LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3286, 25 August 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Reports or Parliamentary Debates. — Yesterday, in the Legislative Council, tbo Hon Dr Buchanan gave notice of a motion proposing that arrangements should be made for the daily publication, in one or raoro of the daily newspapers, of a condensed report -of debates in Parliament. Newspaper Postage. — Among the notices of motion to be proposed in the House of Representatives to day, there is one by Mr Murray to this effect : — That, in the opinion of this House, there should be no interprovincial postage charged upon newspapers ; owners of newspapers to supply one copy of each issue to such public reading-rooms and athensoums as the Government shall direct. Peiyate Bills. — The question as to what is or is not a private bill ha 3 already been raised several times during the present session of the Assembly, and steps are at present being taken for the construction of a joint committee of both Houses, to deal with the standing orders on the subject. We notice by. the Melbourne papers that the standing orders of the Victorian Assembly are likely to undergo some very favorable revision. The Chief Secretary purposes at an early day to vnovo that private bills, before being brought before the Assembly, be subjected to the examination of a board somewhat analogous to the Board of Trade — money bills to be referred to such gentlemen as the Under Treasurer, one of the Audit Cornmi.ssioners, and the Comptroller of Customs ; railway and bills of an engineering character to be subjected to tho scrutiny of a board, composed of Messrs Higinbotham, ITodgkinson. and Wardill. If all private bills pass successfully through an investigation by Buch boards their course through Parliament would be comparatively smooth ; and if they were defective in principle, the Parliament would be saved all trouble of dealing with them. Tjie Philosophical Society. — We call attention to tho notice in our advertising columns of the meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society to bo held in tho Maori House, Colonial Museum, on Saturday evening next, at which several papers of interest will be road. We are requested to stato that the ilax exhibits will, bo on view on tho same evoulug from s^ven o'eloelc, vrlien tile Museum will bo fully lighted for that purpose. The Metropolitan Baths. — A new institution in Willis Street — Barry's Metropolitan Baths — is of a sufficiently exceptional description, by the excellence of it s arrangements, to entitle it to some special notice. A lnrgo building in that street has, at considerable expense, and with much taste, been converted into ono of tho most commodious and elegantly fitted bathing establishments and hair-dressing saloons to bo found in tho colony. There are bath rooms, aa well as dressing and waiting rooms/both for gentlemen and for ladies, and great care lias been taken to secure perfect privacy, and to make each apartment as comfortablo as possible. Tho appliances connected with tho baths I are also most perfect of theirkind, a large

boiler serving the double purpose of pumping up the water and heating it by the application of steam. The steam-pump, manufactured by Mr Seager, is itself a curiosity among the otherwise commendablr features of an establishment which is as yet too rare in New Zealand towns. Ikon Sand. — Some other very successful smelting experiments have been accomplished by Mr Smith and those who have been assisting him in testing the properties of the Taranaki iron sand. Yesterday a quantity of steel was run off in various shapes, among which there wa3 a bar 32 lbs weight, the appearance of which, and the ring of which, when struck with the hammer, indicate the metal to be of a superior quality. We understand that, at half-past three o'clock this afternoon, some other experiments will be mado. The specimens referied to may be seen at this office. The Ship Halcione.— This favorite London trader, under a favorite commander, Capt. Bishop, completed another successful voyage to the colony by arriving in Wellington harbor yesterday afternoon, after a run of eighty-four days from London, and eighty days from the English channel. The Halcione has, on this occasion, brought ninety-nine passengers, the majority of whom are for llavrke's Bay, and there are also a number for Wellington and for Nelson, and one or two for Canterbury, Marlborough, and Taranaki. The voyage has not only been a successful one in point of speed, but the ship comes into harbor "all well." The manifest will be published when the vessel is entered at the Custom house, copies not yet being prepared. TnE Thames Goldfield. — Great complaints reach us from time to time about these go)fl fields, for which we cannot find space. A correspondent, well known in Wellington, writes by last mail a very characteristic letter, the mildest sentences of which wo make room for : — " The Superintendent very unpopular ; many of the works stopped ; the roads impassable for want of necessary repairs ; the Government spending all the goldfiolds revenuo in and about Auckland, and thoroughly neglecting the Thames ; tho Goldfields Secretary marching about Auckland in front of the road engine, in a cloud of smoke, at the rapid pace of two miles per hour, followed by an immense crowd of boys and old women ; coals cannot be landed at tho Thames for want of wharf accommodation ; many of the crushing batteries stopped in consequence. The progress of the Upper Tararu has been entirely slopped for six months, for want of a road ; not even a track made, though the claims have been proved to be very rich. Several deputations have waited on the Superintendent, who says that he can do nothing without the consent of his Executive (the Busby affair to wit, and tha road engine). Continued downpour of rain ; the Thames a sea of mud ; drays full of golden quartz bogged, mud over the axles; tho roads, which cost large sums of money to form, are being thoroughly broken up and destroyed. The Government will only give a paltry £500 to make tho whole of the goldfieds roads ; great dissatisfaction at the Superintendent's obstruction policy, and the misappropriation of the goldfields revenue ; any change would be wclcomo to the present system ; people hoping tho General Government will step in and take charge." Ltfe Insurance.— The insurance system was practically brought into operation in New Zealand on Ist March, 1870, and from that date up to 3'Jth June last, according to the report of the Annuities Commissioner, G67 proposals for assurances, amounting to £295,8/4, have been received (more than half of this number were received during the last quarter), of which 418 have been accepted and taken up, and policies issued amounting to £205,374, at an annual premium of £5,810 4s Bd. The number declined out of the GG7 proposals is 75 for assurances, amounting to £31,300; this may betaken to show that groat care is exercised in the selection of lives. The number of proposals not taken up on 30th Juno was 30, and 114 were under consideration oa that date : the largo proportion of the latter class is attributable to the fact that many of the proposals were then of quite recent date. There had then also been received, fifteen endowment proposals, of which ten were completed, and seven annuity proposals, of which four were granted. Sale of Jewellery. — By an advertisement in another column, it will bo Been that Mr N. Salomon of Dunedin, has on view and for sale, at the Empire Hotel, lower room, private entry, a large and varied stock of jewellery, which he intends to offer to the public of Wellington. The goods will bo on view daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. until the departure of the s.s. Alharnbra for the West Coast. Spots on the Sun. — Tho " Scientific Observer" on the. staff of the " Otago Daily Times" states that those who are interested in solar astronomy will find the disc of the sun at present well worthy of observation. As seen through Mr Lake's telescope, with a power of 600, there are are large and several smaller groups of apots, mostly situated on the eastern limb. One of these spots, near the equator, is very dark, whilo to the north of it is one whose shape is not unlike a fiat fish. To the eastward of this again, there is a group of five, and, continuing to the south, there is a line of small spots, ending in one large one. It ia not often that such a large group of spots is seen at one time. Dumping Wool. — The Provincial Government of Canterbury, with a view to making suitable provision for the dumping of wool in Lyttelton, invite tenders for leasing a sito on tho reclaimed land, subject to tho conditions that the lessee shall erect a warehouse and make provision therein for dumping wool. Mr A. G. Fisiieb, who sualained concussion of the brain by a fall from his horse near Melbourne, was, according to last report, progressing favorably. Cession of New Guinea. — Ono of the most interesting items of intelligence brought by tho mail from San Francisco is conveyed in tho following brief telegram to the "News of the World" :— " The Second Chamber of the Parliament of the Netherlands has ratified tho treaty for the cession of New Gruiuca, in tho Pacific Ocean, to England." .Referring to this announcement, tho " Southern Cross " says : — There lins been no preparation for this remarkable but most gratifying intelligence. It appears such an abandonment of the modern policy of England that its announcement will cruro a great surprise, whilo a thought of the magnificent results that may arise from the colonisation of New Guinea must cause the deepest interest in the mind of every one that can tnko a comprehensive view of the future of the British settlements in these southi crn seas. It is no exaggeration to say New Guinea is one of the finest islands in the world, and from whatever cause arising, tho occupation and colonisation of Papua must bo fraught with incalculable advantages to the Anstralian colonies.

Dunedin Cattle Market. — Dunedin rejoices in the possession of a new cattle market, situated at the head of Maclaggan street. The yards were constructed at a cost of £523. The adoption of this site for so busy a place as a cattle market is likely to infuse some additional vigour into the town of Mornington. TnE Scott Scholarship— From statements by the S«otfc Centenary Committee, Dunedin, there appears to be a general feeling that they should carry to its completion the suggestion that a Scott Scholarship should be founded. After some discussion, it was decided that the secretaries should communicate with Mr E. B. Cargill, asking him to call a meeting of those interested in carrying the movement to a successful isaue. The committee have concluded their proceedings in con nectiou with the Centenary with some degree of dignity, by presenting to their secretaries, Messrs Callender and Stables, silver cups, suitably inscribed. Covet of Appeal. — In the Canterbury Supreme Court a few days ago, Mr Justice Gresson stated that in all probability the next session of the Court of Appeal would not be held until May, 1872. The Judges were in communication with the Government, and it was probable that after the present year there would be two sittings — namely, in May and November. His Honor also stated that it was likely the printing of the cases sent ap to the Judges would be resorted to in most instances, so as to save the expense of copying. Trout Ova. — We notice by the Christchurch papers that the trout ova in the boxes ut the Acclimatisation Grounds have commenced to hatch out, and the young fish are to all appearance strong and ■ healthy. Postage on Periodicals. — A correspondent of a Dunedin contemporary complains of the excessive postage charged on magazines, periodicals, &c M quotes tho case of Victoria, where the " Monthly Australian Journal" goes to all parts for a penny, and hopes the grievance existing in New Zealand will be brought prominently before the Assembly. M. Chevalier's Views of New Zealand. — Numerous speeches of New Zealand scenery by M. Chevalier have lately boen exhibited at theCrysfcalPalace, where they have attracted a large amount of attention and commendation. The London correspondent of a Victorian contemporary, writing of the exhibition, says : — Tho London Press has been unanimous in its praise of them as works of art, while the general public has expressed its surprise and pleasure at the marvellous forms of beauty portrayed by the artist. There are in the collection a few specimens of the Maori, and they always attract attention. One of these, " Paddling Her Own Canoe," is a great favorite with the lady visitors, many of whom express a desire to relinquish all tho " woman's rights" of Europe for the freedom of New Zealand girl who is being carried down the stream so pleasantly. A view of the bar at Hokitika, with, the town in the distance, is an exceedingly good specimen of the artisb's power of producing the more subtle and delicate effects of neighboring objects one upon the other. Lake Wakatipu is another instance of this, as is a view from the top of Paikakariki, with the Ruapaha Mountains, 120 miles away. Indeed, the whole of the 140 pictures are excellent, and will do more to teach people the kind of place New Zealand is than a dozen books couid do. Beet-root Sugar. — We notice that the proposal of the Victorian Government to pay albonus "of £5,000 to the successful planters of the beet root sugar manufacture has already had some effect. A directory is in course of formation for a company to be called the Victorian Beetroot Sugar Company. Pen'ainTd Pencil. — An attempt is being made in Sydney to form, under the title of the Pen and Pencil Society, an association of those whose tastes lead them towards literature and art, A committee has been formed to take the matter in hand, 1 and see if ifc can establish in Sydney a pleasant social centre for the lover 3 of letters and art. Another attempt is also being made to patronise art, and this is by the formation of an academy of art. The examples are worthy of imitation in New Zealand, where no combined effort has been mado to promote, by permanent association, either art or literature. Inebriate AsfLUArs.^-An advocate of the establishment of retreats for inveterate drunkards, in a letter to the Melbourne "Argus" on the. subject, quotes from one of the medical reviews that at the Washington Home, near Boston, during nino years, 3000 inebriates have been received, and 2000 of them were cured I and that at Birmingham, % near New York, there were admitted in twenty months to the end of 1868, 310 patients, and that of those discharged 62 per cent, were cured, and only 11 per cent, failures or incorrigible, and this good results only on an average detention of twenty-seven days each. Dr Day says that "in the : vast majority of the cases we may confi. dently rely upon the hearty co-operation of the patients themselves," and that, "in over two thousand cases their cooperation with treatment has been almost universal." Tasmanian Railways. — We notice that Mr Wy lie, engineer to the contractors for the main lino of the Tasmanian railway, leaves by the next San Francisco mail, taking with him the signed contract. His survey makes the line twenty miles shorter than iVIr Doyne's. A Prosperous Venture.— The Peak Downs copper mine lias just surprised the shareholders with a return unknown in the history of joint-stock miniug in New South Wales. For some years the company has been struggling with difficulties, the shares, which in the first blush of expectation had gone up to five guineas, having afterwards dropped to 10s. At last, however, all difficulties liavo been conquered, and in one half-year the directors have netted sufficient profit to ctvnblo them to pay off a debt of £10,000, and a dividend at the rate of 30 per cent, per annum, on tho capital of £> 0.000. Goldjiining in New Caledonia. — Tho " Sydney Morning Herald " prints the following extracts from a letter to Mr G. M. Stophen from his son, wlio is in chavgo of a raining expedition to New Caledonia: — "Mindine, 11th April. — From what I havo seen of the claim, I am perfectly certain we shall clear £5,000 !or £0,000 tho first year ; but at present I can sec nothing to justify more sanguine expectations. 2nd May. — Nearly all the miners have left here ; nothing in the way of a gold field has been discovered, although a man got nearly half a dwt. in a tin dish the other day, about ten miles from here on tho banks of the river, but he says tho place is not payable. We have decided to wait until we have 1000hz. of gold, and then two of us will escort it to Noumea, and from thence send ifc to you to place it in the Mint. . . . I dare say it seems Rn inane nse time to you all, but if you could see the hills everything had to be carried up and down, and the excavations and dams we

had to make, you would not be surprised at the time it has taken. Fern-hill Reef, 11th June.. — The more I see of the reef the better I like it. On Friday afternoon, we fixed up the ' cradle amalgamator,' and started washing the stuff (after stacking all the stones), and continued washing until last night (Saturday). We put through about seven tons, and got 13oz, 13dwt., which ia very good, considering, as I believe, there is twice as much gold " in the stone." Floods at Taranaki.— The rain thafc . fell on Friday and Saturday week caused the rivers to rise considerably higher than, has been known for years past. The water of the Waiwakaiho was, at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, within two feet of the top cylinder of the bridge, aDd that of the Huaki within a foot or so of the arch. During Monday last a part of the dam at the Pioneer Steel Works gave way, causing the Mangatuku to rise in town several feet. The floor of Mr S. Ollivier's mill was covered with two or three feet of water, and Mr Davidson's shoeing yard was flooded. A bridge near Tataraimaka, wo hear, was washed away on Saturday, but with these exceptions no other damage was done. Invercabgill as it is. — A correspondent of the Dunedin " Star" says : — Everything in Invercargill wants a coat of paint. ' Twas well whitewashed, I hear some years since. From the railway carriages to the Court house everything looks shabby. ' Tis not " a wilderness of empty tenements," however,, as the' member for Wakatip stated in Wellington last session — nor is it at all like a " moder&ss™ Pompeii," as he called it, for even the T drains are uncovered. The "carving' and gilding" neither are very apparent; and however " delirious with joy" the hotelkeepers may have been in the days of the past, they seem staid and sane enough now the streets are patrolled by policemen — one by day, and one by night, Were they always in the barracks the public would know where to find them. It speaks well for the public habits the repressive force is so light. Special Settlements. — The County Council of Westland have agreed to recommend two more " special settlements" south of the Mikonui river, which was selected as the northern boundary line of such settlements under the Westland Waste Lands Act. One is in the neighborhood of Eoss, consisting of 20,000 acres, and another in the neighborhood of Okarito, consisting of 50,000 acres. Mr Hoos, in moving the resolution, said he would not go so far a3 to say that there would be a rush in those localities, but he was convinced thafc a settled population would gradually grow up, and in time conduce to the permanent settlement of the population upon the lands within the country. Dunedin Waterworks. — The City Council of Dunedin have several objections to the proposed Waterworks Amendment Act. They object to several new clauses, propose the retention of old ones, and suggest alterations which they have asked the Company to adopt, otherwise they threaten to have the bill opposed in the General Assembly. Poet Chalmers Kail way.— An importantquestion has been raised in theSupreino Court, Dunedin, by an action brought by Mr Crook, the owner of some land at Sawyer's Bay, over which it is proposed to carry the Port Chalmers railway. The contractor having offered Crook a sum of money as compensation which he did not deem adequate, he has applied for an injunction to restrain them from proceeding w'itli the work, upon the ground that the Provincial Ordinances under which the agreement has been entered into are invalid. There have been lengthy arguments between Mr Macassey and Mr Haggitt, but judgment has been reserved.