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Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4235, 11 March 1871, Page 2

LUCEO, NON UKO. If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons from th« spark I bow.

SATURDAY, MARGH 11, 1871,

It is possible that an incidental advantage may arise for England from the desolation that has settled down on the north of Trance. That district was the richest in the production of beetroot sugar of all the departments ; and from it mainly a very large export of sugar had for several years been finding its way into England. Some 100,000 tons annually of sugar had been imported into England previous to the war, and as now cultivation in Northern France must have been suspended, as the mills also are idle for want of coal and workmen, the cessation of this import, being chiefly from France, has drawn marked attention in England to the local manufacture of beetroot sugar. The subject has occupied the Social Science Congress at one of ite seances ; and statistics have been, adduced as in-

teresting to us in New Zealand as to the promoters of sugar cultivation in England. It was alleged that in the French beetroot districts pauperism A\as unknown. Not only was employment furnished to a large liuraber, but furnished at the very season when all othe* labour fails, the main poi-tion of a work in the manufacture of sugar being carried on during the winter. In the year 1830, in the ] northern districts of France there was scarcely any manufacturing ' industry. Before the war there were 470 sugar manufactories, expending on the employes about two millions sterling per annum. There were produced during the year 1 869 in those districts 280,000 tons of sugar, and in 1870 there were crops growing sufficient to produce 350,000 tons of sugar, or products to the value of ten millions sterling. As might be expected, an amazing impulse was given by this production to every kind of manufacture, and the districts that are now desolated by war had become the pride of France. This production has not, indeed, been confined to France. In the Zollverein it was computed that last year 250,000 tons of sugar would be produced. Even in. Austria about 150,000 tons were last year exported. Belgium, Bussia, Sweden, and even Holland, notwithstanding the wealthy sugar-cane district of Java, and others of JS etherlands India, have earnestly set about the work of manufacturing beetroot sugar. America has entered recently on this most profitable industry ; and it is said that in California and Illinois the root produces twelve per cent, of sugar. But the importance which this product is assuming appears from the fact that, of twenty-five millions of tons, computed as the annual production of sugar in the world, one-third was last year produced from beetroot. For beetroot sugar alone, Englaud paid in that year three millions sterling; and it has been argued that, of fifteen millions sterling paid away annually for foreign sugar imported into England, the total amount might be saved to the country if due attention was paid to the development ot iMs important industry. For this production, in soil and climate, New Zealand is not cm-passed in the world. And from the unfailing demand for, BUgar, the certainty of a market both local and foreign, and from the highly remunerative character of the production, there is perhaps not among our possible products one more deserving of the attention of our colonists.

It would be difficult to over-estimate the value of the work that is being quietly and unostentatiously performed by our local Acclimatisation Society. The general institution of such organisations is a feature of the present age, but we are often inclined to ignore the extent to which we are indebted to acclimatisation in. former clays, not indeed so systematic, for our ordinary comforts and conveniences, If the people of auy country were confined to the use of the plants and animals indigenous to the place, the assortment would be meagre in the extreme. Almost every plant and every animal has had its limited habitat ; and it is to the enterprise of travellers in days when travel was unusual, and difficult, and dangerous, that we owe the knowledge of most of the valuable products as well as the ariinals with the growth or the habits of which we are most familiar. It was natural that only those, the peculiarities and economic advantages of which were most striking, should have arrested the attention of travellers, and been subjected to acclimatisation ] and that many, the peculiar advantages of which were more latent, and required the benefit of change of climate, and cultivation or training, to develop their good qualities, should have been left unnoticed. Accordingly we find that "<ome of the most valuable products have come to light only through the systematic interchanges and inquiries of modern acclimatisation societies, to the general comfort and benefit of the whole civilised race. To a new country such as ours, acclimatisation is not only valuable bufc necessary. The limited list of our indigenous plants and animals has necessitated the acclimatisation of almost every product of the country in ordinary domestic use ; and has show* the recessity for even such birds and other animals as, from their numbers and familiarity, are perhaps not sufficiently appreciated in older communities ; while the increasing knowledge which we have of new countries and their special products prompts us to make trial of everything, whencesoever derived, that seems calculated to be suitable for our soil and climate, and to increase the list of our valuable products. For these purposes the organisation of acclimatisation societies is invaluable, and the rapid spread of the system, and the popularity and zeal that almost everywhere attend the work of collection and interchange, conduce in * very high degree to facilitate the work of acclimatisers. .Our local Society has been very successful. It has placed itself in relation with a multitude of kindred societies, which have warmly reciprocated the desire for mutual friendly aid. In fact, there is a species of freemasonry in the work of acclimatisation that knits together distant societies to a remarkable degree. The work is so practically benevolent, and so catholic in the scope of its operations, that there is no room for narrow-mindedness or selfish interests. And we are almost inclined to look on acclimatisation as one of those igencies that arebreaking down national listinetions, and making me* feel that ihey constitute one common brotherhood. We observe that the King of the Hawaiian Islands is a generous contributor to the Auckland Society, and the Board of Agriculture at Honolulu in a similar manner have identified its objects with their own But, irrespective of such tendencies, which may be regarded by some as mere sentiment, but which nevertheless are of real value, the province has already derived practical and tangible profit from the work of. the Society. What-

ever may be the causes contributing to it, ouv climate and soil Beem singularly prolific of iuiect life ; 'and, whether as larvae or in the perfect, stage, our smaller forms of animals are the plague of the agriculturist. In introducing insectivorous birds, to which department of work particular attention seems to have beende/oted, the Society have deserved well of the country. And it is highly satisfactory to find that, in this department especially, the work of the Society has been appreciated, as shown from the number of applications received for insectivorous birds from all parts of the province. To such a society as this we are disposed to look for the initiative in sericulture, an industry which will yet afford abundant and remunerative occupation to many of our colonists. The Society has given the subject special attention; and in procuring the best species of silkworm, the Japanese, and the best kind of mulberry, that from the Philippine s',5 ', the Society has laid a good basis for the future production of JNew Zealand silk. The success that has attended the introduction of trout, as is well known, has been such as to give the most encouraging prospect that ere long our rivers will afford delight to the disciples of Isaak Walton, as well as the more substantial satis faction longed for by our epicures. That more attention has not been paid to the introduction of plants of economic value is to be attributed to the comparatively limited ] means of the Society. But now that the more pressing demands for keeping down our redundant insect life have been so far satisfied, it is to hopocl that the care of the Society will be particu- j larly devoted to a department that is calculated to afford so much employment for local industry. The Society's year that has closed has been a very successful one ; and the annual report is one which the members and the public can look upon much satisfaction. On one point only is there ground for complaint — not against the Society, but its supporters, or rather those that ought to be its supporters. If there is one class more than auother that should take a deep interest in the work of the Society, it is those engaged in rural pursuits. And yet, of the total income of the Society, barely one-fortieth part is received from the country districts. This is not as it should be. Clearly it is to be attributed to the absence of , special collectors in the country ■ and the idea is an excellent one, that of enlisting the aid of the various Highway Boards in the cause of acclimatisation. This is a most legitimate object for the consideration of our " rural " municipalities." And we sincerely trust that the cause of the Society will be taken up con amore by the various Boards ; and that the next annual report will tell not only of greatly increased resources, but of a whole system of such subsidiary Acclimatisation Societies scattered all over the province.

It may be perhaps premature to draw lessons from the result of the prizefiring at One - tree Hill, but we cannot close our eyes to the singular want of success that lias, so far, attended the representatives of our province. It is self-evident that to one cause alone is tin's to be attributed, and we do not think that such cause will be permitted to operate on future occasions of our " Tir Federal." The distance and ansuitableness of the butts at Point (Jhevalier must be accepted as the main cause of the absence of that proficiency in our marksmen which so honourably distinguishes some of our Southern competitors ; azid our Volunteers are not to be blamed for a circumstance which has resulted merely from official neglect. Our Volunteers are as good men and true as their gallant brothers in arms from the South, and need not take to themselves discredit for circumstances over which they have had no control. The possession now of a rifle range in proximity to the city will afford the opportunity to the great bulk of our Auckland Volunteers to fit themselves for working out the black mark} recorded against them. And we trust that now, when experiencing somewhat of vexation at the ill fortune of their representatives, our local Volunteers will firmly resolve that, by steady practice at the butts, they will, on a future occasion, sustain the honours of the province.

Mr. Beckham, R.M., held a sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, and disposed of a long list of causes. None were of special importance. A report appears in another column. At the Thames Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Alexander Paten was charged'with having stolen a silver watch and chain from the Sfiorfcland Hotel in December last. As thejprisoner was only arrested last night, the case was on the application of Mr. Sub-In-spector Bullen adjourned for a week, bail being refused. The rest of the Court business was one case of drunkenness. By a regimental order, issued by Majors Gordon and Tisdall, all Volunteers are requested to muster at the Brill-shed, in uniform, to-morrow (Sunday) morning, at halfpast eight o'clock, for the purpose of attending Divine service at St.Paul's. The service will be conducted by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Auckland, assisted by the Rev. 0. C. M. Nelson, and will commence at ha,lf-paat nine. The usual service at 11 o'clock will commence with the Litany. We understand that the seats up the centre of the church, at the early service, will be set apart for the i accommodation of the Volunteers, and that tke collection will be devoted to diocesan purposes, The Naval Volunteer*) will parade at the Drill-shed at 8 o'clock, the Artillery at the same hour at Fort Britomart, and the Royal Caralry Volunteers at the Drillshed at 8.30. Last night the Theatre Royal was well attended to witness the favourite comedy of "The Serious Family." As usual when this piece is produced, a good deal of laughter was created ; Mr. Joyce acting bis part to the satisfaction of his hearers. The enter* tainment concluded with "The Quiet Family."— "RoryO'More, or the Rebellion of '98," and " Brown among the Brahmins" are the pieces advertised for this evening. - We are requested to state that, as it is the intention of Lady Bowen to attend the prizefiring at One-tree Hill to-day, there will be no reception held at Government House this afternoon. The name of S. Kempthorne, Esq., has been added to the list of visiting Justices for the Mount Eden Gaol.

In a Provincial Government Gazette published oil Thursday, the names of the gentlemen elected members of the Ngaruawahia Highway Board are published for general information. I The p.s.Tuke of Edinburgh'will leave the j wharf at 3 o'clock this day (Saturday) for Whangarei, Friday next, St. Patriok's Day, will b* )bserved aa a, holiday in the Government » Hce3. A large number of Crown grants are now | ready for delivery at the office of the j Registrar of Deeds, High-street. The names I if the persons in whose favour they are j made out are published in a Provincial Government Gazette issued on Thursday last. The following is the number of persons irowned in the rivers of this colony during the last thirty years : — Auckland, 227; Tarauaki, 17 ; Hawke's Bay, 40 ; Wellington, 165; Nelson, 102; Marlborough, 48; Canterbury, 145 ; Otago, 170 ; Southland, 37 ; We'stland, 174, giving a total of 1,115. The names of persons ascertained to have been browned in harbours, wells, waterholes, swamps, and the sea, have been excluded L-oin this list. The annual licensing meeting for the Oneliunga district will take place on the 18th of April, at the Court-house, Onehuuga. This liatrict includes Howick, Panmure, and ! Ofcahuhu. ; Mr. Theodore Wright will lecture at the Christians' Meeting-house to-morrow. The anniversary services of St. James's Presbyterian Church, W ellington-street, will be held to-morrow (Sunday). The Rev. Mr. Oosh will preach in the morning, and the Rev. J. Hill in the evening. The Highways Act, 187 J, has been brought into force in the Parua district, and the first meeting of ratepayers is called for Wednesday, the 22nd inst., Mr. John Lambert being the chairman appointed. Mr. Chantrey Hairis is gazetted a member •f the Mining Board. A correspondent of the Melbourne Argus writes to that paper in its issue of the 17th. February aa follows :—": — " It will be adisgiace to our modern civilisation if the victims of the war are left to perish unheeded by more fortunate nations, and it is our duty to join otir countrymen at home and our cousins in America in alleviating the miseries of ouv allies and friends the people of France. England can send money, and medicines, and clothes ; America will doubtless send flour. Let us do our part, and ship direct to France large quantities of our preserved meats, and so establish a trade between the countries Avhich will last for ever, to our material advantage. It is proposed that Parliament be a<*ked for a vote of £50,000, to be expended in the purchase of preserved meats, to be shipped during the next six mouths to whatever French port is nearest the seat of war, {here to be handed over to the municipal authorities for distribution amongst the starving people." A call of 93. per share has been made by the directors of Tookey's Quartz-crushing Company, and all shares upon which the last call remains unpaid on the 16 th in&taut will be forfeited. The Fiji dimes saya •.—". — " We regret to announce the death of Mrs. Leggoc — the wife of the missionary stationed at Lakeba. She came to Fiji with her husband in the year 18G8, and was cheerful and happy in mission work. Having acquired the language, she was just beginning her course of usefulness among Fijians, when she was called from the 'harvest field.' She died in great peace, after a painful and lingering illness. Her 'sun went down while it was yet day,' but it will be truly said of her ' she did what she could.' " The first meeting of the ratepayers in the Mauaia Highway District is to be held on Thursday next, and John C4rant- McLeod, Esq., has been appointed to preside A child has died at Mudgee from a head of prairie grass being taken into the lungs. The post mortem examination revealed that the child had been well nourished. No trace of of the right lung could be discovered, but its cavity was found full of purulent fluid,ou which floated a small ear of the prairie grass, the bronchus of the lung terminating in a leathery substance adhering to the pericardium, while the left lung was perfectly in its normal condition. It is not often a youngster is met with who possesses the presence of mind and pluck shown by a lad named Alfred Ash ton, living in the neighbourhood of the Moorabool Falls. He was out (says the BaVarat Evening Post) in the forest with a number of woodcutters, and was playing a few yards distance from them, on Thursday, when he was bitten on the extreme end of the second finger of the left hand by a snake, which he mistook for a piece of charred wood. The youngster at once ran to the men, and, laying his finger upon a log near at hand, asked one of the number to cut it off at the first joint. This was demurred to at first, but, upon the brave little fellow saying that if they did not do as he wished he would do it himself, one of the men severed the poisoned portion. The lad bore the operation with great firmness, merely ejaculating "Oh, my," as the axe's edge passed through the member. The little sufferer is progressing as nicely as any one could wish. The annual meeting of the Ladies' Benevolent Society will be held in the Young Men's Christian Association on Tuesday evening next. The Bishop of Auckland and other clergymen will deliver addresses. The Rev. S. Edger will preach at the City Hall to-morrow — in the morning on "Th« Road to Heaven," and in the evening on "The Road to Hell." Applications to register the Lowland Lass Goldmining Company and the Coromandel Goldmining Company are advertised to-day. A firm of civil engineers in London, Philip Brammon and Co., profess to have solved the whole problem of aerial navigation, and state that they would utilise their invention to carry provisions into Paris. Their new ' air-packet,' as they term it, can be raised to any height in the air, or lowered, at pleasure. It can go either with or against the wind, as the steersman chooses, at a speed vaiying from four to sixteen knots an hour. Each air-packet would carry from one to two tons, besides passengers, crew, and equipment. Let the siege or Paris last ever so long, a fleet could be secured numerous enough to carry in all that was needed in vrskj of food. It is added that the Prussians could not destroy these vessels, but would suffer terrible injury in the attempt. — Western Daily Press, I The pursuit of science in petticoats is a pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. When it was discovered that there was nothing in the institutions of the University of Edinburgh to prevent ladies from becoming students and graduating, several strongminded females presented themselves as students in medicine. To the disgrace of the male students be it recorded, they commenced a very unmanly system of persecution of their fair fellow-students. They even proceeded to rioting, and when the anatomical demonstrations commenced they set tip a Dutch concert of nigger songs, putting a stop to the business of the University. But the lady students were not long without champions. A stalwart body-guard escorted them toandfrom lectures, and even challenged their assailants to mortal combat as in the days of chivalry. The challenge was not accepted, and the women-persecutors began to feel ashamed of themselves, their subjection being further aided by some strong hints at the police courts, where a few of them had to answer for their riotous behaviour. The question of the propriety of ladies attending anatomical leotures appears to be one which should be l«ffc to themselves. It certainly is not a case for persecution and forcible repression. Of course it would be much better for ladies to be kept in separate classes, and, if they comtinue to manifest a desire for medical knowledge, this will no doubt be the ultimata arrangement.— GSdipus in. MQlbourne.&eacZer,

i St. George's, Hanover Square, was, on December 17, thronged with fair spectators, to witness the nuptials of Mr. Duppa, who has amassed a colossal fortune in New Zealand, and Misa Miles, granddaughter of Sir William Miles, of Leigh Court, near Bristol. The bridegroom, said to be three- and-thirty years older thau his fair bride, arrived about halfpast eleven with his best man, Mr. Bullar. The beautiful bride was dressed in magnificent Spanish lace, over the richest gros grain 3ilk, a small spray of orange flowers and myrtle in her hair, and a long tulle veil. She wore splendid diamond ornaments, the gift o£ Mr. Duppa, and carried a most magnificent scent-bottle. There were six bridesmaids, dressed iv white muslin trimmed with Valenciennes insertion over pink, white bonnets, with small bunches of pink roses, and long tulle veils j they each wore a gold locket with a monogram of turquoise and pearls, presented to them by the bridegroom. After breakfast, at 18, Boulton-street, the happy couple left for Eastbourne, where they will spend the honeymoon. Mrs. Duppa's travelling dress was composed of groseille-coloured Cashmere, over a satin petticoat of the same colour. The bride had numberless presents, and those in jewellery were of themost costly description. Amongst the company at breakfast, conspicuous for her graceful beauty and youthful appearance, was Mrs. Miles, the mother of the bride, whose dress was of rose dv Barry silk, trimmed with Brussels lace, looped with black velvet, and she wore a very pretty bonnet of white chip, with pink feathers. Mrs. Baldock wore a dre&s of black velvet, trimmed with sable, and a beautiful hat. Mrs. Durraut looked charming in a dress of brown silk trimmed with a darker shade of velvet, while Mrs. Badderly's dress was a very striking ono of dahliacoloured satin, nearly akin to magenta. A remarkable scene was that atOld Say brook, Connecticut, a few days since, when, under the authority of the town, a search was made for the remains of Lady Fenwick, the first white woman ever buried iv Connecticut. For 222 years her lcmains have reposed near the junction of the Connecticut river with the Sound, on Saybrook Point, and now the laying out of a railroad necessitated their removal to a neighbouring cemetery. An old rude monument of brown btone has marked the reputed spot of her sepulture, but such have been the changes in the banks by the shifting of the channel that it was doubted by many if the remains really rested beneath, and when the •x Javations had reached more than an ordinary depth these doubts became more pronounced, hut at last, 6ft. below the surface, the skeleton, nearly perfect, £was unearthed. The teeth were still sound, the skull unusually large, while the rest of the frame indicated a lady of slender mould ; and the hair, still partly in curls, and retaining its bright golden hue, gave support to the traditions of her rare beauty. The relics were placed in a handsome coffin, covered with black cloth. The bells wore tolled for her for the first time when her bones were removed from their long resting-place, for at her bniial there could bavc been no lequiem for the noble lady, uule&s it were the war whoop of the wild Indian. Her husband was the original owner and governor of this section from 1633 to 1(544, when the jurisdiction was sold to the colony of Connecticut; aud, after her death, he i eturned to England, and sat as one of the Judges on the trial of Charles I. — (Jincinnctti Weekly Inquire/ M. Baudrimont has made most interesting experiments on fruit, in which it is bhowu that lemons, orauges, and other fnut when carefully wrapped in tinfoil can be preserved fresh and fragrant for mouths after the sea« son in which they usually ripen. The land of England, in round numbers, contains an area of more than 32,000,000 acres ; of this 13,000,000 aic under annual seed cror), aud 10,000,000 under peimanent pasture and wood ,• 2, 000, 000 are occupied by cities, towns, and villages, rivers, loads, and railways ; the rcmaimng 7,000,000 acres are either barren or waste lands, one half of which at least could be brought into cultivation.