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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3530, 21 June 1872, Page 2

A Provincial Government Gazette published yesterday announces that " on and after the Ist clay of July, 1872, all the parts of tho Highways Board Empowering Act, 1871, numbered two, throe, four, five, six and seven, shall extend and apply to all the highway "districts constituted under the Aci, of fcho Provincial Council of Wellington, shortly intituled the District HigWpys Act, 1871, and to the inhabitants, ratepayers, and governing body of each such district." The Marine Board, after examination, havo declined to grant a sea going certificate [o the new Wangarui steamer Tc 'gariro, her boilers and engines being of such a kind as to entitleheronly towbal is known as an extended river certificate. Tlvb will not materially interfere with the intentions of her owner, as she will be enubled to carry on the trade between Palea, Itangitikei, and Wanganui. The intelligence from the quarantine station is devoid of any feature that could be calledslartling. It is nonetheless satisfactory to state that Mr Kay's health continues to improve, and that the smyptoms of "recovery which set in previous to his being sent to the island have been uninieriupted. 4,600 acres in the township of Polmerslon, in the Manawalu district, being rural sections Nos. 421, 422, 423, 424425, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, and 446 have been set apart for sale on deferred payments. Police business for the last few days haß been of the mildest description. Yesterday, like the preceding one, wng blank as regarded criminal business. One civil caso came one for hearing — J. G. Graham v. J. Stevens. — Claim £4 2s. Judgment for amouuL and coslfl, 10s. The following cheep reports are published in the Provincial Gazette issued yesterday: — Messrs W. and G. Beelham, Waipawa Bridge; clean certificate canoellod, 6 til May, 1872. George Mann, Khaumingi ; clean certificate cancelled, llih May, 1872. Murch and Hnles, Flat Point : clean certificate of ewe flock cau celled, 23rd May, 1872. Edwin Meredith, lli'fisdale ; clean cortilicale " Orui" flock, 20Lh Mny, 1872. D. Frasor, Eangilikei; a fleck of 2,600 examined and found clean and freo from scab, dated 2nd June. Arthur Araon, llangitikei ; a flock of 200, examined and found clean, and free from scab, dated 17th May last. Messrs Syraes, No, 2 line ; clean cert'fi c:ite cancelled, dated Blh May, 1872, Messrs Bh\ir, No. 1 lino j elenn certificate cancelled, dated 10th May, 1872, for a flock of hoggets. Tho following persons have been elected a Board of Wardens for ihe Pahautanui Road District : — Messrs iE. Bonlton, B. Draper, G. Goldfinch, S. Flighty, D. Cook, D. Galloway, chairman. Mr John M'Eelvie has been elected chairman of the Lower .llan.",iiikei Hoad Board in the phicoof MrC. C. Graham. "| The City Council will hold ft meeting j this afternoon at half-nast three o'clock. '

A well-known and very worthy citizen — Mr George Martin, one of the proprietors of the Pier Hotel — died last night after a painful illness of twelve months duration. The deceased was well known in Now Zealand for many years, having been in business in Dunedin for some time ; but for the last seven years he was a resident of Wellington. During his management of the Piar Hotel, which in conjuction with his partner he built, he won many friends by his tact and genial and happy disposition. The deceased had by prudence and econemy succeeded in attaining a moderate competency, and was thinking of paying a visit to his friends in another land, when the hand of death cut Bhort his aspirations at tho early age of thirty-eight. John Gillies, of Bush Gully Eun, Wairarapa, stockowner, and Eobert M'Laren, stockowner, Pahaua, East Coast, have been licensed to kill wild unbrandeil cattle the property of tho Government of the province. We learn from an official return of land sold and deposits received in this province during the month of May, that Ihe amount is 1,2<17 acres, for which £6,080 was received in casli and £60 in scrip. The appearance of the Garrick Club has been delayed till Monday next, the unsettled weather being unfavorable to the obtaining of so crowded an attendance as is anticipated by the Club. The postponement will be advantageous in giving the Club every opportunity of smoothing over any possible imperfcctions_in Jjie acting, an opportunity which wo T>eTievc •iriii oe fully availed of iv repeated rehearsals. Holding the position of a city wherein is held the annual session of the Parliament of the colony, where the representatives of large contracting firms from all parts of the country, and other persons interested in Iho progress of both public and piivate legislation must of necessity be on the spot to supervise and instruct in the matters in which they are concerned, it is surprising that heretofore there has not been found somo person with enterprise and means sufficient to provide a remedy for one of the causes ivhich, amongst others, has conduced to obtain for Wellington an unenviable reputation. The drawback alluded to in the present instance is the want of such accommodation as would compensate in some degree for the loss of home comforts and home society. Perhaps by members of Parliament and by their families more than by any others have the discomforts of this kind lieen experienced, and it is well known that this one cause has deterred many maternal heads of families from leaving their own comfortable quarters to " do" the session time in Wellington. Objections on this score have been entirely met by Mr Moeller, of the Empire Hotel, who hns converted one entire wing of the building into a " Family Department," which is disconnected from the ordinary business of the house; consequently, ladies or others to whom the sight of the bar or tho billiard room is objectionable, are completely secured against annoyance of a nature either distasteful or unpleasant. The entrance to this portion of the building is through an elegantly fitted hall, which is said to be after the American style, but whether it is so or not is nothing to tho point ; it is very tastefully ornamented with mural designs, aud fitted with arches resting upon neatly decorated pilasters, this latter ornamontation being contiguous to the staircase, which is spacious, cosily carpetted — as tho whole of this " department" is throughout — and protected by handsome balustrading. This ball is eminently calculated to create a most favorable impression of Ihe remainder of the building, an impression which not only runs no risk of being altered but is considernbty heightened by further inspection. The apartments or sets of rooms, each capable of-accommodating a family, are four in number; the rest of the space on this landing (formerly the Bijou room) being taken up in spare bed rooms. To doscribe adequately tho furniture, the mirrors, the silver ware, and the drapery, would require the familiarity and the vocabulary of th? professional man, but we may venture- to say that the elegance of the furnishings ; the taste in matching the reps with the other accessories ; the accomodations of the lavatories and the bath rooms ; tho pleasures to be derived from pianos specially procured as part of the fittings, are thinga which may be equalled in the foremost of Australian cities, but cannot possibly be surpassed. On the queslion of expense in carrying out the alterations and providing accommodation worthy of Ridley's, such as this is, no inquiry was made but it must have been of such extent as a very long course of brisk business could only recoup. Mr Moeller fairly deserves the reward for his enterprise which there can be little doubfc ho will reap when the fame of his new " department" has gone abroad. The Hon Mr Fox and Mrs Fox were passengers by the Wanganui last evening. Wo understand Mr Fox desired to be in Wellington on Wednesday last, and took passaco in the Wanganui with that object in preference to coming overland by tho coach. Disappointment must have been felt in either case, for the effects of the recent rough weather have been experienced on both routes. It is said the Fairlie Double Bogie engine has proved itself from experiment capable of accomplishing three times the work of an ordinary locomotive. Auckland can boast another local industry in the shape of shark drying for exportation. Colonel St. John gave the following opinion about the natives : — "During the paat five years I have had great opportunities of observing the Maoris — fighting against them and having them as allies. I must say that never since I have been in New Zealand have they been so quiet and orderly^ as they now are, cultivating the land, and wanting teachers to aid them on wilh the help of education and the ways and usages of civilisation." A Thames paper says that the removal of all fear of disturbance in the Waikalo would double tho valuo of every farm about Alexandra, Orakau, and Cambridge; and if Tawhio could bejudieiously bound over to keep tho peace, and at the sumo time weakened in his following, the object is worth our making somo sacrifice to attain. Arrangements for working the coalfield on the north side of tho Firih of Thames are now almost completed, and fifty tons of coal are to be brought over at once to betried at the various batteries. It is reported that coals are so scarce in Adelaide f hat if cargoes do not soon arrive it will be impossible lo light the city with gas. The Cross complains that tho firewood dealers of Auckland cheat people out of their' measurement, and suggests as a remedy for such nefarious practice, that | on finclin ihe ton of wood short measure, to refuse pay for it, leaving the dealer his remedy in the Resident Magistrate's Court. !

A Cororoandcl paper points out _ that Uiere is much need for legislative interference rewarding mining on private land, and says .—Some of the absentee landholders are beginning to see that there is likely to be a change in the law regarding the right to mine on private lands, and are acting in accordance with this conviction. During the past week Coromandel has been visited by the agenls of two of Hie largest owners of property on the field, and probably the right to mine will now be granted by these gentlemen on reasonable terms. But (here are other instances where the freeholders will not listen to reason, and will only permit mining on condition that their land is purchased at a most preposterous price— at such a rale indeed that mining cannot be carried on at all, if such terms are insisted upon. Losler and Nichols were to be hanged at Sydney on the lSlh. On receipt of the dreadful intelligence, both prisoners were calm and composed, and Nichols expressed his sense of tho justice of the sentence. Lester continued in his usual mood, penitent and resigned. Proceedings are to be taken against an Auckland J.P., for siting on the licensing bench during tho hearing of applications for publicans licenses. It is alleged that he comes wilhin the definition of the clause Rolling forth the persons who are disqualified from taking part in such proceedings. Tho Act provides a penal !.y of £50. T_be_.Qjieenstown correspondent of the Oromivell Arc/us writes : — "I hear a new method of dredging is about to be tried on Die Sholorpr, (he floating ilrodgo being dispensed with, and the operations conducted from either bank. The most important advnnln-'je claimed for the invention is that the depth of water in the river is unimporlant." A Fiji correspondent, writing to the Southern Cross on the present, condition of affairs, says Fiji is tho Pacific Alsafia. Names of men can be singled out who ought at this moment to be confined in her Majesty's colonial gaols. Now, in addition 1o those who ought to be enjoying residental privileges in the common gaol, there is a large number of individuals against whom writs aye arriving by every mail from tho colonies. These are issued mainly by reason of many persons resident here forgetting to discharge their liabilities incurred in other countries prior to their departure therefrom. It is absurd, however, to suppose that any writs from our outsido friends can be allowed to have force or effect in Fiji, inasmuch ns, if that principle were ever recognised it would sap and destroy tho very foundation of Alsatian society. A Tapu correspondent writing to an Auckland paper says: — " Large numbers of Maoris are now passing up Ibis way for the Mercury Bay gum diggings. It is strange that they prefer winter for such operations." A nalive upon being asked to sell some land the oilier day, replied — " God only made the lnnd once." We arc gradually corning back to this old idea. The ''nt.rodue.iion of ihe Eucalyptus f/lohulus into Franco and Abierin, where it thrives as freely as it iloca in Australia, has led the French chemists to experimentalise upon its leaves, from which they have obtained an essential oil, yielding on distillation an extremely fluid and almost colorless liquid, possessing an odor closely resembling camphor. This, when distilled at a heal- of between 170° and 178° is found to bo an immediate pure principle, distinct by its properties and by its composition from any known chemical species. M, Cloez, by whum these experiments have been conducted, has bestowed upon the liquid the name of Eucalyptol, and it is represented by tho formula C2'A, TI2O, 02. Chemically, it is the homologue of camphor. Therapeulically, it is said to possess considerable value. It is bull lit Lie soluMo in water, bui" is completely dissolved by alcohol ; aud this solution, much diluted, is found to possess the odor of Iho rose. Evidently, tho foliage of our desp'sed gum trees possesses virtues o"f which most people have never suspected the existence. A short time ago (says the Argus) it came to (he ears of the nuihorilios that an attempted outbreak amongst some of tlie Ion 'jr- sentenced men confined in. the Pentridge Stockade vr^ulci be made. To frustrate Uiis some ei-ihl or ten prisoners who were supposed to be the ringleaders were removed to the new "A" division (formerly tho prison for women), nvnonist whom were iho notorious Lee find SuUivan, ihe Yn-'i-a- track bushrangers. On Thursday night these two desperadoes, immediately after the ringing of the silence bell, signalled to one another to ascertain if each was ready. They then commenced to smash the cell windows, and also the doors, The warder on duty giving Iho alarm, the guard was immediately on the spot, when a scene of commotion endued. Lee (who, it will be remembered, attempted some eight or ten months p. 20 to elToct his eseapo by cutting through the floor of his cell, and liad so fur succeeded in amoving a portion ns to enable him to get at thogi-ound boforo he was detected) had, on this occasion, by some means or o!'»cr, succeeded in getting off his irons. Ho bohnved in the most desperate mannor, refusing to open his door, which he had barricaded with tha cell furniture. He was at last compelled by the exertions of two or three stalwart warders to yield, and was immediately removed to the dark coll. Sullivan, findin the attempt bad failed, yielded quietly. The Daily Neivs believes that Prince Bismarck is about to summon to Berlin an international Congress to discuss the present postal arrangements of Ihe world, and thai he is prepared to lay boforo the members the following proposals as a basis of negotiations : — That all tho States of Europe, Russia in Asia, Turkey in Asia, Canada, tho United States, Algeria, &c, shall form one postal union ; that throughon', this union thero shall be adopted a nniforo rtiio of postage of 2>l per h oz: thai newspapers, printed matter, patterns. &c, shall be conveyed nt tho rate of Id per every 2 oz ; that to all countries not in the union double iho above rates be charged. Tito uniform registration fee for all pa>' [g of tho world shall bo 2<l. The Daily News thinks the matter is one worthy of serious consideration. A gentleman in London, a leading authority on finance, (suys tho Argus) and who is deeply interested in the prosper! ! y of tin's colony, thus writes to a friend in Melbourne: — "Every interest in this colony is very prosperous, and your products of wool, lallow, bides, copper, tin, &c, will bring good prices throughout the whole of this year . . . I am astonished at the ignorance and shortsightedness of your legislators in the matter of inim'^i'ation. With a constant stream flowing into your colonies, you would be most prosperous j whereas, without it you must drag on a miserablo existence. New Zealand and Canada see their oppovtuniiy, and they arc ombracing it on a lurcc scale. Victoria would bent any any other part of the world if you only had population)."

At Foxton, there died, a! on advanced age, William Chapman, a miserable miser, wonh £50,000, which I>o has left to an illegitimate son of his. His. last wish was that his slick miatht be put in his coffin, that ho miqhfc. give " Old Stratford" a thrashing with it when he met with him, because ho disappointed him of buying some land years ago ! Soveral cormorants (says a Ballaral paper) have been shot thin week on the swamp, and in every one that has been opened fish have been found in various stages of decomposition. In no bird have fewer than two fish been found ; in the most of them three, and in some four ; the fish found in them run from two and a half to five or six inches long. It is esLimated by thoso daily on the swamp that there are not less than a thousand of these voracious birds there daily, so that, supposing each bird bolts three fish per day, there ia a destruction of 24,000 per week — a rate that will very soon leave the swamp fishless. The most of the fish destroyed are half or one-third grown perch that numbers of gentlemen have from time lo time been supplying from the reservoirs. t