LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3275, 11 August 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Governor's Speech. — We understand that the address in reply to tho Governor's speech is likely to be moved in the Legislative Council by the Hon. Colonel Brett, Canterbury, and probably be seconded by an Auckland member. In the House of Representatives we understand Mr Pearce, member for Wellington, will propose and Mr Richardson, member for Christchurch, will second the address in reply. Election Petition.— Tho solicitors for fcho petitioners against tho return of Mr Brandon, member for the Wellington Country District, and Messrs Pearco and Hunter, members for fche Cifcy havo advised thoso gentlemen respectively that no further stops will be taken in tho matter, and tho petitions dropped. New Speaker. — It is reported thafc tho Hon. F. D. 801 lis likoly to be proposed for tho Speakership, and that Mr O'Rorke, member for Onehunga, will bo proposed as Chairman of Committees. We observo another letter in our evening contemporary signed "W. V. Jackson." Wo have already explained fchafc wo can havo no controversy with a private individual, and as Mr Jackson has failed to show any authority from tho Association, of which ho is the secretary, cither for the advertisement which called forth our remarks, or for his subsequent defence of ifc, wo do not care fco bandy words with him. The letter of Mr Gillon fully corroborates our view of tho case, and " flatly contradicts" both Mr Jackson's and Mr Plimmer's foolhardy assertions, and gives a completo and succinct explanation of the wholo affair. Tho choice language applied by fcheso two worthies to tho Editor of the Independent for reviewing, as an independent journalist, a printed and (pretended) official advertisement of a political Association is unworthy of any reply. To Sportsmen. — Mr Osgood advertises in another columns fchafc thero will bo a rafilo of ten tickets remaining unsold for the Derby sweepstukos, to bo drawn for afc tho Metropolitan Hotel to-morrow evoning. The prizes may be stated thus : — First horse, -£75 ; second, £15 ; third, £5. Thus by staking £1 a man has the chance of recouping himself if being a lucky dog ho draws a lucky horse. Who will bo the successful man is however as difficult a problem to work out as which will be the successful horso. Tlie only way of having a chanco is to secure o ticket, ; and to-night is tho last chance of doing so. The Oddfellow is the namo of a new monthly magazino printed and published afc Launceston, Tasmania, fcho first number of which has been senfc to us for review. As ils name implies, it is intended speciaTy for Oddfellows. Tho presenfc number contains a groat deal of important and interesting Oddfellows' intelligence, with a supplement, containing an excollenfc engraving of fcho new Oddfellows' Hall at Sydney. This is fcho fir.-t Oddfellows' journal published, we believo, in a British colony, and should think it will command a large circulation among fcho order. Meeting at the Hxjtt. — A meeting of the electors of the Hutt was held afc the Mechanics' Institute, Lower Hutfc, on Wednesday evening, to tako into consideration tho District Highways Acfc of last session, but in consequence of fche fresh in the rivor, the atI tondance was nofc largo. Mr G. Allen beiug oalled to tho chair, Mr Ludlam addressed tho meeting, commenting on the various clauses of ! the act, tho other members for fche Hufcfc in tho Provincial Council briefly followed. Ifc was subsequently moved and seconded that fche meeting do adjourn until Monday, tho 14th inst, bufc as tho room is engaged on fchat evening, notices havo been posted for the meeting to tako place on the following Monday, viz, the 21sfc insfc, ab 7 o'clock p.m. ; and in accordance with the resolution, his Honor Wm. Fitzherbert is invited to attend as member for the district in fcho General Assombly.

The Never Despair. — A trial on a small scale of some stone from this claim was mado yesterday afc Mr Mills' foundry. The weight of the stono crushed was nine pounds and a half, and after being carefully panned off, gave what was considered by those present to bo a very satisfactory prospect. Palmerston. — A meeting of settlers was called afc Colo'b Palmerston Hotel to see what action should be taken in reference to fcho recent Highways Act, 1871, passed afc tho last sitting of the Provincial Council. A gentleman present was very bitter upon the Government presuming to tax country settlers at all, in which ho was supported by several present, and the following resolution waß passed :— " That tho Highways Aot is hurtful to this district, inasmuch as it interferes with the settlement of land by the working classes on the deferred payment system, and that while agreeing with the necessity for a direct; tax, the mode of taxing laid down in tbis Act is unjust. That an acreage rate would bo preferable, and thafc tho districts defined in this acfc would bo found more workable if made very much smaller." A committee was also appointed to ask the co-opera-tion of tho Foxton and Marton settlors. The Education Act was also discussed, and a similar expression of opinion was fcho result;. A requisition is being numerously signed fco -get another post town name for Palmerston.

The New Furnace.— Yesterday afternoon fche removal of the powder having been completed, tho firo of tho now furnace was set a-going. The delay in starting the firo hns been productive of a beneficial result rather than otherwise, as ifc has given the bricks and fireclay time to set, and allowed fche moisfcuro to evaporate by fcho slower but more certain process of drying by sun and wind, by which the possibility ot the cracking in tho process of drying by sudden heat has boen avoided. There are two fans in connection with tho furnace — ono to bo worked by hand, fche other by steam, but although neither of these was brought into requisition yesterday, tho "putting in" of tho drafc was proved" fco have been mosfc successful, for the "drawing" capabilities of the furnace furnished a very vivid realisation of the story fcold by the Yankee, who, in recommendation of the " drawring " of his stoves, " guaranteed 'em to whip the cat off fche hearthrug." Tho fires will now bo kopt going nighfc and day, uutil about; next Wednesday, by which time it is expected that the brickwork will bo in a fit state to pormifc fcho smelting operations to be commencod. For many reasons, which wo have already explained, the steel sand has first to be propared for the furnace, by being formed into a compost, by mixing tho sand with clay and forming ifc into blocks about the sizo of firebricks, fcho reason being fchafc tho sand is fcoo "rich," and does not possess sufficient density in its natural state to enable the smelting to bo carried on by any ordinary process. By forming tho sand info these blocks, it is hopod that tho greatest difficulty to bo contended with will bo successfully overcome, viz., tho separation and carrying off of fcho titanium with tho slag. Tho furnace differs from all ordinary furnaces on account; of the mechanical contrivances introduced to overcame the difficulties presented by fcbe peculiar proporties of the sand. Tho old wharf steam crane since its refit looks quite smart, and with the addition of the band wheel, seems admirably adapted for tho purpose for which its services havo been brought into requisition ; the hand fan being only required to temper the heat. Two experienced smelters have been engaged to assist in carrying on the operations and it is intended to put through sufficient of tho sand to produco thirty cwt of stool. A Sucking Politician. — A correspondent of tlio "Evening Star," Dunedin, thus writes of J. B. Bradshaw, Esq., M.H.R., now Provincial Troafliiror of Otago :— " Tho mention of tho Provincial Treasurer's namo reminds mo that I have recently discovered that geutloman to have been the hero of one of the most thrilling advontures which ovor fell to tho lot of man. It augurs woll for tho lion, gentleman's modesty fchafc tho story ie so littlo known, aB it would unquestionably bo sufficient to mako any man the pet lion of the London salons. My authority, Mr Donald Macfcayish, for many years a resident afc the

Capo of Good Hope, informs me that inhabitants fchere are much annoyed by tho ravages of fche Blue-nosed Baboon. Many years ago, when the honorable James Ben was an infant, some six months old, and all unconscious of future greatness, a number of these animals mado an attack on the parental cornfields. They were warmly received, and among other losses an unlucky gunshot robbed a gigantic lady baboon of her offspring. The infuriated animal rushed to the verandah where the little James lay snugly in his cradle, and, to the horror of all presenfc, seized and made off with the future Treasurer of Otago. The pursuit was instant and incessant; but, alas! utterly unsuccessful. For months the infant was mourned as losfc, when wandering Boschesnicn brought in strange stories of a female baboon having been suckling a white infant. Afc first fchese stories wero received with ridicule ; but fchey were so strongly confirmed fchafc a search party was organised and senfc out. After innumerable adventures, fchey traced tho bluo noses to their den. Thero a strange spectacle made them pause for a momoment. Tho female baboon was seated with the infant iv her arms, while a gigantic male gambolled aboufc, apparently to fche intense delight of tho little innocent, who shows his delight by screams of "Da da da." A shout, a rush, and fche infant was rescued from its beastly foster parents, with whom it had sojourned over threo months. Ifc was in excellent health, and could howl a la baboon to perfection. Altogether it was a moßt singular instance of the close connecting link between (some) men and fche monkey tribe, and, as such, is worthy of fcho attention of Mr Darwin. I leavo to others fco work oufc fcho psychological inferences.

Scientific Notes.— Mr Gerard, metallurgical chomisfc, of Wolverhampton, is experimenting with somo success in fcho manufacture of iron by processes of his own invention. He has succeeded in producing from the ore refined iron of a high order of excellence at a much less cosfc than that produced by ordinary methods. The absence of animal lifo at great depths in fcho sea has usually boon attributed, by Edward Forbes and others, to fche absence of light. Dr Carpenter, in a recent lecture afc the Royal Institution, stated that ho considered ib was due, especially in tho Medifcterranean, to the permanent suspension of fino mud, which would probably clog the gills or other respiratory membranes of the deep-sea fauna. — The Rev Professor Summers is carrying on an investigation of tho Eastern Himalayan dialects, and is discovering testimonies of connection between fchem and fche Chinese which have not been boforo detected.

America and New Zealand. — The San Francisco mail service, if it had served no other end, would havo conferred groat benefits on the colony by the attontion it has caused to bo drawn throughout the United States to New Zealand and its productions. Mr S. M. Southwork, in tho " South Carolinian," describes the valuable qualities possessed by phormium fcenax, and recommends its cultivation in the Southern States of America. The articlo was copied into tho "Scientific American," and quoted by Californian and other papers. Amongst other qualities enumerated by the writer, ho says : — " The stalks are vory light and pithy, and are used by tho natives to make their canoes moro buoyant, by binding bundles along the Bides. These stalks, split or chopped fine, if used in stuffing the furniture of vessels and steamers, would make each piece a life-buoy." He alao states that he has seen ropos made from it aboard several American vessels, and the captains expressed a very high opinion of it, and wished to see ifc introduced into fche United States. Captain Friend, of tho barquonline Adelo, of San Francisco, had informed him thafc ho had some canvass mado from ifc, which he had obtained in Melbourne.

Provincialism at a Low Ebb.— Noticing our Jate election, fch« " Hawko's Bay Herald" of tho 4th says :— At the election for a seat in tho Wellington Provincial Council, tho result of which was announced in our telegraphic intelligence yesterday, both candidates were of fcho same trade, and thafc nofc a vory common one — iron-founders. Are wo justified in concluding thafc candidature for a seat in fche provincial legislature has become, as far as fcho Empire City is concerned, a matter of mere I rale rivalry?

Fashions.— The latest fashion adopted by the British female is not fcho loasfc wonderful of hor many recent innovations. In imitation of her learned grandmothers and groat-aunts, but for a different reason, sho has donned stockings of a cerulean tint, and has become in fact, aa well as in name, a bas-bleu. The Spanish hidalgo who boautod of his eangroazul is completely cast in fcho shade by fcho girl of tho poriod, who shows her partisanship for Oxford or Cambridge by the colour of her nether integuments. As fchey aro nofc intended to bo soen, the wisdom of the proceeding is questionable unless, like the actor who used to black himself all over whon he played Othello, she wishes to thoroughly ontor into tho spirit of the part. There was a timo when the maids of merry England displayed thoir devotion to the rival houses of York or Lancastor by the fcinfcs of fcheir complexion. Tho modern Englishwoman is loss poetic in the display of her predilections. Rebellion at Fiji.— A rebellion of whites has already occurred in Fiji. The new Government — of which Mr Burt, late of Sydnoy, auctioneer, is Premier — had barely announced, under the authority of " Cakobau Rex," fchat they had assumed oflico, when a mooting of dissatisfied settlers was held in the reading room at Levuka to hoist the standard of rebellion. A committee previously appointed then reported, and tho following resolutions wero arrived at : — " That Messrs Rogalsky, Smith, L'Estago, and Manton bo appointed to draw up a protest against fche proceedings taken on Monday by four Europeans taking upon themselves the government of fcheso islands, and having the same registered." "Wo aro of opinion that; ifc is absolutely necessary wo should have some form of governmont, and acknowledge thafc an amalgamation of both natives and whites is desirable. But, at the same time, we do nofc acknowledge tho nominations made by Cakobau, and will nofc recognise fcho same." It is evident that fresh difficulties aro brewing in Fiji. Tho besfc remedy for fcho troubles of tho island would be the British protectorate. Contagious Diseases. — Tho following paragraph is from tho "Tolegraph": — A novel method of stamping out contagious diseases has just been tried in England, which is both simple and effectual, would supersode tho uso of ordinary prophylactics; and is so curious that tho publio would nover guess it. Neither carbolic acid nor the doctor lias anything to do with tho remedy, which is not nasty, though it may require a certain amount of moral courage to employ it. And, strangely enough, tho only medium of communication to fche disinfected world is — tho newspapor. To explain the riddle, an advertisement is all tho macbinory fchat is employed. The head of tho family in which, say, fcho scarlet fever prevails, makes an announcement in tho local paper of fcho fact, and uudortakes to say through tho -some channel when his medical altondant has certified that all danger of infection has pnssed by. No ono ever visits him. If isolufcion is all thafc is wanted, what j more effectual plan of securing it could bo , adopted? It is nofc overy body who would j caro to declare his houso plaguo-sfcrickon, bufc who would bo moro deserving of public gratitude than tho householder who has fho courage to mako tho sacrifice ? Tho experiment seems to have boen first tried at Groat Malvern, and no doubt it will have fcho woighfc that any experiment coming from such a fashionable source merits.

Liteeary Mems. — M. Paul Meyer, chief editor of tho " Rovuo Critique," is now in England, oxamining Fronch and other manuscripts in London, Oxford and Cambridge. Ho proposes to establish a quarterly journal for Early Fronch and English Literature. The mombers of tho Boys' Homo Industrial School, Regent's Park Road, have startod a novel publication, called " The Boys' Budget," in order to servo as a medium of communication between old boys who have left, and havo

either emigrated, gone to sea, or are employed in places of business afc home. The first number gives an interesting sketch of the birth and growth of this veritable " Home for the Homeless," and an aocount of the masters, matrons, and otber teachers who have been connected with ifc. Mr Archibald Forbes, who was the special military correspondent for the " Daily News" in the late war, is aboufc to publish, through Messrs Hurst and Blackett, his " Experiences of the War in France and Germany." This (york will contain the author's personal adventures from the beginning to the close of the contest.

The Settlement of Quarrels.— Public indignation having been aroused a few weeks ago by a couple of girls of " undoubtful character" adjourning to the Hobart Town Domain for tho purpose of settling a dispute, these individuals have apparently adopted a new method of deciding their differences. The " resort fco arms" is retained, bufc instead of holding the combat in a publio recreation ground, the privacy of a dwelling house has been substituted. Recently a orowd of women and children outside a house, near the oorner of Argyle and Liverpool streets, raised an inquiring spirit in passers-by, when ifc was ascertained thafc a couplo of ladies who occupied one of tho tenements, having had a disagreement, wero endoavoring to come to an understanding by manipulating each other's heads.

Population op Victoria.— Approximate returnß of tho population of Victoria, as compiled from fche enumerators' summaries, have been published. From them we learn fchafc the inhabitants of thafc colony now number 729,654, of wh0m400,252 are males and 329,402 are females. Tho aborigines havo been reduced fco only 859, of whom 516 are males. The Chinese are 17,813, of whom only 43 aro women. The white population is 710,982, fcho males exceeding the females by 52,950, notwithstanding the long persisted in attempt to equalise the sexes. In May, 1836, the total number of fche white inhabitants was 177 ,- in 1838 ifc was 3,511 ; in 1841 ifc was 11,738 ;in 1851 ifc was 44,345 ; in 1854 ifc was 236,738 ; and in 1857 it; was 410,766. In the last ten years the total increaso was 189,332. Bourke (which includes Melbourno) is the most populous of fcho counties, having 236,514 people. Grant stands noxt, wifch 73,949 ; while Folletfc has only 1,255, Ono newly-named county, Woeoh, which forms part of tho old Wimmera district, does notions yefc possess either houso or inhabitant. The two Ballarats have between them 40,651 people ; Sandhurst (which desires fco be proclaimed a cifcy) has 21,952; Melbourne proper, 55,798; Collingwood East, 18,550 ; Fitzroy, 15,558 ; Richmond, 16,116; Prahran, 14,084; St. Kilda, 9,076 ; Hotham, 13,502 ; and Emerald Hill, 17,121.

Prince Alfred and the Duchy of SaxeCoburg. — The prolonged illness of Prince Ernest of Saxe-Coburg has given rise fco speculation in the duchies of Coburg and Gotha as to his probable successor. The presumptive hoir, sais a correspondent; of the " Volkszeitung," is Prince Alfred of England, now twenty-seven years old. Some time ago he made several brief visits to Coburg, where he has a new palaeo and some empty stables, but ho has sinco adopted the naval career, and is afc this moment cruising with an English squadron in tho Indian Ocean. He is a total stranger to the affairs of tho duchies ; he appears to bo more at homo in the Indian Archipelago fchan iv Coburg and Gotha, and does nofc show much ambition to play tho part of a small German Prince. Queen Victoria has two othor and younger sons — Arthur and Leopold — who have also learned Gorman. They might replace fcheir brother on the throne of fcho duchies, unless indeed, England should prefer to renounce their hereditary rights in favor of tho German Emporor. This would be fche mosfc sensible courso, and anyhow ifc musfc come to fchafc sooner or later.

The Ticiiborne Case. — " iEgles" appears fco think thafc tho plaintiff in the Tichborne case is an impostor. He writes : — " I talked to-day with an acquaintance of Tom. Castro, who claims fco be Sir Roger Tichborne. This gontleman says that ho | nover met a more stolid, ignorant, and unromantio person than the claimant. He was in the neighborhood when Casfcro was married, and in such straitened circumstances was fche bridegroom, that the happy pair spent their honeymooon in fcho opon bush, wifch no statelier shelter than a sheet of bark. One of Henry Kingsloy's fictions contains many points of resemblance, and I think its publication proceeded Mr Castro's first; request to be admitted into tho bosom of the Tichborne family, and £200 down. Ifc is preposterous to suppose that a man picked up from an open boat afc sea could quito forget the name of the ship that rescued him, the name of the captain, or that fche shipping records of fche porfc of Melbourne should bo entirely silent; as to any ship arriving reporting such an occurrence.

Queensland. — Some uneasiness seems fco be excited in Queensland regarding the fate of two squatters who were travelling by tho now dirocfc track from fche Gulf of Carpentaria. The '* Brisbane Courier's" correspondent at; fche Gulf, writing on May 27th, says : — " Mr Donald M'lntyre left; his station on tho Gilead with a small mob of magnificent cattle, intended, I hear, for fcho Adelaide market, and should fchey arrivo there safe they will certainly prove a credit to the Gulf district, already woll known for its unsurpassed properties in fattening stock. Considerable fears are, however, entertained for his safety, as he intended to take them across direct, where there is no track, and bufc little known of the route, and as hU black boys have bolted from hira and como back to the station, fche gravest results aro apprehended. Mr M'Gillivray also left his station on the head of tho Gilead to go to his station on tho Paroo, with the intention of returning to his wifo and family, and as ho is now ovor 14 weeks away, and has neither arrived on tho Paroo, nor been heard of afc any of the stations on the road, fche wor3fc results are to be expectod. A mob of store cattle, 1700 head, left; Floravillo fchis week iv chargo of Mr Craigie, to be delivored on the Warrogo. Mustering operations aro being carried on with vigor on Gibson's and tho Landsborough River Company's stations."

Purchase of New Caledonia. — A suggestion is thrown out by a correspondent of tho "Sydnoy Morning Horald" which may be worth attention. Ho suggests that Great; Britain should make an offer to the Fronch Government; to buy New Caledonia. Tho French Government — whether Republican or Monarchical— will want; monoy to assist them in meeting the debt to Gormany ; and Now Caledonia and Now Guinea are held to be necossavy to " round off" the Australian Dominion, when wo arrive at tho time to dotormine tho boundaries of fchafc now power. The argument is strengthened by tlio statement that tho French authorities aro aboufc lo transport; twenty thousand prisoners to their South Sea colony, a class of neighbors we aro not desirous of having.

Boat Matcii with the Americans. — A London correspondent of a Yorkshire paper says : — I believo it is quite truo that Cambridge intends to challongo Harvard University, nnd that, in the event of tho challengo being accepted, Mr Goldie, fcho triumphant; stroke, will choose a four, and go to America to row the race.