Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 474, 23 November 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

! Thistle Ordinance. — A Provincial Gazette, issued yesterday, notifies that Mr Nicholas Ellis is appointed an inspector uuder " The Thistle Ordinance 1866." Charitable Entertainment.— An entertainment, for a most deserving case of charity, will take place shortly at S. Luke's schoolroom, kindly lent by the Rev E. A. Lingard for the occasion. />A Maori Prophecy. — The Wairarapa Maoris prophesy that the coming summer will be very dry and hot, and that the rivers in that district, which are already very low, will be altogether dried u|n Inquest. — An inque3Tr was held at the Criterion Hotel, Akaroa, before J. Watson, Esq., R.M., acting coroner, and a jury, upon the body of George Soamcs, who had died in the hotel on the previous day. After hearing the medical and other evidence, the jury brought in a verdict that the deceased had died from natural causes, accelerated by intemperance and exposure to the weather. Bankk-Ptcv. — An adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of John O'Malley, contractor, Christchurch, was to have been held before Mr Davis, at noon, yesterday, but no creditors attending, the estate was declared to be vested in the Provisional Trustee. The liabilities amount to £86 Gs 2d; and the assets to £23 IOs; deficiency, £62 16s 2d. Mr Joynt is solicitor for the bankrupt. \The Maori Prisoners at D_nedin\— The j wnole of the Maori prisoners, with the excep- ; tion of two who are ill, are now at work. Thirty-eight are at work at the High School forming a recreation grouud, thirty are enI gaged in stone-breaking at tbe Botanical | Gardens, and the rem lining three are eraployed in cutting firewood. The conduct of the whole 7 1 is said to be extremely good, and is highly commended by their overseers. The chief Taurua, renders every assistance to MrCaldwell, the Governor. He states that the whole of the tribe will conduct themselves during their confinement in such a manner that, when the time arrives for petitioning His Excellency the Governor to grant them their release, the Gaol authorities will be able to report favourably of their conduct and industry. The chief further states that the prisoners prefer Dunedin Gaol to the hulk at Wellington, as they all like work better than idleness on board a hulk!^ Gold Prospecting. — The Timaru paper of Saturdny last, says : — A very fine specimen of gold, rather over half an ounce in weight, obtained from the Waiho tome months ago by Dow and party, is now on view at Mr Turnbull's store. The gold is uot much water-worn, and is mixed with quartz, which appears as though it had been detached from a reef in the vicinity. One piece of quartz, studded with gold, is about the size of a pea. We believe the gold was obtained near where a quartz reef was recently discovered by Howard, and where a mining reserve has been made by the Provincial Government on bis recommendation. Howard has recently taken up powder and other requisites, and is now at work at the reef. We learn that Thew and party are still working at Fox's Peak, and are still as hopeful as ever of success. They have struck iron pyrites in large quantities, and assert that the accounts recently given by the men who have left the locality are not to be relied on. • Boat Race at Kaiapoi. -On Saturday jast a race took place between the Cure Boating Club's Cure and Undiue, both boats being manned by club members. The distauce was three miles, and a capital start was effected by Mr J. C. Boddington, from the Swing Bridge, that being also the winning point. The Undine's oars took the water first, and she made a slight lead; the Cure, soon, however, drew up level, when a hot race ensued, first one then the other boat leading by a foot or so, at one point the Undine being nearly a length ahead of her adversary; in this manuer the race continued until off Harris' Island, when the Undine, coming into rough water, began to lose ground; still the boats were close together at the turn. The Cure got round splendidly, and made a great lead on the Undine, which is a bad boat to turn, and in the excitement of tbe race had been suffered to overshoot the mark. By the time the Undine was rouud, the race was hopeless for her, nevertheless, she gained considerably on her adversary in the run home, finishing about fifty yards astern of the Cure — time, 21 minutes, j A large number of spectators occupied the bridge and wharves. The Cure's crew were — Messrs H. Kerr (bow), A. Clark (*>), J. Feldwick (3), R. I-I. Matthews, stroke, C. Oram (cox). The Cure was rowed in the old colours of the club (scarlet), and the Undine in the new colours (purple). Tlie crew of the Undine have challenged that of the Cure to race again, at an early date, over the same j » course, with an exchange of boats. '

Station Phopsbty in Otago. — Our Dunedin contemporary is informed that Mr Robert Campbell, the father of Mr Robert Campbell who lately sat for Oamaru in the House of Representatives, has recently invested about £120,000 in the purchase of station propeity in the Otago province. YThe New Zealand Flag. — The following is from a Wellington contemporary : — The Blue Ensign, with the letters N.Z. in one corner, has been, since 1867, adopted as the New Zealand flag, and some discussion has been raised by the Imperial authorities as to the right of colonial vessels to fly'ly A correspondence has taken place on the subject, which has resulted in the right to use the Blue Ensign being accorded to the Colony. /By proclamation in the Gazette the temporary-badge, consisting of the letters N.Z., is discontinued, and it is appointed that the seal or badge future to be worn as distinctive by all vessels employed in.the service of the "Colonial Government of New Zealand shall be the Southern Cross, as represented in the Blue Eusign by four fivepointed red stars in the fly, with white borders to correspond to the coloring of the Jack ; in the Jack by four five-pointed white stars on the red ground of the St. George's Cross; and in the Pendant by four stars near .the staff, similar to those in the EnsignL Sparrows. — Many people continue to be of opinion that it was a pity to import sparrows. The following, from a New York paper, may tend to alter their opinions :—A few j-ears ago the streets of New York and' Brooklyn were infested with bugs and worms that riddled all the vegetation, hung in great festoons from the trees, swung in the air on every side, drove the whole population from what Avas once the cool and comfortable shade, making the sunny side of the street the refuge of the pedestrian, and the parks no longer pleasure resorts, but nuisances. People were always dodging these pests in walking ; in the cars they picked them from each other's bonnets, in church from each other's backs. It was like a plague of Egypt, and people cried out for a Moses. The little European house-sparrow undertook that role, and was successfully introduced into the parks and open spaces, and everywhere its enemy and surs vanished before it. The difference in enjoyment between a summer in New York now and three years ago is very great, which difference of comfort must be laid to the account of our faithful little ally. SparroAvs are now seen in this country by the thousand, and not only are they scavengers of cities and keepers of parks —not only do they make streets habitable and shade trees grateful, but they are worth their Aveight in gold to fruit-growers in the country round about. The only sufferers, indeed, by their domestication here are the comic papers, which used to be full of woodcuts describing the old discomforts — Adolphus making love to Angelina Avith a pair of the bauished enemies hanging to the Avaxed ends of his moustache, she wearing a cluster of them en chignon, and so on. All that resource is closed noAv for the humorous artists. R 1-sbrves. — A Provincial Gazette issued yesterday, notifies that the following reserves have been made temporarily, under the 19 th ! clause of the Waste Lands Regulations : — No. 1080, in red. — Three hundred and ten acres, more or less, situate in the Oxford District, commencing at a point on the Forest road, the same being sixty-nine chains fifty links distant from and north-east of Trig station 0*36 ; thence westerly at an augle of 41 deg. with the said road, a distance of one hundred and tAvo chains to the northern bank of the Waimakariri ; thence southerly and easterly folloAving the said bank to the road before-mentioned ; and from thence returning along the road to the commencing point : subject neA r ertheless to sections 7735, 6766, and 3599. No. 1236, in red. — Ten acres, more or less, situate in the Oxford District, commencing at a point on the road forming the south-eastern boundary of section 13,678, the same being five chains south of the south-eastern corner of that section ; thence south-westerly following tbe said road a distance of ten chains, and extending north- Avesterly ten chains in a rectangular block— For a Gravel Pit. No. 1237, in red. — TAvelve hundred and tAvo acres, more or less, situate in the Ash burton and Timaru districts, commencing at a point on the southern side of the road leading by Trig, pole 79, the said point being thirty-two chains north-east of Trig, pole 78; thence northerly folloAving the said road a distance of eighty-tAvo chains ; thence Avesterly at an angle of 102 deg. 5 mm., following a straight line to the road by Geraldine and Orari ; thence southerly following the latter road a distance of about eighty-two chains eighty links ; and from thence returning in a line parallel to and one mile distant from the northern boundary to the commencing point —For purposes of the Rangitata Bridge. No. 1238, in red— Fifty- three acres, more or less, situate in the Lincoln district, bounded on the northward by the Ellesmere junction road and Reserve No. 310, in red; on the eastward by theWeedon and Ellesmere road; on the Avestward by the aforesaid reserve and section No. 4052 ; and on the southward by section 6 ; 38 ; subject to Reserve No. 302, in red — For purposes of a tramway. Neav Zealand Flax.— The following letter, signed "M. Whytlaw," appears iv a Sydney contemporary .- — Although I have no personal concern Avhatever in the New Zealand flax trade, I have been sorry to observe the alarm taken by underwriters an d others as to the supposed danger of shipping that article to England or other distant ports. That a rising industry which promises, at no distant day, to be one of great importance, not only to our neighbours, but to ourselves, should be checked, or have unnecessary obstacles thrown in its Avay, is much to be regretted ; and as formerly I was many years engaged in the preparation of the phormium tenax in New Zealand, and made shipments of the fibre both to Australia and England with perfect safety, I may be allowed to make a few remarks on this important sub-

ject. I am perfectly convinced, from long experience and knowledge of the article itself, that there is nothing peculiar in New Zealand flax to render it more liable to this spontaneous heatinge than othr substances of a similar kind, such as hemp, jute, &c, of which such enormous quantities are sent annually to England. The whole dangr lies in the flax being packed and shipped in a damp state, — a condition which there is no difficulty in detecting, and that all the more readily here, after the short voyage hither has given time for any dampness in the bales to develope itself, under examination by a competent party. It is a wise precaution, therefore, of the insurance companies to insist on such an examination being made before takiug the risk. It is a mistake to suppose that the danger of heating arises from the flax being insufficiently dressed. All the evil which that circumstance docs is to render the drying of the flax more difficult. The cleaner the fibre is made the more effective will the desiccating process be. If I am correctly informed, there is a great deal of water used in the method now generally adopted for preparing flax in New Zealand ; and it is no doubt owing to sufficient care not being taken to expel that water by proper means.that the evil adverted to has arisen. To depend on atmospheric influence alone to effect that object will not suit in so moist a climate as our neighbours have got ; and I would, therefore, respectfully suggest to them that they should always finish off tbe preparation of their flax by subjecting it to a | gentle current of heated air before it is packed for shipment. Moonlight Gold Mixing Co3irANV.— A special general meetins; of shareholders was held at the offices of Messrs Wilson and Co. yesterday afternoon. Mr W. Wilsou, who presided, read a letter from tho manager — Mr Wylde— in conformity with which the meeting had beeu convened. From this it appeared that the directors iv Greymouth had resolved to call an extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday, the 30th inst., for the purpose of considering the advisab lity o* increasing the capital of the company, and for which the Christchurch shareholders were desired to forward their proxies. The directors were in favour of accomplishing the object desired by issuing 360 new shares, to be allotted pro rata amongst the present holders of scrip. Referring to the machinery on the company's claim, the letter said that it was much too small to properly develope the reefs, and the directors proposed to procure twenty head of 6ewt. stampers as soon as possible, the estimated cost being £3000. Advertisements had beeu inserted in the Victorian papers for a working manager, aud numerously responded to. Froni the applicants, two had been selected by the directors, and Mr Hyndman, of the Oriental Bank, Sandhurst, was io decide which would be the most suitable for the company. The works of the company were going on favourably, and should fine weather continue, the manager expected to have a week's crushing before Christmas. At the meeting to be held on the 30th inst., it would be proposed to adopt the rules provided in the schedule to the "Joint Stock Companies Act." Attached to this letter was also an abstract of accounts, which showed that an amount of £500 was required " to complete present works," and must be at once provided for, the original capital of the company being exhausted —apart from any consideration of the new machinery. Both these documents were discussed at considerable length by the meeting, which strongly objected to the machinery being ordered until after the first crushing of stone. This it was held would be impolitic, on the grounds that should the yield of gold be satisfactory, it would be unnecessary to call up capital for machinery, as it could be provided out of the balance of proceeds above expenses, and on the other baud, that if the yield was unsatisfactory, it would be a questionable matter to expend so large an amount in acquiring additional plant. Tbe Chairman alleged that sufficient votes could be sent from this side to secure a majority on any question brought before the general meeting of shareholders at Greymouth, and the following resolutions were ultimately adopted to meet the estimated sum (£500) required to carry on operations until after the first crushing. " That this meeting is of opinion that it is desirable to issue a further number of shares in the Moonlight Company to the extent of 180 £10 shares, and that the issue of such shares should be confined to the present shareholders in proportion to their present holding. That a call of Jt2 lOs per share be made on the allotment of such shares." " That tbis meeting further desires to recommend that the order for additional machinery should be withheld until after the result of the first crushing has been ascertained." Some conversation also took place relative to the adoption of the rules contained in Schedule B of the Joint Stock Companies Act, but in the absence of legal advice it was deemed inadvisable to give a positive recommendation to that being done, and the matter was accordingly left to the discretion of the Greymouth meeting. The meeting then adjourned. Miss Rye. — This lady, whose energetic efforts on behalf of her own sex, are not unknown in Canterbury, is now, it appears, in Canada. In a letter dated from Niagara, Canada West, Aug. 11, she gives the following account of her doings: — The news of the safe arrival in Canada of the Austrian with my women, and their rapid and happy dispersion, will have reached you through the colonial press long ago. I find 100 women at a time quite as many as a matron and I can manage on board ship, but once in Canada, I could as easy place 500 as 100 women — that is, if they were all good sensible women, having a tolerable stock of common sense, and not oh the look out for impossibilities. I have seen some of my old girls, and heard of more, aud the accounts on the whole are exceedingly en-

couraging. A few unreasonable mistresses are complaining that the girls are not of a class that can command from £18 to £25 a year in England, and a small percentage of the girls is surprised that Canada is not paradise; but the non-contents both of mistresses and maids are a very small minority, aud are chiefly persons Avhom nothing short of absolute perfection could satisfy. I vow Avrite chiefly to report progress of my preparatory work for the orphan children, Avhom I hope to bring out to Canada this autumn. The inevitable untwisting of red tape has of course delayed me, but I am happy to be able to report that I have at last completed the purchase of a suitable place in the neighbourhood for our distributor home in the Avest, and that the Avork people are commencing this week to make the few necessary alterations to fit the house for the children, and if all goes on satisfactorily I shall leave this for England in about a month to fetch the girls. Notliing can be better than my prospects for placing, out the children. I am receiving applications from all quarters. Before any person will be allowed to take a child from our central homes they Avill be required to send me certificates of character from the minister of the church or the chapel where they Avorship, and from the reeve (or mayor) of the town in which they live. Such children as are not adopted Avill be bound for domestic service until they are 18 years of age, on the folloAving terms :— Up to 15 years of age, the family Avith Avhom they Avill be placed will have to find them in board, lodging, clothes, and schooling; from 15 to 18 tbey are to get board and lodging, Avith three dollars a month Avages instead of clothes; and from 17 to 18 Avages at four dollars a month, by which means they will become gradually accustomed to tbe value of money aud to their liberty, and in all cases they will be protected by and bound out under an Act of Parliament of the province of Canada, passed in a Session of Parliament, held in the 14th and 15th years of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's reign, entitled " An Act to Amend the Law Relating to Apprentices aud Minors. Consolidated Statutes of Upper Canada, cip. 76." These precautions, together with such personal supervision that friends will kindly give me, Avill, I ara sure, be ample to ensure the fair treatment of tbe children, and at present I see no limit to the work, the resources of the country being so great. Indeed, six members of the family with whom I am noAv staying have brought up 22 orphan children betAveen them, and started them alt comfortably in life, and this within a radius of 10 miles; and I expect to place 25 more in this district before the year is over. We have had a glorious summer, and the country is looking lovely. Canadians are complaining a little of much wet, but the clouds have dropped fatness as well as water, if it has rained a little more than usual, and the fields are as full as it is possible for fields to be Avith the most magnificent grain.