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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 April 1901, Page 2

THU ANTARCTIC! EXPLORATION It has ahvay.-i boon «. mallei’ of surprise 1.0 iiH Uin.l. Rio people of New Zealand have lit,lion an IHl.lo ini,crust in the mailer of exploring I ho la,nds that lie directly sonth and around the South Poll. A < ahlognnn from London the other da/' stated that tiio Times is appealing for .additional funds towards the British An tin otic Expedition, which ij to start about the middle of the yea 1 . The object in view is to provide the “Discovery” with a tender, so that she may lie able to remain another year in the Antarctic regions. The British Government has contrhuted £15,000 to the expedition, and private subscriptions had at the

beginning of tho year reached about £IO,OOO. It will bo remembered that in ISOS the Hon. 0. 0. Bowen moved in the Legislative Council a resolution asking our own Government to contribute to this scheme, which was then being promoted by tho. Royal Geographical Society. In an able and exhaustive speech bo showed how deeply and even materially interested New Zealand is in Antarctic discovery, particularly in respect of magnetic currents and other phenomena which affect navigation in the Southern Seas. The Government, however, did nothing, although tho motion was strongly supported in tho Council. This, wo think, is much to ho regretted for tho discovery, apart from the .scientific value, might possibly, prove of great commercial value. Tho “ Discovery,” which was recently launched, is a marvel of solid strength, and much is hoped from her trip. She is to work in conjunction with a Gorman expedition, which is to sot out about the same date, and together they should add considerably to our knowledge of tho Southern Seas. There is a pleasing significance in this international combination in tho cause of science, and it is to ho hoped that the British expedition will not appear to disadvantage beside its German partner, which is already liberally financed.

A. meeling of (he Cliumlicr of Commerce will ho held in the Town Ball to-morrow evening. The population of Greymonth, as recorded the other day, is :5,71(5 as against :i,< H> in l-SDH, showing an increase I’m the live years of (517. The elections for State School Committees takes place throughout the eolonj this evening at (lie various school roomin (he different centres.

M ossrs 11older innf'Son I lave on liiind at. (heir store on Mawhera Guay, some of (lie (inost. smoked (isli we have ever seen in (he market. The consignment, should fin el a, ready sale. To-night the Corriek Family will give another of their excellent entertainments when among other pictures will exhibit a series of views of the funeral procession of the late Gueen Victoria. Members of the Volunteer Corps who intend going to Wellington arc request sd to meet at tlic Drill Shed this evening for the purpose of being measured for now uniforms. The funeral of the late 11. .1. Fees was largely attended on Saturday. The members of the Greymouth Pities followed the remains, the deeeased having been one of the earlier volunteer olliccrs in (he colony. The Zoir from Auckland, and the Sir Henry from Tim,am, were towed into Hokitika on Saturday. Both vessels load sleepers, the former for Manakau and the latter for the Thames. They will take away about 5000 sleepers.

Poem.a Settlement can grow almost anything, so rich is the soil. For potatoes the ground is unsurpassed. Messrs Kettle Brothers have now on exhibition a sample of Vermont potatoes grown by Mr .John Kelly of Poerna Settlement, They are a magnificent sample. One turned the scale at 21. ounces, and measured s.l inches long by at one end and 2 inches at the other.

Mr Hyde, the Government Poultry Export, states that 1,010.000,000 eggs are imported into England annually. Nelson hops sell at lOd per lb, while those grown in California fetch 2s 9d per lb. The suggestion is made in a Nelson paper that the Department of Agriculture should endeavour to find new markets for New Zealand hops. The Agricultural Department has been informed that Mr Harnett, one of its viticultural experts, has found traces of phylloxera in only one vineyard in the Hastings district. But for the presence of a little mildew all the ather vines in the district arc remarkably healthy. The Inspector of the Dunedin Abattoirs has been lined 40s in the Magistrate’s Court for polluting tho Xaikoria stream with drainage from the abbattoiiv.

Wc understand the Government; have arranged widi the local branches of the Bank of Now Zealand to receive applications for debentures to-day tenders close at Wellington to-day at noon and investors must arrange to have deposit money telegraphed so as to be in time. As a sequel to the libel action brought against the Bendigo (Victoria) “Evening Mail,” in consequence of that journal’s criticism of the coupon svstem, Mr K. Walker, the proprietor and editor, has received a cheque reimbursing him for the costs incurred in the action. The movement was started by a number of influential people in Bendigo as a mark of appreciation of “a fearless determination to suppress any public wrong.” In spite of the introduction of private detectives, the offering of largo rewards, and the utmost vigilance on the part of settlers, sheep stealing in the Masterton district continues. In all probability the Legislature will bo asked to take steps to assist settlers.

Mr G. H. Swan, who is just retiring from the Mayoralty of Napier, has occupied tlie Mayoral chair of that town for fifteen years. During the twenty-seven years the borough lias been in existence there have been only four mayors.

At a meeting of the Forty-mile Bush sawmillors hold last week, it was decided to increase the price of red pino timber by Hd per 100 ft. Twenty-two locomotives for the New Zealand Government Railways are expected to reach the colony towards the end of this month by the steamer Bechuana. Ten will bo landed at Lyttelton and twelve at Wellington, two of the latter being for the West Coast of the South Island.

The little town of Kanieri is now beginning to feel beneficial effects from the operations of various dredges in the vicinity, a considerable number of men being employed in the work of construction of pontoons and erection of machinery on the Hokitika Liver, .Perry’s Reward, Woodstock, ilau Hau, and Great Wuodstock claims. A number of men arc employed boring and prospecting other claims, whilst a number of dredge bands havo also made their appearance preparatory to commenoing the work of gold winning Already it is slated there is difficulty in securing dwellings, ail of which goes to show improved prospects of our country friends. It will be some weeks before the remits of the census are known, but it is regarded as certain that there will be no very .striking changes, in Oartcrbury. In the North Island, however, a very considerable increase of population is likely to bo shown, and the majority of tao six new seats in Parliament, provided for in the Representation Act of last session, will fall to that part of the colony. No 59 of the miscellaneous leaflets issued by the Department of Agriculture shows that last month 28,31Ccwt butter, valued at £119,227, was exported from the colon', as against 16,C.i9cwt, valued at £71,150 in the'corresponding month of Just year. The cheese exports totalled 18.3I8cwt, valued at £12,209, against 18,526 cwt, valued at £41,412.

WADE’S WORM PIGS arc _ most effective and not unpleasant; children thrive after taking them. Price 1/-

That virulent disease, diptheria, still prevails at Cobden. With regard to this matter parents are a trifle neglectful and require to exercise more vigilance in order to safeguard the lives of their own as well as other people’s children. Mr .lames Taylor of Cobden, met with a nasty accident on Friday while working at the Harbor Board bridge across the (Jrey lagoon. It appears ihat ihe crane was swinging a! the lime and Mr Taylor in getting clear clnlciied the end of a sleeper, but his weight hove the sleeper ii]) and landed him on the rocks twelve feet hclow. The unfortunate man sustained a severe bruising and a broken thumb, while his ankle is very badly sprained. On enquiry yesterday we found that the victim is comfortably progressing under the supervision of Dr Mori co.

An old resident of the district, in the person of Mr Robert Smith died in the Hospital about (3,150 yesterday evening, where he had been taken only two or three days previously. The deceased had for a number of years resided in the Maruia district, where he was engaged in mining. Since his return to Roefton ho had pursued the calling as’a gardener with some considerable success. The real facts of Colonel Pole Ponton's resignation arc that the Colonel’s engagement will expire in October next, and wishing to take time by the forelock, he wants the Government to give him leave of absence for the remainder of his term in the colony.

Captain Austin, of the Roofton Rifles, has received the following telegram from Captain Wolfe, oiliccr in charge of the district Please wire early number of men your corps likely to proceed to Wellington for Royal visit in June; number should bo given as accurately as possible.” When stormy wind and wintry blast, Affect mankind with hacking cough, They think consumption’s come at last, ’Twiil not be long before they’re off. Some people goto mountain heights, And others where the skies are bluer; But what will soon put them to riguts,

Is W. E.. Woods’ Great Pecpeumint Cure.

Tlio exports of frozen moat from the colony last month consisted of 2S,2sßcwt beef valued at £189,074; and 71,788 cwt lamb, valued at £105,802, or a total value of £270,718, against £198,818 for the corresponding month of last year. We hear, says the “Wairarapa Star,” that a settler in the Wairarapa district has offered, should the Government not undertake the work, to find the money necessary for constructing tho light line of railway between Masterton and Pongaroa at current rates of interest. The Government for some unexplained reason has (says tho Wellington Post) placed the order for refurnishing Searl’s Hotel—whore the stall; of the Duke of Cornwall are to be lodged —with a Christchurch firm. This extraordinary proceeding has naturally displeased the local manufacturers and warehousemen who have devoted both capital and labour to the development of tho furniture trade of this city. It surely cannot be claimed that furniture and appointments of quality and elegance cannot he procured locally. What would be said in Christchurch, we wonder, had the order for refurnishing Coker’s Hotel been placed with a Wellington firm.

The Taranaki News reports that an interesting experiment has just been made by'Mr Peter Hess, of New Plymouth, a mining engineer of considerable experience, with the recently discovered Whangamomona coal. Mr Ross tested (idwt of the coal, and procured Bdwts Sgrs of gas, the residue being 2dwt ICgrs of coke of a peculiar metallic appearance, but of good quality. Mr Ross says he has never seen a coke just like it. It burns well and gives oil a great beat, and is particularly bright, hard, and close grained, and is in Ids opinion an extremely valuable coke. The gas burned with a clear bright light.

The annual balancing period of the Bank of New Zealand closed on the 31st ult., and it is unofficially stated that the profits for the year exceed those of the previous year by about £<50.000. If so the profits will amount to about £300,000, which will admit of the payment of al! statutory obligations, and leave a handsome sum for writing olt paper assets. Nearly all tho banking institutions of Australasia have recently issued excellent balance-sheets andincreased the dividends distributions to shareholders. The National Bank of New Zealand wall also exhibit a very satisfactory balance-sheet, but no details arc available, as all the papers must be sent to tho London office.

Wo draw our readers attention to the sale of 300 store and fat cattle and 1.50 s: ore wethers, also a number of upstanding draught and hack horses by G. W. Moss and Co at Totara Fiat yards on Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock. This should be a first-class opportunity for farmers and butchers securing stock, being the last sale this season.

To bo had at Griffon and Smith’s

Union Store a choice assortment of spring flowering bulbs, comprising tho following well-known kinds: —Crocuses, Anemones, Tulips. Nareisics, Snowflakes, Ircseas, and other numerous varieties.—Aim,

Having secured the services of a lady who has gained her experience in some of the host houses in Melbourne, Messrs McKay and Son have much pleasure in drawing attention to their millinery department, which is now one of the most complete in Grcyinouth. Wc guarantee all orders entrusted to this department to give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Under--clothing and Corsets, just to hand.— Advt. With Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure WADE’S TEETHING BOWDENS for babies are soothing, reduce fever and prevent blotches. Price 1/-