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Otago Daily Times, Issue 915, 25 November 1864, Page 4

We regret that we inadvertantly made an error in our yesterday'tf issue relative to Mrs Evereste's lecture on Flirtation. We announced that it was to be delivered as on last evening (Thursday,) instead of Monday evening next, the advertised time.

Our Dunstan correspondent under date Novembpr 23, writes:—"A* large rush h:is broken out at the head of the Mount Ida Valley, about six miles south from M'Pherson's station. The sinking is from three to twelve feet in depth, and a number of payable holes have been bottomed, about 1500 people are on the ground,, and numbers still arriving. I will pay a visit to the rush and send full particulars by Friday's coach." We are requested to call attention to our advertising columns regarding the adjourned general meeting of the Caledonian Society, to be held this evening, at M/Cubbin's Hotel, at 8 o'clock. The usual weekly meeting of the Town Board took place yesterday afterncan. when a large amount of general business was transacted, but none of any great public importance. The meeting of the Education Board, advertised to be held yesterday nfc noon, was idjourned sine die, in consequence of the majority of the members of the Government being out of town.

The dearth of employment and consequent distress prevailing in Canterbury has neces sitnted the interference of the Provincial Government. The P/•<?.?* savs :—We are not aware that Government have omitted to take any steps to alleviate the distress that could be reasonably expected of them. They have agreed to hand over at ence a certain portion of the year's grant to the Road Boards in the distressed districts, on condition that the rate of wages is not allowed to exceed 5s a day ; a very proper and necessary guarantee that the money is expended solely for the benefit of those on whose account it was advanced. They have also offered, as we mentioned before, in the event of men accepting work up country which would take them from their homes, to supply rations to their wives and children. We understand, too, that the Government have appointed a commission to enquire into the exact facts respecting the alleged distress, by whoso report they will be guMed as to any further measures it may be thought advisable to adopt. This is as much can fairly be expected to do. They would be grievously in the wrong if they allowed themselves to be made parties to a combination to keep up the rate of wages, or interfered with the general public economy in the exclusive interest of a particular class. The preparation and manufacture of the phmmium tenax, or native flax, is a subject which has enjoyed a great'leal of attention in this Colony, and numberless attempts, attended with more or less success have been made to turn the fibre to a profitable purpose. We paid a visit the other day to the Flax Mill at Wood Hatigh, a few particulars concerning which will no doabtbe inte-estin-g to out- readers. The mill itself is situated in the Wa'.cr of L«ith Valley, to the left of the road from Duncdin to Port Chalmers, and ttbout a mile from the Water of L?ith Bridge. The mill, which is built of corrugated iron, is of considerable size,and is fitted up with various machines for the treatment of the flax, EOVERfrom NEWCASTLE.

which are being driven by a steam engine. A rope-walk is attached to the mill, where the fibre after being prepared is spun and twisted into varieties of rope. The flax leaves are procured in the immediate vicinity of the city and are carted to the mill, where they undergo a process which is both simple and effective. The leaves, in their green state, are placed under a set of stampers in a long trough, the stampers being shod with grooved iron plates, which fall on plates similarly grooved placed at the bottom of the trough. These stampers are worked by revolving cams, which raise and drop them at a speed sufficient to secure rapidity and regularity. The effect of this stamping process is to crush and soften the glutinous substance of the leaves, and to prepare them more readily to take the pressure they are afterwards subjected to between fluted rollers. Alter leaving the stampers, the leaves which were stiff aud firm are limp, and split up into longitudinal sections. They are then passed between fluted iron rollers, and subjected to a high pressure, this process having the effect of still further liberating the gummy matter and dividing the leaves. After passing through the fluted rollers, the leaves are put through the smooth iron rollers and squeezed powerfully, so as to exclude the gelatinous substance. The fibre, after having passed through these rollers,-is almost clear of the resinous coating, and presents a flaxy appearance, and with some little further preparation and drying, is ready for the heckler. It is then steeped in a solution of caustic ley, which still further liberates the gum and improves its colour. After steeping in this solution for a short time, the fibre is washed and dried, and is then ready for use. After being heckled, or combed over sharp steel pins to straighten the fibres and reduce them to tb.e requisite fineness, the flax is taken to the rope walk, where it is spun and twisted into rope. The works are in the occupation of Mr Honeyman, who appears to have devoted a good deal of attention to the construction and improvement of the machinery employed. The process we have described is much less laborious and costly than many modes we have witnessed, and for the preparation of fibre suitable for rope, appears to be effective. Still, there are many obvious defects which Mr Honeyman feels confident in being able to remove, and he is constantly discovering some means of improving the efficiency of his machinery. The rope made from the fibre prepared at this mill is of very fair quality, and as the fibre takes tur freely, the manufacture of ship cordage is likely to become a branch of the undertaking. The quantity of flax-leaves required to produce one ton of fibre is about four tons and a-half, the difference being the waste that occurs in the process. We were glad to learn that there is a good demand for the rope., and Mr Honeyman has received a liberal offer of orders from Dimedin merchants when he has completed his arrangements for making ship's cordage. It is to be hoped the undertaking will reward the skill and enterprise of its conductors, whose courtesy in showing us the various processes, and giving us information, we take this opportunity of acknowledging. A ball and supper to celebrate the anniversary of the Loyal Pioneer Lodge of Odd Fellows, were given last night in St. George's Hall. The attendance was numerous and respectable, and the fi stivities were conducted with great spirit. The rooms presented a brilliant aspect, and dancing was kept up until daybreak. The supper table was well laid out, and was furnished mosb abundantly with the delicacies of the seaso-n. The affair altogether was a great success.

Yesterday, about 12 o'clock, the fire bell was rung, and considerable excitement was occasioned, which, however, was quickly allayed on the discovery that the alarm had been caused by a chimney which had taken fire in Canongate street, and' which was promptly extinguished by some of the members of the Fire Brigade.

" Court and Stage" was played at the Princess Theatre last evuning, for the last time for the present. We were sorry to' see so small an attendance. The capital comedy, " Masks and Faces," with Miss Joey Gougen - heim as Peg Woffington. is to be produced this evening.

We have been furnished with the minutes of a committee meeting, held on the 21st November, at the Washington Hotel. Wetherstone's, convened, we presume, for the purpose of ohtiiining evidence as to the existence of pleuro pneumonia in the district. There were present —Messrs Grove (Chairman), Mouatt, Bewes and Chalmers. The Chairman reported that Messrs Mouatt, Hughes and Brodie had bjen written to requesting them to submit certaia resolutions to his Honor the Superintendent, asking for an inquiry or a Commission to be appointed to ascertain whether or not pleuro-pniumonia exists in the Tinpcka district, and that his Honor be recommended to appoint Mr Thomas Lees an inspector. The Provincial Secretary had replied that the Superintendent had appointed Messrs Thomas Lees and Peter It>btrtson of Tuiipi-ka, Honorary Inspectors for the district. He further reported that having received information that a case of supposed plcuro-pneumonia had taken place in. Wetherstone's, lie had requested the Government Inspectors to examine the case. The Committee then proceeded to take evidence on the subject. The first person examined was Mr Peat son, the owner of a cow that died on the 19th inst. lie stated he bought the animal on the 24th of August from Mr Webb, slaughterman, at Wuthersimie's. Mr Webb stated that he purchased her, on the 4th of June last, of Mr Trewiek, of Bellamy Station, Tuapeka. Messrs Lees and R-ibcrtsoa sail, they examined the cow at Gaseoyne's dam, Wetherstout's, and believed it to be a decided case of pleuro pneumonia in its worst stage, and as bad a case as they had seen either in Otago or "Victoria. This evidence was confirmed by Robert Poulton, a butchev, who said that be Also, 18 CASES DAMAGED

—- ——____ > _.^ liad seen " plenty of it both in Victoria anct England." Dr Stewart, of the Tuapeka Hospital, being examined, said he was present at the examination of the cow pointe«l out by the Committee, and believed the cansc of death to have been unquestionablyJßeSropneuraonia. It was then moved Mr: Bruce and seconded by Mr Mouatt—" That a copy of the evidence given by Messrs Lees and Robertson, Inspectors, and also the evidence of Dr Stewart, Robert Poulton (butcher), J. Pi arson, the ojvnerof the deceased cow, and Mr Webb, slaughterman, of Wetherstone's, be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, forthwith." The resolution was carried item. con. The Inspectors' report is as follows: —" We, the undersigned, have been requested to examine a cow which died on the 19th instant, lately owned by Mr Pearson.of Wetherstone's, and we are decidedly of the opinion that the cow died of pleuropnrumonia in its worst strge.—Signed Thomas Lees, Tuapeka ;: Peter Robertson, Tuapeka."