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New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 6846, 31 March 1883, Page 2

A sperm whale has been found on the beach at Kai Iwi near Wanganui. The animal, which is 25ft long, is expected to yield two tuns ot sperm oil. The New Zealand Shipping Company have received telegraphic advices of the sailing of the s.s. British Queen for Wellington. Taking her passage at 50 days, she may be looked for about the 13th May. The new Licensing Committee for the Cook District met yesterday—Messrs Hutchison, M.H.R.; K. Wilson, and C. J. Toxward being present. Mr Hutchison was elected chairman, this being the only business. The last of the handicap yacht races for the Yacht Club’s trophies will be sailed this afternoon, the start to be made as usual at 2.30 p.m. The following handicap has been arranged : —Thetis scratch, Gamma 6min, Pet Bmiu, and Sappho 14min. Captain Kidney, well known in New Zealand as being in command of the s.s. Albion, who was injured in the Hawthorn railway accident, brought an action for damages in the Melbourne Supreme Court. The jury awarded £I3SJ damages. In the first competition for non-commisioued officers of the Wellington Guards, which took place on Thursday evening, under the new volunteer regulations, Mr Stott and Mr Cole were appointed sergeants, and Mr A. G. Beere and Mr Baltrop were appointed corporals. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr H. Mace was held at the Supreme Court yesterday morning. There was a large attendance, and Mr J. Kirton, trustee, occupied the chair. A resolution recommending the debtor's immediate discharge was unanimouslyagreed to, and there being no other business the proceedings terminated. The London correspondent of the Christchurch Telegraph writes :—“ Mrs Lingard, who is such a favorite in the colonies, has arrived in ' London and taken the Gaiety Theatre for an afternoon performance, in the hope, I suppose, that some London manager will recognise her transcendent talents and oiler her an engagement. The date, chosen for the debut is February 20, and Mrs Lingerd (who has once more become ‘ Mies ’) means to challenge comparison with Sarah Bernhardt, Amiild UescMe, Helena Modjeska, and Fanny Davenport (all well-known in London), tj appearing as tbs heroine in ‘ Camille,' "

We have received from tbe proprietor Bradshaw’s Guide to the New Zealand Railways for April,

The South Canterbury Times says that Sir Modred and Buudoora have been scratched for all their engagements at the forthcoming Timaru meeting. The Mataura Ensign states that George Ruabula, the last of the lluapuke natives resident on Stewart Island, and a white man named England were drowned the other day near Ruapuke, owing to a sudden squall striking and upeeting their boat. Both bodies have been recovered.

Referring to the cost of constructing a dry dock for the largest class of steamers, the chair* man of the Chamber of Commerce told tbe annual meeting that tbe cost of such a dock would probably be £150,000. In our report of the meeting yesterday the cost was erroneously printed as £140,000. The chairman explained that his estimate was based on the cost of docks at other ports of the colony. As to New Zealand not being represented at the intercolonial conference on postal matters, for which invitations have been issued by the Victorian Government, the Argus says ; ** Though the absence of New Zealand is to be regretted, it is hoped that the various Australian colonies will be represented, as important matters concerning all of them have to be considered, which cannot very conveniently be postponed. In the proposals issued by the Victorian Government, neither time nor place was definitely fixed, so that the reply from the New Zealand Government cannot be looked upon as final.”

The New Zealand Mail, which is issued to-day, contains its usual quantity of useful and interesting matter, “ Elise’s ’’ recipes have now become, thanks to the splendid show they made at the Horticultural Exhibition, deservedly popular, and her articles in the ladies’ page are always interesting. This number contains a most thorough report on the Terawhiti gold mines, and as the whole week has been full of exciting events, amongst which Mr Hursthoase’s seizure by Mahuki, and the Autumn Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club are the most important, the Mail will be found more than ordinarily acceptable. The “Sea Queen” and the “Senior Partner" are continued, and “Asmodeus” has two columns of pertinent remarks, Th play “Jo," that is to be produced at the Theatre Royal this evening, called forth a good deal of comment when it first came out iu England, and Professor Blackie, of the Edinburgh University, in a letter to the Scotsman, speaking of people who wrote letters to him “ overflowing with jeremiads about the general sinfulness of all theatrical amusements,” says : —“Bet them go and see ‘Jo,’ a piece which, in the shape of a play, is as powerful a sermon on the grace of sacred pity as ‘ Leah ’ is on that of Christian forgiveness ; and if they return from that exquisite performance with dry eyes, they will have good reason, instead of slandering play actors, to look into their own spiritual state, and weighty cause to apprehend that their hearts may be as hard as their brains are soft." The Dunedin Star thus relates the effects of the heavy gale of last week. The recent heavy gale narrowly missed doing serious damage to the low-lying land in St. Kilda. On Saturday afternoon the sea broke through the sandhills at the back of the grand stand, and, scooping out a channel for itself, surged across the railway line on to the road, carrying with it a quantity of the metal ballast forming the line. At the racecourse a temporary b( rricade Was hastily formed ; but the water entirely surrounded Mr Burnside’s house, near the Racecourse Hotel. Tons of seaweed are lying high and dry between the sandhills in places we never saw reached by the water before. Near the Grand Pacific Hotel, also, at the tramway terminus, the sea washed over the sandhills. Had the wind been a point or two more southerly the Elat must have been laid under water.

Messrs Johnston and Co, have been appointed agents for the New Zeala id Oil Works, Dunedin, and now have samples of the productions. We understand the linseed is imported from India, and the seed is crushed in Dunedin. It is asserted that the oils (raw and boiled linseed) are of much better quality than the imported article, being pure and unadulterated, whereas in most oases the imported article is found by analysis to be adulterated from 20 to 36 per cent. This should prove a boon to painters and others. Whether it is the fault of bad lead or oil, we cannot say, but some buildings very shortly after being painted look as bad as if they had never been touched ; this oil adulteration may, however, account for it. Oil cakes fur sheep and cattle feeding are also obtainable from the same firm, and are very largely used down South. This is a new industry, which should encourage linseed-growing, and save importing from India.

The Timaru Herald gives the following in stance of a prolific crop. Bight acres ot a paddock of wheat belonging to Mr Stu-iholrae, near Willow Bridge was threshed for the purpose of procuring straw for thatching stacks. The product of the eight acres was 821 bushels equal to 87J bushels of first-class wheat and 13 bushels of seconds, and a small quantity of interior wheat unfit for milling, per acre. The the total quantity of grain per acre was 102| bushels. From the appearance of the crop there is reason to believe this is no more than the average yield of the whole paddock of 380 acres. But this yield is beaten by one further south, for the Lake County Press says that one of the farms on the Crown-terrace has yielded 140 bushels of oats to the acre. In cutting this crop the machine could not be used in the ordinary way; It had to cut along the side and return idle, then go into the crop again. This was not the only difficulty, for there was not actually room to stook the sheaves. The straw was about sft 6in and the ears a foot long. A sensible suggestion was made by Dr. Newman to the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. He said that if the annual report, dealing with many topics of importance, and also the balance-sheet, were printed and circulated among members a few days before the annual meeting, they could go there prepared to speak on the various subjects dealt with, and a livelier interest would be induced among members, instead of the present comparative apathy. Such a practice has become general with railway companies and other public corporations, and it is found in practice that members do go to the annual meetings prepared to raise new point*, or ask questions which are often of vital importance. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce deals with many subjects affecting mercantile and trading interests, and as the annual meeting affords a proper opportunity for reviewing the chamber’s action upon these subjects, it is desirable that the annual report, dealing, as it does, with a multitude of practical subjects, should be read and digested by members before they are called on to pass the report en bloc. Dr. Newman pressed his suggestion at Thursday’s meeting, and the Chamber was induced to adopt it as a resolution for the future.

Singapore lays claim to the honor ot producing the latest marvel in electric lighting. The Straits Times, of December 9, says ; “ We leatn that Messrs Dennys and Cuff have applied for a local patent for a new system of producing and regulating electric currents. Without coming into competition with any of the arc or incandescent lamps now in the market, this new system promises to create a considerable sensation, as it will only cost about one-fifth of the price of dynamos, while the deposit from the batteries is of more than double the value of the elements used. In fact, were not Mr Cuff (who was a pupil of Sir W. Thompson, the great electrician) well known for ability in his own profession, and Dr. Dennys considered a proficient in mechanical matters, we should regard the assertions current regarding their new system as very like romance. It is claimed that not only will the cost price of the apparatus be recouped during the first year’s working, but that a handsome profit will also accrue ; in other words, the owner gets his light for nothing and makes money on the transaction ! Steps are, of course, being taken to protect the invention in other countries. It will be curious if Singapore gives birth to the most economical system of producing electricity yet devised.’’

Private advices from Fiji, says the Auckland Herald, state that there is a bad look out f*r business there. The Government have just succeeded in forcing on the country a law which is regarded as highly detrimental to both the native race and the white colonists. The object of the Labor Act is to absolutely prevent the natives hiring their labor to white settlers. In carrying out Sir Arthur Gordon's policy, of making the natives grow produce to pay the native taxation with, rather than to allow them to work for Europeans and pay the annual poll tax in money, he allowed a little relaxation at the request of the colonists. There are 100,000 who would be willing to be employed by Europeans if permitted, and of these he allowed 2000 to take service with Europeans. The Act which has now been passed is to cut off the supply of labor. The passage of the law was opposed stage by stage throughout its whole course, and on each occasion the six official members of the Executive voted for the Bill, and the six non-official members as regularly against it. On every occasion the decision was thus cast upon the Governor’s casting vote. The measure is looked upon as fatal to the advancement of the natives, aod a direct blow to the commerce of colony, as the supply of Polynesian labor is looked unoa as also doomed.

Mach inconvenience arose in tbe Wanganui Police Court on Wednesday last from the want of a Russian interpreter. The local Chronicle, however, says :—lt was the opinion of some people in Court that an interpreter was needed far more for the judge’s legal dogBatinor the antiquated jargonof the indictment than for the remarkably plain English of the witnesses.

Professor Wiggins’ storm haa not eventuated. The fateful ides of March have passed with nothing more important than a welcome downpour of rain, welcome to the parched country and welcome to the drapers, who hope to sell their stock of garments suited for such weather. We are quite willing to help our cu-tomers to provide against a “rainy day,” by offering our “.Sempra Seoco” cloak, which is a most useful and necessary garment, thoroughly waterproof, and very light in weight, to be had in Navyblue and black and in all sizes. Each cloak is provided with a neat satchel of the same material to carry it when not required to be worn. We would also invite inspection of some really choice fur lined and circular broche cloaks, edged with fur and lined with quilted silk. We have a few charming imitation and real seal jackets in lengths from 36 to 45 inches that have only to be seen to be coveted at Te Abo House.—[Advt.] Besides being a powerful and wholesome tonic, Wolfe’s Schnapps is an unequalled brain medicine, imparting healthful vigor to that sensitive organ and to every fibre of the nervous system. — [Advt.] 6