AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 683, 1 August 1870, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

(From the Argus, July 18 to July 21, inclusive.') It is rumoured that the Imperial authorities are likely to abolish the extensive commissariat establishment in Sydney and substitute a storeship for tbe use of the Australian squadron. The exports of preserved meats is assuming proportions which, considering tbe comparative infancy of the meat-preserving industry, are wonderful. Last week the Superb left these shores with 4864 cases and 80 casks of preserved mutton and beef ; and yesterday the Asia cleared out with a shipment amounting to 2350 cases. We learn that Mr Hennings, of Levuka, Fiji, brother to Mr J. Hennings, the wellknown scenic artist of Melbourne, has received a letter from Count Bismarck, informing him that a Prussian ship of war would ■ shortly be sent to visit Fiji, where also a North Germanic Confederation consulate would be established. A considerable number of exhibits have already been forwarded to Sydney by the Victorian commissioners for the Intercolonial Exhibition, and a large shipment will be made to-morrow by the You Yangs. The articles already forwarded and promised consist principally of agricultural implements, preserved meats, beer, spirits, farm 'and dairy produce, manures, clothing, and machinery. For Mauritius papers to June 11 we c indebted to the courtesy of Mons. DesMarais, a passenger by the brig Sarah from that island. The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at 'Mauritius on the 24th May 1 , and left on the 3rd June for the Cape. His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly also left the same day for ; England, where he will make a short stay prior tp assuming the Governorship of the Cape of Good Hope. His Royal Highnesß .the Duke of Edinburgh was warmly welcomed at Mauritius by all but the Mahomedan portion of the population, who presented no address, and took no part in the festivities. During the Duke's stay there were, of course, the usual banquets, making of speeches, and laying of foundation stones, these routine affairs being, however, pleasantly relieved by a stag hunt, which His Royal Highness appears to have thoroughly enjoyed. " Further information has reached town," says the Cleveland Bay Express, " with reference to the white man who has been seen among the blacks in various parts of this district by different people duriDg the past four or five years. The last time he was seen about 12 months since on the Herbert River, where he was heard to talk English. This time, however, it would appear that he was ignorant of the language. Our informant is Mr Blaokmoro, of the Star River Station, who states that while out protecting his cattle from the blacks he came across a white man, quite naked, and apparently quite wild. He was over six feet in height, with long, curly, light-coloured hair, and European features. Mr Blackmore supposed that this man was the same as Captain Major reported he saw on Hinchinbrook Island some three years ago. On being spoken to, he replied in the style usually adopted by the wild blacks here who have had an opportunity of mixing with others of their, countrymen who knew a few words of English. He sang out, 'Budgeree fellow me,' and ran away, very much frightened, into the scrub." The South Australian overland telegraph has been partially rolled off the shoulders of Mr Todd on to two contractors, whose temerity is a matter of general admiration. About a fortnight ago tenders were invited for the erection of the posts and the hanging of the wire, which was to be supplied by Government. The southern portion of the line was divided into sections of 400 miles, and the northern portion into sections of 200 to 250 miles. Though only a few days' notice was given, in consequence of the necessity fpr immediate action in the Far North, the whole of the sections were competed for by substantial tenderers. On Saturday last, the Government closed with Mr Rounseveli for about 1200 miles on the Port Augusta side, and with Messrs Darwent and Dalwood for the remaining 500 miles at the north end. A flying survey is to be undertaken by one of the best bußhmen in the Far North— Mr Ross—recently manager of

one of Elder's stations at Mount Margaret. It was he who discovered the promising country, northward of the mount, and that he will now explore more minutely. He started for Port Augusta last week, and he will be speedily followed by Mr Babbage, who is to be the chief surveyor for the whole line. The tender prices are said to be thoroughly reasonable, and to afford Mr Todd the fullest J assurance of completing the work with' a very slight excess oh his estimate. An opportunity was afforded to us yesterday by Mr J. C. Knight of inspecting- various ; samples of colonial hardwood which he had subjected to the process of pitching with creosote, with the view of preserving it from the ravages of insects and natural decay. Creosote has long been used in England for preserving railway sleepers and other timbers which have to endure constant exposure to the weather. There are opinions for and against tho process, but there can be little doubt that if creosote can be made to penetrate to the very heart of the wood the result must be highly satisfactory. Mr Knight's process aims at the attainment of this end. The method is to be patented, so there is no opportunity of entering into particulars at present. It is, however, described as simple and inexpensive, the principal material being cheaply obtainable wherever there are gasworks. The use of the air pump and other apparatus for expelling the moisture from the wood is wholly unnecesary. The samples produced by Mr Knight were chiefly Australian gums, with one or two pines. They were cut into quarterings abbut 3in by Sin, and the whole thickness of each of them was strongly impregnated with the creosote pickle, which had not only altered the colour of the grain to a darker shade, but had hardened the wood, and apparently drawn its particles oloser together. Mr Knight's intention is to employ his process for the " pickling " of sleepers for the Indian railways. Hardwood sleepers are much in request in India, and Mr Knight hopes to be able to turn such timber as blue gum to account for the same purpose as the harder and less easily obtained woods are used. Should he succeed in thoroughly saturating timbers of sufficient thickness, he will not only gain for Australia a new article of export, but achieve worthy renown for himself. It ought to be mentioned that previously to the wood being soaked in the creosote it is subjected to a chemical treatment, the result of whieb may have no Bmall value. Woods which had been experimented upon were found, when cut into sections, to have been stained to a dark colour fo the depth of the sixteenth of an inch below the surface. When cut with a knife or saw, the darkened parts of the wood felt more like a metallic than a woody substance. The mixture used seemed also to have thepowerjpf altering the natural colours of veneers. For example, muskwood, in the natural state resembling bird's-eye maple, had been changed to the appearance of the finest walnut ; common bluegum had become like black wood, and redgum like rosewood. The discovery of this process, stated by Mr Knight, to have been made accidentally, seems likely to prove of ■value to veneerers and cabinetmakers. It is not necessary that wood which is to be steeped in creosote should first be subjected to the process just referred to, but the employment of both processes renders the work more complete. A conference of the delegates of various trades and branches connected with the National Short Hours League was held last night, at the Trades-ball, Mr B. Douglass, vice-president of the league, occupying the chair, and Mr Casey and Mr Everard, M.L.A.'s, being also present. The conference bad been adjourned from tbe previous week, when four propositions were proposed, three of which were passed, their effect being as follows : — l. That the conference pledged itself to endeavour to secure the legislation of the eight-hours principle as a legal day's labour. . 2; That the conference ; was of opinion the hours bf labour in manufactories, workshops, &c, should* be limited. 3. That the 'principle Bhould be made compulsory upon corporations, municipal councils,'shire councils, road boards, and public companies. The chairman stated that the fourth proposition, whioh they had to discuss that night, was as follows •*— " That power should be given to municipal and other corporate bodies, on requisition from a majority of any -section of the trading community to compel that particular section to close their places of business at such hour as might be determined upon by such majority." Mr Rice, the secretary, in explanation, said he had* written tb the secretary of the Earlyclosing Association respecting the conference, and that gentleman had not been courteous enough to reply. The motion having been proposed, a long discussion followed, during which it was spoken of principally as one to be applied to shopkeepers. Some of the speakers argued that the motion should not be agreed to, as, if it were, they would be interfering with shopkeepers, who evidently did not want their assistance, and would also be interfering with the liberty of tbe subject. It was further said that the motion, if passed, would endanger the passing of a Bill which it was intended to submit to Parliament, containing the principles of the three resolutions already agreed to. On the other hand, it was submitted that the league was formed specially to obtain the eight-hours privilege for all classes of persons, and that if the shopmen were not sufficiently educated to see the advantages of uniting with the league to obtein the eight-hours boon, it was still the duty of the latter to endeavour to obtain it for them, and for all other portions of the community. Mr Everard and Mr Casey both addressed the mcating, the former advocating the advisability of passing the motion, and endeavouring to obtain the extension of the system to all classes, and the latter stating that he thought it would be well if the league endeavoured to obtain an act which made eight hours' labour legal as a day's work ( A long discussion then took

place on the amendment made by Captain MaoMahon in the Bill introduced by Mr Casey last session, that persons might, enter into agreements to do more than eight hours' work in the day if they chose. Eventually, the conference adjourned. The trial of Mr G. H. Supple for shooting the late J. S. Walshe took place yesterday, in the Criminal Court, before the Chief Justice, and lasted from 10 in the morning till half-past twelve this morning. The facts of the case must be fresh in the memory of our readers. While Mr G. P. Smith was.proceeding, on the 17th of May last, to the Par-liament-houses, he was met in Spring street by Supple, who fired a revolver at him. Of four shots fired at Mr Smith one took effect in the arm, and before a fifth shot could be discharged, Walshe, who happened to be near the scene of the occurrence, seized Supple, threw bim down, both falling together, and while they were scuffling the pistol was discharged for the fifth time, the bullet wounding Walshe in the stomach, and causing his death on the following day. The defence set up on behalf of the prisoner was, first, that the shooting of Mr Walshe was accidental, and that, therefore, Supple was not answerable for it ; and secondly, that even supposing it was not accidental, the prisoner was not responsible for his acts, but was insane. Witnesses who were acquainted with the prisoner for periods ranging from twelve to three years were called for the defence, and they proved that a disease of the eyes with which he was afflicted had latterly become bo great as to threaten total blindness : that within the last two years he had lost his brother-in-law by drowning in New Zealand • and that lately his conduct which was always eccentric became stranger than it was previously. Several medical gentlemen testified that in their opinion Supple was insane, and that he could not control his actions, and did not even know right from wrong. For the prosecution, Drs M'Crea, Paley, and Girdlestone and Mr J. T. Harcourt were called. Dr M'Crea and Mr J. T. Harcourt thought him sane ; Dr Paley believed tbat he Buffered uuder a delusion, and Dr Girdlestone . tbat he was afflicted with intellectual insanity, that had acquired irresistible force over his will, and that he could not help trying ti kill Mr G. P. Smith. The Chief Justice doubted whether, if the pistol was fired accidentally, the crime would amount to more than manslaughter, but reserved that question for the opinion of the Full Court, and sent the case to the jury aa one of murder. The jury, after nearly three hours' deliberation, found the prisoner guilty, and he was remanded for sentence. The court throughout the proceedings was thronged, the attendance remaining undiminished to the last. The prisoner pleaded to the indictment in a mild tone of voice, and at first seemed not to take any interest in the proceedings ; but his interruptions of hia counsel's address, and of the Chief Justice's charge, as well as a desire he expressed that one of the witnesses should speak louder, Bhowed that none of the proceedings were lost to him. Mr Higinbotham's speech in hiß behalf lasted two hours, and was a splendid specimen of forensic eloquence. He spoke with extreme pathos, and at times was so much affeoted that his voice almost broke down. In regard to the point reserved in the prisoner's favour, it may be added that it cannot be decided before September next, when the Full Court will meet. The Adelaide correspondent of the Argus writes on July 12 as follows: — I thought we had done with the Indian shipments, but the idea was unjust to Lord Mayo's perseverance. He favoured us first with his private opinion, which was flattering. The consignees of tbe cargo favoured us with theirs, which was a damper, especially where it involved quotations. Now a select committee have sat at Fort William, and summed up the evidence on every individual venture. Their report, which arrived by last mail, is a cross between Lord Mayo's optimism and the pessimism of Messrs Gillanders, Arbuthnot, and Co. On the wheat ani flour it bestows the highest commendation within the range of an AngloIndian vocabulary. The one is " nearly equal to the best quality of American and Cape flour." H bo there mußt be some indifferent judges at Mark-lane, where the comparison has hitherto lain quite the other way. The wheat is " equal to the best Patna Doodia, and far superior to the wheat usually sold in the bazaar for the commissariat department." The committee are judging by a standard of their own here, which regards nutritive power more than quality. From a trial grinding of South Australian and Patna Doodia they ascertained that a maund (82lb) contained 59flb and 631 b respectively of breadstuff ; bran, 16 Jib and 12 Jib. The waste in the native sample was consequently less than in the South Australian, and to this the committee must refer when they place the prize wheat of the world as a good second to commissariat grain.: But their valuation isj much more agreeable than their analysis. It 'reckons the wheat at 4 rupees 14 annas per maund— equal to 7s 4d per bushel ; and the flour at 5 rupees. 8 annas per maund, nearly ;£IS 10a per ton. The consignees' agents reverse those conditions of quality and value. They bestow more praise and less money than the committee. The prices fixed on some of the samples, 4 to 5 annas 'per lb, are shown to be out of proportion to the actual purchases of ■ the commissariat, which were made at a third of that figure. In prices generally the committee have overrated the trade, sometimes to an absurd degree. The preserved meat of the Adelaide Company is ticketed at 10 to 12 annas per lb (15d to 18d), while the agents find it slow of sale at 4 annas. Jams at a rupee per lb are said to be fully a third above their saleable value. Our vignerons would willingly give the selest committee a good commission to sell the sampled wines at their own valuation, 12 to 15 rupees per dozen. The agents complain of the market being so overstocked that sales are difficult to effect on any terms. They propose to acce'erate

a clearance by sending the remainder to' anc* tion, and probably by next .mail, the final account sales will be forwarded. The few items in the shipment which are hopefully regarded both at Calcutta and Fort Williahi are wheat, flour, . biscuits, butter, soap, and jams. All these, articles would be reliable enough of sale for private consignment, and the confessedly low prices which the sample lots realised would be improvable in course of regular trade. The shippers most , of all interested in the Calcutta venture—the Adelaide Meat Preserving Companywill apparently be able to survive the disappointment they have sustained. Since the above report arrived they have held their first annual meeting, and received on the whole a sanguine report from their directors^ It did not hint at dividends, but urged thp. immediate necessity of increasing the company's capital. The London agent, Mr A. L. Elder, has recently advised sales, to the extent of about 20,0001 b., at an average of s_d for 6lb tins, and 6^d for the 21b tins. Though these priceß were considered satisfactory, there was greater inducement toprosecute boiling down than preserving. Mr Elder and another local firm had offered to advance on tallow to the extent of £30 per ton, and with a better class of sheep thau had been obtainable during the past season the returns were likely to be very favourable.