LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3374, 18 December 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

«. About a quarter past one o'clock yes lerday a lire was discovered on the premises of Mr Tonipkins, grocer, in Tory street. The fire bells were imme diately set going and the Gre engines were speedily on the ground, that from the Te Aro station being first to arrive. The members of the Armed Constabulary wore quickly on the ground, and saved whatever it was possible to save from the building as well as the furniture from the houses adjoining. The engine from tho central station was next to arrive, and soon got to work, but the supply of water was wholly insufficient, and the men had to stop pumping. The wells in the neighborhood having been drained, the hose was laid on to the sea, from whence it required i he power of live engines to draw the water, which, however, was not of much avail, as the fire in the building had so far burnt itself out that orders were given to use the hooks for the purpose of demolishing what was standing. The exertions of the constabulary were very creditable, as were those also of the police. Captains Mosa and Whiteford wero untiring in directing the efforts of their men, who performed a considerable amount of hard work. The stock was a small one, and very little of it was saved. The building, we are informed, was insured for £250. in the New Zealand Insurance Company, the stock being a total loss. The small grocers seem to be tho most unfortunate in the way of fires, four of them having been burnt out in the space of about a year — Mr Levy, Mr Harris, Mr Williams, and Mr Tompkins. We observe that the Colonial Government is using its endeavors to procure the ueneral adoption by shippers and dealers in New Zealand flax of the term " phormium." The following is the copy of a circular issued by the Colonial Secretary to the various governments :—" Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington. 3rd Nov :— Sir, — A board of commissioners, recently appointed in this colony to make certain inquiries respecting New Zealand flax, has recommended that the term ' phormium ' should be adopted as the designation of New Zealand flax, or pViormium tenax, as being more in keeping with the names applied to other roping fibres with which this article has to compete in foreign markets. Instructions have ac cordingly been issued to the officers of Customs to cause the term ' phormium ' instead of New Zealand flax to be used in future in export entries, shipping bills, ships' manifests, and quarterly trade returns. I should feel much obliged to you if you would be good enough to move the Customs authorities in your colony to require the term 'phormium ' to be used in the same manner, as such a course would tend very materially to hasten its general adoption.— W. Gisbohne." At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, the woman Butler was sentenced to a month's imprisonment with hard labor, Mr Brandon telling her that if she ever appeared before him again he would deal with her much more severely. Sergeant Doran, in his evidence, stated that" the children of the prisoner were "as near to death's door as they could be, and had they not been discovered must have died before midnight." He described the appearance of the children in the room as sickening, rats running about the floor in addition to the other discomforts to which they were subjected. At the conclusion of the evidence the prisoner muttered in a subdueJ tone, " Oh, please sir, don't send me to gaol." A very modest requeat from so inhuman a creature. Young Austin, the celebrated long dis tance runner, and Edwards, a noted walker, arrived on Saturday by the Wei lington from Nelson. Austin's great feat consists in running a distance of ten miles within tho hour, Edwards walking about seven miles in tlie same time. The two go into training at once, and will exhibit their powers at the upper Mount Cook Barrack ground. Tho Nelson papers, authorities ia such matters, speak very highly of their performances. Evans, tho person accused of stealing certain papers from tho office of Mr Roberts, atWanganui, has been discharged by the magistrate, Miijor Edwards, who remarked that he had never beard of such an extraordinary case in all his ten years' experience. There was not anything in the evidence to make out even a prima facie case.

Persons interested iv the celebration of ] the thirtyaeoond anniversary of the existence of the province are invited to attend a meeting for the purpose of devising fitting means for doing so, which will bo held this evening at eight o'clock, at the Pier Hotel. What to do with our dairy produce is a question about which producers are sorely puzzled just now. A dairy farmer from tho Hutt brought in a quantity of fresh butter on Saturday, and could only succeed in disposing of it by the slow and troublesome process of hawking it from house to house at 6d per lb. This is a price insufficient to give any return for investment in stock, and when to this is added the expense connected with the second business of disposal by hawking, it is time dairy fanners, either by themselves or by a farmers' organisation in each district, resorted to potting for export. Butter in this shape might be sent to England, as has been done by some of the other provinces, or, better still, to some of the markets of the West Coast of tho Middle Island, where farm produce of all kinds, if of good quality, will realisereraunerative rates at all seasons of the year. It must be apparent to everybody that the prosent prices are very discouraging. The price of butter is so low at the Hutt in consequence of the want of a market that people prefer to give the milk to their pigs, tho price at which it is sold there, ■Id per lb, being nothing like an equiva lent to the payment of the labor required in its production. Evidence of the coming of that millennium when manual labor in all the manufacturing branches will be superseded by machinery, comes upon us fast and furious. The latest novelties supplied by mechanical genius in the shape of machinery were those by which the tailor is enabled to supply trousers by the mile, or a suit of clothes in four hours from the taking of the measure, and lhafc by which many a poor cow has been enabled to offer up her thanks for being saved the punishment inflicted upon her by the hands of unskil ful milkers. Succeeding these comes a description of machinery which, though not quite new to the world, ia new to Wellington. Mr Lindsay, of Lambton Quay, has recently imported a complete set of machinery for tho manufacture of boots. By one of these machines the skin or side of leather is rolled to a hardness and a uniformity in thickness which could never be obtained by all the belaboring on the old lapstone process, which made one perspire merely to look at Next in order in the process comes what we suppose it 'is correct to call the stamper, where the complete sole, heel, or heel stiffner, is cut out with an ease resembling that with which an experienced cook cuts out with her stamper the dough flowers for pie ornamentation. This is performed by a machine of the guillotine kind, which, by a convenient regulation of the pressure, cornea down ou the knives, which of course are de inched from tho machine, and are sup plied in sizes and shapes equal to all known developments of the human foot. Next comes what is termed a skyvering machine, which does all the levelling, an operation over which so much of the valuable time of the gentle craft has been absorbed in sharpening and shnving. Another machine makes all the brad-holes in sole and heel in tho space of a few seconds. So that on the completion of these few preliminaries, the parts are placed in the hands of the workmen to do what the machines are not yet capable of performing — the putting of them togethor. The inspection was highly suggestive of an idea that kept possession of our mind during the whole of the visit, namely, that the purchase of boots ought soon to form a very insignificant item in one's expenditure. The tracking powers of the Clerk of the Court underwent a very severe test on Saturday morning, in consequence of" there being neither Resident Magistrate or Justice of the Peace in attendance to hear the case set down against tho woman Butler. About the time of the sitting of tho Court one Justice was bailed up and informed of the predicament, but he resolutely refused to sit, "because he was very busy and had something else to attend to." Another hailed in sight and gave a very similar response to the first. A third was appealed to, but in vain, and the clerk was just endeavoring to arrange with the sergeant in charge of the caso to remand the woman till Monday when Mr Brandon came into Court, and, having some consciousness of the responsibilitiea attaching to the office of Justice of the Peace, immediately consented to sit. After some further waiting Mr R. J. Duncan arrived, and tho case was gone into after an hour of this fun had been indulged in. Why are the names of those persons who refuse to act permitted to remain on the roll of the Justices of tho Peace is a question that might be asked with propriety. If it is an honor to seetheinitiallotters appended to one's name why should the duties be shirked ? Some understanding about this matter should be insisted on. The firing for choice of company representatives for No 1 Company took place on Saturday. We have not been fur nished with any score of tho firing, but j we are informed that ten men fired and made an average of 60 ; Mr Halse making 86 points out of a possible 100. Mr Gray coming next with 70. The latter gentleman made an extraordinary score at 400 yards, his trial shot being a bull'sitye, which was followed up by five others, making hia score at this range the highest. This shooting is considerably j higher than that made at Chriatchurch, a statement of which we made at the time, and which was considered extraordinary. Mr M'Lellan, a member of the Artillery, fired with tho members of No. 1 Rifles. His score reached 61. and this throws out Mr Zohrab as a company representative, h.o having stood fourth on the list of company representatives till Mr M'Lellnn fired. The four who represent the Artil lery now are Messrs M'Tavish, M'Credie, M'Lollan, and Brogan. If the matter is one that comes legitimately within tho scope of the meeting of to-day it is to be hoped some one of the Councillors will bring before the Council the wretched state of the wharf. Injury to one's shoeleather is a result inseparable from a walk down tho wharf, but this is not by any means so aggravating as being struck on the shins by somo of tho many loose and upended planks which now j grace the flooring. The Luna vrill leave the wharf to-day nfc two o'clock for Napier and Poverty Bay. Tho Attorney-General and Mr Traver9 go up to conduct the case against Kereopa, whose trial will take place on Thursday next, Captain Levy, of Nelson, who, it will bo remembered, traded very frequently in the neighborhood at the time of tho Rev Mr Volkner's murder, also goes up in the Luna to give evidence against Kereopa. Captain Levy's evidence is said to bo very strong and conclusive. A meeting of the City Council will bo held to day at noon to consider tho matters connected with tho leasing of the wharf.

The date of the inter-colonial boat race ' has been altered to the 19th of February. This entirely relieves our crew of the right to grumble, and if they are not ready for the fray on the day appointed the fault will now be wholly their own. The members of the Wellington Cricket Club met for practice at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon, and some very fair play was made. A list was recently published purporting to contain the names of thoae selected to play at Nelson. Those who found themselves so honored are requested not to accept the intimation as being in acy way official, as the team to go to Nelson has not been decided upon. In all probability a week will yet elapse before the committee decide wlio shall represeut Wellington in the match. A bill for reducing the salary of future Governors has been read a first time in I the New South Wales Legislature. A motion was recently introduced in the New South Wales Parliament affirming the necessity for having one uniform stamp for postage and duty, and reducing the size by one third. The mover pointed out the inconveniences which were experienced, especially in the country, by having two sets of stamps when one set would be sufficient, and alluded to the difficulty of getting postage stamps when once Sydney was left. The size of the receipt stamp was also very akward, and rendered it impossible to get the necessary number of stamps on to an ordinary paysheet. The Government opposed the motion on the ground that it would bo impossible to separate tho income received from postage from that procured from , stamp duty. The motion was lost. Wo notice that screened coal is now selling at Newcastle, N.S.W., at 7s 6d per ton. With regard to the proposed restoration of the control and management of the Auckland police to the Pro vincial Government the "Southern Cross" says : — " A change of some kind, by which tho authority will be undivided, is im peratively demanded. If this change should bo in the direction of giving greater power of control into the hands of the Provincial Council, ifc would be do cided retrogression, opposed alike to the good of the force, the wishes of the community, and the evident tendency in the relations existing between the provincial and central authority. The (unctions of the Provincial Councils are evidently fast merging in those of the Central Government, and in nothing is this alteration more to be desired than in connection with the police force." A petition was recently presented to the Governor praying that the sentence upon the prisoner Francis Innes, convicted at Auckland some months ago of embezzlement of tho Imperial funds, be remitted. The Colonial Secretary has forwarded the following reply to the promoters of the petition :—" Colonial Secretary's Office (Judicial Branch), Wellington, 7th December, 1871. Si r> — I have the honor to inform you and the other residents of Wanganui. who have petitioned his Excellency the Governor praying him to remit the unexpired portion of the sentence of the prisoner Francif? Innes, that, after communicating with his Honor the Chief Justice on the subject, I am unable to advise his Excel lency to comply with the prajer of the petitioners. — I have the honor to be, sir. your most obedient servant, W. Gisborne. Lieut. -Colonel M'Donnell, Wanganui." The " Marlbomuah Press" learns that A. P. Seymour, Esq., has been solicited to represent the Wairnu district in the House of Representatives, in the place of W. li. Eyea, Esq., resigned. The "Nelson Evening Mail" of the 15th instant says that the dredging works in the Aorere river have not yet proved a success, the operations of the Nelson and Collingwoorl Company having resulted in a very trifling yield of gold, so small indeed as to induce tho naanageuion^ to desist from working in the spot first selected. Another portion of the claim, which is half a mile in leneth, will bo tried, and it is hoped with better success. There has been a tremendous flood in the river, and the punt and other dredging appliances belonging to Williams and Company were washed away. From the Perseverance there is again bad news, 281 tons of stone having yielded only 29 ozs. of gold. An amended " Permissive Bill" has been passed by the Auckland Provincial Council, and by a recent division the clause empowering only adult males to sign memorials under the Act was struck out. Females can now exercise their voices in regard to the licensing of public houses. The official inquiry into tho recent fire at the Choral Hall, Auckland, proved conclusively that the fire was caused by an incendiary. It appeared duriDg the investigation that the police force of the city is so small that throe or at most four men are all that are available for night watching. The jury returned a verdict of incendiarism, and recommended an in crease in the police force. One witness said that had a smnll hydrant been avnil able the fire could have easily been extinguished shortly after it was discovered. Mr Bryce, M H.R., is to address his constituents at Waaganui on Wednesday the 20th inst. Recently a Royal Commission appointed by the Government of New South Wales to make diligent and enreful inquiry into the working of the GoldfiVlds' Act, and to examine and report upon the best means of procuring permanent water supply on the different gold fields of the colony, presented its report. Amongst other things the Commissioners regard the establishment of a separate department of mines under a responsible Minister as a necessity. They are unanimously of opinion that the taking out of a miner's right should be considered as abso 4 utely necessary to conferring upon any individual the status of a gold miner, and that the possession of such n docu ment should bo an indispensable condition precedent to any authority to mine for gold on any of the public lands of the colony. The Commissioners recommend a change in the leasing regulations. They j consider the frontage system a very doubtful advantage ; that " shepherding" ia an unnecessary evil ; and they are favorable to compulsory registration in oil frontage claims at.d. generally, to " liberal areas." They think large areas would be more likely to stimulate prospecting thnn the system of giving money rewards for the discovery of new goldfields. In regard to writer supply the Commissioners are of opinion that licenses should bo granted for race-cutting, and for the erection of large and permanent dams. They agreo unanimously that the construction of waterworks on the goldfields should not bo undertaken by the Government, but bo left to private enterprise, " with special Government encouragement." The Commissioners also enter upon the questions of delay in proclaiming goldfields -tho abuse of free selection upon auriferous lands—-gold-mining upon church and school lunda— commonage, miuing partnerships, and mining on private properly.

Last Friday afternoon that fine little corps, the Te Aro School Rifle Cadets, numbering about sixty members, paraded in their uniform for inspection by Lieut.-Col. Header. After going through their extension motions as a company they were formed up in two squads, and put through their standing drill and marching exercise by Sergeant Major Nelly; all of which they performed very creditably. The gallant Colonel expressed himself' much pleased with their proficiency—and, considering they have been under trfiiniug only six months, their performances did their teacher, Captain W. H. Holmes, and Sergeant Instructor Nelly much credit. A word of praise is clue to the firm of Kirkealdie and Stains, for tho speedy and excellent manner in which tho uniform contract has been carried out. The dress consists of a forage cap, Garibaldi (lined) and trousers with red facings, made of a grey waterproof tweed — for twenty-four shillings all round. Tho Colonel said it was tho beet and cheapest uniform he had yet seen for the purpose. He has kindly promised the first squad arms, and so enthusiastic are tho lads in the matter, that they have asked lenve to be allowed to meet for rifle drill of an evening in their school room during their coming vacation, in order to become efficient as speedily as possible. It will be seen by an advertisement in our columns that a meeting of the subscribers of the Baker's Hill quartz crushing machine will beheld this evening at 6 o'clock, at Mr Wills' office, Willis Street. According to a report presented to the Auckland Provincial Couucil by the Public Vacciuator only twenty-seven children weresubmuted to him during five months. The " Wanganui Chronicle" says there are no fewer than one hundred and fortytvro rivers, streams, and streamlets be tween Wanganui aad New Plymouth, many of them insignificant threads in summer, but even the smallest of them sure to swell into a brawling brook after a heavy rain. They are a capital feature of the country, but rather expensive in a road-making point of view. The London " Times" correspondent in New Zealand, says the " Spectator" reports that the Colonial Government is in great want of laborers to execute large public works, such as railways and roads, and intends to offer very good terms, namely, a cheap passage, two years of guaranteed employment upon public works, and a block of land in freehold close to the work to be executed. Should English laborers decline these terras, assistance will be sought in Germany and Scandinavia. Wo greatly fear that in this country at least the desired supply of men will not be obtained without the addition ofa free passage. A navvy can Rave ten pounds for himself and bis wife : but a nnvvy will not go, and an agricultural laborer, who will, has no ten pounds to spend. The object of the demand is, we presume, to obtain a more respectable class of settler ; but it would be better to trust to the judgment ofa colonial agent, and allow him to offer the only terms which attract English laborers at once, namely, a free passage for the family, a pound a week for the two years, lower wages than the current rate — and the block of land at the end. A railway arbitration case baa arisen in Southland, on which the " Times" remarks : — Communication bas been made to us which leads us to believe that a railway arbitration suite must be a very jolly proceeding. It engages in all four teen persons, who, if they have nothing particular to do otherwise, meet together and have some friendly confab on the subject. After exercising themselves in tins way for a short time (an hour or two), they adjourn to shake off the fatigue of their arduous duties. If nothing else turns up of particular moment tli\y h*\"c\ another "sitting." The particular charm of these " sittings" is that they are worth at the rate of £3 3a per head, so that two or three of them , per day tells up pretty well at the end of the year. We say at the end of i the year, from the (act that our own experience of the Oreli arbitration case leads us to believe that the engagement is understood to be a permanet one. The day of reckoning must come eventually.