GENERAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1159, 14 February 1874, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

A writer in the Wairarapa Standard says : ■ — "A colony which, like Josh Billings's widow, loves muscle rather than sentiment, furnishes but few romantic incidents. I heard of one in our Valley the other day which might almost prime a three-volume novel, or inspire a penny-a-liner. A young man was thrown from his horse and broke his leg. A ministering angel desired to nurse and solace him, and according to our notions of etiquette she could not carry out her good intentions excepting by one method. She embraced that method, and married him as he lay crippled on his bed. Several young men about are, I believe, frantic to borrow the man's hox'se. Broken bones have lost their terror in the Wairarapa. Fractures are in active demand. I, myself, regret having parted with a flash horse ; had f only kept him I might have made my fortune by a lucky tumble."

Vast numbers of caterpillars have made their appearance in the Tokomairiro district during the last week or two, and we (Bruce Herald) hear that in places they have done considerable damage. From enquiries we have made, we find several strange features in the observations of a number of different people. Thus all correspond in stating, that the travelling progress of these caterpillars has been in the di.-ection of the Gorge hill, or in a north easterly course, even in the face of a strong wind blowing. A settler, in whose statement we have every confidence, informed us, that going along one of his fields, the other day, he saw them in thousands, rolling over one another in a ditch, creeping up t'ne sides, the N.E. wind being so strong that it toppled them over again, but still they persisted in adhering to this course, making no attempt to turn to the right or left j he said they were " in bucketfulls." A general testimony also is, that they appear to select camping spots for feeding, and completely clear patches here and there, as they move along, always selecting where the crop is thickest. They are noticed to be very severe in cases where they happen to move across sheaves lying on the ground, tho heads of which they nip off, as if a lot of mice had been at work.

Mr Grace's Cricket Eleven has received another defeat, having been beaten by Eighteen of New South Wales at Sydney, by nine wickets. The scoring on both sides is shown by the scores, which are published in another column, to have been very moderate. The fielding of the New South Wales team appears to have been very good — better than their bowling. The champion did not " come off " in either of his innings.

Did any of our readers ever hear of a sea fish called a " grass whiting?" We confess to having been innocent of the existence of such a creature until the other day, when an ancient mariner of Port Chalmers, with briny courtesy, called our attention to what at first sight appeared to be an overgrown barracouta. "But 'taint one, though," said he, and moreover, "it is the first fish of the kind I have ever seed in these waters. " "But," we remarked dubioiisly, "it looks very like a barracouta. Mark the shape of the head, and what teeth!!" "Aye," responded our in - Btructor, " but did you ever see such an eye as that in a barracouta ?" and Aye were compelled to admit the saucer like pi*oportions of the organ in question. And again, continued our extremely civil and obliging friend, "Look at the depth of the bndy, its colour, and the shape of its tail." Here his voice became slightly triumphant. There certainly was no gainsaying the existence of a peculiarity about the tail part of the fish, so without more ado we accepted this part of the argument as a clincher, and admitted that the iish was not a barracouta. " ' here are plenty of 'em at home, sir," said our man of experience ; " I have often caught 'em off the coast of England. They call them grass whiting there. Good eating 1 1 should say they were delicious." And then, after turning over the fish lovingly once or twice, and descanting furthei on its merits, the mariner sharpened his knife, preparatory to dissecting the animal. It certainly was an odd fish. Size, about three times as large as an ordinary barracouta, with a much deeper body, and a very much more fleshy tail part. The colour, also, was different — the steel-blue tint of the barracouta being toned down by bronze- shad ing in the new species. The head, however, was barracouta all ovpr, whilst the teeth were quite two inches long, and most disagreeably suggestive.

In a leading article on harvest prospects in Canterbury, the Press refers to the oat and barley crops as follows :—" The acreage (under oats) last year was 37,173 acres, estimated to yield 897, 544 bushels, and this year it is considered safe to calculate on 50,000 acres, as the increased breadth of land sown with oats was considerable. The estimated average is 28 bushels, which will give an aggregate yield of 1,400,000 bushels. Some think this estimate under the ir-ark, as there are many splendid crops which are expected to yield from 50 to 60 bushels the acre. Whatever the yield may actually prove to be, it is most satisfactory to know the crop is very far superior to last year's. About Prebbleton in particular very large yields are anticipated, several most reliable farmers estimating 50 to 60 bushels the acre from crops now cut and stacked. From Timaru, also, most pleasing accounts are received, tho oats promising exceedingly well. The average opening price for some years past has been 2s per bushel, but the increased local consumption and the prospoet of a fair demand outaide warrants a

higher range of values. Whatever the prices may be when deliveries are being made freely, a high average during spring must not be looked for, as in addition to tae larger surplus, the farmers having had a good year, are in a better position to hold than is usually the case, and many of them have decided to do so, so that heavy deliveries during spring will undoubtedly tend to keep prices more or less steady. The early barley has now nearly all been in-gathered in capital condition, and the samples will be the best for years past. Fine parcels should rule as high as 4s for some months, but much depends upon the quantity and quality of the late barley, which will be fully six weeks before it is all safely stacked. Should this be garnered well, a lower range of prices may be looked for. "

The disturbance reported by telegraph as having occurred at Gi-reymouth on the occasion of the landing of the Chinese who left Otagn in the Alhambra, seems to have been considerably exaggerated. A Grey mouth paper says: — "It must have been a great disappointment to the lovers of the curious that the disembarkation from the Dispatch took place at such an unseasonable time, on such an unseasonable night. 2Jo doubt had the landing taken place by dayl.ght the crowd would have been larger than it was. Even under the circumstances a goodly crowd assembled to interview and criticise the new importation by the Alhambra. Of course we went, impelled by a morbid desire to be critical. But the sight that repaid the trouble of our visit was a crowd of objects moving in an almost Egyptian darkness, rattling bamboos and disputing about property in guttural monosyllables. Occasionally a match was struck, whether for the purpose of identification, or to enable some unfortunate Celestial to swear after the manner of his country that he was not appropriating his neighbour's goods, we were unable to ascertain, and by one of these transient gleams of light, we noticed an interesting struggle going on between two Chinese gentlemen for what appeared to be a feather bed. One got pitched off the wharf among the pine logs, upon which he resigned all pretensions to the property, leaving his opponent master of the situation. Ai ter a deal of confusion the immigrants were piloted to some unknown depot in the back streets, where we hope they passed a pleasant night after their long sea voyage."

As a member of the light-fingered fraternity is at present in Dunedin, it will be well for the public to be on their guard. It seems that a short time since a person from the country called at the Immigration Barracks to see the " new chums," and whilst waiting to see one of them, he stood gazing at a gold ring on his finger, when a friend rather abruptly slapped him on the back, and promised to introduce him to a ".Brummagem" (Birmingham) man. Accordingly the names were exchanged, and the strangers just made known to each other shook hands. After leaving the barracks the person from the country missed the ring from his finger, and then he remembered that the "new chum" had grasped his hand in a peculiar manner. Suspicion was cast on him, and he was taxed with stealing the ring, but instead of denying it he suggested that it might have fallen off the finger of the loser. He was then offered £3 to return it, but would not commit himself. Although perfectly satisfied as to what had become of his property, the loser could not be induced to give the man into custody.

The work of driving the jpilea for the wharf between the Rattray street and Jetty street jetties, is now being actively proceeded with by prison labour. The piles are driven down by steam. They are put down to a depth which will allow the bottom outside of them being dredged to 18 feet below low water mark. All the large piles of the first 300 feet are now driven, and the sheet piling (forming the wall which keeps back the mud thrown behind the piles) is being driven. The bolts needed are made on the works The formation of the first 300 feet will be completed in a month, with the exception of the decking. The timber for the decking was to have arrived six months ago, but there is no sign of its arrival yet. If it arrives so late as to cause a stoppage of the work, it will be a matter for regret, considering that merchants and people concerned in shipping have been clamouring for more accommodation for vessels for years past. The piles for the extension of Kattray street Jetty along the line of the training wall, a work which is being carried out by contract, are being driven by hand labour. The contrast between a number of men at the windlass slowly and painfully heaving up the monkey, at the last mentioned work, and the quick action of the fussy little "puffing Billy " that hauls up the iron masg on the other work, is most striking.

We take the following couple of ifcerns of mining intelligence from the Tuapeka Times: — " The reef at Waipori i 3 looking well. Stone Has been struck both north and south of the O. P. Q. Co. 's claim, and from appearances will pay handsomely. Crushing operations will probably be delayed until the Golden Point Water Race is brought in. The intention of the present shareholders is to drive their machinery with water power. - There is very little gold mining going on in the immediate vicinity of Switzers. Messrs Skene and Co. are using what water is coming on to the hill. The ground continues to pay very well. A few miners are scattered about the various gullies, but the majority are out in the ranges for the summer months. The Upper Waikaia ia the centre of attraction, though several parties are profitably

I employed at Gow's Creek, the Dome, WhiteI combe Creek, and other localities."

The following quartz-mining memoranda are published by the Cromwell Argus :— " From Bendigo, we learn that the prospects of the Cromwell Company are looking brighter in one respect than ever ; that is, in the stone. There is now on view over a thousand tons of stone of the same — some say even better — quality that we lately had to report. Between one and two hundred tons have been raised. Part of it — about forty tons — is now through the mill, but it is feared that crushing operations are going to be seriously retarded through the scarcity of water, the driving power. A very small quantity only is now running in the creek, aud unless a change in the weather takes place soon, the quantity will be nil. It is hardly necessary to say that the stoppage of crushing operations would not interfere with the raising of stone ; but things look pleasanter when the gold is actually being extracted. The Lucknow workings are getting easier, it is reported ; the stone is not so hard as it was. A good deal of uncertainty prevails in the minds of many as to whether the tunnel has not been driven past the reef, even if it did not underlie so much as was said. If not met with soon, perhaps it would be wise to bail the shaft and discover how much the actual underlie really is. Some of the old employes say it was three inches, some six, some nine, and SQme even 12 inches to the foot. Whatever it is, it will be a caution to companies in future to insist upon their managers furnishing them with exact data from time to time of the actual workings in the various mines. A great deal of valuable time and money might thus be saved when one manager has to resign the reins of government to another. The Reliance is reported on good authority to have, at the depth of 100 feet, struck upon the true reef, and carrying payable gold. It will be well not to indulge xn too bright visions of the prospects of this company. Another ten or fifteen feet farther clown will settle the matter — with some reasonable certainty, at any rate. Another attempt is to be made to put a little life into tae Aurora, but it cannot as yet be predicted with what success. The attempts are made in such a lukewarm fashion that no one takes much interest in them. The shareholders might increase their capital by one-half the original amount, and it is almost certain some good would result from the step. "

The Tuapeka Times asserts that " there is a large demand for land in the Switzers district. Several thousand acres would be taken up with avidity if the Government would make it available for settlement. _ A large block on Gow's run has been promised for some time." The same journal states that "Mr Bastings, Goldfields Secretary, aud Mr M'Kerrow, Chief Surveyor, passed through Lawrence this week on tlieir way to Switzers, to investigate the offer made by Mr Logan to exchange land in place of that which was found to be auriferous in his late purchase."

A fractious horse — a crowd of onlookers ! The horse falls — rider underneath ! Such was the little scene enacted at the Port on Sunday forenoon, when two sailor-men, desirous of a cruise ashore, engaged horses and attempted to get underweigh. In this one of them succeeded, but the other craft refused to answer to its helm, and backed and filled in an extraordinary manner, and at last made a stern board for the stable. Upon this the rider resigned charge to John Burns, Mr Dodson's groom, an excellent horseman, and there is no doubt but that he would soon have brought the unruly brute to its senses, when unfortunately the animal trod on a round stone whilst turning the corner of George street, and came down heavily, curshing the rider's left leg against the ground. A dozen hands were ready to seize the horse, and in less than a minute Burns was disengaged irom his perilous position and helped to the old Port Chalmers Hotel close by. There it was found that his foot and ankle were very severely bruised, and yet he may be considered fortunate in escaping on such easy terms, for at iirst it was feared his leg was broken, the whole weight of the horse apparently coming on it. The doctor of the Duulillan dressed his foot. He will probably be laid up fur a week.

The notorious Jock Graham, finding himself without honour in his own country, is endeavouring to fulfil his mission, whatever that may be, in another land. Melbourne has been selected by him as the scene of his visitation, and the Argus records one occasion on which a benighted few met to hear him expose Spiritism. Tho proceedings at the meeting were characteristic of the lecturer. After repudiating tho idea of being actuated by any mercenary motive, "he put a money-taker at the door, and then went round amongst the audience himself, saying — ' Como, put your hands in your pockets, and let's see what you're going to give. ' " What followed will be well under stood by those of our readers who have witnessed Mr Graha*ii's performances. To use the words of the Argus — "It was indeed a most contemptible exhibition." The lecture on Spiritism over, Mr Graham was questioned concerning his connection with the "barracouta" and the "live cat" trade. After relating what he had done for New Zealand, he wound up by requesting his audience to look at his credentials. The speaker, we are told, was rewarded throughout the evening ' ' with the most lively marks of derision." Mr Graham has written to the Argus, thankingit for its report. Hohas been desirous he says, of drawing the Rev. Mr Tyerman into a discussion upon theological questions, and the reverend gentleman has expressed his willingness to meet him (Mr Graham) if

the latter could show "good credentials.' These, including "a letter from the late respected Augustus Tulk," had been forwarded to the Rev. Mr Tyerman ; but we are not informed whether they have been pronounced "good." Mr Graham, concludes his letter to the Argus as follows : — "You have got some societies here who are full of sedition, whose ' motto ' seems to be ' Down with everything that is up.' But I fear that they have got a gentleman at present in their midst that will make short work of them." Without recounting Mr Graham's many deeds, those who know anything about him will agree with us in saying that the most he ever did for New Zealand was when he left her shores. The following extract from a letter from a Dunedin gentleman to the Chairman of the Acclimatisation Society relative to the introduction of lake fish into Otago will, no doubt, be read with interest: — "I am sure the trout and other fish from Dormer Lake and Lake Tahoe in Nevada, would succeed admirably in the lakes of Otago. Dormer Lake lies on the other side of the Sierra Nevada, close against the range, and not very far from the summit. It is some 6000 feet above the level of the sea, and no bottom has been found at 1500 feet. The lake is full of fish, inchiding magnificent trout running up to 20 lbs. These trout are extremely delicate in flavour, indeed, I found the further west the better the trout in America. In the middle of June there was deep snow in patches close to the lake, and it was extremely cold early in the morning. The station nearest to it (Truckee), is only about fifteen hours from San Francisco by rail. Indians 3atch trout and sell them to passengers — half a dollar for six or eight large fish. It would not be hard to bring ova down to this country by the new route. I should be sorry to see Californian salmon in our waters until it is demonstrated that English will not do. They are coarse and greasy — so I found them — and will not rise to the fly. However they must be prolific, for the quantities obtainable there are almost fabulous. Lake Tahoe is larger than Dormer Lake. The latter is three miles long and one broad." According to the Melbourne papers the Otago was to leave for Port Chalmers by way of the Bluff on the arrival of the English mail at Hobson's Bay. The mail steamer, we learn by telegram, left Galle for Australia on the 17th ult. She was due therefore at Melbourne on Thursday or Friday last. In such case the Otago ought to reach the Bluff' about to-morrow or Wednes. day night. At all events, unless the steam c r from Galle makes an unusually long passage, there should be ample time to answer Eng« lish letters by the out-going mail. The cricket match between the Warehousemen and Tradesmen resulted in an unexpected victory for the former. There was not a very brilliant display of cricket on the other side, though Rhodes played a very good innings for 20. The fielding throughout was very loose. The Warehousemen ultimately won the match, with three wickets to spare. — Through some unforseen circumstance, the Lawyers did not muster on the cricket ground on Saturday to contest the cricket match with the Bankers, and the latter therefore went to the field, and after putting out one of the three representatives of the Legal team, claimed the match. We are very sorry to have to record such a termination to one of the Cup matches, which began so auspiciously, and can only hopo that in the remaining matches more spirit may be shown than has characterised this last one. A scratch match was at last played on the ground between sides chosen by Messrs Johnston and Thomson.