The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1885.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1521, 13 March 1885, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1885.

The Rev. Mr Seaborn's lecture last night was well attended, and was much ap[ reciated, but owing to the lateness of the hour when it concluded our report is held over.

Although pacific negotiations are still proceeding between England and Russia for a settlement of the Afghan difficulty it seems more with the object of gaining time for war-like preparations, than with any prospect or hope of a friendly adjustment. In the meantime the army and navy is being placed on a war footing, and the situation is hourly becoming more critical. For the time-being the Egyptian question has been completely dwarfed, and the immediate recall of Lord Wolsely and abandonment of the Soudan will in all probability be the next step announced, and will be about the best release that can be hoped for out of that unfortunate difficulty. The Colonial contingent burlesque has been effectually played •>ut, and the Australian Colonies have now more serious concerns in the necessity of seeing to their lecal defence.

There was a capital attendance at the Oddfellow's Hall on Wednesday evening last at Protessor Black's lecture in aid of the Building Fund of Knox Church. The subjects treated were " Oxygen, Chlorine, Sulphur and Phosphorus." The different subjects were treated in an exhaustive yet pleasing way and the experiments in each department were very successful. At the close of the lecture the Rev. Mr Gow moved a hearty vote of thanks to Professor Black, which was carried with acclamation. In acknowledging the compliment Professor Black took occasion to say that to-morrow morninghe would leave for Boatman's, proceeding thence to Westport. j He wished to tender his public thanks to the different mine managers, miners and j others in the district who had co-operated so enthusiastically with him during his stay in Reefton. His visit had 'been a very pleaoant one, and if anything could further adi to the satisfaction he felt at his mission it would be to find that some beneficial and lasting result had been conferred npon the mining. (Applause.) The proceedings then closed. Professor Black left for Boatman's yesterday morning and delivered his first lecture to a crowded audience there last night. We understand that several of the most enthusiastic of Professor Black's Reefton students proceeded with him to Boatman's, for the purpose of attending his classes there, and so profiting as largely as possible by his lectures and instructions.

We call our readers attention to the fact that we have as;ain received names and addresses of the principal winners in "Robin Hwoda " last programme on the Dunedin Cup. We are also glad to notice that the Press was well represented at the Drawing »s usual. The popularity of "Robin Hood" cannot be better n«cifled than by the fact that the abwve profrramtnc closed with 7125 shares, being 5125 in excess of what was sold on Bame event in 1884.

On Wednesday last Professor Black with a number of mining and battery managers spent the day in experimenting in the " curing "of copper plates. The great difficulty invariably encountered in treating new copper plates for batteries is the oxidation of the surface after the silver haa been applied, a refractory green coating BPttling upon the mercury and preventint; amalgamation. A number of squares of new copperplate were procured and one of these having been " cured " by the method ordinarily adopted in the Inangahna, and allowed to stand, the green coating soon showed itself. Professor Black examined the plate and was able at once to explain the discoloration, which was the result of well-known chemical action. Experiments were then undertaken with a view of getting rid of the difficulty, with the most successful results. We saw one of the silvered plates which had been standing for fourteen hours and upon which the mercury was as bright as when first applied. Several mining experts present pronounced the process a complete success and ; were loud in their congratulations. The work of properly " curing " plates at our batteries has hitherto been a long and tedious one, and all kinda of expedients have been resorted to to keep a bright surface upon the plates, but without effect. The process as shown by Professor Black is extremly simple, the use of acids being almost entirely dispensed with As the matter is one of great importance we will explain the process fully in a future issue.

An application was lodged yesterday by Mr P.. G. Hankin for the cancellation of the lease of the Happy Valley Gold Mining Company, M«rrijigs, The ground is situate about a mile from the Rainy Creek Company's battery, and it was at one time proposed to comtect the mine and battery by means of a wire tramway, but the collapse of the " spurt " put an end to the proposal. There is a large reef exposed on the lease, which has been bared for a considerable distance and is said to show good gold. We understand that the lease rent has been paid by the Company.

The Rev. Mr Seaborn read to the State School children on "Wednesday last. He also delivered several humorous and instructive recitations, concluding with an impressive address to the youngsters.

The mine manager of the Golden Treasure Company reports having effected repairs to the battery, and water being now abundant crushing will be resumed to-day or to-morrow. He further reports that the stone in the drive looks better, the country carrying numerous quartz leaders.

The next English and European direct mail per s.s. Doric will close at the local office on Tuesday, the 17th day of March, at 6 si.m., due in London on or about 4th May. Letters to be specially marked per s.s. Doric.

The Reefton City Band under the able band mastership of Mr J. Richards, is making marked progress, and now numbers some really efficient performers.

A former resident of Reefton, now in Westport, writes to disco irage men from proceeding thence. He Bays the town is full of men seeking employment, and that the work to be done will not engage half the men now daily flocking in in anticipation of the harbor works expenditure there. Mr Thompson, Inspector of the National Bank of New Zealand, who is completing the annual inspection cf the diffarent agencies and branches of the corporation on the West Coast, is now in Reefton and proceeds overland to Nelson in the course of a day or two.

We publish in another column the closing portion of the evidence given in the Homeward Bound cancellation case.

It is said that a number of witnesses who could not be induced to show up at the recent petition inquiry and who were said to have gone to Silverton, haves uddenly turned up, three of them having been in town yesterday. At the next hearing of the case it will no doubt be ascertained where they have been " residing " during the last fortnight or three weeks.

It is notified that Messrs Gallagher Bros, will continue their salvage sale of drapery and boots, in the Oddfellow's Hall, on to-day (Friday) and *o-inorrow.

The following amongst other business was dealt with at the last meeting of the Nelson Boar'l of Education: — An appli cation for LlO5 was received from ths Capleston Committee for several improvements, including L 5 for window blinds. — Mr Tarrant thought that window blinds should be provided out of the Committee funds. - Mr Shephard considered it a wrong principle to raise a loan in the London market for window blinds, and when they were worn out to borrow more for new ones.— lt was pointed out that the school was a new one, and could scarcely be considered complete without the blinds. — The sum of L 5 was voted. A letter was received from the Reefton Committee asking that, as the Board had not erected a house, a grant of L 25 be made to the master in lieu thereof. — Mr Shephard said he would give notice of motion in favor of this application at the next meeting. An application from the Waimea West Comminittee for LlO for closets was acceeded to. A letter from the Capleston Committee asking for LSO fir fencing and water supply. — Postponed until next meeting for the opinion of the Inspector. The report of the Board of Examiners was read as follows :— .N in teen applications for the mastership of the Motueka Boys' School were considered. The following candidates were nominated as being the most eligible, their names being given in alphabetical order : H. J. Hill, H. Ladley, P. Ligertwood, T. G. Malcolm. — Eleven applications for the mastership of Capleston school were considered. The following candidates were thought eligible, the names being given in alphabetical order : T. Hopkins, Kenneth Mackay, H. L. Twistleton. —Twelve applications for the mastership of the Hanip-den-street school were considered. The following candidates were recommended as being eligible, their na.nes being given in alphabetical order : W. H. Bryant, R. Chattock, T. A. Flood, F. V. Knapp, J. S. Veyßey.

The Wellington correspondent of the Nelson Mail m\y& : — Referring to a sort of promise made by Sir Julius Yogel in his Auckland speech I may say that the Cabinet is averse to the proposal for the convening of the varicus County Chairmen of the colony to consider the much vexed question of local Government. The feeling that such a step would seem to indicate the fear ©f the Government to deal with the question and to shift the responsibility to the shoulders of County Chairmen is shared by several Ministers, who also urge that the members of the Government, most of whom had years of political experience, should be as well able to deal with the question as ephemeral administrators of the county system. It is further admitted that the whole question is one of pounds, shillings, and pence, an I it is urged therefore more fitting to be dealt with Parliament. Of course in the event of a convention being held merely for the purpose of discussing the question, it is urged that no practical good result could follow. In truth the one result from such discussion could only end in confusion worse confounded. I have reason to believe, therefore, that the proposed convention will end in smoke, and that the Government will get their fcheme for local Government into shape, draft a Bill, and submit their proposals to the House at as early a date as possible, and if necessary appeal to the country on these proposals. j

' There seems nothing at present to indicate that Parliament will be summoned for despatch of business either earlier or later than the usual time, about the beginning of June. At the change of life nothing equals Hop Bitters to allay all troublua incident thereto. See.