LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3202, 18 May 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Interchange op Products with Cali- j foenia. — Ib is now an admitted fact that the " bagmen" of Dnuedin are the first on the spot anywhere and everywhere where there is i trade to be done, and their principals, the merchants, ai'e not one whifc behind in being the first to take advantage of the presence of tho Americanj boats in our waters. Tho Nevada takes away with her on this trip a quantity of butter, cheese, and beer, shipped at Dunedin. It would bo well for our merchants here, and also those in other parts of the colony, to make up consignments of Biirplus produco for disposal across tho water. It may not be generally known that at the present time when butter, for instance, is selling at its minimum rate in Now Zealand, tho highest prices are ruling in San Francisco, and no doubt this is the case with a great many other articles of commerce, in which a very lucrative trade might be opened up. It is possible that a little dilligent inquiry, coupled with a spirit of trade enterprise, might afford very gratifying results to any person who may choose to be first to engage in it. Tho Nevada has also on board a consignment of bitter beer, alsa shipped at Dunedin as an experimental consignment. Captain Blethem is confident that the sale of this article will return a handsome margin to the shipper. Revising the Rons. — J. Q-. Allan, Esq, Revising Officer, sat in tho Supreme Court Chambers yesterday, for the purpose of hearing evidence, if any, why the names of persons objected to on the published list of objections should not be struck off the electoral roll for the district of Wellington. Only about ' six persons appeared to sustain their claims to have their names retained on the list, and after same trivial amendments the claims were reinstated. One gentleman objected to, Mr Gr. S. Cooper, claimed expenses for being compelled to appear, on the ground that tho objection urged was frivolous and vexatious, inasmuch as he had not " removed from the district," which was tho objection urged. Mr Jackson, tho objector, disclaimed any intention of having acted in the matter with a vexatious intent. He had Bimply adopted the words used on former occasions, whiob. ho thought would bo more specific and bo more easy of comprehension as being customary. Mr Allan explained to Mr Cooper that he could not allow expenses, as the object was to purge the roll of informal and invalid claims. Thero can be no doubt that the refining process now being adopted will go a great length towards doing away with a great deal of the unpleasant bickering which has taken place at past election's about dead men's votes and tho voting of persons who, in a great many instances, have not resided in the city for a number of years. About six hundred names have been objected to, and the objections seem to be well founded, as shown by the small number of persons appearing before the Revising Officer to sustain their claims ; while tho number of applications to bo placed on tho roll is about equal to fche number to be struck off. This revival in matters political is highly creditable to the community. It shows that the apathy which has so long existed is finally shaken off, and that the people of the province are awakening to a sense of duty in laying claim to their political privileges in such numbers. All shades of opinion in our body politic have assisted in some degree to produce a purified roll — a list that will represent genuine votes only ; and it is to be hoped that tho result of future electoral contests will bo accepted on all sides as tho deliberate expression of the public opinion of the place. Now that Mr Allan has commenced in earnest to revise the rolls in a systematic and searching manner, it is highly desirable that tho practice should bo studiously followed up in succeeding years. Mr Allan will open his Court again at 30 o'clock on Saturday, and it is expected that the whole of the day will be occupied in completing the Wellington roll. General Holiday. — Yesterday being the day appointed for the departure of Dr Featberston, a general holiday was proclaimed in the government offices and in the banks, to enable as many as possible to be present at the dejeuner given in compliment to the Agent-Q-enoral on the occasion of his leaving tho scene of his many years of labor. As a high mark oi the respect.all tho business places and shops in tho City wore closed, and not a " busy character" was to be seen. After tho luncheon the centre of attraction was tho Nevada herself, and the steamers Ahuriri and Go a-head made numerous trips to the ■' American wonder," being crowded to uncomfortableness on every occasion. The breeze during the day was just strong enough to make tho operation of getting along alongside a delicate and tedious matter, the Ahuriri on one trip snapping her ! topsail yard and on another carrying away her poop stauncheons. Of the ship herself it is not necessary to add anything to what has already been said excepting to say that tho colossal proportions of tho steam arms and their eccentric appearance excited universal wonderment, as alao did the marvellous economy of space. Another feature which "noks" one, as Artemus says, is the cosmopolite character to be observed in the composition of her crew; indeed what is thero American where this element is not. Tho officers displayed the greatest affability to tho fifteen hundred people or thereabouts who wont on board, and the trip was heartily enjoyed by everyone. Pobt Chalmers. — In contradiction of a telegram received hero a day or two ago, in which it; was announced that fche Captain of tho Nevada, considered the bar at Port Chalmers not tos safe for his vessel, we have tho authority of Captain Blethen for saying that ho considers he would experience no difficulty in crossing the bar, and taking tho channel, on the darkest night. R.M. Covet.— Two unfortunate women were dealt with yesterday morning. One for being drunk was fined ss ; the other, who had illegally attempted to tako up her quarters on the promisee of J. W. Stevenson, was remanded for eight dtiys. Swedes. — A writer in an American paper says that the Swedes become hardy laborers and honest citizens. They are nearly all far travellers, finding their way to Illinois, lo<va, Kansas, Ncbrnskn, and Minnesota, where they find a climate not unlike their own, and soon become settled down as thrifty farmers. Of Into years the Swedes have formed a very conspicuous part of our annual immigration. Not lees than 23,453 arrived during 1569, nearly 10,000 more than arrived in 1868, and nearly 20,000 abovo tho arrivals during 18G7. Of these it is safe to say .'that 90 per cent, go out West as agriculturalists." Bishop of Dunedin. — The " Otago Daily Times" has been informed that tho Rev. Mr Ncvill will be consecrated to the See of Dunedin, in St. Paul's Church, on tho 30th of last month (Whit Tuesday), and that tho Bishops of Chriatchurch, Nelson, and Wellington will tako part in the ceremony. Admission will bo t by ticket only. Cantkrbdby Sheep. — Tho total number of in Canterbury on tho Ist January last, was 2,452,058, being an increase during tho yoar 1870 of 84,778. A Song of Welcome. — A " Song of Waitomata," being a doggerel welcome, a very long way after Longfellow's " Hiawatha," to the Nevada, is published in the "Southern Cross" of the sth instant. We give the last four lines, which are a fair sample of the remuinder : — " Here for theo is savory kai-kai Waipiro to make thine heart glad, Rumginbrandy— Alechampagnesir — Waitemata bids thee welcome !" i The University Boat Race.— Tho follow- \ ing telegraphic summary of tho Oxford and Cambridge boat race appears in tho San Fran- | ci3co papers :— Tho Oxford crew chose the Middlesex side. Both made a splendid start. The Cambridge Look a slight load at the start, and maintained it throughout. The tide was slack water. The race was well contested.

The Cambridge took their opponents' water at ] Barnes' Bridge, and beyond it Oxford spurted I slightly and decreased the distance. The time was twenty-three minutes and a half second ; distance, three lengths. Thofe were tho usual crowds and excitement, aud the oity was emptied of people and vehicles. The last betting was two to one on Cambridge. Women on the Piatfoeh. — The following letter has been addressed to tho "Southern Cross :"— Sir,— There are women in Auckland who both could and would advocate the cause of their sex on the platform, and I feel sure there are ]many kind, intelligent, and thoughtful men who would aid thorn. They have been most signally assisted by men both in America and England, and I am loth to believe that chivalry, and a lovo of fair-play, do not equally animate tho " Briton of the South." " G's" suggestion that they should come forward and show what they want is a very good suggestion, but he must remember that they havo obstacles to contend against that the U.K.A. have not. Many of the woman's advocates are self-helpful women; and as not only they, but those dear to them, depend for their living on the approval .of Mrs Grundy, they hang back from a step that may be fraught with, ridicule and consu.ro. Custom is a tyrannical taskmaster, and tho stings ef Bpite and ridicule are often hard to boar and difficult to combat. It matter not to t.ell prejudiced people that a state of society that forces on women ail tho pains and penalties of men, and treats her as a parish if, in tho struggle to do her best in that position, she invades what aro considered man's special places, the platform, the surgery, &c : it mat- I ters not to say to prejudice that this is cruel and unfair. This kind of prejudice the U.K. A. has not to contend against, and therefore can do much that women shrink from doing. I feel Bure that this one thing keeps women well able to lecture, from doivig so, and also prevents their getting up public meetings on the subject that they feel so deeply interested in. It may be reprehensible cowardice, but that it 19 tho sort of cowardice that has hitherto kept women from speaking in public I am quite sure. — Yours, &c, — Polly Plum. One Good Trait. — It has been said that every man has at least one good point in hia character. A gentleman travelling on Sundny was obliged to stop to have ono of the shoes of his horse replaced. The farrier was just going to church, but suggested to the traveller that Jem Harrison might be found at homo at tho next forge. This proved to bo true ; and the rustic who had led the gentleman's horse to the spot, exclaimed, " Well, I must say that for Jem, for it is the only good point about him ; ho do never go to church." After tiie Americans. — We understand that up to tho present time the Waste Land Board, Otago, has received eighteen applications for grants of land for the purpose of planting forest trees, on fche terms recently offered by the Provincial Government. The area thus applied for is 2229 acres. Three requests for additional information the matter have also been received by the Board. Paris. — The correspondent of the "Daily News" who succeeded in getting into Paris directly after the capitulation was taken for a Prussian. "I got into conversation (he writes) in English with a man who had been in America, but this^ had no effect in leading my critics to suppose I was an Englishman." "These Prussians, sacre, they know every language under the sun," sententiously remarked an elderly gentleman with a big cabbage under each arm and a pair of red stripes down his legs. My horse shared with me the ' public interest ; but it was not tho interest ! usually attractod towards horses. There was no criticism as to hor poiuts, her probable action or her soundness. No, "she was a fine fat animal ; she must bo succulent ; how well she would eat ; what would I not give for a slice of her." Curiosity op Literature. — The following curiosity in literature has been sent by a squatter to tho " Wagga Wagga Advertiser." With the exception of the surname, for whioh is substituted the national prefix " Me' it is a correct copy of a Census paper as filled up by one of tho station hands : — " William Me — boarn in Cotland, aged 206, presterean ; Louisa Me — aged 203, beam in London the 31 of next July ; Louisa Me — born in New South Wales, aged 5 years hold on the 208 of next September; Alexander Me — born in N S Wales, aged 4 years hold on the 9 of next may ; Catherine Me — born in N S Wales, aged 2 years hold on the 4 of nest February." Tiie Fifteenth of May. — It is generally recognised that tho Canterbury winter begins on the 15th May, and an old resident informs the " Lyttelton Times" that with one exception rain has fallen there on that date in each year for tho last twenty-one years. Unintentional. — Recently a clergyman in Victoria, who was reading 'himself in' explained to his new congregation that having labored successfully at Murderer's Flat ho had been promoted to Kilmoro. Timaru.— The " Timaru Herald" of Staturday says : — About 12.30 p.m. yesterday an accident occurred to one of tho boats belonging to the Government Landing Service. The boats of tho service were engaged in carrying grain to the s.s Alhambra, and were putting it on from the seaward side of the vessel ; the mate, when requested to do so by tho men working the boats, having refused to shift tho unloading tackle on to tho inshore side of tho ship. As ono of the boats was passing under the steamers stern to get round, the screw, in rising and falling with the swell, struck hor below the -water-line, knocking a hole in hor, and by tho time thirteen bags out of a cargo of eighty one bags of whoat had been got out, tho boat sank. The boat is a wooden one, and she must in sinking have turned out most of her cargo, for her stern soon rose above water. She was anchored where tho accident occurred, and will bo got ashore and repaired. Tho " Herald" also says that on Saturday some men walking along tho Ninety-mile beach, found — about hulf way between Rocky point aud the wreck of tho Despacth — a boat with a foot in it, and at a few yards distanco a thigh bone. The boot corresponds with that found a short time since, and is easily indentified as belonging to the unfortunato man Wobb. On fiocky Point a human hand (loft) was also found yesterday. This must also havo been Webb's, for the mate Neilson was said to have always worn a gold ring on the left hand which he could not pull off. The hand found is covered with flesh, and has no sign of a ring being worn on any of the fingers. It ia strange that no positive evidence has as yet turned up that tho mate Neilson lost his life on the night of tho lith of April. The Nebraska. — The " Press " says that the steamship Nebraska, tho second of the Webb-Holliday line of mail boats, # was appointed to leave San Francisco on tho st,h May, and if she makes an equal passage to that of theSNevada, may be expected to arrive at Auckland about the end of the present month. Sho will not come down tho coast, but will go to Sydney direct from Auckland. Acomstatisation. — Afc a meeting of the Counoil of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society recontly, attention was callod to tho fact that Californian and Australian quail, which tho Society have recontly introduced into the province, havo in some instances beon shot during the present «eason. These birds subsist almost solely on Blugs and insects; and, as they have not multiplied sufficiently to afford fair game for tho sportsman, it is a disgrace that their extermination should bo risked by a ruthless destruction this season.