LOOALAND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3160, 29 March 1871, Page 2

LOOALAND GENERAL NEWS.

Sale of Stock. — One of the beßt sample of draught stock we have seen put up for eal in Wellington was sold yesterday by Mr Geo Hunter ; and after the wretched prices brough by such largo and clean limbed animals wi fear it will be a long time before anybody wil be induced to put such another fine lot ink the market. Wo really sympathised with Mi Hunter when he said he regretted having beer the cause of introducing this stock from Tasmania, as we foel tolerably certain the animals would have fetched more where they were reared, or perhaps in any other city in New Zealand, than they have done hero. The sale was very well attondod, and everyone praised the animals ; but the money was evidontly not there; so that we may fnirly regard the sale yostflrdar as a not untruthful commentary on the dulnesa o the times. Although wo have at timeß seen a larger stamp of Tasirrnnian horses, we would not, on the whole, desire to look on better or more compact. They are quite heavy enough for anything. It will be retidily seen that the transaction has been a losing one when we say that tho highest price realised was £30 a-pieco for two powerful bay mares, seven years old, bot.h in fonl to ft good j imported horse. The freight alone on each , animal cost about £10, which would probably be increased to £15 by other expenses uincc j shipment. Mr .Hastwell appeared to be fully j alive to tho advantageous nature of the sale, ! as he was tho heaviest purchaser. He can now say ho haß the material for one of the finest teams in the country. The iota he bought were— Lot 1 and 2, draught mares, £30 each ; a bvown mare very little, if at all, inferior to tho t.wo former, the pick of the mob, for £26 ; a really splendid pair of chestnut colts, three years old, thnt with care would make very largo horses, £42. A very fine 3-year old chestnut filly wns knocked down to Mr Halcombe for £26 ; while a model of a heavy carfc colt, only 2 years old, was bought by Mr Haslem for £23. Three very large ,and fine looking mares, 4 and 5 years old, wero bought by Mr Mclntosh— two at £25 each, and one at £26. The third lot, a promising looking bay filly, which had sustained a slight injury to one of its hoofs, was bought by Mr Hunter himuelf at £28, failing to get an outside bidder. An aged imported mare in foal, and which had ovidently been much prized in her day, failed to secure a bid, though the catalogue said she had been bought some time since by Mr John Field for £168. Three far less objectionable lots had also to bo withdrawn without a bid. Mr J. Mason secured a rare specimen of a yearling for £12';' and a 2-year old black filly was knocked down to Mr H. Blackey for £19. Tho show lot of the shipment was reserved for the last. This was a bay entire colt, 2 years old, and which hud obtained a first prize at a show, and we must say ho was a porfeot picture for a 2-year old. Mr Hunter euid ho had refused several offers -of- £IOO -for him since being landed ; but the only bid made at tho sale w«s £60, by Mr Mclntosh. It was of course withdrawn. The pair of ponies were sold before the draught Btoek. They were started at £20, and in a few minutes knocked down to Mr J. H. Bromley for £30. A few hacks were afterwards put up and sold at ordinary prices. A couple of goodlooking miloh cows could not find a bidder ; though three calves fetched 21s each. Supreme Cotjbt. — Mr J. M. Batbam, of this city, who served his articles with Mr Brandon, and reoently passed the. usual examinations beforo his Honor Mr Justice Johnston in a satisfactory manner, was yeßterday sworn in and admitted as a barristor and solicitor of the Supremo Court of Now Zealand. WblT-INOTON Races; — Twolv© months ngo this morning many of our citizens were setting off for the races, Borne -deeply interested in tho running of the horses, and all looking forward to the enjoyment of a pleasant holiday and picnic on the course. The racing on tho two days lost year was not recnarkably good from many circumstances, tho details of which were commented on at the time, but this year wo have no races at all ! How is this ? What is our Jockey Club about ? People who have recently come to resido among us look surprised and incrodulous when told by older inhabitants that formerly threo race meetings, ull well supported and attended, used to t&ke plane year after year in the vicinity of Wellington, viz,, Te Aro races in January, the Burnham Water meeting in February, the Hutt races in March concluding the season, with an additional bye-day occasionally, on Burnham Water Course. Now what has brought about this change in our pursuits, habits, and tastes ? Probably if sir different people wero asked individually to solve the riddle, they would arrive at just ns many different conclusions. However the fact remains, and this year, to the regrot of mnny both in town and country, Wellington makqs herself conspicuously eccentric in having no horse racing. Are we getting too desponding, or too pious, or what? The Last English Mail. — We have been favored by the acting Postmastor-Q-oneral with the following information rogarding tho last mail via San Francisoo :-^Of tho mails received by the Wonga Wonga from England, in January, only two from London, and two from Dublin, for tho whole of New Zealand, were received, comprising 190 bags, and of theie, thirty bags wero despatched from London in December, but arrived at San Francisco too late for transmission by that months' steamer, tho City of Melbourne. Tho mails received for November, were throe from London, threo from Dublin, and three froni I Liverpool, comprised in 240 bags. For December, two mails from London, two from. Liverpool, and two from Dublin, contained .in 289 bags, to which should be added the thirty bags received this month. Tho average number of mails received each month io eight or nino, contained in from 230 to 300 bags, co that there appears to be six or seven mails (between 80 to 100 bags) missing. Billiabds. — The third and last match between Frank Lessington and Mr Nesbitt of tho Panama Hotel, came off last night and resulted in favor of tho latter, Nesbitt winning by 22 points. It will be recollected that in all the matches Lessington gave his opponent 60 points. Losing the first, Lessington won the second, and though he loßfc the third, as ho gained 27 points in the course of the game he must bo considered the better player. Considerable interest was manifested in the game, and a great many were present. Wellington Entebpeise. — Tho Canterbury " Press" of tho 25th states ; — We understand that W. D. Barnard has disposed of his celebrated bull Comet to Mr John Martin, of I Wellington, for the handsome sum of 300gs. The bull will be shipped at purchasers' risk on the return trip of the Phcebe. We cannot but ozpress surprise that tho large stookowners of this province, should have allowed a prize animal of such high reputation as Comet, to go to another province, as it will be very long ere we have another bull here combining so many strains of pure blood. We understand that Mr Martin intends placing Comet on bis station ut the Wairarapa, Me Branigan. — The Auckland correspondent of the "Lvtollton Times" saye, under date the 15th : — Mr Branigan is thought to have considerably recovered from his sad affliction. A friend of mine went to tho Asylum where Mr Branigan resides, a few days back, and found him perfectly calm and tolerably collected in mind. Ho said ho was aware of what had happened, but felt he was improving and spoke in feeling terms of his kind treatment, Occasionally he is visited

by. the Defence Minister, who oheera him by his presence for several hours at a stretch. The Inexpensive County System. — The "Grey River Argus" of the 20th hag this small item of County Council news: — " Wo learn that the rather difficult problem that was left to bo settled by the County Chairman with vespecfc to the apportionment of the sum voted by the County Council for the honorarium of members received the following solution : — The member for Okarito received £45 j the members for Paroa and Groymouth received £40 each ; the members for Arahura, Koniori,' and Totara, £25 each. The Hokitika members received nothing." Lttoky Wanganui. — The " Wanganui Herald of the 25th has the following :— " We observe from the " Daily News" of January 4th that Wanganui has again had more than her usual share of luck at the last distribution of the " City of London Art Union," twelve prizes having been registered for this district. A private advice has also reached here that the principal prize of the Art Union of Great Britaiu has fallen to Wanganui, but the name of the fortunate winner has not yet arrived." Wo are glad to see so valuable prizes falling into the hands of our settlers, and we hope our contemporary will publish the names of the successful subscribers. New Zealand Flax.— The " Press" of the 25th reports : — The following letter, received in reply to one dated Nov. 2, forwarded by Mr Booth to his English agents, will bo read with interest. With the letter Mr Booth sent a rough sample of flax, prepared by Mr Jour* neaux's procea9 : — " We duly have your samples of flax, and have submitted the same to two friends, with the following replies, which, 'on the whole, we think satisfactory. The intrinsic value of the articlo ia as follows, viz. : k — Rough fibre, as per sample, ,£4O per ton ; hackled do, do, £46 per ton ; tow do, do, £28 per ton. Wo could obtain these prices this day from friends outside Hull, loss 2£ cash." From London. — " The various opinions we have consulted result in valuing the hackled satuplo at £45 per ton ; the unhackled at £41 to £42 ; and the tow, which ia very fine, at £25 per ton. These qualities moet with a ready sale in this naarket, and we -would say that your friends would be quite safe in shipping quantities of either samples, provided the the above values leave thorn a margin on cost, freight insurance, and expenses hero. The ropemakors horo would put oither sample through the machine, so that unless the hackling can be done in Now Zealand for less than £3 por ton, we Bhould advise the shipment of the unhackled, us it would sell as readily as the hackled. We would suggeßt that the flax be put up in hanks, and presased and packed in bales. By covering the ends with cavaea the bales would be preserved from damage, which we consider in many cases to be caused by the bale being placed on end either on a wet quay or wharf, or perhaps on a wet deck. This damage is called in port sea-damage and reduces the price of flax £2 or £3 por ton. A Shocking Incident. — A correspondent q( the " Delhi Gazette " relates a terrible scene occurred the other day at Etawah at the funeral ceremonies of a native. The corpse was brought to the banks of the Jumna to undergo (ho usual ceremony of burning. It was laid on the sand about fifteen yards from the water, while the men were preparing aud stacking the wood. This done, the wood was fired, so as to give some littlo tiino^for a good blaze, and tho men moved "off to a little distance, squatting themselves down to have a smoko, whon 'a "huge crocodile, seemingly watching their movements, rushed out of tho water, seized the corpse, and doubled back, making a tremendous header into the river with the body between his jaws, leaving the followers and mourners in perfect bewilderment. An Inhuman Mother.— Lately at tho Williarastown (Victoriu) Police Court, Mary Anderson was accused of cruelly illtreating her boyi seven years old. A gentleman uamod Carrington saw the prisoner come out of a hut in company ,with a child, who was quite naked. She beat tho child very tnuoh, and then deliberately throw him into tho river, dragging him out by a rope sho had previously fastened round his waist. She then led him to it poat, to which ahe tied hira. and beat him again, after which sho left him exposed to the rays of a burning sun, The Bench sentoncod her to a month's imprisonment. Fike.— The "Ross News" of March 23, says : — Wo briefly noticed yesterday that a very destructive fire had occurred at Hokitika, Wo now have particulars of it in the nowspapors, from -which wo learn that it was first discovered by Mr Findluy, of tho firm of Findlay, Haworth, aud Cornfoot, in the Westland Sawmills, the property of that firm. It appears that that gentleman, on looking out of his window at about three o'clock on Tuesday mornihg, the 21st inafc , saw that the back wall of tho mill was on fire. He endeavored to awaken tho neighbors, but with the exception of one of his workmen, named Watson, got no help until half-an-hour had elapsed, dui'ing whicL time the fire had gained 'such a mastery that it was with difficulty Mr Findlay rescued his family. The mill, with its splendid plant — consisting of a saw-bench, grooving, tongueing, planing, morticing, tenoning, and other coatly machinery, steam-engine, and a largo stock of doors and sashes, besides about 30,000 feet of timber — were all destroyed. Unfortunately, there was no insurance on the property, and the loss to the firm is estimated at £6000. Mr Findlay also is a loser of his j dwelling and furnituac, valued at £1000. Another building was doatroyod by the hook and ladder company, as a preventive of the fire spreading. We most heartily sympathise with the firm in their heavy loss, which will spread over a largo circle, as their spirited enterprise gavft employment to a large number of mon, and supplied a very extensive export trade. Filibustering Expedition to the Colo--1 nies. — Tho " Argus" received from Sydney a telegram which, although it comes from a private source, is thoroughly reliable. It is to tho offect that the Earl of Belmore has received a telegram from the Secretary of State intimating that there is a probability of the colonies being visited by a filibustering expedition from tho United States of America, and advising him to j>roparo for such an occurrence. Hi 3 Excellency the Governor of Victoria, and the Chief Secretary, decline to give any information on the subject, but there is not the slightest doubt that Viscount Canterbury has received a simitar message TnE Pabadise of Lawyer must surely be Wauganuu The " Chronicle" of tho 24th has the following : — Jack Cade, when ho headed the men of Kent, announced that one of his reforms would bo to hang all tho lawyers — a somewhat summary proceeding, but one the terror of whioh has not penetratod to this country or to this district. There are sevpn lawyers in Wanganui at this present, besidoa limbs or tontacula, larger and smaller ; and yet we hear of ono or if not two more on their way, to swoll the number and help us to understand tho mystoriea of the legal code, under which it is our fortune or misfortune to livo. With such inducements who would not go to law ? An Observatory.— A lato " Wakatip Mail" says : — Dr Hector, when here the ether day, exprossed himself very favorably as to the i desirability of establishing an Observatory here, Some two years ago, when Mr Seed, of tho Wellington Observatory, was on a visit, we advocated such a thing, and that gentleman promised to see after it j but nothing further was heard on the subject. Ready Mode of Taking Bees.— The Port Macquarrie correspondent of the " Macleay Herald 1 * states that aa Mr T. M'Cauley of this town was strolling near Nobby's, a few days ago, he came across a largo hivo of bees hanging from the branch of a tree. Having no box at hand in whioh to take them, he became non-plussed for a while, as to how ho should acfc ; after some consideration he came to the conclusion to take off his shirt, tie the nook and arm holes up, and put. the bees into it. This ho did successfully, after whioh he brought them into Mr Staador's, and placed

them into a box, whore they are now" Working beautifully. . The Hon. Dilion BEr,L.~- The " Press" is responsible for the following: — On dit that the Hon. Dillon Sell has expressed himself in various quarters to the effect, that he it willing to accept the office of Speaker of the House of Representative*). He is stated to be endeavoring to induce members to • support his appointment. Further, the Hon. John Hall's name is mentioned as his probable sue* ceeqor on the Ministerial benohes. Servants' Tbaining- School.— -The " S.M Herald" ot a late date says: — Yesterday afternoon a number of ladies and gentlemen, among whom were Mesdames D. 0. F. Scott, Stephen, Bailey, Shoobert, Roberts, Horsley, Oox, Tucker, Fitzpatrick, Potter, Victory, a^id M sees Mackie, Fowler, Grerille, and Wood* ruffe ; Dr. Lang, Oapt. Bcott, Oapt. Evana, Mr i E. F. Scott, and Mr E. J. Victory, met to coneider matters connected with the above school, j and to make arrangements for >t bazaar in aid j of the funds, to be held within three months time. The institution — which is for the benefit of girls from the age of ten years and upwards, whose parents and guardians wish them to be instructed as domestic servants, where they may be maintained, preserved from ' danger, educated, and trained to become good and useful servants, and instructed in the fun* dumentttl truths of God's Word — was estab* lishod on October last. The present number of girls, ranging from ten to fourteen years of age, at present in East View House, Upper Dowling Btreet, Darlinghurst, is fifteen. They are being trained by the matron. (Mrs Ro> berts), and an assistant, into skill in the operations of washing, ironing, mangling, and needlework. They are also taught other use* ful and suitable occupations in addition to the necessary branches of labor that are to fit them for domestic servants. Captain Scott being compelled to leave the meeting, the chair was taken by Dr. Lang, on the motion of Mr J. Vickery. The treasurer, Mr E. F. Scott, said that the sum at the credit of the school at the bonk that day was £93 12s Bd, irrespective of £3 Is 6d which he had just received.' The expenses of the school, including rent and salaries for the montha of last;, and January and February of the present year, had been £61 12s Bd. The greater portion of the ladies present gave in their names as intending stull-keepera at the forthcoming ba« zaar, and, after some further business bad been transacted, the proceedings were closed. It was announced that the quarterly meeting of the school would take place next month, and that nearly all the fittings and furniture re 4 quired for the institution had been presented therefor. Sbbiopltuiie m OANTEEBtTET.— -From our exchanges we learn that the cultivation of the silkworm in Canterbury appears to bo attended with a considerable amount of success. Mr Nairn infovmß us that the Indian silkworms ho has aro progressing very favorably, and that he expects to have a second crop this season of white Bilk. The Japanese variety received recently from Japan via Sydney and forwardod to Canterbury by the courtesy of the Sydney Acclimatisation Society, are also doing extremely well, being now in the fifth stage, and Mr Nairn is only prevented from extending this industry by the dearth of mul< berry leaves, the worms not doing nearly so well when fed on lettuce leaves. The silk produced by worms fed on the latter is not nearly so strong in the fibre. However, Mr Nairn's success co far in sericulture is very encouraging.