Local and General.

Southland Times, Issue 1185, 20 December 1869, Page 1

Local and General.

Resolutions hfwve been passed by both Houses of the Queensland Parliament, granting a bonus of 5000 asrea of land to the exporters of 750 tons of fresh uncooked meat, manufactured in the Colony, and Bold in Great Britain or Ireland at a price not less than 4£d per pound. A mysterious paragraph lately appeared in the West Coast Times, respecting an alleged discovery of a rich quartz reef, specimens from which had been brongbt into Hokitika. With regard to this discovery, the Grey River Argus says : — We are iv a position to state that the discovery in question was made by F. B. Von der Sloot within thirty miles of Hokitika, up one of the tributaries of the Hokitika Kiver. With one mate he has been prospecting for eight weeks, and has followed the reef for miles. At first there was no gold, | then gold was seen in the quartz, which was followed through the granite; then a rich specimen of auriferous quartz, water-worn, was found in one of the leading creeks, and now the men are proßpecting to find the reef in the slate. They are confident that within a month they will be able to lay bare a magnificent quartz reef, but as yet they are naturally disinclined to make known the precise locality, as no leases are granted by the County Council, and the ground would be at once rushed. Mr Akersten, who was recently a candidate for the Superintendency of Nelson, has filed his schedule since hia hopes of political preferment were blasted. A Provincial Government Gazette, bearing Monday's date, contains a notification proroguing the Provincial Council, Mr Weldon's resignation, the appointment of James Wilson, Esq., M.P.C., as Provincial Treasurer, and of the following gentlemen as members of the Education Board, viz. . — James Wilson, Esq., M.P.C. ; Andrew Kinross, Esq., M.P.C. ; Andrew Toshack, Esq., M.P.C. ; Beys. W. P. Tanner, A. H. Stobo, and B.S. Bunn. A meeting of the Committee of the Acclimatisation Society took place at the Government Buildings on the 14th inst. Tbe Secretary intimated the receipt of a clutch of pheasant's eggs from the Messrs Hill, and the despatch of 50 young trout to the Waimea basin, under the care of those gentlemen. Of the remaining fish it was decided to put a number in the Waihopai, a few in the Makarewa, and some in a suitable oreek near Riverton. Should the day prove fine, a great treat is promised holiday-makers on the 3rd of next month, namely, a trip per steamer Phoebe to Ruapulri and back, at a very cheap rate*. The Gawler Times (S.A.) writes : — lt will be remembered that at the last Paris Exhibition our Jellow-tovmsnian, Mr James Dawson, obtained the prize for flour, and ha 9 not been forgotten by the Emperor of the French, who has recently sent an extensive order to the firm for the supply of a large quantity of flour for the use of the military establishment at New Caledonia. We understand the flour is required to be packed in barrels, and that for the next few weeks several coopers are likely to be engaged preparing the packages. A little extra stir may therefore be expected at the Albion Mill. We are not aware of the amount or terms of the contract, but we believe for the next few months 1000 barrels, containing 100 tons of flour, will have to be delivered monthly at Port Adelaide. We may congratulate Mr Dawson on tbe practical reßUlt which has arisen from his forwarding a sample of flour to the Paris Exhibition of 1867. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 14th inst., a yoath of 14 , belonging to a most ' respectable family in town, was brought up on I the charge of having stolen a book. From the evidence, it appeared that on the previous day the lad attended a sale of furniture, &c, held by Mr Osborne, in Don-Btreet, that he picked up the book in question — rather a valuable one — and carried it off; that, when afterwards taxed with the theft, he denied it, but on being pressed, ultimately produced the volume from his bedroom. When aßkecl whether he had anything to say for himself, after the witnesses in the case had been heard, he said he had only taken the book home for his mother's approval, and had afterwards forgotten all about it. The story was, however, evidently trumped up for the occasion, as he had eaid nothing of the kind to the constable when apprehended. After a severe reprimand, his Worship sentenced him to 24 hours' imprisonment, and a flogging. A man charged with being drunk and disorderly, was next placed in the dock, in the first instance with having been' drunk on the previous evening, and in the second, with having used obscene language in the public streets, and resisting the police when taken up . To the first charge he pleaded guilty, but professed ignorance of having committed the second. He was fined thirty shillings, in default, three days' imprisonment. The Otago Provincial Telegraph Lines have been taken over by the General Government. The Colonial uniform rate will be in force for all messages in the future. The Hon. Mr Gisborne has been appointed a Commissioner under the Government Annuities Act, 1869. This appointment is understood to be preparatory to the issue of regulations under the Act, and the establishment of a system of Government Life Assurance. A Maori named Pirikawu, who went home from Wellington to be educated, was sued a few days ago in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, for a tailor's bill. His defence Wft» that he had been to England, and there no " gentleman" ever paid his tailor. We observe that Mr M'lntyre of the Commercial Stables has placed his comfortable brougham on the streets for hire as a hackney

The Lyltellon Times of the Ist inst. gives a long account of a public meeting, having for its object the consideration of measures to check the evils of excessive drinking. The Major of Christchurch presided, and many influential men took part in the proceedings. The following resolutions were passed :— " That the evils arising from excessive drinking call for social and legislative reform." " That a committee be appointed to consider what amendments of the existing liquor laws would be practicable and efficient." " That the committee be instructed to consider what measures of a social kind would be best adapted to discoarage drinking habits." After appointing a large committee — consisting of his Honor the Superintendent and other leading men — the meeting terminated. A deputation from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce waited upon his Honor the Superintendent of Ofcago on the Bth inst., relative to a J proposal made by Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, i & Co., a 9to the conveyance of the mails ' between Australia and Dunedin. That firm offers, in consideration of a four-weekly subsidy of £400 from the Otago Government, to despatch a vessel from Melbourne with the English mail within two hours after the arrival of the ocean steamer, and to despatch a vessel from Port Chalmers with the mail for Europe eight days before the ocean steamer leaves Hobson's Bay, the Bluff to be called at both in the outward and inward voyage. His Honor said that he would not pledge himself to any pioposition, but promised to submit tbe matter to the Council, and recommend a small subsidy, on the understanding that the vessels would come to Otago direct. Mr D. M. M'Kay, the Canterbury Immigration officer, was brought up before the Supreme Court at Christchurch on the 6th inst., and discharged, on the ground that, as the judge said, " the province had not a corporate existence to own property. He was bound therefore to direct the jury that the Crown had failed to establish to his satisfaction that the prisoner was clerk in the strict sense, or at all events, that the money he received was the property of Mr Bolleston. That being the case, there was no use letting the evidence go before them, whatever might be the moral guilt of the prisoner. He would therefore direct them to return a verdict of acquital." From a return of lands in the Province of Otago and their classes, published in the Provincial Government Gazette, it appears that 1,421,000 are Forest ; 284,800 acres Lakes ; 2,346,240 acres Barren; and 9,308,600 acres Agricultural and Pastoral ; giving the total area at 13,360,640 acres. Of this, 5,956,506 acres are under Pastoral Leases ; 310,500 acres Pastoral Licenses ; 6800 acres Agricultural Leases ; 991,749 acres sold within Hundreds ; 303 acres within G-oWfields ; 5566 under leaseholders' covenants ; 392,651 unsold within Hundreds ; anl an area of 1,384,400 acres of Hundreds. Tree planting is beginning to attract public attention in Adelaide, and the neceasity of replacing the timber cut down around the city is becoming every day more apparent. The area of land under pastoral occupation in Victoria is 27,034,784 acres, the total rent paid being £174,331 17s, or 1.55 of a penny per acre. The Kaikoura Herald of November 27 writes ; — News reached the township on Wednesday evening last that a woman named Clark was in the bush at the Boat Harbor out of her mind, with a baby in her arms, quite recently born, and entirely naked. She was armed with a pistol and 8 knife ; and it ia alleged that she was once in an asy?um for some time. Several persons were out looking for her, but had been unsuccessful up to 2Sth ; but as she was reported to have been seen on the morning of the day before by Mr Monk's eldest girl, it is very probable that she will be in Bafe keeping. She was first seen on Thursday, the 18th in9t. Mr Constable Faap left for the Boat Harbor on Thursday morning in search of the woman. The Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Times, writing on the withdrawal of the mail subsidy, says : — " Everyone in Wellington is thinking kindly of your Superintendent. W e are all in a happy fratre of mind at the 'prospect of having to wait an indefinite time for our English letters, and we are thanking His Honor Mr Macandrew for the agreeable sensations we are experiencing. The delay is undoubtedly vexatious, but when next session we learn — as most certainly we Bhall that more money has been spent in bonuses to steamers than the subsidies amounted to, our vexation will be doubled. Even the Government organ blames the action of the Assembly — not of the Ministry — in giving way to the suggestion of the Otago members on this matter, and openly desires Ministers to set aside the resolution oi the House, which, it says, will be more honored in the breach than the observance. Auckland is one of the stations fixed upon for the observations to be made in 1874, of the transit of Venus. The European Mail says : — "The Astronomer Eoyal is wisely making arraDgementa in good time for observing the transits which will take place in the years 1874 and 1882. The event is one of considerable interest and value to scienti fie men, and it is therefore desirable that it should be viewed from 1 those parts of the earth's surface, where it can be best observed. The stations fixed upon for 1874 are Oahu (one of the Sandwich Islands) , Kerguelen Island (in the Indian Ocean), Rodriguez (a dependency jf the Mauritius), Auckland (New Zealand), and Alexandria. Both : the Admiralty and the Treasury have responded with alacrity to the appeal that has been made . to them for funds. Mr Warren de la Eve is of opinion that photography may be used with the ' utmost advantage for registering the transit." I 1874 is a long tray off yet, but it is gratifying to know that at that time New Zealand will probably be visited by some of the leading astronomers of the day. Such a visit should be made the most of to advance the interests of ence in the Colony^

A Hamilton (Victoria) journal reports that a strange accident occurred lately at Mr M'Kellan's Strathkellow station, on which some deer are running. It seems that a fine buck by rubbing his antlers against the fence, had succeeded in removing some palings, and he escaped from his enclosure through the aperture so made. James Catton, the gardener, went up to the animal, which was usually very quiet, and had succeed in placing his hand upon him. The stag turned on him suddenly, and ripped the poor fellow's stomach in a frighful manner. George Lindsay, the groom, who was on horseback at the time, came up to rentier aesistence, and for that purpose dismounted from his horse. The buck then attacked him and plunged his antlers into tho left breast above the heart, penetrating a couple o" inches. Had not the groom managed to. scramble ■ upon his horse and gallop away, worse might have befallen him, for the stag was preparing to renew the attack and chased him some distance. On getting off his horse, Lindsay found there had j been considerable loss of blood from his wound. ! Both men are progressing towards^ .recovery, I although confined to their beds. In opening the proceedings of the Supreme I Court iv Dunedin, Mr Justice Ward said: — " Before commenting on the cases to be brought before you to-day, I cannot but advert to the great change that has taken place in the circumstances of the Colony since the opening of the Court in December last, when I first addressed a Dunedin grand jury. The darkest cloud that ever shadowed the prosperity of New Zealand was then lowering over the North Island. From day to day tidings reached us of massacre and murder ; of the abandonment of mile after mile of settled and cultivated districts to the havoc and ravage of the Maori foe. And owing to the success of the insurgent chiefs, a genera] rising of the Natives under the banner of the King was anticipated, to be accompanied by a simultaneous attack on all unprotected settlements ; coupled with this came an enormous war expenditure, i and an unprecedented depreciation in the Home price of the great staple export of wool. And though, except in respect of the last two items, the material prosperity of Otago was not affected in any great degree, there can be no doubt that it was a period of severe depression for the Colony at large — of utter ruin, for the time, to many districts. Hovr stand matters now ? The tide of war has rolled back from every British settlement, the settlers are re-occupying their homesteads and re-stocking their farms, while the chiefs of the rebellion have fled before the Colonial troops, and many of their followers, convicted of high treason, are now working as prisoners on the roads of Dunedin. The successful visit of the Native Minister to the chiefß of— Waikato gnrea a fairer omen of permanent peace than any occurrence since the commencement of the Waitara war. Moreover, the Thames gold mines will soon drive a wedge to the heart of Waikato ; and no more certain method can be devised for binding the Maori chiefs over to keep the peace than the payment to them of heavy rents for their land. Lastly, the depreciation in the price of wool has turned a large amount of capital and labor into new channels, and the result has been, during the past twelve months, an extraordinary i development of the trade in New Zealand flax. In the North a large proportion of this trade will i be carried on by Maoris, who are already purchasing flax-dressing machines j and we shall find that the profitable industry thus initiated amongst them, will prove our best security against future disaffection. Altogether we may fairly hope that the Native difficulties, which have so long retarded the progress of the Colony, may soon be happily ended, and that a day of # peace and prosperity may shortly dawn on both races. As the wealthiest Province in New Zealand, Otago, although she has not suffered the most, has contributed the most to the expenses 1 of the war, and has therefore good reason to rejoice at its approaching termination, and evePyNew Zealand colonist may well join in thanksgiving to the Almighty for the preservation of the Colony amid the perils of the past, and in prayer that under His guidance those now at the helm may steer the ship of State safely through the dangers that yet remain. We learn that a soiree will be given in the Presbyterian Church, this evening, 20th instant, under the auspices of the Mutual Improvement Society. Most of the leading members of that association are expected to take part in the speeches, readings, &c, which, with music, are to make up the intellectual part of the entertainment. Several able friends of the movement are also to lend their assistance, so that on the whole a very enjoyable meeting may be anticipated. We find that several slight errors have crept into our report of the late show, with reference to the list of prizes. In sheep, class 10, the 3rd prize was given to Mr C. S. Warden. For the best pen of fat steers, Mr G. Saunders took two prizes, Ist and 2nd. In pigs, class 2, the 2nd and 3rd prizes were awarded to Mr Mitchell, manager for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Edcndale. For the best fat pig, a prize, the only one, was given to Mr "Wild. Our gardeners may take a hint from the following, taken from the Bendigo Advertiser : — "At the Sandhurst show, Mr William Holmes, of Kangaroo Flat, exhibited the result of an experiment he tried with broad beans. It appears that he sowed a small patch of beans, and while the plants were still green he pulled the pods off, and cut the stalks down to within an inch of the surface, and used them for feed. He then covered the stumps in the ground with about an inch of manure, and this year they sprung up most luxuriantly, there being double the growth there was the previous year. One of the plants he brought to the show, and it is certainly a wonderful sample of vegetable growth, for there ( are eight stalks about nine feet high, thickly covered with bean pods."

Some consternation was created in one of tbe fashionable draper's shop 9of Melbourne on Saturday morning, the 13th ultimo, by the entrance of a detective officer, ■who, proceeding to one of the shopmen, qnietly "informed him that he was "wanted." The individual in question, who was at tne time attending to a lady, at first tried to laugh off the matter ; but being informed that he waa charged with wife desertion, and seeing hfe fair helpmate coming down the shop to identify him, he at once " caved in." The prisoner's name is Newman, and it appears that he deserted his wife in New Zealand several months ago, leaving her entirely destitute. He was lodged in the watch-house, i»nd would make his appearance before the City Bunch on Monday. The Dunedin Echo of the 4th inst. Bays : — The Provincial Council of Southland has passed resolutions in favor of re-union with Otago, upon the basis recommended by the Commissioners recently appointed by the two Governments to investigate the positions of each Province, and suggest equitable terms of partnership. It i» scarcely possible that the Otago Provincial Council will refuse to endorse the Commissioners' report ; therefore, the union of the two Provinces may be considered as accomplished. Some delay will necessarily arise before the union can be finally perfected, inasmuch as the sanction of the General Assembly is essential to the completion of the contract; but the evident desire evinced by the Government during last session to facilitate the amalgamation of small with large Provinces, renders it extremely improbable that ifc will throw any obstacles in the way. The contemplated union is unquestionably a move in the right direction. It will increase the power of Otago, and advance the progress of Southland, and lead to a more deliberate consideration of the terms upon which the full union of the colony can be satisfactorily secured. It will bring fresh blood ' into the Provincial Council of Otago — men who are unshackled and uninfluenced by the sects and parties that have rendered this Province conspicuous as a class and inactive community. The Wanganui Chronicle states that " there is lying on the sea-fceach, about three miles on the north-west side of the Wangaehu River, a. boat, painted blue on the sidea, ereen inside, and black bottom. It has evidently been submerged for I some time, as there are many barnacles attached. i The boat is four oared, when new must have been a fine-looking craft, and probably belonged to the s.s. Taranaki, lately raised in Queen Charlotte's Sound. The boat does not appear to have suffered much from being driven ashore, having only two small holes in the bottom. Tho Canterbury Times says :— The pernicious system followed by so many farmers in this province, of taking everything from the soil without giving it anything in return, is apparently being pursued in other places. The correspondent of an Otago contemporary, writing regarding the state of the crops in his district, sajs : — I fear that our next crop will be scant, for the reason that our would-be farmers have for years determinedly pursued the suicidal policy of selling everything that came off the land without giving anything to repay the soil for its liberality. Every holder of land has his chaff-cutting machine, and every particle which kind earth produces is subjected to its merciless knives. All new settlements have pursued the same method, and, as a matter of course, all are visited with the same prevalence of agricultural sterility. There have been many projects for augmenting the funds of the Thames Hospital (says the local paper) and with great credit the workmen of some of the mining companies have given subscriptions. But a proposition we heard made last evening, by some gentlemen in business in Shortland, seems to us to be a very good one, viz., that each person in business on the Thames should give one shilling per week to the funds of the institution. This sum, though very small, from each person, would give a total amount which would be a great assistance to the Hospital. We think the suggestion thould be acted upon by the authorities of the institution, as the gentlemen who mentioned it were quite willing to subscribe that amount each week, and felt confident that other persona in business in Shortland would also assist. The suggestion is worthy of a trial. Tho Thames Times says: — "Our readers will hare noticed in our advertising columns a scheme for the disposal of a large number of valuable scrip by msans of a lottery. The terms of the lottery will commend it to all those of a speculative turn of mind. It is not often the chance of such a good thing as a Long Drive scrip can be met with for five shillings. We are informed that the shares are being taken up fast, and the speculation is not confined to the Auckland .^province, as every steamer from the South brings applications for shares, and there seems little doubt but every chance in the lottery will be" taken up. There is one good feature in the proposed scheme — a feature that does infinite credit to the promoters ; we refer to the clause setting aside ten per cent, of the groBS proceeds for the benefit of the Thames Hospital. The prize list comprises three Long Drives and a number of other shares in some of our best dividend paying mines. Messrs James Wrigley and William Lloyd have consented to audit the accounts on behalf of the Hospital. We have great hopes that the whole of the shares will be disposed of, and, besides the good fortune which will attend the prize winners, a good round sum will accrue to the local institution known as the Diggers' Hospital. A Riverton correspondent informs us that it is in contemplation to establish a prospecting company of a permanent nature, employing experienced men only, and giving the workmen an interest in the results, with a determination to deserve success if they cannot command it.

A correspondent, writing to the Daily Southern Cross, says : — " I see, amongst the principles recommended for the preparation of New Zealand flax, one recommended by Dr Hector, which the people would do well to turn their attention to, The principle referred to is the hackling principle, or as Dr Hector designates it, the combing principle. The machine recommended for this purpose ia styled by him a steel comb ; the machine we used in Auckland for the above purpose we styled a hackle. The hackling principle produces the strongest fibre, inasmuch as it separates the fibres from the glutinous substance that surrounds, without bruising them, which is not the case by the beating or percussion principle. With regard to the profitableness of the hand-hackling, I would observe that an ablebodied man may earn 50s per week, working about nine hours a day, providing he receives a reasonable price for hia flax from the merchants ; but if he were obliged to sell flax worth £38 and £40 per ton, at 14s, 9s, and 3a 6d per cwt, as the hacklera had to do in 1867, then I should recommend him to discontinue hackling flax. Should the cultivation of flax prove a success, which we have every reason for believing it will, j other countries will not be slow in taking the matter up, especially countrieg where thousands of emigrants are arriving annually in need of employment. Such an article would not only give employment to the emigrants, but would prevent them from being compelled to send large amounts of money to foreign countries for the purchase of rope material. The hand hackling machine is the only machine by which New Zealand flax can be profitably prepared by hand." A Queensland paper states that at the Wallaroo I Reef, in that colony, may be witnessed the most primitive method of quartz-crushing to be seen perhaps on any goldfield in the Australian colonies. A rude fireplace for burning the quartz, three wooden stampers for crushing it, worked by a lever in a wooden trough — such is the machinery constructed by the industrious proprietor of the reef, James Allen, of Warwick. The Taranahi Serald says : — " Captain Morshead has informed ua that during last week, his bees have performed a feat hitherto unrivalled even in New Zealand, a last year's hive having swarmed four times in eight days. The swarms he assures us, were all above the average size, and are now carefully housed, and can be seen by anyone." A correspondent of the G-rey River Argus writes :— An amusing incident occurred here a few days ago which illustrates the truth of the old adage, " Where there's a will there's a way." A resident in the neighborhood obtained a verdict in the Resident Magistrate's Court at the Ahaura against another resident, for goods sold and delivered. An order of the court for immediate payment was issued, and then the question arose how it was to be served on defendant. He was known to be planted somewhere in the vicinity of Reid'e station. The plaintiff went there, but as soon as the man he was in search of saw him approaching, he bolted, and as he is young and active, and can run like a deer, he soon left his pursuer behind. However, that acute individual was not to be " bested," so he returned to the Junction, and after hiring a horse and saddle for a lady, he disguised himself in female attire. When the finishing touch was put on, in the shape of oneof Mrs B'a window curtains, which was made to do duty as puggaree, he made a fresh start accompanied by a male friend. When they came in sight of the station, the " lady " adjusted herself in a more ladylike position in the saddle, and as they came nearer she saw the object of her fond solicitude leisurely and unsuspectingly airing himaelf in front of the house. When the pair rode up to the hut, 1 , true to his reputation for gallantry and politeness, came forward, and offered to assist the lady to dismount. She thanked him (with, I have no doubt, a sweet smile on her face, if her face could have been seen through the windowd curtain), but just requested him in a deliciously confidential whisper "to take charge of that small parcel for her," handinghim, • upside down,' the order of the court neatly enclosed, and addressed to himself. A loud and rery unfeminine guffaw from the lady, and another from her protector, made I - suspect that he had been sold. The lady did not dismount, but I have heard that she left the skirt of her riding habit iv I 's hands, which I have no doubt will come in handy for saddle cloths. The Victorian Post Office has adopted the English fashion of issuing envelopes with embossed postage stamps. The Wakatip Mail of the 2nd states that visitors to the Lakes remark on the much more forward state of the grain crops there than in the fertile plains of Taieri and Tokomairiro. A correspondent of the Evening Star suggests that the Dunedin Caledonian Society ought to offer a prize to the Scotchman who speaks the ' least intelligible English. In the Resident Magistrate's Court on the 4th inst., A. M'lntyre sued the Secretary of the Election Committee, which took the aide of opposition to re-union, for the cost of conveyances. The plaintiff explained that he knew the defendant had paid over the money as he had received it, but he had adopted this course in consequence of the defendant being unable to get any money for the claims against the elections of New River and Waikivi. The defendant admitted the justness of nearly the whole claim, but shewed a statement to the effect that instead of money in hand, he had actually, as an agent, liquidated more than he had received money for. The Resident Magistrate decided that an agent was not liable, and that the wrong person was sued, but explained to the plaintiff the course he would have to pursue to recover, and said it was high time such claims were satisfied. A vacancy will shortly occur in the Provincial Executive (aays the Otago Times), as we believe it is the intention of the Treasurer to visit Europe by the next mail steamer.