LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3153, 21 March 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

His Exoeixenoy the Governou we are informed left Dunedin yesterday for Lake Wakatipu. Thence he proceeds to Oamaru, and expects to arrive in Christchurch early in April. He has expressed himself delighted at the princely reception given him in Ofcago. The Hon. Mb Yogel in Ameeica.— The <( News of the World" says :— The Hon. Julius Yogel, Colonial Treasurer and PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand, left San Francisco for Washington on the 13th inst. Through the courtesy of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, a special private car was appropriated for his use and thab of his suite. The same paper says : — The admirable address of the Hon. Julius Yogel before tho Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco will be found in another column. [We shall reprint it in our next.] Itisfullyur>derstoodthatMrVogel'BContract with Mr Webb has been definitely arranged, although no particulars have been published. ' We hoped in this issue to havo been able to record the passage of the Australian subsidy bill in Congress, which however has been delayed. The prospect of such passage is believed to be undoubted, although unfortunately for our coast the matter has been mixed up and entangled with a number of less worthy subsidy bills, some of which are believed to be, to use plain language, unmitigated swindles. It is hardly possible however to doubt that the general good sense of Oongiess will distinguish between such attempts at. robbing the National Treasury, and a scheme like our own of vital importance to our side of the world, aud destined to open up a most important route of travel, by the establishment of a genuine American eteum-ship line. The liberal example of New Zealand will also undoubtedly w>iko up senators und members to the immediate necessity for such action. Detention of the Maii,-— Tho "News of the World" pays the detention in our port on this occasion of tl o mail steamer for New Zealand and Australia for ono day later, was caused by the burning of the mail which left New York on the 7th insr, by the Hudson's River Railroad. The mail contained advices for Australia, and the detention"was made to give some chance of replacing the letters by telegraphic despatches via San Francisco. Mr and Mbs Hilton performed to a good house last night, and if tho temper of their audience last night can be taken as a criterion, they will delight many good hou es before they leave Wellington. A Gymnasium is about to be established in Christchurch. Journalistic— We learn that. Mr R. C. Reid, the late proprietor of the " Westport Times," which journal he sold tho other day to Mr E. J. O'Conor, M.H.R. has purchased the " Charleston Herald." A Spontaneous Fire. — By a fire at Cromwell, in Otago, a thousand pounds worth of oats was destroyed in Gfteen minutes. It was tho property of Mr Charle3 Hair. Ife is supposed that a fragment of bottle-glass must have become heated by the sun, and thus ignited tho straw. Feruet3. — A runholder near Kaikoura has bought fifty ferrets to keep down the rabbits on his run. Colonial Industries.— Our South Australia files bring us information that 1,000 tons of breadstuff is daily brought down by the Northern Railway. A new export to England is also commencing of opposum skins, for the purpose of manufacture into gloves. New Zealand" Flax.— The "Timaru Herald says : — We have been shown a small sample of flax dressed at Wellington. It is soft, fine and nearly white in color and a lot sent homo similar to the sample realised £50 per ton. The leaves we are told were dressed simply by machinery specially invented by the manufacturers, no chemicals being used. There can be no doubt that this is the sort required in the English market, for being perfectly free of gum and of all foreign matter, it would be capable of being worked up into the finest fabrics. We should like to have known the cost of manufacture to judge of the margin of profit left, but £50 the ton would we think leave a handsome profit,. Hokitika Hospital. — We have received copies of the third report of the Hokifcika Hospital from July to December. The following extract from the report by tho Surgeon Superintendent, H. W. Maunsell will be read with satisfaction, as showing the small mortality rate in New Zealand as contrasted with tho reports from other similar institutions in various other places. " The per-centage mortality has been s'Qh, which is considerably under that of the corresponding half year of the proceeding year. It will compare favorably with the death rate in the London Hospitals, whioh varies between 6 and 11*5 per cent ; or with the Victorian Hospitals (Melbourne and Beridigo for example) whose mortality varies between 12 and 15 per cent." The San Francibco Mail Service.— By reference to advertisement in another column i( will be seen that Messrs Johnston and Co. advertise tbo mail steamer Wonga Wonga t > leave Auckland (carrying the European and American mails) on Friday, the April. Messrs. Johnston and Co., agents for tho United States, New Zealand, and Australian Steam Packet Lino, havo received tho following telegram from Messrs. Cruickshank, Smart, ann Co , of Auckland :—" Vogol ontrneb all right. Nevada leaves San Francisco early in April." Rifle Shooting. — The rifle match between eight men of No. 1 Co. W.R.V. and pighfc of the Wanganui Rifles was fired on Saturday afternoon, when the Wellington men fired at tho Adelaide Butts. The woather was fine, but the shooting was bad. Tho Wanganui team fired on Thursday, and made 292 points. The Wellington team only made 249, «> that Wangnnui has won by 43. The conditions were— Ranges, 400, 500, and GOO yards, 5 shots at each ; kneeling at4ooyards, any position at the other ranges. The scores follow : — **

Total 249 The Annual Soiiike in aid of the funds of tho Sydney street Primitive Methodist Sabbath School was held lust evening, whon a largo number of the friends and supporters sat down to a sumptuous repast provided in the schoolroom. The tables were provided over by the ladies of tho congregation who rendered their services in an efficient manner. Wo wero much pleased with tho decorations of the schoolroom, which displayed great aWU and

..taste— garlands, mottoes, and flags being appropriately arranged. Tea being over the company adjourned to the spacious church ad* joining, which was completely filled with a delighted audience. The chair was taken by the Rev. Mr Dean, who, in his opening remarks referred to the object of the meeting, and expressed his pleasure at being present. [ He referred to the lengthy and interesting I programme placed before him as a reason why he should not occupy the meeting with any lengthy remarks. The report was then read by Mr Fisher in the absence of tho secretary (Hr Curson), who was detained by an accident. The report shewod the school to be in a prosperous state. Tho treasurer reported a balance in hand at the end of the year of over £5. The meeting was then ably addressed by Messrs Johnson, Edge, Leary, and Ward. Recitations were also given and suitable hymns sung by tho children between the several addresses. Votes of thanks were then accorded to the ladies who provided the trays, and to Miss Ward and Mr Carson for the training of the scholars for the anniversary. The meeting then closed with singing the Doxology and Benediction, the children singing as the congregation retired, " Shall we gather at the river." Wool Pboduction. — The following estimates of German statisticians, presuming them relatively correct, will solve tho enquiry as to which is the heaviest wool-producting country in the world : — lbs. Great Britain 260,000,000 Germany 200,000,000 Franco 123,000,000 Spain, Italy, and Portugal ... 119,000,000 European Russia 125,000,000 Australia, South America and South Africa 157,000,000 British North America ... 12,000,000 United States 95,000,000 North Africa 49,000,000 Asia (very general estimate) . . . 400,000,000 The aggregate prolusion of the wools of the giobe by theße estimates is 1,610,000,000, or Hlb, to each inhabitant, reckoned at 1,285,000,000 people. A Smoker's Accident. — A traveller slopped at Hayes's Lake Hotel, one night last week. Sometime before getting up next morning, ho had a smoke, and after he was done he placed his pipe under his pillow. He ultimately got up, breakfasted, and took his leave. About ten o'clock it was discovered by the servant that the house was on fire. From tbe pillow the wall had ignited, then the ceiling and tho shingles on the roof wore about ignited, when the fire was discovered. Luckily a number of men were at hand at the time, who, with the assistance of water, and some buckets of milk, managed to extinguish the flames before any serious damage was done.

400 500 600 Totiil. Hulse . ... 18 15 11 44 Bathiim ... 13 15, 10 38 Gillon ... 16 9 7 32 Taylor ... 17 8 0 81 St. George ... 17 6 5 28 Wobb ... 16 9 2 27 Bafckin .. 7 13 6 28 J. Gray ... 11 7 5 23