THE PROVINCES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 162, 16 March 1871, Page 6

THE PROVINCES.

The road steamer purchased by the Canterbury Provincial Governmont, from Mr. J. L. Gillies of Tokomairiro, appears to be giving entire satisfaction.

Mr. Charles Ollivier is now is "Wellington, endeavouring to interest the Government in his alleged discovery of a method of cleaning flax better than the Moaris can by hand. The " Evening Post " says : — Mr. Ollivier came to Wellington by the Luna, on her last trip, for the purpose of seeing the Colonial Secretary on the subject. We beleive he asks the very moderate sum of £3000 for his invention, and certainly, if it is anything like what it is represented, theGroverament would do well to purchase the secret, and make the process as widely known as possible. Such a sum as £3000 would be as nothing compared to the benefit which would accrue to the Government and to every section of the community from such a revival of the flax trade as would necessarily ensue on the promulgation of a process by which a marketable article worth £50 or £60 a ton could be produced at the expensa of £7 or £8 a ton.

Cecleno was found guilty of murder at Christchurch on Wednesday, Bth inst , and was sentenced to death. A gentleman informs us (" Bruce Herald "') that he called the other day upon Miss Eoss, whose peculiar case has excited so much interest throughout the country. This gentleman was a fellow-passenger of Miss Eoss's from Melbourne, and although she has never met him since, she at once recognised him, and was the only member of her family who did so. She still continues in the same helpless condition, all the sustenance she partakes of being the smallest bit of a biscuit twice a week, and her mouth only moistened with tea. Her left side is still paralysed, and the convulsive fits she only now takes once or twice a weelc instead of daily as before. There is still the lingering pain in the chest. She still, however, maintains her healthy, happy, smiling countenance and cheerful conversation, and is quite resigned to meet the result of her affliction whatever that may be. A chat with Mi3s Eoss is quite a treat which everyone would enjoy, and on the present occasion she kept up the conversation for two or three hours without showing the least sign of exhaustion. A good many strangers still continue to pay her a visit, but not the hundreds a day as was the case after we first gave publicity to the peculiar nature of her affliction.

An interim return of the area of land in cultivation, and of the " agricultural produce thereof" in the province of Otago as it exited before the union with Southland, is published in last week's Provincial Government " Gazette." The return is not a complete one, the returns from the Dunstan, Tuapeka, and Waikaia districts, as well as a few schedules from other districts, not having been received. The total number of holdings is set down at 2042. The total area under crop is as follows: — "Wheat, 20,238J acres; oats, 49,627 acres; barley, 3,442 i acres; hay, 4,782£ acres; potatoes, 3,037| acres ; total, 80,127^ acres. The estimated gross produce is as follows :— Wheat, 570,918^ bushels; oats, 1,677,616 bushels; barley, 101,204 bushels; hay, 9,060 tons ; _ potatoes, 11.11U tons. The quantity of last year's crop remaining on hand when the form was filled up was as follows :— "Wheat, 39,148 bushels ; oats, 28,160 bushels ; barley, 46,178 bushels. The district which has the largest area under crop is "Waitaki, with 24,914* acres in 281 holdings. Next come" Bruce witu 15,037 i acres in 301 holdings ; Taieri, with 12,649f acres in 321 holdings; "Waikouaiti, with 9,480f acres in 295 holdings; Clutha, 8,694 acres in 269 holdings ; and, longo inter oallo, Wakatip, 4,829£ acres in 114 holdings. The other districts are all a long way behind those specified,