The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1884.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1425, 1 August 1884, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1884.

The latest bit of political gossip from Wellington is that Major Atkinson ia endeavouring to form an alliance with Mr Ormond. Mr Ormond, although at one time a prominent figure in New Zealand politics, and a Cabinet Minister in successive adminstrations up to the defeat of the Atkinson Government in 1877, ha 9 been out of public life for some time, and whatever influence he may have had lVas therefore been to a great extent weakened. Such a coalition therefore, if brought about, is not likely to be very formidable. Mr A. A. S. Menteath, M.H.R., leaves for Greymouth to-morrow morning, en route for Wellington. Parliament will meet on Thursday next, 7th instant, and the Bession is expected to last about ten weeks. We understand that Mr Blackett's survey staff are now engaged in making a detailed survey of the proposed East and West Coast railway route via the Ahaura saddle. The Ahaura Valley line is the third of the alternative routes for a railway bi tween Canterbury and the West Coaat, the other two being by way of the Cannibal Gorge, and Arthur's Pass respectively. The survey of the Cannibal Gorge route is completed, and the maps and working sections have all been prepared. The survey of the Arthur's Pass is also on the point of completion, and the full details referring to the Ahaura Pass line will be finished in time to allow of the fullest data relating to the three lines being laid before the coming Parliament early in the session. The result of these combined surveys will settle once and for all the merits of the different routes, and from what we can leurn there is very very little doubt that the advantages will be shown greatly in favor of the Cannibal Gorge line. During Mr Menteath's absence in Wellington, the Reefton business of the f*rm of Jones and Menteath will be conducted by Mr North, who reached here on Wednesday last. A special meeting of shareholders in the Imperial Company was convened for Mon day last, for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion from the shareholders as to the advisability of letting the mine on tribute. The meeting was fairly attended and the subject was duly brought under discussion. It was stated the reef in the mine had already been proved to a considerable depth, and all that was now required was a drive about 120 ft. long, to enable the company to commence stoping out. A large amount had been sunk in the venture, and a further call of about one penny per share w«uld enable the shareholders to reap the reward of their enterprise and outlay. In thia view of the case, Borne of those present thought they, should not act precipitately. If the undertaking was likely to prove profitable the shareholders who had stuck to it deserved to gain the profit. This feeling was generally shared, and it was finally decided to adjourn the meeting until Saturday next, in order to enable shareholders to turn the matter over in their minds. The meeting then adjourned. Owing, it ia supposed, to undue vibration, through the extra height of the battery frames, one of the pinions as well as the spur wheel were fractured at the In ■ kerman battery on Wednesday last. The breakage only lays up 15 head of stampers, but as the cost of running these would be the same as keeping the 30 head going, the direotora have decided to discontinue crushing until duplicates arrive. These were ordered from Anderson and Son, Christchurch, by telegraph yesterday, and will reach here in about a fortnights time, when crushing will be resumed. Advantage will be taken of the stoppage to materially strengthen the framework of the battery, and so prevent a resurrence of the mishap. There is fully a ;uouaand tons of stone to grass, bo that ;he twelve mon employed in breaking lown will be knocked off until the battery itarta again. In the meantime a general cleaning up will take place on Saturday lext.

A report is current, but upon what foundation we know not, that an application ia now before the Wast Lanci Board, Nelson, for tho purchase of an extensive block of land at Mariiia, lying alone; tho projected route of the East nd West Oast Railway. We are not disposed to give much credence to the report, f;-oin Lhe fa t that fcho land for two miles on each bide of the proposed route has been already reserved from sale, an assurance to that effect having been obtained from the Government by Mr T. S. Weston, when M.H.K., for this district. It is possible however, that some such application may be lodged for land lying outside that limit, and it would perhaps be well for lhe County Council here to be on the alert. The moment ia opportune for referring to thia subject aa Mr Menteath will be in Wellington early next week, and be able to ascertain what truth there is in the report. It wouldcertainlybevery undesirable that any frosh rights should he created to land in that quarter just at present, and we are not disposed to think that the Nelson Board would for a moment listen to any such application.

Dr Grabham,' Inspector of Hospitals for the Colony, in his Annual Report, just published, refers in the following flattering terms to the management and efficiency of the Reefion Hospital :— "This hosuital 1 inspected on the sth November, finding it occupied by five in-putients. These were all proper hospital cases. The. largest number at any one titne has been ten. There are fourteen available beds. Outpatients can attend daily, but art few in number. There are at present, four on the list. Payments are fairly collected, but many of Lhose admitted are destitute at the tiaie. The expeiulicure is ;i.et. :«y subscriptions, entertainments, aiid th« Government subsidy. No appeal foi pecuniary assistance has been niaue to the County Council since January, 1882. The books are well kept, and were examined by me. The hospital m every part was found in excellent order. The wards looked particularly cheerful, having received a number of new pictures, which the Steward mounts on stretchers ami varnishes. Every patient expvesseo h,s gratitude to me for kind attention received from the staff. Outsiue the building I noticed that the ywJe.i was beautifully kept, aud that soui« ir.ij.Movement had been effected by levelling a portion of it. Two large additional rainwater tanks have been lixod ; ami I was pleased to find that the otiiuum cloaeus had been altered, in accordance witit my suggestions. They were perfectly clean and inoffensive, the soil beiog now collected in pans and buvied. The whole establishment shows sigus of UiOubtry and good management, and supplies ai>._imdoubted want.

Commenting upon the result of the late elections the Post hays :— ''Major A^lci.iBon haa lost no lesa than 15 seats. These are Auckland North, New Plymouth, VVanganui, Hutt, Buller, Inangahua, Cheviot, Avon, Ashburton, Christchu i-cli North, Heathcote, St. A) bans, HokiiiU, Dunedin West, and Waikouati, all of which were in the late Parliament represented by Ministerialists, lut which have now returned members belonging to one or other sections of the Opposition. Mataura, which was also formerly represented by a Ministerialist, has now renirned a " doubLful," who will probably incline towards the strongest 3ide of the House. On the other hand, although 15 members of the Opposition were beaten at the polls, the Opposition only lose tive seats in all. These are, Frauklin North, Rodney, Waipa, Greymouth, and Wallace. For Waipa no Opposition candidate stood, anil in all the other cases than those named, where Opposition members of the late House were rejected it was in favor of some oilier candidate. It ia remarkable that of the 15 who were refused reelection as members of the Legislature, 11 were Greyites. These were Messrs De Lautour, Harris, George, Sheehan, Iveas, Bracken, Fish, Pilliet, Feldwick, Reeves, and Dauieis. Four of these were bear by Ministerialists, and the others \>y Oppositionists owing no allegiance to Sir George Grey. The only seat Sir George Grey seems to have won is Auckland North, so that his strength in the new Parliament will be much less than it was in the late one.

Some interesting and instructive information ia contained in the report of the Crown Lands Department for the year ended 31st March last, which has just been printed. During that period an area of 306,414 acres of Crown lands has been disposed of on sale and settlement conditions. Although that area is 50.534 acres more than was disposed of in the previous twelve months, yet the revenue is considerably lesa than for that period* This is due to a much greater propoi riuu of the land being taken up on the system of deferred payments than in any former year, and also to the introduction of the perpetual lease sy&'em. The total receipts amounted to £'394.9i!5. The land* sold on deferred payments £85,305 ; and the pastoral leases amounted to £125.694. In regard to the deferred payments system the report dwells on its success' as a means of settling the land. The greatest trouble in its administration ia to obtain prompt payment of instalments at the appointed times. On the 31st March last, of the 3960 selectors then holding land on deferred payments 991 were in arrears a sum of £23,898, being an average of £24 each, or about nine months behind the time of due payment. This, however, is not regarded as very serious. With reference to the perpetual leasing system, which has been on its trial in the two land districts of Ptago and West Coart (North Island), the report remarks that its success in attracting the attention of aettlerg in both has been conspicuous. Up to June 16th last a total number of 159 selections, covering 85,032 acres, had

been made. As all this except a portion on the West Coast of the North Island has been taken up in the proclaimed gold fields of Otago, where there is no right of purchase, it would appear says the I report (as though the permanency and security of the leasehold tenure with valuation for improvements is a sutficient inducement for settlers to come under the system without the option of purchase. Reference is made to the work of 4 r Federli in connection with the establishment of sub-tropical industries, concerning which the report remarks. "It is only a question of time, and that not very long, until silk, olive oil, wine, and such like products will be established extensively in the colony, for the country and climate are suitable, and there is a teeming population coming forward, many of whom will lead a drifting aimless life unless there is a greater variety of industries w'lich they can follow than at present." A rather curious point ha 3 arisen here says the Post, in connection with the elections. The Railway Department was asked to run a special train to tho WaiI rarapa for the convenience of the electors residing in town who were desirous of going to recqrd4Aie*tir. votes in that district. The ordinary sum was tendered to tlie authorities, but the latter refused to run a special train on any terms. The Posi thereupon attacked the Government, whom it accused of having taken this course, believing that the train was intended for the benefit of Mr Bunny, who was opposing Mr Buchanan, the Government candidate for Wai rarapa South. The Times, on the other hand, states that similar applications in all parts of the colony have been refused for the simple reason that any railway official granting a special train for the conveyance of voters would render himself liable under clauses 13 and 17 of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, ]881, to conviction for an illegal practice, and a consequent penalty not exceding £100 and disqualification for three years. A careful and learned observer tells a significant story. It is of four hungry flies and their fate. Desiring to satisfy their craving, one of them alighted on a Eausage, a second on a bag of flour, and a third on a drop of nriJk. A f ter a slight repast they all fejl ,dead. The sausage was colored with aniline, the flour mixed with plaster of Paris, and the milk contained chalk. The fourth fly, in despair at the sad end of her companions, resolved to commit suicide. With this object, she flew upon one of those prepared papers that you damp with water, and pumped vigorously at it for some minutes. But it was of no avail. The " poisoned paper" itself was adulterated ! We know- Hop '"BiEters t Tire aijbve <vnrl beyond all as a nutritious touic and curative. Read thoroughly the