From Hawke’s Bay Papers.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 64, 25 June 1873, Page 3

From Hawke’s Bay Papers.

We are happy to learn that the last concert given by the Napier Harmonic Society was, pecuniarily, a very fair success. After the payment of all expenses, a balance of about £l3 remained in the hands of the Treasurer. We understand that Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore’s station, Eissington, has been sold to Messrs. Miles and Co., of Canterbury, for the sum of £50,000. It comprises 90,000 acres. About half of it is freehold, and a considerable extent is in good English grass. The number of sheep is 28,500. We hear that the Hon. John Johnston has returned to the colony from his recent trip to the home country.

The New Zealand Herald’s Alexandra correspondent says :—I have just learned that Mr. Al‘Lean was nearly being murdered "at Kawhia when he went in with the Luna and anchored on the south side of the harbor. Fortunately ho ordered the anchor to be weighed, and went over to the north side. There were two hundred armed natives waiting on the south side: Alaniha (Ngatiraahutu) of Kawhia, says that if Mr. M‘Lean dares to return in the Luna to Kawhia he will be murdered. Six-handed Whist.—A new round gams at cards, called “ six-handed whist,” is becoming popular at home. The rules of the game are simple, and are as follows: —The players, six in number, take their places equal distances apart about a round table. There are consequently three sets of partners, each one of a pair opposite the other, thus : 1 and 4 play together, 2 and 5, and 3 and 6. To divide the cards evenly, all the twos are taken out of the pack, reducing the number to forty-eight, that is, eight to each person. The cards are dealt out, a trump turned up, and the play proceeds as in the regular game. Each honor, however, counts, there are four sets to a “ book,” and four tricks over (or eight in all) make the rub, and two rubs out of three, the game. The other rules are the same as in short whist. This game is of American origin, and when it has been played a few times it is said to become exceedingly interesting, as it is far more provocative of skill on the part of the players than the general run* of round games. Washing Wool.—Baerle and Co., of Worms, recommend the use of soluble glass in washing wool. The operation is conducted as follows : —Forty parts of water are mixed with one of soluble glass at a temperature of 80 deg. to 87 deg. centigrade. The wool is then plunged into the mixture and stirred about for a few minutes; it is then rinsed in tepid water, and is found to be be clean, white, and devoid of odour. After the operation the wool is said to be perfectly soft, and not to have lost any of the properties that fit it for the purposes to which it is applied.