GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 784, 19 November 1873, Page 2 (Supplement)

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

We extract the following passage from the annual report of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society:—"A great many inquiries have recently been made respecting the salmon, and the gardens have been thronged with visitors, to know and see how the fish were getting on. The anxiety appears to have originated in a statement made by Mr Reeves in the General Assembly That the salmon experiment had turned out a complete failure in Canterbury, the result being only three miserable deformed ti«h.' This is fortunately not the c»se, there being now forty-one strong healthy fish, four of which have grown so rapidly as to indicate the probability of their wanting to get inte the salt-water glass tanks before nine months are over ; with the exception of the deformed fish only one salmon has died since hatching. There appears to be also a general impression that the salmon trout experiment is a total failure; but, considering the extraordinarily unfavorable circumstances attending the transit of the ova, a great success has achieved—upwards of thirty fish are now alive; and Mr Stephen Budden has certainly achieved the honor of being instrumental in introducing the first salmon trout nto Can terbury." The following referenee to a well-known Dunedin citizen appears in the European Mail: —"The other day the dwellers in and around Haverstock Hill were reminded by the appearance of the British flag, which does duty on grand occasions on the roof of the Orphan Working School, that something of importance was going on in that popular, useful, and well conducted institution. A fine day had brought together a large number of old scholars, who had been invited to the meeting, which takeß place once a-year. The chair was taken by an old tcholar, who,

about eighteen years ago, was one of the in* mates of the institution, and bad left push his way in New Zealand. He had had a good education at the Orphan School, and the sense to make good use of it. In the New World he had opportunities of advancement denied him in the Old ; tnd thus it came to pass that the poor orphan of many years ago became the successful barrister of to-day, and that ho presided at the meeting, and was introduced to the present generation of scholars as Mr James Macassey, of Dunedin, New Zealand. As he was attended by his wife and sister, and as he had a youthful appearance, very much unlike that of an old boy, aud as he spoke with much feeling and good sense, and declaimed very strongly against the worship of mammon —a form of idolatry with which young people have little sympathy—it is scare ly necessary to observe that he was received with uproarious applause." Mr John Williamson, M. fT.T?., has been proposed as a member of the Star of Newcastle Lodge of Good Templars in Auckland, but declines to be initiated until after the election for the Superintendency. A correspondent of an Auckland paper says Mr Williamson has for some time past been a firm and consistent friend of the temperance cause, and is a member of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society.

During the consideration of a case at the sitting of the Waste Land Board to-day, the otago Waste Lands Act of 1872 came in for a large amount of obloquy from some of the members of that body. Mr Clark thought same of its sections were absurd ; Mr Strode agreed with him in that opinion; while Mr Bastings considered the Act defective ; it was, in fact, a perfect abortion, and would yet necessitate the Board's retaining the whole of the legal Bar to administer its provisions.—Star, October 23. We hear that the Kennedy troupe of Scotch vocalists, who created such a furore in Melbourne, will visit Duuedin shortly.

Pheasants seem now to be getting plentiful in tbe Akatore district. A party informs the Bruce Herald that he has come across six of their nests in that locality, and that the number of eggs in each ranges from nine to thirteen. A hare was recently seen in the same district, where also a covey of partridges have taken up their abode. The Bruce Herald understands that Messrs Webster and Shand will shortly proceed to Southland for the purpose of selecting 30,001) acres, to be disposed of under the sys tem of deferred payments. It has also been arranged that Mr Adam will examine the ground previous to his departure, so that he may describe the same to intending emigrants in the Home country. The inhabitants of Invurcargill applied to his Honor the Superintendent for a proportion of immigrants by the Lady Jocelyn to b« sent down thither for engagement in Southland. They wished to hare 100 adults of both sexes. On inquiry as to their willingness to go, forty-one adults consented, ami the Provincial Government have accordingly arranged for their passage to day.—Star, Nov. 12. Tbe Kattray street accident has had a fatal termination after all, the unfortunate man Godfrey Kemp having died at tbe Hospital at eight o'clock this morning. An inquest «as held before the City Coroner this forenoon, when J>r Yates deposed that death was caused by the deceased having received a compound fracture of the arm beluw the elbow, from which mortification set in two days since. The doctor was also of opinion that Kemp had received som<internal injury. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally Killed." to which was added the following rider: —"The jury, after hearing the evidence, barn that a most unsafe way of cleaning upper windows obtains in this town, they are therefore of opinion that a bve-law should be passed rendering it compulsory that all householders should use or cause to be used an apparatus specially made."—Star, Noo. 12. The following will be of interest to those who take pleasure in observing and noting the habits of birds. Mr >balders informs the North Otago Times that a few (lays ago, having been requested to obtain some young paradise ducks, for the purpose of exchange with the Acclimatisation Society of \ ictoria, he, while travelling in company with another, up-country, with a waggon and team, saw on a stream near the Doctor's Creek two parent birds and eight or nine young ones. On his essaying to capture some of these, the parent birds, like the Home lapwings, endeavored, by feigoing lameness, to decoy him from their yoang. but he captured three of these, and placed them in a small box in the waggon. They proceeded to the Kurow, a distance of six miles, and camped for the night, and on rising early in the morning Mr Shalder's first care was to look after the young birds. On leaviug the tent, however, he saw not far from tbe waggon a paradise duck and drake, and remarked to his mate that be believed the birds had followed them. To ascertain if this were so he took the little ducklings out, a >d placed them on tbe ground some short distance from the waggon, and watched. They were almost immediately taken charge of by the drake, who made off with theui through the matekauri in the direction of the river, rising every few yards in order, apparently, to let his companion see the course he was taking. Our informant says he had not the heart to endeavor to recapture his prize, and he let them (fo as a tribute to the faithful care of the parent birds. On the last southward trip of the s.s. Taranaki, a valuable entire was shipped at Osmaru in a somewhat unusual fashion. The steamer was lying in the offing about two miles from shore, and tbe horse was swum off, towing behind a surf boat, to the steamer. Messrs Allan and Stumbles are said to be making good progress with the OamaruWaitaki line. They are carrying out the work in a very systematic fashion, and are using all labor-saving appliances—as, for instance, a scoop dr»wn by horses, which does the work of ten or twelve men. It is said that when one of the judges at the Timaru Agricultural Show was asked why they awarded the first prize to a certain gentleman's short-horn, hia answer was 44 because they knew her mother." A short time ago it was announced that the friends of Mr Wilson Gray in Victoria were desirous of presenting him with a portrait of himself as a testimonial of their respect for him. Those who know Mr Gray's unassuming disposition (remarks the Aye) will not be surprised to learn that a letter has been received from him, in which he requests that his friends should forego their intention. The project has, in consequence, been abandoned. The case of the Kaikorai Road Board, who have summoned Mr Cunningham, a resident of the district, for refusing to pay toll, and in which the Superintendent, who was subpoenaed to produce the Executive minute books, as reported in our issue of the 6th instant, came on again before Mr Watt today. As before, Mr Harris was fcr the plaintiffs and Mr Stout for the defendant, while Mr E Cook, instructed by the Provincial Solicitor, appeared for the Superintendent. His Honor, on being called, again refused to produce tbe minute book. A discussion thereupon took place, in tbe course of which it was suggested that his Worship should fine his Honor for contempt in refusing to comply with the decision of the Court that the book must be produced. Mr Harris suggested, as a solution of the

dilemma, that a case should be submitted to the Supreme Court; but Mr Cook objected, and Mr Stout observed that the claim most prejudiced his client, as this was the third time the case had been before the Court As there was uo further evidence, he contended it mujt be dismissed, and with costs. Mr Harris argued that the Board was acting as a public body and for the good of the public, and was now obstructed by the Go* veinment officials, from whom they had previously Rot their power. Mr Stout said, in replv, he bad what he believed on other grounds would be a good defence, and one which be did not think cou'd be got over by his learned friend. The only point waa whether—at this juncture the learned counsel's remarks were cut short by his Worship, who said the case must be either dismissed or a nonsuit given. The case was then dismissed.

It is intended to petition the Education Board to establish a grammar school at > aseby. Praise from one's opponent is great praise indeed. Major Atkinson, who is running Mr Carringtov for the Superintendency of Taranaki, was asked at a recent election meeting there if he was satisfied that Mr Vogel possesses the ability requisite, and if elected Superintendent would he support Mr Vogel, and he is reported to have said in reply : - " I consider Mr Vogel to be the cleverest man in the House ; there is not one to be compared with him. So long as he pursues his present policy he shall have my most hearty support—so long as he continues doing his duty to this Province and to the country." The following address to a letter from Queensland was received in Melbourne a shorttime since " Messis B Dealas in Books, Melbourne (bant quite oeortain where they Live." A somewhat novel theatrical company may be expected to visit these Colonies shortly. A Home paper announces that Captain Disney Koebuck, late of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. and manager of the United Service Dramatic Company and his troupe will leave England at the end of October for the ('ape of 6 od Hope, en route to Adelaide and the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. The Southland railways earned during October L 1,047, as against LB4O 14s during the corresponding month of last year. As giving some idea of the magnitude and importance of the export timber trade of the district, the Southland Times mentions that during the month 758,710 superficial feet of sawn timber, of the estimated value of L 3.500, were conveyed by rail, the carriage of which yielded the sum of L 273 17a The longest distance the timber was conveyed was 35 miles, and the shortest 12 miles. A singular accident, which forcibly illustrates the dangers of practical jokinv, occurred in a Melbourne factory lately. A man named Edmond Wilson was waiting with other workmen to get his wages when he received a push from one of them, which caused him to fall against a woman who was engaged in cutting out something with a pair of scissors. The scissors entered his breast and inflicted so severe a wonnd that necessitated his immediate removal to the hoepitaL F»ars are eutertaiued that the lungs have been penetrated. An inquest was held at the Hospital on Saturday afternoon on the body of John Briggs, who died on the previous evening from the effects of a blow with a spade he received at the bands of a woman named Catherine M' Donald, who was present in custody. The evidence was mainly similar to that already addoced in the K.M. Court The m-dical testimony went to show that the cause of death was an abscess which was formed in the brain in consequence of a piece of the skull being forced in upon it The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against M"Donald, who was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant Briggs is supposed to have left a wife and three children in Launceston. At a special meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society on the 4th inst, it was resolved to communicate at once with the Governments of the Colony and Province, urging that immediate steps should be taken to secure a direct shipment from the Clyde this season, and, as there was really no time to be lost if success were to be expected, to advise that the instructions for shipment should be sent home by cable instead of letter. A resolution having been passed at a previous meeting, authorising the turning out of the young fry into the Jacob's River, a letter npou the subject by Dr Youl, to the Curator of the Society, was put in and read, and Dr Youl advising the retention of the young fry in a pond prepared for them until they put on their silvery smolt dress, the said resolution was rescinded, and the attention of the Curator directed to be called to the recommendation of DrYouL The number of inmates at the Benevolent Institution on the 31st t 'ct >ber was 79, comprising 19 men, 3 women, 33 boys, and 24 girls. The number of cases of out-door relief during the month of October was 299. comprising 18 men, 73 women, and 20S children. This was done at a weekly cost of Ll7 14s. The Auckland cricketing team leaves there on Monday, plays in and then in Christchurch. At the latter place, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are tbe practice days for the Interprovincial team, and Messrs Corfe, Cotterill, and Fowler have been Appointed the selection committee, with discretion to select the team in auy manner they may think fit Mr William Joseph Potts, editor and proprietor of the Grey Valley T'vnes, has been committed for trial on a criminal charge of libel, alleged to have been committed against Mr M. H. Hayden, correspondent of the Grey Argus in the Grey Valley. The case will come of at Greymouth in March next Timaru boasts of a piano the case of which was manufactured in London from some beautiful New Zealand totara knot Papers by the mail contain tbe announcement of the marriage, on August 13, of Mr G. P. Abram, late English master at the High School. Major Gordon, who had charge of the Colonial rifle competition at Nelson this year, has been gazetted inspector of the volunteer force for the current year. We regret to have to state that the George street fire has had a fatal termination. Mr Schmidt who, it will be recollected, was severely burned in rescuing his wife, and has been in the Hospital ever since, died in that institution at 6 p.m. yesterday. He waa in good spirits during the day, so much ao that in conversing with friends he expreaaed his belief that he was recoveringranidly. Shortly before five o'clock, however, he went into convulsions, and became so frantic that the warders had great difficulty in keeping him from tearing his face. An hour after taking tbe convulsions the poor man was a corpse. A correspondent sends us the following extract from a Nova Scotian paper, with a postscript that the " Minister of Immigration should instruct Dr Featherston to seek out the lady named, and endeavor to induce her to emigrate to New Zealand Our readers will remember the interesting report published about a year ago of" the family affairs of Mrs Absaljm Countaway, of Terrace Bay—near to which the Atlantic disaster occurred —who about that time astonished the natives by giving birth to four children. The operation has now been repeated, Mrs Countaway having given birth

to another foar on Thursday laat. Tip ; mother and children are doing welL Sum her marriage in 186% Mrs Countaway has given birth to seventeen children, in theJojlowing order—lst,, one; 2nd, twins ;W, twins; 4th, twins; sth, twin*; 6th, four; 7th, four.

An Auckland paper writing of church parades says:—" in the ehnrah parade of volunteers which took place yesterday, we failed to see anything imposing or to disown anything edifying, or that which in the least was calculated to inspire devotional or religious feelings. The best that can be said of such things is that they encourage *. false pride and a foolieh conceit, the desire of indulging in which may possibly lead a number of men and youths to church, who never, for anv other reaaon than a wish to exhibit their dress and show off their music, would attend a place of wor*bip. If this be really sll the result of church parades- -and we fail to see any other —then the question may pertinently be asked, why are they held at sll, and what good purpose do they serve ? If there be nothing else to recommend them than custom, then it is one which in our opinion would be more honored in the breach than the observance." who had his luggage to the value of LI,OOO, on board the E. P. fionverie, was sadly alarmed when the report reached Auckland that the latter vesed was on fire. For a whole day he and his family were under the impression thst they had lost their property, and they were greatly distressed. Mr Arthur Loxley, of Korcott Court, Herts, in a letter to the Times under date August 14, says " I was this morning a witness to the work done by Mia Elisabeth Leatherlund, aged 110 years, who reaped two sheaves of wheat in a field belonging to Mr John Mead, of Trin% Herts. Her baptismal certificate may be aeen at Mr Tompkins's, ironmonger, Tring." Strikes appear to be the order of the day in Chris tchsrch. The Lytidto* Time* at the 28th inst reports two in one day" Yesterday the carpenters and joiners of Christ* church Itrnck work, in oonaequenoe of the masters having declined to grant an invefln in the rate of wagea amounting to la per day. The wagea hitherto paid have ranged from 9s to lis per The journeymen also, having failed to obtain the increase or wages demanded from their employ en, have struck work. The wages hitherto paid have ranged from L2 to LS 10s per week, and the increase required is equal to about 27 psr cent."

The "Funny Man," in the Melbourne Town and Country, furnishes the following information"Good new* for amoken of the calumet of peaoe, also for Protectionists.. It appears that the differential duty of la imposed on tobttcoes baa acted ao unfavorably on the celebrated braoda of W. Cameron and vSona, of Kicbmood and Peters- ' Virginia, that the head of the linn . haa viaited Melbourne to see what oonld be |C done to compete with the lo al manufacturers. The result is that Mr Cameron haa resolred to move the machinery, fee . of one of his magnificent factories, and buQd it upon a piece of land he haa bought at Sorth Melbourne. The erection ol thia manufactory will be a new era in the history of our progression, for hitherto our manufacturer* hare lacked the principal secret* of tobacco-making, and now we will have in our naidat one of the greatest Virginian firms." Some attention haa been called to the largeness of the investments of the Ana* traUan Mutual Provident Society in New Zealand at the preeent moment. These consist of the followinglnveetmenta in » New Zetland debenturee at 2Sth Febru- ' ary, 1873, L 65,230; made about thiee montba since, L 100.00 0; made last month, L 20.000; and under the Wellington Reclaimed Landa Act, a few days ago, Lloo,tioo. Total, L 255,230. Thiaia a very large anm indeed, far' in exoesa of the monies ■- the company hare received in thia Colony ; and shews the confidence of the Association; in New Zealand securities. The local agent at Oamaru received appli* citiom under the new regulations on Batorday last for the passage of twenty-seven persons to the Colony. The Superintendent has received a communication from the inhabitants of Milton requesting that the Government geologist might be sent to Tokomairiro to examine d* lignite deposits, and give the Tokomairiro . Coal Company the benefit of hia experience. 'I he jury in White v. MackeOar, in which Messrs White, Bros , runbolden in Southland, seek to recover from Messrs M'KeDar, Bros., also runholders, L 30.000 damagea for trespass and trover, have an unenviable task. The trial commenced this morning, and ia likely to last at least eight or tea days. White v. M'Kellar haa been in the courts over two years now, and baa already found its way into the Appeal Court. The ownership of run 324 is what is in dispute. The extraordioatily large number of sixty-five issues is placed before the juiy ; and counsel, with unusual thoughtfulness, have had them printed in the form of a neat pamphlet. Mr Barton, in his address to the jury to-day, said the plain issues the latter had to determine were these—Did the defendants treepass on the plaintiffs' land; did they enter upon the plaintiffs' houaee; did they commit certain breachea of the covenant by which they agree to be bound by the imard y of arbitrators, and to facilitate the progNsa of the award; and to what damagea (if any) were the plaintiffs' entitled ? Instead of the queations to be decided being put in such an intelligent form, Mr Barton congratulated the jury on their having the "delightful" taak of having to master issues which Judgee and lawyers had not been able to understand. Mr Pearce Power has been appointed an inspector of sheep and inspector ox goldfieMa depasturing districts. Mr Wheatley informed the Nortk Otago Tinux that on Friday last Mr P. F. Soddart took up from Dunedin to that district 900 young tront from the Dunedin Acclimatisatian Society. Not a single fiah waa lost » transitu, and the consignment waa turned out in the ppper and lower portions of the Waiareka and the Kakanui null race.