THE DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS AND MR. SCOTLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 822, 25 April 1868, Page 2

THE DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS AND MR. SCOTLAND.

The Cross of 7th April contains an article on the inefficiency of tho Legislative Cou-neil as at present constituted, which winds up with some rathetf severe remarks Lupon the J ate appointment of Mr. Scotland ! tb^a 'seat' 5 - in that body. "What good,"' it inquires, "has Mr. Scotland done to the " Colony, or in what way has he shown an " aptitude for law-making ?" We should like to know the views of the Gross as to the qualifications which are to be sought for in . a councillor. From its sarcastic allusion to " meekness" and " obscurity," >we more than half suspect it of a lurking belief in long-wnided-.pratorical display and a fussy parading of oneself in print before the public on every available occasion. If £hese aro to be considered as requisites, we candidly admitthe. gentleman in question to be utterly unw<srthy of tlio honour conferred npon him. There are many rnon, however, besides Mr.- Scotland who hav6 lost faith in exhibitions of this kind, but to set them down as, therefore Unfit to'legislate for the Colony would be as illogical as it is '"ungenerous. Fino the affairs of, the cotintry from falling into a state -of confusion; and .Sjdth. such a palpable break down of all tho talents, tho " far-seeing Ministry" ai-e perhaps justified in giving a.. ttfrif eVeh to that "latent ability" which 'provokes the mirth of tho writer in-the Oross. ' With' tegarft to the "-local ' committee to inquire into finance," which "dropped through ynthout ro"pbHing at. all," the' writer ■" should in common fairnfess have ascertained all tho particulars before alluding to' it, when ho would have most likely 9een tho propriety of abstaining, in connection with Mr. Scotland's name at least, from alluding to it altogether. _,

Conpensation Cr,A.iM3.-^We believo that Mr. Beckhatn, (the. C6.mmisßiouor for inrcatigating claims on acoouut of tho losses sastninod during tho late war), may bo expected hero, on tho 4th of next month. . Pjioposed Alteuatiox in tub Form of GovEnNMENf. — A public meeting of tho oleotor3 of this ; Province is convened by His Honor tho Superintendent, for Thursday evening next , a seven d'olock In tho Tairauaki Institute, to tako . into consideration whothcr any alterations aro desirable in the form of government. The £urze Ordinance,— The following aro tho provisions of this Ordinance wl\ioh wo have condensed for tho convenience of pur readors :—: — Any occupier or owner of land abutting iupon a road or streot constituted under tho " Roads and Bridges Ordinance" or iivTown, will bo, liable to a penalty not oxoeoding £10 if he fails, after duo notico, to clear away and destroy all obstructions to trafic arising from tho growth of furze (2) and will ba liable to a similar penalty if after due notico ho neglects to clear any ftirzo away for half tho width, of any street prroad that might exist, or formally divided, such laud occupied or owned by him. (3) Any person throwing, or causing to bo thrown tho trimming of hedges, branches of trees, or other rubbish upon a public road or street, and on receiving notice in writing -to removotho sama neglects to do so, po>ter is given to 'the Commissioners or olork of tho Town Board to remove tho same at the 'occupier's or owner's exuansoj , / ' ■ ■' ■ Manufactures, Works, &c, of t?e Province —By a return of the .Enumerator published in Provincial ' Gazette, we find that on tho 19ih December last, Jhero were two breweries, en--ploying^threp hands > one dray and horse, there were used 4,300 lbs. ; of sugar, 1,200 bushels of jinaltj.and £1,564. lbs. of hops during the year, which brewed 19,980 gallons of beerin,thatpQrioc'. The approximate , value of. the . machinery and plant was £500, and tho land and building £ljlso. Two ginger boer and lemonade works employed three hands, the machinery and plant * being valued at £400 and land and buildings £550 J Two flour mijlg, ono forked by steam and tho other water, (the amonnt of power being equal to ,30 horses,) having four pairs of stones and ■ employing fivo hands; 19,500 bushels of wheat \ „were \ operated on during the year, producing 40.0, tons of flour,; tho machinery and plant pero worth £5,500 and the land, and buiidipgs .£3^400. Threo steam saw.mills'pf 33 horso-powor employing .?3 hands, and valued at £3,500 ; tho buildingsand ground being";p'ut'dp.wn"ab £1,320. One gtcam Btone-crushing maohino of six horse-power, otnJ)ldying foTfr-TSaffasT-ana •value'd'atTßGOO'V laud aiidUuaaitrg Jieso.-lJ ieso.-l Two praifiting -oijies, employ • oleveq>ha"nds,-tbb plants being valued at £L7OO ; tho land and buildings at £6?0. One iro^ and brass foundry, employing two hands, valued at £2SO ; land and buildings £100. The'petrolenm works, worked by a ; gteam engine of nine horsepower, employ threo hands, the plaut aud machinery being worth £1,2:33;, aud tho land and bmldiug £203. Oiie tannery, employing four hands, plant' 1 being worth J £3oo ; and tho land and buildings £600. One brick work, employing throe hands, tho plant valued at £300 ; and the land and building at £100.

The Garrison Theatre. — On Monday evening last tho Eoyal Garrick Club performed before a tolerably foil house. Tho melodrama of tho "Dream at S&" was porformed, and wo are JSoro that' neithoiv labour nor cxponeo has been spared to get up tho pieco offactively, and It reflects great credit on tho abilities of tho ' manager when the small appliances aro takeu into consideration. Tho character of Launco Lyuwood was exceedingly well acted by Mr. J. ' Jlurphy, who was perfect master of tho'charactor, -;. ■, whilst Black lialph, by Mr. W. Macgiuley, was a x "--natnral piece of acting, and Richard Pondorcll, | "by Mr. Hickio, (who is tho walking gentleman I of tho piece) was quiet and gentlemanly. Of tho low Comedy characters", we cannot socak too highly, tho parts of Tommy Tioklo and Alloy Croaker, - being .iuimitablo pieces of acting, nnd serving with tho assistance of Biddy • Nats to keop tho audienco in roars of laughter. .The greatest oomplimenfc we can pay to tho gentleman who enacted tho part of Biddy Nnts, is that ho performed tho character with tho tasto and modesty of a lady, and did we not know that tho character was represented by a gentleman, our ears and oyes would have deceived as. ' Of' tho other characters, Ecd Norris, Treenail,/Anfiie Trevanion,and Margaret, — all vied *with each other in their ability. Tho interlude "Stngo Struck Hero" followed, iv which Mr. J. McKenna fully displayed his histrionic abilities ns Adolphus Garrick. His voice is good, and tbo -songs introduced by him wore well sung and made a pleasing variety to the other drolleries of the farce. The constable gave ns tho fidgets. Tho performance- conclnded with tho farce of " B. 8.," iv which Iho soveral characters wero all well sustained. Tho Club play again this evening, when His Honor tho Superintendent, the officers of tho garrison and most of the gentry of tho placo, havo 6igninod their intention of being present. The Provincial Gazette. — A' gazette was issued on tho 4th instant and contains regulations for tho salo of town and suburban allotments in the district of Ngatiawa, JMiddlo Taranaki and jNgatwuanui, Also, the fjllowing appointments : — Samuel Mathews to be Register of Dogs for the, 2nd or Henni Eoad District ; Fletcher Dixon, for tho 4th or Carrington District ; and JohnElliot for tho 14th or Tikorangi District. It con- v tains a statistical return furnished by tho Census Enumerator, of agriculture and manufactures of ihe Provinco, which will bo fouud iv another' place. Commissariat Tenders. — Wo bog to remind thoso readers who may bo interested, that this isi the last day that tenders will bo received by tho Commissariat from persons willing to supply tho Military hospital from tho Ist of J nly next to March 31, 18G9 with groceries, oilmen's stores, -dairy produce; and vegetables. Tenders must be in before noon. £4-The Bath.— We have to acknowledge the receipt of a small pamphlet, bearing the followingtitlo :: — *« The Bath Essential to Health and Cleanliness." As its title indicates, tue compiler shows by tho several extracts and comments tho utility of bathitig and cleanliness and although perhaps tho snbject is carried to an extremes point, thero ia much matter in tho book, which is interesting and useful. Tho author seems to havo a great horror of the dirt of Europeans, for ho •concludes his general observations with theso words, — " Is Europe ever to remain on the map tho black«potof filth." His comparisons aro amusing likewise, although thero is some truth in thorn. " Tho European is clean, in so far as ho is ' bo, for appearance ; he has clothes aud shooiirnshes, blacking, starch, smoothing irons &c, in theso consist his neatness. Tho clean shirt is pub upon the dirty body ; tho hands and face, being aloae open to the air and snn and tho eyes of neighbours, are washed nothing ijJTilthy that is unseen. The Eastern has no brush or blacking, no caro is expended pr expenso incurred for noatrness. He lias his religious ablutions for prayerJ Ho will not tell you he washes for his comfort or his health, but becanso it would bo a sin not to do so." Sea bathing the writer docs not believe in. ' •" That horrid sea,* 1 says tho author, "in which a savage will not bath iv unless ho lias fresh water to rinso himself, is ono of the infatuations that utterly bewilders one. Bathers in tho sea of course get fresh air and exercise 3 but do not . imagine that there is virtue in impure water, or sense in exposure of delicate forms to cold and chill." Notwithstanding tho ultra views held by <ho author wo find iv tho littlo book boforo us ?nnny useful hints, and the descriptions of the baths of different nations, both interesting and nmnsing, and well worthy of pernsnl. The pamphlet is printed and published by Messrs. LucW and Son of Nelson, for Mr; Tucker, tho compiler. £* A Newspaper at tub Thames Gom Field. — "^Tlio first number of a tri-weekly journal called tho Thames Advertiser hnd Miners News, has been published at tho Thames Gold Fields by Messrs. Corletfc and Wilkinson. In the Opening article tho following notice of the progress of the Thames gold-field fa given :—": — " The Thames gold-field is only in its earliest stage as yet. It remains to be fully developed by the energy nnd enterprise of those who are on the field, and of the thousands who are yt-t to come. What was tho state of the district tw'elvo months ago? Jfc was" a parely native district, strictly shut against Enropeans. Tho native owners had not come to neo that it' was their interest to throw thoir land open for gold. prospecting ; and they viowed with jealousy, any encroachment by^ Ihe whito .man. Bnt better counsels at length prevailed ; and now see the result. On the 17th August, 18G7, Hid Thames was proclaimed a gold-iield,/on which day the pioneers of recent" discover/ here first pet foot upon the Karaka. Hunt's reef was discovered ; other discoveries 'wero made about the same timo ; and tho success of the Kur.ika goldfield was assured. Tho first miner's right .was issnea aboutrlhe" same date ; there nre trow 4,77S miners' rights . issued* -The population, which then consisted of a score or two of meg, now numbers about 7,000, of whom' mai y are women : and children^ A J.argg. /md^popnlpus town has been formed, and homesteads nro dispersed everywhere throughout -tha. districts open,' forprospecting.. When it is remembered that with very imperfect appliances tho. Thames gold-field has produced over 15,000 ounces of gold, worth more than £35,000, in the last' six months,' it may be readily imagined what the yield would be if adequate machinery were in the district." r TtiE Iron Sand. — A prospectus has been issued in Auckland by the Bay of Islands Coal Company who have purchased Mr. MclJood's interest in tho Kowakuwa coal mines and according to the Auckland journals 1,200 shares out of 2,000 have "already been subscribed for The JJe-tald commenting on this company drifts into the subject of onr iron sand and says :—: — " There has been a great, deal said and written nbonfc utilising the iron sand of New Zealand. Now, the great item in the smeltiug of iron is fuel. Previous to the year 17-10, -wood and charcoal wero Ufed principally or wholly for that purpose. Then the southern connties of England had their iron works. But wood became scarce and dear. Tho short supply of fuel kept the Bopply ofiron on a very small Fcalo. In the year above mentioned, there wero 17,000 tons of. iron mode in En gland, — after that date coal began to be" used for smelting purposes. Tho advance in the production of iron, consequent on the substitution of coal for wood ns fnel,/has beon constant and progressive. For 1858; the the qnantity of iron made amonnted to 2,740,410 tons. It is calculated that three tons of coal aro reqnired to produce one ton of pig iron, and tho total quantity of coal nstid in cpnnection with pig aud bar iron, aud so forth, is put down at 10,500,000 tons per annum. It surely is not too much to expect that,' as tho iron trade of England received sucli a vasf impetus" from< the use of coal in connection with it, so the iron Band and iron ore of New Zealand may date the era of their utilisation, and of their conversion into a m;irketiible article, from the time when cheap coal will be at the disposal of the community. J Should this be realised, and 'wo do not see any "reascu nt~all why it'Ehonld not/but every reason why it should, we have another source of wealth Oiimid up to us of great and permanent importance."