Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 442, 14 October 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

*. The Asiilet. — This river is in fresh, and a part of the bridge approach is stated to be washed away. The Estimates. — The Provincial Council will be moved into Committee of Supply this evening, and Mr Jollie will make his financial statement. Agricultural and Pastoral Association. — A meeting of the committee will be held at Messrs Wilson and Co.'s, on important business, at 2.15 p.m. on Monday next. St. Andrew's Sunday School — tA. if.usical entertainment, in connection with the above, will be given in the High School grounds on Tuesday next, commencing at 6.30 p.m. Union Rowing Club. — A special general meeting of members was to have been held at White's Hotel) last evening, but the rain causing a poor attendance, the business was adjourned until further notice. Scientific. — 'The Astronomer - Rpyal of England is already beginning to make preparations for the observation of the transits of Venus in the years 1874 and 1882. Among the stations fixed upon for observing the former transit is Auckland, the others being Oahu (one of the Sandwich Islands), Kerguelen Island (in the Indian Ocean), Rodriguez (a dependency of the Mauritius), and Alexandria. Both the Admiralty and the Treasury have responded with alacrity to the appeal which has been made to them for funds. Lttteltox Borough Council v. H. R. Weijb, kb Peacock's Wharf. — The late decision given against the Council has caused his Worship the Ma} r or to table the following motion for discussion on Monday evening next:— " 1. That as the Resident Magistrate has decided that Peacock's wharf is outside the borough, a toll-gate be placed within the borough, at the outlet from Peacock's wharf. 2. That a committee be appointed to calculate cost of erection of toll-gate, collection of tolls, and amount to be derived from the property if rated; and to report what toll should be levied to reimburse the Council. 3. That the case be drawn up for the opinion of the solicitor, and that he be requested to meet the committee October 13, 1869." Heathc.tte.— - A public meeting was held on Tuesday »t the schoolroom, Lower Heathcote Ferry, for the purpose of receiving the report of the outgoiug Educational Committee and for the election or a new comj mittee for the ensuing year. Mr Bowers was called to the chair. The report was read, showing that a piece of land had been purchased for a direct line of roadwa} r to the school, and that Mr Lucas had presented a similar piece, so completing the line of road of 25 feet , in width, to the school from the Ferry Road. The funds in hand are about £y5. Mr Richard Davis was elected chairman, and Messrs Bamford, Hopkins, Woodford, Marsh, Bowers, Simmonds, VVebber, Davis, aud Briunicotnbe, were elected as the committee for the ensuing year. A vote of thanks ; was unanimously passed to Mr Lucas, for his handsome gift, aud to the retiring officers and committee. Saltwater Creek. — In compliance with the Education Ordinance, 1 861, a public meeting was held on Tuesday evening, in the Schoolroom, Saltwater Creek, for the purpose of receiving the report of the retiring committee, and electing a new one. .The report having been read and approved— ou proposing the names for a hew committee, a 1 reluctance was observed on the part of several to accept the office, which was explained by one of the retiring committee .enquiring of the chairman whether they were liable, either collectively or personally, for arrears contracted by their predecessors, for balance of salary said to be due to the master since 1867, but which he had consented to wait for until. a mare favourable opportunity of enforcing a ratej Ultimately, five persons consented to accept the duty, who at once proceeded to elect their chairman. The receipts were stated to be £25 2s Id, and the expenditure £12 17s 4d. • Gold Prospecting. — The local journal of yesterday learns that McMeekan and party returned to Timaru on Saturday evening having obtained good prospects at the head of the Waiho, and the vicinity, but nothing payable. They brought with them a little rough gold, and McMeekan expresses his conviction that a payable field will some day be opened there. He states that a number of holes have been sunk in various places, but not one of them has been bottomed, as it is impossible to do so without a pump. His party had no appliances, and, although they got down in one place twenty feet, they were unable to reach the bottom. . They had to work with pieces of old sack, liaving no bucket to bring up the stuff. From the surface to the full depth of twenty feet they obtained the " colour " in every spade full of dirt. McMeekan left town again on Monday, but his movements are kept secret. We also learn that from another locality in this district two or three specimens of quartz were recently forwarded to Dr Hector and he reports favourably on the same, describing the specimens as " true quartz." We are not aware that any specimens have yet been tested.

Quabtz Coj^AijrrES. — The GfSy mouth paper of Oct. 9, states that the' Golden Hill Quartz Mining Company is about to commence operations.. . To-day they are advertising for two experienced quartz miners to open out the reef. We T>elieve that another application for a mining survey of ground to be leased by a new company, to be called the Grey River Quartz Mining Company, was made yesterday at Cobden. " Quartz Reefs- in Westland.-— The local journal of Oct. 11 states :— We have repeatedly expressed our belief that quartz reefs, equal to any in the Colony, would yet be found in Westland. It appears as though the long-postponed fulfilment of the prediction was about to be verified, for on Saturday last some miners brought in specimens that would go some twenty ounces to the ton. There is not the slightest doubt whatever that the fortunate discoverers have stumbled on either- a- very • remunerative leader or a very rich reef, though they are very reticent in stating from which j direction they came. As we are not admitted behind the scenes more than others, we can only say that two very different points are stated as the site of the discovery, viz., one at the Taipo, and the other in the Totara district. In both districts undoubtedly reefs- exist, and there is every reason to "believe that they are auriferous besides. Owing to the great yields from the Thames quartzing, we are glad to say that the attention of miners has been directed to this hitherto unknown or unworked source of mining wealth, and it is probable through this cause that, before Christmas comes, we shall have a revival in Westland indicative of permanent prosperity. The Moonlight has already given proof of the value of the gold-bearing quartz of this coast, and it must also be borne in mind that the gold from here is worth nearly a pound per ounce more than that got from the Northern fields. We shall keep our readers an courant with the progress of quartz mining as now vigorously carried on in half a dozen directions that we could name, and may at least assure our readers, be the efforts of the majority of the miners now engaged in this search ever so unsuccessful, at least one highly valuable claim has been opened, and quartz, thickly impregnated with gold, got. tThe Proposed London Colonial Conference. — A meeting of leading colonists was held in London on August 4, at the rooms of the Royal Colonial Society, among those present being Sir George Grey, Mr Youll, and Mr SewelJLy The meeting was wholly of a preliminary and private character, but its object may be gleaned from the following explanatory private circular by which it was convened : — Recent circumstances have forcibly called the attention of colonists to the defects in the present system of administering the affairs of the colonies in their relation to the empire. Whatever objections may have existed heretofore to the department of the Colonial Office, as an Imperial organ for governing distant dependencies of the Crown, apply with greatly increased force to that large and important class of colonies in which responsible Government has been established. It would be superfluous to dwell on this obvious fact, or the causes and influences which tend to produce it. It is to be feared that unless a remedy be applied, the result may be a continual conflict between the mother country and her colonies, which may end in a disruption of the empire. In order to avert so great a calamity, a general desire lias been expressed amongst coloniais^to bring about, if possible, an improved organization- in this department of the Imperial Government. Various plans have been suggested for this object, which deserve careful consideration by the colonies themselves, and are proper subjects for a Conference of Colonial Representatives. The results of such a Conference properly urged upon the Imperial Government, cannot fail to receive the consideration that they, will deserve." " AngloAustralian in London," writing in the European Mail, adds : — A provisional committee was formed with. the view of organising such a . Conference, . and of making the necessary arrangements. The promoters fear that should the New Zealand people propose to be separated from the Imperial Government, and in their dire distress apply to any foreign power for assistance, the whole of Australia will sympathise with them, and this will lead to the breaking up of the Colonial Empire. . Gret.River Coal Company.— The Greymouth journal of Oct. 9 states that very little time has been allowed by the residents in Greymouth to. pass, since the new lease of the ground held by the Grey River Coal Company was granted by the County Council, until the "matter has been taken in hand in a practical manner. Some time ago a new company was.formed to . take over the lease, but they could do. nothing until, the new terms were fixed by the Council. This enforced inaction was no fault of the company, ashasbeen shown by the activity of the promoters since the lease was granted. At a meeting of a few of the shareholders held on Thursday, Mr Wylde, the manager of the late Grey River Coal Company, made the offer to hand over any interest that the company might have in the lease, and all plant and plans, in consideration of £4000 in paidup shares in the new company. This was accepted, and the new company may congratulate itself upon making a very good bargain. The new company is to be called the Greymouth Railway and Coal Company Limited, and its objects are the formation of a railway between Greymouth and the Arnold River, and the conveyance of coal, goods, and passengers, and for working the Beams of coal which have so long been known to exist on the Grey i River Coal Field Reserve. The County Council have given a guarantee of eight per cent, upon the cost of construction of the railway, and the rolling-stock, which is of itself a security to the shareholders; bnt it is well known that the traffic upon the railway

lines alone will pay a higher dividend than that, besides conferring immense direct »nd indirect benefits upon the wholexommuriity, Capitalists in Christchurch hare offered to take up the whole of the shares, with the exception of £5000 worth, and they leave this amount to be subscribed by the residents in Greymouth and the district in order to secure the establishment of an efficient local directory. We are glad to say that this will be easily accomplished, for yesterday, in a few hours, a committee obtained signatures for shares representing £4200. Very little now remains to be done to show the capitalists in Christchurch; that we are in earnest here, and it is to be hoped that little will be done to-day before the adjourned meeting of the Company takes place. It is almost superfluous to dilate upon the immense advantages which would be conferred upon Greymouth by the construction of a railway up the river, they must be so apparent to every one. Our sincere wish is that the work will not be delayed even a day by any of our business men buttoning up their pockets. JMisAT-puESERvi>'G — Our Dunedin contemporary of Oct. 9. has the following:— 'l. he question of the importation of preserved meat in large quantities into England continues to occupy a considerable share of attention in that country. The prospectus of a company in connection with the Melbourne Meat-preserving Company will shortly be issued, " with a view to carry out on a large scale, and in any of the Australian colonies that may be deemed suitable, the operations of meat-preserving as at present conducted by that company." In connection with this subject, also, we may mention that in a private letter received here from London from a late resident in Dunedin, the writer complains bitterly of the exorbitant prices charged in London for meat. " While," he says, "legs of mutton are, I hear, selling in Dunedin for 6d apiece, in London chops are sold at Is 2d, and steaks at Is 5d per lb." Cantebbury Presbytery.— The quarterly meeting was held in the vestry of St. Andrew's Church, yesterday afternoon. Present :— The Revds. Wm. Hogg, J. Campbell, J. Mclntosh, E. Powell, and C. Fraser (Presbytery clerk). Mr Mclntosh stated that an election of elders had taken place at the St. Paul's Church, Christchurch, and that the Holy Sacrament had been dispensed. He also added that he was well received during his visit to Greymouth, but that the members of the church had declined to enter into the business he was specially instructed to promote. He had preached to large congregations five times during his stay in the town, and was gratified with the attention he received. It was decided to request a commissioner, or commissioners, to attend on behalf of the Greymouth subscribers at the j next meeting of the Presbytery. A complaint and appeal, by Mr Wm. Jenkins, from the Rev. J. Gow and the Kirk session of Hobitika, was discussed, and all parties concerned were ordered to be summoned to attend the next meeting: of the Presbytery. A letter was read from Mr Gow, announcing the arrival of the Rev. J. A. F. Sutherland, at Hokitika, and Mr Sutherland's commission and the Presbyterial certificate were also submitted. Mr Gow was instructed to take measures for organising the Ross congregation, and otherwise facilitate the settlement of Mr Sutherland. Mr Hogg reported several matters bearing upon his communications with the Board of Missions of the Irish Presbyterian. Church, and by his desire Mr Fraser, in his capacity of Presbytery clerk, was instructed to write at length to the convener of the Board respecting the method of promoting missionary work in this country. The meeting then adjourned until Wednesday, the 11th of November next, when they will meet at the same time and place. ■4cclimatization.- — At a recent meeting of the Otago Acclimatization Society, Mr Clifford gave the following account of his trip to Tasmania for ova: — He said that he had not had time to prepare a written .report, which should embrace the whole of the details of what he had done, but that he would give the meeting a general idea of the results of his mission. He stated that on his arrival in Tasmania he waited on the proper authorities who had to do with the object for which he had come over, and explained to them what" the Society wished. He enquired as to how he should return as soon as possible, and was told that the barque Free Trader was expected to be back in Tasmania in time for his return, and also that he might avail himself of the visit of the Eucalyptus for the same purpose, as she was expected shortly, and would sail for Dunediu soon after her arrival. He waited for some time, but neither vessel arrived. In the meantime he visited the ponds, and determined to sacrifice a few days in order to wait for the late ova spawned in the Plenty river. Still neither of the vessels which were expected to arrive, did so, and he decided to return to Dunedin via Melbourne. On inquiry he found that_ if he left Tasmania by the boat leaving on the 22nd September, he would be in time to catch that leaving Melbourne for New Zealand on the -26th. After that he discovered that an alteration had been made, and that she was to leave Melbourne on the 23rd. This would, of course, have made him late, but just then the Eucalyptus was telegraphed as signalled, and he thought it best to come by her. He did so, and the result was that he had brought over about 1000 ova for the Otago society, irrespective of those for Canterbury and Southland. In that quantity there were very few indeed which promised to turn out bad. He might mention that the Canterbury and Southland ova were likely to be as* good, Canterbury's perhaps being a little deteriorated on account of the boxes in which they were packed. He explained that the Canterbury boxes were different in construction to those of Otago and Southland, having ends of wire and canvas, and that they were so made as to admit of greater evaporation, also that they would only admit of the application of a few pounds of snow; whereas those of Otago and Southland would

allow the application of half a cwt. He had tested the temperature of the Dunedin ponds since his return, and had found them to be at 44deg.— -a very nice temperature, indeed, for the ova to be placed in. Mr Hislop had been with him that day, and had already seen some of the fish moving. There were a few barren ones amongst them, but very few, and he had no hesitation in saying that their prospects were much better than those of the previous year. Sporting. — The Nelson Examiner of the 29th ult concludes a review of the late Randwick meeting with the following remarks: — The betting appears to be almost entirely confined to the light weights, only one of the heavy division appearing in the list. The delayed arrival of Manuka has apparently put a stop to further investments upon him, and his friends may well be cautious, seeing his great weight (9st 4lbs), and not put more money upon him uu til they see him safely landed in Melbourne. It is: absurd perhaps at this distance to speculate on a race in which ao many horses are engaged of which we know so little, but it looks as if Manuka will have several formidable; opponents, judging from the time in which several of the races were ran at Randwick, although from the practice which prevails there of starting some distance beyond the post, and taking their time from the passing of it by the leading horses in full stride, the races must appear to be run faster by some seconds than at meetings where horses are started at the post standing. Out of the eighteen ' races run at Raudwick, six, or one-third of the whole number, were ; won by the stock of. Sir Hercules, for- 3 merly the property of Mr Redwood, who has a good deal of the blood, while Circassian, the winner of two of the principal events, is by Chevalier, out of Flora M'lvor, foaled in Nelson, also belonging to Mr Redwood, who, after racing the colt here as a three-year old, took him to Sydney and sold him for £500; And again, Lord of the Hills, the sire of Glencoe, and Croydon, the winners each of two races, is represented in Mr Redwood's stud by a nearly full brother, Ravensworth — both horses being by Touchstone, while Fair Helen, dam of Lord of the Hills, is granddam of Ravensworth, the latter havin? two additional strains of Pot Bos* blood through his grandsire, Verulam, who was a son of Wire, while his sire, Lottery, was a son of Mandane, a daughter of Pot Bos. One incident of the Randwick meeting is worth noticing, as showing the vicissitudes of the turf. For several past years, Mr J. Tait, of Sydney, was largely favoured by fortune, and won most of the great races both at Sydney and Melbourne ; but at the late meeting at Randwick, during the whole four days, Mr Tait managed to pull off bat one race, and that only of small value. - !