The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1870. LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XII, Issue 489, 2 February 1870, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1870. LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[from our own correspondents.] REPOETED ARRIVAL OF THE MATOAKA. Christchubch, Tuesday, 4.54 p.m. Judgment was given to-day m the case of Holmes and Richardson ver&ux Rolleston, Superintendent, iv favour of defendant. A telegram has been received from Hokitika from the steamer Gothenburg, from Melbourne, to the effect that the ship Matoaka had arrived m London. How the intelligence reached Melbourne is not known. Napier, Monday, 5.5 p.m. A deputation waited on Mr McLean to request him to open up the Ohenimuri as a goldfield. Mr McLean replied that Government had offered Hira certain terms, which he expected would be accepted, and on receiving a reply he will act. Mr Firth was arrested by mistake at Hamilton as a deserter. He was subsequently released by an order from Col. Moule. Forly king natives, under Maritona, left Toktingamut v on the 24th instant, and joined our forces against Te Kooti. A spy of Te Kooti's lias been taken prisoner near Tapapa camp. Mnjor Fraser has not yet joined Colonel McDonnell. The schooner Banshee, from Dunedin, arrived on the 22nd from Auckland. The s.s. Auckland, from Sydney, arrived on the 23rd. Sailed for there on the 28th. Timaru Races.— On Friday last Mr F. W. Stubbs sold by auction the right of erecting a grand stand, &c. on the race ground at the time of the races. Exceedingly low prices were realised as follows : Grand stand £3 3s ; refreshment booth £2 5s ; ditto £2 ; wine and beer license £4 4s ; horse yards £2 ; and Aunt Sally and a boxing booth together brought 8s 6d, making a total of only £15 Os 6d. Borough Councii. Election. — On Friday next the polling for the election of a gentleman to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr R. Turnbull will take place at the Town Clerk's office. The candidates are Mr T. French and Captain Cain. Timabu Hospital. — A meeting of the Comissioners was held on Monday last. There were present Messrs Luxmoore, Hewlings, and Bolfield. Four tenders were opened to furnish the new hospital. It was resolved that the business of selection of the various articles be entrusted to some one competent to judge of the quality, &c. of the goods required, — and it was further resolved that this duty be entrusted to Mr R. Turnbull. Timaru Gold Prospecting Association. — A meeting of the committee of the above | association was held at the Herald office on Monday, to receive the report of the gentlemen who have recently visited the Waiho country. The report stated that the money of the Association had been well spent m furnishing the prospecting parties, and that although no payable gold had been found, yet from the gold picked up m the various creeks, and m the river bed of the Waiho, it was quite possible that a reef parable to work might be discovered. The report further stated that instructions bad been left with Strong's party to bottom the shaft they are now engaged m, and . then to thoroughly test a quartz reef discovered last Thursday. After this, and pending the analysis of the stone, the men were ordered to shift their camp higher up the river, and thoroughly prospect the country about.

The English Mail — The Gothenburg arrived at Hokitika yesterday, bringing, we I presume, the English mail. The news pub- | Hailed in another column came by sailing Teasel to Wellington on Monday afternoon, and a portion was at once telegraphed to the principal towns, but not to Oamaru and Timaru. Our message only came to hand yesterday afternoon, and we were therefore unable to issue our usual extra. By the Gothenburg news has been received of the reported arrival of the Matouka at London. The Caiundinis. — These talented artistes are again giving entertainments in Dunedin, and are likely to visit Tiinnru in due course. Waimate Flax Mill. — We recently had an opportunity of inspecting Messrs Bruce and Drummond's flax mill at the Wuimate, and through the courtesy of the proprietors we are enabled to present our readers with the following particulars : — The machinery employed at the mill docs not differ essentially to that of most other mills, but one notable feature in Messrs Bruce and Drummond's mill is its completeness in its several parts, and the substantial character of the buildings and plant. The building under which the various operations of flax dressing is carried on may be divided into three sections — one containing the stripping machines, and the gear necessary for working them, and the platform on which the flax is stowed for feeding the machines ; one the engine room ; and the third division is allotted to the scutching process and for a store room. The first section, measuring 27ft x 24ft, is open at the front and on one of the sides. In front is a large platform on which the flax is deposited. Immediately in the rear, adjoining this platform, are four stripping machines, two manufactured by Kiucaid and McQueen, and two by Wilson, both Dunedin firms. All four machines are after the pattern of Price's, of Onehunga. These machines show one important improvement to those manufactured in Chrisrchurch in their being provided with a cover on top, which prevents the dust of the green flax passing through the machine from incommoding the person feeding it, which used to be a source of serious annoyance. The machines are fed in the usual way, the flax being passed leaf by leaf through them. After leaving the stripper the flax drops on to an endless belt running under the four machines, which bolt conveys the half green fibre to the outside, where it is quickly seized by boys standing on each side of the belt, and placed on a sort of tressle, from which it is taken and placed to soak in wooden troughs near at hand. The endless belt is constructed of light laths fastened to a couple of stout india-rubber bands. It is 18ft in length and 18in wide. The troughs, four in number, in which the flax is placed to soak, are 12ft x 4ft, supplied by a pipe with a constant flow of water. The water for the supply of the whole establishment is brought by pipes from the Waimate river, at a distance of about seventy yards. The water is not only most abundant in supply, but is of very exellent quality, being exceedingly soft, and quite free from earthy or mineral substances. The flax is allowed to soak iu the troughs for about twelve hours, when it is taken out and hung on wires to bleach. The portion of the building U9ed for a storeroom and for scutching measures 30ft x 24ft. The scutcher is not yet at work. It will be one of six arms, and covered in by woodwork, so as to preclude danger to the hands employed in passing through the flax. The proprietors, though, have in contemplation the construction of a wnsher nnd scutcher combined, which they believe will not only turn out a better article, but will cheapen somewhat its production. They have already made experiments with a washing machine made on the premises, but it was found not to answer their expectations. The enginehouse measures 27ft by 10ft. The engine which snppl'es the power reqnired is a compact piece of machinery of 8-horse power, manufactured by Tuxford and Sons, of Boston, England. As yet the mill is not in full work, owing to the difficulty of procuring boy labour. When in full swing the mill will employ fifteen hands, besides cutters and draymen iu the field, and will turn out about four tons of dressed flax weekly from twenty tons of green. The supply of flax is from a bed of many hundred acres in extent on the Waiho flat, most abundant iu quantity, and of, we were told, the best quality. This flax will keep the mill going for n few years, but the proprietors intend to plant for future provision. One gentleman at the Waimate intends laying down about ten acres in flax this coming season, and we hear of others about following his example. New Zealand Flax. — A flax bush, properly treated, will yield two crops a year, or, iu other words, every acre of ground will produce 15 tons of green flax — of fibre about two tons. This sold at the low price of £20 per ton, gives £40 an acre, or £40,000 from 1000 acres. Flax like every other article of commerce, commnnds a price according to quality, inferior grades being about £20 per ton, a better quality from £30 to £40, while extra fine is worth £50 per ton. At the latter figure a thousand acres of flax bush would produce £100,000 per annum. It cannot be expected however that tho entire product of an estate will be extra fine. A fair way of arriving at the aggregate yield would be to divide the gross amount into Ist, 2nd, and 3rd classes, and accept £40 as the mean price, which would give £80,000 a year. The following is an estimate of the cost of preparing and putting into the market 4 tons : — Depreciation of machinery, 12s ; 8 men's wages, 25s per week, £10 ; one man at engine, £1 15 ; 12 lads at 12s, £7 4s ; 2-1 tons of green flax at 15s, £18 ; packing, baling, &e., £4 ; 2 tons Bcwt. of coal at 20s, £2 8s; freight and sundry other expenses, say £S ; making a total of £51 19s for 4 tons, or £12 19s 9d for 1 ton. Deducting this sum from £40, the mean price of the fibre, we hare £27 0s 3d left as a net profit per ton, or £54,050 on the 2000 tons of fibre, token from 1,000 acres of land. The estimated cost of machinery is — An eight-horse engine with Cornish boilers, £200; four machines at £22, £88 ; scutching hooks, £15; one screw press, £12 ; building, £185 ; making the total cost of a mill, £500. All this refers to the manufacture of indigenous flax with the present rude appliances and comparatively unskilled workmen. Were it, like many other branches of industry, reduced to a science, the estates cleared off, the best quality of flax planted and properly cultivated, gathered carefully, and manufactured with a view of producing the finest and whitest fibre, the profits per annum would be very largely increased. — Southern Cross.

Rksii»ejjt Magisthate's Coubt. — We are compelled to withhold our report of the proceedings of this Court yesterday, on account of the long summary of the English mail news. The Timaru Accident. — The report of the Court of Inquiry on the lute boat accident at Timaru has been published in the General Government Gazelle. Some remarks by Captain Johnson, Nautical assessor, are appended. Their gist is contained in the following paragraph : — " I consider that the weather at the time of the accident was not so bad as not to justify the use of the shore or ship's boat, but the accident arose from the mismanagement of the latter ; that, although every exertion was made by those on board to save lives, some errors of judgment were committed under great excitement." With regard to the remarks alleged to have been made by Captain Malcolm relative to Mr Balfour's control over the boats, Captain Johnson points out that Mr Balfour had do such control. Entertainment for the Bknefit qm Mr S. Knight.— On Friday evening last an entertainment was giveD at the Mechanics' Institute, Timaru, for the benefit of Mr S. Knight, by members of the Timaru Choral Society and the Garrick Club, of which societies Mr Knight has long been a member. He has, indeed, invariably assisted at entertainments given by these societies, and being about to leave the district the members reBolved to present him with a complimentary benefit previous to his departure. Friday evening, however, presented a wretched prospect for any species of amusement, as rain fell continually nearly the whole evening, and there was iu consequence a very poor attendance ; so much so that it was at one time doubtful whether the entertainment would be proceeded with, and a few people left in consequence. Some of the members of the Choral Society were also absent on nccount of the weather, and the programme was consequently not adhered to. After songs, the farce of " Retained for the defence" was performed by members of the Garrick Club, but the small attendance appeared to damp the spirits of the pliiycrs, and it scarcely went off with as much spirit a3 on the last occasion. After a gentleman had ageeeably filled up the interval for the change of characters, the old farce of a " Blighted Being" was put on the boards, and passed off pleasantly. The characters were effectively sustained in both plays by the dramatis pnrnome. Owing to tho poor attendance it was announced that a second entertainment would be given this evening. A Good Old Age. — The Mar/borough Exprexn records the death of Mr Michael Murphy, aged 100 years. The Sugab and Blanket Policy. — The Auckland papers announce that a monster meeting of natives is to be held at Raglan in February, to celebrate a tangi over the grave of the warrior chief William Naylor. From all accounts this will be the largest meeting ever held by natives, over 2,000 being expected to attend. Among other native cele britics, his Majesty Tawhiao has sent notice of his intention to come, attended by his Ministers and 400 of his loyal subjects. His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Donald M'Lean, Native and 'Defence Minister, are also expected to honor Raglan with their presence on this occasion. No doubt there will be a great native feast at the expense of the colony. Gale in Pout Chalmers. — The Gtago Daily Timtiot Friday last says : —" A terrific N.W. gale swept over Port Chalmers from 2 to 4 o'clock yesterday morning, doing considerable damage on shore. Dr Basire's front verandah was entirely cairied away, and the debris, being dashed against Captain Loudon's back door situated at a distance of 200 feet off, broke it in. The gale also tore up some fine fruit trees by the roots, knocked down fences, and did other damage. It was followed by a calm lasting for an hour and a half, when a strong sou'-wester sprang up, which died away towards the afternoon. Never within the memory of the residents of Port Chalmers, has a heavier gale been experienced. All the vessels in the harbour though heeling over considerably, remained fast to their moorings.