benefit to the post office officials as well as to the anxious enquirer after lettera. The list should be up to the latest date of issue, and not two or three months behind.

Your's most respectfully, JOHN GLEN.

To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times

Mr. Editor, —Seeing in your paper of the 13th a letter signed " A Dunedin Merchant," commenting upon the murderous system of wharfage of goods, and the. uses and abuses of lightermen, comparing ; us to horses and asses, he might justly have added fools for allowing ourselves to be made the slaves of such a system of drudgery; however, we are glad and greatly obliged for having our cause taken Up by a member of the mercantile community. I hope it will be the means of an understanding being come to on both the part of the merchants and lightermen: to have the goods taken'from alongside the lighters. ' Sir, I beg'you will allow me a space in your paper of Tuesday, 14th, and oblige, sir, with respect, Your obedient servant, A Lighterman.

The Friend of India gives the following notice of a journey recently performed by Sir R. Schomburgk, the English Consul in Siam : —" Last December, Sir K. Schomburgk, our consul 'in Siam, left Bangkok in company with t>vo of the King's nephews who are students of the Baptist missionaries there, to cross the hilly country on the north of the Malayan peninsula' to Moulmain, which he did in 24 days. He ascended the Menam, described as a monotonous river, in a barge to Banning, the most southerly of the Lao states, which are tributary to Siam, Theiice he proceeded by land, on elephants, for fourteen days along a mountainous road, described as one that would have' set a timid person into the most nervous state.'" The'pathway up- and down the high mountains has no greater breadth than from 5 to 6 feet, with ledges and shelves of rock resembling steps, and frequently a precipice on the right or the left. "But the security with which that sagacious animal, the elephant, travels, soon inspires confidence. He draws near to the ledge of the rock lie' has to descend, sounds its depth with its' proboscis,' and cautiously puts down due of its fore-feet, and, haying acquired footing, the other follows ; then the hind legs are doubled, and he glides upon his haunches to the edge of the ledge, and the first hind foot, then the next is put down. If he-were not to double up his hind legs, the angle, when his fore-legs were at the bottom of the ledge, would be of that description that; no person could keep on his back. As it is, one has to hold on with all force." He reached Xieiig, the largest of the' Laos cities, described as three miles in circumference, and exporting yearly .£400,000 worth of teak to Moulmain, which is floated down the Salween. There he started afresh with 150 men and 33 elephants, he passed for three days down the banks of the River Ping, and thence across the great pine-covered mountain chain which divides Siam from her Majesty's possessions in Burmah and Tenasserhn, and reached Maulmain in 24 days."

A gentleman from Gibraltar tells of a French captain who was recently fishing from his vessel, when a Jarge tunny fell took the hook, and dragged the captain, who hud the line fastened round his waist, overboard ; he was not seen afterwards.

Foueichj Jealousy of England.—The absence of any real dread of English aggression, and the absence of any hope a'f effective aid from England, have simply this effect, that the trite sentiments of other powers nre freely expressed towards England, ■without any'anxiety as t» the consequences. Most Governments and most people look with little fear and little hope to Englaud, and consequently they say what they think, and make no effort to think differently. But why do they think so uufavorably of us ? Chiefly, we believe, because England, y. hilo she takes no part, is an exceedingly free and1 independent critic of all that goes'on nhroml,and has,' in the Parliamentary debates, and tho Time* news-, paper; authoritative organs of that criticism which, all the world identifies with the British nation. No criticisms arc so irritating as those of a l>yestandor quite out.of the melee, commenting indifferently, with his hands in his pockets, on the weaknesses of all who scuffle and scream beneath him. And that is in ellect very much the position of England in political matters. We pity the French and the Americai>»£,and the Prussians ftv their defective institutions and unattainable liberties, in a voice which is heard all over the world. We aie not speaking expressly for them to hear, but we speak -with, no-less unpleasant emphasis than it we knew that it would never reach them. Hence our statesmen's despatches, however, conciliatory, are read by the light of those often cynical criticisms, and lose all their popular weight. The hostile ones, on the other hand, gain a thou-sand-fold in sting. And there is no other nation in this position ; for there is none other, unless it be the new Kingdom of Italy, in which Parliament and the Press arc accepted as the organs of a great nation. When the French Chambers heaped every insult upon Italy, the Italians scarcely felt the attack —so well did. they know that,.the French Chambers do not represent the French nation. :Nor is there any organ in the Press of any.other nation that can speak with anything JiUo the national authority of the Times, which, justly or-un-justly,1 has acquired the repute of speaking the convictions of the majority of the English middle classes, and whose pity or scorn, therefore,'bears something like the authority of, a national senti^ meat! The result is, that the jealousy entertained towards England is partly due.to thorp being less to hope and less to fear from her than from.any other equally powerful nation,.while her unsparing and often insular national criticisms on the other powers are more distinctly and authoritatively heard. ;i This is necessarily an irritating position: Standing high above the anxieties of most other nations, our voice is heard commenting, oil their position with the indifferent nonchalance , and something of the sarcasm of 'compassionate pride and occasionally of local : prejudices. Towards Prussia and the other German nations especially there is an intolerance and contempt in.our manner which is anything but praiseworthy, and has nothing in it of the considerateness of tone which would encourage a nation plodding slowly on bur track to the efforts which are.necessary to win our freedom. If the German fleet is popular in Germany, why should the English Press ; shower ridicule on a movement certainly harmless to, us and not improbably wise in them ? We cannot help the jealousy which our national freedom of speech excites, and we would not conceal the pride with which our free institutions and political stability inspires us. But we can help that half cynical tone of contemptuous criticism which we habitually adopt towards a nation whose mind is cast in a "different mould, and whose freedom grows with slower pace.: — Econotntst. ■ ' • - Sin Henry . Baukly.—The Melbourne correspondent of the Star says, S It comes upon very good authority, that Sir Henry Barkly has received an intimation from Downing-street of an intended alteration in his position. The Home authorities are quite averse to the policy some time since pursued by his' Excellency, and it will in all probability end in the removal of Sir Henry to some other post. This information comes direct from Downing-street, and is, I should say, true." Thk Philosopher's Stone Discovered.—ln one of the of Section A an eccentric member rose and said he had discovered the funlamenlal principal of the whole phenomena of nature (laughter.).—The President : Have you made any communication to the secretaries of the association ? Eccentric Member : Yes, I have. .\ly paper has been.handed from one person tp ■mother, and I am told that the subject is too comprehensive to come before any of the sections daughter.)— The President : That is too general a great deal. Eccentric Member : I find there is .1 current of electricity always emanating front the sun, which enters into the material of the earth and produces all that beautiful phenomena which we witness. A current of electricity flows through my body with great force, and has beeii tor some days burning hi my breast, as is shown by the cosmical rays imprinted on the face of my watch (laughter.) The watch was submitted to die President, but nothing extraordinary was observab'e, anil it was resolved to proceed with the business. — Report of the Meeting of the British Association. Distressing Accident. —A distressing and fatal accident occurred in the Continental Theatre, Philadelphia, on 14th September. As some female members of the corps tie ballet, were dressing for a ballet introduced into a representation of the " Tempest," one of then named Gale, in standing upon a settee to reach down her dress," was accidentally set on fire by the flame of a gas jet. One of her sisters —there were three of them —endeavoured to extinguish the flames, but hi the effort her own clothes were ignited. The third sister ran to the rescue, and she also was set on fire. In a frantic state they rushed into an adjoining room filled with ballet girls, whose gauze also caught fire, and in a state of extraordinary terror some of them ran down stairs and onto the stage, while others leaped from the windows into the adjoining street. All of them were more or less severely, some of them frightfully, burned, and the result was that six of them died within a few hours after the accident occurred, and four more were not expected to survive. '

A paper in Gloucester has the following : —' A wag who sent a cask of ink per railway a few days «go, and who has heard something of the propoi lilies of railway goods porters, and the mysteries of the 'fluter,' inserted the following cautio:i upon the address : — ' Ye railway chaps perhaps may think, This cask is beer —taste not—'tis ink !'