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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 947, 12 November 1868, Page 2

The Wounded. —The wounded men brought down to Wanganui, by the p. s. Sturt, are progressing hopefully. They speak in the highest terms of the skill and kindness of Dr. Hooper. The Governor. —We understand that his Excellency, the Governor, will be at Tutaeaui on Friday forenoon, and at Turakina at 2 o’clock same day. At both places addresses will be presented to him, and beyond this we are not aware that any further ceremony will take place. If our information so far is correct, his Excellency may be expected in Wanganui on Friday evening. Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers. — This corps, having added sufficiently to itß numbers to possess the right to a Captain, proceeded to the election yesterday' evening, when Lieutenant Finnimore was unanimously elected —a decided proof of the popularity he enjoys in the troop. Mr T. H. Harper was chosen Lieutenant vice Finnimore promoted. The Bad Treatment op 6th Division A.C. —These men have not got over the insult, as they term it, and the injustice they were subjected to at the hands of Col. Gorton in Wanganui. It rankles in their minds. Never was there a set of men deserved such treatment less, for they have shown themselves to be the true material and have already given their share of fallen heroes, short as has been their time in this campaign. They were under fire the day after they left Wanganui, and the morning took part in the engagement at j Okotuku.

The Funeral op Major Hunter. —In the bright sunshine of Tuesday afternoon the mortal remains of this brave and accomplished officer were laid in their grave in the Wanganui Cemetery. He had a soldier’s funeral; the men of the 18th R. I. firing over the grave. “ And after life’s, fitful fever he sleeps well.” Want op Side Arms.— During the retirement of the force, at Okotuku it is related that a Hau-hau fanatic, fully armed and slinging about his tomahawk, boldly charged the 6th AC. As it happened they had just delivered a volley and checked the rebels. They were powerless to stop this naked savage ! Many of them instinctively felt for their bayonet or their knife,—but none had been given them. The Hau-hau passed safely through our lines. Wool.— The latest circular of the New Zealand Loan Mercantile Agency Co. of date 11th September, says—We have no improvement to report in the condition of the Wool market since the publication of our last issue on the Ist instant. The heavy reduction in quotation has failed to attract any fresh competition, and manufacturers and staplers—both foreign and English—already more than fully stocked for present purposes, show the greatest reluctance to add to their purchases even on the most favourable terms. The present range of prices—the lowest known in the trade for a period of 20 years may be stated as regards the production of New Zealand at 2d. to 3d. per lb. on all greasy and fleece-washed descriptions under the closing value of the May-June sales, while half washed and ill-conditioned Wools, which form unfortunately so large a proportion of the shipments command a sale only at a still heavier decline. Flax Dressing Machine .—We observe that our ingenious and enterprising townsman, Mr Cummins, has been to Wellington with his machine Speaking of it, the Evening Post says A quantity of flax wasprovided, which was put through the dressing process in a remarkably expeditious manner. The flax is completely severed from the husk, and the subsequent washing in cold water it receives, effectually removes what gum may be left adhering to the fibres. A specimen produced by Mr. Cummins,, after having been dried in the sun, appeared as white and clean as that dressed by hand. The machine is provided with two rollers on each side —one smooth, the other fluted —between which the blade passes : something on the principle of a threshing machine. It is driven in the centre, thereby : dispensing with extra pullies and belting. It requires three boys to work it —one to feed, the others to remove the dressed flax, It can be worked by water, steam, or horse power ; the former is the best, water being constantly required for washing. If steam in used, an engine of live-horse power could easily drive three or four machines. A single machine is capable of dressing Ccwtper day ; and being inexpensive, and easily portable, is admirably adapted for small capitalists. In these times of depressed trade such an invention is extremely valuable, opening, as it does, a new field for industry, and presenting a means of creating a product which may eventually rival wool as the staple export of the colony. A gentleman from Scotland, having large experience of such matters, has pronounced the specimens of flax submitted to him admirably adapted tor the manufacture of woolpacks, sacks, twine, &o. Mr Cummins has expended a large amount of capital and the labour of several years in bringing the machine to its present state of efficiency, and it is to be hoped that its eventual success will abundantly reward the ingenuity and labour he has bestowed upon it.—The same paper adds in another paragraph that Mr Davis, of Manawatu, is about to start flax-dressing with one of Mr Cummins’s machines. He has already ordered one from Mr. E. W. Mill’s foundry, and it will not be long before it is turned out.