Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 681, 29 July 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

* Pedestbuxism.— A fifty yards race took place on Wednesday last, between Messrs Clay and Prince (amateurs). There was a dead heat, and, on the contest being renewed, Clay was declared the winner by_half a foot. The betting was slightly in favour of Prince. Dkamatic. — In consequence of the inclemency of the weather, Miss Eose Erans' entertainments hare been postponed till next week. Miss Evan3 will appear at Kaiapoi this and to-morrow evening, and at Leithfleld on Monday evening, re-appearing at Chriyt■church on Tuesday next.

Lyttelton Winter Readings.— The next of the series will take place in the Colonists' Hall this evening. Kaiapoi Nomination.— Mr Charles Fairweather was the only, candidate nominated yesterday for the vacant seat in tlie Borough Council, caused by the death of Mr W. T. Newnbam. The Northern Railway Bill. — A telegram was received from his Honor the Superintendent yesterday, which states that this bill will pass through its last stage to-day, and that the Government will advise his Excellency to give his assent to the measure at once, in order that the works may be proceeded with immediately^ Funeral. — The mortal remains of the late Mother Mary St. Joseph, who died after a long illness at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Barbadoes street, on Monday last, were conveyed to their last resting place (the Catholic Cemetery) yesterday morning. A funeral mass was performed in the Church'by the Rev Father Chervier at 10.30 a.m. Service was also performed at the grave .by the Revs. Father Chervier and Boibieux. Notwithstanding the heavy downfall of rain, there was a large concourse of both sexes, but it was impossible in the face of such weather to carry out all the arrangements that were intended. Theatre Royal. — Last night Mr Steele took a farewell benefit at the theatre, and though the weather was decidedly unfavourable, there was a full house. Perhaps no better proof of the popularity gained by Mr Steele during bis brief engagement could be given than this. The Christchurch public were introduced for the first time to " Narcisse," and the bill also included the three last acts of - "East Lynne," and a variety of operatic music specially prepared by the now much improved orchestra. " Narcisse " met with most demonstrative approval from the audience. Mr Steele, as Narcisse, was more successful than in most parts he has played, and was called before the curtain at the end of each act. Miss Bowring took the part of Doris, and acted with her usual skill. The other parts were creditably sustained. " East Lynne " was in every respect as successful as on former occasions. . Hobticdxtubal Society. — A meeting of the committee was held at White's Hotel last night. Mr Wynn Williams presided. The prize schedule for the special exhibition on No>.9,as.drawn up by the sub-committee, was approved. The secretary announced that Mr George Gould had signified hia in- \ tension of giving £10 for prizes during the current year. As the mode of application of this sum was left to the discretion of the committee, two propositions were made, upon which the committee was equally divided. It was ultimately agreed to submit the propositions to Mr Gould for his decision. It was also announced that Messrs Coates and Co. had offered a silver medal for competition, the condition being that all classes of exhibitors should have an equal chance of winning it. Upon this, two propositions were brought forward, and the committee decided that Messrs Coates and Co.'s prize should be awarded to the best 12 dahlias at thelasfc exhibition. Votes of thanks were passed unanimously to Mr Gould and Messrs Coates and Co. for their liberal offers for prizes. • ■ Poultry Association. — The managing committee of the Christchurch Poultry Association met last evening at White's Hotel, Mr Gilchrist in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting, were read and confirmed. Mr J. E. Davie (hon. sec.) intimated that all the persons nominated- as judges at the last meeting had, with the exception of Messrs H. E. Alport and E. Elliott, accepted office. Class and other stewards were appointed. Instructions to j udges were framed and passed. Messrs Gilchrist, Davie, Reade, and Todd were chosen a sub-committee to make all the necessary arrangements for fitting up the. Town Hall for the Exhibition. Mr Reade moved, and Mr Calvert seconded, a resolution to the effect that donors of special prizes be deemed members of the Association for the current year, and be furnished with tickets of admission. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr Davie pointed out the necessity of advertising the forthcoming Exhibition much more freely than had hitherto been done, as numbers of would-be exhibitors were entirely ignorant of the place where entries could be made and information obtained. It was ultimately decided to put a short advertisement in the Times, Star and Press, every day up to that on which entries are advertised to close. Several other matters of detail .connected with, the exhibition were arranged. Flax Preparation.— A correspondent of an Auckland paper in speaking on this Bubject, says :— There is great risk in the retting or watering system as practised on hemp and flax in Europe. It must be remembered, however, that in any attempt to water native flax after passing from the machine, the fibre is immediately exposed to decomposition : whereas hemp and flax are steeped in their natural shape, and the liber or fibrous bark is subject only to a subdued fermentation, and this appears from the fact that decomposition may in a very short time pass from the vegetable bark and damage the fibre. I believe we are on the wrong scent in our endeavours' after solvents, until a machine can be invented that will merely breakup the vegetable tissue of Phormium tenax. But here is another difficulty ; the vegetable tissue of this plant appears not only to cover the leaf, but to lie alternately with the fibre like flesh between ribs ; whereas in a hemp or flax stalk, it merely forms an outer bark and an inner stem, the fibre lying between. I am not aware that any attempt has" been made in Europe to dress hemp by machinery as we do our native flax : but in America this has been tried, and, though beautiful fibre was the result, it was found to be worthless for cordage owing to the unaltered conditions of the gum. Solvents were tried, but were abandoned for a process which, instead of

robbing the. fibre of the gum required to maintain its integrity, fixed the gum, thereby rendering the fibre strong and durable. The machine-hemp, after being spun into ropeyarn, was immersed in a weak solution of chloride of lime for about 12 or 16 hours, then drawn out on a reel and allowed to dry, when it was fit for twisting into ropes. Of : two strings of our native flax, taken fairly from one bunch, one sample treated in this way, and both buried in the ground during a month of wet weather, the chloride sample came out almost unimpaired in colour and decidedly rotten. The chloride is not always sure in its effects if used too sparingly, but its effects are said to be confirmed if the yarn is afterwards immersed for a short time in the waste ooze from a tan-pit. If the ropemakers of Auckland could be induced to try the chloride fairly, the coasting vessels might very soon test the value of this process ; and if successful, confidence would very soon follow, and a good trade be established. Public Roadway. — In aProvincial Gazette dated July 27, the Superintendent notifies that being seized in fee for the purpose of creating a public roadway of that part of rural section of land numbered 79 on the map of the Chief Surveyor of the province of Canterbury, and 'situate in' the Christchurch district thereof, containing by admeasurement one acre, two roods, nineteen perches, more or less, commencing at a point in line with the eastern side of Montreal street, and distant from the southern side of the South town belt five chains fifty links, thence due south a distance of seventy links, and extending due east a distance of twentythree chains eighteen links, in a rectangular block to Colombo street south, and delineated and coloured green in the plan drawn thereon, for divers good causes and considerations, he dedicates the said land to the public, to the inteht.-that .the. same may for ever hereafter be used as and be a public highway, to all intents and purposes whatsoever. Thames Quabtz Specimens in California. — An Auckland contemporary has been favoured with a copy of a private letter written by a well-known Auckland citizen from San Francisco, the writer being ..en route to Europe, to a gentleman now resident in the province. It appears that the Californians are quite taken with the specimens which have been exhibited in the Stock Exchange. The letter is dated the 7th June. The following extract will give a tolerably correct idea of the excitement created. The letter, after mentioning some private matters, proceeds .to say:-:- ["lmmediately, on my arrival here I went to see some stockbrokers, by whom I was introduced to the Stock Exchange, where I made the acquaintance of a great many parties interested in mining matters. At their, request I took the specimens I have with me. Youcah have no idea whatever of the excitement these specimens created. Hundreds came to see them, and all expressed their opinion that they were the richest ever found. They asserted, as a fact, that there never was anything equal, ad to richness, seen in California. They asked my permission to allow them to be exhibited in the window of the Stock Exchange, and hundreds came to see them, b jth yesterday and to^ay. . I have learned here that stone yielding from four to five pennyweights to the ton pays. well. A yield ef eight pennyweights ' is considered a rich claim', and a yield of fifteen pennyweights to the ton is considered ••' a pile' for anyone interested. I also heard that with the present crushing, calcining, concentrating, chlorine process— which last is the most important of all saving appliances— they save 85 per cent, of the gold contained in the stone. To give you an , idea how. the mines are worked here, I may mention that to-day (7th of June) a sale was made to Rothschilds, who have a house here,, of a mine with eighteen acres of land and a thirty-stamper battery, with a ten .feet lift, for 750,000 dols (£150,000), which mine yields no more than eightpennyweights. I believe you will have several visitors from this place, attracted by the richness of the Thames district, as shown by these specimens. . The specimens were taken from the rich claims, such as the Golden Crown, Long Drive, Waitemata, and Eureka claims." Amenities of the New Yobk Bab. — Just after the adjournment of the M'Farland trial a lively passage occurred between the two leading counsel on either side.. The crowd was gradually leaving tbe court-room, and the Recorder, ~ the City Judge, and many professional gentlemen within the bar were preparing to go to ex- Judge Russet's funeral, when Judge Davis made a remark to tbe Recorder with regard to Mr Graham's conduct of the defence, saying that the latter had stated something in one of hia bitter speeches that he could not prove. Mr Graham, who stood near, talking to the prisoner and Mr Gerry, overheard him, and, rushing up to Judge Davis, shouted, " Do you mean to say ■ that anything I • have, said is false ?" Before Judge Davis could reply, Mr Graham continued, shaking his clinched fist in Judge Davis's face, "You — r country pettifogger 1 you are not fit to associate with gentlemen; you J I could undress you and spank you like a child. You have insulted every witness I brought on tbe -stand, and you've been' paid money to hang this man 1" Mr Gerry and several others -rushed up to Mr Graham, and Recorder Hackett stepped up and interfered,, when Mr Grabam pushed him aside, saying,. " Don't interfere; you have no right to; you helped this man to insult me. by. your rebuke from the bench." Officers then came between the .parties and they were separated, and this ended the matter. The expletives which Mr Graham used were not very choice. The crowd became highly excited, and one man proposed three cheers for John Graham, which were loudly given. When Mr Graham went out he was loudly cheered by hundreds who had assembled on the staircase. The jury had departed before this passage between counsel occurred.