Commercial.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 4 July 1872, Page 5

Commercial.

Dunedin, June 29. Very little has been done in grain this week. At several ports, both north and south of Dunedin, large lots of produce are lying ready for shipment, but there is a scarcity of suitable tonnage ; deliveries by road have also been small, hence the lightness of transaction!. For good milling wheat there is an active enquiry at 5s 2d to 5s 4d ; holders of prime samples are, however, unwilling to quit under 5a 6d ; and as stocks of flour are full at present, we do not look for large ! sales in wheat at the price wanted. Inferior wheat, suitable for producing a second class flour, is not wanted ; but for a quotation, 4s to 4s fid may be said i;o be the value' Fowl wheat can be placed at 2s. Oats are

as last quoted and have bo appearance of improvement. MaltiDg barley sells at 53 6d ; and feeding at 43. Potatoes, L4 los. Flour is moving very satisfactorily ; bakers are stocking at Ll3 ; and for trade lots Ll3 10s is the price. Oatmeal is only in trade demand, Ll2. Pearl barley, L2O. Bran, L 2 10". Pollard, L 6. Hay, L 3 15s. Chaff, L 3 15s. Straw, L 2 10s. Carrots andjHurnips, L 2 5?. A. Mercer reports for the we<»k ending 29th June : — Retail prices only — Fresh butter, in 4lb and lib prints, best quality, Is 3d to Is 4d per ib, ; second quality, Is 2d to Is 3d; fresh butter in lumps. Is Id; powdered and salt butter, best quality, Is ; second lOdto lid. Fresh butter is a little more plentiful this week, notwithstanding pricss continue to look upwards and may be quoted higher for really good samples. For good samples of salt butter in kegs lOd per Ib is being given. Cheese still keeps in good request, and a slight advance in price is perceptible. Best quality is worth 6d to 9d ; second quality, 6d per Ib. Side and rolled bacon, is very plentiful and fetching 9d to lOd. Eggs are getting plentiful and may bo quoted at Is 9d per doz. The report of the thirty-sixth annual meeting of the Liverpool, London, and Globe Company, held in February last at Liverpool has been forwarded to us. It shows that during last year the premiums in the fire department reached the very large sum o£ L 1,131,594, 131,594 7s 7d, exceeding by about L 200.000 those of 1870, and showing the great and rapidly increasing hold on public confidence which the company is acquiring. The losses during the same perio-1 amounted to a sum nnprec- dented in a single year, the charge under that head being LI, 178,7*9 5s 2d for payments actually made and. full estimates for claims still unadjusted ; that to this vast total the startling catastrophe at Chicago attributed L 614,000. In the life department 1042 policies were completed assuring L 521,579 ; producing new premiums L 22,177. Both life and tire departments show a large increase on the previous year ; the increase in the fire premiums being equal to the immense sum of L2OO 000, and in the life department to L 6,000. The total life premium income is now L 272.948, and the total assets L 3,647,783 out of which L 2,410,903. Thus the life reserve has increased by more than LllO.OOOin the year, and the total assets are only diminished by L 212.000 during the same period and rfter the unparallel catastrophe at Chicago. The chairman of the company (Mr Saunders) in moving the adoption of the report, regretted the inability of the directors to declare more than a 10 per cent, dividend. This course was rendered necessary by the Chicasjo disaster. Unfortunately i the c )mpany had been doing a large business ; in Chicago, chiefly in respect to massive and well-constructed buildings — and they were consequently, with the exception of a native Company, the heaviest sufferers. It was, however, gratifying to know thatjthe prompti- • tude with which the heavy claims upon the Company had been settled, had raised their ; reputation in the United States even higher than before, and had even brought to them ' a large increase of business of a nature hitherto difficult to obtain. Notwithstanding \ the interruption to their prosperity caused by the Chicago fire, the Chairman thought ' there was no ground for anxiety or discouragement as to the future, and their ability to re* 1 cover from the heavy loss. The report showed that the elements of success were not diminished, but, on the contrary, afforded them every hope.

Port Chalmers Railway.— The first locomotive constructed in the Province, which is to be tempararily used on the railway Jor drawing waggons, passed through the Port Chalmers tunnel this afternoon. — Star, 27th.

The Volunteers. — Major Atkinson's seventh annual report, which was submitted to Colonel Oargill, commanding the district oa the 10th, deals with a variety o subjects, the principal of which are grouped under their respective headings. A good deal of useful information is given. On April 30tb, 1871, the strength of the force was 923 adults and 227 cadets, or a total of 1163. On the last day of April of this year the strength was 1256, of which number 2. r >l were cadets and 10S "> adults, or an increase of 147. This includes the Southland companies, which have been added to the strength <>f this command during the j'ear. The total efficients are 875, of which number 611 practised in the third class, 427 in the second, and 264 in the first ; 224 of whom are marksmen. The highest scorer for the battalion badge was Captain Jamieson, JSo. 2 Scottish, with 119 points in the second and first class ; Lieutenant Muir, Dunedin Artillery, being second with 112. ' Ast year the badge was won with 107 points ; this year six men made that number of points. The East Taieri company maintains its reputation as being the premier shooting company, having practised 36 men out of a t >t.»l strength of 40. All the men of that company who pratised passed into the first class, and 33 became mirksmen. The Adjutant contrasts the results of the class-firing of the Volunteers of this Proviece with that of the Robin Hood Rilles, the cr<ick company of Kngland. In that company 791) members cqmpleted tbejr class-tiring iv 1871, and 202 obtained marksmen's badges. Iv Otago, 611 men fired their clas-ses. and 224 became marksmen — a coinpa'isqn that is flattering in every way. The advocates that the Government should encqurage cla§s-firing by awarding a >;Qld or silver medal to the highest scorer iv the Province, and a bronze one to the highest in a corps. The Adjutant does not appear to favor the present system of capitation allowance, and recommends if; should be given for services actually rendered, i.e., giving LI to each man for the present parade qualification, and 3s each for their classes in the annual course of class firing. By this he means the money to be given for each twenty rounds fired, no matter in what class, so that if a man fails iv the third class, so that if a man fails in the third class, he can try again to the extent of sixty rounds, and 5s for attending six battalion drills, where battalions are formed, six extra company drills. " I feel confident,'' remarks the Adjutant, "it would do good, and cause the corps to take greater interest in attending drill." Under the heading of capitulation we had expected to see some reference to the dispute between the volunteer authorities and the Dunedin Fire Brigade. Most people will remember that some time ago the latter body, to obtain advantages, real or apparent, enrolled themselves under the Volunteer Act, and went through a steady course of drill. At the proper time they put in an application for a capitation grant ; and, in reply, were informed that the authorities did not recognise the brigade as volunteers. The Adjutant intends altering the quarterly drills of corps, making them continuous, to which end the Staff-sergeant at Invercargill has been removed to Dunedin. In future, a sergeant will remain a month in each district;, during which time the company will hold fifteen company drills, and ten recruit and musketry drills ; and the corps will go through its class-firing, the SkatF-sergeaut acting as marker. In referring to the result of the recent Colonial prize-firing, Major Atkinson enlarges upon the desirability of the 'men being in encampment during the meeting^ as being less expensive than the present system, and being likely to accus« torn tJtjem to camp life;

Strange Death. — A patient in Nelson Lunatic Asylum has died from suffocation caused through a piece of bread sticking in his throat. Prospecting* — The ranges at the back of Mount Rochfort, near Westport, are being thoroughly prospected for auriferous quartz reufs, which are believed to exist in that quarter. The Weather. — The cold must have been very severe at Qnecnstown, for on three occasions last week the thermometer registered at the local observatory 20°, being 12° below freezing point. A Munificent Present. — Mr Edward Scott, banker, Cavendish Square, London, is sending out a pair of vases from England as a contribution to the art department of the Canterbury Museum. The vases cost 150 guineas. Dancing on the Ice. — As a result of the recent hard frosts, the young folks at Arrowtown were able Last week to slide through the first set and Sir Koger, to the strains of a band, and, according to the Obsewer, enjoyed the novelty of dancing on the ice immensely. Skatiug, too, was largely indulged in by the maturer portion of the townspeople. The Gazette. — The last number of the New Zealand Gazette contains the standing orders and forms of proceedings of the General Assembly relative to private Bills. The scale of fees to be paid by the promoters of these Bills is :— On the first reading, L 5 ; second, LIO ; third, LlO. Mr A. C. Strode is appointed registration officer for Otago. The following offices have been opened as Government life assurance and annuity offices : — Post offices, Manuherikia and Kawarau. Cure for Toothache. — A correspondent of a contemporary writes :—": — " No more wrenching of the gums, no more toothache, for we have discovered a sovereign remedy. Tortured by this painful disease, and almost bordering upon frenzy, a man working in the fields lay down close to some bush. In his ageny he seized the leaves of the tutu plant, and pressed the juice into the aperture. Strange to relate, the cure was instantaneous, and he has since fre-qu-"itiy applied the same remedy with equal aucc Si Whether the juice of the plant will prove effectual in all cases, I am not aware, but a knowledge of the cir< umstances is well worthy of being niched in our Colonial cade mecum." The New Licensing Bill. — A copy of the Bill intended to be introduced at the approaching session of Parliament has been received in Southland. The Times says that besides provisions of the usual character for regulating the granting of licenses and the •ale of liquor, it contains what are described as "prohibitory clauses," which may be adopted in any district on the vote of a majority of the inhabitants. On the adoption of these clauses, no nsw licenses are to be granted in auy district, and the old ones are not to be renewed when they expire. The Bill is understood to be the work of tl.e Premier. Legal. — Owing to the extraordinary ameunt of busine s which had to be dchlt witu at the sittings of the Couit of Appeal, it could not all be gone through. After the most severe and protracted exertions their Honors found themselves overtaken by their circuit business. The result is that the Court of Appeal had to be adjourned without the arguments in the Queen v. Fitzherbert being gone into. On the 17th inst Sir George Arney said that if he did not take tbe opportunity of going by the Tarauaki, he would probably be compelled to remain in Wei ington another week, while a very important calendar had to be dealt with at Auckland. Mr Justice Chapman said he had already postponed the Invercargill sittings, but could do so no longer, as the Supreme Court sittings in Dunedin would take place in the beginning of July. Social Gathering. — The German Verrein held their annual festival on Friday evening at Shepherd's Hotel, George street. The hall was nicely decorated, and at nine o'clock the members and their lady friends sat down to a first-class supper. The chair was occupied by the President (Mr Nees), and the vice by the Vice-President (Mr Beissel). The first toast was " The Emperor Wilhelm," which was received with eathnsiasm, as was that of "Queen Victoria and the Royal Family," the company <msring the Natural Anthem. The th rd toast, " Our Fatherland and Bismarck," with the song "Wacht am Rhine," was given by Mr Otto; "Deutches Verrein" by Mr Meyer; and "The Ladies" by Mr Foltzhouser. Alter supper the tables were cleared, and the company joined in dancing, which was spiritedly kept up till an early hour, a'l present appearing to have enjoyed themselves.— Star, 24th. Washing Horses. — The common practice of washing horses with the hose is doubtless most convenient and beneficial, especially in muddy weather, of which Dunedin has a full share, yet due caution should be exercised when the animal may be overheated, as serious results mayensue from carelessness in thisparticular. Lately a mare the property of Mr Russell, express proprietor, showed" signs of derapgement for two or three days, and at last was obliged to be taken out of harness instanter. She exhibited symptomßof lockjaw, her jaws being tightly closed, head and tail extended at full length, and the whole body perfectly ligid, the ears stiffly cocked ; in this state she remained for ten days, food being administered by instruments, the necessary remedies being given in the same manner. Mr Farquharson, veterinary surgeon, having the m»re under his care, in about three weeks effected a perfect cure, and after a further short time sufficient to regain strength, the animal has again been set to her usual work, which she performs as well as ever. Dunedin Art. — Last week we examined a beautiful silver flower vase in the shop of Mr Young, jeweller. It has been made in accordance with orders received by Mr Young from Mr Brogden for presentation to his Excellency the Governor in commemoration of the commencement of public works in Ifew Zealand by that gentleman. The block or pedestal on which it stands is polished totora, above which is worked in silver a gently sloping circular hillock covered with ferns, a flax bush springing on one quarter and a raupo plant on another, while a moa and an apteryx are feeding in such positions as to balance the scenery. Tbe stalk supporting the reservoir represents a fern tree with drooping fronds and a jointed stem. The reservoir is circular, about four inches in depth, with two opposite handles skilfully worked into the representation of two representatives of the few reptiles of New Zealand— lizards. The sides of the cup are polished excepting when two locomotives are represented as side views, one of which bears the name of Lady Bowen. On the lid stands erect a Maori chief supporting a spear and covered with a mat — a striking statuette of a race now superseded. The whole work is elaborately and carefully executed; the larger portion in frosted silver, and whether considered in design, workmanship, or historical association, will bear comparison with the best works of the sort in any country.— Star, Mb.

The Weather. — The Mount Ida Chronicle mentions, as proof of the severity of the cold in that district, that a passenger by Cobb's coach had his toeß frost bitten.

Warden at Arrow. — We hear that the choice of the Government for an officer to fill the post of Warden at Arrow town has fallen on Mr H. A Stratford, gold receiver at Naseby. If wo mistake not, Mr Stratford held a wardenship some time ago ; but in the course of reductions carried out by the Government this office was abolished, he receiving a promise of the first vacancy, which was not carried out. (However, better late than never. — Star.

The Value of Public Meetings. — Latterly attempts have been made by public meetings to coeice the Canterbury Provincial Council into adopting a particular course. The Government would not give way and the excitement has died out. The Hon. John Hall's opinion of government by public meetings may be gathered from tbe following explanation he gave in the Provincial Council of Canterbury a few days ago :— lt had been industriously circulated that he had said he did nob care for public meetings He denied having said so ; on the contrary, he fully acknowledged the value of public meetings as a most important part of their political life ; but what he did say \\ as, that he would be no party to the Proviuce being governed by public meetings. The expression of opinion arrived at by public meetings should be considered by public men with the greatest care ; but still they ought to funn their own conscientious judgment on the facts laid before them, and not accept the statements of other men whether a senibled in public meetings or otherwise. Those were the principles which he formally expressed, and which he would be prepared to defend at any time.

Our Coal Deposits. — The best argument that can be advanced in favor of action beingpromptly taken to develop our coal resources in a systematic manuer is the prevailing high price of imported coal. In Dunedin, stocks of Newcastle coal have run short and high prices are the result ; while in Christchurch there has been something like a coal famine during the past two weeks prices there having risen nearly fifty per cent. The best Newcastle coal, which a short time ago cost about forty-two snillings a ton delivered, is now difficult to obtain at sixty shillings, and those who buy in small quantities pay at least ten shillings more, or say seven oy shillings per ton. In Dunedin, we bwlieve, fifty shillings per ton is the price, with a proportionate increase for smaller quantities. If this heavy impost, remarks the LijtteltoH Times of the 22nd inst. , should have the effect of once more directing attention to our own coal resources— and there is reason to believe that it will—permanent benefit must ultimately ensue from what, it is to be hoped, js only a temporary evil. It is, the Independent very properly observes, a curious contradici ion of circumstances that, wh'le the colony possesses enormous coal deposits, whilst it annually fimports hundreds of thousands of tons from New South Wales, and whilst it has commenced iin extensive railway system, almost nothing has been done in the way of developing the resources of ihe colony in such an importaut and necessary article as coal. The Independent does r.ot in the least overstate the case when it says that the apathy shown by the whole colony on this subject is simply astounding. The case of the Brunner coalfields is perhaps the most unsatisfactory of any that could be cited iv the colony. Taking the deposits in that district altogether, it is not much to say that they contain sufficient coal, of an excellent quality, to supply the whole of >ew Zealand. The coal, we are told, is easily worked and prac'ically unlimited in quantity, and yet, extraordinary as it may appear, the product of the mine, as at present worked, does not meet even the loci demands. It is suggested by the Independent, that a short Bill should be passed, vesting all coal reserves in the Governor, and thus enabling the Government to deal with them. There can be no objection to such a measure and it would most probably have a beneficial effect upon the Brunner coal-fields in particular.

Lecture Extraordinary. — A Mr Johnston, barrister-at-law, was announced to deliver a lecture in the lower hall of the Athenaeum on Friday evening last, on " Scottish Poetry." We areindebted to one who was present for the following account of the proceedings :— On the lecturer approaching the door of the hall, the checktaker, not knowing the gentleman who presented himself, refused him admission. On this refusal the lecturer "riled up," and asked the checktaker if he considered himself " six feet three inches high," and commenced squaring at him in a manner which threatened serious injury to his physiognomy. Fortunately at this juncture a geutleman acquainted with Mr Johnston appeared on the scene, and introduced him to the astonished checktaker as the lecturer, whereupon, with a profound bow, he was admitted into the hall. Perhaps the excitement without had unnerved Mr Johnston, as he certainly appeared in a very confused state when he took up his position before the audience. Mr J. Mercer was after considerable de'ay, prevailed upon to take the chair. The lecturer then commenced — '• Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentle men." By one of the audience: "Where are the ladies ?" Lecturer: "Well, never mind, there was one here some time ago. " At this instant a well-known cabman thrust his head into the hall, and approaching the lecturer, demanded, in a loud voice : " Look here governor, where's that ere sixpenny fare from the Water of Leith." Considerable amusement was Gaused by this little interruption, and after cabby had been quieted by promises of payment the next day and something like order had been restored, the lecturer re-commeDced —" Mr chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I am a barrister" — but from the ominous pause that ensued it became clear that the lecturer was travelling outside the record. Something was evidently wanting, and the chairman good-naturedly suggested candles, which were at once brought. The lecturer then proceeded : " Mr Chairman, ladies and'gentlemen — This is the second time in the Colonies or elsewhere 1 have ventured to appear before a publio audience." A voice : " What about the Sootoh poets." The lecturer, "If anyone interrupts me, I'll knock him (we decline to publish the expletive here used), no matter how big he is." The audience, whose patience had, it must be confessed, been severely tried, could no longer tolerate this kind of conduct, and commenced hissing with a thorough good will, and the meeting became decidedly rowdy in consequence. So great was the uproar that the librarian appeared, and threatened to turn off the gas, on which the chairman extinguished the candles and retired from the chair, when the lecturer seizing the candlesticks, indignantly flung them at his retiring form. Fortunately for him the candlesticks missed their aim, but came into contact with a well-known citizen, to the imminent danger of his optics. Mr Johnston, perhaps emboldened by the success of his late manoeuvre, informed the audience as a special piece of information that bis fighting weight was thirteen stone, and that he would feel flattered if anyone who desired it would " come on." The meeting dispersed somewhat Jwafcily.— 'Star, 2ith*Ut'