LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3144, 10 March 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Peovinoial Council. — The Council met at sevon last night, and another country member, in the person of Major Finnitnoro, took his seat. The sitting was the longest, and the discussion the moßt animated so far during the session, or in all probability that will take place. If Mr Pharnzyn's motion calling for the resignation of the Superintendent, whioh comes on to-day, is endorsed by the Council, everything will be cut short. Some little discussion took place on the motion for the second reading of the Patent Slip Bill, and this gave rise to a littlo surprise, which, from being unintentional, was the more enjoyable — unless perhaps to those honorable members who delivered themselves of vigorous and hostile speeches. It appeared that within the last two days a company has been formed in Wellington for taking over the patent slip plant, and the object of tho bill is to enable Dr Feathorston when acting as Agent-General at home to exercise the powers of the Council in closing the bargain. The suggestion comes from Messrs Kennard, and the prospectus of the company wus drawn up by their attorney, who is now in Wellington ; and the most taking feature in tho new arrangement is that Messrs Kennard recoup themselves by taking a large number of shares in the company. After several members hud exhausted all their reasons against the bill, tho Hon. John Johnston effected a surprise, and completely changed the current of opposition by saying that the company was already formed, and giving the terms. Hon. members who had opposed tho bill just before had nothing left for it now but to abuse the Government for not giving them the information sooner. Even that Blight satisfaction was a little marred when Mr Halcooobe informed tho Council of the recont birth of the speculation. Before commencing the businessof thesitting several landpetitions werehanded in and read ; Mr Hutchison presented a petition from a number of settlers on No. 2 lino who have been in possession of their land for the last ten or twelve years aud are yet ignorant of their exuet boundaries. The Council meets at 3 p.m. to day. . Maiden Speech. — Mr Finnimore of Wtmganui made his maiden speech last night, and wo think if he always speaks with the same earnestness and effect his constituents have no occasion to regret their choico. ' Without earnestness" Goothe says " life is vain," and tho earnestness of tho hon. member was tho distinguishing feature of his speech. Waxing warm with his subject ho addressed the Council instead of the Speaker, and his correction of himself and apology to the Speaker for the inadvertenco was a source of a little amusement to the audience outside the bouse. We need not say that the liberal and progressive views of tho hon. member accord with our own, and wo may add that this little irregularity we considered a virtue rather than a defect, as it evidences the earnestness which trausported him beyond observing tho limits of what is after all a purely arbitrary rule, ignored in tho House of Lords, and in a majority of tho political assemblies of the world. Wairabapa Races.— These races, which were advertised to como off at Groytown on tho 9th and 10th instant, are postponed to Thursday and Friday, 16th and 17th, owing to tho lute severe floods whick have made tho roads in tho dietricfc quite impasßable. It will

bo seen by advertisement elsewhere that the Committee offer the following prizes — Wairarapa stakes, £20 ; maiden plate, £15 ; handicap hurdle race, £15. We hope the -weather will prove favorable on thiß occasion, and that we may may have pleasure of chronicling a pleasant meeting. . Journalistic). — On the 14th instant, the Wanganui "Evening Herald" came out enlarged, and containing a great deal more reading matter than usual. There is a wide difference between the general appearance of the " Herald" today, and the garb in which it first wooed the reading public of Wanganui. Tn congratulating the proprietors upon the steady improvement they have been making in their publication, wo feel we are at the same time paying a deserved compliment to the enterprise of the district, as the improvement and expansion of the press of a place may be accepted as a safe criterion of a healthy progress generally. Musical Deluge. — An auction sale of pianos, unusual in its magnitude, in New Zealand, at all events, is to be held on Tuesday next, at the musical mart of Mr E. G. Smith, Lambton Qu rv. In the language of the auctioneers, comment is unnecessary as to tho quality of the articles. So say vre, for the names of Broad wood and Allison are synonymous for articles of only the very best manufacture. Altogether there are thirteen pianos, and nine of the unrivalled Alcxandro harmoniums to be sold, and what we wish to say in connection with the matter, is that ladies or gentlemen intending to become purchasers are invited to visit Mr Smith's show rooms on Monday and Tuesday next, for the purpose of testing the quality of tone and build of the instruments. Auction Sale.— Mr Duncan held an extensive auction sale yesterday, consisting principally of assorted ironmongery, sixteen ploughs, tin plates, wire nails, saddlery, &c, tho whole being sold without reserve, there was a good attendance, and everything was disposed off. The ploughs sold from 55s to 80s each ; tin plates, 30s to 42s each box, French nnils, 1.7s 6d to 22s per keg ; iron bedsteads, 17s to 219 ; Jiorso shoe nails, 42s to 80s ; gents' saddles, 75s to 85s ; ladies' ditto, 66s to 115s. Tho other goods are too numerous to mention, there being between 200 and 300 lots sold. Payment of Comjiox Jueobs. — The criminal sessions just passed being tho fir3t held since the coming into operation of the act passed last session for that purpose, common jurors receive remuneration for their services. Tenders. — We call attention to a number of tenders callod for by the General Government, by advertisement in thi3 issue ; tho tenders to be sent in by the Ist April. An Exemption. — Information snpplied to us by Captain Moss relative to tho management of the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, justifies us in exempting the Brigade of which he is captain from the general condemnation contained in a local which appeared in our columns a day or two ago. It is some gratification to know that both our brigades do not come under the category of the one which supplied such aa interesting subject of investigation in the Supreme Court at its late sitting. Hydeaulics — Our attention has been called to a clever adaptation of the hydraulic ram by our ingenious fellow townsman, Mr Hurley, to supply water to a house on tho Terrace, and we are so pleased with its simplicity and effectiveness that we consider it our duty to call public attention to its value. Hundreds of houses in Wellington now dependent chiefly on rain water might be abundantly supplied, even against fire, by taking advantage of this really useful invention, and it has, wo believe, but to bo known to muke its adoption universal. In the present case, a small dam has been put across a gully whioh intercepts the flow of three small springs and forms a reservoir, which is so placed as to give a fall of fifteen feet to the ram. The impetus so gained, by tho action of the ram, drives about a third of the supply up to a height of seventy feet, and fills a reservoir higher than the house it is inteudod to supply. The quantity of water thrown up daily is about one hundred gallons, a supply much above any i household wants, and leaves enough for any garden or ornamental purposes that may bo desired. In consequenco of the supply from the springs being too small to drive the ram constantly, a very ingenious self-acting valve has been fitted on the exit pipe at the dam, which opens when tho dam is full and allows the water torun down to the ram until the reservoir is empty, then shuts it off untill full again. The proprietor tells us that the expense has not been so much as the sinking of a well and fitting a pump would have been. This is a point in its favor, without taking notice of the saving of labor in pumping and the height the water is raised. We were much pleased to know that all the work has been made and fitted in Wellington, Mr Hurley having made tho patterns for the rum, the castings being done in tho Lion Foundry. The principle of the ram is well known, and many designs and improvements have been made of it ; but we understand Mr Hurley has invented a valvo which has a double action, and makes the ram throw up nearly double the quantity of water than the ordinary valvo fitted in the imported ram does. Whore the action of tho ram has to be intermittent, as in the present case, the doubleaction valvo gives a certainty of movement which tho old form fails to do. Indeed it was, on finding that the weight of water when the valvo was at rest kept it so, and that it required to be startod each time, the necessity ! of an improvement showed itself, as the adaptation of the ram to a limited supply was useless. Wo believe every facility will be afforded to any persons desirous of seeing the working of the ram, and thoso who desire to do so have only to apply to Mr Hurley, in Molesworth street, who will point it out to them. Fortttnr Returning- at the Thames.— A private letter received in Westport last week from the Thames contains the following paragraph :— " Mr 0. D. Berry, lately a resident of the Buller, took up a claim only the other dny, which he called ' Coek-a-Doodle ' claim. On Friday last they took out the finest specimen that has come from this field since it has been opened. It was a large specimen of stono, as much as a barrow would hold, and was completely covered with gold. Fortunately for him he bus two shares in tho claim." Tbo writer goes on to say that Mr Bony has been offered a thousand pounds for his interest. r Rifle Match -with Taranaki. — The men appointed by the Taranaki Rifle Association have fired in their match with Wanganui, and have made the following excellent scores. The ranges are 300, 400, 500, and 600 pards, five shots at each range :— Humphries, 67 ; Edward Olson, 64; Robert Govette, 59 ; Wrn. Humphries, 59 ; John Ellis, 54 ; J. Collins, 53 ; J. Collins, 53 : R. Buchanan, 51 ; Edward Humphries, 50; total, 456; average, 57. Tho Wanganuites will finish their firing tomorrow. Fabulous. — The mining reporter of tho " Southern Cross" says that the richness of the the Caledonian mino is almost fabulous, Scarcely a day pusses but something is revealed to further excitement, astonishment, and admiration, and cuuse folks to altogether lose sight of the tenth commandment. " Speci« mens, specimens !" is still the ory, and although the two-stamper battery it) kept hard at work on the precious stuff, the supply is far more than kept up. This morning whon I called at the machine there was half a ton weight on hand, and a few of the stones wore amongst the richest I have ever seen ; one of thorn appeared to contain at least eighty per cent of gold. To render my report of to-day consistent in its tenor with that of yesterday, I may state that rioher stuff was struck in the upper levels during the night. The lode there is now 6ft wide, and through its centre runs a band of gold nearly one foot wide. Death feom Eating- Trumprt Flowers. A child aged nearly four years, named Sarah Naomi Stephens, living at Kedron Brook (says tho " Queensland Express"), was seized with violent convulsions on Tuesday uight ; and an emetic having been administered, vomited a

quantity of stuff, which were easily recognised a9-portionß of the trumpet flower — so common in and about Brisbane. Dr Mullen was sent for, and arrived promptly j but his skill was of no avail, and the child died yesterday morning. It appears that the trumpet flower contains a good deal of poisonous matter j and this case should cause parents to be careful not to leave the flowers in the way of young children. The trumpet flower is largely grown in this distriot, and the caution given by the " Express" is equally applicable to parents in this locality. Vagbasts. — They appear to have a very simple mode at Madras of disposing of their vagrants. The following is from the " Madras Daily News": — " A few issues back we reported the exportation from Madras of ten vagrants. We now learn that six more are ' under orders' to bo sent away— some to England, and some to Australia. Since the deportation of the former lot, tho loafer nuisance has considerably abated, and will now, we hope, cease altogether. The cost, however, of sonding these ' ne'er to do well ' people away is a serious charge on our pockets." One would like to know what becomes of these vagrants on their arrival here — whether they reform and go to work, or whether, as is far more likely, they become inmates of our gaols or asylums. Fibe at Virginia Lake.— The police have received intelligence that on the night of the 4th a new house, intended for*a hotel, at Virginia Lake, outside of Wanganui, was burned down. The house was occupied by aMr Johnston and family, and a male friend of the family ; but they were all taken so much by surprise that they had to make their escape in their night dresses. They afterwards made their way into Wanganui a la Maori, with blankets round them. The building was insured for £300. Theatrical. — "Call Boy," in writing to the "Australasian," says that the Nathans made a great mistake in going to San Francisco, as they did little or nothing. Petit Marion and Selina hare gone on an engagement to Sacramento. The Thames Telegraph.— The " Thames Advertiser" of March 3, has the following observations with reference to the stoppage of the telegraph by Te Hira :— Whether Mr Puekey will b? able to make an impression on Te Hira in reference to the mail wo cannot say, but we think the matter ha 3 now assumed such a phase that the Government might step in with effect. , At the starting of the mail there was great resistance to it amongst the Ohinemuri natives, and, as our readers are aware, tho mailman was soveral time 3 stopped. By the exertions, we believe,' chiefly of the mail contractor, the opposition was got rid of. Whether the opposing natives were bought off, or whether they were made to listen to reason, the outside world does not know, and, except as a general question of native government, it is of very little moment. Even Te Hira, who is the most obstinate, and who is, like Robespierre, incorruptible, gave a kind of modified assent to some kind of modified or disguised mail passing along the : road. Some years ago the Upper Thamos district, from aline somewhere near Hikutaia, was given over solemnly into the charge of the King, Te Hira occupying a kind of deputed authority. In consequence of this state of things, Te Hira may have sent up to Tawhiao asking nis advice on this ticklish question of the mail, but at all events a few days ago Hunia came .down from the King with a message that the mail must be stopped. At a native meeting, wo are informed, Hunia used all the old King arguments, which were so frequently in the mouth of William Thompson and his'friends, and which are now emI bodied in the blue books. He also spoke of the murder of Mr Torld, saying that it was an act of tho Atua, or God, who had directed it, and who alone was responsible. It is therefore clear that the influence now interfering with the mail is from Waikato. This makes tho matter much more important, and shows that it is necessary for tho Governor to interfere. A most important point of the policy of the Native office ought to bo in to check the King in exercising power out of his own place, if it will not tackle him at headquarters. Let Te Hira be kept to his word, — and the let the interforenco of Waikato be put at nought. The importance of the mail as maintaining daily communication between Auckland and the Thamos, 1 and the rest of the colony, it is hardly possible to exaggerate, and n struggle will surely be made not only to keep it up, but to protect the communication by extending the wires. An examination of the country ought also to be made, the best road laid out, and a part of the rate for road-making in native districts devoted to its formation. Treatment of Typhoid Fevkb.— 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 j for it is digestible, is relished by fever patients, contains all the requisite material for the I nourishment of the entire body — the nervous system in especial, which in fever is always greatly affected. Thus by interdicting the use of water in toto throughout the fever, nourishment ctm always be given in the shape of cold new milk. Cold beef tea is by no means to be despised, but is much less relished, and notunfrequently loathed, when the fever is intense, while milk is then taken with much gusto. — " Medical Times." Unemployed.— An Auckland paper publishes the following letter from a correspondent, re the unemployed of that province :— A fevr months ago I fell into conversation with a man breaking stonea on the road. I asked him if ho liked this sort of labor. Ho did not much object to it if he could not get anything elae to do. Speaking of tho wages of laboring men in this country, compared with the remuneration to the same class at home, he said, " Sir, if a working man in this country (a single man) has not always a sparo ten or twenty pound note by him it is his own fault, and he would have it too if it were not for these drinking-bars, which stare us in the face at every few steps." I believe this man spoke from personal experience, and his experience ia probably that of the vast proportion of the working men in the colony. I have a great respect for an honest working man, and would willingly aid hira in his difficulties. But I have neither any respect or sympathy for many working mon in this colony, in difficulties, or not, when I see what wages they get, and how they waste their money many of them. The working man injures himself when he tries — as many do — to extort exhorbitant wages from the farmer, and preform as little work as he can in return. ' Such conduct is neither honest or politic. If the farmers do not prosper there can be no general and wholesome prosperity in this country. Without agriculture what is any country ? Little el»o than a place for reokless adventurers, beggars, and swindlers, who try to prey on each other by means which had better not be particularised. It is something melancholy to Bee able bodied men in a country like this, with so many public-houses around us, hanging on | at tho door of the Superintendents Office, begging for work, and pleading inability to get . it elsewhere. Such a sight is apt to excite one's indignation, as well as pity, at this time, when the farmers — as Mr W. Buckland tells us- -have such difficulty to get men to work at fair wages, and on reasonable terms as to hours. Auction Sale. — A general olearing »ale of | ship chandlery, &c, will take plftoe to-day, at i 2 o'clock, on the premises of M'lntyre & Co, the Noah's Ark,