Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1400, 13 May 1868, Page 3

Another Nf.wQuaitz Crusher. —Yesterday we were favored with a view of a new quartz cruslier, or, perhaps, the more legitimate name would bo grinder. It is the invention of Mr. T. H. Smith, a workman at the Union Sash and Door Manufactory, where it is open to inspection, and its very simplicity will at once recommend it as being able to supply one of the wants of our goldfields, viz., to grind the quartz as fine as possible. The principle of the machine is simply a pan oscillating inside another. Ihe quartz is first crushed by a stamper through a grating of say a quarcer of an inch, when it is received into the pan, inside of which, a smaller and very lieavy pan is kept in motion from side to side by means of a lever. As the pan works, it of course grinds the quartz dosvn to a very fine powder. A small stream of water is supplied at the same place where the machine is fed with the quartz. As the quartz is ground down it passes through a fine grating (with over 1000 holes to the inch), on to the usual ripple box where it is first caught in the quicksilver trough, where by the motion of the machine a motion is given to an agitator which keep* the quicksilver continually in motion. To prevent the pan from clogging with the accumulation of quartz ground or otherwise two rakes are ktpt constantly in motion by a very simple contrivance, while immediately behind the grating a small agitator is kept continually in motion, so that the ground quartz has no opportunity of clogging up the machine. The model we saw is large enough to find work for one man, and is estimated to be able to crush about sis cwt. of quartz a day. But it may be made of any size and any kind of power applied to it. We commend it to the notice of those interested in mining matters. Major General Sir Trevor Chute has visited Auckland by the Airedale, and has taken up his ciuarters at the new club of which, he is the first honorary member. Many will be glad to welcome back iiir Trevor Chute, and the public generally, wo would point out, may be benefitted by his advent amongst us. Sir Trevor is not one to encourago these petty irritating annoyances which men of lower rank and inferior social station, when raised to supreme command delight to indulge in. TVe allude to the exclusion 6f the public from the barracks and from portions of the barrack square—to the putting up of barriers across the barrack gates—the exclusion of the public on Regatta Day from Point Britomart without written orders, where scores of persons for the last twenty years have regularly, and without interruption, repaired to view the regatta. None of such petty (we might say ungentlemanlike) discourtesies, will, we are sure, be continued by Sir Trevor Chute, and if only on this account his arrival will be looked to with pleasure by military and civilians alike. We have always desired to, and hitherto have succeeded in Jiving on the best of terms with our military fellow inhabitants of Auckland. That we may long continue to do so is the I reason that we have referred to this matter at all.

Newton. —We observe that the Gas Company have erected a gas lamp in Newton, near the Gloucester Arms Hotel. This was much needed, and we hope it will not be long before it is lighted. Another one would also be of great service if placed at the corner of Howestreet. In Grey-street, too, another lamp has been erected a little more than lialf-way up on the right hand side. Me R. Keals invites tenders for the erection of a dwelling-house at Shortland. We have to acknowledge the receipt of the journal and appendix of the Leg'slative Council for 1867. A Provincial Government. Gazette was published yesterday. It contains a proclamation, withdrawing from sale and selection, and setting apart blocks of laud in the counties of Mongonui and Coromandel for special settlements, also a notice from the General Government Agent, that lands in the towns of Port Waikato and Opotiki, and also in the County of Waikato, will be sold at the Waste Lands Office, Auckland, on the 18th proximo. The Gazette also contains list of Crown Grants ready for issue.

We take the following from our Grey River contemporary: —"We are sorry to hear that Captain Benson, tlie general manager of the P.N.Z. and A.H.M. Co., has given instructions to the agents of the Company at the various ports to book no more cargo for Greymouth, owing to the large number of claims sent in against the Company, many of which were based on the most frivolous grounds. The steamers have great difficulties to contend with in transhipping in the roadstead, especially in bad weather, and hitherto have had. to discharge their cargo without being able to obtain receipts from the tender. Taking these facts into con sideration, Captain Benson does not think that the mercantile community of Greymouth have treated the Company in a liberal manner. The Company's steamers will call here as usual for passengers and gold." Shorthobns foe New Zealand.—The Farmer, of January 22, says "On Saturday a large herd of horned cattle of the short horn breed, consisting of cows, heifers, and bulls, arrived in London to be exported to New Zealand. They have been chiefly purchased in Yorkshire, and comprise a fine collection."

AtJCKIiAND K.IFLE VOLUNTEERS, No. 3. This company will parade to-morrow in St. George's Bay, at seven o'clock, for skirmishing drill, ai which all members are requested to attend. _ Mr. John Richmond, from the office of Mr. Gillies, and Mr. Oliver M. Quintall, from the officc of Mr. Outhwaite, have satisfactorily passed their examination'before Judge Moore, to he admitted legal practitioners of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The Baud of the Royal Irish, under the direction of Mr. Quinn, will perform in the Domain this afternoon at 3.30 o'clock (weather permitting). The following is tlie programme :— March, Overture "La Macon," Auber ; waltz, " Prairie I lowers," Stanley; selection, " Yictorine," Mellon ; quadrille, " Serenade," Balfe ; galop, " Times and Telegraph," Miss E. Armstrong . God Save the Queen. Fatal Accident at Greytown.—A fatal accident occurred on the 4th instant about two miles from Greytown. A man named William Hooker, the eldest son of Mr. Hooker here, while driving a dray accidentally fell off, and the wheel passing over his neck and head caused immediate death. Apparently, the unfortunate young man had been taking lunch at.the time of his fall, as when the body was found on the road, a knife was grasped in one hand and some bread and cheese iu the other. The unfortunate deceased bore the character o£ , being sober and industrious. Ohtiian Home.—A musical soiree and tea meeting, was held last evening in the Volunteer Drill Shed, near the Albert Barracks, in aid of the funds of this institution. There was a very numerous attendance, and the affair was one of the most brilliant and satisfactory of the season. The occasion had a peculiar interest for those active to do good. A detailed report will be found in another column. There could not have been less than fire hundred visitors present. The trays ere supplied by the ladies of the several city and suburban parishes. The musical programme was conducted by Mr. Joseph Brown. A Bendigo contemporary supplies the following respecting O'Farrell, the condemned convict :—" There appears to be no foundation for the statement of Dr. Sharland, of Tasmania, that O'Farrell, who shot the Duke of Edinburgh, is uncle to the man Allan, one of the three men hanged for the murder of the policeman at Manchester. We have good authority for stating that the oldest of O'Farrell's nephews, if not the only one, is Allan, the left-handed bowler in Melbourne, and the son of Mrs. Allan, who gave her evidence at the trial in Sydney. The name of the Manchester man is spelt Allen, whilst the sister of O'Farrell spells her name Allan ; but of this our informant is not certain. O'Farrell has two sisters nuns in Dublin, and one sister a nun in Tasmania, while there are four sisters married, including Mrs. Allan, and there is a brother a priest, in Ireland. The father of the family was not a butcher, as reported, but a house and land agent, in Little Collins-street, Melbourne, and he resided in the same street, next the Adam and Kve Hotel. He had eleven children, P. A. C. O'Farrell being the oldest. The condemned O'Farrell was clerk to his eldest brother, but subsequently studied for the church. There is a brother named William, but whether he is dead or alive does not appear. While the condemned man lived with the family his chief failing was a very violent temper."

llokitika.—The sea continues its inroads upon Hokitika. The TVest Coast Times of the 27th ult says :—" In the course of yesterday, and notably about high-water mark, we observed the sea again make serious assaults on some of the more forward of the small buildings on the beach, at the north end of -iievell-street. In some instances, the fronts of the dwellings were literally stove iu by the force of the waves, and in other cases they were so far undermined by the continued washing of the waves, that their owners deemed it advisable to remove them bodily to preserve them from being carried out to sea. Abreast of the railway station, up to as far as the Montezuma, the ocean continued to make slow but steady advances on the mainland." " . ,

A New Hobby foe oub Premier. — The Taranalci Herald says:--In looking over our recent files of newspapers we have come across two paragraphs, which by placing them together solves a problem. The first is from the Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Timet, who says " Tho Ministerial party having no organ in Wellington, efforts are being made to get uj, a paper by means of shares, to start prior to the meeting of the Assembly. The circular which is being handed round for the consideration of intending shareholders is marked 'strictly private and confidential,' and I am not, therefore, at liberty to mention details. I may, however, say that its promoters aim at making it a ' colonial' paper, proposing to ignore purely local questions." And the second, the New Zealand Herald] las to answer for, that journal asserting that " The Press newspaper (of Canterbury) has been engaged for the Government support, and the plant will be removed to Wellington for the Session.'" The problem is therefore solved that the Press having proved a losing speculation in Canterbury, the Ministry (that is to say the Premier) will have a plant removed to Wellington to start a newspaper to support his Government. Some years since iu Auckland, we heard the head of the present Ministry say " that had he a son he d make a printer of him," and wo verily believe he has a taste for the typographical profession for although the remark might have been mado more from an idea he entertained that the contractors were making large sums of money by | the printing executed for the Government, than for anything else, yet from his subsequent acts we are of.opinion that Mr. Stafford has a hobby, and that hobby is, to have a finger in " the pie. In 1858, we find him trying to start a Government printing office, which, was at last carried into effect although at a cost to the country of some extra few thousand pounds a year; and m 1860, he tried the experiment of getting the debates reported, but the gentleman engaged used a ream of paper for his notes and so thoroughly disgusted our present Premier with the report of his speech, that the scheme was abandoned after a -week's trial. In 1866, the reporting hobby of our Premier was once more visible, and we find that again in 1867 it was developed costing the already over-taxed country several hundred pounds more. And now we find him going in for a government newspaper, which of course will be in the Government pay ; not actually subsidised — that would be too glaring perhaps—but a newspaper will have the same influence over the public from the fact of being a government organ, as any gentleman might in being lucky enough to have a premier for a son-in-law. We anxiously wait tho issue of the first number of our embryo contemporary, and in wishing the Premier every success with his new hobby, hope that he will not find the " printers' devil " a too expensive plaything. Police. —Three drunkards were punished in the usual manner yesterday. Three persons were summoned on charge of neglecting to support their friends in the Lunatic Asylum. of the charges were withdrawn and the third was dismissed, the defendant proving that she was not able to do any tiling towards the support of her sister. In two cases of non-payment ol City rates an agreement was come-to, to charge the rates against the property instead of •proceeding against the owners. Jas. Hart and Jes. l.amb were ordered to find two sureties ot ilo each to keep the peace for three months for having used threatening and abusive language towards a military policeman while in the execution of his duty. William Heald, a color18ergea,nt in the 18tli Regiment, was committed ■to lake his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court on a charge of obtaining money on a forged cheque for £10 on the Auckland Savings Bank. A full report will be found elsewhere.

Judge's Chambees.—His Honor was engaged yesterdayin settling issues in the caseof William I Avery. Mr. Buddie made an application (in the | estate of Oliver) for leave to register the copy of will in lieu of the original. Application granted and order made. Mb. Hanson Turton bavin? qualified himself, by passing tlie necessary examinations, was, on Friday last, duly admitted, by His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman, to be a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Mr. Turton was an articled clerk to the Hon. J. Prendergast, until that gentleman became Attorney General.— Otago Times. The Tomahawk has the following :—"The papers say that several shiploads of Australian beef chemically preserved, and packed in tin canisters, have recently arrived in this country. This is good news. The high prices of food have by degrees all but robbed us of our nationality. Once upon a time, there were few families who could not scrape together enough money to buy themselves a Christmas dinner ; but for the last few years the roast beef of Old England, or rather, the unroast beef of Old England, has been a shilling a pound, which is more than a good many people liave been able to pay. Australia has now come to the rescue, by deluging the market with a good wholesome article at threeifence. This is no doubt very satisfactory; but the less we talk about the national fare, and Christmas cheer, and king of joints, &c., the better, when we hare to fetch it all from the antipodes."