Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 70, 4 August 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Ctvit, Skiiviom.— Wo undci'dland it is in con torn nlatlon to amalgamate tho pilot service, with tho Custom Houso Staff. TifisATui*) Rova*,,— Tho Variety troupo had rather a meagre atlciidanco last night, which in Iho moro to bo wondered ut whon tho diversified nature of Iho programmo Ih remembered. Several of tho songs woro vory much applauded, Thb Viotoiuan Land Aot, — Tho South Australian Register of lit j «-Uh nil. has an artiolo on thn operation of tho Victorian Land Act, based on a pamphlet recently Issued by our Lands department. Our contemporary says ! — " Only two years ago wo thought oursolvos secure in our agricultural pro-cm I nonco, and wo could still boast of our yeomanry, Now, iho ono has to bo wielded with fullering bund, and tho oilier feels the ground trembling boncath Its foci. Last harvest tbo Victorian yield exceeded ours by a million and a quarter bushols, Tho year boforo, whon thcrj wuh no rod rust, and while (Irant'flnotwaHyetln Its Infancy, Victoria produced nearly two-thirds as much 111 tho largest yield over known In South AuUralla. Its average per aoro Ih much higher than ours, wo adm'ti but ovon in respect of arc*, under cnitlvnlion thoro is no longer a grout gulf of nepurttlloii between us, Viotoria ban closo on CO :i,0i)0 acres, and wo havo' not much o'vo* lliroo-qunrtcrH of a million, Two season") havo totally changed our relation to eaob other, and tho change Is ntlll going on, while wo enn scarcely Hiralu our minds to a belief In Us p.-iAsihlllfcy, rtalih-nient pro.-ceds In Victoria at the rule of nearly a million acres por annum. In Mouth Australia tho pr.mml ijunusl rale is less than I fiO 000 acres, Tho total amount permanently alluualed In Victoria In ton million** and three-quarters, of an area of soiilement equal to sixteen aores por head of tho population . Tho r-ontli Australian average Is twonty aoros por head, and not long ivto it wuh deemed tinapproiichublo In lHflo thorc wore, as wo havo shown, less thuu 4,000,000 acres alluuatod In Viotoria During iho next «lx years, 0 750,000 wore added to tho total, or at tho rale of fully a million por annum, On tho i.,000,000 acres )oi/*f«l n j> lo tbo ond of 1800, thoro woro more than 4000 resident touaniH— half us largo a yeomanry an thai of Mouth Australia— oro Hod In el(<hi.o«ii months. Tho total numbor of pooplo located on tbo land was 1-1,580, and iho amount of monoy invested iv Improvement-! £6:10,000, , Bi'itioh and Piwhuhtai'loN,— On Saturday evening tho employe* at the Lyttelton stullon of the Caiiloi'but'y Railway invited thoir lato Htatlon-mastoi*, Mr G. Jfllzmaurlco, toitmippor at tho Quoon's llotol, and tho opportunity was takon to present tbat gentleman with a testimonial as ii mark of their high ostoom. An excollout suppor wan provided, to which all prcuont did amnio justice. Tho chair was tnkon by Cnpt, W. Turner, and tho vlccchnlr by Mr ,1, Kuves, About forty persons woro present. A flci* supper, and after the usual loyal tenuis hud boon proponed, Capt, Turner briefly alluded lo tho buulnosfl of tiio ovlnlng, and culled upon Mr Lano to read tho address, which was ns follows i — " To G, Pitxinaurico,— H Is with deep regret Hint Iho employes al; (he .Lyttolton station of tho Canterbury Railway hear that it Is your inlonlion lo loavo Lyttolton j thoro is not ono an long us but feels sorry that wo aro about to loso ono who is esteemed and respected not only by the employe's, but by ovory person with whom you have any connection. Wo arc sure thoro in not an Individual iv this room but will agreo with us In wbihlng you ovory micccfls in your now undertaking i and wo also hope (hat your successor may in some measure fulfil the duties now rendered vacant by your leaving uhj and wo sincerely trust that yon will accept thin small token of our esteem and respect, Tho employes thank you for (ho kindly Interest you nave always tak'tm in thoir welfare, and tho mnnnor In which you havo laboured for tho comfort oC all putties concerned. Wo arc sorry wo could not give you a moro substantial token of our regard for your welfare, but hopo that wherever you may be, or whatever your oooupadon, you will not forget (ho employes on lhe Lyltelton Railway." Mr R. llasloclc, ou behalf of tho employes, presented tho testimonial, which consisted of v flno marblo (Imepleee, surmounted with a bronzo equestrian figure of Victor Minitianiiol, and bore tho following Inscription-— "Pro* Honied lo floorgo Pllziuaurlco, Htatlon master, as a mark of esteem and respect, by Iho employes of Iho Lyi 10l lon and Ohristchurch Railway, Aug, Ist, 1808," Mr Pll/maurlcc. In returning thanks for iho testimonial, and (ho way In which ho had boon spoken of, said he (hanked thorn very sincerely, for ho knew thoy mount all they bad said- ho accepted lt, knowing well 11, cumo from (ho right placo— tho heart— and was an expression <»f good will lo him. Ho was sorry thoy had dipped their hands so deeply into their pockets, and he would thank them all for assisting him lo carry out, during (he past fow months, his arduous dudes, for thoy were so, The opening of Iho lino entailed a heavy amount of labour on all, but thoy had worked cheerfully and willingly, early and bite, knowing Dial ho would not givo thorn an unnecessary order, or givo (hem extra work ; ho had to (hank (bom for this, and felt ll very much. Ho would often think of them individually, and ho hoped In a fow years to see (horn again i for although ho was going away ho hud a /{real interest ln Canterbury. Tho toast of Messrs Holmes and Co. was given, Mr Fitzmaurice responded, and passed a,high fluloglum on .hoso gentlemen, Jle was) sure all present agreed (hoy were good employers j If (hero were' any complaints, which ha was glad (o say there had not been, they know thoy could always go to 'them, and bo heard, and obtain redrew, and ho know (ho- firm woro proud of thoir stair. Several plhor (oivh(s were given, aud gome excellent singing enlivened tho meeting,

XLYT-I'J'.r/rOK VOMJKTHKK Aum&wiY. — • Yestoi'day afternoon tho gun detachment, under tho command of Capt, Knowlcs and Lieut, Taylor, proceeded to Battery Point Xor practice Major .Rookcs was present. The Arlng with solid shot was excellent, tho reef being struck several tlmos. Tho practice with tho timo and percussion fuzo shots was vory imperfect, Although set at a proper scale, and tho HnoZgood, tho shots fell nt random, somo bursting when 500 yards from the giuTij Tho usual adjutant's parado took place last night) tho band was present, and playcd'somo musical selections, VOMINTWKtt iNM'KOT.ON. — TllC USUttl monlhly Inspection of tho Chrifltcburch Voluntcors took placo at the drill shed last night. Llcut.-Col. Tacko wus in command, and in addition to a largo muster of tho Cavalry, Artillery, and Rides, tho Cadet Corps assembled In considerable strength. A ftcr the official examination of arms and aocoulromeuls, the Engineers and Rifles were put through' several battalion movements, the Artillery being at iho same time engaged at gun drill, and the Cadels at company mnneouYrcs under the .Instruction of Sergt.Major Morgan. Tho whole of tho evolutions woro satisfactorily executed, but tho Cadets deserve more especial mention for the aptness and Intelligence which they evinced in obeying orders, After about an hour's practice, (ho whole force formed fours, nnd headed by the Cavalry band, marched through several of the principal streets in tiio city, subsequently returning to (lie drill shed whoro thoy wor6 dismissed, The total mustor was about .'IOO of all ranks. Cunnon FxTiiNfltoN.— Coploflof tho following petition have been forwarded to (ho Churchwardens .of 'tho various parishes}— To tho Vonorablo tho Diocesan Synod of the dloccflo of Christchurch, New Zealand. Tho potition of (ho undersigned members of tho Church of -England in tho said dloccso, humbly Hhowolh, that Church building was ono of tho objects for the furtherance of which tho Ecclesiastical Fund of (ho Canterbury Association was orglnally established: that tho fund thus established was transferred to tho Church Property Trustees, to bo used for this among other purposes ,* that so long as Provincial grnnts continued to bo made to a considerable amount for Church building, and so long iw thoro was pressing need for (ho erection of. parsonage houses in sottlcd parishes, it was reasonable that the claim of Church building to receive aid from the Church Properly Trust Fund should remain ln aboyaneo i that Provincial grants for Church building having now ceased, and (hero boing no probability whatever of (heir being renewed, and an no less (ban thirteen parsonago houses have been built by tbo aid of larger or smaller grants from tho Church Properly Trust Fund, il appears to your potitlonorfl that the timo has now arrived whon tho Church Property Trust Fund should bo so administered as lo include assistenco to Church building among Us objects. Your poliUonors therefore beg your Venerable Synod to lako this subject Into your earnest consideration, and to doviso plans, in conjunction wilh tho Church Property Trustees, by which material assistance may bo given, by way of loan or grant, towards 'the erection of Churches without interfering with Httch duo provision as it may scorn reasonable to mako from this fund towards tho maintenance of tho clergy, And your petitioners will over pray," Copies of the pollllon are left for slgnaturo at Messrs Hawkes and Strouts, Shcppard and Co.. nnd tho DopOfc of tho Christian Knowledge Society. How Pavku is Madi*> in China, — •vTost of tho paper usod in China is made from tho bark of various trees and plants, and from the bamboo. Tho manufacture of bamboo paper Is earrlod on extensively in tho southern part of tho country, In delecting stock from iho bamboo plantations ou the mouutulnn, preference is given to the atoms which are about lo put oui branches and loaves. lCurly In the mouth of Juno tho eanos aro cut to nieces, from flvo to sovon fcot long, and placed lo a pit which is ntipplied with water, After soaking for several weeks, the canes are beaten with mullets, In ordor to removo the thick bark aud greon skin. Tho remaining filaments, resembling a lino sort of hemp, arc treated with llmo and water, raised to v certain temperature, After remaining in this bath for about a week, tho filaments aro ro* moved, washed with cold water, pus-tod through a Icy mado of wood and ashes, aud then placed in a boiler, This process Is repeated until the material begins to grow putrid, when It Is transferred to a mortar and pounded Into a pulp by means of water power, aftor which the mass is treated with bleaching powder. Tho pulp, thus prepared, Iv mndo by hand Into sheets of various thickness by moans of a web of silk tissuo within a light frame, on to whioh tho workman places the required quantity of pulp. Whon the water bus run olt from tho corners of tho frame, he tuniM tho sheet over on to a largo tablo, when It Is prossod, Each shoot is afterwards raised and dried separately in a kiln built for tho purpose, Writing-paper Is mado from tho finest part of tho bamboo material. Anothor kind ls mado by mixing rice straw with tho bamboo fibre. A very strong* pujier, usod for window blinds, and other articles which, in this country, aro generally constructed of woven substances, in. mado by mixing 00 per cent, of tho bark obtained from a trco called *' tohou," with 40 por cont, of bamboo mutorlal, Anothor variety of strong paper is obtained .from tho bark of tho mulberry trco. and is used In tho breeding and culturo of silk worms. '. Tho snmo matcrlul, mado from thinner pulp, ie omployod In tho manufacture of umbrellus, fans, and drc* screens, Bark pnpor, which is to bo painted, is first passed through a solution of alum water to destroy tho iioo filaments whluii aro commonly ifohndZon ithe' upper side of tbo hliccUis it lie*} in tjio, silk tissuo framc-*-tho lower'Mtlo in cohtact'-with the tissuo being "muoh moro smooth. For many uses, whon paly ano qofour la required, (be Cl-1 >UrJn,g J» added te tho pulp.

X ConnuoTiow,— ln our report of tho eases heard yesterday at the Christchurch Resident Magistrate's Court, it was stated that arrangements wero boing mado to send Annie Driscoll to the Female Home. It is hardly necessary to say that ' " Rcfugo" was meant, Punr.ro Holiday.-- Tho Borough Council havo Hupplementcd tho proclamation of v holiday for Government oillcials on tho Cth inst,, by issuing a similar one on behalf of tho citizens of Cbriatchurch, nnd inviting tradesmen to close their rcaucctivc places of business in honour of H.R.11, the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday, XTi.k Stkiu'm:chaßk,— Tiio following are the entries for tho selling steeplechase of 40 soys, ; entrance 3 guineas j about two miles ; tho winner to bo sold by auction immediately after the raco, and any surplus to go to the fund .—Mr C, Frank's br. g. Merrlmac, aged, £40 j Mr R. M. Morten's eh, g. Envy, aged, £50 j Mr T.Millet's b.g. Duke, aged, £30} Mr H, Hill's eh. g. Kismet, G yrs, £30 j Mr Hi Princo's b.g. Trump, aged, £50 $ Mr W, D; Barnurd's gr. g. Don Pedro, uged, £40. Affaiiw in Piiancb, — , be correspondent of the i'atl Matt Gazette of April 00, «ays :— " Tho talk of tho moment is the conflict between the committeo on the budget and the Minister of StHtc upon one sldo, nnd the Minister of War and Marine on the other. Marshal Kiel and Admiral de Genoullly obstinntuly refuse to abate their demands nnd ro'Juco tho expenditure of their department*, ami invariably reply to tho arguments of M. Rouhcr and the comuiiti<>c with a non pos~ sumus. The committee is seriously annoyed, and cannot understand why th-^e Ministers should refute the reforms demanded, or withhold explanations which mi^lu cause the committee to modify itu opinion. Marshal Nlel has Bald something about Count Moltke nt Berlin being constantly engaged in studying* tho best road to P,tri*, but ho wns un«wcrcd by M. lumber that be hid himself probably studied the shortest way to Ucrlin. If tho committee nnd the two Mini-Hern cannot settle their difference, thoy will have to appeal to the Chamber, us in the cane of tbe Garde Mobile RID. In dialing with tbe Budget the committees experience oonakk-rthlc difficulty, for they have to deal with figures furnished .by tho Government on probabilities. The consequence is that a Budget presented to the committeo with a surplus, before it is dono with, exhibits a deficit. There waa n curious example of this iv 18Q4 ; the liudget Hhowcd a surplus of 6,000,000, and although the real resources greatly surpassed the Uovernment Ci-tlmutci-, thero wus in tbe end v deficit cf 71,000,000, How the struggle between tbo War Minister ami tho committeo will end remains to bo seen. A discussion will soon como on iv tho Chamber concerning the Hute of commerce, and a violent -.Uncle will be mado on free trado, Thut trade is bud ut present may bo judged from the fact that there wero no less than acventy-flve bankruptcies declared during the ilrst fortnight of April In Paris." ttß*qM>ai«««»«M»»awKjUJoia«»Biii,i»M«iii,ii» ii, — n