TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2932, 2 June 1870, Page 1

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

General Assembly.— The Timarn paper of June 1, says It is rumoured that Paterson, the present representative in the General Assembly for the South Island, is about to resign, his seat, and that Kuri, a well-known Maori residing at Arowhenua, is likely to be his successor. The Lancashire Bellringers. The reduction in the prices of admission proved effectual last evening in bringing together a larger audience than on former occasions. There was almost an entire change of programme, and almost every item was favourably received. The bellringers were encored several times, and so also was Miss Liddle, whose singing well deserved the acknowledgement which was bestowed upon it by the audience. Mr Hilton sang several comic songs in very good style, his make-up and “ business ” being particularly happy. Christy Minstrels. —Last night’s performances were under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent, and there was a good attendance in all parts of the house. The minstrelsy portion of the programme was well received ; and in the second part, the most successful items were “ The Band of Brothers,” the Golden Shoe Dance, by Mr Carroll; Mr Bent’s comicalities (re-de-manded) ; Mr Bainford’s descriptive song (encored), the ballad by Mr the songs “ Sally Come IJp,” and “ Susan Brown,” by Messrs Carroll and Bent, The “ Carnival d’Afrique ” provoked roars of laughter, Mr Bent’s acting as Slim Jim being perfectly irresistible. Custom House.— The Government having considered the representations made to them by a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, have agreed to the removal of the Custom House to Wilson’s Buildings, corner of High and Cashel streets, the rooms on the ground floor of which have been rented from Mr Wilson. Business will be commenced in the newly-acquired premises within ten days from this date. Mr Wilson contemplates the erection of new offices for the transaction of his own business on the site adjoining the premises rented by the Government. The Chamber of Commerce will continue in occupation of the Chamber upstairs. The removal of the Custom House to so central a position will doubtless be appreciated by the mercantile community. Avonside Winter Entertainments. —A public meeting was held in the Schoolroom, Avonside, jast Might for the purpose of making arrangements for a resumption of the winter Entertainments. There was not a very numerous attendance. Mr W. Keunaway being voted to the chair, it was decided, after a brief discussion, that a series of entertainments shall be given during the winter months, under the management of Messrs Kennaway, Cuff, Stringer, Christy, Cowlishaw, Hennah, John Thompson, B. D. Thomas, F. Brittan, Crowley, Tippetts, F. E. Wright, and F. W. Thompson. The first of the series was fixed to take place on Friday, the 10th instant, andyi vote of thanks to the chair terminated th& proceedings. A meeting of the committee was then held, and a very attractive programme prepared.

Flax PaßPAm*TioK.—Persons interested in the preparation of flax are reminded that a, meeting will beheld to-day, at the Chamber of Commerce, at 8 p.m., to consider what is the best method of preparing the fibre for the English market. GUon Retobns.—The chief gaoler reports for the past month, that there were 26 females and 27 males Incarcerated in the Christchurch gaol and 74 males in that at Lyttelton. The females in the former are returned as 2 for trial at the Supreme Court, and 24 at hard labour. The males being 18 at hard labour, and 9 undergoing ordinary imprisonment. Of the Lyttelton batch 10 were awaiting trial at the Supreme Court, 68 were at hard labour, 1 was undergoing ordinary imprisonment, and 6 were debtors. The discharges for the month were—Christchurch, 21, and Lyttelton, 6. Reposted Gold Discovbbt at Timabd. —The local paper of June 1 says:—Rumours have been current in the town the last few days that a goldfield has actually been discovered somewhere, it is believed, in the Tlmaru district. We cannot vouch for the truth of the report, but circumstances have come to our knowledge which certainly lend a colour to its propagation. As far as we know, the facta are as follows ; Towards the end of last week a man, evidently a digger, arrived in Timaru from the north, and he gave out that he intended to apply to the Government for the promised reward offered for the discovery of a payable goldfield. The man declared he had found really payable alluvial diggings, capable of giving employment to about 10,000 men. The gold, he said, was pretty evenly dispersed, and to every pan-full of earth there was a proportionate quantity of gold, sufficient to yield very handsome wages per week to the digger. Until he had secured ground for himself and his mates he declined to give any inkling of the whereabouts of the field, but he spoke most confidently of the discovery. In a few days at most the matter will probably be cleared up, but we confess that after so many reported discoveries Of gold which the public have been from time to time treated to, we have not very strong faith in this report, and we only give it for what it is worth.

Bank of New Zealand, Timaeu.— The local paper of June 1 has the following description of the new buildings for the Bank of New Zealand, which are all but finished:— The new bank is of blue stone obtained from the quarries near Timaru, with dressings of Oamaru white stone, and built after the Italian style. The plan is nearly square, with a frontage on the street of 47ft. A splayed dressed bluestone base, and a moulded white stone plinth over is carried all round. The lower windows are circular beaded, with carved and moulded keystones, bold architraves and deep reveals, with moulded trussed sills and sunk panels under, flanked with bold pilasters with rock-faced quoins, having a neat cornice over running allround. The upper windows are square beaded with architraves, moulded sill, &c., pilasters on either side with rustic jointed quoins. The main entrance to the building is approached by a massive porch built chiefly of white stone, with panelled rustic angle pilasters surmounted with cornice and neatly panelled angle blocks over, with stone balustrading between. The building is finished with a bracketed frieze and a bold cornice carried on richly carved cantilevers (all in white stone), with panelled soffit and blocking course over. In the front face of the building a pediment is carried up with mouldings, &c. The blue stone work is in coursed rubble, and is very neatly pointed. On entering the building at its main entrance, passing through an inner door of cedar with glass panels, the visitor finds himself in a large banking room of 18ft x 28ft. This room is lighted by three large windows, one in the front face of the building, and two on its north side. This is really a handsome room; but we think it would be improved if the cornice running round it was a trifle less heavy. The height of this room is fourteen feet, and the cornice is of dimensions which would suit a room of twice its size. The fittings here are of polished cedar (worked up in Dunedin). The counter Is carried on richlycarved trusses on capped and panelled angle posts with handsome mould nosings, the space under being panelled with bolection mouldings. The screens to the desks are the same, but finished off with balustrading. Off the public rooms is the manager’s room of 13ft x 13ft, and a strong room built of 18-inch brickwork, measuring 10ft x 7ft. The manager’s room is furnished in the same style as the public room, the fittings being of polished cedar. Besides these rooms on the ground floor, there is another small room for the manager’s private use, stationery room, kitchen, dining room, &c. Upstairs, are the remainder of the private apartments, consisting of a large-sized drawing room with seven bed rooms. These upstairs rooms are 12 feet in height. Mr Lawson, of Dunedin, is the architect for the building, and Messrs Hunter and Goodfellow contractors. The whole of the work seems to have been done in the most satisfactory manner under the general superintendence of Mr Evans, clerk of the works. Probably the new bank will be occupied on Friday next, June 3.

Flax. —A Southland contemporary of May 26 contains the following : —The adjourned meeting of gentlemen desirous of promoting a flax-weaving manufactory was held on Tuesday evening in the Club Hotel, when the sub-committee brought up a report of the evidence they had been able to collect; from which it would seem that there was not suf ficient prospect of a successful result attending such manufactures at present, for two causes. First, the far higher rate of wages here than in the home country; and secondly, that even at the present low prices of flax, it was too costly in comparison with jute—the fibre from which wool-packs and corn-sacks are now made. Some members of committee, however, demurred to taking the evidence which had been collected as final and conclusive. A long discursive conversation then took place upon the subject of the adaptability of the flax fibre for rope for all purposes, It having been positively affirmed by some that it is thoroughly unsuitable for marine requirements, the following letter, to Mr John Blachlock, from Captain Greig, of the schooner James Faxten, was read:— “In reply to your request anent New Zealand flax, I will very gladly tell you any little I know of its properties. In or about the year .551 bought in Geelong a coil or two of New Zealand rope, 2 inches thick, and rove it for running gear. Although it was badly got up, it lasted longer than Manilla, •Which was rove at the sanje .time both having been used much alike, and exposed alike to the actum of the weather aha sea water. In ’6l I saw in Auckland New Zealand rope exposed for sale, standing side by side with Manilla, and the difference in appearance between the pne and the Other was hatidly perceptible; the price was the same. I had New Zealand flax reef points put into a new mainsail I got made at the time, and eighteen months aCmrwards, when I sold the vessel, the.said reef points were still good. I hayp heard it said that tar will injure New Zealand flax rope. I found it to injure some Manilla I tarred when I was trading on the Australian coast; for the tar dried, and rendered brittle the outside fibres, and the rope so treated did not last over half the time it ought to have done. I was, consequently, astonished to see the steamer Southland’s tow-rope to be of tarred Manilla; but when I examined them, I could see that there bad been mixed some greasy substance with the tar. I have therefore little doubt but that a similar compound would ahSWer well with New Zealand flax.” Messrs Jabez Hay and James Shearer also gave testimony, from, their practical experience, in favour of itl suitability; others, that much of the professed Manilla rope now sold was very largely admixed with flax; and one importer stated he had purchased professed Manilla rope in Melbourne for £lB per ton less than in London, giving the impression that the depreciation of phormiwn tenax by the home manufacturer was simply an unprincipled business trick to obtain it at a lower figure, while they mixed it largely with Manilla to considerably increase their profits. The committee decided to continue their enquiries and endeavour to promote the more general adoption of the fibre.

Thbatbe Royal. —lt was- Hardly to He expected, so immediately after a benefit night, that there would be a luge attendance at the Theatre last evening, but there was nevertheless a middling house. Mrs. Steele is expected to arrive by the first steamer from Dunedin, and an attractive programme will be presented on the occasion of her re* appearance in Christchurch. San Francisco Mail Service. We have received the following telegram from MrE. Pearce, of , Wellington, chairman of the deputation which waited on the Government on May 30, with reference to the above service. The .telegram is dated June 1. 3.30 p.m. 1 desire to state, for the information of the public, that the deputation to the Postmaster-General on the subject of the San Francisco mail service, did not express themselves satisfied with the terms of the Hall contract.”

Provincial Loans. —The Superintendent of Otago recently sent down the following message to the Provincial Council of that province “ The Superintendent, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, desires to submit, for the consideration of the Provincial Council, the expediency of obtaining power, at the next session of the General Assembly, to raise on loan a sum not exceeding six hundred and fifty thousand pounds, to be appropriated towards public works, as follows, viz.:— Southern Trunk Railway, £400,000 ; Water Supply on Gold Fields, £IOO 000; immigration, £60,000; Embankment of Rivers, £50,000 ; Oamaru Dock, £20,000 ; WaitakiBridge, £IO,OOO ; Kakanui Harbour, £6OOO ; Waikouaiti Wharf, £8,000; Shag River Bridge, £4OOO ; Lower Mataura Bridge, £2OOO ; total, £650,000. Such loan to be a general charge upon the Provincial Revenue, and to be specially secured upon three million acres of land, at present held under pastoral lease, and yielding a rental of £32,000 a year. Provision to be made whereby the lands set aside as security can be released from time to time, in proportion to the extent to which the principal of the loan may be extinguished. There is good reason to think that the required amount can readily be procured at a rate of interest not exceeding five per cent, and, as the bulk of the loan will be expended upon works eminently reproductive, it will very shortly recoup itself, and the revenue instead of losing will gain by the transaction. The Superintendent does not see upon what grounds the General Assembly can refuse its sanction to the proposed loan, considering that the province has ample and specific security of its own to offer, and that the colony is not asked to run any possible risk seeing moreover the large extent to which the colony will participate in the increased revenue the loan implies.” The Council, it is believed, will sanction the proposal. Philosophical Institute.—The monthly meeting of members was held in the Institute last night. The President, Dr Haast, in the chair, and Messrs Coward, R. Wilkin, C. Davie, R. W. Fereday, L. L. Powell, M.D., Armstrong, |G. Hall, W. B. Bray, C.E., H. R. Webb, J. ’lnglis, J. V. Ross, J. Exall, J. C. Boys, F. E. Wright, R. Davis, Simmons, and the Rev. C. Fraser, (horn sec.) being present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch, and the Hon. E. Gray, were unanimously elected members of the Institute. The hon. secretary called attention to the following resolution, adopted by the New Zealand Institute:—“ That no paper will be printed in the Transactions after the year, unless it has been handed to the secretary of the society at the meeting as read, and transmitted to the Board of Governors, without further additions or amendments.” The draft rules, as prepared by the subcommittee, were read and passed, with hut one or two trifling alterations. Dr Haast read the following very interesting paper-. “ (in the occurrence of strepsilas interpres or Turnstone in New Zealand, by Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S. Mr Lambert, of the Lake Ellesmere district, has lately presented to the Canterbury Museum an interesting bird, which, although well known in other parts of the globe, has not hitherto been recorded in New Zealand. Mr Lambert informs me that he shot the specimen under review about the end of February, on the Ninety-mile beach, and that it was in company with five others. An examination of the bird has shown that it is the Turnstone, strepsilas interpres, belonging to the graUatores, and which has been found in almost every country possessing a sea shore where it can pick up its food, which consists of small marine animals of all kinds. Our specimen is in the immature dress and seems to be Ml grown. As it is not probable that tins bird would breed in such high latitudes as 44deg. south, and if we rely upon the observations of Gould, in Australia, to which I shall allude presently, we have to assume that it has migrated from a more northern, and probably tropical country to this island. I make this observation, because Gould, who records the occurrence of the Turnstone in Australia, could never detect its breeding places in any of the Australian colonies, and believes, therefore, that the northern portions of Australia are visited by it for that purpose. He states that individuals in this immature dress are very abundant in the southern part of Australia, bat that adnlt birds are seldom seen; he adds, at the same time, that, on Raine Islet, and other parts of Torres Straits, the specimens were mostly mature birds, clothed in full livery or breeding plumage. The hypothesis, however, that the Turnstone does, therefore, not breed in higher latitudes in the Southern hemisphere would not be in accordance with the well known habits of that species in the Northern hemisphere, where, in the warmer portions of the year, it is found all over the coasts, as far north as Iceland. It breeds, amongst many other localities, on the Islands in the Baltic, and leaves in September for the northern coast of Africa to hybernate. Judging from this fact, might it not be possible that the Turnstone breeds also in Foveaux Straits and to the south of New Zealand, and afterwards migrates northward? It is rather curious that this bird, which in no respect, can be distinguished from European or Australian specimens, should hitherto have escaped 1 the notice of our ornithologists and collectors, which circumstance might suggest that it only passes through New Zealand from its breeding places to other more genial localities. I throw out this suggestion to call attention to those points which, even for Australia, are far from being settled. Prince Maximilian of Weir has found the Turnstone on the coast of Brazil, where it also breeds. It is there called Magorico. I may conclude by stating that its singular name is derived from its remarkable habit of turning the stones on the sea beach, in order to get at the small marine worms or insects beneath them. And not only is the scientific and English nomenclature derived from this peculiar mode of obtaining food, but the French and Germans have also named it in the same way, namely, Tournepierre and Steinioalzer.