"EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS.

Marlborough Express, Volume IX, Issue 640, 12 September 1874, Page 5

"EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS.

Anglo- Australian Press Telegraph Agency. Wellington, Sept. 11. The Luna is to leave here at midnight for the Manukau direct, with Mr Yogel. She remains there several days to await the Macgregor's mail from San Francisco, and bring it south. Captain Fairchild is to go home to purchase a new steamer for the Government m place of the Luna. Auckland, Sep. 11. The Reform League held a public meeting to-day. The Mayor took the Chair. The meeting passed resolutions m favor of abolishing Provincialism throughout the Colony.. It is intended to establish Committees and branches of the Society m all parts of the Colony. Christchurch, Sept. 11. Mr Rolleston addressed his constituents for two hours last night. He much regretted hearing that Mr Yogel was leaving for England at a time when his presence here was absolutely necessary. He pointed out that the contributions to the revenue of the Colony by Canterbury and Otago nearly equalled the contributions of the rest of the Colony. He condemned Mr Vogel's threat of a dissolution as unconstitutional, and repeated the chief arguments used against the abolition resolutions, saying that the time was inopportune, and that the people should have been consulted. A unanimous vote of confidence was passed. Christchurch, Sept. 10. The New Zealand Insurance Company have taken up the balance of the Christchurch six per cent, drainage debentures, amounting to L 10,600. The following are the weights for the Christchurch Jockey Club Handicap : — Mr O'Brien's Tambourini, 9st 71b ; Mr Walter's Yatterina, 9st 71b ; Mr Pritchard's Petrobe, 9st 21bs ; Mr Richardson's Malvina, Bst 101 b ; Mr Campbell's Castaway, Bst 71b ; Mr Delamain's Templeton, Bst ; Mr Redwood's Batter, Bst ; Mr Redwood's Titoko, 7st ; MiRedwood's Roro, 7st; Mr Barker's Remnant, 6st 121 b ; Mr Studholme's colt by Caledon, dam Zigzag, 6st 121bs. Wellington, Sept. 9. So much confidence is felt m the assurance given by the Government to the Greymouth Harbor Works Deputation regarding the operations to be carried out this year at. Greymouth, that arrangements are being entered into for the importation from home of screw colliers, specially adapted for the trade. The firm of W. & G. Tumbull & Co. has preferred a salvage claim for £10,000 against the ship Strathnaver, towed m by the Stormbird. It is stated they were willing to accept £1000, but that was declined, and now a full claim is made. The matter will have to be decided before a court of law. Sept. 10. It has been stated that Mr Curtis has joined the Ministry, but the statement is not true. Dr Pollen will act as head of the Government during Mr Yogel's absence. Westport, Sept. 9. The Westport and Ngakawau Railway was inaugurated to-day by a procession, headed by a band ; 500 persons were present. Mr O 'Conor turned the first sod, ande mad a speech, m which he referred to the early struggles of the district, and the assistance rendered by Messrs Yogel, McLean, and Murray, m developing the Mount Rochfort coalfields. Three cheers were given for Messrs Yogel, McLean, and Richardson. A ball and banquet take place to-night. Auckland, Sept. 9. Mr Gillies addressed his constituents today. His speech was occupied chiefly with a review of the business of the session. He spoke strongly regarding the Abolition of the Northern Provinces, and attributed the introduction of the resolutions to Mr Russell, ' who was favorable to the abolition of provincialism because it prevented the growth of public opinion, but they must have all the

■ provinces abolished or none ; the Government had no right to alter the Constitution without an appeal to the people. The meeting was enthusiastic and unanimous, and a vote of confidence was passed. The doctor of the immigrant ship Oxford has laid various charges against the captain and mate, also regarding a deficient supply of medical comforts and milk. Sept. 10. The New Zealand Insurance Company at a special meeting have resolved to increase tlieir capital to one million, m a hundred thousand shares, of which fifty thousand will be allotted to the present shareholders, and fifty thousand offered to the public on terms to be announced shortly. The shares will be paid up at £2. The whole of the Waitemata returns are now m. They give Von der Heyde a majority of 53. Mr A. Saunders reports sales of South British at 52/6 ; Albion, 60/ ; Buyers : Bank of New Zealand, 350/ ; National, 68/ ; Caledonians, 167/6; City of London, 23/6. Sellers, Bright Smile, 72/6 ; Bismarck, 5/6 ; National Bank, 70/.

I ====== Madame Carandini and her party are now on a professional tour through Queensland. The Wellington Tribune notices as an element of progress m industrial masters that a peripatetic shoe-black has become one of the institutions of that metropolis. From the local newspaper we learn that Mr W. M. White's Steam Pottery Works at Tokomairiro are going rapidly ahead. All kinds of earthenware articles for domestic use are being manufactured. The South British Insiu*ance Company which has now completed the second year of its existence, appears to be iv a flourishing condition, as we understand that a dividend, at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, is about to be declared. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society was compelled to decline the offer from the Christchurch Society of two thousand trout ova, having no ponds or any piscatorial appliances. The ova, therefore, were forwarded to Auckland. Boots and Shoes are now made by machinery m Ofcago. The Otago Timss says : — " Two boot and shoe manufacturing machines, the order for the construction of which is m course of execution by Messrs Kincaid, M'Queen, and Co., Dunedin, are capable of cutting 600 pairs a week of all kinds, being a sufficient quantity to koep going from 50 to 60 hands." A telegram dated Dnneclin, Sept. 5, says : — The Parsee ship from Glasgow, brings 444 souls, equal to 322J statute adnltd, who are ths first batch of Mr James Adams' selection. The ship had a geeat deal of trouble on the voyage. About 200 cases of measles, besides diarrhoea and other troubles, commenced 14 days after leaving. There were 14 deaths, two of which were adults, and three births. — The ship Tweed was towed into harbor last night. She brings 639 souls, equal to 421£ statute adults. She had 13 deaths ; diseases were diarrhoeea, measles, mercenary disease, brain fever, convulsions, consumption, whooping cough. Many now bad. She is a splendid, ship, and. was 70 days from port to port. Signs are not wanting to show that the carrying out of the recent resolutions as to the abolition of the Northern Provinces will not be accomplished so readily or so certainly as some people reckoned on. This is how the Auckland Star comments on one of ifcs own members :— " Iv another column will be found Mr Reader Wood's reply to the resolutions passed at Newmarket ou the subject of Mr Vogel's proposals. His views are virtually these. We have passed these three resolutious, pledging ourselves to their principles, but with the distinct and deliberate inteution of playing false to the Southern Provinces, to whom the most solemn pledges have been given m and with these resolntions that those provinces and their land revenues shall never be tampered with. Such indeed may be m accordance with the principles of statecraft ; but the electors at Newmarket and Choral Hall, assumed that the proposal and pledges are to be interpreted honestly, and that the word of a gentleman m Parliament as well as out of it is as good as his bond. If Mr Vogel's resolutions render the total abolition of the provinces necessary, and he and his supporters believed it, then there has been a coldblooded and deliberate lying practised that should make honest men pale with shame." Here is another iudication from the same journal: — " When the change comes, it will be a dark prospect for the Northern Provinces. If all our lands and other interests are to be administered by the Central Government we may rest assured that they will be sacrificed to the exigencies of the hour whenever the pressure comes. Whereas, with the lamds of the South still confirmed to the Provinces, no embarrassment o? the Central exchequer can ever reach those local endowments. Administered by the Provinces, and secured as proposed by Mr Yogel, by an Act like those of the Medes and Peraians altcreth not, the Southern land fund can never feel the screw put down by the public creditor on the central authority. Our lands, as well as our taxes, being assets m hand, will of course be realised to meet the liabilities now accruing m the formation of the Southern railways. These are things that no man can afford to ignoie. And it is the duty of everyone who does not desire revolution to' be wise m time, and make provision against the preparation of injustice which will be tolerable to no free man." We upderstand Messrs Litchfield and Son are receiving from England direct, and from the best markets m this Colony and Melbourne, a splendid assortment of goods of all kinds, ready for the Spring and Snmmer trade, and being direct importers tlieir prices will be found to bear a very favourable comparison with former seasons, and with any other house m the trade, — adyt,

A London telegram of Aug. 15th says that the Glenlora had arrived. Consequently it is probable that the wool sent by her participated m the recent advance m prices. We hope so.

A Contrast. — Telegrams from Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, under date of June 25th, says the times are very dull, and prospects bad for anything better. Everything is dried up ; no rain last year, and none this year so far. Fountains and fountain-heads, never dry before, are so now. Fresh water is sold as a luxury.

Nice Reckonikg. — The Auckland Star says : — The American astronomers could not agree about the comet, for while Professor Parkhurst says it will be nearly 25,000,000 miles long, and reach within a million and a half miles of " the earth, Professor Stafford, of Chicago says it won't measure over 5,000,000 miles, nor come nearer than 21,000,000 miles.

A late Adelaide telegram says : — " The immigrant ship City of Adelaide has been stranded m ten feet of water two yards from the shore at Henly Beach. The passengers were landed safely." We cannot conceive what the difficulty was, as surely a gangway wa3 procurable to bridge over the six feet to the shore. Why the necessity, or what is the point, of the message ?

Press Agency. — The Anglo-Australian Press Agency is a press agency with a vengeance. Its pressure upon newspaper proprietors is like a nightmare. Its vagaries are perfectly bewildering. Some genius, who signs himself "Kuocker," completely " kuocks us out of time." He is a kind of telegraphic Bos well on a very small scale, and he pursues the career of little great men such as Mr Von der lieyde, with the pertinacity of a biographer. He has a passion for it. — Buller A T ews.

Here is something suggestive for the ladies. A "Heathen Chinese" writes to the Sydney Empire : — "Sir,— As 1 see Young Australia m the person of some of the gentler sex affecting the style of hairdressing named ' Mabel Grey,' and walking about with short cut hair combed down over the forehead, it is only kindly to say that if any of these would make a trip to the Celestial Empire, and see the class of 'young ladies ' who are distinguished by such a coiffure, they would cease to make ' gnys ' of themselves on the strength of such a doubtful example."

By the Adelaide Methodist Journal, a r.ew Wesley an weekly, we see'that at lecture at Clare, the Eev. Hans Mack said :— "He hoped for the sake of all that was stable, vigorous, and fruitful m connection with the greatest work of the pulpit, the day would come when m the Methodist Church of these Colonies, as m the sister Episcopal Church of America, the annual unsettling of ministers and congregations who are mutually satisfied with each other, would no longer be an unalterably fixed law."

Mr James Tannkr who does a little popular speaking at election times m Kendal, disposed of an ultra-Radical argument against royal dowries by reducing the question to " a pipe of tobacco :" — " They were going to give the Duke of Edinburgh 25,000 a-year. That seemed a large sum but if they reckoned it up, they would rind it cost exactly a pipe of tobacco per annum from every man that smokes m the three kingdoms. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) There was not a siugle man who agreed with him m the delightful habit of smoking, who, if he were to maet Prince Alfred on the road, would .not give him a pipe of tobacco." (Laughter.

By a "Wellington telegram to a Westland contemporary, it appears that, before the close of the session, some steps were taken to ensure at least a siu-vey for a line of railway or road between the East and West Coast of the South Island, by way of the Haast Pass, m connection with the crossing of which the adventures of Dr Haast and Mr Vincent Pyke are memorable events. The following is the telegram, dated August 22 :— " This morning the Superintendent of Westland and Mr White.' met Messrs Macandrew and Reid, of Otago, and Messrs Rolleston and Montgomery, of Canterbury. Arrangements were made for a preliminary survey of a line across Haast Pass, as soon as the season will permit. The expense is to be divided between the three Provinces."

Floating Groins. — As apropos to the introduction of floating mauuka fascines at the works on the Opawa, we came across the following sentence m the Wairarapa correspondent's letter m the Wanganui Herald : — " It is a pity no definite plan has as yet been discovered by our engineer, to prevent the rivers from encroaching on the approaches. A number of pians have been tried, but each one turns out worse than the preceding one. The last idea is to build up large square blocks projecting from the bank at right angles to the current. The frame is made of long tawa saplings, and the space thus enclosed is filled up with large boulders. This mode, is generally considered as the most expensive of all, firstl} 1 - because tawa lasts only about two years, and secondly because the water rushing against the corner undermines it and lets thestones drop out. So far manuka fascines appear to he the only thing that will stand, and this is probably the only reason why they are not used.

Agreeable Surprise. — A gentleman whose reputation m Victoria for gallantry is not the least of his social distinctions, met with, a singular adventure a few days ago. He received a letter m a lady's handwriting asking him to meet her at the Botanical Gardens, ancf specifying certain peculiarities m dress, The recipient of the letter kept the appointment, and met a well-dressed female, deeply veiled, who answered to the description of her whom he expected to meet. A conversation ensued, which was so interesting that the swain did not notice that he was walking towards a lonely part of the gardens. At last he was disagreeably aroused from his dream by the lady throwing her arms around him ; and before he could recover from his surprise a man had emerged from the bushes, relieved him of his watch, purse, and some trinkets, and then, accompanied by the fair one, leaped the fence and made off. Possibly the gay Lothario will for the future not boast so much of his bonnes fortunes. — Exchange.

An exchange says a simple and successful treatment of diptheria may be found m the use of lemon juice. C4argle the throat freely with it, at the same time swallowing a portion, so as to reach all the affected parts.

The following paragraph from the London correspondence of the Auckland Star reads somewhat odd, and we should say open to considerable doubt : — " Queen Victoria, released from the restraints of court life, is enjoying herself m the midst of her faithful Highlanders at Balmoral Castle. A few nights after her arrival there was a servant's ball, and Her Majesty gave countenance to it by being present and taking part m the dancing. She danced with her children, the sons of the Prince of Wales, and afterwards took part m a reel with her attendant, John Brown, for a partner. This is the first time the Queen has danced since the death of the Prince Consort. Away from Balmoral the Queen never attends balls or even concerts."

Passion Flower. — This curious flower was first discovered m the Brazils, and its wonders were soon proclaimed to Christian kingdoms as representing the passions of our Lord, whence its present appellation. The leaves were said exactly to resemble the spear that pierced our Saviour's side, the cords that bound His hands, and the whips that scourged Him. The ten petals are the twelve apohtles, Judas having betrayed, and Peter deserted. The pillar m the centre was the cros3 or tree, the stamens the hammers, the styles the nails, the inner circle about the central pillar the crown of thorns, and the radiations the glory ; the white m the flower the emblem of purity, and blue the type of Heaven. In the Passiflora also drops of blood are seen on the cross or tree. The flower keeps open three day 3, and then disappears, denoting the Resurrection.

The following, which may be useful to quartz miners, is giveu as the best plan of hardening steel : — It is, not generally known that steel can be made so hard thai it will pierce any known substance but a diamond. Many jewellers and lapidaries have great trouble m getting the points of their drills hard enough to pierce an amethyst. For the benefit of miners and others using drills that require a hard point we recommend the following manner of manipulation. The drill should be held, if small, by hot pincers, or tongs, while tempering. First heat the tools to a white heat, and then press it into a stick of sealing wax; leave it- but a second there, and then stick it m the wax m another place. This operation is rapidly repeated until the uraver is too cool to enter the wax. In turning or drilling, the tool is moistened with oil of turpentine.

Poor Nelson. — The 'General Government brought a bill into the Assembly to ' ' authorise an advance of £GS,OOO to the Province of Otago, to assist the Province m the construction of light lines of railway there." When the subject was being considered prior to the introduction of the Bill, Mr Curtis asked if the Government would include m the proposed Appropriation Bill the amount of the small Bill for the Province of Nelson, which was rejected by the other House. If not, it would show that three were different ways of dealing with the Provinces. Mr Creighton said the members for Nelson had accepted their defeat ; those for Otago had not done so. Mr O'Conor thought the members for Otago would have to accept their defeat too. Mr Wales thought one Province should not stand m the way of another m this manner. Mr Luckie thought the Nelson Bill was thrown out as a stepping stone to the throwing out of a larger measuie. Mr Yogel said he thought that the Province of Nelson was the last that should make any complaint.

The Volunteers. — Just before the close of the late session the Hon. Mr Mantell moved — ." That the report of Major Gordon, on the Volunteers of the Colony, should be printed." Whereupon, the Hon. Colonel Brett hoped the Council would give him credit for having been animated by no desire to condemn the Volunteers. It was necessary that portions of the report should be read to the Council, to enable them and the country to know the state our defences were m. There were several parts of the report, and he was proud to say it, which gave considerable credit to the Volunteers for efficiency ; but there was a large number of parts of the report where the reverse was the case. In the instance he was about to cite he would not be invidious, and therefore would not mention the district ; but the report said of it : — "This company, 29 strong on its roll, produced only two men, one of whom was very drunk." (Laughter.) Major Gordon went on to say, after admitting that the force had been m an efficient condition for many years past : " I regret to have to record my conscientious belief to the amount of public money expended on capitation on the 31st March last is lamentably m excess of the sum which should otherwise represent the state of efficiency of the force m general, so that immediate and effectual measures shall be had resource to, to arrest for the futnre the useless and wanton expenditure, which has for so long a period been carried on, and for which officers commanding districts are primarily responsible." This was not very creditable to the officers. The report went on to cite instances m which the Government officer had recommended and procured capitation, for men who had earned their certificates as efficient Volunteers, who had not so much as heard of such a document ; cases where no monthly parades were held as the regulations directed, yet it had been certified that these parades took place ; instances m which efficiency certificates had been thrust into the hands of men, and capitation thereby obtained for them, who did not admittedly possess the knowledge which these certificates affirmed that the men did possess ; and parenthteically, he expressed a fear that the Provincial Government had been similarly imposed upon, with respect to the remission certificates, m the acquisition of land. AH this was dishonest. The publication of this report, and m Hansard of the debates on this subject, would open the ej^es of the country, and probably lead the House at some future time to raise the present force to its proper standard. The motion was negatived on the voices.