LETTERS ON SUGAR -GROWING AND REFINING. No. 1.—THE PLANTATIONS IN FIJI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5465, 27 February 1875, Page 2

LETTERS ON SUGAR -GROWING AND REFINING. No. 1.— THE PLANTATIONS IN FIJI.

I'd tin Kditor : Sir, — Being for samt.uy 10.1mmis mi a short visit from Fiji to tins place, time hanging rather heavily on my hands, and bi'lii'v my tli.it the capacity of the new colony is \ ei y much under-estimated in tins and the sisfcei colonies, in accoidancc with som desne f addiess to yon a few lines in LIk ( n dea\onr to place matters in their tine light, hoping that they will be found woithy ot a place m your valuable columns. I shall refer only to the present condition of the sugar interests, and, having devoted nearly thirty years of my life to that business in London, Louisiana and the Hawaiian Islands, my opinions may be entitled to some littlo weight. J write of what I know, being thoroughly "posted" in every detail of the nccessaiy apparatus, and the business— from the planting of the cane to the refilling of the "raw" sugar. I came to the Fiji Islands in May, 1874, believing that they were farther advanced than T loundthem, and that annexation to (Jio.it Britain was more certain and closei at hand than it piovcd to be, my object being to establish myself as an engineer to ei ect and put in operation machinery on the sugar plantations in general. Since that time I have been principally in the Rewa district on the island of Viti Levu or Great Fiji, which, I believe, will be the principal sugar growing district of the group as far as quantity is concerned ; but from descriptions given nie of Taviiuil and the Windward Islands, being less humid, I judge that those places will produce the best qualities. My remarks will be founded on my experience of the plantations on the Rewa river, and. its tributary the Waimanu. On my arrival on the Kewa I found large areas under cane, some of it over ripe, and all looking finely. 1 saw some of the most magnificent cane I had ever seen, though but roughly cultivated, all having been done by hand labour ; no plough having touched the land, excepting on one plantation owned by a Victorian capitalist, on which the land had been broken up by the plough to the depth of four or five inches. The vigorous appeal - ance of the cane gave evidence of a soil of extreme fertility, and the fact of its being cvltivated in so primitive a manner, being planted merely in noles dug in the unbroken soil, was strong confirmatory evidence. I looked around me and seeing cane on the ground which should then have been going through the process of manufacture, and other canes rapidly coming forward, and seeing no mills or preparations for their erection, Tasked "what arc you growing this cane for, how are you going to E»anutacture tins into sugar? and not till then did I understuid the trtio condition of the planters ; thi'y had not the means to purchase machinery and had planted thlTcane " on spec." On the failure t)f cotton, the planters were at a loss how to turn their lands to profitable account, until some parties advised them to tiy sugar. " But what would be the use ?" said t.omc of them, "how shall we grind the cane .' We have not the means to erect the costly machinery required." " Oh," said their ad viseis, " it is certain that cane will grow well here, just grow the cane and whtn. tne Sydney or Melbourne or other capitalists know that ci ops of goodcaneareonthogiound, only awaiting their aid to be turned to profitable account, there is no fear that you will long be in want of mills ; they will be speedily erected, and your cane will be giound on shares, or purchased from you." On the strength, of anticipations, founded upon such advice, the planters went to work with a will, and planted as much cane as they could take care of. The cane grow beyond their expectations, and they waited patiently for t'ae said capitalists to comu with machinery to their assistance, and tlin/ are loaltlmj t>tUL It is really pitiable to see the beautiful fields of cane all going to waste for want of machinery to manufacture it. Knowing what I do about the manufacture of sugar, such indifference surprises inc. I can conceive of no safer investment for money, and in this instance the returns would be immediate. The cane is already in the ground, and the machinery would be put in operation as soon as erected ; and their would be no fear that there would not be a sufficiency of cane to keep the mills going during the proper season (which in Fiji would extend over some eight months of the year), for the planters would work energetically to keep iip the supply ; in fact, my fear would be that they would plant more than they could take proper care of, and so grow poor or indifferent cane. Fortunately it would be easy to check this, by adopting a minimum standard of density of juice ; this would compel them to cultivate carefully, as thorough drainage, and preparation of the ground, and careful cultivation, are the only means by which the canea can be made to yield rich juice. Good dense juice moans saving of fuel, and largo yield of crystallizable sugar; poor watery juice on the contrary, means great expenditure for fuel, and large yield of molasses. On the Rewa and Waimanu, I can point out six or eight places where mills, capable of manufacturing from two to six tons of sugar per day, could be erected piohtably; and where a sufficiency of cane would be assured by the planters, and I feel assiued that on the other islands there are nnmerous places where the same state of things exists. I can conceive of no safer investment for money than would be a company foi incd for the purpose of erecting machinery at diflei - cut central points in the districts where the sugar cane could be raised ; the formation of such a company would, I am sure, l>e liailol with joy from one end of the islands to the other. It is well known, I presume, that the first manufactory and plantation on the Islands has hitherto been a failure ; but, I believe, that the failure is merely a tempoiary one, and that that plantation will yet be a success. The failure was owing partly to defective machinery, and partly to gross, silly ignorance displayed in the management of tlic manufacture. The plantation has now, I am told, a fine field of cane on it, and, with some alterations in portions of the boiling works, 1 believe that the concern will ultimately prove a paying one. With proper management and exercise of good judgment in tho selection of machinery suited to the district in which it is to be placed, that is : proper consideration being given to the place in which it is to work, whether very wet, or comparatively dry, the average density of jinco, &c, &c , success is certain. Some of the planters have lately been discussing the possibility of combining together and endeavouring to provide themselves with machinery on borrowed capital. This would be all light, but they make the grand mistake of running after the "cheap and nasty," instead of proposing to purchase from a wellestablished firm of engineers, who have made tho manufacture of sugar machinery a °1>< Veiality for a long term of yeais, ot whom I can name several, and who have i eduei d their prices to a minimum. The result a\ ould be, if they ever succeed in obtaining tho

neuts^uy means to puii-h.isi, tluit then ap]).iiatus would 1)0 ji piece of p.itihwoik, .xl- \\, ys getting out of older, and they Mould in the end lind their "lingcirf b.idl\ burnt. ' l'ut, from previous appeaianccs, it is seaieely probable tliat capital will come to then aid in that way. The plantei s, supposing that each ban his own inanufactunng establishment, will Imd another great difficulty to contend with, viz., that of procuring able men, sugarraakers to take in their crops. Tin sis a matter requiring serious consideration Many men can be found who can boil the juice dow n and produce sugar of fair quality ; but, to work a wop oil" pi olitably and successfully lequircs intelligence and experience in the pun on intrusted with that most important branch of the business. The man who can pioduce the largest possible yield of the best possible_quality of sugar, reducing the propoition "of molasses to a minimum,is the man that is -wanted. To make sugar is an easy matter, and at present on the islands if a man produces a small quantity of a fair quality of sugar, it is at once thought that he " knows it all." No cnquiiies are made as to how much he can make, fioni a given quantity of juice, or what the ltlative propoition of sugar and molassis hi' pioduecs ; he makes sugar and th.it is enough ! I am sorry, however, to say, th.it tins obtains in older sugar countries than Fiji ; even in the Hrifcish West Indies, whole the l.uge ni.i|oiity of the sugar makcn aie i»noi.uit men who cannot even nam< the chemical constituents of the article upon uIik li they arc opciatmg. Sugai making is a chemical process, and tin- poison in charge of it should have soim* little knowledge of the chemical composition oi the | nice and the changes it undergoes by the action of the le-ngcnts employed in its convciMon into sug.vi ; but few of the sugai ln.ikcis have any such knowledge, and tlie sahries given to sugar makers geneiallj, offer no nidutcment to educated men adojjtingthis, whicli ought to be ascicntific process, as°a profession, licnce T advocate an cntne separation of tlicagncultural and the manufacturing operations Theie would be as much sense in evciy wheat faimci h.iMng his own ilour mill, as thcie is in e\ery sugar lilanter having his own sugar woiks I shall return to the subject m anothci lettei. — 1 am, &c, A. K AIc(Jj!K!Oi{, Civil Engineer.

We publish .1 supplement with this day'-* issue. Woik is still suspended at the oil spiings, Poveity Bay, pending the amval of the t.ui, which w.is ' expected by the s.s. 'Southern Ciosa,' but did not airivc. The telegiaph line on the East Coast has now been elected beyond Mahanga, and is consequently in the Auckland Piounce. A few Aveoks, theie is every reason to expect, will see it completed to Gisborne. On Thursday evening a select meeting of the members e)f the Auckland Harmonic Society was held in the Young Men's Rooms for the puipose of rc-organising the society. There was a good number of the late meml)ci s in attendance, especially ladies, besides several others favorable to the movement. An excellent and cheerful feeling prevailed, and a determination expressed to cany on the society with renewed spirit and energy. After considerable discussion, it was lesolvecl to meet for practice on Thursday evening, the 11th of Mar<*h, when new mcmbeis Mill be welcomed, subject to the appioval of the Society. The lessee of the railway station advertising space on the stations of the Auckland and Mercer and other lines m the colony, has now got a number of adveitibing panels piepared m what may be teimed a "high ait " method of railway adveitising, and advertiscis who h.uo purchasoel wall space will icccive the advantage of announcements in all the varied and eye-catching styles of bi lght coloured ami gold lcttoi ing, ei editable to the painteis, Messrs. Holland and Butler, and Mr. Dakin. The panels, which ha\ ebe.cn manufactured by Mews. OianwellandCo ,.ue Inrg^, mwi arn let either. __qomi>lcte_ _ ol* partially, as the advertisers desire ; they will form conspicuous notifications. They are of cedar and kauri, carefully constructcel within loose frames as to allow of expansion or shi inking without wjui ing the florid lettering which they bcai. The lessee appeal s to have spared no expense in Ins endeavours to make this means of publicity, a new one to this colony — a complete success. The return match between the Carlcton and Waverley Cricket Clubs is to take jjlaee on the Domain cricket gi ound this afternoon (27th) ; play to commence at a quarter past two. The following arc the names of each team :— Carlcton eleven — Yatcs, Meais, Tonks, Bodle, J. Lawry, T. Lawiy, Stone, Kent, Choyce, Johnson, and L Clyve. Waverley eleven — C. Pollen, E ('oiinell, Kiggb, Ryan, H. Philson, H. Pollen, Bioun, Beal, Hidings, Orchard, and Morrow. The following eleven will try conclusions with the North Shore Club to-monow afternoon, Auckland team to leave by the halfpast one boat : — Cotton, Cadman, Blunden, Willis, Masefield. Gleeson, "Regan, Aiderton, Lacon, G. Brookes, A. Bi ookes. The Mayor and Dr. Home were the presiding magistrates at the Police Comt yesterday. A few diunkaids and a man charged with assault were all the offenders with whom the Court had to deal. The monthly parade of the Naval Brigade and the Sir George Grey and Engineer Cadets took place yesterday evening and was quite successful. A fatal accident took place at Gusborno which resulted m the death of a little girl four years of age, daughter of Mr. Reed, living near the wharf. The child was found buried under a stack of timber in Mr. Morgan's yard about 9 o'clock on Thursday night, the parents having searched in vain fo*hor since 6 o'clock in the evening. From what was gleaned prior to the inquest it appears that the little girl had been playing round the pile of wood, which, fi om some cause toppled over, completely crushing the child beneath. Death must have been instantaneous, as from the appearance of the mangled form no cry for help could have escaped its lips. An inquest was held, when a verdict of accidental death was l ccui elcd. The Town Clerk gives notice by ad\ertisement |th.it bye-law No. 16 has been ga/cttcel, and that it provides that all byelaws and regulations shall apply to all city, stage and hackney carriages plying for hn e within a circle, whose radius is ten miles in length from the principal post office in the city, instead of five miles as heretofore. Divine .service will be held to-morrow, as follows : -At the Choral Hall, morning and c/\ einng, by the liev. A. M. Henrteison, of Melbourne. The subject for the evening discouise will be" The Dissolution and Recon.sti notion of the Heavens and Earth ; sequel to the lecture on 'The Creation of the Heavens ' " — At the Wellesley-strcet Baptist Chapel, by the Re\ 1'. II. Cornford. In the morning upon "Chnstuu Profession, "and in the evening upon " Melchisidec and Christ " — In the Lome-btieet Hall by the Rev. S. Edgei, morning, " The Communion of the body and blood oi Chribt mteipreted," and in the evening upon "Broad Christianity - how it is consistent with Christ's narrow way " —At the Newton Kirk, by the Rev. Dr. W.ilhs . — In the morning, " The Self-eviden-cing power of the Bible y' and in the evening, upon "The Apocalyptic Church of Sardis. " —At the Oddtellows' Hall, Cook-street, by Mi. Frank Cavanagh, of Dublin, in the evening, at half-past six o'clock, On Thursday afternoon an accident occurred m Cook-street, which nearly resulted tatally. A little boy, named Pearson, fell down a avcII some 50 feet deep, while endeavouring to lift a pailful of water. Assistance was fortunately speedily obtained, and he was taken out of the well with only a few bnnsc-s on several parts of Ins body. The members of the A.O.F. Couit, City of Auckland are requested by adveiti&eiuent to moot at the Court-room, Odd "Fellows' 1 tall, Cook street, to-day, at 3 o'clock, to attend the funeral of the wife of Bi other T, l\ Mow.

A meeting of the shareholders of the (Joopcrativo Meat Supply (•'oinpany (Limited) was hold yesterday afternoon, at Mr. Uornwoll's, Queon-atreet, whun the rules were adopted, and it was decided that the election of officers should take place at a meeting to be held in about a week's tune. The object of the Company is stated in the nilcs to be— "To supply wholesome meat to shareholders at a less price than private establishments, •for cash,' or on guaranteed short accounts to shareholders, and only to the extent of the shares held by them." In our advertising columns will bo found the very influential requisition presented to Mr. P. Dignan, asking him to allow himself to be placed in nomination to (ill the vacancy in the City West electorate, caused ln r the death of the late Mr. Williamson. To the requisition, Mr. Dignan has given his reply, and consented to represent the district in tho General Assembly, if elected. Mr. Dignan i • a very old resident of Auckland, having been here soine 34 years. Ho has had a seat in the Assembly before, and there is little doubt the interests of the electors would be in safekeeping, should he be returned. He is the only candidate at present in the field and it is probable he may have a walk over. We understand that two meetings of settlers have been held in the Papakura electoral district, and Mr. William Morgan, of Pnkekohe, has been requested to stand as a candidate for the Provincial Council. From that gentleman's long experience as one of the pioneer settlers, and his active exertions as a social and political reformer, he will no doubt stand the best chance of any who have been named to succeed the late Mr. William Hay, of Woodstock.. The programme of the East Tamaki Heads Races, to take place on the 17th Mtfifch, is published in our advertising columns. The Poverty Bay Herald states : — •'Various rumours respecting the hostile movements of Te Kooti and nis followers, .. having lately gained ground through the falsehood of some natives, who averred that they had received letters from *the rebel. Captain Porter made it his business to enquire into the matter j and we his. authority for stating that hoVone of the reports contain the slightest particle of truth." . \ A few days ago.Mr. Hoskins and Miss Florence Colville (Mrs. Hoskins] arrived from Sydney, and it will be gratifying to the lovers of the drama to know that these talented artistes are to make their appearance again at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Monday evening. On this occasion they will ne assisted by the present excellent company at the Prince of Wales Theatre together with Mr. George Darrell. Mr. Hoskins lias established for himself a thoroughly colonial popularity, for all th» Sydney papers hailed his return from America with jJeasure. The Sydney Morning Herald thus refers to his return and his firat appearance at the Victoria Theatre Sydney : " For some time past sensational dramas have been in the ascendant, and although very little can be said against ttie succes3 which attended their production, it cannot but be admitted that the taste of those who supported them was somewhat vitiated. The appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Hotkins, gave promise of bettor things, and during their engagement at the Victoria Theatre, the pubuc will have an opportunity of witnessing many excellent comedies, which,for some time, have been kept in the background. The attendance last evening, on the occasion of the re-appearance of the talented artistes above named, was very good indeed. The lower part of the house was crammed, and the # dress-circle, notwithstanding the counter-attraction offered by Madame Anna Bishop, was well patronised. The piece chosen was Sheridan's comedy of "School for Scandal," in which Miss Florence Colvill© (Mrs. Hoskins) sustained the role of Lady Teazle, and met with a nattering reception. It is almost unnecessary to say that her acting throughout was marked by the greatest care and ability, and that her impersonation was received with a good deal of applause. As Charles Surface, Mr. Hoskins was, as' usual, admirable, and the enthusiasm with which ho was received by the public, proved that he was still green in their memories. *» The Poverty Bay Herald is not enamoured of Provincialism, and it is just as little disposed to say a kind word for Auckland, or for Auckland people. It is the organ of an out-district, par excellence, a district which considers itself abominably neglected, and this is how it discourses on the subject of the Superintendenoy, the probable and improbable candidates, and the provincial officials in general, and some one or two in particular. It may be said to beGisborne allover:— "The question, ' who is to be the next Superintendent ?" is one that in spite of the decadence and imminent abolition of Provincial institutions, cannot be without interest of a kind. Mr. Dargaville may be disposed to come forward again and drop another £2,000 over an ineffectual contest. Mr. Sheehan, who finds his Prime Ministership so completely a sinecure that he can find time to spend weeks and even months together in Hawke's Bay, in making efforts, the self-denying philanthropy or which it is impossible too much to admire, for the redress of native grievances, may be willing for a tim« to rest from these labours and o 3ept the honour which he hopes a grot ;.il country will not refuse him. Neither o' tLeae, however, we conceive would stand the ghost of a chance against the present acting Superintendent, Mr. O'Rorke, should ho come forward ; he is the people's idol of tho hour. Auckland, which has lived so long on the spoliation of the out-lying districts, cannot sufficiently express her admiration for the Minister who left a Cabinet which had decided on patting a stop to it. From an Auckland point of view he deserves his popularity, and on the whole even we might not be far wrong to wish liim success. We cannot forget that he dropped £1,200' per annum rather than drop his principles ; and whatever we may think of these principles the sacrifice counts in his favor. A strange rumour has gained currency that Sir George Grey thinks of becoming a candidate. That would be a pitiable spectacle indeed. Imagine Bismarck turning beadle, or Disraeli accepting the town clerkship of Gisborne, and we have some faint idea of what it would be to see the great intellect that ruled New Zealand with almost despotic sway, same score or bo of years back, sub- • mittiiyj itself to the wire-pulling of Messrs. Dignan and Sheehan. Sir George Grey, no doubt, as his amazingly foolish "memoranda to the British Parliament," &c, sufficiently show, is something very different indeed from what he was when lie was twonty years younger ; we must hope, however, that he has not come at last to quite so vile a use as this." The Jewish Chronicle hears with deep regret that a new act of intolerance has been shown by the Russian Government. Orders have been sent to managers *of various railway companies throughout Russia to discharge all their employes belonging to the Jewish community from any capacity whatever, and to abstain from receiving Jews into their employ. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham contradicts, in the Timen, w the allegation of Lord Acton, that Urban II. laid down the rule that " it is no murder to kill excommunicated persons, provided that it be done from zeal only." The Bishop quotes a letter from Urban, which, while not rockoning ■uch as murders, appoints a slight penance for these offences "to /appease the eyes of the Divine Simplicity." At All Saints, Lambeth, Dr. Lee's church, most extraordinary proceedings took place in the church on All Souls' Day. A bier was brought in covered with alpall, some prayers and a musical performance'took place, and an address was given, in which the preacher said, as there was nothing more impressive than a funeral, and there were no burials in tho parish, he had provided the empty bier to produce the solemn effect. Statues are about to be erected in Edinburgh of Dr Livingstone and Sir James Simpson. Ihe sites chosen are St. Andrew'siquare ana Princes-street,

A London coiicspoiulunt of the (Hoiju lhu''i Tun s Miitc . —^ tm \mH doubtli 1"--n nu mlu'i Uiu intou-.lm» k-ttci-. Innti.i " V i'.esieged IJoaidunl," pulilixhcd hv tin' Oaihi JVi'iri during the siege ot Kim. Tho -water of thorn w <is Mr. liiltouclit-io, ii ijontleni.ui of largo property, who has sat in J'.vili.uncnt for Middlesex, j'uul is one of the piopnutoi" of tlic Daily New*. He has lately imposed on himself tho task of weeding out unscrupulous speculators fiom the Stock 1'jKchange by exposing them in the Press 'JI13 jonrnal he has selected as his weapon is the World, and Mr. Edmund Yates is its editor as well as one of its proprietors. First of all Mr. Laboucherc attacked one Abbott, a notorious jobber in Atlantic cable shares Abbott, in revenge, perpetrated a mild kind of assault, in which thoro was more bluster than anything else, upon Mr. Labouchcre. Tliis brought the matter into the Police Court, and under the full gaze of the public, the result being that Abbott had to suspend payment a few days later. But Mr. Labouehere was not contented with such comparatively small fry aa Abbott. He nexft assailed one Alexander M'Eweii, a financial agent, and also a cable speculator, in such exceedingly strong and plain language that tho Stock Exchange stood aghast, and said M'Ewen must bring an action against th« paper for libel— a step which tho World defied him to take— or ho must follow Abbott's example and suspend p"aymenb. After wavering for somo time he chose the latter alternative, and is now a bankrupt with liabilities estimated at £400,000, pf wlycli 1 three-fourths are said to be secured. It is- a bold and hazardous crusade on which Mr. Labouchdre has entered, but (hitherto' he has shown great skill and courages. His doings. 1 naturally havo excited great interest in Londbh commercial circle's. Tho St. "Louin Republican says :— Tt was told of old that tho cackle of a goose once saved Rome. It is now related that a swallow won a suit in a Court away down in Texas. A poor widow aud her daughter had a suit 1 for damages before a Court in Houston. The counsel for tho plaintiff introduced into his pleadings th'e fable of the swallow that ,'built her, neat and reared her young under the eaves of a temple of justice. The lawyer enlarged upon, the swallow's trust in the protection of her"home the place afforded, and very aptly made the application to the cose before the Court.- When the counsel was about finishing the illustration, a swallow flew into the Court-room and alighted upon the Judge's desk. • It then/hopped away and found rest for ,tho sole of ,its foot on the railings of the jury-box. lu its circuit of the Court-room it halted awhile on a pile of lawbooks, then hovered a moment over tho heads of the plaintiffs, and flew out of the window and away. Tho counsel concluded by saying : "Behold the witness!" and, as' tho witness could not be called back by the opposing counsel, the case was given to the jury pretty much as the swallow left it. Tho jury could not ignore the bird's evidence, and gave a verdict for the widow. A romantic story comes from a very unromantic place — Claphftm Hoad Railway Station, 1 London. A hamper was leftithere the other day byapersdn who went ( away and did not return. As the hamper proved to' be addressed to the station-masted* it was taken to him and op'ened by his orders, [when it was found to contain a fine infant. | The station-master, thereupon ordered* a porter to take it to tho workhouse. The porter expostulated, but the- order, was peremptorily repeated. The porter thereupon asked permission to adopt the child himself, as he was married and childless'. The request was readily granted, and the. porter, took the little foundling home. His wife .took it out of the hamper, and on lifting the straw on which the child had lain was astonished to find a set of baby's clothes of the rfinost material, edged with lace, together with bank-notes to tho value of £800. _ There was also a memorandum in which it was stated that if, 15 years later, an advertisement regarding the whereabouts of the little waif were inserted in 'the papers, a handsome reward would be paid to the advertiser. On these facts becoming kno)vn tothe stationmaster, hodemanded the child- back again, but was met with a firm, .though respectful refusal. The worthy, pcjrter- deserves his unexpected good fortune,, and the child is much more likely to find a father in) him than in the mercenary station-master, whose chagrin must be great. If any of your lady readers consider that they are deprived of their "rights" by tho ruder sex, I am happy to be able to tell them of a land to which they may emigrate if they wish to turn tho tables on their tyrants. I am indebted for the information to an address delivered recently to tho members of tho Edinburgh Literary Institute, by Sir George Campbell, who lately occupied the office of Lieut. -Governor of Bengal. Sir George stated that among the Khassia tribe, inhabiting the hill country in Eastern Bengal, tho ordinary relations of- the sexes are reversed. The woman is the head pf the house. She marries the man instead of the man marrying her, and if she doesn't like him on trial she divorces him. The husband comes to the wife's h'ouse, and her property goes to her relations, not his. So far all is in favour of tho woman, but there is something more to be told. "The women having tho chief dignity have tho chief responsibility, and with that responsibility comes the 'chief share of the work." In other words, the woman has to maintain the house as well as to rule. She is the bread-winner, and like the man elsewhere, she eats her bread in the sweat of her brow, by performing the manual labour that elsewhero devolves upon the man. In illustration of this Sir George related an amusing anecdote. A friend of his, wishing to have a grand piano carried up a hill, offered the strongest man he could get a high price to perform tbe required service. The man, after testing the weight of the piano, said he could not do the job, but that his sister could/and on his, fetching her, she actually did it. The women are very strong in consequence of having to work so hard, and the orthodox mode of travelling in that region is in a creel on a woman's back. So much for women's rights in Khassia Land. The rose has its thorn even there. — [Correspondent.] America is, without doubt, the land of newspaper enterprise; *• What tho New York Herald has done, and is now doing, we all know ; but oven that great journal has some spirited rivals. Foremost amongst these in Now York itself is the Gmphic, the enterprise of which takes a new direction. It printed in its ordinary issue fac-HimUe copies of all the in the Beecher-Tilton .case, and now hints at the possibility of newspapers being one day published altogether in script, direct from tho MS. of the writers, thus annihilating at one stroke the whole of the present laborious system of composition. It was the Graphic that last year upon the morning of the first performance in New York of Verdi's new opera of "Aida," printed all the principal melodies of it, and has now done the same for Vasseur's now opera bouffe, "La Timbalo d' Argent." It thus furnishes the reader with not only a description of the scenes and a critical review of tho performance, but the music itself ! At this rate of progress, mnsical publications will be soon superfluous, much in the same way as religious publications havo been found to bo in Chicago, whore the local daily press have fairly beaten the others out of the field ; the Tribune, for instance, on Sunday and Monday mornings printing more and fresher religious intelhgence'than all the religious papers in Chicago combined. Now York also clatms to have perfected a type-setting machine that is capable of doing the work of four ordinary- compositors, 'and of doing it equally as well as if not than they. Novel Milking Tubes : At tho October agricultural fair at Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a Philadolphiau exhibited cow-milking tubes made of silver, two inches long, and about tho sue of a wheat straw. Jlalf an inch from the end is a shoulder or ring, to provent tho tube from passing too far up tho teat. The oponing in the tube is 011 the side near the top. The person milking inserts the long erifl of the tube into" tho, orifice of the teat, and immediately the milk begins to flow in a constant stream. Tubes are inserted in all the teats at the same time, ,

A (ilium-. <liMO\eiy, s.i,\s the llau<Li\ lunj lh nilil, of the '2'M'd instant, has boen m,ult> 111 the I'onreuMo dish icfc Ityau.iiixu ulnlst out lihlung Hi' writes mulct d.itc Kobnury I."), as lollows :— L havo fouiul a stone viliK-h got caught in my hook, while I w.is out lisliing on a lishing ground called JMgatahuna, distant from shore tin co miles, and 40 fathoms deop. At first I thought I had a iiali, but on pulling it up towards the surface it showed a bright yellow colour, and I found it was a stone exactly the colour of: gold. After lying in the boat a short time, it changed again, to the colour of the copper on a vessel's bottom, and when landed had assumed the shining colour of silver. It ia about 50 lbs. weight, and has 51 sharp cmbolhshing projections or points, which arc very beautiful, and can only bo compared to the sun in the heavens. I havo never seen anything Uko it befove so worthy of admiration ; what can compare to the works, of God ? There is i a reptile in the sea that has great knowledge or skill in carving stones, and it" is through that mankind gained their knowledge now practised in carving. The skill of this reptile is very superior to that of men, and cannot compete with it. I have never seen anything on shore which in any way equals this stone in beauty. If Europeans had it and polished it, it Would be very nice. A telegram states that a newspaper plant in Nelson is under negotiation for the purpose of establishing a daily paper in Ohine- ' jnuri. This probably means the Imlancc of 'the plant of the late Nelson Examiner, that is if there is any truth in the rumour. ■ Leuwenhoeo; tells, of an insect seen with tjie microscope .that ] mulp])lied twenty -seven million tunes would, yQnly Qqual a mite. Insects of every kind may bo seen in the cavities of a groin of sand. Mould is a forest of beautiful trees without branches, loaves and fruit. Butterflies are fully feathered. Hairs are hollow tubes. The fjsurfa'co of our bodies are covered with scales like a fish ; a single grain of sand will cover one hundred and fifty of these scales, and yet a scale covers five hundred pores ; throiigh-these narrow openings the sweat "forces itself like water through a sieve. Each drop of stagnant water contains a world of animated beings, swimming with as much liberty as the whales in the sea. Each leaf has a colony* of insects grazing on it like cows on a meadow. r , In one respect the victoiy to Japan is but small, inasmuch as the amount to be paid is but a small sum, compared with the expense she has been put to. - Hut in every other point of view the victory is great, and ought to be very highly appreciated by all countries whose commerce stretches into those seas. What America and England both distinctly failed in doing Japan has done — i.e., brought China to a "sense of her situation." To America and England she declared she was irresponsible for the acts of the aboriginal Formosans. But Japan compelled her distinctly to acknowledge her responsibility ; <b pay a heavy sum for past noglect ; and to promise to exercise a proper police supervision over those coasts for the future. A Lottery Ticket :• Some years jsince, when all the,, world was mad upon lotteries, the cook of* an American gentleman, a single woman, drew from his hands the earnings and savings of 'some years. Her employer was anxious to know the cause, and she told him that, having -.repeatedly dreamed that a certain number was a certain prize, she had bought the whole ticket, He called her a fool for her pains, and never lost a chance to tease her on the subject. She seemed to' take his taunts in good humour, saying it would turn out right by-and-by. One morning he opened his paper at breakfast and saw it announced that the very number that Bridget had dreamed and bought had drawn the great prize of a hundred thousand dollars ! Bridget was summoned, and the wily gentleman proceeded to inform her that he had long valued her as a friend, and, being desirous to settle for life, he would be 'willing to make her his wife, if she had no objection. Bridget had alwaVs thought him a dear good man, and would be glad to do anything to please him. So he finished his breakfast, told- Bridget to put on her best things, the parson was sent for, and made them one that Very morning. After it was all over, the cautious husband said to his bride, " Well you have made two good hits to-day; you have got a gocd husband, and now bring me the lottery ticket you and I have laughed so much about, and let me see what the number of it is." , "Please don't laugh any more about that, I knew there was nothing in them dreams, and I sold it to the butcher a month ago I" A new fire escape — an Italian invention, which costs £180 delivered in ,the colonies — has been very successfully tried in Molbourne. In the chief cities of Europe and America where it has' been brought into use it has been found of great service, not only for fire escape purposes but also for builders and contractors, as by means of them a considerable amount of exterior work can be done to lofty buildings without the erection of costly scaffolding. The ladder is 75ft. long— there are some in use 125ft. long — and is in seven lengths. These are rapidly fitted together in a horizontal position, by means of wooden and iron guys, which latter can be used as handrails by those a ascending or descending. By means of a* small winch attached to the carriage of the ladder, and heavy counterpoise weiglits,the ladder is next raised to. a vertical position, and can then be ascended. It is so weighted that without leaning against any support, it will allow seven men to ascend it at the same time. Efforts are being made to form in London a club for both ladies and gentlemen, and all sorts of speculations are on foot as to the nature of its constitution and working. Among i he stories which the movement has brought into publicity is one which relates how a gentleman who wished to join a skating club of both sexes was blackballed, much to his chngrin and to the general surprise, as he is very popular. It turned out that his exclusion had been compassed by a number of the Committee at the instigation of his own wife, who was already a member, and who no doubt wished to have some place of retreat from marital supervision. In tho spring of last year a young married woman, residing in North Peckham, dreamt that Bhc would die on the first anniversary of her wedding day. To her Iwsband and her relatives she mentioned her strange dream on several occasions, and it Seemed to prey upon her mind. At last the dreaded day came — 5th November— and so impressed was she that it would prove her last upon earth that she actually made a present to her friends of a sum of money wherewith to purchase mourning. Strange to say, before midnight arrived tho poor woman was a corpse. It may bo mentioned that she became the mother of a child, which is living and well, eleven days previously. The money cleared by successful authorship is always an interesing subject. The most that has been made by any book of the like size during the lifetime of its author is £14,000, which has been made by a lady. Her Majesty the Queen iB stated upon good authority to have netted that sum for her "Journal in the Highlands," and shegave, it should be added, every farthing of it away in charity. How to Hire Servants : The Marquis of Bristol has introduced a now scheme of hiring labourers upon his Suffolk estate. He has increased wages two shillings per week — namely, to fifteen shillings for ordinary labourers, and seventeen shillings for housekeepers, all the year round, with cottage rent free. He 'has abolished the plan of giving harvest money, 1 and will pay three ponce per hour overtime instead, and from 8 'a. in. to 4*30 p.m. in winter; a month's notice to bo given on either side. Tho scheme is recoived'with much favour by tho men, and they have readily signed the contracts. ' c There are 37 separate States, and 7 territories in the United States of America. The aggregate area, of tho whole is 3,003,884 square miles. The entire population on the 1st of June, 1870, was 38,558,371 souls.

Mulbony Tioos: But hLtlo attention is pud to Hit 1 cultivation ol Lliu mulbony in tlii-s" islands (sivyn a J[<niolulu papoi), ycL it is well known to bo one of the handsomest ,-i nl most long-lived trees. It is said that .ibmit two hundicd and fifty years ago-s.iy in KfcM — tlio pout Joint Milton, then .iboy of 1 1), planted some mulberry trees at .1 vicar.igu in England. They were caved for by tinvicar, and in course of time glow to Ik- lino iwees. They are now all dead from ago but one, and that, though Spuing, is in .1 Falling condition. Two centuries anil a half may be taken as the extreme ago of this tree in Eng land. Several lives were lost by the falling in of the roof of the Market Hall, at Angers, on December 10, through the weight of the snow that had accumulated upon it. A notorious Spanish brigand, who is charged with upwards of thirty assassinations, lias been captured iu Algeria, and shipped for Spain. Edward Creighton, who constructed the first telegraphic line across the North American Continent, has just died at Omaha, a millionaire. He was originally a working man. The following appears in the Autfralasian in answer to a correspondent : — " ' Old Subscriber' (Belfast).— In replying ' Yes' or ' No' to the question whether 'about 150 Maoris made two British regiments rim away from the Gate pah in a very cowardly manner ?' we cau only say ' No. ' This gives a grossly incorrect version of a sad disaster in which our troops were as brave as ever, but very unfortunate. Seventy-six thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven paupers are supported at the public cost in the United States of America. There are 32,901 criminals Confined in the gaols in America,— one-half being native whites, and the other half' composed of foreign born whites and native born blacks. A very good idea ,of the intense heat experienced lately at Ballarat may be gathered (says the Courier) from the fact that a gentleman on Soldiers' Hill, who thought it unnecessary to have a fire in tlio house to provide him with a meal, utilised the suns ray& to, cook an omelette, and the feat was successfully performed. He placed a school-slate for some while out of doors, then, spread some butter upon it, and, breaking an egg thereon, in a few minutes ttie egg was perfectly cooked, as if done on the orthodox pan over the fire.

Messrs. Coclirane and Sou intimate that they have received instructions to sell by auction on the 11th March, 124 building allotments and paddock sections adioiniug residence of the late Superintendent. Plans can bo obtained at the advertisers' oflioe.