LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3109, 28 January 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

♦_- Me G-eobge Huntee. — We regret that we are unable to put before our readers iv this issue the able and interesting remarks made by Mr Hunter on colonisation last evening. His views are those of Mr E. Q-ibbon Wake« field, whose services to the colony and humanity he fully appreciated. His remarks displayed a great amount of thought, and were most convincing. The policy of the present Government, wo have often showed, is nothing but the Wakefield system of colonisation energetically revived, and it must command the support of the newly-elected member for Christchurch. We may gather from his recent speech that ho is thoroughly imbued with the opinions of his illustrious father, and we may presume, notwithstanding the "Post," that he cannot be opposed to n policy which embodies all the leading principles of colonisation, for tho enunciation and practical illustration of which the name of Wakefield will ever be illustrious. We shall reprint in our next issue Mr Hunter's remarks. A Boat Raob.— Owing to a protest that was lodged on settling night, in reference to tho four oar race, it was decided that the Faughaballagh and the Independent shall pull the samo course over again at six o'clock this evening, to decide which is entitled to second place. Jotjbnalistio.— We are glad, for the credit of journalism in general, and the New Zealand press in particular, that the charge of " tho almighty dollar " having an influence on our morning contemporary's present politics, is disproved by the explicit denial of Messrs Hunter and Pearce. We are sorry to think that any journal, by making such a charge, should have rendered it necessary for another most emphatically to deny it. " But it is only the ' Post!'" Bishop Yiabd. — Wo are glad to be able to contradict the report concerning tho arrest of Bishop Viard, whilst travelling on the Continent. The very first mail delivered in Wellington brought to tho Catholic clergy of this town a letter dated from London, the 23rd of

Novemebr, in whioh his Lordship said that both he and the Very Rev. Father O'Reilly had taken their passage on board the sailing vessel England, and that they were to sail positively in the end of November. Therefore we may expect his Lordship here in about four or five weeks. A Cbiozbt Match was played on Monday, the 23rd inst., between an eleven of the Hutt and eleven of the Taita Clubs, which resulted in an easy victory for the Hutt men, who beat their opponents in one innings and 57 runs, which the score will show : — Taita, Ist innings, 35 ; 2nd do, 13 ; total, 48. Hutt, Ist innings, 105. Stbanob Spbings. — Some six years ago (says the " Macleay Herald"), small clay mounds were observed to be forming at tho bottom of Yarrabandini hill, on the south side, and shortly after water was seen to ooze out of them. From that time until the present the mounds have increased in size, and appear in great numbers, being scattered about over fully half an acre of land. They are so soft and deep that horses or cattle by any chance getting into one of them, are almost certain to sink over their hends. Without tho slightest difficulty, a pole fourteen feet long, cau be pressed by a persoa's hand down tho centre of the smallest of them, and then no bottom is perceptible. This was done on one occasion by Mr George Chapman, and when passing on thejfollowing day it had been forced almost its whole length out of the ground. In pressing a pole into these holes it invariably has a tendenoy to spring back, there being no suction whatever. These springs have caused a good deal of wonder and remark, and would well repay a scientific person for a visit to them. A Race Fish. — An Auckland paper gives the following description of a monster of the deep harpooned lately near Trumpeter Bay : — It is said to be a sun fish, but from its immense size and weight it differs from the Orthagoriscus described in the books. It is eight feet in length, and measures from the extremity of one posterior fin, or fluke as the fisherman call it, to that of the other, nine feet across the head under the eye, and five inches across the mouth with no teeth. It is a flat discoid fish, the dorsal and posterior fins being united to a deep caudel fin, of which they seem to be two long wing-liko points. Double Fubbow Plough.— The following is my report of double furrow ploughing in Scotland : — While the steam plough, from its elaborate accessories in the shape of machine, engine, gearing, &c, makes first cost an important consideration with the farmers of our country, this double furrow is within the reach of every farmer. First cost with the dearest makers is 15gs, and I observed one of the prize implements in a competition field yesterday, on the lands of the Nether South Bar; near Bishopton, priced at £9 10s. It will bo observed that each of these ploughs turns two furrows at a time ; they are drawn by three horses, and can be guided in all cases by one man. The agriculturist, therefore saveß the labor of one man and a horse, while on light soil two good Clydesdale horses is sufficient to drag the implement. The economy is obvious to every observer; or taking a moderate estimate of labor, the first cost is recouped in from three to six weeks' work of the implement. As an instance of this, farmers in every country are on the alert, and local societies are getting up competitions to bring forward ploughs to meet their special requirements. Coming to the more immediate trial of yesterday, I do not remember to have seen either stubble or lea-ploughing in general so well handled. The well-known plough-makers, John Gray and Co, had a wonderful success, being placed first in stubble and lea ploughing, with, the same implement, priced at 13gs, and taking second prize with the cheapest implement in the field, price £8 10s. Mr Murray's plough was'alßO a capital implement, and commanded general attention — the competition on stubble, in fact, being between the two firms. Mr M'Raith took third position in lea, but nothing could approach the splendid work of the man guiding the premier plough ; the " twilling," or burying the sward, was as perfect as could be done by the best single-furrow plough. — Correspondent " Gardeners' Chronicle." Wool. — The Anglo Australian in London aays t — The wool sales this month, have on the whole gone off fairly, considering all circumstances. They opened at prices about the same as those that ruled at the close of the previous series, and though there was a falling off for a time the closing figures were quite as high as those at the opening. In the absence of the usual proportion of foreign buyers there was a pretty vigorous competition amongst home purchasers. The result may probably bo due in part to the large contracts on hand by Yorkshire firms for military great coats and blankets for the French and, more especially for the Prussian armies. There is little doubt that but for the war wool would now be fetching very advanced prices as compared with last year, probably 2d to 3d higher. The New Flying Squadbon. — Rear-Ad-miral Beauchamp Seymour, C.8., will] hoist his flag on board Her Majesty's ship Narcissus on December 1, and on the same day will bo commissioned the Immorsalite and Dido, both of which will form part of this squadron. Admiral Seymour's first trip will not be a lengthened one— probably to the West Indies and back. Captain Sullivan, 0.8., now in command of the Volage, will hoist his pennant on board the Immortalite, and will be suoceeded in the Volage by Captain Michael Seymour. The Dido will bo commissioned by Captain W. H. Whyte. Thb Auckland Distress.— An Auckland paper says it has been informed by one ef the members of the Executive that, notwithstanding the great distrees which it is alleged is prevailing, not a single name has been Bent in for relief of all the persons who formed the moeting of the unemployed. Cutting. — A Fiji paper under the head of " severe" says : — They say that when a mer- | chant in Auckland dons a new suit af clothes and a bell-topper, the question is immediately asked " how much he'll pay in tho pound ?" The Results of Acclimatising.—Venison is now regularly received in Melbourne from Tasmania by the steamers. The deer have bred so rapidly in the woods of Tasmania by the steamers. The deer have bred so rapidly in the woods of Tasmania that the gastronomic wants of Melbourne as regards venison can be freely supplied, without thinning too much the wild herds whioh furnish sport to the hunters. New Zealand Wae Medal.— The following is dated Admiralty, S.W., November 5, 1870. Notice is hereby given to the officers and men of the Royal Navy and Marines whose claims to the medal for services in Now Zealand during the wars in 1845, 1846, 1847, and between the years 1860 and 1866, have been remitted, but whose medals have not yet been delivered to them, and they can now receive the same on application. Notice is also given to those who may be entitled to the medal for service while belonging to any of the undermentioned Bhipß, and who have not yet applied for the same, that they should without delay send in their claims for investigation. Applications may be made, either personally, at the Medal Branch, Admiralty, Somerset House, or by letter, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Navy and Comptroller of Navy Pay, Admiralty, S.W., with the words " Medal Branch" on the left hand corner of the envelope. Every claimant should Btate the rank or rating held by him during the war, and the name of the ship or ships on board of which he served j also in the case of every petty officer, seaman, marine, boy, it is indispensable that his application should be accompanied by his certificate of service, except ho shoutd be serving on board any of her Majesty's ships or at any of tho Marine head-quarters, in which caee tho application must be made through the commanding officer. Tho medal is awarded to those only who were surviving on January 3, 1869 (tho dato of the notice published in tho "London Gazette" granting the medal), and who formed part of tho naval brigade, and were actually engaged under fire on shore

during the war, while borne on the books of the undermentioned ships .—Brisk, Castor, Calliope, Gordellia, Curocoa, Driver, Eclipse, Esk, Falcon, Hazard, Harrier, Inflexible, Imb, Mirander, North Star, Niger, Osprey, Pelorus, Racehorse, the Honorable East India Company's steamer Elphinstone, the colonial steamer Victoria. The Auckland Gas Company. — It appears that the last half-year's dividend of the Auckland Gas Company was at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum, and a reduction in the price is suggested by the press. Eopata's Expedition. — The " Hawke's Bay Herald" of tho 20th says :— lt is not generally known that an expedition left Poverty Bay on the 11th inst., under Major Ropata, for the Urewera country. The expedition marched direct to Te Una, the reputed hiding-place of Te Kooti, and as, by the latest accounts, he was still in that neighborhood, and tho force are guided by runaways from him, it is hoped some account may be given of him. From Te Una the expedition will go to the Urewera country, and collect the scattered remains of that tribe at Kuatahuna, where they are to bo located under Government surveillance. Native Feeling.— The "Hawke's Bay Herald" says : — There can be no question that the announcement by an important tribe, such as the Ngatiraukawa, that they have withdrawn from the King party because they disapprove of the late murder at Waikato, is news of interest and congratulation to all Northern Island settlers, and as such wo gladly publish it. The Ngatiraukawa referred to occupy the country from near Cambridge to Taupo, as it was from that tribe which Te Kooti received assistance, at Patetere, during the last campaign. We hear Mr Locke has gone to Taupo to meet theso people, and that, in all probability, wo shall hear directly of their employment on the road works which are being rapidly prosecuted through the interior of this island. Ice Manueactuee in Auckland. — An oerated water and cordial manufacturer (Mr Gledhill) of Auckland, has added another branch to his establishment in the shape of an ice manufacturing maohine, at a coat of over £1000. Tho speculation promises to be a success. Fatal Accident.— lt appears from the Hawke's Bay papers, that a well-known and respected old settler, in the person of Mr C. G-. Cross, met with an accident on the 19th, which ultimately caused his death. He was mounting his horse at White's Hotel, at Porangahau, when the animal plunged, and throw him so violently that he had to be carried into the hotel. The unfortunate gentleman never recovered the shock, and died on I the following Saturday. Fiji. — A Melbourne telegram from Sydney states that Fiji papers to December "24 report that a settlor named M'Leod shot his partner named Toneman at the Sandwich Islands during a quarrel. M'Leod states that the deceased first drew hia pistol. Ross Leuvin was prompting the natives of Tanna to fire on a labor vessel visiting the New Hebrides. The schooner Maggie Johnson had arrived from Melbourne. The Solomon Islanders who were guilty of cannibalism had been recaptured on tho coast of Fiji. Comets.— Mr J. L. Sinclair, Secretary of the Auckland Polytechnio Institution writes to us as follows : — Comets have always asto* nished mankind, and the appearance of a large one has occasionally led to great political events, for few occurrences are so calculated to disturb and " perplex monarchs with fear of change." The great comet of 1556 is now overdue, and southern observers had better be on the look-out for it, as it may appear at any time, and its return now would be regarded as a very singular coincidence. It was this comet that so greatly alarmed the Emperor Charles V, of Germany, that he abdicated his crown, and retired into a monastery. Mr J. R. Hind predioted its return in 1848 (the great year of revolutions), but it did not appear, audit is thought some heavy perturbation may have affected it in some part of its course. Its appearance now, when there is likely to be another Emperor of Germany, would be a striking oircumstance, and one that would furnish the superstitious with many a text. From a recent communication received by the Secretary of the Auckland Polytechnic Institution from J. R. Hind, Esq, we have been favored witn the following extracts :— * * * I think comets must frequently pass unobserved for want of a more general and systematio search after them than is made in the southern heavens. Ido not, however, forget Mr Tebbut's meritorious discovery, in May, 1861, of the grand comet of that year, with which his name ought in future to be associated, as we associate the comet of 1858 with the name of my friend Professor Donati. . .... I have calculated the following elements of a comet, discovered at Marseilles by M. Coggia on August 28. Its course will not allow of observation in your position : — Perihlion Passage, 1870, Sept. 2, 49188, Greenwich. Longitude ofPerihelion 17 ° 49" 2Ll' "> M.G-. Do ascending node 12 ° 56" 25.5' j 1870.0 Inclination to Ecliptic 80 °34" 25.4 Log. Perihelion diet. 0.2593720 Heliocentric Motion — Retrograde. I have heard, I know not if correctly, that D'Arrest's comet of short period had been detected early in its apparition by Mr Ellery with the great reflector at Melbourne. Unusually fine weather has enabled me to see it with Mr Bishop's 7-inch refractor, and I have found tho connection of M. Levvan's ephemeris as follows : — M. E. A. M. N. P. D. 1870, September 24 — 245.95 — V 33" 3 So that the calculated time of perhilion passage is very near the true one, and the heavy perturbations of Jupiter have been exceedingly well calculated." Flax.— Gh and J. A. Noble's circular by this mail says of New Zealand flax, — " There has been a good business doing, both at public sale and privately, principally in the better sorts, prices showing considerable advance; this article is gaining favor with consumers, and we have no doubt will continue to do so if greater care is taken in the preparation ; low qualities, of which there are large stocks, sell very slowly, and will, we fear, leave a bad result to shippers." From the flax report of the same company we extract the following prices, realised by the flax ex GHouces ter, from tois port. R&G- in diamond — 72 bales sound, sold at £31 10s per ton ;20 bales sea damaged, cl. 1, sold at £31 5s per ton ; 13 bales sea damaged, cl. 1, sold at £31 10s per ton ; 12 bales sea damaged, cl. 2, sold at £29 15s per ton ; 20 bales sea damaged, 01. 3, sold et £25 15s per ton ; 11 bales sea damaged, cl. 4, sold £2S 15s per ton ; 5 bales, half rotten, all at £16. scwt lqr Olbs loose half rotten all at £1. 16 bales sound, sold at £23 5s per ton ; 12 bales sea damaged, cl. 1 sold at £22 5s per ton ; 5 bales sea damaged, 01. 2, sold at £21 per ton ; 2 bales sea damaged, cl. 4, £18 per ton. R&G- in diamond — 3 bales sea damaged, cl. 2 ; 1 bale sea damaged, cl. 2 and repacked j 1 bale sound ; tow, 5 bales sea damaged, 01. 2 and repacked, all sold at £10 per ton. The Fly Nuisance. — Among tho little discomforts of life is ono which is particularly obnoxious to tho unfortunato bachelors who are obliged to malto thoir duily moal in an eating-house or rostaurant. It is tho uuistince of flies, to which some pooplo aro so aonsitivo that to dino bcoomos v positive trial, instead of a plensuro. A lilflo iiMonliou on the pnrt of proprietors of dimitf^vooma would got rid of tho evil. In !Holtflum tho butchers use laurel oil on thoir tloorpoHtu nml windowframes to suoh good eilVofc thai, tlio llios will not entov tho bhop. h nob this hint really worth taking P Tht Navy oi? Tuukmw— ln Sir Henry Bulwcr's rooontly published memoirs of Lord Palmorston, ho quotes from that statesman's correspondence a lottor in which he negatives tho popular assertion that Turkey is a decaying power, and statos that she is in reality passing through a period of political renaissance. It is of great importance to bear this in mind, in view of tho complications which have arisen with respect to the Eastern question.