Local and General.

Southland Times, Issue 943, 1 May 1868, Page 6

Local and General.

Some time since we drew the attention of the authorities to the state of the lower end of Esk-street which was then fast becoming impassible. Nothing has, however, yet been done to render it fit for the heavy traffic passing over it, and the consequence is that the roadway has become truly deplorable — a veritable slough of despond, in the centre of the city. The drays are obliged to avoid the " made " part and trust to the firmness of the original clay at the sides ; the drain recently formed and covered in alongside the new footpath is therefore greatly endangered. The wheels of the heavily loaded carts cut down through the soil, not yet fairly set, to the slabs covering the ditch : these, of course, cannot be long expected to stand a jolting they were never intended to bear, and the result will speedily be the caving in and filling up of the main sewer of the town. Surely, with an unlimited supply of metal on the spot, a sufficient breadth of the crown of the street might be macadamised to accommodate the loaded teams going uphill ; those soing downhill, and empty drays going either way, could then take the sides. The necessary outlay wouh? be but small, while the result would be a boon to all parties, and would ensure the preservation of a public work recently constructed at considerable expense. An accident which might have been attended with fatal consequences occurred on Bluff Hill last Wednesday night. Those who have ascended the hill will probably remember the sentry-like box in which the signalman resided during rough weather : this, although of Bmall dimensions, contained valuable property, such as two codes of signals, telescopes, thermometer, &c., belonging to the Government ; it also was crammed with goods belonging to the signalman, chiefly nautical instruments, the owner having formerly been master of a sailing ship. On one side of the house was a rough stone chinaney, and as it was economically built, the lintel instead of stone or iron was formed of wood, which, after being exposed to the heat, became like so much tinder. About eleven o'clock the inmates of the signalman's house were aroused by the workmen of the contractors for the new house (Messrs Scandrett), who, seeing a reflection of the fire, got up just in time to save the house and possibly the lives of its occupants, as the high wind was blowing the fire down on the roof of the house, and in a few minutes it would have been in flames also. The " Otago Daily Times " says :— " It will be seen from our Wellington telegram, that what we stated some weeks ago to be probable has now been carried into effect — that Mr C. D. Ward, the District Judge of Wellington, has been appointed Acting Judge for the Otago and Southland District of the Supreme Court, during the absence of Mr Justice Chapman, who is about to visit England. Mr Justice Chapman intends to return from Victoria in time to sit in Bankruptcy on the 4th May, and there is also an appointment for a sitting in Banco, at which about half a dozen rules nisi, for new trials, or to set aside verdicts, will be moved for. The following are the representatives of the different districts who will compete for the General Government prizes on the 27th inst. : — Waikato, Private Forbes, 53 ; Taurangaand Opotiki, Sergeant Small, 53 ; Hawke's Bay, Captain Kennedy, 53 ; Wairarapa, Corp. Tankersley, 50 ; Wellington and Hutt, Corp- King, 58, Private Harris, 59 ; Taranali, Private Hoskin, 56 ; Nelson, Private Drew, 63, Private Moore, 63; Marlborough, Private Grey, 60; Canterbury, Private Dixon, 64, Sergeant Brass, 65, Ensign Beswick, 62 ; Otago, Captain M'Farland, 72, Private Chisholm, 66, Private Curie, 65, Private Stevens, 65, Sergeant Taylor, 66, Lieut. Walrs, 65, Private Robertson, 64, Private Key, 63, Private Richardson, 63, Sergeant Christie, 62, Lieut Shand, 59 ; Southland, Private Crisp, 61. Auckland, Wanganui, and Rangatieki do not send representatives this year. Tha cadets who go up to Wellington, are, Nelson — M'Gee, Adams Gully, and Locke ; Wellington — Bowater ; Blenheim — Tait ; and Otago — Gibson. The Episcopalian congregation seem to have much greater difficulty in raising money than the other denominations in town. The Presbyterians have lately got their place of worship nicely enclosed and the ground under a beautifnl sward of young grass, greatly improving the appearance and value of their property. St. Mary's Chapel has also recently received, most extensive improvements and ornamentation, while the Wesloyans have twice within the last few months made large additions to their property, first by the purchase of a new Chapel and latterly by adding a wing to it, and yet St. John's Church, in the heart of the town, stands naked and hare, in the middle of what is a very agly vacant lot in summer and a swamp in winter. The members of the congregation have certainly recently made an effort to remedy this defect, but the effort has not yet been sufficiently effective. The concert some short time ago . gave them a good lift, but before they can hope to get their place of worship made decent they will, we learn, have to supplement the funds then raised to some extent. Tenders for the fencing and painting were opened a few days ago when it was found that the lowest tender exceeded by some £10 or £12 the amount of cash in hand. Un .er thes'- ci -cumstances the wardens hold the tenders in abeyance until they can decide which had better be done, put up a plainer fence, or make another exertion to raise the money. We have seen the plan of the pro posed fence and must say that while it is neat and ornamental in design it is far from being extravagant in cost. Surely the members of the Church will need no further hint to make up the small balance required, and not longer dese rve the reproach of having the moat beggarl \ looking place of worship in town. Some time since a .gentleman of the highest respectability, and an old resident in this Province, received from a friend in England, a letter, asking for information and advice as to the future prospects of Southland, as a place of settlenv nt. The following reply, which we publish in extenso, gives the writer's opinions on the capabilities ?f Southland as a field for immigration : — " Invercargill, 18th April, 1868.— Dear Sib,— You ask me to state, in as few words as possible, my opinion of the future prospects of this Pro vince. In reply, I have no hesitation in saying that there is a great and prosperous future in store for Southland, and that at no distant date So much so, that it will be matter of surprise to many, and of regret to not a few, who have had the opportunity, but failed to take advantage oi it, of investing in the Crown lands of thk

Province. There are «o many elements that necessarily enter into the consideration of this question, that it is impossible to comprise in a few sentences what should be said in support of my opinion. Southland has in abundance the elements of future greatness and prosperity — a fine climate — a great extent of fertile land, — capable of producing, in perfection, all the cereals ami root crops of Europ°, and of maintaining, in comfort and independence, millions of our countrymen. It is intersected by fine streams of water, from the " wee burnie" up to the br ad, deep and rapid Waiau, wkicli drains the argest area of Lake Country in New Zealand, and is the best in the Colony for salmon and trout. We have also evergreen forests of full-grown timber, adapted for every possible purpose tha timber is used for, and these at convenient distances in all directions. Limestone in abundance, and bituminous coal also ; the latter discovered only a few days ago, and both, singularly enough, quite accessible, and within a few miles of the terminus of the Bluff Harbor and "Winton Railwaj, now in course of completion. What an immense stimulus to immigration (now resumed) and to the purchase and settlement of the country, when these two invaluable and inexhaustible sources of industry and -wealth are in full working order, which -will be the case within twelve months. The discoverer of tho coal informed me that freestone, lime, and coal are to be found in all directions throughout the Province. The absence of engineering difficulties, and the large extent of our agricultural territory, renders it certain that, in a few years, our Province will be thoroughly opened up, with inexpensively formed roads and railways giving every facility for rapid settlement. T-.ore could scarcely be stronger testimony in favor of my opinion of the importance of Southland, than the remarks made by His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, in his opening address to the Council of that Province, now in session, when he suggested that overtures should be made to us for a re-union with Otago. In 1861 he predicted the Panama route within a few years, and was laughed at as a visionary. In the address alluded to, where he brings railways under the consideration of the Council, he refers to a great trunk line, from Bluff Harbor to Cook's Straits — of which we have already, in full operation, the first twenty miles, bringing the capital of the Province and its principal seaport within an hour of each other. Taking into consideration our geographical position too, it must be evident that all the coasting and intercolonial steamers must <yill at the Bluff, being the first and last port of call, to report, by telegraph, their anival and departurej and also to fill up with our bituminous coal. When railways are in full operation throughout the Colony, the whole intercolonial passenger traffic will be centred in the Bluff, and, as a natural result, Irivercaf gill, surrounded by a dense agiicultural population, will be the commercial capital and metropolis of the Colony of New Zealand. I need scarcely refer to Stewart's Island, with its inexhaustible fish banks and magnificent harbor, where thousands of " Great Easterns" could ride at anchor as safely as in a mill pond. Although the subject is not half exhausted, I must close by expressing a hope that enough has been said to remove any doubt your friends may entertain as to the desirability of making Southland their future home." "It would appear" (says the " Ararat Advertiser") " that squatters are determined to combat against depressing influences in the marketable value of their wool, by endeavoring, as far as known appliances will permit, to get up their next season's clip in a manner not hitherto generally attempted on a large scale in Australia. Ihe success of Mr Samuel Wilson'B sheep-wash, ucidly described by him with drawings in the ' Australasian,' has stimulated squatters into imitative activity ; and on most large stations in the Wimmera district dam-making and sheep-wash constructions are the order of the day, thereby absorbing an amount of labor and mechanical skill very unusual at this season of ts>e year, and | which tells very perceptibly on the description of men ' travelling in search of employment.' The constructing and improving of sheep-washes and woolsheds is at present so universal in the Wimmera district, that, independent of the many sawyers at work od stations, the Ledcourt Bridge steam saw-mill is compelled to work day and night to supply orders now some weeks overdue." The " Otago Daily Times " of the 15th inst. says that there is a Ministerial Crisis. The address of the Superintendent contained the following paragraph : — ' I propose to ask you to refer to a Select Committee the consideration of the subject of the Proclamation of Hundreds.' The Government moved for such a Committee, and the House rejected the motion by 16 votes to 15. The adjourned discussion on the reply to the address came on yesterday j and Mr Mitchell, the member for Waikouaiti, proposed, as an amendment, to inspert this paragraph : — ' We consider the desire for new Hundreds so general, the opinion of the House on the subject so evident, from the resolutions passed towards the end of last session, and the necessity for a large extension of the Hundred system so apparent, that it is not necessary to refer to a Select Committe the consideration of the subject of the Proclamation of Hundreds.' This was accepted by the Government as a want of confidence motion. A division on it took place ; and the motion was negatived by the vote of the Speaker, the members being 17 on each side. The Government at once moved an adjournment ; and the House will not meet again until seven o'clock this evening. — It is understood that a meeting of the supporters of the Government will be held during" to-day, when the course to be adopted will be decided upon. " The other day a gentleman from Queensland paid a visit to Geelong" (says the " Advertiser"), and left at this office, for the inspection of the curious, two samples of sugar, manufacture 1 on t'.ie Pimpama plantations. They are of a good bright color and grain, and command in the local market prices equal to that obtaine l for parcels of the same quality imported from the Mauritius. We were informed that Mr Raff, of Brisbane, is now cultivating the BUgar cane to a great extent on the Cobulture estate, the property of the late cotton company, and, from having imported the best and latest improved machinery for the manu facture of sugar, he is enabled to turn out an article superior to anything yet attempted in Queensland. One of the advantages of our neighbo-s growing sugar is that they have a market in the adjoining colonies that will consume ail they can produce for many years to come, and • will tend to make prices equable, as the produce i of the crops in the Mauritius is now Tery uncertain. The same gentleman aIBO left a sample of , rum of Mr Raff's distilling ; this is of a very fine quality, and sells at a higher price than the imported spirit. The local production is protected f by a differential duty, and this stimulates native 3 ndustry."

II icit distillation on an extensive Kate Beetnato have been contemplated by come parties in the Province. We recently noticed the. seizure of a still of considerable dininisions at Stewart?! Island, but it has bren put totally in the shade by one taken possession of by tlte puliue on Monday morning last. This last is a truiy gigantic apparaius. It for a regularly organi-ed distillery a> d must, have cost sone hundreds of pounds to the importers, being coin posud entirely of copper , possessing all the latest iiupr>veiuun;d, aud of beautiful workmanship, it d^es not seem em to have been in actual use; but, had opportunity served, would hare been, no doubt, turned to profitable account. It was found in premise! not far from the Kxchange-buildings, where it had i-een, to the knowledge of the police, for some considerable time. . We are not aware whether the owner can be positively identified and a fine secured ; but the machine itself, sold even as old copper, will bring a sun sufficient to recoup the authorities for their trouble in effecting the capture. Mr Otto Berliner, of the Private Inquiry office, Elizabeth-street, Melbourne, had an interview with Colonel Smith, of the Royal Artillery, in reference to certain information that gentleman possesses about the disputed Tichborne baronetcy. Mr Berliner showed the colonel twenty-fire photographs of different individuals, and he immediately recognised one taken of Sir Roger Tichborne at Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., in 1866. The figure in the photograph is in bush costume, and has the appearance of representing a very heavy man, perhaps about sixteen or eighteen stone. Colonel Smith says that he recognises him distinctly as Cornet Roger Tichborne, of the Sixth Dragoon Carbineers, when he (Colonel Smith) was lieutenant of the Royal Hone Artillery — a chestnut troop —at Canterbury, England, in 1852 or 1853. Colonel Smith often messed with him — he then weighed about ten stone -and now has no doubt that the photo* graph represents the gentleman he knew as Coronet Tichborne. This information was forwarded to England by telegram, by the outgoing mail. A few days ago (says the " Daily Times ") we had an opportunity of examining a sample of wool washed at the station of Mr Matthew Holmes, at Lee Stream, by means of the hydraulic batteries invented by Messrs Hamilton and Company, of Victoria. The fleece was beauta fully white, and w8 are informed that the rapidity with which the work is done, when the supply of water is ample, renders: the process exceedingly economical. In this respect New Zealand possesses immense advantages over Victoria, as suitable streams abound, and are to be found on every station. The estimated value added to each fleece is from Is to Is 4d, which is ample inducement to adopt the process. Mr W. S. Maude, Chief Enumerator under the Census Act, has furnished the Hokitika papers with the following statement of the population of the Westland Boroughs: — "The approximate population of the town of Hokitika is as follows : -Males, 3035 j females, 1831.— Total, 4866. Greymouth— Males, 1113 ; females, 494.— T0ta1, 1607.— Total in Westland Boroughs, 6473." Under the head of "Fenianism at West' bury," in Tasmania, the "Cornwall Chronicle" has the following : — " The news of the attempt on the life of Prince Alfred created great excitement at Westbury on Tuesday evening. A man named William Lindsay, a Scotchman, from America, who has been in that district some months, made use of some very seditious language at the Westerbury Inn, openly declaring his sympathy with the Fenian movement, and nil approval of the attempt made to assassinate Prince Alfred. He challer ged any one present to fight who differ with his opinions, and defied the police to interfere with him. He was arrested by Mr Superintendent Mahoney, and on Wednesday he was brought before Messrs Rodham Douglas and J. P. Jones, charged with making use of language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. He was convicted on the evidence of Mr Mahoney and others, and bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £30 and two sureties in £15 each. The sureties not being orthcoming, he was committed to Launceston Gaol." James Adams, seaman on board the Celeano, was brought before I. N. Watt, Esq., R.M., on the 18th, for having been found hid under » tarpaulin on the wharf, on the evening of 17th. When discovered he was provided with a billy and gimblet, which he had used so far as to tap one of the casks covered by the tarpaulin under which he was hid, and drawn just sufficient to test its quality, and had the police not interfered with his operations, the " tar " would, no doubt, soon have filled the billy with the requisite spirits for a jollification for himself and mates on board the Celeano. fo his intense disgust however, his little game was spoilt just when promising to result most successfully, and he was marched off to the lock-up to enjoy, instead of his anticipated frolic, a night's solitary meditation. To give him a further opportunity of thinking on the error of his ways, the Resident Magistrate sent him to prison for a month. About ten years since, writes a correspondent of the 'Builder,' I was laid up with an excrutiating neuralgic headache, which seemed to encircle the ear of that side of the head alone affected. The l.lea that the headache had something to do with the ear as a centre occurred to me, although in the ear itself there was no pain. I had a little almond oil, and also spirits, dropped into the ear, but without any good effect ; when the thought suggested itself that perhaps a little of the anesthetic ether (not the nitric) migh f . do good, by deadening the nervous pain. I had some drops of rectified sulphuric ether, therefore, put into the ear ; and, in the course of half an hour, my headache was entirely gone. I have since found, both from my own occasional experience and that of others, that ether, so applied, is in nearly all cases an effectual cure of those very painful headaches face-aches, jaw-aches, and toothaches, which are commonly known as neuralgic and rheumatic. If a severe case, two or three days may elapse, during which the pain may be apt to recur, especially from new and even slight exposure to draughts ; but "repeated application of half-a-dozen drops, or less, of ether, at a time, seems certain to subdue the most violent attack, sometimes in a very few minutes. A drop or two of almond or olive oil afterwards put into the ear, I have thought, tended to protect from a new attack. As the ether sometimes gives pain in the ear for a moment while being applied, a single drop should first of all carefully be put in, and then more, as the case will allow;, but*! have never suffered the least bad effect, either in my hearing or otherwise, from the use of ether in this way, nor have I heard of any from others who have tried it at my recommendation.