LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3095, 7 January 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

GAS. — It will bo seen by advertisement in this i paper thafc tenders for laying the mains for the Gas Company will be received until noon of Wednesday, 18fch instant, Ma Commissioneb Beanigan sailed for the north by the Rangatira yesterday. Mb Wm. Geay, Inspector of Post-offices, accompanies Mr Yogel fco assist in completing the necessary arrangements for carrying out the new mail contract; with America. Anotheb Richmond in the Field.— -Mr E. T. Gillon, we understand, is a candidate for Porirua. Caledonian Society. — A meeting of the directors of this Society waa held afc fche New Zealander lasfc evening. Thero was a full attendance, and fche various accounts were audited and ordered to be paid. Annivebsaby Meeting-. — A meeting was held afc the Pier Hotel on Thursday evening last, of persona anxious to see the usual celebration of fche anniversai-y of the province kept up in an appropriate manner. Mr M'Kenzie occupied the chair. After some conversation ifc was decided thafc tho usual annual rogatta should be held, and the following committee of gentlemen were appointed to carry out the wishes of the meeting : — Captains Halliday, Sharp, Sellars, Johnston, M'lntyre, Grant, Deck, Akers, Messrs Gannaway, Moss, M'Kenzie, Logan, Kent, Mosley, Downes, Ames, H. Smith, Cook, and Lennox, with power to add to their number. The following gentlemen were appointed a sub-committee to canvass the city for subscriptions : — Captain M'lntyre, MessrsMosley, Downes, Ames, Brown, and Logan. Mr Moss was unanimously elected as Treasurer, and Mr Mosley as Secretary. Mr Moss announced fchafc the sum of £60 15s lOd was lying in the hands of the Mutual Investment Society to the credit of the Anniversary Committee. On the representations of fche Chairman ifc was decided tbat the committee Bhould draw up a draft code of rules for the management of future regattas. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Kent, who has acted as Secretary to tho Regatta Committee for the last three or four years, .for his able services. Wednesday nexfc having been fixed as the time for the first meeting of the committee, the meeting dispersed. Ceicket. — A crickefc match will be played this afternoon at the Basin Reserve between an eleven of the Star Cricket Club and an eleven of the Government printers. We understand that the Star Club will play a match with the Wellington Club next Saturday. Me Go-web's Accident. — A Wanganui paper says that Mr Georgo Gower, who met wifch a serious accident at the Marfcon races, is now pronounced oufc of danger. Fibe at Wangantti. — A house belonging fco Mr Mahoney, on fche river bank, has been burned down. The furniture was saved, though fche fire lasted only fifteen minutes. A local paper says fche loss is covered by a £70 policy in fche New Zealand Insurance Company. RE- OPENING OE THE PENNY READINGS AT Kabobi.— On Thursday evening, afc eight o'olock, the Karori Penny Readings were resumed at the schoolhouse. Mr J. E. FitzGerald, who, ifc may be remembered, gave an interesting address at fche commencement of these readings, in September, 1867, kindly read on this occasion. The first reading was a poem, by Longfellow, " Miles Standish," in which the history of fche Puritans is touched upon, the tyranny in the home country which led to fcheir migrating to America, their stern but noble qualities, which carried them j through great difficulties, war with the Indians, the love adventures of Miles Standish — in short, ' large extracts from the poem were, ifc is needless fco add, read *with greafc effect. The next readings were from "Power's Stories of fche Irish Peasantry," " Paddy the Piper's Adventures," and a highly humorous piece, involving the adventures of a son of Erin, who claimed fco a knowledge of the Frenoh language, who found greafc difficulty, during a sojourn in France, in obtaining " The Loan of a Gridiron." The attendance was small, but all were highly entertained, Mr Reading proposed a vote of thanks fco Mr FitzGerald, and fche meeting separated. The Gabbison Band were favored in having such a fine evening on Thursday for their performance on Government House lawn, and gave a very acceptable treat to a large number of citizens who gathered to hear them on the occasion* The Panoeama. — The entertainment is both amusing and instructive, and the working figures, introduced afc intervals, caused considerable amusement amongst; both juveniles and grown-up persons. Many of the views were received wifch applause, especially those of the steamships (in which the machinery was seen fco be in motion) and the viows in Calaveras County. The lecture given in connexion with tho exhibition was entertaining 5 and appropriate airs were played on the violin and piano, as tho scenes passed before the eyo. Taken altogether, we musfc say the exhibition is well deserving tho patronage of the publicAs tho lecturer remarked — ifc musfc prove equally attractive to those who contemplate a trip by this route and to those to whom such a pleasure musfc be denied. To the former, the scones depicted would give a foretaste of the enjoyment awaiting fchem, and, to tho latter, a picturesque and accurate representation of the journey home by this new route. A Suggestion. — A correspondent calls our attention to tho fact that electors are often crowded oufc of important public meetings by the number of boys who gather on such occasions ; and suggests that at tho meeting of the electors to be held afc tho Odd Follows' Hall on Tuesday nexfc, tho policemen or somo one else Bhould bo instructed to exclude all boys. Wo cannot help thinking that tho suggestion is not without weight, as the accommodation of the hall has on soveral important occasions proved too limited, although such a proceeding would, be somewhat unußual if acted upon. JoNRNALISTIO CnANGE. — The " Wanganui Chronicle" has appeared in its new form as a daily, and wo must say looks very creditable. A weekly " Chronicle" for country circulation will be issued on Thursdays. City Mission. — ;Mr Hall, tho Cifcy Missionary, gratefully acknowledges tho receipt of the following subscriptions and contributions in aid during the month of December : — Mrs Jeffrey, 5s ; Mrs J. D., 2s ; Major Paul, 10s ; Mrß S., £1 Is ; A. and J., $s ; a lady, 5s j Mrs Sidey, 7s 6d : W, W., ss; J. M., 10a j G. Moore, 10s j Mrs H., 2b ; A. 8., £1 ; Mrs Gisborne, 8s 6d ; John M'Laggan, £Ue.

New Luncheon Room.— -The new room at | the Empire Hotel surpasses anything we have, j seen in the colonies. We believe ifc is over sixty feefc long. If the lunoheon bears any proportion to the size of the room, no one can go away unsatisfied. We believe thafc Wellington now excels .all other New Zealand cities in having fche finest luncheon rooms, and if anyone doubts this let him try the lower dining room of the Empire Hotel, The Hon. Mb Yogel. — The Auckland corres-' pondent of the " Hawke's Bay Herald" says : — Intelligence per lasfc mail fchafc fcho "Times,". " Illustrated News," and ofcher influential London journals, have favorably reviewed the public works scheme of last session of the General Assembly, has sadly discomfited thafc small Auckland parfcy, which based opposition upon presumed* impossibility of negotiating the proposed loans ; in faot, the treacherous ground upon which that parfcy relied quite gavo wny upon the arrival of the City of Melbourne ; it has therefore been found necessary fco resort; once more to the old diggings of porsonal vituperations, which are jusfc now being worked very energetically. At present, I should say, Mr Yogel is the best abused man in New Zealaud. Since thafc gentleman has left us, his Auckland scribbling opponents seem to have trebly " steeped their pens in gall." The mere rumor that Mr Yogel may possibly go to England to realise his great scheme, has driven them well nigh frantio. Fortunately for their friends a lunatic asylum is not far distant. The Pikonoia. M-ukdek. — The "HawWs Baj Herald's" correspondent, in a letter dated Auckland 27th December, reports : — Wifch respect to the attitude of the King natives, all sorts of contradictory rumors constantly arrive from the somewhat apocryphal newsvendors of Alexandra, and via the Thames. The only thing thafc appears absolutely certain is, that Ngaatiaianiapoto, one and all strongly reprobate Todd's murder. Meantime, precautions have been taken fco secure Waikato, in oase irreconcileable Kiugifces think fit to attempt; fcho recovery of fche confiscated Maungafcawhiri boundary. On the 19fch, a detachment of Armed Constabulary arrived from Wellington, and left for Waikato nexfc morning afc daylight. This detachment was in charge of Sub-Inspector Ferris (formerly of Napier). Including fchafc officer, fche detachment numbered thirty men, of whom no less than eleven have held commissions. One has been Brevet-Major in the Imperial service. Another detachment stationed here for about eighfc months, left, for Waikato en the 21st. I believe both detachments are armed with Sniders. The men are powerful-looking, young, apparently well disciplined, and in robust health. With these reinforcements the Waikato is considered tolerably safe from sudden attack. No uneasiness Beems to exist;, for every confidence is placed in fcbo authorities. The Mutual Betting Machine. — John Lyshon and Charles Toilet, Birmingham befcfcing men, were recently charged ab fche Wolverhampton Police Court with having played at tho races in that town with a certain instrument; of gaming. The defendants stood on the course on Tuesday and Wednesday with a " Pari-Mutuel," br mechanical betting machine. Thiß is a case, the upper surface of which is perforated with holes covered with glass. By tbe side of each, hole is a number corresponding with the number of a horse upon the race card. When a person backs a horse, for say half-a-crown, the owner of the case touches a handle, and in a hole beneath the glass appears a number, showing the number of half-crowns which have up to that time been laid on the particular horse backed. The same movement of the handle shows in another position upon the case the number of bets upon each horso that is backed for the race about to come off 1 . When the race is over the money laid upon each is added together, and is divided among those who backed the horse that won — the defendants first deducting ten per cenfc. for fche use of the case. The defence was thafc fche instrument; of gaming mentioned in the Act of Parliament (fche 31 and 32 Victoria) was one upon whioh alone depended fche issue of fche bet. But the "mutual betting" machine had nothing to do with the issue of fche befc ; ifc merely recorded the amounfc for -which each horße had been backed, and was ih fact nothing more than a betting book upon a large scale. The magistrate considered it a meanß of gaming, and sent fche [prisoners fco gaol for seven days, wifch hard labor j bufc a case was granted, and bail was accepted for fcheir appearance when the decision has been given. Alfred Bevis and Robert Dunn, jun., Loudon betting men, were charged with a similar offence, and remanded for a fortnight. Infanticide at Tueakina.— -The Wanganui "Chronicle" says : — A case of this kind of a peculiarly melancholy character occurred at Turakina on Monday last. The facta are these — The wife of Mr John Hurst had been confined on that day ; there were games in the village which would account for her having been unfortunately left alone ; and in tbe mania of what, we suppose, was puerperal fever, ifc would appear she had killed the infant, or from want of aid and the necessary attention ie may have died. She must havo afterwards taken the body outside the house, perhaps in her frenzy attempted to bury ifc. At all events, shortly after five o'clock on Monday evening, Mr M 'Car thy drew the attention of the police constable to something unusual in Mr Hurßt's garden. The constable, accompanied by Mr Jordan, went to the spot indicated, and there found the body of a new-born infant. The throat was cut and the body otherwise mangled; it bore some appearance as if it had been covered with earth, but when found ifc was lying among long grass by the side of fche footpath. The constable took charge of the body until nexfc day, when an inquest was held, and the following verdict returned — " That it is the opinion of this jury that Mrs Hurst; gave birth to a child, the subject of fchis inquest, while laboring under temporary unsoundness of mind, bufc no evidence has been produced of how the marks of violence fcodk place." This affair has naturally excited Bensation in the quiet village of Turakina, and much sympathy is felfc for all the partieß moro immediately concerned. In reference fco fche same affair, the " Herald " says : — " We have reoeived information from Turakina that a Coroner's in. quest was held on the body of an infant found on the road near Turakina. It appeal's, upon ■ enquiry, thafc ifc was fche infant still-born of Mrs Hurst, wife of Captain Hurst. She had given it to one of her boys to bury, and on going to do so had met with other boys, and they left it on the road. Constable M.'Lean having heard of tbe circumstance, obtained the body and called a coroner's inquest. The jury returned a verdict, ' That Mrs Hurst was delivered of a child stillborn, and gave it to the boy whilo in a state of temporary insanity.' " The Meteob at Wanganui.— The "Chronicle" says : — A beautiful and magnificent meteor — a fireball or shooting star — was seen in the skyon Sunday nighfc, between eight and nine o'clock. It sped leisurely across fche sky (leisurely, we mean, • ior a meteor — probably ab the rate of 1200 miles a minute) from north to south. It was quite radiant, lighting up one or two dark filmy clouds behind which it took its way, until afc lasfc ifc was hidden and dissipated behind a black curtain of cloud on fche verge of tho horizon. The Steam Engine Supebseded.— The "Illustrated London News," 2nd July, thus refers to a now species of motive power which has lately been patented and which appears to present a fair prospect of superseding the steam engine. 'In all engines deriving their power from the combustion of fuel the roal source of the power is the fuel, and in steam engines fche steam is merely a medium for the application of the heat, and its employment can in no way increase fche quantity of power generated. If, fchen, fche combustion of the fuel were to be so conduoted as to generate power, tbe steam mighfc be dispensed with; and i his is what is dono in a cannon, where the rapid combustion of the powder generates sufficient power fco repel the ball. In the motive power aarangement under review the coal is first converted into carbolio oxide by'imperfeofe combustion, and tliiß gas is burnt; wifch air under pressure in a close chamber, so as to constitute a continuous explosion. A jefc of highly-heatod water is then projected among the produofcs of combustion in a separate chamber, by which large volumes of steam are raised whioh mingle wifch the products, and fche mixture is employed to work an engine. By tbis arrangement the boiler is dispensed with ; power is got from the combustion of the fuel, as well as the expansion

of the -water into steam; anu the whole heat passeß' through the engine instead of a portion of ifc escaping without result from the* chimney^ as in common boilers" J : The Mont OenlS TroNßii.~The following from the" Artisan'* of" October 'l^.will "be read with great interest :•— The tunnel, as' Professor Anstead reminded the audience, -will perforate the crest of , the main oha\n of the- Alps 1 , nearly 1 midway between Mont Genis, passi-og nearly under the summit of Mont Frejus, The operations of the tunnel involve a direofc but through a series of rocks on a line whose depth below: the surface was almost at once very considerable. Owing fco fche form of fche ground and rise of fche mountain, fche depth was 2000 feet afc eaoh end after 2000 feefc tunnelling. From this poinfc, however, fche depth increased very little from eaoh end for a long distance. In fche middle of- the tunnel the depth below the surface is 5400 feefc, tt while the deepest borings for sUoh works aa mines and wells do nofc excoeed 3000 feet. The ' works have been carried on throughout with some regard to the great physical questions involved. Among these the temperature at various distances and depths beneath the surface was not the least important. Instructions were given to bore a large hole laterally into the rock for a distance of aboufc ten feefc, at intervals of 500 mefcreß, . and determine fche temperature of fche rock by thermometers provided for the purpose. On the northern side fchis important experiment; had been carelessly executed, bufc on fche south side, especially towards the centre, some good observations had been made, and fche result was somewhat startling. The last observation made afc fche time of his visit; was at 6200 metres (20,342 feefc) from the south end, afc a depth of more than 5000 feefc. The result was 25 deg. C.=BOJ deg. F. . This would reduce the increment to a degree Fahren* heit in more than 100 feet, the general increase being observed in mines to an average a degree in about 60 feet. Here again, however, there wa9 stijl something wanting, the mean annual temperature of the surface not being accurately known, and the depth from the surface: of the stratum of permanent temperature never having been determined. Wifch reference fco fche progress * of the work of tunnelling, the Professor Btated fchafc on fche 31sfc of lasfc month, there remained less than 2000 feet out of 40,000 feet to pierce, and as fche present rate of progress is aboufc 500 feefc per month, ifc may be expected that fche communioafcion will be complete by the commence* ment of fche ensuing year.