LOGAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 1 August 1871, Page 2

LOGAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

His Excellency the Governor. — The hon. tho Premier received a telegram yesterday from Sir Q-eorge Bowen stating that his departure was fixed for yesterday or to-day, and the weather was very bad at Auckland. His Honor tiie Superintendent has chosen for the subject of his lecture on Monday 7th pros, " Progress." This will be the second lecture of the series now being delivered in Willis Street Presbyterian Church. We need not say a word about tho intellectual treat expected, as we are sure the church will bo filled to overflowing when such lecturers as Mr Fitzherbert are to be heard. The Election. — The neighborhood of the Court House was a busy scene from an early hour yesterday, although at no part of the day could the crowd be said to have been a very excitable ono. Although there were ono or two topics of interest on which the public wero justly entitled to havo some expression of opinion from the candidates, the contest may be said to havo been a most eventless one — a contest not of political principles, for no ideas on public affairs wero hazarded by either candidate, but a mere test of the public estimation of two very worthy citizens, tho success of one or the other being only a personal triumph, divested of all uncharitable or acrimonoiis feeling. To those who did speculate on tho chances of tho candidates, the result of the polling was looked upon as a certainty for MiMills, who, deluded by this feeling of security, took little or no trouble to mako assurance doubly sure, placing his faith in the overwhelming numbers who always intend to return their candidate (whichever one they happen to be conversing with) without putting him to any trouble whatever. But tho ballot has opened a new field to them " that palter with us in n double sense ; that keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it te <aur hope." The false hopo of Mr Mills was up3et by his opponents stealing a march upon him, for although some little endeavor was made od both sides, there seemed to bo, with the public at any rate, a tacit understanding that the election was not going to be a very hotly contested one — that a few of the electioneering stones would remain unturned, and that there would be no beating to quarters of tho supporters of either candidate. However this may bo, Mr Seager's admirers planned a stratagem, which thoy have carried out to a completely successful issue. While tho polling at the Court House was being carried on with the greatest complacency and good nature, and with appavonlly equal chances, Mr Seager's supporters were scouring tlie purlieus of Te Aro, and at tho close of tho polling Mr Seager was found to hare- such a majority as to settle tho election in his favor The central booth polling was very nearly equal. At the approach of four o'clock a crowd of at least 300 people had assembled at the railings of tho Supreme Court building. A great amount of good-humored badinage was being handed round, most of the old birds of Ihu days of rosettes and banners lamenting the tyranny of the Parliament that had deprived them of their serenost pleasui'e, and with a mental O tempora ! O mores ! thoy were " slinging tho sharkism" indiscriminately, and sharing their favors equally all round. The crowd at last beeamo impatient, and discovering that the Returning Officer intended to make no announcement, Mr Toomath ascended the hustings and announced tho numbers to be approximately as follows : Senger, 295 ; Mills, 224. This was succeeded by givat cheering, and toon after some of tho Cuba of tho successful party were flying round, the drivers being in a great stato of excitement, produced no doubt by the intelligence of their success, flavored with an alloy of aqua v'dae. The discomfited ones hung about tho Court, house in small knots for some time after the declaration was made, evidently not a little chagrined at Mr Toomath's unwelcome announcement. City Council Election.— Mr Bannal.ync has definitely announced his intention of not contesting the vacant City Council seat. At present Mr Anderson is tho only candidate in the field, but no doubt wo shall soon hoar of at least one other entering tho ILts against him. Mr Anderson would no doubt make a hard-working and useful member of our municipal body, and the burgesses will lose nothing should he be unopposed, but it is always much to bo preferred that there should be opposition in such matters. Ifc is satisfactory (olhc publio to have a choice, and more gratifying to the successful candidate in a contest than if he bad quietly " walked over." Barlow Troupe. — A good house rewarded the efforts of the troupe last, evening. Capt. Moresby, and the o dicers of the Basilisk, wero present, and in tho back seats were min«lcd with the crowd a number of tnrs and marines from tho war ship. Tho programme was completely changed, and presented attractions, both in merit and number, sufficient to fill to repletion the most ravenous desires of histrionic gourmands. Mr Barlow treated the audienco to somo melodies from the rock harmonican and a few good songs which were not down on the programme. Mr Bromley and tho Messrs Holly aud Buekloy gavo further proof of their extremely talented versatility ; and Mr Fouillard gave a galop composed by himself, and dedicated to Admiral Hornby of tho Flying Squadron. Speaking of the entortainmonfc as a whole — for it would occupy too much time to particularise every item of the extrcmoly heavy programme presented — we can only reiterate the favorable remarks we have alroady made. The performances are conducted with a fastidiousness

which alone would win the approbation of the most prudent and circumspect, and this we consider a recommendation stronger than which there cannot be. As the company announce most positively that they will only give one or two other performances, those who intend to pay a visit to these talented people had better make up their mind to do so as soon as possible. The houses hayo not been such as the company deserves, and wo would like to see one good house before they leave. Presentation op Colors. — A parade of the Veteran Corps will tako placo this afternoon, when a flag worked by the sisters of Mr Ingpen, late of our Supreme Court, will bo presented to the Corps. It is expected that Mrs Fox will present the flag, and the attendance of all the members of the corps is requested by Captain Crowe. The company will fall in at two o'clock at Captain Pearce's drill shed. It is to be regretted that Mr Ingpen, who has been instrumental in procuring the flag, will not he present, his removal from Wellington having severed a connection of a great many years standing with our volunteer corps. The presentation will no doubt induce a number of ladies to be present at tho drill shed should the weather be at all propitious. The Highway District.— lt is in contemplation to publish a map of the District Highways. The labor spent in its production by tho publishers is said to be very great, tho object being to secure that it shall bo useful and reliable. As such a map must be ol' immense service to the general public and the road board? wo anticipate for it a ready sale. A Flax Challenge. — Mr C. J. Pownall, in an advertisement which will be found in another column, challenges tho flax dressers of this colony or elsewhere to a competitive trial of tho merits of his process of preparing the flax fibre against any other method. The challenge is for £500, the test to be the [ superiority of tho quality of the fibre produced, combined with the simplicity of tho method of production and the wear and tear of the machine. Apart from the sensational character given to the challenge by the monetary stipulation attached to it, we shall be glad to hear of tho acceptance of Mr Pownail's offer by ono or more- of our fkx dressers. By whatever means it is brought about, j wo think some such competitive trial should be made, not to take place in any particular locality nor to be confined to any particular number of manufacturers. A flax exhibition w:ll tiike place during the siting of tho Assembly, but it is not certain that such an exhibition will bring about the lesult most to bo desired, viz., the exhibilion of varieties of machinery which will produce excellence of fibre, combined with an economical mode of preparation, because it is only by the combination of these conditions that we shall bo able in the long run to set at rest the question whether or not wo can produce fl.ix of such a quality and afc such a price as to enable us to establish the article in the English market in opposition to the prejudices of some of the Yorkehiro manufacturers, and the formidable rivalry ol Manilla and other hemps. But we do not think tho method of challenge adopted by Mr Pownall is likely to assist us to so desirable a result ; however, we shall hope to fnid our idoas to be incorrect. A similar offer was thrown out by Pr Florance, of Christchurch, who challenged the colonial flaxdressers to the amount of £100, but; tho only doubt in his case would be as to the best fibre, because, according to the doctor's statements, the cost of cleaning wns very small indeed, tho process adopted by him being tho washing of the fibre in a chemical solution. This challengo was never accepted, nor is Mr Pownall's likely to be. We make known Dr Florence's proposal, because ho may still bo open to make a befc ; and as both inventors are anxious to hazard so largo an amount of money on their respective processes, ifc may be possible to get up a match, although Dr Florance employs no machine, so far as wo are aware. However, Mr Pownall, in common with all tho flax dressers of the cohny, has our best wishes, and we hope to see the trial made for which he seems so anxious. In Auckland, Otago, and Canterbury tho thing is taken up with something like vigor and a determination to bring about a successful result. In Canterbury they .have a (lux association not for tho growth of flax, but for tho dissemination of information as to the mode of culture and preparation^ and for the obtaining of data on the subject from all parts of tho rorld. A room has been built by the society for the exhibition of specimens prepared by different methods ; aud as an incentive to the farmers to plant a small portion of their farms with the best qualities of flax, tho Agricultural and Pastoral Society offer annual prizes for the host gvown and prepared flax — hints that might be adopted and turned to very profitable account by our merchants and others in the Provinco of Wellington, interested in the success of the flax industry. Rev. Father Coiomb's Death— The Catholics in this city and others who happened to know Father Colomb, must feel sorry in hearing the news of his death. Since his arrival in Now Zealand, he has been located at the Grey. For tho short space of two or three years he had been there he had done much goorl, enlarging considerably the church of Greymouth, and not only attending its congregation, but also visiting, in concert with Father Binsfeld, tho various stations of his vust district. It is in ono of those visits, and whilst discharging his sacred duty, that he unfortunately met with death by drowning. Father Colomb had a good many friends in England, where he was sent as missionary by tho Su perior of the Society of Mary, and where he spent upwards of sixteen yoars, being parish priest for the Church at Romford, erected by tho munificence of Lord Petre. It is hard for tho Catholic mission to lose such clergymen as Father Colomb — zealous and unimpaired in their strength, and in a country where there .ire bo many spiritual wants and so few priests to minister to them. Rtt?i,e Shooting. — On Saturday last (after two postponements on account of the weather) thirty members of the Porirua and Pahautanui Rifle Volunteers — seventeen of the former and thirteen of the lattor corps — me*; at Taua Flub range to eompM.o for tho prizes given annually for tho last five years by A. de B. Brandon, Esq., the member in the House of Representatives for the district. Tho distances wero 400, 500, and 600 yards ; any position. Tho weather was cilin and cloudy until the last range was being fired, when it commenced to rain steadily ; nevertheless Bomo gaod servos wero made, as under : — Pahau'amii — Private Jesse Barrow, Ist prize, £5, score <L 8 : Captain James Taylor, Ist extra prize, JCI ss, score 40 ; Private James G-ard-ner, 2nd prize, £1, score 40 ; Private George Taylor, 4th prize. 7s (s<l, score 40. Porirua — LiouLrnanl. F. Greer, 2nd prize, £3, scoro 44 ; | Private Robert Woodman, 3rd prize, £2, score •11 ; Privuto George Gordon, 3rd extra prize, 15s (id, score 40; Private Samuel Grec-r, sth prize, 2s fid, score 39 ; then follow threo 37's, three ilG's, two 35's, &c. Afl.cr tho distvibu- j tien, three hearty cheers were given for Mr Brandon, and a vote of thank* unanimously passed to that gentleman for his continued liberality, Three cheers each for tho two captains terminated the proceedings. XJi>l'EE Waikci-o-mita. 'Die annual meeting of the rate- payers of th.' Upper Wai-mii-o-mal'i road district will be held on the 2nd September, at 12 o'clock noon. Another Failure. — Tho " Wanganui Chronicle" says : — lt does not violate any confidciuio in stating that another merchant, who is also an auctioneer, has succumbed to tho pressure of the times, and called a meeting of > his creditors for this day week. The Wanganui Fire.— The police aro still applying the maxim, ' Seek and yo shall j find.' On Saturday a quantity of goods to the value of ;G3O was discovered and yesterday a further lot of the value of ;Glo ,vas unearthed, j These goods havo been brought into town, and i it is expected from information given that still further discoveries will be made. The police asked fora remand to Monday next, in order that other links might be added to the chain of evidence. An important witness will be supoenaed from Wellington.

Uneartiiing the Bell. — A great deal has been said about the casting of the bell for the Fire Brigades, and although the work is such a one as would not create any great amount of wonderment at home, sfill we consider it of sufficient importance to justify us in speaking of it as one of great interest to a community such as ours, where the manufacturing industries may be said to bo only now undergoing transition from tho most primitive stages. Mr Mills and fllr Seager have each turned out many large contracts, but their efforts have hitherto been confined to the iron line ; therefore, the casting of a bell of such dimensions was looked upon as an interesting trial, not only on account of tho novelty of the piece of work to be cast, but principally on account of the difficulties to be overcome in the preparation of tho metal, the difficulty of fusing tho component parts of the alloy being a matter requiring the special knowledge and dexterity of an expert. A great many persons claiming a knowledge of such matters were very firm in the opinion that after tho metals were put into the furnace tho tin would be found to have entirely evaporated, and that when the bell was taken out of tho mould it would be found to be composed entirely of copper. Yesterday the boll wu9 released from its sandy coating, and boing freed of all feculence presented a handsome appearance. Tho doubts and prognostications of the " quid nines" have been entirely scattered to the winds, for the shading of the mctftl shows how correct were the proportions employed, and how successful has been their fusion. As a small memento, Mr Mills has preserved a piece of the metal of which the boll is composed ; it has been polished, and shows a closeness of grain almost equal to jeweller's silver. In shape, tho boil has an exceedingly graceful form. Its dimensions are — Across the mouth, 3ft ; 2ffc 4in in height to the crown, and 2fr. 9in to tho top of the chaplcts. The lettering on tho bell bus been done with a precision of form that could hardly be expected, tho words encircling tho top being "Founded in Wellington, New Zealand, by tho Wellington Fire Brigades, 1871." About the centre stands out, in bold letters, the word " Fire," and on the other side tho name of tho founder, "E. W. Mills, Fecit." About twelve cwt of metal was put into the furnace for the casting, bufc this was not all j 1 used, the weight of the bell being half a ton. Tho metal employed was the best | copper obtainable, and tho finest Cornish 1 tin. The clapper, with the fittings, weighs about 211 b?, tho striking knob weighing 141bs. Tho successful accomplishment of tho work carries with it a greater significance than at first sight might appear. Mr Mills has demonstrated to the whole colony the ability of colonial foundries to perform work of which they have hitherto been thought incapable. We make this assertion because when the City Council of Christchurch were endeavoring to do what has now been done in Wellington, tho question was asked whether a good alarm bell could be cast, and tho result was the sending homo for a gong, which, after tho trouble and expense of importation, turned out to bo a miserable failure, and, after some squabbling with tho contractor who supplied it, the gong was taken down, and heard of no more. Mr Mills had the tone of tho boll tested yesterday afternoon in our presence, and, of course, thero being no escape for the volume of sound emitted, the effect was deafening ; tho test was sufficient to assure ua that when erected its clangor will be heard in all parts of the city, but we repeat our reminder that its position will go a long way in rendering its warning notes effective. Mr Mills should feol proud of being tho employer of a staff who possess among them artizans of sufficient skill to turn out such a finishod piece of work. There will now be no necessity to send our money out of the colony for anything of the kind required to be done in the future, because wo feel sure, from an in speefcion of Mr Mills' appliances and the class of workmen employed, he can turn out castings and all descriptions of foundry work quite equal to home establishments, unless of courso whore the work required is of unusually largo proportions ; but for the ordinary requiromonts of the colony it is a suicidal course to send money away when we havo at our very doors a workshop capable of performing all that wo can require for many years to come. Then, as to cost. We cannot think thero can bo any saving effected by eending to Australia or to England for iron work ; surely the charges for freight, packing, and incidontuls would quito outbalance whatever amount our local founders might be in advance of the first cost of the English article. We aye speaking in entire ignorance of actual prices, but what we wish to convey to our town, and particularly to our country readers is, that unless tho difference in cost between the colonial and English article is very great, it is their positive duty to support our local manufacturers. An Involuntary Trip. — The " HeraU" saya : — Sevoral of our townspeople who were on board the s.s. Wanganui bidding their friends good b ye, neglecting the warning conveyed by the repeated whistles and casting off of the linos, found themselves in a rather peculiar position. The steamer gradually forging ahead, was carried by the tide some eight or ten feet from the wharf, to the astonishment, and disgust of the laggards, who wore busy leave-taking aft. Tho usual crowd on tho wharf were not slow in porcoiving tho dilemma the enforced passengers were in, and very kindly shouted out some reassuring farewell remarks. One with a strong Italian accent, asked, ' Faith how do you loiko it, as far as you've gone.' Another, with a desire of punishment, advised the captain to take them to tho Heads, and make ■,horn walk into town. Another, evidently no admirer of the legal fraternity, askod Captain Linklater if ho would not confer a lasting benefit on the public of Wanganui, by taking i\ few more lawyers awny. This was received with greater favor, and tho spectators listened breathlessly for a favorable answer, but the ' stern capting' did not oven smile. Howevor, a well-known hand about town, with a keen eye to business, ran down to tho next wharf, unmoored a boat, paddled out to tho steamer, and rescued tho travellers, who had thus nlSowcd their feeling to overcome their discretion. Wairoa. — The correspondent of the " Wan£»anui Herald," writing on July 21 mukea the following amusing and encouraging calculaI tions :— There is nothing stirring here just now but thunder, lightning, hail, vain, and mud (tho lal.tcr in great abundance). The 1 approaches to the Waitotara and Whernwkiira are all but impassable to drays. Two good subjects for our grumblers — Ist, since tho lato accident which let Mr Kells in for paying for soim bullocks, he has doubled the charges at his ferry, whether with or without authority, I can't say ; bufc 4s ench way for a two-horso dray, and Is for a horseman, does seem rather too much for crossing a gutter which ought to bo passed by a bridge. 2nd, an order bus been issued to our militia that they can receive the pay duo for parades during tho last quarter, 4s Gd por man on application at tln> Militia Oflico, Patea. Cost of lorries to get there and back, 2s ; loss of ono day, 6s; ; total, Ba. Brtlanet! in favor of not drawing puj, 33 6d, besides Knocking up a horse in riding Uivough twenty miles of bog, knovva in New Zealand as roads. Don't you wish you were 11 Wairoa militiaman ? A New Peril to Solicitors. — Every attorney or solicitor has his own private opinion how far ho is bound to obey the instructions of his client, when those instructions go beyond what, in the judgment 0/ the legal adviser, h fair and reasonable as against the adverso party. Some men shelter themselves, tho " Law Journal" thinks, entirely under their retainer, and think that bo long as they avo acting within authority, they may do so with a clear conscience. Other men are as punctilious in all their dealings as lawyora, as they would be in tho conduct of their private affairs. Bufc the instances in which a solicitor has taken upon himself to treat tho adversary with unduo severity upon tho impulse of an improper motive are very raro indeed, and such an imputation against a professional man

ought not tq be advanced or credited except; on most stringent evidence. Yet in a case recently tried at Q-inldhalJ, a special jury found a set of facts upon which the judge ruled that a solicitor had, without reasonable and probable cause, caused a trader to be adjudicated a bankrupt, although in the prosecution of the proceedings the solicitor had acted generally on behalf of a client whose instruo fions wore as harsh and - peremptory as could possibly be conceived. The proof that the solicitor had no peraoual illwill, and entertained no express malice against the injuried party was clear; but hia lordship told the jury that if the solioitor did acts of his own mere will, and in order to please by his success a rich, powerful, and profitable client, ho would be responsible for his conduct. Upon this ruling the jury found a verdict against the solicitor for £1560. ' It is not probable that the case will rest here, and we may expect an argument of interest next terra on the general liability of solicitors in such matters. But the case is, if not unprecedented, at least peculiar, and seems to open up a source of peril not usually known to or suspected by the professsion. The of UGLINESS. — Plainness and ill favors are great disguisers of age j 03 also are the now rarely seen ravages of the the small-pox. When once a person of this fignre, whoso looks cease to be on index, ha 9 the question of age aroused about him, the pubiic satisfies its craving for miracles at his exponse. Haydon, the painter, w»3 impressed by the market women of Dieppe as examples of this phenomenon : — ' The looked as if they never had been young, and never would be oder ? a distinct species — not born of woman, nor made for man. Mature at onee — hooknosed, emiffy, brown, wrinkled, adapted to no purpose on enrth but to slander, drag wheel- , barrows, pull boats, and abuse Napoleon.' The Mt last, an occupation of 1814, is yery probably V still persued by the * siblylline fishfags' of j Dieppe in 1870. Nothing weaw like homeli- / nees and plainness. The men in whom we see' no change havo characteristics that defy thp ravages of time, and dash back its tide like $0 many ragged rocks. Indeed their is this advantage in ugliness, that it mends with years; inasmuch as ifc has nothing to spoil, it takes courage. As Lady Charlotte Lindsay, witty and plain, put it, 'My ugliness bes lost its bloom.' Beauty is the true eport of time ; it is composed of evanescent qualities ; indeed it is its charm that it passes. We must make the most of the show, for it stays among us but a day. Tho most worn and tell-tale faces wo call to mind, most suggesting the question or the exclamation, How old 3 are the faces of once handsome women. It is beauties .that make wrecks — an epithet never applicable to the harsh or common-place. In extenuation of the effort to keep young, so severely ridiculed on all hands as the last mark of a vain and frivolous character, one may remark that it is not everyone that can afford to put on old age — to be any older than he can help. Be« spect to old age does not come naturally to most men ; it argues a finer clay than the common. So long as a man has vigor enough to keep to tho fore, his wisdom is to let hia work speak for him. Every allusion to age is caught at as a confession of which ungenerous use may bo made. — " Saturday Review." G-beat Earthquake in China. — Minister Low furnishes the state department at Washington with a brief account of a serious of earthquakes which prevailed for several days at Bathang, in the province of Sczhuen, China. About the Ist of April there was a sudden and unaccountable rise of waters in the district of Barhnng, whioh continued until the 11th, when the country for nearly four hundred miles around was convulsed by earthquakes, The shocks were very severe, and continued with intermissions, for ten days, when they became les3 frequent, and finally ceased. Tho scenes which ensued were horrible beyond description. During this time the earth rocked and reeled like a ship at sea in a violent storm. Eight temples were thrown down, 2121 dwellings were destroyed and 2298 persons crushed by the falling walla. To add to these accumulated horrors flames broke out among the ruins in Bathang and raged with uncontrollable fury during fire days, consuming everything within their reach, and destroying the lives of hundreds who were lying wounded and helpless among the ruins of their homes. Steep hills sunk out of sight, and in their places naught is seen but yawning gulfs, while in other places the earth upheived, leaving hills many feet in height. Many singular phenomena attended this earthquake, the full particulars of which will be anxiously watched for.