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Marlborough Express, Volume IX, Issue 639, 9 September 1874, Page 3

In a report to the Government Mr Calcutt states "In Canterbury lately bush land realised £40 per acre. " Fomentations with water from boiled gum leaves is now an established cures for sores on horses. It is found that these applications effect a very speedy and sound cure. The Auckland Herald states that a San Francisco newspaper, describing Dunedin, says that it is a British settlement not far from New Zealand. The individuals (says the Wanganui Chronicle) who were fined Is each and costs on "Friday last for playing Yankee grab, adjourned to a safe distance after the case was over and " shook off" who should pay the costs. Thk Wakatip Mail says :— " A very large number of sheep are reported to have been snowed up during the recent frosts, and there is little hope of the ultimate recovery of the larger number alive. It is said that heavy loss will fall upon the owners of sheep throughout the district." An exchange says a l'esident at "Wanganui informs the local paper that since the late earthquake there has been a hole, the depth of which he has been unable to fathom, m his back yard, the opening to which hole is about six inches across. It answers the purpose of a drain, as it carries away m an instant water 'which is poured into it. It' is also reported that the Manawatu beach shows a marked elevation above its former level. The total Colonial and Provincial revenue of the Colony for the past year was £2,785,000, while that of Victoria amounted to *£"4,152,<;00. The population of the latter Colony exceeds 700,000, while ours does not quite reach 300,000. Comparing these figures it will be found that the reveune of this Colony is m proportion more than two-thirds larger than that of Victoria. The Taranaki News considers that the visit of a troupe of acrobats to that place is " another proof of the recognised prosperity of New Zealand." The News would appear to be able to see evidence of our prosperity m very small things. No doubt the appearance of the Taranaki policeman's wife with a new bonnet will be chroniclel by the local organ as another proof of the recogrred prosperity of JNew Zealand. — Otago Witness. In a recent speech made by Mr Yogel, he said : — " I am not unaware that some of the Middle Island proviaces do not partake of the prosperi y which exists m the larger Provinces. But I think they have a great future before before them. I look upon Westland and Nelson as the Staffordshire and Cornwall of New Zealand. These provinces have very large and varied mineral resources, and lam sure that those resources will be developed with great advantage to the Colony." The Mai'quis of Normanby, who is appointed to succeed Sir James Fergusson, is thus mentioned m " Men of the Time :" — "The most noble George Augustus Constantine Phipps only son of the first Marquis, born July 23, 1819, entered the Scots Fusilier Guards m 1838, and was Controller and subsequently Treasurer of the Queen's Household from 1853 to 1858, when he was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia. As Lord Mulgrave, he was member for Scarborough m the Liberal interest from 1847 till 1851, and from 1853 to 1857. He was sworn a Privy Councillor m 1851, and succeeded to his father's title July 28, 1863, when he resigned his foreign appointment, and returned to England. He was appointed Captain of the Corps of Gentle-men-at-Arms, December 17, 1869, and held that office till April 8, 1871, when he was nominated Governor of Queensland." A disgraceful row took place on Friday night m the house of Mr Blake, saddler, when a person who professes respectability m the day time, found his way into the bedroom where Mrs Blake was lying asleep. Blake coming into the bedroom at the time (about 12 o'clock) closed with the man, and a scuffle ensued. Screams were heard next door, at Atkinson'a Hotel, where the Odd Fellows were holding their banquet, and several men rushed to the scene, when they found Blake holding the midnight marauder down on the floor by the ears. Blake and his wife appeared to be indignant, and intended laying an information, but it is stated to-day that he has received from third parties the sum of £30 and a promise to set him up m business, if he will say no more about it. Blake, it is said, is satisfied with utu. — Wanganui Herald, Star of the Sea. — A complimentary Tea Meeting was given last evening m the long room, Butler's Temperance Hotel, Harrington and Goullmrn-streets, to Mr John Smith, the purchaser of the Star of the Sea for the New Zealand trade. Mr Smith is connected with the Good Templar Order m New Zealand, being secretary of one of the Lodges, and he was formerly a member of one of the Bands of Hope m this town. He has, on a business visit to this his native city, made himself useful as a visitor of the Hobart Town and suburban Lodges, and a few of the Good Templars determined to invite him to a soiree prior to his sailing m his new vessel for Greymouth, which he expects to do to-day or to-morrow. About forty male and female Good Templars attended on the occasion ; the G.W.C.T., Captain Fisher presiding. A very satisfactory repast was provided by host and hostess Butler After tea, a number of sentiments were given and responded to, interspersed with vocalism, namely, "The Queen," "Good Templarism all the World over," "Brother Smith, and success to his new etterprise," "The Ladies," "The Chairman," and "The Host and Hostess." Captain Fisher, Messrs Ellis, John Smith, H. J. Cox, P. Facy, jun., and — Cox, sen., took, part m the proceedings. Host Butler returned thanks for the compliment paid to him and his wife.— Ta»manian Tribune, August; 4,

The importation at Hokitika of carcase meat from Wellington by every steamer continues, and with satisfactory resnlts to vendors and purchaser?.

There is a harrowing description of a "man-eating plant" going the round of the papers. It is said to be a native of Madagascar. A correspondent m the Garden says: — "The retracted leaves of the greai t?ee kept their upright position during ten days ; then when I came again one morning they were prone again, the tendrils stretched, and nothing but a white skull at the foot of the tree. The indescribable rapidity and energy of its movements may be inferred from the fact that 1 saw a smaller one seize, capture, and destroy an active little lemur, which dropping by accident upon it, while watching and grinning at me, m vain endeavored to escape from the fatal toils."

Keferhing to the sitting of the WardChapman Committee, the Wellington correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes : — " By one of those casual singular incidents that occur m life, the very man through whom all this turmoil and strife has arisen, happens now to be m Wellington - Richmond Beetham, Esq., the Warden for Qneensfcown, m the Province of Ofcago. I cannot tell, after studying the question for several months, whether Beetham, the Chinese, the clever lawyer from Dunedin, Mr Macassey, Mr T. L. Shepherd, his principal supporter, the Dunedin Evening Star, or the writer of the leader m question m the abovementioned paper, has been the cause of all this turmoil and trouble. That happily written, but unfortunate leader, will co3t the Colony several thousand pounds.

Concrete, for building purposes, seems to have grown very much m public favor m the Province of Otago. It was- introduced by Mr David Ross. A few days ago, Dr Webster, while at Oainaru, selected a site there for cottages to be occupied by immigrants. Mr Alves is the contractor, and m their erection concrete is to be used. Mr Alves has also contracts for other works m the Province, m connection with which concrete will be largely used where shingle is convenient, the concrete being found to be more economical and lasting than the ordinary building material, being impervious to fire, damp, and water, and continually becoming harder. Mr Ross has himself used concrete to a great (extent m the erection of bnilding3 m the Oam aru district, at Elderslie, and Windsor Park. Dunedin Star.

A correspondent of t,he Lyttelton Times who signs himself "Utility," has the following satirical remaks on the subject of cremation : — An extract from the home papers informs us that good candles' were made from a substance taken out of an old cemetery. As we are living m an utilitarian age, it would be a sad waste of material to burn either the mover or the seconder of the motion for legalising cremation m this country. Better subject them to a chemical process, whereby the requisite constituents wonld be extracted to enable the opeartor to make two large mould candles ; clean and varnish the bones, and arrange them artistically into suitable candelabra to hold these candles. No doubt a place could be found for them m the Council Chamber, where, on all doubtful cases, the application of a match would result iv their throwing light on the subject. Another bene fit likely to follow this course of proceeding would be that of supplying our other representatives with an incentive to achieve, if possible, alike notoriety, and so secure, each for himself, a niche m the Temple of Fame.

The Ketch Collingwood. — We are sorry to learn that this vessel, the stranding of which we recorded last week, has become a complete wreck. The vessel was built by her owner (Mr W. Akersten) m 18G8, and had not been laid up since, except for outfit. Although very strongly built, five days' hammering m a heavy sea, and being driven over two miles of hard sand, proved too much for the little craft, and she went to pieces when she was about five hundred feet from the Wairoa river, m fact, had she held together for another tide she would have been saved. The total loss, including the vessel, cargo, and expenses m trying to save her, amounts to nearly .£3OO, on which there is no insurance. Mr Akersten desires to thank Mr Lowe and his son, and Mr Ralph Richardson for kindly assisting to recover the mast, &c. The two seamen, who were rescued after clinging to the most for seven or eight hours, and who have lost their clothes and effects, warmly thank their deliverers for their promptitude m coming (at the risk of their own lives) to the rescue ; and they think Mr Lowe and his crew are each deserving of one of the medals of the Royal Humane Society and of our Caledonian Society, which societies recognise such deeds of bravery. Our harbour should be supplied with a life-boat and other appliances to be used m snch cases of emergency. An enquiry into the circumstances of the wreck, we hear, will be held.— Colonist.

Masters v. Men. — Mr Eliot Yorlce — equerry to the Duke of Edinburgh during his visit to Australia— ia member for the county m which the laborers have rebell ed against 13s a week He is also a magistrate ; and, as the husband of the richest county heiress, entitled to have an opinion on the strike. He has expressed it m such language that it may be some time before the Hon. Eliot hears the last of it :— " My good Friends,— Setting aside all considerations of the principle upon which you contend, and which you are told is emancipation from serfdom— •simple nonsense,' I. call it— one prominent fact is likely to be proved, and one which is constantly before the eyes of those who, wishing you well at all times, look at the present struggle from a distance, and judge accordingly. The fact to which I allude is this— that you'can afford to live on 98 a week paid by the Union, or you would not accept that sum — while you reject 13s a week paid by your employers, m some cases fourteen, twenty, and thirty years (with other emoluments), as a sum on which you tind it impossible to exist. Can any reasoning on this inconsistency place the fact m any other light before impartial judges ? Nine shillings is enough, 13s is starvation ! You are hard-headed men, and as good working men as any of her Majesty's lieges ; but, unless you cau say on your consciences this 9s which . you accept is equal to 13s which you reject, your present con-

duct does appear to your best friends to be little short of insanity. Put the qnestion thus to yourselves, and answer it to yourselves, without foreign aid or episcopalian interference ; sat aside those who interfere with the power of makinoyour own contract ; distrust large promises unti yon have less interested information as to the probability of their performance, and respectfully decline to receive advice which is plausible but not quite consistent with known fact, from new oracles. Beg the stranger to depart, and leave him m peace, because — I return to my snbject — unless 9s per week can be made m these times to go as far as 13s, you are making a losing bargain with your new friends. — Your faithful servant, Eliot Yobke. — 15, Park-street, Parklane, London.

Spring and "Winter Agricultural Shows. — It appeai-s that Canterbury is not the only place where Winter Agricultural Exhibitions have proved failures. Speaking of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria, the Sydney Mail says : — The National Agricultural Society has recited the events of the year m public meeting. The report states that two shows have been held, an autumn show of farm and garden stock, &c, which resulted m a loss of £400, and a spring show of live stock, which resulted m a gain of £200. The fuct is that attention is too much diverted by these meetings. One good annual display would prove a success, whereas two feeble efforts prove a failure, It is objected that at no season is everything m season. True. But fix upon the time when the most important products of the colony ai*e so. whether vegetable or animal, and put up with a small defeat for the sake of a decided gain. Such Meetings must be made to appeal to the sympathies, and arouse the interests of the largest possible numbers where money is wanted and we take it that the National Society wants money. An attempt was made at Sydney to split the great show of the year into two, but the managers of the Society flatly refused to undertake it. [t was enough, they said, to achieve one success m a twelvemonth — they could not endure two failures.

Pictojt Ball. — The promoters of the ball m the Assembly Hall on Friday evening last deserve a word or two of praise for the manner m which they managed the affair. Everything was done with a view to promote the enjoyment of visitor?, and, m consequence, a very pleasant evening was spent by the large number present. Some forty couples were m attendance, and nothing was heard but expressions of satisfaction at the excellence of the music, at the cordiality that prevailed m the ball-room, and at everything that was done. Mr Lewis had provided a most sumptuous supper, at which every delicacy m and out of season was temptingly set forth on artistically arranged tables, and the company were not unappreciative of the efforts of the manager of the ball to give satisfaction. Dancing was kept up until an early hour, and the dancers separated just m time to go home by da\ light, after giving three cheers for Mr and Mrs Lewis. There was a belle of the ball of course, but who it was we may not divulge for fear of the consequences It will be wiser to adopt the course pursued by a Scotch clergyman, who, to rouse his sleepy congregation, commenced extolling the excellencies of a " quid wife " m the parish, and concluded by saying, " there is only one really good woman i\\ the place," and while the congregation waited to know who this was, the clergyman added, " and every happy man thinks he has her." So with the belle of Friday's ball ; there was one, but who the fortunate lady was her admirers will make known. — Picton Press.

In an article on the inefficiency of accommodation for the immigrants arriving m Dunedin, the New Zealand Tablet says: — "The following statements, the accuracy of which we can vouch' for, may serve to give some idea of the extent of the evil, and the absolute necessity for immediate steps being taken to alleviate the distress consequent thereen. Some time since a laboring man became occupier of a small house, the landlord of ■which had vacated it m consequence of his wife being ordered to remove for change of air. At the time of letting the house he informed the tenant that he would not require it for some months. However, before that time had elapsed the tenant received a week's notice to give up possession, and as he failed to secure another house at the stated time, double rent was demanded, and eventually his wife, children, and furniture were thrown into the street. The unfortunate husband, on going to his dinner one day, learned the state of affairs, and, putting a man to work m. his place, he spent the afternoon and night m the vain endeavour to secure a place m which to house his wife and little ones. At length, some time about midnight, he was informed of a stable which had been put up for sale, and which might at least afford some protectiou from the bitter piercing wind. There he took his wife and little oues, and with such shelter as a deserted stable could afford was the night passed. When we bring to mind the piercing winds which characterised the weather of the past week, to any one who has a heart to feel this poor woman and her helpless children must be an object of the greatest commiseration, and loud would be the denunciation of the landlord. But mark what follows : The story got noised abroad, and while there were many who sympathised with the unfortunate woman, there were others who viewed the matter m a different light. The poor accommodation of the vacated stable was a boon not to be despised, and fortythree persons — men, women, and children — sought its shelter the succeeding night."