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Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1110, 7 March 1871, Page 2

Wanganui v. Wellington.—A rifle match between eight members of the Wanganui Volunteer Corps and eight of the No. 1 Company of Volunteers in Wellington is about to be arranged. The eight selected by the Council of the Corps to represent Wanganui are as follows: —Capt, Parkes, Lieut. Liddell, Corporal W. Armstrong, Privates W. Churton, T. Morton, J. Northover, J. Stevenson, aud Bandsman G. 11. Armstrong. The selection is undoubtedly a good one, and we trust they will be successful, so that the " village" will be able to score another victory against the Empire City. Meat Preserving Co.—We learn from the Otago Daily Times that the Otago Meat-Preserving Company will be ready to start operations in a fortnight. The factory at Green Island is adapted, when in full working order, for the consumption of 2,000 sheep per week, or of"cattle in proportion. Co_. Eliott'.s Death Contradicted. —The Southern Cross says : —A paragraph appeared in Thursday's New Zealand Herald, and also in the Evening Star, to the effect that a rumour was current in town that Colonel Elliot, late of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, had died on his passage home to England ; and that from enquiries made they bad every reason to believe it to be correct. We are happy to be in a position to state that there is not theslightestjfoundafcion in the rumour, and we are aware that letters have been received by a gentleman in Auckland both from Colonel and Mrs Elliot, dated from London in December. Harbor Defences or Nkav Zealand. —Some idea can be formed of the immense cost of arming a fort with effective artillery, when it is stated that a 12-ton muzzle-load-ing rifle gun of the Fraser pattern, with its carriage and platform complete, costs about £1,200. A Soldiers' Dinner.—ln London, on the aimiversry of the " Soldiers' Battle" of Inkernian, the surviving officers and men of the Grenadier Guards who fought at that battle dined together. The regiment was 400 strong when it went into action, just 16 years ago, and of that number only 30 remain. A Pooh Excuse.—We hear that the Provincial authorities in Wellington ascribe the small success that attended the sale of the Manawatu-Rangitikei land, to the fact that the sale was not held in Wellington. An ingenious mind need never in the worst of cases be without an excuse. Auckland Municipality.—The Superintendent of Auckland has signified his assent to the petition for a Municipality in Auckland. Fire Brigade.—A special meeting of the Brigade will be held this evenino- in the ante-room of tbe Engine House, for the purpose of being sworn in by Major Turner under the Volunteer Act, The attendance is almost compulsory as no person Twill be considered a member of tho Brigade, who fails to come forward to-night. Appointment.—lt is rumoured that one of the gallant defenders of Weraroa, how a merchant of, Carlyle, is aboutto receive an acknowledgement of his services by being appointed an Ensign in the Patea Militia.

The Provincial Council. —Slowly and sadly the Provincial Councillors are wending their way to Wellington to attend the sittings of the Council. They are so dull over the affair that one would suppose they were goiug to be beheaded. They have no heart in the cause ; even Mr Watt, that puissant knight of Provincial-templar-ism, is in blank despair over the approaching collapse of his "perfect" government, and trembling lest they should elect him Superintendent. Mr Watt, Superintendent! Capital idea ! Then w _ should have all we desire, for he would, no doubt, favor Wanganui when having no greater man than himself to fall down and worship. In such a case, Mr John Morgan would make a very excellent Provincial Secretary! There are propects yet for Provincialism.

The Press Telegraph Association. —This precious organisation of bounce and bunkum has at last succumbed, and is being taken over by Greville's agency. AYe prophesied long ago the decline of an institution that had got a set of persons managing it whose distinguished characters were self-conceit and vindictiveness. These made the Association, not the medium of transmitting news of events impartially, but a kind of pickled rod for the Government. Consequently, if any piece of scandal, any rumor prejudical to Ministers, any calamity to the colony was picked up, it was carefully compiled to read as directly emanating from some policy of the Government, It required no great insight, therefore, to foretell that such an Association could not last. The papers that belonged to it have joined Greville's, with which wo have been connected from its commencement, and they will have the advantage of receiving news without the tincture of political opinion or political animosity. Concrete Buildings.—A description is given by the Auckland Weekly Neics of of a concrete building lately erected in that city by Dr Campbell. It is claimed for concrete that it is better in every respect than stone, brick, or wood. It is needless, to say that, through a wall of such material, being as it were a single stone, moisture cannot permeate; while for lightness in form, and capability of being moulded into the expression of taste, and for resistance to the hand of time, the concrete wall has a vast advantage over brick. But, with all these singular advantages, the question of cost remains; and we have much pleasure in saying that, through the courtesy of the proprietor, we submit a comparative analysis of cost, as between brick and concrete. For concrete Avails, 13 rod 240 ft,, the following were the materials and cost:

For the same extent of brick-work at £19, the cost would be £201 lis, giving a difference in favour of concrete of £8110s. For cementing and plastering on concrete walls :

—showing a difference in favor of concrete of £51 lGs, or a total saving on the buildof £133 12s, from using concrete instead of bricks in the erection of the walls. Such a remarkable result requires no comment. Acclimatisation Society.—We have been requested to direct atttention to tho advertisement in another column, convening a meeting of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society to-morrow afternoon, at the Freemasons' Hall. A Bishop Addressing Volunteers.— The Bishop of Auckland in distributing the prizes at Dunedin said he felt great pleasure in filling, the honourable office of distributing the prizes, because he had in his experience seen a good deal of the horrors of war, the most effectual way of preventing which was, he believed, by being best prepared for it. Therefore he thought that every man should know something of the duties of a soldier, in order to ward off the enemies of his country and maintain peace at home. He trusted that the Volunteers of New Zealand would ever be so efficient that the thought of maintaining a standing army would never enter our heads. He had had a great deal to do with soldiers, and the more he saw of them the better he liked them.

New Zealand Flax.—lt has been surmised that the late fire on board the ship City of Auckland, at Auckland, was caused, by flax. The following is the captain's evidence on that point:—l examined every bale of flax that came on board the vessel, and there were only two out of the entire cargo that I found it necessary to reject. I do not believe that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion in the flax; or gum, or wool. About 300 tons of flax was in the 'tween decks forward. The flax was stowed entirely by itself in the 'tween decks by the fore hatchway, where the fire broke out. There was no flax in the lower hold. The fire broke out just where the flax was. Ido not believe that it is to blame. I took home 1,800 bales last voyage, and the previous voyage 2,000 bales. I met with no accident on those occasions. I frequently examined the flax on those voyages, and it was always perfectly dry and cool. When I got home and removed the cargo, there was not the slighest indication of a fire or spontaneous combustion in the ilax, or gum, or wool. The flax was not screwed at all, but simply put in its place. No pressure was used. It was only temporarily stowed. The weather had been very fine, and the flax coidd not have got damp in taking it on board. The flax was perfectly dry, and had been in store for some time. CoNSEQENCES OF INVASION. — Lord Derby in an address on the defences of England expresses his opinion that under no circumstances could more than 100,000 men be landed on the coast, and that such a force would bo simply annihilated. Treatment or Typhoid Fever.—lf the body can be sustained until the fever has gone its course, health will result. Milk, of all things, seems best adapted for this purpose ; for it is digestible, is relished by fever patients, contains all the requisite material for the nourishment of the entire body—the nervous system in especial, which in fever is always greatly effected. Thus by interdicting ' the use of water in toto throughout the fever, nourishment can always be given in the shape of cold new -mil-. Cold beeftea is by no means to be despised, but i_ much less relished, and not unfrequently loathed, when the fever is intense, while milk is then taken with much gusto.— Medical Times. Reception of Volunteers in Auckland.—We have heard it is the intention of the Volunteers to troat their brethren from the South to a public diuuer on their arrival there, to compete for the colonial prizes, and that a committee has been appointed to make the necessary arrangements. —-. Cross.' Vegetable Life.—The rise of sap in trees and plants has been explained on the principle of capillary attraction, but M. Becquerel considers that electricity is an acting cause. A capillary tube that will not allow water to pass through it does so at once on being electrified, and he considers that electro-capillary attraction is the efficient cause of sap travelling in vegetable life. Thames County Movement.—"With improvement in the prospects at the Thames, the people thero have commenced to agitate for separation from Auckland. Makirikiri School Tea Meetinr.— The elements seem to have combined to prevent the tea-meeting at the Makirikiri School-room from being a success ; they had succeeded in causing a postponement of the meeting until last night, and then it appeared as if a further adjournment would have to be resorted to. However, the s.s. Pioneer left town at dusk with a good freight, and proceeded up the river to Kennedy's, from which place at about 200 yards distance the School has been built. About 50 had ventured out, determined that the affair should not prove a failure, many ladies being amongst the number, all of whom were rewarded for their courage by sundry cups of the strongest Bohea obtainable. The Schoolmaster, Mr Henry Gouger, after tea was over, thanked the visitors for their attendance, which was all the more appreciated on account of the inclement weather, which no doubt deterred many from attending. Mr Arthur Carlyon and Mr John Piercy, residents in the district, also spoke of the efforts that bad been made in the building of the School, and trusted that it would be liberally supported. The room was afterwards cleared and dancing commenced, interspersed by some singing. This pleasing labor was kept up with great spirit till daylight, when the visitors left, highly delighted with the evening's enjoyment. We understand that at one time the storm was not confined to the exterior of the building, but that there was some stormy work going on inside. It was, however, soon put a stop to, and/the festivities proceeded without further opposition.

£ s. d. 90 yards gravel, at los .. .. G7 10 0 GO loads scoria stone, at 3s od 10 5 0 GO barrels cement, at 20s .. GO 0 0 Labour on the aboA'e .. .. 42 0 0 £179 15 0

£ s. cl. 42o yards external cementing, at Is 21 5 0 Do straightening ., .. 4 10 0 3G8 yards internal plastering ) "atOd I 23 0 0 Do straightening, at Gd ) £-18 15 0 For cemetirig same extent of brick walls, at 3s .. .. 03 15 0 Internal plastering, at 2s ,. .30 1G 0 £100 11 0