PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 199, 23 November 1871, Page 6

PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

A London correspondent writes :—: — " You will see England as" well' as Ireland without an Established Church ; you may see England without a House of Lords, and without a monarchy. It is not unlikely that you' will see an Irish Parliament assembled in Dublin."

Mr. Lightband, senior, of Nelson, has for several years treated the American blight by grafting an antiblight tree a species of winter apple, on a diseased one. Mr. Lightband's operations' have been most successful. The juice of the fresh graft after awhile permeate the whole of the diseased tree, transfusing as it were new life and fresh vigour into it. The aphides avoid infesting it, the leprous bark exfoliates, and a clean sound bark takes it place ; the tree continuing to bear two kinds of fruit — that of its original stock as well as of the antiblight graft. These, however, will no doubt in time merge their respective types or qualities the one with the other.

Our contemporary, the "Timaru Herald," furnishes its readers with an excellent report ot the Timaru show, and from it we take the following : — " As a sheep show, it was magnificent, and we venture to say that never before has there been so large a collecting of sheep, and, taking all in all, of such good quality, as were penned. In cattle and horses, although the exhibition was superior to past years, yet it did not nearly come up to what might reasonably be expected from a large agricultural district like that surrouding Timaru. The number of visitors to the grounds was unpreeedently large, nearly double the attendance of any previous year, and at about mid-day there could not have been less than 1100 to 120(> people in the Show Yards, — the receipts at the gates proving this by returning the large sum of £55 11s 9d. The report speaks highly of one of Howard's three furrow ploughs (English) and of Raid's (Oamaru) double furrow. We would hint to the association the advisability of extending its prize list for colonial made articles at future shows. It may possibly be the means of inducing competition, and thereby adding another attraction on the show day.

In Sydney the Sabbatarian people have gone a little further than with us (says the Melbourne " Argns "). Somebody writes to the Sydney " Morning Herald " to complain that it is a great hardship for the police to be compelled to do duty on Sunday, and to suggest that some of thr-ni should be allowed to keep the Sabbath. The answer to this seems to be that given by the French ruler to the proposal for the abolition of capital punishment — " Certainly, if the murderers will begin." If thieves will begin to observe the Sabbath there would be no objection to all the police being off duty on that v day. The snip May Queen, commanded by Captain Leslie, arrived at the Otago Heads on the 15th inst. from London, with 52 passengers, and a general cargo of merchandise, and sailed to an anchorage in the cross channel, when the wind failing, she brought up for the night. Having a clean bill of health, she was cleared by the authorities, and this morning was towed to a discharging berth. The May Queen is reported to have left G-ravesend on August 26th, made the land on Monday last, met with light variable winds on the coast, and arrived as above.

The Wabash (Indiana) country has always been celebrated for the persistency and quality of its fever and ague. A local physician thus describes the genuine Wabash article :—": — " It comes creeping up a fellow's back like a ton of wild cats ; goes crawling through his joints like iron spikes, and is followed by a fever which prohibits the patient from thinking of anything but Greenland's icy nuwntains. It isn't the 'every-other-day' kind, but gets up with a man at daylight, and sleeps in the small of his back all night. His teeth feel about six inches long, his joints wobbTe like a loose wagon wheel, and the shakes are so steady that one can't hold conversation except by^putting its dashes."

The ship E. P. Bouverie, belonging to the line of Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Co.'s clipper ships, and now under the command of Capt. Stevens, was signalled shortly after the May Queen. She secured the services of the steam tug Greelong, which had been engaged in towing to sea the barque Southern Cross, with part of original cargo for liyttelton, and was towed to an anchorage in Deborah Bay, where she was shortly afterwards cleared by the health officer. The E. P. Bouverie has brought seventy-two passengers, who have arrived in good health, and a large general cargo from G-lasgow.

On the 13th inst., there arrived at Invereargill tbe schooner Nancy, 17 tons. Her voyage from Adelaide, which port she left on the afternoon of October 3, was an eventful one. When she was a week out, and after passing Cape Willoughby a gale was encountered.' It increased, in intensity, and on the morning of the 13th a beavy sea broke over tbe stern, flooding the cabin. At this time Capt. Dunderdale was at the helm, and the man on deck with him lashed to the foremast. Had the next sea broken over her deck, the Nancy would in all pro-

babilifcy have foundered. At this time she was running under close reefed foresaid, whole main sail, aijd square main sail, Two men who were lying below, invalided, came on deck completely drenched, and thoroughly frightened. Capt. Dunderdale had then been at the helm for a period of ten hours ; he therefore concluded to seek shelter under the lee of Bang's Island, with the view of effecting repairs. At 10 p.m. sighted Cape Wickham, and ran under the lee of the island, casting anchor in Sea E'ephant Bay. During the stay there, the only able-bodied seaman deserted, leaving the master to proceed to sea with an invalid boy, and an old cripple, who was also afflicted with mal de mer. At 4 p.m. on the 14th, got under weigh, and not wishing to go out of the course further than could be avoided, the master determined to struggle on to Hobartown for men and supplies ; a quantity of .the provisions having been destroyed by salt water. On the j 19th, the gale moderated, and on the 22nd the Nancy arrived at Hobartown, where the invalids were discharged, and fresh hands and supplies shipped. On Sunday,. the 29th, got under weigh again, and at 10 a.m., on the 13tb s entered the New River Heads. Captain ' Dunderdale, whose pluck throughout the voyage cannot be too highly spoken of, visited Invercargill a few months ago, as mate of the Mary King. The Nancy is to be employed by her new owners in the sealing trade, along the southern coast of New Zealand and adjacent islands.

To show the cost of the political part of the Provincial system, Mr. Yogel stated," when introducing the Provincial Government Bill, that the expenditure of the Provinci -il departments of Superintendents, Provincial Executives (exclusive of Provincial Auditors), and Provincial Councils, has averaged- for the last four years £33,320 a year, or over £120,000 for the four years.

The "Evening Star" of the 17th inst. says : — To-day while H. Clarke, for a long time waiter at the Criterion Hotel, was examining the cistern on the roof of the inn, his foot slipped, and he fell from a height of about 25 feet on to. the asphalte in the court yard. We regret to learn that both legs were broken, and that he was slightly wounded above the eye. Dr. Reimer was in immediate attendance, and as soon as possible he was removed to the hospical, accompanied by Mr. Barker, who paid him every attention. Serious as aye the injuries, it is some consolation to learn that the medical men are of opinion he may be completely restored should no adverse symptoms occur.

The new Customs Tariff came into force on the lOtb. inefc. The following are the various duties imposed : — Grain, 9d , per lOOlbs ; flour, is Is per 100 ; malt, Is 7d per bushel ; hops, 3s per lb ; rice, |d per lb ; soap', common, 3s 6d per cwt ; timber, 2s per 100 ft, super; shingles and laths, 2s per 1,000; paliugs. 2s per 100; rails, 4s per 100; posts, 8s per 100,

Kyneton riflemen must be poor shots. The "Observer" of the 9th October says :—": — " A volunteer fired a shot very wide of the mark yesterday. Instead of hitting the target he shot a horse. These bullseyes don't pay. Not very long ago a cow was shot by a member of the corps."

The " Nelson Examiner " is in favour of a tax of sixpence per acre on all lands in private hands. It asks pertinently :—": — " What ' cockatoo ' would grumble at a land tax of sixpence per acre on his small holding, if all important necessaries could thereby come to him and his children untaxed? Which of the lordly capitalists would not be starved out by such a tax ? The poor man makes his acre bring in so mnch, that by him the tax would be unfelt. The capitalist lets his square mile produce so little, that to him it would be sheer ruin."

Amongst the large number of people flocking to Sandhurst to share in the good times, was noticed the other day on the road from Castlemain an undertaker, who was going there with all

his stock-in-trade. First -was the hearse, with a cow fastened ; next came a mourning coach, containing the undertaker's family and such household effects as could not be accommodated inside she hearse. The procession caused great fun along tho road, as showing that undertakers hope to thrive at Sandhurst as well as the gentry that buzz around the Beehive.

The following advertistnent appears in the " Wellington Independent ": — " Wanted, a wife. Must be young,, agreeable, and pretty. Advertiser is young and has a good. income. Apply by letter only, stating age, to " Bachelor," office of this paper. N.B. — Strictest Secrecy."

On the 15th inst. the sale of the horses that ran at the late Christchurch meeting, according to the " Lyttleton Times," attracted a very large attendance. For Peeress a bona fide bid of £550 was refused, the reserve being £600. Lacenfeed, Expectation, and Prima dona, were sold at prices varying form £55 to £30, and Sir Tatton was disposed of -for £195. Several bona fide offers were made for horses from Mr. Walter's stables, but the only sale was a promising colt by Mai ton, whioh was knocked down to Mr. R, Campbell for £105.

The two well-known Allies, Defama ? tion and Gtossip, reserved for 400 guineas, producded biddings to the Staount of £350, at which figure they were withdrawn. They are, however, likely to be purchased for the Otago Stables. Septimus, Border Lad, and. several others were sold at; pri6es ranging from £35 to £15. * An ingenious invention is just now coming into general use among beer consumers. It is called the " tell-tale," and consists of an ordinary metal tap for drawing the liquor, but with a small opening at the top, wherein a strong glass tube, marked to - a gladual scale, is inserted. On being screwed on to the tap, it is instantly filled up to the exact level of the beer within the barrel. By its means can • be ascertained if the cask when it comes into the house is full or not; it will account for every drop of liquid drawn, and at any moment will tell the quantity remaining in the barrel, so that by using it any irregular or excessive diminution of beer cau at once be detected. A small slide on r the tube is used to mark the gradual decrease of the liquor.

The following is a list of the petitions and number of signatures presented to the House otijßepreaentatiYea in favour of a Permissive Bill : — From 658 residents of the electoral district of Hokitika ; 13 inhabitants of Auckland ; 79 settlers at Waiapu ; 518 adult males, Wanganui ; 432 adult femaler, Wanganui, Presbytery of Wellington, held at Wansanui ; 175 residents at the Hutt; 302 females, Christchurch ; 617 inhabitants, Cbrisfcchurch and neighbourhood ; 39 residents, Drury and ' neighbourhood ; 87 residents, Papakura , and neighbourhood ; 380 resident?, Wairarapa ; 1,603 residents, City of Wellington ; 54 persons, Turakina and Rangitiki ; 200 residents, Eangifibi and Turakina; 32 female inhabitants, Port Albert; 62 electors and others of Port Albert ; 458 residents, Auckland; 1,158 male and 786 female residents of Dunedin ; 661, Ta'ieri, and other places in Otago ; 31, Vcrnon, in Hawke's Bay ; 1 from the Presbyterj of Wellington. Total 9322.

A writer, who says his cow gives all the milk that is wanted in a family of eight persons, and from which was made 2601b5. of butter in the year, gives the following as his treatment, He says : — "If yon desire to get a large yield of rich mi]k, give your cow, thrt»e times a-day, water slightly warm, slightly salted, in wliicli bran has been stirred at the vate of one quart to twq gallons of water. You will find, if you have not found this by daily practice, that your cow will gain 25 per cent, immediately under the effect of it, and she will become so attached to the diet as to refuse to drink clear water unless very thirsty, but this mess she will drink almost any time, and seek for more. . The amount of this drink is an ordinary wat< p pailful each time, morning, noon, and night. Your animal will then do her best at discounting the lacteal."