Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 505, 31 December 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

*. Challenge Rowing Race. — The challenge issued by the boys of the Avon Rowing Club j has been accepted by James Calender, A. Stedman, H. Webb, and A. S. M'Farlane, of | the Canterbury Rowing Club. The race will come off to-morrow, at Lyttelton, and will be for engraved pewters. The Circos.— Last evening's performances were pretty numerously attended. "We understand that Saturday evening next will terniiuate the present visit of the company to Christchurch, and that it will return and perform during the race week. Cricket. — The following is the Eleven selected to represent the U.C.C.C. in the match to-morrow against the Ellesmere Cricket Club :— Messrs Anson, Beaufoid, ! Blakiston, Condell, Cox, A., Dickinson, Fowler, Mainwaring, Maples, Parkerson, aud Reade. The match will commence at 10.30 punctually. Thb Glassblowers. — There was a fair attendance yesterday evening, and the entertainment gave ita wonted satisfaction. There will be an afternoon performance to-morrow, and every juvenile visitor will be presented with a pilze. Next week, a number of really handsome pri zes will be distributed. Union Rowing Club.— A meeting of the Union Rowing Club was held last evening at White's Hotel, Mr R. P. Crosjie in the chair. It was decided to enter the Lurline for the Challenge Cup, and the Undine for the pair oar race at the Lyttelton Regatta, The chairman stated that every facility would be given at the Railway Station for free carriage of boats. Boats for Lyttelton Regatta. — A new sailing boat, built by Mr Matthews, was launched (ft Kaiapoi yesterday, fche is 21ffc. 6in. over all, and 7ft. beam, and is half decked. She was taken round to Lyttelton yesterday by the s.s. Gazelle, and will run in the yacht race. The steamer also took for the C.B.C. the Tui and Isis (four-oars), Mosquito (pair-oar and sculler combined) The Ariel Club also sent the Kelpie (late Avon), four-oar, and the Pixie, sculler. Fatal Accident. — A melancholy and fatal accident occurred at Cheviot Hills on Sunday last, Dec. 26. A native of the South Sea Islands named John Auckland, engaged as manager at the shipping port, Gore's Bay, was returning home from Cheviot House, riding a spirited horse, when he was thrown and killed. The district constable, upon hearing of the accident, immediately attended and summoned a jury, presided over by S. Robinson, Esq., J.P., when a verdict of accidental death was returned. Avon Rowing Club. — A special meeting of this club was held at the boat-house last night, twenty-three members being present. Mr D. Reese occupied the chair. The following resolutions were passed :— " That this club refuses to allow the boys, members of the club to enter for the boys' race in watermen's boats ; that thi3 club wishes to express its dissatisfaction at the manner and terms upon which Captain Rose has decided to allow Messrs Shaw and Saville's cup to be rowed for, by not allowing any of their boats to enter in or for the race ; that the Ella and Torpedo be entered for the scullers' race; that the Juliet and Iris be entered for the pair-oared with coxswains. Rifle Siiootisg.— The prize given by Captain Hawkes, for competition amongst the members of his company (No. 6) of Volunteers, was again fired for yesterday. Sergeant Gulliver and Corporal Strange had each won it once, and as whichever of them carried it first again would retain it as his private property, more than usual interest was centred in the contest. The weather was moderately favourable, and after some good shooting, Sergeant Gulliver again proved himself the best man. The scores of the respective competitors were as follows, the conditions being five shots each at 300, 400, and 6 0 yards:— Sergeant Gulliver— l 7, 20, 10—47. Corporal Strange— 18, 14, 12—44. Private Schneider— l6, 14, 10—40. Sergeant Clarke— l 6, 1 1, 9 — 36. By these particulars, it will be seen that the winner made all bulls' eyes at the 400 yards range. British Mercantile Shipping.— A startling statement was recently made in the House of Commons, namely — that the tonnage of British sea-going ships is probably as great as that of tho rest of the world ! The result of calculations on the subject shows that — deducting tonnage of shipping which is not sea-going — vessels employed on lakes, rivers, and coast — the total foreign tonnage amounts to 7,150,000 tons; whilst the total sea-going tonnage under the British flag is 7,230,000 tons. After criticising Mr Lefevre's calculations for including colonial tonnage and excluding some uf the larger tonnage on American lakes, the Economist agrees with Mr Lefevre, in the importance of the fact that a larger proportion of our shipping thaa of any foreign shipping consists of steamers, and that we possess twice the sea-going steamers which tho rest of the world does. Mr Lefevre, in comparing the growth of British and foreign shipping respectively, made the following remarks, which cannot fail to excite much interest :— " The tonnage built in this country had increased from 196,000 tons in 1854 to 279,000 tons in 1868. a year of much depression compared with two or three previous years. During the same period the tonnage built in France has diminished from 94,000 tons to 81,000 tons; in Holland from 55,000 to 25,000. In the United States the building of sea going vessels had almost been extinguished. In Norway alone was there any increase — namely, from 29,000 to 43,000. One further illustration be might give. In 1854, of an aggregate of 18,669,000 tons entering and clearing our ports for foreign trade, 10,744,000 tons were ! British, 7,924,000 under foreign flags — a proportion of 57 per cent. British to 43 per cent, foreign. In 1868, out of 33,680,000 tons 22,666,000 were British, and 11,020,000 foreign, showing an increase of 120 per cent, for British, against 37 per cent, foreign, the

new proportion being 67 per cent British to ' 33 per cent foreign." Quartz is Hawke's Bay. — Of all the specimens of quartz that from time to time, have been brought to Napier for examination, says the Hawke's Bay Herald, by far the most likely are those sent down from Mr Lyon's run, Kereru, and which came to hand yesterday. In almost every piece gold is distinctly visible with the naked eye, so that its auriferous character is placed beyond all question. Mr Tiffen leaves town this morning, accompanied by Mr Koch, for the spot where the stone was obtained, and it is, we believe, the intention of the directors of the Hawke's Bay Goldmining company at once to send a prospecting party to the spot indicated. It is not supposed that the reef will be found there, or indeed, other than detached auriferous stone, but it is believed that the latter has been washed from the contiguous Ruahine range, and that there, without doubt, runs the reef. It is a mere question of time and trouble whether it will be found now or years heuce ; but the party about to be organised will doubtless do their best to effect a discovery. Copper an Antidote against Cholera. At a meeting of the Academic des Science, M. Dumas, the celebrated French chemist, gave a brief analysis of Dr Burg's report I on the preservation from cholera of men engaged in working with copper. He said, in effect, statistics clearly prove that wherever the manipulation of copper was carried on the men engaged in it have almost invariably escaped harmless. The investigations into the subject were conducted under the supervision and control of the Commis aries of Police. Testimony in favour of the preservative action of copper was supplied by the society known as the Bon Accord, which was founded in 1819, and entirely composed of workers in bronze, and the medical registers of which are thoroughly well kept. During the whole of the five visitations of cholera, this society, the members of which were scattered in qnarters where the epidemic raged with the greatest virulence, had not only not had a single death, but had been called upon to pay only 106 days of sickness, divided among ten members of the society. The conclusion drawn from this statement was that if further inquiries established (he truth of the theory exceedingly valuable results from a hygienic point of view would follow. Something beally worth Knowing. — The "Lounger" of the Illustrated Times says : — " Touching waterproofs, I think I can give travellers a valuable hint or two. For many years I have worn indiarubber waterproofs, but I will buy no more, for I have learned that good Scottish tweed can be made completely impervious to rain, and, moreover, I have learned how to make it so ; and, for the benefit of my readers, I will here give the receipt : — In a bucket of soft water put half a pound of sugar of lead and half a pound of powdered alum ; stir this at intervals until it becomes clear ; then pour it off into another bucket, and put the garment therein, and let it be in for twenty- four hours, and then hang it up to dry without wringing it. Two of my party — a lady and gentleman — have worn garments thus treated in the wildest storm of wind and rain without getting wet. The rain hangs upon the cloth in globules. In short, they are really waterproof. The gentleman, a fortnight ago, walked nine miles in a storm of rain and wind such as you rarely see in the south ; and when he slipped off his overcoat, his under clothes were as dry as when he put them on. This is, I think, a secret worth knowing } for cloth, if it can be mide to keep out wet, is in every v&y better than what we know as waterproofs." Telegraph to Auckland. — The Hawke's Bay Herald furnishes the following information regarding the line of telegraph to Auckland : — On the Taupo line all was ready some time since for opening an office at Tarawera, twelve miles beyond Horoto, the present station. The line indeed was finished for some distance beyond Tarawera, and would now have been at Bunanga — i. c, the open country — but for a deviation of the road which has been resolved upon, and by which nine miles distance will be saved. This part of the line is in course of construction, and will be opened with despatch. Sawyers are now at work at Opepe, cuttiug poles for that part of the line between Hunan ga and Tapuahehararu, which is expected to be finished in three or fourjmonths. The arrangements for expediting this work were made by Mr Ormond in bis late visit to the Taupo district. From Tapuaehararu to Alexandra is only fifty-two miles, which, ia a very short time, will be the only break in the connection between Southland and Auckland. The district in question is part of a tract of country which has been long closed against Europeans ; no white man, we believe, having travelled over it for many years. It remains to be seen whether influences now at work will operate in opening it. If so, there is nothing to prevent communication between Auckland and the South being an accomplished fact in six months from this time. It will be seen from this that it is intended to carry the line direct from Napier to Auckland, via. Taupo. The late Government did not contemplate the possibility of this being accomplished, and consequently had the line surveyed via Tauranga. To carry this out, however, would greatly increase the expense and loss of time involved ; and it is believed that the detour will not be necessary. It is almost superfluous to review the advantages the colony will derive from Auckland, Waikato and Taupo being connected with the seat of Government and with the Southern Provinces. Prompt and certain information of all native movements, resulting in power to meet difficulties instanter, and in being enabled to do so with a much smaller force than that now maintained, are of themselves advantages not to be overrated. To commercial men, wonderful facilities will be afforded for obtaining information and extending business ; while, through the press, the general public will derive incalculable benefit in the shape of regular bulletins of passing events.

A Wonderful Gtmnast. — An English paper says: From America we have a most bewildering account of a gymnast's exploits. All artists are supposed to aim at unity of effect; but if the new fashion from America should spread, the doings of our athletes will become fearfully complicated. The performer of whom history makes mention is a certain John Goulding, said to be the champion English pedestrian. It is stated that an immense crowd assembled at a place Brady's Gymnasium, in Jersey City, to witness the said John Goulding go through a number of feßts which he undertook to execute within thirty minutes. He undertook, according to tiie programme, to walk, fair heel and tee, half a mile ; walk backwards half a mile ; roll a carriage wheel half a mile ; run forward half a mile ; pick up 15 apples placed three feet apart on the floor, bringing each one singly in his hand to a basket at the starting point ; leap five hurdles ; pick up with his mouth 15 eggs, placed like the apples, three feet apart, bringing each one singly to a bucket of water at the starting point, without breaking the eggs or touching them with his hands, and also without touching the floor with his knees ; leap five hurdles with an egg in his mouth ; hop 25 yards on one leg ; a d finish his task by throwing over his head, from the back and with the use of only one hand, 20 weights of 56 lbs each. To this we have only to add that the illustrious John Goulding achieved his multifarious work in 6 minutes and 30 seconds. The French Empire. — M. Jules Favre, at a public dinner recently offered to him at Algiers, delivered a speech, in which he said : — " I was a public mnn before the undertaking of 1851, and ever since it has been my will to remain convinced that whatever may be the future of France no honest man could possibly shake hands with those who have benefited by that crime. Ido not thirst for revenge, but desire, above all that the transformations which are in store for us may take place without violence. Shall I tell you that I felt alarmed when universal suffrage was proclaimed ? I believed that the country was but ill prepared for it, and I am bound to say that it has made us go through hard vicissitudes. But the ordeals we have withstood have given us a lesson. Universal suffrage has sanctioned despotism, but the establishment of that despotism wa9 a surprise which was never freely accepted. Citizens understood that they were exposed to a public danger against which they were bound to protest. But at present we are beholding a strange spectacle. I have always believed that the Empire was inconsistent with liberty, and I think so still ; but since the last general election a great fact has taken place in France ; to ignore it would he wilful blindness ; and no one can deny that the authority of the Chamber has gained in these latter times all that personal government has lost. The consequence is a clear gain for parliamentary government, and if our wishes do not go beyond the utter freedom of parliamentary rule, we cannot ignore the progress which has been realised. But is that any reason why we should ship our oars and do nothing further ? By no meanß. If such were the case we should be like a farmer, a colonist, who, when he has received a spade, should say to himself ' All right. Now that I have the right and the means of working, I can lie down and smoke my pipe.' The Corps Legislatif is bound to co-operate in the working out of our public liberties. Therefore, so long as the press continues fettered by judicial trammels — another ahap ? of administrative servitude — so long as it is denied trial by its peers, that is to say by a jury, the Opposition is bound to advocate the restitution of the liberties which have been stolen from us. I may add that there is no guarantee for the liberty of the subject, which is at the mercy of any mere policeman, as has been but too amply shown by recent instances. We should be the most degraded nation on the face of the earth if we could rest satisfied with such a state of things."