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Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 666, 22 July 1869, Page 2

Wanganui Volunteer Fire Poltce. The first meeting of this force, Avhich at present consists of tAventy-one members, Avas held yesterday evening, Avhen resolutions Avere passed that a code of rules should he submitted to the Bench of Magistrates, Avith a vieAv to obtaining their sanction, together with any suggestions the Bench might be disposed to offer. On receiving these another meeting will be held, to elect officers and to take other necessary steps for active service.

Lost and Found. —A gentleman, named G eerie, was at Mr Chad wick's sale at Russellvale yesterday, and as he was coming home his pocket-book, containing £220 in bank notes, slipped through tbe broken lining of his pocket. He did not miss it until he came into town, and his surprise may be better imagined than described. It was suggested to him that his proper course was to start at daylight this morning, and retrace his track as closely as possible, and that it would probably be found where it fell. He accordingly did so, and avrs fortunate enough to find it Avith the notes intact.

Mr Handley and Gol. Whitmore.— Mr Handley, we see, burdens the columns of a contemporary with a letter which he addressed to ourselves, hut which, from its coarseness, we did not insert. We gave, hoAvever, the substance, and Mr Handley should have beeu thankful for the trouble we took. If we had printed the letter as it was written the writer would have been ashamed of it. Our contemporary has not printed it verbally and literally.

Mr Handley precluded the possibility of more than a passing notice by showing at the outset that he was more fitted for an angry wrangle than a controversy.

Wellington Gold Rush.—The Post j says: "The 'diggings' at Baker's hill still continue to attract numbers of people. Nothing very decisive has as yet been ascertained as to Avhether the workings will yet prove remunerative, but prospects are obtained in almost every spot. Some people do not believe that alluvial gold exists in the vicinity, that which is found being washings from quartz, and indicating that payable reefs are not very far distant. Those who are working deserve great credit for endeavoring to develop the field, and it is to be hoped their efforts will prove successful." Flax Cultivation.—Sheep farming is not profitable, but we may compensate for that by turning our attention to the preparation of flax for the market. The industry, Avhich is scarce three months old in this district, has made the most rapid progress, and is still going on at a rate commensurate Avith its importance. It is well known that there are large areas of flax both on the Rangitikei | and Waitotara side of Wanganui, suffiI cient to afford employment to twice the | present population. All this ia waiting to be turned to account. But there are hundreds of farms scarcely paying expenses, Avhich might have their value enhanced three-fold, by cultivating the growth of flax. The first experiment of the kind in the district has been made. Mr Finnimore has just finished planting 30 acres of flax on his farm. He has planted it in flat land, and in the area named, Avith three feet and nine feet respectively betAveen each alternative row, there are 40,000 plants. The object of leaving the nine feet space is to alloAv a cart to pass between the rows. Some of the plants haA'e been in the ground for ten days, and in that time, Jjave sent up young shoots from four to six inches in length. It is generally supposed that the flax will not be groAvn sufficient for cutting before two years, but Mr Finnimore thinks " that it may be cut without injury, and to pay, in a little over tAvelve months. Land around Wanganui is not so valuable for other purposes but what a small portion of it might be planted in flax as an experiment. The result Aye believe would be sufficient reward for the trouble and expense. Enterprise does not consist in Avaiting until a thing is fully proved, hut in venturing Avhere there is a reasonable prospect of success, and such appears to us in the cultivation of flax. Mr Finnimore deserves the thanks of the community for being the first to lead the Avay. TnAMES Goldfields.—" In referring to the great excitement and speculation which at present exists in Auckland Avith respect to shares in claims on this gold field, it is more necessary for us to speak Avords of caution than add fuel to the flame. It is quite true that the returns from some of the claims lately have been such that the soberest heads I are apt to be turned by the immense Avealth gained by those Avho purchased shares only a few months ago at trifling sums. We need only refer to our battery returns for some time past in proof iof the fairly astounding wealth of the Thames—a Avealth undreamed of by the most sanguine for long after the gold field had been opened. Over a large part of the field—by far the larger part —the claims have not really been opened out, and Aye fully expect that many of these -will yet rank as those now famous. But, notwithstanding this, we would • rather see a quiet and steady progress— i the country being opened up, the tramway and other Avorks being pushed foriay ard, and machinery being erected— than the exciting gambling in scrip that tis now going on in Auckland, Avhich Avill tend, if carried too far, to do harm to the field. And we must confess that wc look Avith some alarm at Avhat is goinoon, and Avhat seems to be coming. In" ! some of the claims iioav selling at higb \ prices scarcely any Avoik has been done, ! the ideas as to their value being derived 1 from their proximity to claims that haye

attained a name. Now, we know almost nothing of the leads of gold, and are not justified in assuming that in even the most favorably situated spot masses of gold will be got. We can safely say for ourselves, that, although as it were identified with the field, we have not hitherto exaggerated or overstated the facts which shoAv forth its Avonderful and unparalleled wealth, but have always tried to keep on the safe side—dealing as much as possible in figures, but not of speech. It is not easy, perhaps, when, as in the case of the Long Drive, quantities of stone, consisting half of gold are taken out, to restrain Avild speculation. Still, we would advise caution, in the best interests of the field itself."