Wellington Independent MONDAY, 8th DECEMBER.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3972, 8 December 1873, Page 2

Wellington Independent MONDAY, Bth DECEMBER.

The City Council will have to decide to-day upon the appointment of the future Inspector of Nuisances. Tbe field of selection is extensive, and it the choice be characterised by ordinary prudence the Inspector should be a man eminently qualified to discharge the duties pertuining to his office. He will have to cleanse a perfect Augean stable ; to perform his duties without fear, favor, or affection. He should immediately make a systematic inspection of all the premises within the area cubject to his surveillance, carefully noting the condition i»f each, administering cautions, enforcing the law against flagrant offenders against the public health, and periodically report, ing the results of his labors to the Council. A mere perfunctory performance of his duties will not suffice. There are special circumstances now existing that necessitate a thorough overhaul of tbe sanitary condition of the city. In addition to the natural increase in our population, it is receiving large accessions from abroad ; the city is rapidly filling up; the heat of midsummer is approaching, and there is practically no existing system of sewage. The comparative immunity from epidemic diseases hitherto enjoyed by Wellington, offers no security for the future. An unusually hot summer, the scarcity of wholesome water, and the predisposing causes above mentioned, may set all previous calculations at defiance, and produce an amount of disease against which, with our present appliances, we should be practically powerless. There seems to be a fatal characteristic common to all municipal bodies. The maintenance of an efficient sewage system is a problem they are always struggling to solve. In many cases there are special engineering difficulties to be overcome ; in the majority, it is an anxious struggle to make both ends meet. The energies of the municipalities are cramped by the necessities constantly cropping up, the funds are frittered away to provide for the exigencies of the hour ; the improvements are a mere succession of patches and makeshifts and temporary expedients, many of which defeat the object in view ; localities are favored in proportion to the amount ef pressure they can bring to bear upon the Council ; there is an absence of any permanent or systematic plan of operation. som« day the Municipal authorities are rudoly disturbed from their repose by the sudden outbreak of a wide-spread epidemic. Then, without means, applifjnces, or scientific data, they are called upon to face a gigantic difficulty; to retrieve the errors -if the long past by replacing makeshifts with permanent works, and to make provision over a large area where none has ever existed. The epidemic pursues its fatal course comparatively unchecked, and is terminated only by climatic and natural influences. This is a lesson constantly repeating itself, and as frequently unheeded. Happily, in the case of Wellington, the engineering difficuliies will be slight so soon as the proposed reclamation is completed ; but the other obstucle, pre» sent lack of means, exists in full force. It is not, however, sufficient to justify the present condition of the city, it does noc justify ihe patching system of municipal admin'mtratiou to which we

have alluded. We have had the benefit of competitive essays, but we believe we are correct in stating that the City Council is yet unprovided with any really practical scientific data as to a sewage system for the city, a matter of daily increasing importance. It is useless for the Council to blink this question ; every day's delay increases the ultimate difficulty and expense. In the matter of gas and water supply great obstacles have already been surmounted, but the one which will tax the resources and skill of the city authorities to the utmost is still to be overcome. Let the City Council resolutely tackle it, and the difficulties will melt away. There is a culpable want of foresight about the foundation of nearly all colonial cities. The future is sacrificed to selfish cupidity. No liberal endowments are set aside to provide for future requirements, but the land is rushed into the market for the sake of an immediate revenue. Blocks reserved as municipal endowments would rapidly increase in value, and in course of time yield an annual revenue sufficient for all ordinary requirements. The splendid municipal incomes of American cities are an example of this, and one of the principal causes of their rapid growth.

A rkcentlt published report furnished by Dr Hector, contains some interesting information on the subject of the coal fields of Now Zealand. After referring to the coal discoveries at Wangaroa. Wangarei, and Raglan, and the operations of the coal companies at Kawa Kawa and Waikato, he says : — " Samples of brown coal from several localities in the Wanganui district, and also from Rangitikei, have been received, which, though of inferior quality, yet prove the existence of the brown coal forma tion beneath the marine tertiary series" He then proceeds to describe the operations in the Collingwood coal mine, where the tunnel is being extended for the purpose of exploring the coal measures, the expense, which is estimated at £1500, being defrayed conjointly by the General Government, the Provincial Government of Nelson, and the Collingwood Coal Company. The required length of the tunnel is estimated at about 700 feet, 890 of which have been completed, and the main seam is expected to be cut by the end ol the year. Speaking of Mount Rochfort, Dr Hector says : — The buiq of £300 was authorised for the further exploration of this district, and the following work performed : — The coal scum at the Ngakawau River has been traced on to the high level plateau, and outcrops found on various points, so as to indicate its extension over a very large area ; one block, containing at least 7,000,000 tons, being proved by the ratural sections observed in the gullies. The main Beam, which has a greatest thickness of 26ft, ib \ trough -shaped deposit, extending in a north and south direction for many mile? with a lateral extent of about one mile and a-lialf, but it thins towards the margin to 3ft This trough of coal is broken by transverse faults, which reduce it from an average alti lude of 2000 ft on the plateau to the sea level at Ngakawau mine. As the coal is all above the water level, a very large proportion of it oan. be profitably extracted. The discovery of coal in the bed of the Waimangaroa stream, near the level of the sea, raised an expectation that the seam described in a former report as occurring on the seaward face of Mount Rochfort, might be found under circumstances favorable for its being worked. A drive put into the spur for 130 ft, with the view of outting the seam, has not, however, resulted in the discovery of valuable coal ; but I recommend that futther explorations should be made, either by continuing the drive already commenced or by excavating in a fresh locality. Dr. Elector contradicts the rumour that the available extent of coal at the Brunner mine has diminished, and he believes that by the time the railway to the mine is completed, a sufficient supply of coal will be available to keep it fully employed. He does not report favorably of the coal discoveries in the Kanieri district, nor of the indications at Preservation Inl*»t. He recommends further explorations in the Seaward Bush, prior to the construction of a line of railway to connect Nightcap Hill (where a seam ten feet thick has been discovered in a very accessible position) with the Bluff and Wakatipu line at Winton. He reports unfavor ably of "Waikava coal, which occurs only in thin seams, and as masses of driftwood imbedded in coarse sandstone. He thinks the prejudice against the Clutha, Green Island, and Shag Valley coal will disappear so soon as the price of these coals is reduced, and the supply becomes steady, consequent upon the extension of the railway system Of the brown coal at Malvern Hills he reports favorably, but be thinks the vulue of the coal at Ben More does not warrant the proposed extension of the railway to that place. In the summary to the report, Dr. Hector makes some recommendations for the further exploration and development of certain coal measures. He considers that the supply of coal adapted for marine steamers in the colony has narrowed itself down to the coalfields at Collingwood, Mount Rochfort, and the Grey, and that it is desirable that the eflbits to supply the market from our own coalfields should bo concentrated on those districts. He recommends that the Government should assist in the development of the coalfields situated north and south of the Bay of Islands, as being suited for working stationary engines at the Thames. He is of opinion that the remaining coalfields of the colony which yield only brown coal, ore sure to be developed whenever they are easy of access, and there is a local demand, and he recommends that future assistance should be given towards th© development of such deposits only in the form of subsidies to local efforts. He, however, thinks it advisable that carefully conducted experiments should be instituted with the view of ascertaining if the abundantly distributed brown coal can be adapted by any nrtificinl process for the use of locomotive enginea. After describing the causes which have produced the principal varieties of brown coal found in New Zealand, Dr Hector concludes

bis valuable and interesting report by recommending the mode in which a sum of £3850 out of the grant already voted should be expended in the exploration and development of coalfields during the year. In addition to the companies already carrying on operations at Collingwood, Kawa Kawa, Waikati, Wangarei, Malvern Hills, Preservation Inlet, and elsewhere in Otago, and the powerful Albion Coal Company, formed to work the Maori seam at Ngakawau, there are also numerous other applications for leases on the same coalfield, most of which will no doubt be taken up in course of time. At the Grey the Grey mouth Coal Company is energetically working the seam on tbe south side of the river, and a powerful Victorian firm has obtained a lease of tbe celebrated Brunner mine on ihe north side. These various efforts to develop the coal resources of the colony only require the haarty support and co operation of the colonists in order at no distant date to render New Zealand practicajly independent of supplies from abroad.

A notice of some consequence to holders of volunteer scrip has been issued by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for this province. The operation of the various Volunteer Land Acts which have from time to time been in force has created a very great amount of dissatisfaction not only amongst the holders of scrip but amongst Provincial Governments also, who complain that large tracts of land which ought to have returned a considerable revenue have been swallowed up to supply these scrip claims. By the Act of last session of the General Assembly a dtfinite understanding was come to," by which holders of scrip are permitted to exercise their privilege for a period of twelve months from the 2nd October, 1873, after which date all rights are barred. Volunteers whose services have already been recognised by land grants should make speedy selection. A General Government Gazette issued on Friday, consists wholly of Major Gordon's report upon the last colonial prize firing at Nelson, which is accompanied by a very ably prepared set of tables, showing results and comparisons with previous year's firing. Whatever interest might have attached to the report has been completely obliterated by the length of time which has elapsed between the meeting and the publication of the report. As an official record it may prove very useful, but to go the length of printing twenty-one pages of expensive tabular matter "for general information" eight months after the report was forwarded to the Defence Office, is an absurdity for which somebody ought to be called to account. Probably the " searching investigation" which was promised into the management of the printing office might lead to an alteration in this snail-pace method of doing things. The mortal remains of the late William Gray, Post Office Secretary and Inspector, were yesterday conveyed to their final resting place m the public cemetery. The funeral cortege set out from the late residence of the deceased in the Adelaide Road, at half-past 2 o'clock, and the number and respectability of the funeral procession evinced the high estimation in which the deceased was held by all classes of the community. The remains were contained in a handsome iron casket, beautifully t ornamented with immortelles, there being a wreath at the head, and at the foot a design in the form of an anchor, .symbolic of Hope. The burial service was impressively read by the Rev Mr Ogg. The case Somerville v Stewart, a •laim of £45, the value of a mare which was killed while in the charge of the defendant, was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday. It will \ be in the recollection of our readers that a few weeks ago Mr Stewart (of Greenfield and Stewart) when driving past the Princess Hotel, on his way into town from the Hutt, came into collision with a butcher's cart, the shaft of which penetrated his horse's chest, and killed it. Negotiations as to recompense for the loss of the animal took place between Mr Somerville and the defendant, but they were not of a very definite or satisfactory character, and the sequel was the action heard on Saturday. There were, of course, contradictory statements as to whether the defendant was driving on the right side of the road or not, but Mr Buckley, who defended the action, argued that the plaintiff would be equally blameable for the accident even if negligence were proved, as he had not provided the defendant with lamps, which he was bound to do according to the city bye-laws. Mr Ollivier, for the plaintiff, held that the negligence of the defendant having been abundantly testified to and proved, there was only one course open to his Worship, which was to pronounce a verdict for his client. His Worship, however, considered the point as to the lamps a salient objection, and deferred judgment. The evidence in the case w.i» very voluminous, but the points involved wore of the simplest possible character. The Hon Dr Pollen has telegraphed to the Superintendent of Otago to the effect that all the necessary steps are being taken preliminary to bringing the Licensing Act of 1873 into operation, bo that licenses may be issued in accordance with I the provisions contained in the 13th section and subsequent clauses, for the year commencing on July Ist, 1874. In the meantime, any license under a Provincial Act that may expire before the 30fch June, 1873, may be renewed under the local Ordinances ' Such renewals, however, will only be made on the understanding that the licensees must, at the proper time, in March next, take the necessary steps to obtain licenses under the new Act. Upon this understanding, it is provided that a proportionate deduction from the fee for the now license will be made for the unexpired term of any license issued under a provincial Ordinance in existing circumstances. The following letter from Wharepa, Waitangi, Chatham Islands, appears in the last number of the " Waka Maori" : — Friend, — Greeting : Will you forward this letter to the editor of "Te Waka Maori" that my pakehaand Maori friends may know that the people of this place, pakehas, Maoris, and Maorioris, have raised a subscription to pay for the carriage of the mail hither, that the vessel which conveys it may come regularly once every three months — that is the arrangement — viz., four times a year. The amount subscribed is £80. The Government gave some money to increase the sum collected. — From your friend, W. Wharepa. To Colonel St John. Great disappointment and indignation are felt at Palmerston, in consequence of the stoppage of public works. The member for the district has come in for no Binall amount of obloquy.

The effect of the recent match wifch the ' Auckland cricketers produced an un- j usually numerous gathering of the frater : nity at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon. A match in which the Civil Service were matched against the Town was contemplated, but this having fallen through from some unforseen contingency a scratch match was got up amongst those on the ground. The play was neither brilliant nor faultless, the players taking advantage of the absence of a scrutinising public to diverge occasionally from the strict rules of cricket. Some very good execution was done with the bat, one player making 49 for his side. The employees in the Government Printing Office played the annual match, Married v Single, on Saturday afternoon, which resulted in the " heavy fathers" winning easily. We published a few days since some information respecting a new system of street watering recently patented in London. We learn that Mr Marchant, the City Surveyor, has since proposed to the City Council to make an experiment on a small scale as to the working of the new plan. He proposes to limit it to about a chain in one of the main streets, and he estimates the cost at a small sum. At the meeting of the Education Board, held on Saturday, Mr Robert Lee, head master of the Bishop's School, Nelson, was appointed Inspector of Schools for this province. There were in all 25 applicants, and so many of them were really well qualified for the office that the members of the Board experienced very considerable difficulty in making a selection. On Wednesday the Board will meet to fix a rate for the year 1873-4. It is gratifying to learn that up to Saturday evening over 1000 shares in the new Sugar Refining Company had been taken up, and no great difficulty is anticipated in placing the remainder. Mr Rhodes set a worthy example in so liberally supporting the new project, by taking 250 shares, and it is gratifying to see one of Wellington's oldest residents evincing so much confidence in its resources and interest in its future welfare. The profitable nature of beetroot culture is found in the fact that in France as much as 35,0001bs have been produced to the acre, producing 7 to 8 per cent of sugar, or 21bs of sugar to every lb of wheat. In Massachusetts an acre has yielded 40 tons, or 90,0001bs to the acre, i.e., 31bs of sugar to lib of wheat. ' On the Continent an engine of 10-horse power will rasp 15 tons of beet per day, the expense for 50,0001bs of sugar being under £15. The pumice, about 20 per cent of the whole weight, is excellent food for cattle. The sugars are of the most delicate quality. The Makara district has been thrown into a state of gloom by the occurrence of a fatal accident which happened on Friday. On the evening of that day a farmer named John M'Manaway, left the Surprise Hotel on horseback between the hours of seven and eight o'clock to proceed to his home at North Makara, but he had not been gons more than half-an-hour when he was picked up on the road in a state of insensibility by a relation named Thomas M'Manaway, who took him back to the hotel and remained with him all night. Drs Grace and Driver attended the unfortunate man on Saturday morning, but up to the hour of his death, at three o'clock in the afternoon, he did not recover consciousness. An inquest will be held upon the body to-day at the Surprise Hotel. Lately a man caught a fish in the Derwent, near Hobart Town, which is supposed to hare been a real English salmon. It measured two feet seven inches in length, and weighed when cleaned eight pounds. When cooked the flesh was found to be of a rich pink color. The man who caught the fish cooked and ate it, and so is not in a position to claim a reward of £30, which is offered for tije first English salmon caught in the waters of the . Derwent. This still leaves the great salmon question in doubt. The "Age" says: — We understand that the "Town and Country" (a weekly journal) has passed into the hands of a f reish proprietary, Messrs Cameron, Tickle and Co having purchased the copyright and plant of the paper. Several of the country papers are likely to be involved in lawsuits over this journal, as actions at law have been commenced against the "Ballarat Star," " Bendigo Advertiser," and. "M. A. Mail," on account of the paragraphs that have appeared in these journals respecting the " Town and Country." Io will be rather a novelty to see one newspaper proprietary bringing actions against others. The following conversation is said to have taken place on the Dunedin cricket ground : — lst Scot : W hat game are they playin', Sandy ? 2nd Scot : Cricket, ye ken. Ist Scot : What are they trying to do ? 2nd Scot : Ye see those three straight pieces of wood stuck in the ground, and the little piece on the top ? They want to knock off the little piece with the ball. lßt Scot : Well, they ar» fools to go to bo much trouble. The death of a centenarian, a Maori chief, is noted by a Christchurch paper : — Petara Kohutuani, the oldest Maori chief of the Raupaki natives, is dead. His age is stated to be 120 years ; but as twelvo moons are calculated by the natives as one year, his age (if correctly stated) is 108 years. They have had a rose and pink show at Christchurch. The "Press" says, "the season throughout has been one' very I favourable to the growth of roses, and those shown were greatly in advance, in point of merit, of those of last year. One particularly noticeable feature — and one too which is worthy commendation — was that the exhibits in the amateur classes were unexceptionably good, and ran the gardeners very close, alike in point of merit and number of exhibits. Indeed, in some of the classes, the roses exhibited showed more color, and some better blooms, than those exhibited in the gardeners' classes. The pinks exhibited, though not so numerous as might have been anticipated, yet showed that the cultivation of this favorite flower has not been neglected in Canterbury, the whole of the exhibits being remarkable for excellence of color and excellence of build." A case affecting a large class of persons who lodge money in banks on what is called a deposit receipt, was tried a few daya ago in Melbourne before Mr Justice Fellows and a Jury. The plaintiff, a Mrs Dunlop, deposited a sum of money in the Chiltern branch of the London Chartered Bank, for which she obtained a receipt. The document was either lost or must have been stolen. The Bank, when applied to for the money, declined to pay it unions they were secured against any future claim on. Foot of the deposit. As the plaintiff found Boiue little difficulty in procuring the sureties required by the bank, and as there was no other way of recovering the money, the present procoeriings were instituted. The jury found for the plaintiff, damages £314, being the sum due and interest.

We direct the attention of investors to Mr Wallace's land sales, one of which takes place to-day at his sale room ; the other takes place to-morrow, at the Hutt, as advertised. The immigrants who recently arrived at Invercargill were all engaged the next day. The Immigration Officer reports that he could have found employment for 150 more. The "Age," in a recent issue, says that the high price of English iron is causing foundry masters to turn their attention to the deposits of iron which are known to exist in Australia and New Zealand. -. The second number of the New Zealand Jurist, edited by Mr G. D. Branson, Bar-rister-at-law, has been issued, and in an editorial note the members of the legal profession are informed that in future the Jurist will be regularly published about the 15th of each month. A correspondent has forwarded to us an interesting account from the " Scotsman" of a new street watering van employed in the City of Edinburgh, but as the civic authorities have abandoned the water caits for the hydrant system, which is admittedly the superior plan of the two, the publication of the description of the Edinburgh water van would be objectless. The boatmen at the two Landing Services at Timaru recently struck for £15 per month. The Landing Service proprietors were firm in refusing to concede the demands of their men, and ultimately several of them agreed to resume work at their former wages, £12 per month. The ringleaders of the strike were permanently discharged, without the option of resum- ! ing work. ' The Palmerston correspondent of the " Wanganui Chronicle" says that Flowers, who was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Wellington, for an indecent assault on a little child seven years old, was prosecuted four. years ago for a similar offence upon a married woman in Marton, for which he received thireeen months' imprisonment. Our last Melbourne telegrams contained an item in reference to Mr L. L. Smith, who had received a bribe for advancing the interests of a contractor. The "Argus" gives the following version of the matter : — The plaintiff, B. Armitage, had been a Government contractor as far back as 1861 or 1862. He had, or imagined he had, an unsatisfied claim against the Government, and in 1869 he fell in with the defendant, who undertook to refer that claim to Mr C. E. Jones, the then Commissioner of Roads. Before exercising his media- ' toiial functions on behalf of Armitage, the sporting licentiate required his client \ to sign a power of attorney authorising him to receive any money which might be awarded to plaintiff, and also a receipt for £500. Nothing was done until 1872, when the Commissioner of Roads — in this instance, singular to say, Mr L. L. Smith's staunch friend and political ally, Mr Longmore— appointed a board of inquiry. The gentlemen thus constituted were of opinion, after investigating Armitaefe's claim, that he was legally entitled to £1460 ; and, in accordance with their recommendation, that sum was placed upon the estimates, and voted by the Assembly. No sooner was the amount of the award available at the Treasury than the defendant proceeded to lodge his power of attorney there, and as the plaintiff saw no possibility of drawing any of the amount without complying with defendant's terms, he paid the sum of £500, and it was to recover it that this action > was brought. In his defence, Mr L. L. Smith swore that plaintiff owed him various sums of money, representing loans and bets, to the amount of £320, and that I it was agreed between them that Armitage should acknowledge his indebtedness to the extent of £500, to cover interest and contingencies, but all the documentary evidence of these transactions had' been destroyed, and the solicitor who drew up the power of attorney explained a delay which had taken place in its completion by the fact of his being compelled "to retire in the confidence of the sheriff." As was quite natural under the circumstances, the jury paid no attention to the defendant's statements, and delivered a verdict which was an endorsement of the declaration of the Acting-Chief Justice, that " the agreement deposed to by plaintiff was a most corrupt bargain, a most vicious transaction, not only on the part of the one who proposed it, but on that of the other party who accepted it." A company is in course of formation in Melbourne, under the title of the Australian Mercantile Mutual Association, for the purpose of "administering, managing, and winding up the estates of 1 insolvents, debtors, deceased persons, and ! others." It is also intended to create a fund for the institution and prosecution of inquiries or proceedings in all cases where it may seem' desirable to do so. It is said, and probably with a great deal of truth, that the present method of managing these affairs is not satisfactory ; that estates which fall into the hands of those who make it their business to look after such matters are not worked with that single eye to the benefit of the suffering creditor as that victim to misplaced confidence has a right to demand and expect. Rumors have from time to j time been current amongst the mercantile community, to the effect that such and such insolvency cases have been worked more with a view to secure the largest costs to the agents than to realise the best possible result for those interested. The body of a Chinaman who died recently at Dunedin from opium-eating, was kept for seven days in accordance with the Chinese superstition that their dead return to life after that time. A Chinaman one evening rushed into the office of the Sub-Inspector of police with the tidings that his countryman had come back to life. The Sub-Inspector accompanied him to the establishment of Sun War On, where he viewed the body. The head, which was wrapped in a wet towel, and rested on the edge of a small tub of cold water, in which an end of the towel hung, and over his stomach was another wet cloth. Several Chinese standing round the bed assured the SubInspector that their comrade lived ; but the Sub-Inspector, though confident that such was not the case, did not think it worth while to dispute the correctness of their statement. The Lyell correspondent of the "Nelson Examiner" says : — lf gold is the root of all, evil, then the Lyell must be everything but a desirable place of residence. At present there is more gold in the Lyell than there has ever been known before at any one time. The Break o'Day obtained no less than 6ozs to the ton by sluicing roughly the broken stone before passing it through the mill, and after the stone had been operated upon a quantity of about 100 tons has as nearly as can be ascertained given a further return of over sozs per ton ; making in all for the 100 tons an average of at least Bozs to the ton. The Marina Company has put through about seventy or eighty tons of Btone, with an average of over 4ozs to the ton.

Strange doings are threatened in the Church of England, Tasmania. The "Mercury" says it i^i rumored that fcha Bishop of Tasmania is to be Dean of th« Cathedral of St David's. The story is, that the Synod having: declined to sano- , : tion . the , position, the . Bishop desired to " take up of being head of the Chapter, and having assigned the Dean the statnt of head of the Chapter, the ßishop-has cvji' the precedent of some ancient example in Wales appointed himself Dean, arid thus secured for himself the coveted power. , TJie Wanganui people were much disappointed with Harris' performance at the Aramoho sports. The first race itt the handicap was won by S.; Collins by » foot, and Harris sprained his thigh in th« second event, which was also won by S. Collins. The ''Chronicle" expresses itself in a dubious manner about the "sprain," and seems to regard the affair as a " sell." The " Pall Mall Gazette" points out that the student of Spanish politics finds himself in a. maze of difficulty by duplicate - names of Spauish characters. - For instance, there are two Sahnerons, Francisco and Nicholas ; two Hidalgos, the General and the Senor ;. two Orenses, the Democratic father and the Conservative son ; two Charvajals, the Finance Minister and the demagogue of Malaga ; two Gonzales, both in the same Cabinet ; and two Don Alphonsos, the brother of Don Carlos and the son of Queen Isabella. The newly-elected Provincial '* Council of Taranaki consists .of Messrs John; Andrews, Grey and Bell ; Harry Albert Atkinson, Grey and Bell ; William Mum" ford Burton, Town ; David Callaghan. Town ' John Baxter Connett, Grey and Bell ; William Morgan Crompton, Oinata ; Peter Elliot, Grey and Bell; FrancisJoseph Mace, Omata ; Felix M'Guire^. Pafcea ; Henry Stephen Peacock, Patea ; James Rattenbury, Grey and Bell j Arthur Standish, Town ; William Neilaon Syme, Omata ; James Thomas Upjohn, Grey and Bell ; and Charles Douglas Whitcpmbe, Town. ' ■'- ■ ■'■''". Speaking of the exhibits of New Zealand phormium at the London International Exhibition, the "Agricultural Gazette" says :— -The only artjcle exhibited is New Zealand flax (phormium tenax) in its various stages of manufacture, from the raw fibre up to tabieoluths and other first-class manufactures.' l' This is an interesting exhibit (by C. Thome, 16 Mark Lane), a complete success," and ft perfect relief to those who have-advocated the use of the fibre, but who have been opposed by ninety and nine prejudices on all sides. It has never been denied, that the fibre of the phormium tenax could be used. The objection raised in England, Ireland, and Scotland was that it could not be manufactured with profit,. but Mr Thome's exhibits prove beyond controversy that Manchester, Balfast, and , Dundee must give in to the march of progress. Improvements leave past" difficulties in the back-ground ; ■■ and- the practical question now is, whether it will be more profitable to use the bbre of phormium tenax alone, or to 'mix it with, other fibre, and so on ?— a question which experience will soon solve. I His Honor Mr Justice Barry, of the Victorian Bench, has sentenced a man to twelve months' imprisonment for attempting to cut his throat while in a state of* delirium tremens. The man asked to be let off and promised to take the pledge, but his Honor said it was shameful that . the country should have to support parsons who drank themselves into a stafc* ' of beastly insanity. He attached not thi slightest importance to the promise of taking the pledge made by the prisoner, and he therefore sentenced him to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor^ regretting that he could not'ordijjac Ma^ to be- allowed only bread and water &ura»£/ . his detention. , v "^f^ A young country has found, as have many old oneß, that a standing army if not always a source of protection to the" throne. The Melbourne "Age" says: — Eight military mutineers have managed to gain a complete triumph over tho Hawaiian Government. The eight men, had been guilty of gross insubordination on the 7th September, 1873, and had obtained possession of the fieldpieces, which they held in the court of the barracks. The Cabinet found .that' the military law was invalid, and knew not what -to do with the men. The King, as cotnmander-in-chief, issued an order calling upon th* soldiers to return to their duty. , Thi* was disregarded, and he then issued a proclamation disbanding the organisation known as the Household Troop, with the exception of the band. The, mutineers refused to be disbanded, and stated that they had engaged for a term of service, and would complete it. * They held possession of the barracks, a stone building, and, being in possession of loaded rifles and fixed bayonets, the poor Hawaiian King was in a sorry plight. Warrants were issued for their arrest, but the mutineers dared the authorities to execute them. Negotiations were ; then entered into between his Majesty and the rebels as to terms of peace. At last a letter of condonation had to be written by the King, and at the request of the deputation from the mutineers, it had to be countersigned by the Secretary of War, and afterwards printed, before th» mutineers would consent to leave the barracks. But they even demanded more ; they asked that ' the warrants issued against them be destroyed, and they were actually torn to pieces in front of them. These demands being complied with, the mutineers left the barracks, returning the Government arms and ammunition, but taking,, with them all blankets, overcoats, and "capa that they considered would be of use to them for the future. j , The ' ' Argua" statea that the proprietors of one of the largest clothing establishments in New Zealand, hitherto accustomed to get their ready-made clothing from Melbourne, have selected some of the beat patterns of our leading houses, and sent them to England, with large prders for execution there. They cannot do without Victorian patterns, which are more suitable to the taste of their customers than ordinary English-made fcoods,, but they can no longer afford to pay the duty on the articles they get hence which . remains after the drawback at present allowed. Some of those longest engaged in the Melbourne clothing trade confidently affirm that these persons are dc^mjd to disappointment. A similar aff^p^l was made in Melbourne a few years'agoi , and when the goods came out, " they were no more like the Melbourne goods," it is said, " than chalk is like cheese." A correspondent states that the ddmand . for every description of clothing nidde at the various manufactories in Melbourne is increasing, and the greatest difficulty is felt in getting sufficient hands to keep pace with it. Orders for large quiutitiea of goods, say to the extent pf-jS'jDOO'.to' £4000 each, have been lying over for months at several of the manufactories, . and cannot be executed.. . ■