WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 80, 17 July 1852, Page 9

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times,

Sir, —It is a remarkable fact, no less trite than true, however paradoxical it may appear, that those things which continually pass under .our observation arc those to which" we pay the least regard or attention. We eat our crust of bread and drink our cup of water, but how many of us pause to reflect how thankful we oiurht to be for even the common necessaries of life? It is the same as respects the ordinary associations of life goiug on around us. How few are there amongst us, even those compelled by circumstances to do their own huxtering, who re-

fleet that there is philosophy and a great deal of science in weights and measures. The question is very often asked, is it good weight, or good measure ? but the enquiry extends no further. We believe, however, that weighing and measuring is of such importance in the operation, that in all.our large towns in the mother country there are establishments for the adjustment of weights and measures according to the legal standard. This is necessary, not only on account of the importance of uniformity as regards commercial transactions, but in order to protect the public from fraud. If, therefore, it, is a subject, worthy of so much consideration in England, from whence the majority of the residents in this colony so lately came, why should, it any longer pass without observation here? When we first landed, and found every article of food most extravagantly dear, the only parties who had any of the necessary articles either for food or for seed to dispose of, rigidly adhered to what is called the Maori weight, or 2000 lbs. to the ton ; and at this small measure nearly the whole of the seed from which the' last crops sprang, was purchased ; but now, when the parties who purchased seed at the small measure are enabled to bring the produce of that seed into market, and offer to dispose of it at the Maori weight, the parties from whom they purchased their seed, immediately offer for the produce of the land at the ton of 2240 lbs., or the English ton. Ido not question the right of parties to dispose of their crops at any measure or weight that they deem proper, but I can assure you it has been the cause of much angry feeling amongst many of the purchasers of seed at the short weight, at being compelled to sell the produce of it at the long weight. It signifies little either in a commercial or agricultural point of view, whether the Maori or English standard is adopted, so that a standard is taken upon which all can base their transactions; but why should we Canterbury colonists, who are all Englishmen, forsake the weights and measures we have been accustomed to from early youth, and upon which our goods from England are exported and the duty paid in the colony? The adjustment of these weights and measures is equally as essential here as in England. The whole colony is interested in these matters; hut as such regulations come more forcibly from parties in authority, permit me to call magisterial aid into activity, and at once establish standard measures and weights throughout the Canterbury colony, by which any transaction will only be legally acknowledged. Trusting that these remarks may have a beneficial tendency, I remain, yours respectfully, Omega. July 6th, 1852. To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —A letter, signed "Observer," which appeared in your paper of Saturday last, is calculated to cause such erroneous impressions on the minds of those who read it, that I must beg space in your columns to reply to it. " Observer" states that he has for some weeks past seen the floor of the Post-office covered with newspapers, and is credibly informed that there are close upon 2000 now unforwarded. In answer to this I must remark, that during the quarter ended 30th June last I forwarded 1394 newspapers ; that the Pauline, the last vessel which sailed from this port to any of the neighbouring colonies, whence papers are readily transmitted to England, took all that were in the Post-office at the time (June 7th) ; that I sent by the Stay the whole number I was authorized to send via India; and that consequently the papers which your correspondent has seen for weeks in the Post-office can only be those which have accumulated since the Pauline and Stay left this port, averaging 340 weekly. In addition to this,T received 995 English newspapers for this settlement by the Stag, a number so large that there was not sufficient room in the office to admit of their being all put into their proper places at once, and probably some of these are what " Observer" alludes to. The concluding sentence of the letter, insinuating that the office is occasionally not open till past noon, is so utterly without foundation, that I shall pass it by without remark.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant, W. L. Howard, Postmaster. Post-office, Lyttelton, July 14th.

Unrolling of the Mummy found in St. Stephen's Crypt.—A deputation of the members of the Antiquarian Society met at the New Palace of Westminster, for the purpose of examining the mummy found in the east wall of St. Stephen's Crypt. Mr. Barry, the architect, was in attendance to receive the party. Mr. Pettigrew, accompanied by his son, Dr. W. Pettigrew, was present; these gentlemen having kindly undertaken the responsible duty of unrolling the body. The mummy had remained half imbedded in the stone wall where it was discovered, nothing being visible beyond the crozier and the upper part of the cereclothes in which the remains were folded. The examination having been determined on, the body was removed from its narrow cell, and placed upon a bench within an enclosed hoarding, where the gentlemen appointed to examine it assembled. The removal was effected without any injury, beyond the fracture of the right forearm, which had been injured by the pickaxe of the workman who first broke in upon the venerable remains. The preparations having been completed, Dr. Pettigrew commenced his operations by making an incision down the centre of the abdomen, and in a latteral direction round the skull. After some little difficulty, a layer of five thick canvas cloths was removed from off the face. A second series, bound round by string, then presented themselves. In clue course these were loosened, and to the great satisfaction of all present, on being raised, the face was disclosed in a most remarkable state of preservation. The cartilage of the nose was not at all decayed, and, with the lips and other portions of the face, remained perfect flexible to the touch. Even the expression of the countenance was in a degree retained, and it was remarked that, identity of the individual would not have been impossible had any compeer of his venerable age been present. The abdomen was found to be folded iv ten layers of canvas cloth, each of which appeared to have been soaked in wax and nitre, or salts of some such description. On the wrappers being removed, the stomach was found to have retreated from the cloth, and to have become a mass of adipose matter, in which state the legs and arms were also found. No writing of any description was discovered in the folds, nor. was any mark leading to an identity of the individual found. The body measured 5 feet 11 inches in length, and, judging from the front teeth remaining, three or four of which in the lower jaw were much worn, must have been that of a very aged man. The mouth was filled with tow, which had evidently been steeped in wax, and a small quantity of hair remained on the chin and upperlip. The body was enclosed in ten layers of very thick canvas, and bound round by string, the latter being in a very remarkable state of preservation. The crozier was entirely of oak, with an elaborately carved crook, the whole measuring 8 feet 2 inches in length. Although there remains an absence of any positive proof as to the identity of the body, it may be stated that the gentlemen present unanimously agreed that the presumption of its being Lydwolfe, Bishop of St. David's, who died about the middle of the fifteenth century, was almost indisputable. The examination having been completed, the remains were placed in a strong elm coffin and screwed down. For the present they remain in a place of security, but it is understood the body will hereafter be replaced as nearly as possible in the spot where it was discovered.—Liverpool Courier, Feb. 4.

The Fate of England.—Captain Warner has published a pamphlet announcing his final intention of abandoning England to her fate„ and offering his invention to a foreign power. He blames the nation in general, and the Duke of Wellington, the Board of Ordinance, and the Admiralty in particular, for refusing to patronise him. He will place his potent instruments of destruction, he says, in the hands of those who can, when they please, hold them iv terrorem over England. To this course he is driven by the dishonesty and meanness of his country, which repudiated a debt of £40,000, legally contracted by its late king. And, he concludes, "As an act of justice between myself and my country, I have published this pamphlet as a document for reference, and I have bid farewell to England." In consequence of the success of Mr. Hobbs as a pinker of " locks," he has, we believe, been consulted on the subject of one or two mysterious " bolts" that have lately been made by persons overburdened with pecuniary liabilities. —

Punch,