Fighting in Transvaal.

Patea Mail, 23 March 1882, Page 3

Fighting in Transvaal.

DEFEAT OF THE BOERS. Capetown, 22nd.—Telegrams to hand from the Transvaal announce that the native tribes in the south-west are now in open rebellion against the Boers, and that severe engagements have been fought, in which the Boers were defeated with considerable loss. The whole of the south-west district is now a scene of frequent encounters between natives and the Boers.

FROZEN MEAT-BAD PACKING. London, 22nd.—It has now been proved that the cargo of frozen meat and butter was badly shipped at Melbourne on board the Protos, and that the very inferior condition of same on arrival is attributable to this cause.

A slight earthquake was felt at Christchurch yesterday forenoon. A gentleman in Lancashire has been fined 20s for “indecent behaviour in church,” Not being prepared for the ordinary receptacle, he had taken the offertory in his hat! Auckland city has been growing so rapidly, especially in suburban buildings, that it is now proposed to extend, the city boundaries, and enclose a total population of 32,000. This would make Auckland the most populous city in the colony, and some jealousy may be expected.

The trade between the Manukau and Waikato, via the Waikato Heads, has proved so profitable to the Waikato Steam Navigation Company that a steel paddle steamer has been ordered by them from Home, to cost £IO,OOO. The vessel will be of suitable draught for the river traffic. The consumption of bonedust and other artificial manure in Waikato is very great, and forms a considerable item as cargo.

A writer in Truth says; The Parisians have found out how to make false eyelashes. Ido not speak of the vulgar and well-known trick of darkening the rim round the eye with all kinds of dirty compositions, or the more artistic plan of doing so to the inside of the lid. No, they actually draw a fine needle, threaded with dark hair, through the skin of the eyelid, forming long loops, and after the process is over (I am told it is a painless one) a splendid dark fringe veils the coqutte’s eyes. The following are the respective rates of interest, per £IOO, on cost of construction represented by the net profits on the various New Zealand railways : Hurunui-Bluff (788 miles) £4 13s 4d per cent; Greymouth (8 miles) £4 4s 9d ; Kawakawa (mileage not given) £3 7s 5d ; Napier (70 miles) £2 17s Id ; Auckland (115 miles) L2 5s Id ; Wanganui (115 miles) L2 Is 3d; Nelson (20 miles) LI 17s lOd ; Kaipara (17 miles) 19s 2d ; Wellington (69 miles) 16s ; Picton (19 miles) 14s 8d ; New Plymouth (41 miles) 13s 6d ; Westport (9 miles) nil. Average of colony, L 3 8s 3d per cent.

THE WOOL INDUSTRY OF NEW ZEALAND.

The following is from a report by United States Consul, G-. W. Griffin, Auckland : Wool is by far the most important product of New Zealand. Its annual exports exceeds in value that of gold bj' over ten millions of dollars. The total value of the export of wool from all ports of New Zealand from the Ist of October, 1880, to the 30th of September, 1881, was 16,103,440d01. (fifteen million, one hundred and three thousand, four hundred and forty dollars). The growth of the wool industry of this colony has been extraordinary within the last few years. I find in tracing its history that in the year 1851 there were only 233,000 sheep in the colony. In 1868 there were 1,523,316, In 1871 the number was 2,760,163. The returns for the year 1881 shw that the number has swelled to 13,126,264. The wool clip for the present year is so large that its value will probably not fall short of 20,000,000d01. (twenty million dollars). The original stock sheep in this colony was nearly all drawn from Australia. Occasionally a few stud rams were imported from Franco, Spain, and America, but only occasionally. Flock-masters continue to procure their high-class sheep from Victoria, New South Wales, and other Australian colonies. No other of the Australasian colonies, however, seems to be so well favored for the production of wool as New Zealand. The climate is so mild that the sheep can run out all the year round without housing or artificial feeding. The country is abundantly watered. It is not subject to the severe winters of Canada, or to the fierce heat and long droughts of Australia. The wools of New Zealand embrace a wide range of variety, condition, and staple, and are admirably adapted to the manufacture of all kinds of woollen goods. Indeed there are few kinds of sheep that do not prosper here : Mennoes, Lincolns, Leicesters, Romney Marshes, Cotswolds, Southdowns, cross-breeds, and quarter-breeds, all do well.