Commercial.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 230, 27 June 1872, Page 5

Commercial.

Danedin, Jane 22. There is no alteration to report in the prices of grain or breadstuff's. Good samples of milling wheat are enquired for at 5s 3d ; sales have been limited, as holders are requiring higher rates. Milling oats are still dull at Is lOd, and feeding at Is 9d. For malting barley there is an _ active demand at 5s 6d ; inferior lots are quitted at 4s. Potatoes meet with only a trade enquiry at I*4 10s. Flour is moving in larger quantities. We hear of several parcels of thirty tons each having been bought at Ll2 15« and Ll3— chiefly for bakers. Ten ton lots are firm at Ll3, and small bags at Ll3 10a. Oatmeal quiet at Ll2. Pearl barley scarce, L2O. Bran in good trade demand, L 2 10s. Pollard, L 6. Straw, L 2 10s. Hay, L 3 15s. Chaff, L 3 15s. Carrots, L 2 10s. A. Mercer reports for the we«k ending 22nd June :— Retail prices only— Fresh butter, in |lb and lib prints, best quality, Is 3d to Is 4d per 3b, ; second quality, Is 2d to Is 3d ; fresh butter in lumps, Is to Is Id ; powdered and salt butter, best quality, Is ; second lOdto lid. | Fresh butter continues very scarce, and is still advancing in price, the limited supply being barely sufficient to meet the requirements of the trade. For good samples of salt butter in kegs lOd per lb is being given. Cheese still keeps in good request, and a slight advance in price is perceptible. Beat quality is worth 6d 'to 9J ; second quality, 6d per lb. Side and rolled bacon is very plentiful and fetching 91 to 10d. Eggs continue to be more plentiful, and prices havedeclined this 4 week to 2a per dozen.

New .^faland Hemp. — The demand for this article in Australia, according to the Auckland papers, is increasing. One or two large shipments of the fibre have lately been forwarded from Auckland to Sydney.

Carrick Reefs. — A crushing of 64 tons from the John Bull claim, Smith's Gully, was finished on Friday last, with a result of 80 oz. of retorted gold, the average per ton being loz 5 dwt. A dividend of between Ll9 and L2O has since been paid to each holder of a sixth share in the claim.

Severe Weather. — The frost in the country districts of Southland must have been severe, for wo read of a settler at Jacob's river, who, on taking a working bullock to a pool of water, was astonished to see him walk right over it without breaking the ice.

Banking.— The Bauk of New Zealand is about to establish a branch in Melbourne for the transactisn of business connected with this Colony, and for the sale and purchase of Londou exchange. Mr T. M. Stewart, of Auckland, has received the appointment of manager ; and Mr J. G. Morris, of the Dauedin branch, that of accountant.

Bishop Viard's Funeral. — The Bishop of Wellington and seven Protestant clergy excuse their absence from Bishop Viard's funeral on the ground that it was an official, and not a private one ; that it was a funeral at which all Protestants would be denounced as heretics ; also on the ground that the funeral was an unnecessary parade on the Sabbath.

A High Premium. — We hear that the brig Our Hope was in such imminent daiigor o£ going ashore at Oamaru last week, that 95 per cent, premium was refused by Insurance aee*ts. The brig was right in among the breakers, and her doom appeared to be sealeii } but as our readers are aware, die managed to clear off the land and get to sea. Up to yesterday the brig hid not returned to her anchorage.

Novel Contrivance. — A novel instrument calkd a "Pedometer," and intended for the purpose of measuring the distance covered by apercon in walking, is now on view in Christchurch. It is an English invention, and is of a very simple character. The mechanical portion is enclosed in a watch case, which has a dial, on wnich quarter miles and miles up to twelve are marked. 'Hie mechanism consists of a lever working upon a small wheel, which communicates with a hand that revolves round the dial. The instrument is suspended on the thigh, and as each step is taken the lever moves up and down. This causes the small wheel to revolve, and the hand making a corresponding movement around the dial, the miles covered are registered. The instrument is in a silver case, tie size of an ordinary watch.

The Weather. — The severe frosts of last wee'< seriously impeded mining operations in thd Arrow district. One evening the snow in tho township was nearly a foot deep. The fall of snow has been the heaviest this season. We are informed that at Waikouaiti the snow has lain heavier and longer on the lowland than it has done for the last twenty years. Although the fall was heavy last year, we are informed by Mr Devine, that between Pigroot and the Waihemo, there is already a greater fall than in August of last year. The intensity of the frost may be learned' from the fact that the coach leaving Clyde on Monday last, although heavily laden, was borne safely on the ice in several places, in the vicinity of Eden Creek and the Hogburn.

Literary and Dramatic Gossip.— "From dramatic gossip in our exchanges we learn that Mr and Mrs George Darrell were publicly presented with addresses at the Victoria Theatre, Sydney, ou the occasion of a bespeak performance of " Money " by some gentlemen amateurs. Mr and Mrs George Darrell are at present making a professional tour through the country distriots of New South Wales. Whilst proceeding from Orange to Carcoar an accident happened to their conveyance (a mail coach and three horses), which nearly resulted very seriously. As it was, Mr Darrell received a severe bite on the arm from one of the maddened animals. At Wagga Wagga several admirers presented them with an address, and a diamond and emerald riug to Mrs Darrell. —In consequence of the burning down of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, a large number of members of the theatrical profession are out of employment, and considerable distress exists in consequence. — Signor Coliva, of the CagU Opera Troupe, is advertising an infallible oure for rheumatism.— George Augustus Sala, editor of the Telegraph, is going to visit the colonies on a lecturing tour, and is expected to arrive in Adelaide about Christmrs.— Mr D. Kennedy, the famous Scotch vocalist, whose entertainment, "The Songs of Scotland," has been one of the staple amusements of Scotland for many years, sailed on the 13th of March, for Melbourne, in tho ship Ben Lodi. — Mr Tom Hood, editor of Fun, and contributor to the principal literary journals in Great Britain, intends to commence a lecturing tour through Great Britain, America, and Australia. His series of discourses will be on the life and works of his father— a subject that Hood fih has had in hand for some time.

Fire at Bendigo. — We, Cromwell Argus, regret to chronicle the fact that the Bendigo Reefs Hotel, belonging to Mr W. U. Goodall, and situate near the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company's battery, was totally destroyed by fire early on the morning of the 14th inst. It appears that on Wednesday morning Mr Goodall rose at three o'clock, and was at work from that time until late in the evening. Feeling tired, he went to bed about eleven p.m., leaving a candle burning on the toilet-table. The four children were sleeping in the same apartment, and Mrs Goodall remained up to take charge of the bar, as there were eight or nine persons staying fci the house that night. At about a quarter to one, Mr Goodall awoke to find the walls of the bed-room in flames. He hurriedly snatched up three of the sleeping children, got the fourth on to the floor, and by dint of great exertion managed to get them out of the room in time to save them from a fearful death. The yonngest child he had to push along the floor with his foot, and the poor little fellow— a mere infant— was rendered ins2nsible for some time after by the rough usage perforce adopted in order to ■are his life There was no time to get any furniture or other goods out of the building, for within fifteen minutes after the first alarm everything save a few shrivelled sheets of iron was fintirely consumed by the devouring element. Mr Mitchinson's store and dwelling-house, standing within a few feet of MrGoodall's premises, were only saved from ignition by the strenuous exertions of a number of persons who carried water from the adjacent race, and dashed it against the most exposed part of the building. Fortunately the wind happened to be blowing from the north-east at the time of the conflagration. Had it been in the opposite direction, it is very probable the destruction of property would have been much greater. Besides a heavy BtocV of wince, beer, and spirits, Mr Goodall lost by the fire L 63 in not« 3, a large quantity of new winter clothing just pur chased. The building was perhaps the UrgMtio the township, and wm uunrand.

The Place for Game. — A proof of the quantity of game to be found in Canterbury was given a few days ago by three sportsmen, who in two days made up the following bag :— SO brace of wild pigeons, 30 brace of ducks, 20 brace of dottrel, 10 braoe of stilts, and 10 brace of waterhens.

Drank Himself to Death. —At Cardrona, on the 11th iustant, a Chinaman named Ah Vat was found dead ia his hut. Deceased had for some time back been much addicted to the use of ardent spirits. Monday last being a feast-day among the Celestials, Ah Vat purchased a gallon of brandy and appears to have actually drank himself to death— a considerable quantity of liquor having been consumed.

A Miser. — At Foxton, there died, at an advanced age, William Chapman, a miserable miser, worth L 50.000, which he has left to an illegitimate son of his. His last wish was that his stick might be put in his coffin, that h« might give " Old Stratford" a thrashing with ib when he met with him, because he disappointed him of buying some land years ago !

Accident. — A painful accident occurred on Monday, on board the barque Medea, to a little girl, four and a-half years old, named Sarah Ann Bremtser, who in stepping across- the booby hatch, which was covered with a tarpaulin, fell down the ship's hold, a distance of twenty feet. On being attendsd to by Dr DrysJalc, one of the thigh bones was found to be fractured, and that a few contusions, not of a serious character, had been sustained. The little girl, considering the circumstances, is progressing favorably.

Water Supply to Goldpields. — The Mount Ida Chronicle writes strongly in favor of a cheap water supply to that goldfield, After expressing the opinion that auch a supply would be certain to be reproductive our oontemporary remarks " an able engineer has been on this place for some weeks past, instructed to report upon the practicability of a working sludge channel being constructed to the Taieri, and the bringing in of the Kyeburn river for the purposes of flushiiig. We have also been informed that when Mr Simpson has finished his present surveys, he will proceed to the Mauuherikia for the purpose of surveying a raci from that river to this field, and the possibility of bringing it in at a cost which the Government would have in their pow r or at their command to expend. That the result of such an enterprise would be a success, at whatever cost, nobody who knows this district will for a moment doubt. The entire country between the town and the Taieri River has been prospected and proved to be payably auriferous ; and if the channel be constructed, and a larger and cheaper supp'y of water be brought in, we hesitate not to say that, in a short time, the population would be quadrupled, as would also the revenue derivable alike from special mining and ordinary taxation."

Signs op the Times. — The Wellington Indvpcndc-t of June 5 says : — The colony received about fifty thousand pounds more for the second instalment of the loan than for the first — which fact is, doubtless, a fitting subject of congratulation. But a curious scries of compensating circumstances are at work which amongst other results will prevent our receiving the full benefit of our improved credit and the abundance of money. The demand for all articles used in railway construction, and especially iron, has become so enormous that railway iron alone has gone up nearly fifty per cent, above the price which ruled at the time the original estimates for the New Zealand railways were made. And it appears tolerably certain that the high price will be maintained for an indefinite period. All the manufacturers are gorged with orders, and the wages in the iron trade have increased about 15 per cent., so that there is no probability of any important alteration for some time to come. This means a very serious addition to the cost of our railways, and the Government will have to take the responsibility of in some cases exceeding the authorised cost of the lines and of postponing the construction of those with regard to which the colony can well afford to wait a few years. The L 50.060 saved on this loan will not go very far in covering this increased cost, but on the other hand the Colony gets fully a million for the year in the increased prioe of wool alone.

Native News. — After loaning at various settlements of the Kingites, Te Kooti, with nine or eleven followers, all in wretched plight and looking just like other escaped felons, arrived at Te Kuiti on or about the 23rd of last month — i. c, on the same day ou which the Defence Minister, left for Waikato. Te Kooti and his tail were closely cropped, urged thereto by certain "familiar beasts." When Kooti formerly visited Upper Waikato, he and his little band were attired a la the old Defence Force, even to the white bands on the caps. Kooti says he will settle down quietly if we will not molest him. Indirectly, he MTote to Government about two years ago, " Cease your pursuit of me, "and it must beowned that he has led a truly miserable existence almost ever since he made that confession of weakness. It is said that a small section of Kingites would not hesitate to give him up ; this may be so, but some acquaintance with Maori ideas leads to the conclusion that a large majority of the Kingites prefer to shelter him. Te Kooti escaped into Waikato by crossing the Eangitikei, where it is next to impossible, I believe, to watch all the fords. The Eangitikei here alluded to falls into the sea at Matata, on the Fast Coast, and is usually looked upon as the northern boundary of the Uriwera hills. It would appear that of all the men who once followed Te Kooti, none— with the exception of those at present with him and a few who surrendered — remain alive; fighting and famine have cleared off the others. — Lijtldton Times Correspondent.

Our Army. — When Colonel Brett's mythical privateer, about which he recently spoke at Christchurch, arrives under the command of some nineteenth century Paul Jones, we ought to be prepared to give him a warm reception. If we may judge from the New Zealand Army List, an unpretending but instructive brochure quietly launched upon an unsuspecting public last March, we must be in possession of a paper army, equal to any emergency. If the namber of men is in anything like just proportion to the quota of officers, New Zealand must be the proprietor of quite a colossal army of citizen soldiers. The raw militia absorbs 3 colonels, 15 lieutenant-colonels, 47 majors, 19S captains, 13t> lieutenants, 117 ensigns, 21 surgeons, 10 assistant-surgeons, and 4 quar-ter-masters, in all, 551 officers— a regiment by themselves. In addition to this posse of lame, halt, and blind, there are 279 volunteer officers, and 79 vacancies remaining to be filled up, making 358. Adding to these 30 officers of the Armed Constabulary, we arrive at the respectable grand total of 939 " officers and gentlemen" whose names are immortalised in the Colonial Hart. If we may offer a suggestion to the distinguished military authorities who rule the destinies of this noble army of captains, we would recommend a searching investigation into this list. If 191 captains require 31 surgeons, how many lieutenant-colonels are necessary for 186 lieutenants ?— a rule-of -three sum which will tax even Mr Stevens'* mathematical ability.

Novel Export. — Mr W. A. Murray, M.H.R, informsthe Bruce Herald thathe is sending a quantity of grass to Melbourne to have the fibre tested. He is of opinion that it is equal to the Esparto grass so largely used at home for the manufacture of paper, and can be obtained in large quantities and at little cost. Supposed Castaways. — His Honor the Superintendent on Tuesday received a telegram from Biverton, iutimating the return of the sealing party from the West Coast. The sealers report seeing much wreck near Carseweli Sound, and that when leaving Thomson Sound they heard the report of a gun. They made a brief search, but being short of provisions had to come away. Mr T. Daniel, M.P.C., who is about to visit Bligh Sound in the schooner Awarua, intends to make a search for castaways. Singular Phenomenon. — A singular meteorological phenomenon occurred at the Bluff on Thursday night. During a heavy squall, accompanied with sleet, a light, resembling a ball of fire, of a bluish red color, was seen at the extreme point of each of the spars of the vessels lying at the jetty. The same phenomenon was exhibited on the tops of many of the trees on Bluff Hill. Sailors give the name of " corbizants" to these lights. It is the first time they have been Been by tke residents at the Bluff ; but their appearance on vessels' yards and mastheads at sea in heavy gales is no unusual occurence. Unusual Discovery. — On the 6th iust. there was found in the garden of Mr Campbell, Spey street, fnvercargill, a coffin which measured about a foot in length, the contents of which, on examination by Dr Grigor, proved to be the remains of a child who had either reached maturity or nearly so, and must have been buri.d four or five years. The discovery appears to have caused some excitement in the locality ; but the enquiries set on foot by the police established the fact that the house had four years ago been occupied by a woman who had been delivered of ! a still-bora child, which her husband buried in the garden referred to. Pboduce of Otago Goldfields. — A valuable Treasury return was laid on the table of the Provincial Council last session, showing in detail the several quantities of gold received (per escort) monthly for the two years ending 31st March, 1872, from the various fields in the Province. It also gives the total quantity received from each place during each yi-ar, which we gave in May last ; and the total quantity received each month from the whole places together. These totals are as follow, the monthly yields being : 1870-1, April, 11,1820z 7dwt ; May, 14,5720z lSdwt ; June, 8.8360z 4dwt ; July, 9,0610z Bdwt j August, 11,1150z 18dwt j September, 94270z ldwt ; Oc tober, 16,074 oz 13 dwt ; November, 14,542 oz 6 dwt ; December, 16,128 oz 15 dwt ; January, 19,235 oz 12 dwt ; February, 14,6290z 7dwt ; March, 11,0210z 17dwtj total, 156,1300z 16dwt. 1871-2— April 11,6160z 12dwtj May, 11,6050z 13dwt; June, 14,9530z2dwt; July, 11,2860z 13dwt; August, 8,3370z lOdwt; September, 14,2290z 16dwt; October, 13,6590z 15dwt; November, 14,3600z 4dwt ; December, 14,5980z 15dwt ; January, 17.8140z 6dwt ; February, 13,7270z Bdwt ; March, 9,8370z sdwt; total, 156,0260z 19dwt. The Police Pay. — The cost of the police in the Middle Island is L 40.403, or about 43 6d per head of the population. The Duiwtan Times, in an article which goes to show the necessity of men employed out of towns, and especially on goldfields, receiving a higher rate of pay than is given to city police, says that in Otago, with two exceptions (Cardrona and the Arrow), the uniform rate at which first-class constables are paid is 8s 6d per day, irrespective of locality or consequent price of provisions. A man is thus supposed to live as cheaply at Cromwell or Alexandra, as at Tokomairiro or Mosgiel. It must be patent to the meanest understanding that in localitu s where wages vary from 20s to 40s per week, an injustice must be inflicted on a class of] men subject to a uniform rate of wage. The Nelson Government recognised this fact, the senior constables in the city being paid barely 8s per day, while the senior constable on the goldfields is paid 12s per diem. The sergeant in the city is paid Ll6O per annum, or less than 9a per day ; while on the goldfields he receives 13s per diem. The same principle is recognised in Westland, the pay being apportioned to the district in which the man is located. In Westland the warders receive the same pay as the ordinary police, LIS4. To have an efficient police force, the men must be treated well — be paid according to their merits and the work required of their. Sub-inspectors should not be put on sergeants' pay; nor the substitution of one officer for another a pretext for curtailment of salary. Compared with Westland, our police rate is wonderfully small. Compared with Canterbury and its rate of wages, a greater difference occurs ; while, as miners' wages in Otago and Wesstland are about the same, and men can live as cheaply on the Kaneiri or Westport as at Clyde or Alexandra, the different manner in which the police are paid becomes more transparent. Suicide at the Bluff. — Our telegrams last week conveyed the information that a man named John II old am had committed suicide on board the Rangitoto while the vessel lay alongside the wharf at the Bluff. It appeared from the evidence adduced at the coroner's inquiry, that the deceased arrived at the Bluff from Dunedin by the Eangitoto, on the 9th inst. His name w?s not on the passenger list, nor did it appear that he had paid for his passage. When found he was hanging from the inside gangway of tho steamer, suspended by a rope attached to his neck and immersed up to the waist in water. He was quite dead. On his clothes being searched by the sub-inspector of Customs (in the absence of a policeman), the following articles were found .-—Some silver, a silver watch which had stopped at 6 30 a.m. , and a pocket book containing sundry papers, besides a draft on the" Bank of New South Wales for L 297, issued in favor of John JRoddorn. The evidence showed that the deceased had been walking about the deck all the night before, that at three o'clock in the morning he partook of sume coffee along with the night watchman on the wharf ; that in the course of conversation he said there were several detectives on board looking after him ; and from other pecularities in his remarks, the watchman was of opinion he was of unsound mind. A verdict that deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity was returned, i'he Mount Ida Chronicle has the following reference to the affair :— The deceased was a carrier of long standing in this district, and very generally respected, possessing at the same time very considerable interest in horses and drays. The teams of deceased, "which were on their road to this place when the event occurred, are alleged to have been purchased by Mr Pritchard, of Dunedin some iiw days back. Two agents of Mr Pritchard made their appearance here on Wednesday, and attempted to obtain delivery of the team. This was resisted, on the ground that there were other claims against the teams previously to their alleged sale. Up to the time when we write affairs are in stakt, quo ante, a great deal of excitement in tke matter pervading the public matiL—Star,