Probincial Mems.

Southland Times, Issue 951, 15 May 1868, Page 5

Probincial Mems.

We were shown an exceedingly large potato, weighing over a pound weight, and measuring nearly eleven inches in circumference. This monster tuber was grown in the garden ot Mr Edmund Rogers.

The gaol prisoners have been actively engaged in cleansing and repairing the main streets of tbe town within the past few days. The side drain in Esk-street near Messrs Calder Blacklock's store is broken in several places* A. few logs of wood, and a little gravel, would temporarily render secure what are at present very dangerous holes.

The sea continues its inroad upon Hokitika. The "West Coast Times" of the 27th says:— "In the course of yesterday, and notably about high, water mark, we observed the sea again make serious assaults on some of the more forward of j the small buildings on the beach, at the north end of Eevell-street. In some instances, the fronts of the dwellings were literally "Stove in by the force of the waves, and in other cases -they were so far undermined by the continued washing of the waves, that their owners deemed it advisable to j remove them bodily to preserve them from being carried out to sea. Abreast of the railway station, up to as far as the Montezuma, the ocean continued to make slow but steady advances on the mainland. In its leader of the 11th inst., the " Tasmanian Times" writes as follows with regard to the departure of Prince Alfred for England : — " We confess our unqualified surprise and regret that the Prince should have been advised, perhaps ordered, to depart from the original programme of his visit to Her Majesty's Colonial possessions. Hia Koyal Highness's family have never been wanting in personal courage j and- we cannot suppose that the Prince shrank from a repitition in If ew Zealand of the vile attempt which has conferred a painful notoriety on New South Wales. His own will has, in this matter, no doubt, been overborne by the advice of the Governor, or his own suite, or possibly by orders from Commodore Lambert. But the consideration shown for the Queen's maternal anxiety, will not, we think, he approved of by Her Majesty. The last mail • haa conveyed to England the most satisfactory assurances of the Prince's complete recovery. Her Majesty's anxiety would, therefore, be allayed long before the Galatea can reach Spithead. Under these circumstances, an exact fulfilment of the Admiralty orders would have been more agreeable with the professional duty of the Captain of the Galatea, and would have seemed to consort better with the dignity and reputation of a Prince of the Blood, than a departure from a prescribed route, long ago officially announced, such as may possibly occasion misconstruction, to which no member of the Koyal Family ought to be exposed, in any part of the Queen's dominions. The Queen's great personal courage and high sense of the duties of her exalted station, will not dispose Her Majesty to view with satisfaction any course which seems to postpone the Prince's duty, as an officer in the Public Service, to a tenderness for Her Majesty's private feelings or maternal anxiety. Be this as it may, Prince Alfred has now sailed from oar shores. Let us heartily bid him 'Good speed j' and renew our thankful gratulations that Australia has been spared the great crime and ineffable reproach of his untimely death by a traitor's hands."

The Otago " Provincial Gazette " of the 22nd ult., states that the value of imports into Dunedin during the quarter ending the 31st December was £395,628, and during the corresponding quarter of 1866, £546,290. The return for the whole year of 1867 being £1,576,247, as against £1,615,802 in 1866. The return of Exports for the same quarter 1867, being £158,202, aud for the corresponding quarter in 1866, £148,049. Value of imports at aU the ports of the colony in 1867, £5,344,607," and in 1866, £5,894,863.

The " London Review," in noticing the Queen's Journal, says *. — " The first edition consisted of 150,000 copies,, nearly aU. of which were sold some few days ago, reaUsing a net profit of £10,000. In America, the people are as eager to obtain the Journal as her Majesty's own subjects. The Harper's New York have announced an immediate pubhcation from early sheets of the work. ' The Early Years, of the Prince Consort ' was published by this firm, who are said to have been as much surprised at the demand for it as were the EngUsh publishers."

The Dunedin correspondent of the " Dunstan Times," states that Mr Juhus Yogel has resigned the Editorship of the " Otago Daily Times," which journal he has so ably conducted since it was first started. Indeed to Mr Yogel may be attributed the honor of caUing into existence in New Zealand, the daily press, and inaugurating a new era in colonial journalism.

A probabihty exists that the graving dock at Nelson wiU be almost immediately commenced. The Provincial Engineer is said to be drawing out plans for its construction, and the Nelson papers report that at least one contractor is forthcoming and willing to undertake the formation of a substantial stone dock.

It is always a pleasure to be enabled to record the progress of local industry, as it demonstrates forcibly the belief in a prosperous future for the Province, especiaUy whenitispracticallyiUustrated by the estabUshment of undertakings which require both, capital aud skiU to carry them to a successful issue. The Sylvan Bank Brewery, : which was closed for a considerable time, has recently been re-opened, having undergone improvements adding greater facilities to its operations. By invitation ofthe proprietors, Messrs Buchanan and Co., on Saturday last we visited the brewery whilst it was in full working order j and without going minutely into particulars or describing the machinery in use for brewing purposes, we may say generaUy that the result of the various "brews" has more than exceeded the expectations of the proprietors, whUst the article produced is of so superior a quality as wiU speedily drive the imported beverage from the market. We beUeve it is the intention of the proprietors to estabUsh a malting floor, in connection with the brewery, which wiU have the effect bf encouraging the growth of barley, and of affording a profitable market for the produce of the farmer ; thus keeping in the Province a large sura of money that is now annuaUy expended on foreign malt. We wish every success to the spirited endeavors of the proprietors to estabUsh a local industry which will employ a large nnaiber of people

At the meeting of the Edinburgh United Presbyterian Presbytery, Mr Fleming, of Lothianroad church, proposed that the Presbytery should recommend the churches within the bounds to dispense with the objectionable system of toast drinking at ordination dinners. He did so on the grounds.that drinking with the uprorious "Hip, hip, hurrah!" was beneath the dignity of Christian men, and opposed to the gravity required in Christian ministers j that it was inconsistent with the previous religions services or the day, and that.the transition from ordaining to toasting a brother was painful and incongruous. Mr Gardiner regretted that the motion had been brought forward ; but, as a personal abstainer, he could not give a silent vote, and moved that the Presbytery, " while it would be glad that the drinking of toasts at ordination and induction dinners were discontinued, deem it inexpedient to take any action in the matter." Mr Muir, of Leith, did not think the churches should be interfered with in the matter, and therefore moved the previous question. In the course of the discus- i sion which followed various opinions were expressed. Even those who believed in ordination dinners, and thought they were entitled to some refreshment after taking part in the ordination services, agreed in condemning the practice of crying out " Hip, hip, hurrah !" as being somewhat incongruous. Ultimately Mr Fleming withdrew his motion in favor of Mr Gardiner's, which, as opposed to "the previous question," was carried by 25 to 17.

• The "Nelson Colonist" of tho 17th ult states " The Board of Governors having gone through the onerous duty of making selection from fortyapplicants for tho head-mastership of Nelson College, have finally placed their choice on the Rev. F. C. Simmons, Rector of Dunedin High School, whose certificates and local testimonials, a3 a very successful and accomplished teacher, are of a very ' high order. Many other of the candidates were also highly certified, and well qualified for the post. Fifteen of the applications came from Victoria, 11 from New South Wales, 2 from Queensland, and 12 from various parts of New Zealand." The " Wellington Journal" of tha 15th ult, says : — " A shark measuring six feet in length was caught by a gentleman who "was fishing ou the Wellington Pier, on Monday last; the monster afforded a good deal of sport before he was safely landed, and upon being opened was found to contain a most miscellaneous collection of articles in his maw such as sardine tins, pieces of old boots, a soda-water bottle, «id the fagjend of a door mat." The Melbourne " Evening Star" says :— " The following story is told of one of the members returned to the Assembly in the Ministerial interest at the late elections, : — '* Whilst on the Bench on a recent occasion ho was told by the Clerk of Petty Sessions that, as there was only himself on the Bench, the prisoner should be remanded till the next day. The newly-fledged M.L.A., looking seriously at the man in the dock, said, ' Prisoner, you are reprimanded till Thursday.' '"

The " Argus "of the sth inst., says *. — " Some progress has been made towards the formation of a Ministry, and an authoritative announcement on the subject wiU no doubt be made when Parliament meets to-day. If the whole of the preliminaries are not settled, a postponement until Thursday wiU be requested ; but if, as is more probable, a new Administration has been formed, an adjournment wiU be asked for, in order to allow the members of the G-overnment to appeal to their constitutents. If the negotiations at present in progress are successful, Mr Sladen wiU be Chief Secretary in the new Cabinet ; Mr Fellows, Minister of Justice ; and Mr Aspinall, Attorney- General. Messrs Gillies, Langton, Kerferd, and MacMahon wiU a!so most likely accept portfohos. A meeting of the members interested will be held this morning, when it is hoped that the matter wih be settled. We understand that with the new Ministry the Darling grant wiU be an open question. [Messrs MacMahon and Aspinall have since withdrew.^

The Melbourne " Argus " of the 4th inst., thus describes the successful manufacture of paper as a new industry: — On Saturday forenoon the making of paper was commenced at Mr Ramsden's rniU, and in the course of the day a considerable quantity was turned out. This first fruit of the Victorian paper manufacture ia a fine thin wrapping-paper, of a neat Ught brown color, which weighs 60lb to the ream, in sheets of 46in by 36in. A thicker paper was also made in the course "of the Jday, which wiU weigh about 1201 b. Competent judges have examined the paper, and pronounce it to be of excellent quaUty — smooth, tough, and of even texture. It also carries ink weU. The material employed consisted of the pickings of the rags brought into the mill, the best having been reserved for the manufacture of printing paper. During the earUer days of the week the material was in course of preparation, and various machines and utensils engaged in that work performed satisfactorily. Saturday's process, however, was, by far the most important, and it must have been highly satisfactory to the proprietor of the rniU to see the Uquor fed to his machine turning into paper within a few,' minutes, without the slightest accident or contretemps. The wire gauze web travels at the 'rate of thirty -five feet a minute, and when the machine is going at fuU speed, only about a minute will elapse from the time the pulp'begins to flow until finished paper begins to be roUed up at the other end of the room. The new vacuum appliances for drawing the water out of the pulp performed , weU ; and indeed the exceUent'start made was highly creditable to the distant makers of the machinery, and to the mechanists by whom it had been erected. It is expected that the manufacture of printing paper wiU be commenced towards the end of this week. No difficulty was experienced through want of skiU on the part of the workmen engaged. As we mentioned before, but Uttle skilled labor is required, and that Uttle has been secured. The same journal of the sth, writing on the subject of the manufacture of printing ink, says : — We had yesterday the pleasure of being present at the formal inauguration of a new industry, which promises to become one of considerable value and utility. Mr F. Wimble, from the well-known firm of ShackeU and Edwards, ink manufacturers, of London, has commenced business as a manufacturer of coloured inks in Little CoUins-street ; aud the machinery was formally Btarted yesterday in the presence of a number of gentlemen. Mrs BaUliere gracefuUy performed the honorary duties of the occasion, and in the usual manner christened the manufactory the Violet Ink MiUs. The works as yet are in a somewhat rough and incomplete state, but seem, as far as erected

thoroughly efficient, and capable of producing inks of the best and purest- character. Tho ink manufactured at the opening was a deep blue, and was remarkable for the richness and purity of its color. The conditions under . which Mr Wimble has commenced this enterprise are very favorable. By purchasing the pigments from the home makers he eau manufacture ink and sell it at a lower rate than that now charged by the importers ; but when he. 'has ereoted all the appliances for .making the colors himself, he will occupy a position of decided . advantage . Besides, we believe that colored inks always lose both in quality and quantity in the -transit j and as Mr "VVimble undertakes to supply the article' ia a thoroughly good and pure state, he will probably, have the command of the market. The \ operations connected with the manufacture of colored ink are extremely simple. The diflerent colors are obtained from mineral, vegetable, and animal substances, by. chemical process. These are by far the most expensive ingredients in the article, some of them being as high in price as. 18s 6d an ounce. The other important element in the manufacture is linseed oil, which is refined by boiling, and becomes what is known as printer's oU. This operation takes about forty-eight hours, and by it all the fat is taken from the oil, and nothing but the pure gelatine left. The pigments are ground fine, and then mixed with the oil. The material is then placed in a milling machine, where by passing between a number of rollers .the ingredients are throughly fused. The mixing takes fully an hour, and afterwards the ink is taken from the machine and tinned in the usual way. Mr Wimble does not propose to confine himself entirely to coloured inks. He intends in course of time to commence the manufacture of common black printing inks ; but as the machinery for making these must be kept entirely separate from the coloured ink- works, it will be some time before he is able to commence operations. At present, Mr Wimble would be able to make 1001 b, of coloured ink in a day, and he anticipates from the clearness and dryness of the climate, that the colours will be purer aud more lasting than those ofthe imported inks. The only part ofthe machinery in full operation yesterday was the mixing machine, which consists of three powerful steel rollers, which, as the process of fusing goes on, are gradually brought closer together, and through which the ink is passed again and again until it is thoroughly made. The other portions of the machinery are now on their way to Melbourne, and in the course of time Mr Wimble expects to have a complete ink manufactory in operation. The works are driven by a sixhorse horizontal engine manufactured by Davies and Primrose of Leith,

The "Age," May Ist, states :—" In reference to the disreputable attempts which have been made to rig the breadstuffs market— by individuals as weU as newspapers; by principals, as weU as those who must be classed either as willing tools or simple dupes— we find the foUowing paragraph hi the "Adelaide Advertiser" of the 23rd ult. 'We must premise, however, that Messrs GreviUe and Co. appear to be free from blame ; if, indeed, they are not deserving of praise, for the sending to Adelaide of rumors current in Melbourne" respecting the Adelaide markets could not mislead Adelaide traders, but might, as indeed it did, lead to the discovery of rascally manoeuvres. The " Advertiser " says : — " On Tuesday evening' we received from our Melbourne agents, Messrs GreviUe and Co., the foUowing telegram : — 'lt is reported that 500 tons of flour have been sold in Adelaide to-day at extreme prices.' Having stron°- reason to beUeve that no transaction of this kind had taken place, we suppressed the telegram. On inquiring of leading merchants and brokers, we find that there is no foundation here for the rumor. Now, that the report did exist in Melbourne there can be ho doubt. Our Melbourne telegram, pubhshed in another column, states that an Adelaide telegram had been received there to the effect that 500 tons of Dunn's flour had been sold at -£23. We have the authority of a member of the firm of Dunn and Co. for saying that the statement is untrue. The telegram was probably sent for an object. It looks Uke an attempt to ' rig the market,' and is deserving of the severest reprehension. Some of our leading miUers have caUed upon us, indignantly denouncing the false telegram sent from Adelaide. However, wo have this consolation— that if any one intended to 'rig the market' through oui columns, he failed. We sball write to GreviUe and Co. for fuU particulars, and if we can find out who fabricated the report we shaU pubhsh liis name, no matter who he may be."

The 'Argus' states that ." after negotiations, which were somewhat protracted, Mr Ireland, Q.C., consented to proceed to Hokitika to defend the Fenian prisoners there — aU the seven on tiie charge arising out of the procession and planting ofthe cross in the cemetery, and Larkins and Manning on the special charge of printing and pubhshing seditious Übels in the defunct ' Celt' newspaper. Mr Ireland sailed on Saturday -by the Tararua, and rumor wiU have it that the honorarium handed to the learned Queen's counsel was a very handsome one. It is a compliment to the Melbourne bar that it should have been looked to to supply counsel in this, and in the stiU more important case of _ O'FarreU." [Another paper asserts that the learned gentleman has received as much as £1000.] . ■. ,

The Parliament of New South Wales was prorogued on tVe 27th of AprU, by His ExceUency the Governor in person, until the 16th of June. He alluded with "satisfaction in his speech to the passage of the. Border Duties, Postage, Volunteer Regulation, &c, and made the foUowing aUusion to the late visit of Prince Alfred : — "The present year has been made memorable by the visit to this colony of one of Her Majesty's sons, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. The reception of his Royal Highness has been such as was anticipated from the loyalty and ÜberaUty of the people of New South Wales. The attempt which was made upon the Ufe of our Royal guest — happtty.frustrated by the interposition of Divine Providence— served but more fuUy to make manifest the attachment of all classes amongst us to the throne and person of Her Majesty. I congratulate you, and the colony at large, on the noble display of sympathy and indignation which this great crime caUed forth."

Mr Louis Rodgers has lately imported a very rare assortment of German and American toys, including the newest "notions" out. An inspection wiU amuse a spare half-hour.

A distressing accident occurred in a house in Biggar-street yesterday morning, whereby a child of about two years of age got Beriously, if not fataUy, injured. It appears that the mother of he child, a poor woman named ConneU, whose

husband.is at present undergoing a hard labo* sentence, had gone out washing for the day, leaving the house in charge of a girl of eight or nine years old. Shortly after her 'departure,; the little one by some means came ih contact with tho fire, when its clothes ignited, and before tho flames could be extinguished, the.poor little thing was dreadfully burned. At a late hour last night, it was doubtful whether it would recover. Thia is, no doubt, one of those cases requiring* the sympathy of the Ladies' Benevolent Society.*: It is gratifying to notice that an effort is being made to place the Ladies' Benevolent Society in the position, so far as funds are concerned, of being able to meet the cases of suffering and distress which may naturally be expected to occur during the winter. It will be seen from ari advertisement elsewhere, that lor this purpose^ an entertainment is to be given in the Theatre Royal, oh Tuesday evening next, to consist of readings, recitations, music, &o. There -cau be no doubt that the efforts.of the ladies and gentlemen giving the entertainment will be ÜberaUy supported by the pubUc, whioh has now come to recognise the Ladies'. Benevolent Society as a most useful, successful, and meritorious institution— one to which it is an honor to belong, or to aid aid in anyway. We see no reason why the committee of management of the.Benevolent Society Bhould not adopt the idea of continuing these entertainments throughout the season. Probably, under their auspices a course of " Penny Readings " could be carried ••• on more successfuUy than under any other, and have a better chance of meeting with popular encouragement. With regard tb'" the supply of material suitable to form an interesting programme, we learn that voluntary offers have been received numerous enough to give an entertainment once a fortnight,- or even once a week for some months to come; while we are alao aware that Mr Jones, the proprietor of the Theatre -Royal, has, withjiia customary liberality, promised the use of the house aud lights gratuitously.

The "Age" of the 2nd May states that, '"a circumstance of a peculiarly painful nature took place at Lexton, ou last Sunday week. The usual services at the Wesleyan chapel were being conducted by Mr J. Brown, of Amherst (the father of Mr Leigh Brown, of that place), when he was seized with a paralytic stroke. With some difficulty he was removed to his home, when another stroke took place, almost upon his arrival, which has deprived him of the use of his Umbs. Mr Brown had only recently arrived from England, where he has labored as a local preacher for the the last forty years. His arrival in the circuit was^considered to be a great, acquisition." ;

The "Melbourne. Evening Star" says:— " Many, people in Melbourne wiU no doubt have noticed a smaU Brahmin buU driven about r the streets in a Ught cart. This animal has been brought from Calcutta by* a Captain Black, and so great is this gentleman's beUef in the prowess of the animal in question, that 'he actually offers to run him against our colonial favorites, Fireworks or Fishhook, for £1000 at the ensuing races.' " V ••■•■*

* Cooper's Creek, which used to be looked upon as a place far beyond eveu the remotest outskirts of civilisation, is now settled, stocked, ahd by no means difficult of vehicle access. The v Pastoral Times" remarks — "By leaving Melbourne by Cobb's coach on Saturday, via Echuca and Deniliquin, the passenger can land .at WUcannia, by Grace's Royal Mail, on the Wednesday foUowing, and by Saturday morning he can be at Cooper's Creek, the death-place of Burke and Wills. Ifc wiU be remembered that the famous explorers took their departure from this latter place, crossed the continent, returned to Cooper's Creek, and died here. The country around is now taken up and partiaUy stocked. In five years hence it is expected that we shah be able to make Carpentaria by coach. ... • X.y-

: The " Argus " relates the foUowing :— A communication has been received by a gentleman in Maryborough, enclosing a letter from the "United States for delivery to Mr James De Pontius, or some of his friends, known in this district, but no tidings can be gleaned of any one to whose care the letter can be properly entrusted. Pontius, it may be remembered, waa one of the four travellers (Felix Mathieu, James Dudley, James' De Pontius, and John Kempthorne) slaughtered in June, 1868, by the Maungatapu murderers (Burgess, Levy, KeUy, and SuUivan), whilst travelling from the Deep Creek to Nelson, on their way to the west coast of New Zealand. "Under these circumstances, the letter win, of course, be returned to the sender. ... ■

The " Gipps Land Guardian" has been informed that a squatter on the MitcheU side sold a flock of sheep at the rate of one shilling and sixpence per head. Our 'contemporary adds :— "On Saturday last the butchers in Sale opened a place for the purpose of selling mutton and underselling Mr Macarthur, who had the previous week introduced a system bf setting carcase meat by auction. Over sixty sides were exposed at the rate of one penny per pound, and were eagerly bought up. Despite of this, the auction Bale, at the yard realised from one penny to threehalfpence per pound. 7. The : rivalry between the butchers and the auctioneer practicatty Ulustrates the old proverb, 'It's ari 1 iU wind that blaws quid to naebody.' We understand that next Saturday upwards of two hundred sides of mutton will be oflered for sale." ':''_. 7

A Melbourne/paper states that a passenger by tbe last Panama maU to WeUington has had stolen from him, or lost on the way in course of transit, a box containing securities and paper to the value of £200,000. This Muuchausen-like aftair does not seem to have been reported to the poUce orto have appeared in either the Victorian or IS/sw South Wales 'BoUce Gazette.' ' '7

The result of the recent valuation of the city (says the ''Age') shows a large and rapid advance on the previous seven years. The increase as compared with 1864, when the valuation was tlie lowest since 1861, being within a few . pounds of one hundred thousand. The valuation in 1861 was £652,676 ; in 1862, £581,774 ; in 1863* £555,708 ; in 1864, £550,998 j in 1865, £569,483 , in 1866, £595,265 ; in 1867, £613,665; and in the present year, £650,106 ; showing an increase on the previous year of £37,441. The valuation as made by the city valuators was £653,984, but in revising it the City Council made a reduction of £3878 in the gross amount. The rate of ls in the pound wiU this year show an increase of £18221* on the previous year. During the last eight yean there has been an addition of fifteen hundred to the number of buildings in the city, or an average increase of over 187 each year.