LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3283, 22 August 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Tabanaki Iron Sand. — In our last issue we reported the result of the experiment so successfully conducted by Mr Smith, Government Armorer. An interesting experiment took place yesterday in presence of several members of the Legislative Council and House of [Representatives, and other gentlemen. Mr Smith put some of the ore as it came out of the furnace into a crucible, and the metal was soon a boiling liquid. Taking the crucible up, he poured the metal into two moulds lying ready beside him, and in a minute or two took out therefrom, to the surprise of the visitors, a bar of steel and a hatchet head. The steel was close in texture, and, with a little manipulation, was shown to be susceptible of a high polish. When struck it gave a clear melodious sound. Among the visitors were several well acquainted with blast furnaces, and, after a careful inspection of Mr Smith's, they pronounced unhesitatingly that ho had established beyond ft doubt that the metal could be tapped out of a common blast furnace. The separation of the metal is, by his process, moat completely effected — the slag being almost free of any metallic substance. We understand that he is going to make hammers, chisels, drills, large ingots, &c, to illustrate the various properties of the steel made from the sand. With the small sum placed at his disposal, ho has, in seven weeks (with many interruptions) achieved better results than the continuous experiments for two whole years of a firm at Taranaki, with an expenditure of £5000. The assistance

voluntarily rendered him by five enthusiastic collaborateurs .is deserving of somo tangible recognition, while Mr Smith's perseverance and ingenuity are beyond all praise. We presume Parliament — which is doing so much for flax —will not neglect a source of wealth still more important. It is likely that the matter will be referred to a select committee, and some immediate action taken, j Wellington Reclaimed Land. — The second reading of the bill for the purchase by the Corporation of the Eeclaimed Land is on the Order Paper for today. We understand that a petition against its purchase will also be presented. We have not seen its contents, nor do we know who is to present it. It is said to ) be numerously signed. R. M. Coubt.— ln thoEesident Magistrates' Court yesterday, there was one charge of drunkenness, and several persons were summoned for rates. The charge-sheet included a complaint against a local celebrity for "using language calculated to provoke a breach of tho peace," but the complainant did not appear. The license of the Kaiwarra Hotel was transferred from Mr Donald to Mr Stratford. The Nevada.— Captain Johnson did not leave yesterday in the Nevada, his services as pilot being no longer required. Wellington Railways. — We understand that one of the members of a Dunedin firm is now in Wellington with full power to treat for the construction of our projected railways. Sir David Monro's Election.— The committee selected to hear tho petition against the return of Sir David Monro will meet tomorrow, at ten o'clock, in No. 3 committee room. The new invention described by us yesterday will, through the courtosy of Captain Wheeler, be tried to-day on board the steamer Taranaki, as she leaves the wharf, at 12 o'clock. Ferns. — We have received from Mr George D, Callen a number of specimens of ferns which he has collected in different parts of tho colony, and which he has very carefully preserved and catalogued according to botanical nomenclature. Two dozen of the sheets may be sent by book post, and for eighteenpence, to any part of the United Kingdom ; and we are sure that it only requires an inspection of the specimens to ensure their purchase, either for personal possession or for transmission to friends. By advertisement elsewhere it will be observed that a public missionary meeting is to be held at the Wesleyau Church, Manners street, this evening. The subject of the various addresses will be tho mission work in the South Seas, and at the present time, when the question is often asked " What have the Missionaries done for New Zealand ?" it will be important to know what is going on in tho mission field in this as well as other islands of the Pacific. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, M.L.A., will preside. Soirees Dansantes.— The Committee of the annual series of "Bread and Butter" Balls, announce soirees this season. The first to take place on Monday, September the 4th ; tho others on September the 25th, and October the 16th. A fourth is to be added if circumstances permit. The following ladies have consented to act as lady patronesses : — Lady Bowen, Mrs Gisborne, Mrs Grace, Mrs Rhodes, Mrs Brandon, Mrs Pearce, Mrs Walter Johnston, Mrs Hunter, and Mrs Bannatyne. Honorary Secretaries — F. M. Ollivier, and H. C. Wilmer. Trade Strike. — The publication of "Hansard" has been interrupted by a strike among the compositors employed on its production in the Government Printing Office. We understand that a special meeting of the Printing Committee appointed by the House of Representatives was held on Saturday, and that a certain offer was made to the compositors., but that it has not been accepted. In the event of an arrangement being come to, or another set of compositors being engaged, we believe that the Committee have resolved upon an alteration as to members' correction of reports, which, if carried out, will materially reduce tho trouble and expense of producing " Hansard." Hitherto it has been the practice to permit members to correct the reports " in proof," but the recommonda- I tion of tne Committee is that the corrections should be made before the written copy of the reports is placed in tho printers' hands. Should this recommendation be carried out, a considerable saving will be affected. The Education Bill, —To day the Premier moves tho first reading of this Bill. We undei'stand he is going to reserve a lengthened explanation of the measure until the second reading. Supreme Court, Nelson. — The case of M'lntosh's Trustees v. the Bank of New Zealand came before a special jury on Monday week. The action was brought to upset a deed of assignment made by M'lntosh to the Bank of New Zealand. After a day and a half spent in hearing the evidence for plain tiffs, and in arguments thereon (the ( defendant's case not being gone into), the jury, by the direction of tho Judge, found for defendants on all the issues, with leave reserved to plaintiffs to move to enter a verdict for (hem if tho Court [ should be of opinion that the bill of snip : relied on by defendants did not operate to pass after acquh'ed property. Greville's Central Agency. — We have on more than one occasion referred to the establishment of Greville's Tele gram Company's Central Agencj r in Wei lington, and we now observo that their enterprising firm has opened a Commercial .Room here in connection with that telegraphic agency business. Greville's name is a household word in connection | with telegraphy in Australia, and the same spirit of enterprise which has gained the firm their Australian reputation is, it already appears, exemplified in their New Zealand busines. Their commercial room here supplies a long felt want, as it has been a source of general complaint that there has been no place where files of Australian, American and New Zealand journals could be referred to. Greville's room is extremely j>vell fitted up, and will make a comfortable lounge. It is centrally situated and comfortably furnished. Reading desks round the side, and tables down the centre of the room are supplied with an immense number of English, Australian, American, and New Zealand ! journals. Tho Provincial Government | gazettes of all the provinces are also filed, and a well appointed writing table is at the service of members. A large skylight supplies light during tho day, and at night the room is lighted with gas. Maps hang around the walls, the telegraphic tariffs of all the Australian colouies are posted up, and shipping and commercial telegrams from all parts of the colony are constantly received and posted for the convenience of members. The subscription, one guinea per annum, is exceedingly moderate considering the conveniences supplied. Greville's Telegram Company aro officially appointed agents for tho New South Wales, Queensland,

and other Australian Governments, and tkey are also Reuter's agents, and agents for the Associated Press of America. They are thus in a position to receive and forward telegraphic messages to all parts of Australia, America, and Europe. Having also their own agents in all parts of this colony, they are in a position to undertake private telegraphic business and make inquiries in any part of New Zealand. Their extensive connection with the press also enables them to receive advertisements for any journal in America, Australia, or New Zealand. Altogether, the establishment of the company's central agency in this town seems likely to prove a great public convenience in a variety of ways, and we sincerely trust that they will receive the patronage and support which they deserve. Bishop Hadfield's Lecture? — Last evening tho fourth of the series of popular lectures was delivered in the Presbyterian Church, Willis street, by the Right j Rev. the Bishop of Wellington. The chair was taken by the Hon. Major Richardson, and the proceedings were opened by prayer by the Venerable Archdeacon Stock. ' The subject of tho lecture was " Conscience — what it is, and what it is not." There was a large audience, including members of > both houses of Assembly, ministers of religion, and leading citizens. The lecture was a most interesting one, and was listened to throughout with marked attention and with evident appreciation. As a whole, the lecture was one of the best of the course, and it is to be hoped that some arrangements will be made to have not only it, but all others of the series, published in some popular form. At the conclusion of the lecture a vote of thanks was heartily accorded the rev. lecturer on the proposition of Mr Woodward, seconded by tho Rev. Mr Paterson, who intimated that, next Monday, there would bo no lecture, in consequence of a meeting in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church being appointed for that evening, but on the following Monday a lecture would be given by the Hon Major Richardson, whose subject was "The Pathway to Success." On the Monday after a lecture would also be given by Dr. Hector, F.R.G.S. Flax Shipment to California.— The following paragraph appears in the "Alta California," of July 14 -—There can be litte doubt that when the New Zealaud colonists and ourselves get better acquainted there will be for both new openings of profitable trade discovered. We yesterday inspected, at the office of Messrs Collie, Stewart and Co, a sample of capital rope, manufactured in this city from New Zealand flax. The flax was shipped hither by Messrs Driver, Stewart and Co, of Dunedin. It is said to be almost equal to Manila after undergoing a process of steaming with chemical processes. The gum is entirely extracted, and the rope will receive tar, and can be applied to tho same purposes as Russian flnx. If the shippers in New Zealand make up their minds aud will ship to the same agent here, so as to prevent competition and consequent reduction in price, probably one thousand tons of the fibre can bo sold here speedily at from £22 to £24 per ton. Bkunner Coal mine Railway. — The report of Dr. Hector and Mr Blackett.on the " best course for a railway to connect the coal-mine on tho Grey with a shipping port," recommends that the railway should bo carried down the south side of the river, to Greymouth, instead of down the north side, to Cobden, as desired by the Nelson Government. The cost of the line recommended is largely in excess of what would be necessary on the Nelson side of the river ; but the whole question is gone into in detail in the report, which will have to be ratified by Parliament. New Zealand Ale.— Under this heading the " Alta California" of July 14fch has the following paragraph : — Messrs Collie and Stewart also received by last steamer, from the same shippers in Dunedin, a small invoice of New Zealand boor, brewed by Messrs Wilson aud Birch of that place. The malt was made by them from Otago grown barley; English Kent hops wore used. Tho ale can be tested at James Irwin's saloon, in the Merchants' Exchange. Although a draught ale, it is light, sparkling and brisk, like the best English bottled beer. It is evidently much less alcoholic and heady than most of the English draught ale, and, we have no doubt, would become a great favorite both for household and general use. Skyubks.— Mr Travers, commissioned by the Acclimatisation Society, took with him from Nelson, says the •' Colonist," twenty skylarks in fine condition, to be turned out in the Botanical Gardens at Wellington. Mr Ludlam having written to say that the larks presented to the Hutt some monthß ago are thriving, Mr Wakefield has begged him to send some plants of the Scottish heather, that grows ao luxuriantly at Newry, in order that the hills around JNelson may be planted in anticipation of the introduction of several of tho different varieties of grouse from Scotland ; for we understand that steps are being taken to insure so desirable an object. A batch of larks was sent by Captain Palmer, a fortnight since, to Greyraouth, for tho Ahaura, but Mr Whitefoord, the warden, reports that three only reached the Totnra Flat alive. A reintorcement goes by the Kennedy today,- which we hope will meet with better success, as the weather has taken up. Death of a Sister of Charity. — We regret to learn that Sister Mary St. Stanislaus, a Sister of Charity, who hod recently gone from Wellington to Nelaon for the benefit of her health, died at St, Mary's convent on Thursday last. Her funeral was to take placo on Sunday. Serious Accident. —A very serious accident, which, it is feared, may terminate fatally, happened to Mr A. G. Fisher, of Melbourne, on tho evening of tho 2nd instant. It appears that Mr Fisher had made a wager with a friend that he would jump his horse over a certain number of fences in the St. Kilda Park in a given time. Mr Fisher had jumped all the fences but the last, and in putting his horse at it he appeared to slip in taking off. The horse struck the fence heavily and blundered over, throwing his rider with great force on his head. Mr Fisher was rendered completely insensible by the fall, and several persons who had come over from the stables to see the wager, carried the unfortunate gentleman to an hotel. Medical assistance was at once procured, when it was found that he had received a very severe concussion of the brain. Mr Fisher was shortly afterwards removed to his own house, and up to a late hour the same night was still in a very precarious condition. Mr Geobge Cotterell. — We take the following from tho "Australasian," of the sth inst. On Tuesday, Mr Cotterell opens at St. George's Hall for a season. Since last he.appeared in Melbourne, he has made a long tour through Victoria, South Australaia, and Tasmania, and has everywhere been most favorably received, lv Tasmania, especially, he was

singularly successful, and attracted a large number of the people who go to public performances only on exceptional occasions. He calls bis enter tainment now " Quiz, or Faces and Fancies," nnd it has been somewhat rearranged, so as to present it in a more compact and coherent form. He is undoubtedly the most original and graphic entertainer of all the entertainers who have entertained us in Melbourne, and his popularity cannot fail to be of a progressive kind. Fatal Mining Accidents. — A fatal mining accident occurred in Anderson's claim, Inangahua, Nelson province, on Wednesday last. A miner named Henderson was engaged in drawing a shot, which had not gone off, when it exploded killing him on the spot, and completely blinding his mate, who was generally known as 'Ned.' The blinded man crawled out of the tunnel, a distance of 300 ft, and gave the alarm, when a number of miners went to the rescue of Henderson, but only to find him dead. On the following day, a party of miners started to convey the body of the deceased and the blinded man to Westport, and when near Christy's Accommodation House, the party of surveyors connected I with the Buller River Towing Track was met. They had a canoe, and the party essayed to cross the Inangahua River. | The first who went were a miner named | Brown and 'Ned.' The river was much flooded, and the canoe was carried near I the falls. Brown called out (o ' Ned' to look out for himself, and almost immediately the canoe capsized. Strange to say, that when in the water ' Ned,' who was a good swimmer, recovered so much of his eyesight as to show him a stripe of green on the river bank, and for this he struck out, and was successful in reaching the bank. He followed up the track for about half a mile and reached a hut. Brown has not since been heard of, and it is supposed he was drowned j but as he was a good swimmer, if he got over the falls, it is just possible he may have saved himself. There are no tidings of the body | of Henderson having reached Westport. j Fbeemasonry. — The following curious Freemasonry statistics were given in a speech recently delivered by Mr J. C. Parkinson at the Quarterly Court of the Masonic Boys' School, London: — "In round numbers, some £40,000 are spent in Freemasonry every year in London alone, nnd with the exception of an independent sum of some £7000 which London contributes to the Masonic charities, what have we to show for this vast amount P 1 Leather and prunella.' Yes, brethren, Masonic millinery absorbs more money than Masonic charity. Ribbons and white leather, medals and laces, Jewells, collars, aprons, silvering, gilding, and show, represent a far larger expenditure than we bestow on 'either the succor of the orphan or the relief of the distressed. During the past twelve months more than 6000 certificates were granted by the Grand Lodge of England ; as a necessary consequence more than 6000 aprons were bought j more than £7000 were spent in this one item of Masonic adornment, and this by the new blood brought into the craft in a single year. It is unnecessary to multiply statistics. We all know that 200 Freemasons' lodges which flourish in London represent a heavy outlay, and we all know the direction in which that outlay goes." The speaker argued from these figures, not that the expenditure of and in Freemasonry should be reduced, but that the benevolence of the craft should be rendered more extensive and far-reoebing. Fatal Coach Accident. — An inquest was held at Christchurch on the 3rd inst, on the bodies of William Rudgo and Thomas Nevis, the driver and conductor of Mr Doyle's coach, plying between Doyleston and Burnham station on the Southern Railway, who were drowned in the Selwyn. Mr Cholmondeley was the only witness examined. He stated that Monday morning, July 31st, he started to catch the morning train at Burnham statiou, but on arriving at M'Alpine's ford, he found the Solwyn so j flooded that he considered it dangerous to cross, and was returning towards Leeston when he met the coach about a mile and a half from the ford. He told Rudge, the drivoi', the river was not fit to cross, but Rudge said he would go on and see. Mr Chlomondeley therefore replied that he 1 would go and see how he got on. On arriving at the ford, the conductor, Nevis, was told by Rudge to out a flax stick and feel the depth of water afc the bank. The boy did so, and on returning said ' It is very deep.' Rudge said he had crossed when there was more water in it than there was that morning, and would try it. He at once put the horses into the river, but they were no sooner off the bank than they were afloat, and the fore carriage parted, and with the horses went down the stream. The body of the coach, with the driver, conductor, and the Rev. Mr Campbell /'the only passenger) on the box seat, ran down the bank, and was overturned immediately on getting into the water, and turned ' over and over' as it waa carried down the stream. Mr Cholmondeley immediately unbridled his horse, and unbuckled one end of the rein, to which he fastened the halter ho had round his horse's neck, and threw the bit several times towards the coach as it turned over. At last Mr Campbell succeeded in getting hold of the bit, and was landed safely ; but by this time both Rudge and Nevis had disappeared from the box. The body of the latter was found on the day of the accident entangled in one of the wheels of the coach ; that of the former on the following day. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Drowning." Gold in South Austealia. —Mr Joseph Darwenfc, the nephew of the Adelaide merchant, has, says the ••Register," claimed from the South Australian Government the reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield in the Northern Territory. The position of his discovery is on the lino of telegraph, S.E. by E. 180 miles from Port Darwin, and eight miles from the River Cullen — between that River and Mount M'Lachlan. The belt of auriferous land is said to rnn immediately between granite and slate formations about four miles in width, and to all appearances miles in length. The gold, which is of a shotty nature, was obtained from sinkings of about four feet deep, the alluvial having a clay bottom. Mr Darwent considers that the alluvial diggings would give employment for hundreds of diggers. The Galatea.— The Galatea, as already reported, reached Plymouth on the 20th ult, and the ship was paid off a few days afterwards. The paying off was followed by a procession of the crew through the streets of Devonport to the Mechanics' Institute, the elephant presented to the Prince in India marching at the head of the column. At the Mechanics' tho men, 450 in number, were treated to a dinner by the Prince, who, in proposing the health of the ship's , company complimented them on tho manner in which they had conducted themselves during

the four and a half yeasr' cruise. K« added that during this period he had not only seen many strange lands, but the true character of the British blue jackets Two of the seamen responded, thanking the Royal Captain for his kindness and consideration, and declaring that no crew was ever prouder of their commander.