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Inangahua Times, Volume II, 14 October 1881, Page 2

We elsewhere publish the programme of the forthcoming races, The amount of stake money offered will no doubt attract the best stock coming to the Coast this year. It seems that Mr Or. G. FitzG-erald has made up his mind to stand for Eo^itika, in opposition to Mr R. C Reid. Next to the County Council deputation there is no more popular subject for denonnciatipn than the weather, which for a week or ten days past has preserved an aggrnvating drizzle. It is worthy of note that not a drop of rain has fallen in the south Canterbury district for more than five weeks past, and the crops are eujfering something in consequence. At the last sitting of the Assessment Court in Keeflon application was made to have the name of Louis Davies struck off thp Countj roll, on the ground that the quuliflcation upon which it bad been inserted, consisting of his right in an agricultural lease, had subsequently been parted with. The name was however, allowed to remain, but we notice ihut the agricultural lease in question has since been curicelled bx the Govcrnmeut through nonpayment of rent. What grim iroj y je it which induces the

County Council on its death bed to exhibit such extraordinary vitality in regard to the Antonios Riding. la it that the election day 19 at hand, and conscience admonishes that the people, of that riding have been shamefully neglected, and that the Council intends to do tardy justice to that district ? UnfQr* tunately for the Riding there is no such luck. The whole affair it but a clumsy feint fo string on the pooplo there until the elections «re over. Do the Council suppose that the voters of that neglected riding are so utterly blind £o their own interests, and so easily gulled aa to be caught by such a shallow device ? The people cf Antonios have by this time had quite enough of representation by absentees, and it may be relied that henceforth they will not ask or permit the Council to foist a dummy upon them, but take the management of their affairs into their own hands, and by return* ing one of themselves be able to obtain as a right, that which otherwise can only be got as a favour. With a liability upon its shoulders of something approaching to £15,0"0, the Council m in a fine position to promise worka to the Antonio's, or any other Biding. The palptble fact i 9 that the Council has run itself into financial difficulties from which, so far as we can see, their ia no possible hope of escape, and the day of reckoning is plose at hand. Everybody has probably heard of the gallant nobleman who returned from Turkey two stone lighter, but few people were aware that the officers of the Inangahua County Council weigh out to their duties just as a jockey would do. We were, however, told in all seriousness yesterday morning that the County Engineer lontjl3lbs during his late absence at the Big River, and bis two young assistants, 81bs each. This, if true, is really alarming. The disparity between the loss of Mr (Jarven and his men is certainly great, and might be hard to reconcile with any known physiological law, but weights and measures never lie, so that there can be no' mistake about it. Personally we have the highest respect for MrG-arven, and there* fore oannot but regret that he should waste himself in such a reckless manner. Howover, we may fairly congratulate the remain* ing portion of him upon being restored once more to civilisation. It is very well known (says the European Mail) that an expert is able to distinguish, the wool that comes from the different countries, and classify it, without reference to brands. The merjno wool, fojf! instance, of South Africa and New Zealand differs in softness of texture to some superior Australian sorts, while the wool coming under the" same cate* gory in the Argentine Bepublio and) San Francisco differs again to either of the fore* going. Hitherto practical knowledge has enabled the expert to classify in such matters, but now it seems in ca-es of doubt that science will come to his aid. for it is stated that the wool of different countries can bo distinguished by the insects^whiph are found in the bales. The Tablet understands that a movement is on foot in Wellington for the purjftse of floating a company by which the Catholic working classes of the colony will be largely benefited. The objects of the company will be to acquire land to be sold to the working classes on easy terms, and at the same time to enable them, as shareholders, to have their part in the profits ; to lend money at interest for educational or church purposes ; to receive money on deposit at interest, and to grant loans on approved security ; and, though last not least, to provide an annual sum as an endowment for Catholic schools. It is added that his Lordship the Bishop of Wellington has expressed bis approval of the project, and purposes to become a shareholder. Mr 8. Kohn, of Auckland, who is an en* thusiastio collector of curiosities and articles of vertu, has just made a valuable addition to his extensive collection of South Sea Island curios, in the form of a well preserved mummy. His mummyship (according to the' Star) was obtained from Malakola, a settle* ment in the New Hebrides group, and strange to say the only locality in the South, Seas where the natives follow the prac tio of the ancient Egyptians with reference to the disposal of their dead. It is exceedingly difficult to obtain a specimen, as the natives, beside 9 considering their preserved ancestors as the highest works of art, deem it is the most dreadful sacri'ege to dispose of them for filthy lucre. Mr Kohn has been coveting one for some years, but not until now has he had bis desire gratified. The mummy is that of a man of middle height. The bones of the arms and legs hare been removed, and their places filled with copra by the human taxidermist in a most skilful manner from the neck to the ankle ; for the feet are missing. The body is swathed tightly with the cocoanut fibre, and is as black as a sloe. The head bears the appearance of having been smoke cured, but the hair and features are tolerably well preserved. There is nothing repulsive about it, indeed it is difficult to believe it id not one of those grotesque images which are occasionally met with in collections of Island curios. < Mrs Garfield, who speaks French and (Jer« man fluently, is said to be the first President's wife able to talk with foreign diplomatists in /the court languages of Europe. The Chinese have a very lucid idei of an author's rights, and inflict a hundred blows upon a piratical publisher- A home paper sayß that if this Chinese law "yrere adopted in England and made retrospective, niany groves of tree? would have to be planted and kept under vigorous culture, in o»'der to provide the sticks with which the beatings would have to be inflicted. What hns hitherto remained a mere conception, the idea of increasing the rapidity of locomotives, has (says Iron) engaged the a|« tention of an American engineer. Mr Fontaine, who is trying to improve the speed of the locomotive by the application of the principle th«\t a small wheel, when driven by i\ larger one, makes more revolutions than the motor wheel. With Mr Fontaine ihe application hn.s passed into the expirmiental

stage, an engine having b.en constructed on . this principle. This novel engine drew a train full of high officials over the Canada Southern Railway from Amherstbury to St. Thomas, a distance of 111 mileß, in 93 minute?, thus doing between 67 and 63 miles an hour. The trial trip was considered so satisfactory that the officials have given order | for several engines to be constructed on the game model.