LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 28, 15 June 1868, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

7 ■* , Likoomt,— Wc hcftj that a petition to lho Pcstmafller-Qonoral l4ln aourfiG of signature praying for a bi-wook&y mall io this place, as this io tho contro of nl largo ami inoroanlng agricultural populatlol, Wo ehould Uiliik their request Is likely to rocclvo favourable consideration, J Oattmi! DitflTnoTitfei--. Information was brought to Ohristohurlß, that somo day last wcok n mob of cattle fijtho number of thrcc-and-twonty head, ero #1 the Ilurunul, «n<l wero being driven down country. The Govornmoiit imincd: Udy despatched Mr 1111 lto innpCot thorn, and on doing so, ho discovered them to he badly dhicaocd, Tho cattlo wero dctitroycd J>y hfs ordors at Waipara, Wil may add Qiat tho pornono driving the oatflo did not como by tho usual way, evidently knowing Wiat thoy woro doing wfoitg in introducing tho cattle from the Nclnon provinco, ,; Diuuiifimio oir MJild.— Wo porcolvo that a vory great Improvement has been effeoted In tho way of letting lho publio know at tho I'ost-oflleo whon lho mails closo, Hlthorto, theso notices woro pjstod outsido, and wero often defaced by Ihose who thought of nothing elno but ml&hlof, Now, tho noticea aro posted at tho front window, and arc covorcd with glass, lo that thoy cannot ho interfered with b.| thoso outsido, Thoso notico papors give tie name of tho steamer, where sho is to sail lor, and tho timo at which tho mail oloscH. Anoluinn Ih rosorvsd for tho notification of anylchango in tho hour of closing, ehould a telegram bo. rccolvcd to that effect. i

Tnn CAiutwiNM,'— These artlstos will ro-nppoar at lho Towp Hall this ovening. MAatflTKßtAr,,— There were no cases for hearing at tho Magistrate's Court, this mornllonouon of LTTrar/roN.— <Tho usual meeting of Councillors will tako placo this evening at the usual place at 0 pm, Thh AHHMtv.— -This river is very higb) but Sansom's ooaoh got through thin morning. Wo liavo not hoard that it has ovorflowod at Fernnldo, Hanoioha BwAur,— -This district, aud the land In the vlohiHyW tho Church Bush, is undor water to neatly as groat an oxtont as at tho groat flood. TJho Drain lload ia waist deep in wator, and * covorod with debris of ovory description, Thh Avon, — ConsldoraJilo anxloty has boon folt in Christohurch itt to tho probable result of tho almost contldpua downpour of rain which has prevailed sinco Friday evening. Anticipations of another flood havo boon very rlfo, and tho Avon linn hcj n keenly watched oaeh day. Happily no sot ous symptoms are yot apparonfc, nnd it Is aoarcoly probablo that anything unploasaut can now result, Thoro hns boon ample time for any fresh to mako Hs appearance In the rlvoMslnoo tho commencement of the rain, but'taothlng is visible hoyond a alight discolouring! of tlio stream, whicli may be attributed to tlio storm water from adjacent laud, and a trifling rise of flomo fow Inches. Seeing that all father rlvors in tho provinco aro seriously iffootcd by tho rain, thoro ia reason for congratulation at this aspoofc of affalro In Ohrlstohuroh. Thh Wawakamri.— An oopldorablc apprehensions oxlst as to tho onaroachments of this rivor, wo havo taken ovory care to obtain tho most corrcot information In respect to lt j tho more so because of so many unauthentic catod roports boing ln circulation. As wo intimatou in .Saturday's Issue, the Suporlatoiir dont and Dr Hector proceeded up tho rivor on "Friday last as far as tho gorgo, Inspecting all tho places of overflow as thoy nassod along. They found that tho river had brokon out on this sldo of M'Loan's station, and that tho wator was making its way to tho hoad of tho Avon, hut tho body of wator was not ho great as to orcate any serious alarm, Since thon, howovor, the river has gone down, and thoro ls at this momont no overflow at tho spot abovo indloatod, whoro, by tho way, tho river broke out sovon years ago, Ills Honor and Dr Hcotor reached town late on Saturday night, The lattor's rccommondatlons will bo mado known In tho courso of a day or two. Our correspondent at Kaiapoi Informs uh this morning that a strong fresh is running down tho rivor, but It has not overflowed Its banks any whoro. Ho adds that on Saturday last tlio river was noarly as rough as an opon sea, X Not to nn Caught. —■ Tho West Coast ■Timm of Juno 12 has the following:— A curious dud rathor amusing episode occurred during tlio last journoy of Cobb and Co.'s coach from Clu'lstoiiuroh. Amongst tho passongcrs from tho " City of tho Plains" was a Gorman gontloman, who safoly arrlvod at tho Cass, whoro tho coach stopped for the night. On his arrival, a tologram whioh had been received at tlio lioaloy was put into his bands. Ploadlng groat fatlguo, tno pasuongor, aftor partaking of some rofroshnicnt, retired to rest, From norno cause or other, tho coach lo Hokitika did. not loavo tbo Cass until Hovon o'clook yesterday morning, but at six o'olock a speoial coach arrivod from Christohurch, ancf tho pafisongcrs wero two bailiffs, who' oiigorly Inquired for the German gentleman, . Boing, informed of his whereabouts, tlioyatonco proceeded to his roomi hut lo I . on examination it was found that tho bird had flown, Boarch was made about the promises, 'hut no traces of tho missing one could bo. discovered. Ono of tbo bailiffs came ou in the Hokltllca coach as far as Mr Walter Hue's Accommniodation llouso, at tho foot of tho Otlra Gorgo^ but without boing ablo to glean tidings of the friond ho was so anxious to flCOi-imVvJiolihcrv the runaway has been captured, or whether lho myrmidions of tbo law had to return, to Cliristoliurch dlsconsolato at having como so far on a bootless orrand, is not known,, hero at prcsont, but it scorns probablo that tho Gorman gentleman must have boon " doing It heavy " for a special coach lo ho chartered from Ohristohurcb, and two bailiffs employed in order to bring him baok to bio sorrowing friends, A Nnw llrv-r. im Woor,.—Accordlng to lho Australian Gazettk tho colonial woolproducing Intorcst in tlrcatoncd with a now compolitor In tho Rn jllsh markets, "It appears that among tliojuoaHurcs suggested to tho Chinese Government has beon ono for tbo improvement of tho| brood of shoop in Mongolia, and tho intrduuctlon of morlnos, China propor Is supplied with oheep from the flocks of Mongolia, Mwt of tho native Mongols who arc not plcits arc shophcrds ■ and tho Chinese colonists,|who aro gradually nottling in Southorn Mon&lia, aro nearly all agriculturists, But tho| Mongolo bestow littlo caro on their flocks, mid groat numbers of! the sheop aro said to polish ovory winter) uovortholcßS, tho supply lis so plentiful that tho prico of a | Uvo sheep at Tclntsln, after it has Been brought a journoy of two hundred ii^lcs, Is only two and a half dollars, or tona shillings. Tho sheep arc good, but their wool Is coarse Tho best sheep of Kant Mongolia! havo thoir wool vory much mlxod with liaiß and many of thorn seom to have nothing shut coarso hair for a covering. Tho wool fetches nearly 7d por lh at Tclntsln. It is manufactured by tho Chincso into folt, to bovnado Into caps and stockings, and a very coarlo kind of cloth of a shaggy imrfaco, laid on a fabric of cotton and wool mixed, as coarse, almcst, as sacking. Tho bost of tho wool sent to Kngland lias boon found only fit for coaoio blanketing, Tho wool from Sollnglnskl, {In Siberia, is much suporior to tho South Mongolian wool. Tho morlno sheop were introduced into Siboria by ..tlio Russian GovornmcnJ about thirty years ago, and tho sheop Aro said to ho thriving. Tho Improved qnality of wool shows how tho flocks havo urofltcd by tho Importation. I

80-touon Seal.— We understand that a design for a now seal it to bo submitted to tho Christchuroh Borough Council thia ovonIng hy Mr St Quentln; i Nnw l'inin.- .Tho first nurabor of a now iwcokly papor— tlio /tf/i'anccwwns published on Saturday, It ia tho acknowledged organ of the Cuntcrbary Alliance for tho suppression o. tho liquor traffic, and wo have no doubt will receive a largo measure of support from all who desiro to promoto tho wcllhclng of their fellow creatures. SrniNasTON, — A Government school is about to be establishe'lln this thriving little township. Tho proportion of tho funds which has to be raiscdf by tho inhabitants, in ordor to scouro tho auAsidy from tho Government, has nearly all been collected, and It Is Intended to Invito tellers for the erection of tlio schoolroom and master's house, in tho courso of noxt week. | Coat,.— Tho Auckland! Herald of June 2, nays ;— Tho Kawakawa joal-fleld Is likely to bo very soon worked, no as to afford a continuous supply of coal c uai to the demand, which is not now the case, and of which many who liavo como by uso to And its superiority over ©thor c >al, nro complaining. Tlio groat want at th mines was a good tramway to ruu tlie coal \ down to the wator side. Tlio company has within tho last week or two obtained from th i Provincial Government a quantity of iro rails nnd material, originally purchased fo tho railway, A permanent tramway will huo bo at ouce laid I down at the mines, an I as the coal oan bo ruu out from tlie scan in largo quantities, and with littlo labour, ro may look for both a cheap and rogular hu] ply nftcr a short timo. This coal Ih rapidly iccomlng a favourite with tho masters of thenteamor*. The men o* war upon tbo station nave tried it and approved it highly, and Blrico tho supply has uoon limited wo have he ud of the cngineors | on board our coasting itcamors complaining of having to fall bad again upon Knglish and Now South Wa os coals, which are not only dearer but les valuablo for Bteaming purposos. A Long lUoi.— Tho Tit:a</rtno! Observer of Juno 12 says;— A few dais ago two diggers started on a race from Maori Gully to Seapoint. The competitors'] names wero Noah Lightfoot— rather an appropriate namo as wili soon bo scon—and i" Gcordio," nnd a atuko of £5 gavo a zest tt> the race. Lightfoot proceeded by a survey track, and sped his way liko lightning tnrough Lamplougb, to tho astonishment of the Inhabitants, while " Gcordio " wont throukh German Gully and Waimea township, land so nlong the main track to the boae|. Arrived at Sea- | point, Lightfoot lost np timo in making enquiries as to whether] anyono had beon looking for him, but a. hf could hear nothing of his competitor, ho concluded that he (Lightfoot) was tho victor, which proved to be tho case, " Gcordio" Arriving ten minutes after. Both mon must havo required somo refreshment on tho conclusion of their journoy, which thoy doubtless had $ in fact, w Gcordio" acknowledged that he made one call at Stafford Town oivhls way, while tho winner did not stop at all. Tho track from Maori Gully to Lamplougb Is very bad, thoncc to Seapolnt is all that could ho desired, but tho courso taken hy " Geordlc" Is doubtless tho longer, • How MAnniAous ake Made in Nome.-— It was from an Instinct of hospitality that wo wero shown the Couseryatorio, and instructed In regard to all its purposos. Wo saw tbo neat dormitories with their battalions of littlo whito bods i Ith o kitchen with its gigantic coppors for (boiling broth, and the refectory with tho sufcllof the frugal dinner of generations of idendlcants in it. The assistant was vory proud of tho neatness of everything, and was glad to talk of that, or indeed anything clso* It appoarod that the girls wero taught reading, writing, and plain sowing when they wore young, and that tho conservatorlo was chiefly sustained by pious contributions and b -Buests. Any lingering notion of tho conventional character of tho' placo was dispelled by the assistant's hurrying to say, " And wh«[n wo can get tho poor things well married, wo aro glad to do so." " Rut how docs any ono over boo thorn ? " <* Eh 1 woll, that is cailly managed, Once a month wo dress tho| marriageable girls in their best, and take thpm for a walk Iv the street, If an honest ypung man falls in lovo with one of thorn gohiff by, lio comes to tho Superior, and dcsorlbeJher as well as ho can. ; anu domands to sco hen Kho is called, and if both nro pleased, the ftarrlagc is arranged, You see it is a very sltwilc affair, A Sxiumuii •mxvrKt'tf Sriwcv and Au«Kr.ANi>,— Tlio Auckland Herald ol Juno 2, has tho following :•— By tho arrival of tho brig Itlta, on Saturday morning, wo havo Sydnoy flics to tho Sth inst, The principal Items of news are thole which wo have received from a private Jotter, dated lato on tlio Bth instant. Irom thfe wo understand, that ondoavours aro being mado by tho merchants of Sydnoy to charter alsteamcr for the Auckland trado. This Intelligence will be most wclcouic.to the mercanfilo, and indeed general, public of Auckland, wid it would bo well if somo of our IcadlrtK merchants would actively assist tho endeavour of the Sydney pooplo. Sinco tho Government boat ceased to run, the want of a stelmer regularly trading hutween tho two ports! has been much felt. Trado In Auckland Is mready Increasing, and with the coming spring- and tho further development of our Hon goldflold, 1 there will, Inall probability, spring up a brisk trade between Auckland ana Sydney than has existed at any time, (tt ono thing we can assure tlioso In Sydnoyjwho are Interesting themselves In tho endeavour to lay on a steamer between that pert and Auckland, nnd it is this, that so «OTcro)y haro the people of this city felt tho want of a regular monthly steam service that every endeavour will be mado to render tho speculation a profitable one, as far as thoy can do so, by availing themselves of tho steamer, both for freight and otherwise. "

PBBDBfcBTON.— Itf ia intended to hold a . meeting at tho Prebpleton hotel, on Monday evening noxt:, at 7 o'clock, to appoint a Committee to make arrangements for the annual Lincoln ploughing match. Flax Dnraamo /in Auckland. — The Auckland Herald af June Q says ; —Wo have received a communication from a gentlenun who haslbeen making a tour of Wainku, Tuakau, and tho adjacent country. He roports that rapid progress is being mado in payable flax-dressing j that the greatest confidence prevails |\mong«t thos* employedupon tho new industry. lio says that good hands are in some places earning as much as seven shillings a day. Tiiat there was an abundant itoro of wealth in thia Indigenous plant nover was doubted, tho only question was, whether It woul| return a proflt for tho care and trouble bestowed upon it. Wo have much pleasure in making this announcement, as tho protltublo working of the phormium tenax promises to defclop a most Important Industry and a certain source of wealth. YsShoold Maruied|Womev Dance ?— The Imperial Review thus argues the abore question .— " There is something unseemly in the spectacle of half I dozen young married women walking on with some of the best partners in the room, whilst a row of girla arc sitting negldbtcd against tho wall I Neither ignoranco nor thoughtlessness can be pleaded in oxcu c. Women thoroughly know women, wh tever else they may know; and there Is not one of them that is not vividly conscious of what heartburning It causes to a poor ;irl to hear tbo music and watch tho maim twinkling feet of a ballroom, nnd play Vio almost ignominious part of passive spectator. Grown-up women clutching at all the toys or sweetmeats off a Christmas tree at?n juvenile party wonld not be a more unnatural spectacle. Grownup men eager to winttho stakes at a round game got up for lads hqmo for the holidays, would not be moro cruet or InhumanT) We are constrained to plead for tonderncsrand consideration on tho paft of young women who aro married, towards young women who ' aro not. Might not Sidney's words, ns ho handed f tho draught of water to tho dying soldier at LuUen, he profitably remembered— " Thy need is greater than mine." Sidney had need of it too. What need has iVmarried woman of dancing partners at nil ? jWomcn sometimes complain that they havo fio mission, and that the Held of action Is B*>lfls»ly closed against them. A married woman plight to have no ground! for such a complaint. But if she insists on it that she has, $vo arc ready with a reply. Her mission, lynongst other things, is to bo kind and go^d to girls who aro not yet at fortunate as herself. She ought to fancy them porpetualry saying to her, "Such as I am, you onco wyre." Wo do not want young married womcn*to turn match-makers. But wo do want them to forward tho cause that thoy themselves once thought so good, as their present condition testifies. They ahonld regard themselves ns positively retained for tho prosecution of the chief happiness and destiny of their sex. Thoy can do so much toward* It, If they only will. Unfortunately, they can do so much to oppose or retard it. and they do it, by. infesting bait-rooms, and walking off witltpartners under the very eyes of girla who, of owurse, are Iv the very sorest need of them," \ . Nkw Zealand Flax. — Tho Auckland Herald of Juno 2 icontalns tho following :— The new industry which has just started Into existence injhls locality— that of converting our New Zlaland flax into mats— bids fair to be succAsafiil. Mats are now produced by Mr Ma thews, of tho New North Uoad, from our it dlgcnous flax, which, for strength and dun bllity, will compete with those made from il a cocoanut fibre, and, for cheapness, they f< r excel thera. Somo of tho New Zealand flax mats have been in constant use durii g the last two years, and yet retain sufficient of their primary qualities as to give IndicatK ns of lasting a few yeara longer. Tho resul s arising from this industry will bo man r, and amongst them there is ono which can no fuil to bo of considerable valuo to tho more humble producer* of our flax, for It Is foutv that the fibre which is obtained by the hackling process, is the most suitablo for ho manufacture of mats. Tho harshness w iich is retained in tbo buckled flax, and which is so much complained of hy rop miakere and spinners, Is tho very quality tliat is required for these mats. Imported cecoanut flbro mats, say one of 2ft. Oin. lonfc and ldln. wide, vary in price from 6s Od to 8s Cd. A New Zealand flax mat of similar dimensions can be had for 2a fid, The wholesale price of the latter being 2s, therefore, |pon the score of economy alone, the New Zealjuad mats should secure a prcforence \ but thpy hare also a further claim to our countenance and support in conficquonco of their being locally niitnufaetured. Another uso can bb Jnado of the New Zealand flax as spun by Mr |fatthows, it can bo made up so ns to serve tho purpose of a good and useful mattress forlthc miners at our goldflchK To ensure a loft exterior, the machino dressed flax may be osed -for tho surface, and tho foundation made from the hackled flax, Tho mattresses can mc manufactured of any length. Ono of 6 felt long, and of the necessary breadth, will prlbubly be about 7* or Bs. The miners would! find suoh mattresses extremely serviceable and very portable. Fancy mats for drawing-rooms, and also for carriages, can be mad > of dyed New Zealand, flix, and of various tt tturts. and their weight in some instances wo iid not exceed li lbs. Mr Matthows has nis > made mats from the cabbagO'trce fibre, am in 1862 he received the honorary medal o! the English exhibition of that year for his ct ibngc-tri-e mats, which ho there exhibited. IV r Matthews' rope-walk Is about 2-20 feet in length, but is at present in a vory primitive condition. He, with tho • assistance of a boy, Is {constantly engaged in making rope from thewew Zealand flax, and should his new efforts receive the support of the public, he will mea that patronngo with an incrcoso of his own! exertions, and by so doing he will be aiding in the development of a portion of tho resources of the province.

' ' tr Tim Mrdioai, p|oi?KSßioir.— A mooting of tho medical profession bus beon hold in Melbourne, for tho pnrposo of organising a medlco-othlcnl soolotl , of which the following arc tho purposos s— 'BTlio creation of a hotter understanding between members of tho profession In their virions relations with eaoh other. The obtninn&nfc from tho publio of a moro sufficient rccfirnliion of our position nnd services, and my coiiHcquonoc a more adequate remuneration for the latter. Tho determined renlstaulo by us of the prevailing practice of public tplios to consider modical nppolntmontfl as nc icmjarlly honorary, Tho ootnbliflhmont,nofiraflmay bo possible, <>f nn equitable scale j if fees, hath In private Siractlco and In thd cane of modical witnesses. Icslfltanco to the profcHilonally domorallHing nnd pccuniai ly Injurious syntom of club practice, ns it now cxltitu, and tho subDtltution of some ireferablc mode of attending those person whoso cirounifltanneH do not enable Ilium ti pay tho ordinary charges for medical atten aiioe. Tlio prevention of imposition on mcd ml oharltiofl, Tho bettor recovery of debts y the refusal to attend patients known to lft Indebted to othor practitioners, Repression of irrogular practico by the fiy«tcnifttlc pAnecution of o/fondors against tho Morlionlttct,. Tho cntabllnhment of a courfrmadlcal, tl which disputes between mombors of the profession may bo flubmittod for arbitration , To oV-flno and to discoimtonnnco all unprofoßsionYl usages. To establish rules for guidance. in donnultatlons,"