THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1882.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2427, 16 January 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1882.

Masonic.— As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, the first meeting of the .Emulation Lodge of Instruction since the recess will take place to-morrow evening in the Canterbury Masonio Hall. Committed fob Thiad.— James Caygill was, at the Besident Magistrate’s Court this morning, committed to take his trial, at the next sessions of the Supreme Court to be held at Christchurch, on a charge of libel against J. W. Treadwell. Bail was allowed, defendant in £IOO and one surety in a like amount. Lytteiton Habbob Boabd.— A special meeting of the Board was held at noon today, to receive the annual statement of accounts. Present Hon. E. Biohardson (chairman). Mayor of Lyttelton, Mayor of St. Albans, Messrs Turner, Sawtell, Allan, and Harman. The Chairman explained that the accounts had been prepared and duly audited, but as there had not been time to give the notice under the Act, or to get out the schedules, &0., which usually accompanied them, the Board would have to adjourn. It was for the Board to say to what day they should now adjourn. The fact was that the Act was so drawn as that it was perfectly impossible to comply with it. The Otago Harbor Board had had to adjourn their meeting over three months. Mr Turner moved—- “ That the Board adjourn to January 30tb at 2 p.m.” The resolution was seconded and agreed to. The Chairman said he had received the following cablegram from Messrs Bell and Miller respecting the caisson for the dock. The cablegram was as follows : “London, January 11th.—Pampero cannot leave until March. Caisson in good condition. If sent by another vessel freight forfeited, and additional cost over £4OO. Time saved two months.” The question was whether the Board would order the transhipment of the caisson at a cost of extra freight. &0., of £4OO to save fourteen weeks’ time. There was no saving except in the matter of time. It was agreed that the Board take no action in the matter, the members expressing their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the work of forwarding the caisson here had been carried out, by sending it per a vessel coming to Dunedin. The Board went into committee to consider a letter from the engineer respecting the dock. On resuming a resolution was reported to the effect that the letter be referred to the harbor improvement committe to report to the next meeting.” The Board then adjourned.

The Thbbobb op thb Law.—Thiß monf ing at the R.M. Court, in a case of libel that was being heard, some sensation was occasioned by a witness refusing to reply to a question from counsel, though ordered to do so by the Benoh. The witness referred to, was Mi W. H. Pilliet, who is an M.H.R, and also a J.P., and bad, in fact, been sitting on the Benoh during the first part of the hearing. It appeared by the evidence that he was also a journalist. Mr Holmes, in oross*examining him, after |a trivial question or two, asked if he was not the Ohristdhurch correspondent of the "Saturday Advertiser," a Dunedin paper. Mr Pilliet flatly declined to answer. Mr Holmes repeated the question in the most winning manner, and appealed to the Benoh, who said it must be answered. Mr Pilliet became more emphatic in his resolution. Mr Holmes more blandly polite. The Benoh in a solemn tone informed Mr Pilliet that in fire minutes he must answer, or—what would happen was not very precisely stated—but it was understood that at any rate something very severe in the shape of punishment would befal the witness. Then there was a little confusion, Mr Pilliet spoke, Mr Holmes spoke, (he Benoh spoke, sometimes singly, sometimes together, the audienoe smiled, the attendant policemen looked more solemn than usual, and then, after a great clatter of law books, the Bench declared their determination to adjourn for an hour, on which Mr Holmes gave way in the most graoful manner. He waived the point, he would not insist upon an answer to his question. Everybody gave a sigh of relief, and the business of the Court proceeded in its usual dull and respectable manner.

N.Z. Grand National.—Arrangements have at length been made satisfactorily with a view to holding the next meeting of the Grand National Steeplechase Club at Ashburton on the Queen's Birthday. Expobt of Shebp.—On Saturday afternoon one hundred Linooln rams from the well known flock of Mr H. J. Hall were shipped to Patea. Mr Hall's sheep bear deservedly so high a oharaoter that this shipment will r.o doubt bo highly appreciated by the distriot to which they bave been sent.

Thb Wbathbb at Abhbubton.—At the Che long looked-for break in the preralenoe of crop-drying nor'westers has ooourred, and the rain and coolness of the concluding days of last week were refreshing to man, beast and crop alike. The moist weather will hare been specially welcome to those interested in grass and turnip growing.

Aooidbnt.—As the mail cart was passing along High street on Saturday afternoon, about fire o’clock, a woman named Bridget Payne was knocked down, the wheels oi tho cart passing over both her legs. Assistance was promptly rendered, and a cabman named Thomas conveyed the woman to her home near the Star and darter Hotel. _ Blame is attached to tho driver of the mail cart, who was reported to bo driving at a rapid rate Picnic.—On Saturday about 140 of the employes at the Kaiapoi Clothing Factory were conveyed by special train from Christchurch to Kaiapoi, where, after being shown over the Kaiapoi woollen mills, they were entertained by the directors of the company in the Domain. A brass band was in attendance, and a thoroughly enjoyable day was spent. The party returned to Christchurch about 6 p.m, by the special.

Habbwood Bo ad Threshing Machine Company. —A meeting of the shareholders of the above company was held on Saturday afternoon at the White Hart Hotel. There were ten shareholders present, and Mr J. Donald occupied the chair. The minutes of the last annual general meeting of shareholders having been read and confirmed, Captain Bell, the manager, made a statement as to the operations during the past year, and the state of the machine, which had been

taken to Mr Finlay’s establishment to be pul into proper order. The machine had been reinsured for £350. The meeting then drew for wards with the following result:—No. 1, Haro wood road ; No. 2, Fendolltown ; No. 3, North road. Mr Donald was elected manager for the coming season. This was all the business, and the meeting adjourned. Thb International Exhibition.—We have received the following letter from Messrs Joubert and Twopeny:—“Sir,—A cablegram received from London this afternoon intimates that owing to a large portion of the European exhibits not being able to leave by the last Orient steamer they cannot possibly reach here till the end of March. Hence we are most reluctantly obliged to postpone the opening of the Exhibition, and the first week in April being Passion week, we regret to have to state that the opening cannot take place until Easter Monday, April 10th, Hitherto we have prided ourselves on keeping our word as to dates, in spite of all difficulties, but we trust exhibitors and the public will recognise that under the circumstances a postponement is inevitable, and the delay due to no lack of energy or desire to spare expense on our part. The time for receiving entries will now be extended to March mth ”

XUDn. Sick Fund The third annual meeting o£ the “ Lyttelton Times” Sick Fund Society was held in the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr Hebden was in the chair, and the attendance was large. The report showed that the profits for the year 1881 were £lB4 10s, being an excess of £BO over those of the previous year. The roll of members comprised seventy-seven names, whose contributions amounted to £B7 3s. Among thirteen members £6B 19s had been disbursed as sick allowance, and £485 had been lent to the members. The interest derived from this investment was £2B. The entertainment fund last year yielded £lO5. Office bearers for the ensuing years were elected, and the meeting next discussed Mr Nelson’s motion for the establishment of a savings bank in connection with the society, but the determination of the matter was deferred for further information. The report was adopted, and other matters of minor importance having been disposed of, the meeting ended. Mb Kobsoh.—This gentleman gave another of his pleasing and clever entertainments at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday evening. The recitations selected were of a very varied character, ranging from grave to gay. In all Mr Bobson exhibited great power and purity of elocution, delineating in a marked manner the peculiar characteristic of the author he was illustrating, so as to place vividly before his audience the beauties of the piece selected. Mr Bobson also greatly enhanced the favorable impression made on a previous occasion by his powers as a musician. In this portion of the entertainment, equally with his recitations, he showed that he possesses talent of . a very high order. Mr Lorenz gave several pianoforte solos, mostly of his own composition, and all of which were rendered with very great taste and artistic skill. As a whole the entertainment is a very unique one, such as we here rarely have the opportunity of enjoying. Mr Bobson will appear again this evening. Wakanui Bohoox, Teaohkbs.—A special committee meeting was held on Thursday. Present—Mr Leadley (chairman), and Messrs T. Walsh, J. Kilgour, Olepbane, Paynter, and Trevurza. Messrs Kilgour and Walsh drew up a joint protest against the meeting for the purpose of appointing teachers, and requested the committee to forward the protest to the Board of Education. The protest stated, inter alia, that the chairman undertook of his own accord, without any sanction or approval of the committee, or advice of the Board of Education, to advertise for three teachers; that the chairman’s action in so doing was formally condemned by the committee as illegal; that Mrs McLaughlin, the lady teacher, received no notice of dismissal from the Board of Education; and that the committee had not been consulted by the Board regarding the dismissal of the principal teacher, Mr James McLaughlin. Messrs Kilgour and Walsh having retired, the remaining members present decided not to forward the protest to the Board. The meeting then considered applications, and elected Mr Alex. Stott as teacher, referring to the Board the question of appointing a teacher to the aide school. Mr Stott was recently master of the Ashburton Borough School, Legal proceedings are said to be pending against the Board of Education for North Canterbury for recovery of damages for alleged wrongful dismissal of Mr James McLaughlin from the mastership of the Wakanui School. Mr McLaughlin has since received an appointment at Timaru. Oxpobd Baoeb, St. Patbiok’b Day, 1883. —A fairly attended public meeting of those interested in the annual Oxford races was held on Friday evening at Mr Mardon’s auction room, West Oxford. Mr Edward Murfitt was elected to the chair. Mr Mardon read the balance sheet from last year, showing a credit balance of £3 3s 7d, and it was passed as read. Mr Mardon stated that, under instructions, he had purchased a copy of 0.J.0. rules, for which he had paid 10s 6d. Such sum was voted to him from the funds. It was unanimously agreed that the races be held as heretofore on Friday, the 17th March, St. Patrick’s Day. A committee of management, selected from gentlemen resident in various parts of the district, was then elected. The programme was considered as follows : —The first two races were made the same as last year; the third—viz., the Maiden Plate—was altered into a handicap ; the fourth, the principal race, the Oxford Cup, after a good deal of discussion, was allowed to stand the same as last year; the fifth, District Hack Base, was discarded, and altered to a Publicans’ District Bace of £ls, welter weight, gentlemen riders, for horses who have never won public money, nomination £l, acceptance £l, distance one and a half miles ; the last race, the Consolation, was left unaltered. After some discussion, it was decided that the race district shall mean the three Boad Board districts, viz.—Oxford, Oust, and West Eyreton. The officers for the ensuing year were then nominated—As stewards, Messrs G. W. H. Lee, John Dobson, George Plaskett, W. F. Pearson, H. Ffitoh, David Fisher, E. Murfitt, B. B. Barker, A. F. Strangman, Dr. Weld, H. Sedoole, W. Mardon; judge, George Plaskett; starter, H. Ffitoh; clerk of the course, W. Gilchrist; clerk of the scales, H. Sedoole ; hon. sec. and treasurer, W. Mardon. A vote of thanks was passed to the officers of last year, and a special one to Mr Mardon for his services as hon, sec. and treasurer, and a vote of thanks to Mr Murfitt terminated the prooedings.

Gabden Fete. —The member* of the Bt John’* ladies’ work committee held a very pleasant garden fete on Saturday, in the pretty ground* of Mr Wynn William*, Latimer square. The garden fete wa* combined with a aale of work, the product of the industry of the members of the committee and other lady parishioners, the object being to raise funds wherewith to erect iron railings around the church. The marquee in which the work was displayed wa* the centre ol attraction during the day, and the ladies who had so kindly come forward on the occasion to help forward the good work were kepi busily employed in disposing of their ware*. Some very elegant articles were to be seen, and as a whole the committee have cause tc

congratulate themselves upon their success. In addition to the work marquee, there was alio a luncheon tent, where refreibmenti of all kinds were obtainable. The visitors most thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the afternoon, an enjoyment which was very much enhanced by the performance of the Railway Band, who played a capital selection of muiic.

Gisahtio Chop o* Wheat.—Mr Peter | Muir, of Springs ton, noted for the magnifioent crops of wheat he grows, is now cutting a crop_ which surpasses all his previous prodnotions. The orop stands between six and seven feet high, the ears are from four to six inohei long, and number from sixty to one hundred grains in eaoh ear. This is one of the finest erops ever grown in the district, and competent judges estimate the average yield at from sixty to seventy bushels per acre. Thk&tbb Rotai,.—The farewell performanoe of Miss Fomeroy and her company took place oa Saturday night. " Maobeth " was the piece performed, and Miss Pomeroy's rendition of the part of Lady Macbeth was marked by the same dramatio force and effeot whioh rendered it so successful on her former visit. She was called before the curtain several times, and on the last oocasion said a few words of farewell. Miss Bcsbio Viv-in sang the musio of Hecate veiy well indeed, and Mr Wallace was capital as the first witch. Mr Leake's Macbeth was a sterling performance, though in parts he was somewhat too boisterous, and Mr Plemming deserves very great praise for hia Maoduff, which was played by him throughout oapitally. The other characters were well filled. The oompany left for Dunedin yesterday per steamer. The Wii/Uamsons. To-night Ohristchuroh playgoers will have an opportunity of making the acquaintance of Mr Williamson and Miss Maggie Moore, whose reputation as artistes of a very high class,has already preceded them. The majority of the members of the company are new to us here, though one or two are very old favourites in Christohuroh, particularly Mr H. H. Vincent, whose re-appearance will be warmly welcomed. Mr 8. O'Brien, also, has, ere this, wooed the sweet voioes of the Ohristohurch publio, and very successfully. The opening pieoe selected is that in whioh Mr and Mrs J. O. Williamson have, throughout the colonies, created qnite a furore, viz., " Struck Oil." No doubt there will to-night be a very large attendance to welcome our new friends. Aquatic.—There was a fair number of spectators on the bank to witness the contesting of the Union Bowing Club's Club Pairs. Pour orews had entered, and all oame to the soratob, with the exception of Hawkes and Piper. The raoe was one mile (Pratt's to Willows) for Mr G. T. White's prize. The following were the results:—lst Heat: North bank, Daphne, H. T. Johnson (stroke), H.L. Welsh (oox), W. Pengelly (cox), v South bank, Dolphin, H. 8. B. Hobday (stroke), W. Peldwiok (bow), O. J. Styche (oox.) A good start was effected, both orews gripping the water together, when Johnston unshipped his oar, whioh lost him fully three lengths; anyhow this did not seem to make muoh difference as he was on even terms again at Cowlishaw's, and finally won a good race by one length. 2nd Heat: Dolphin, south bank: H. T. Johnston, H. L. Welsh, W. Pengelly !cox), v Daphne, north bank : W. Scullar stroke),H.Martin (bow), O. J. Styohe (cox). Mr Puller again got the boats well together, but the Dolphin soon forged ahead. Soullar oame up at times, but to no effeot, as Johnston had the race well in hand and won by two lengths. Members will be glad to hear that the sculls and oars ex Helen Scott, from London, are landed, and will be at the sheds on Monday, at 5 30 p.m.

Liqhtins Eailwat Tbains bt Electbioity.—ln the early part of November the first attempt to light a train by electricity was made on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Hallway, A Pullman drawingroom oar was fitted with twelve incandescent globes, which were illuminated by electricity supplied from about thirty cells of a Eaure battery or accumulator, and left Xjondon for Brighton, about four o'clock in the afternoon. The trip was a perfect success, the light produced being about three times as bright as there was any absolute necessity for. On the return journey to London about seven in the evening, the members of the Iron and Steel Institute, who were visiting Brighton, had an opportunity of travelling in the Pullman car and witnessing this new departure in the comfort and delight of railway travelling. It is intended to light by electricity the new train, composed entirely of five Pullman carriages, which is to be placed on service between London and Brighton next month; and the directors of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Bailway and of the Pullman Oar Company are to bo congratulated on being the first in the world to avail themselves of this new application of electricity, rendered possible in the only train in England forming a promenade from end to end, and having one of its carriages fitted up as a refreshment room open to all the passengers.

Ghostly Visitations.—Mr J. N. Maskelyne, writing to the London " Daily Telegraph," says :—" Having for many years been recognised by the public as an anti-spiritualist and exposer of the frauds practised by spirit media, it may surprise some of your readers to learn that I am a believer in apparitions. Several similar occurrences to those described by many of your correspondents have taken place in my own family, and in the families of near friends and relatives. The most remarkable one happened to my wife's mother some years ago. Late one evening, whilst sitting alone busily occupied with her needle, a strange sensation came over her, and upon looking up she distinctly saw her aged mother standing at the end of the room. She rubbed her weary eyes, and looked again, but the spectre had vanished. She concluded it was imagination, Jand [retired to rest, thinking nothing more of the vision, until the next day brought the news that her mother, at about the same time the apparition had appeared, had fallen down in a fit and expired. I will also relate a circumstance which happened to myself, as it may tend to throw some light upon these common occurrences. When a boy, and learning to swim, I got out of my depth, and was very nearly drowned, being insensible when taken out of the water. My sensations were similar to those whiob bave often been described by others. After the terrible feeling of suffocation I fell into a pleasant swoon, and a panorama of all the principal inoidents of my life passed before me. The last thing I could remember was a vivid picture of my home. I saw my mother, and oould describe minutely where she tat and what she was doing. Upon returning home I kept the secret of what had happened from her. She, however, questioned me closely, and said she felt strangely uneasy and anxious about me, and thought some accident had befallen me. I am convinced that had it been night time, and my mother alone, with little to occupy her attention, she would have seen my ghost, and perhaps the ghost of the water which closed over my head, as plainly as I saw her ghost, and the ghost of the room in which she was sitting. In after years, when pondering over these and other faots, I came to the conclusion that it was quite possible for one mind occasionally to influence another, no matter how great the distance apart, especially where •two hearts beat as one,' or, more correctly speaking, where two brains vibrate in unison."

Pabnell.the Agitatob —A correspondent of the " Times " writes :—" The faot that Mr Parnell is originally of English, and not Irish origin, seems not sufficiently known. In the 17th oentury the family occupied a good position at Congletos, in Cheshire, and were of the Commonwealth party during the civil wars. At the time of the restoration Thomas Parnell, the then head of the family, left England and settled in Ireland, where he purchased an estate. The property descended to his son Thomas, the well-known author of 'The Hermit' and other poems, whose bio grapby finds a place in Dr. Johnson's ' Lives of the Poets.' From that work we learn that on the ejection of the Whigs at the end of Queen Anne's reign, Parnell was persuaded to ohange his party, and he became the friend of Swift, through whose influence he received valuable ohuroh promotion at the hands of Archbishop King. Dr. Aikin in his notice of the poet records this further faot, ' that in every year, as soon as he had collected his rents and the revenues of his benefices, he came over to England and spent some months, living in excellent style, and impairing rather than improving his fortune His brother John, who succeeded to the estates at his death, was a Judge of the Court of Bang's Bench, and the direct lineal an-

oestor of the present Home Rule leader,

The late Sir Henry Parnell, who held offioe in England under Lord Melbourne's Government, and was by him created Baron Congleton in 1841, was descended from the same stock. Mr Charles Stewart Parnell is the son of a younger brother, John Henry Parnell, of Avondale, county Wicklow, and was educated at Cambridge. He is now owner of the Avondale estate. His mother, as is well known, was American. From the above it would appear that* this vehement agitator for restoring the land to the Irish people is no way Celtic in race, but descended from those who sided with Cromwell, towards whom the Irish have an hereditary feeling of dislike."

I ATTEMPTBD SUIOIDB IK LYTTKI.TON.— Alexander Murray, landlord of the Crown Hotel, attempted suicide to-day by cutting hi, arm aoros, at the inside of the elbow with a raaor. He had been missing from the bar for three or four hours, and a searon reiulted in his being found m an unn,ed garret over the billiard, room, accessable only by climbing ove * ~? roof of a lean-to. Immense poola of blood were found in varioue places about the floor, and Murray lying on a stretcher unoonsoious and all but dead to all appearances. Dr. Bouse, after two hours' attendance, had brought him to sufficiently to sanction his removal downstairs. A paper was found on the scene of the occurrence stating that want of money was his incentive. 1.0.0.F..M.U. —The annual meeting of the Lyttelton District took plaoe on Saturday last at the Oddfellows's Hall, Lyttelton. j Present—G.;M. Barnes (in the ohair),D.G.M. J. Simpson, 0.5., A. Mo Williams. Delegates present:—Loyal City of Norwioh Lodge— G.M.'s S. Derbridge. J. Gifford, B. Griffiths, G. Dimond, and P.P.0.8. J. S. Jenkins. Loyal Timaru Lodge—P.S.'fl J. Grandi, A. Mills, and E. Goldsmith. Loyal Heart of Friendship Lodge—P.P G.M. W. H. Turner. Loyal Good Intent Lodge, P.GT. Ookford. The Grand Master stated that during the past six months the lodge in the district had increased both in number and funds. There bad been very little sicltneaa and only one death. After a considerable amount of

trouble the valuation returns from the lodges were all in, and at the next meeting members would be able to see the position of each lodge. From the correspondeaoe members would see that one of the lodges was in a bad state, and would have to be dealt with at onoe. The meeting was then declared open, and a considerable amount of crrespondence was read. The applications from the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge, Pigeon Bay, and Loyal Hand of Friendship, O'Kain's Bay, to be allowed to alter their lodge nights, was aooeded to. It was resolved that, on account ef the unsatisfactory state of the Arowbenu Lodge, it be dosed. P.G. Bro. Whitfield was appointed to confer the past officers' degrees on the members of the order on the Peninsula, and P.G.W. Leggett in Timaru. An application from the Loyal Timaru Lodge to form a new distriot was rejected as informal. The balance-sheet for the past six months was reoeived and adopted, and acoounts to the amount of £IOO passed for payment. The election of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows : G.M., Bro. J. Simpson; D.G.M-, Bro. S. Derbidge; 0.5., Bro. A. McWilliams, and Bro. W. Turner were duly installed by P.P.O.S. Bro. J. 8. Jenkins. P.G. J. L. Carrell was appointed junior »audtor. It was resolved that the next meeting of the distriot be held in Lyttelton. The following degrees were oonferred:—Past V.G., Bro. J. Joey and P. Jameson; Past N.G. Bro. B. Griffiths and H. Baker ; Purple, T. Ookford and A. Mills. The meeting was then closed, the members proceeding to the lower hall for refreshments provided on a liberal scale by the City of Norwich Lodge. Weblkyah.—The Bev. O. H. Standage is expeoted to succeed the Bev. W. Keall as Wesleyan minister of the Aahburton oircuit. Missing.—A man named Thos. Magner, a carpenter, aged about thirty, and who lived by himself in a lean-to at Willow Bank, is reported to be missing. It is stated that he slept at Klingenstein's Hotel on Saturday night, but as he was not on the premises at the usual hour for rising it is supposed he left: soon after daylight. A letter was found in , his house at Willow Bank, in which his intention to oommit suicide is dearly hinted. The polioe have searched fruitlessly for Magner during yesterday, and it is their intention to drag both the Avon and Heathoote Bivers today.

Jewish Pbbsbot/tion.—A correspondent of the "Jewish World" writes: —"A new form of outrage has been hit upon by the Jew-hating communities of South Russia. A few days ago a large box despatched by goods train attraoted the attsntion of the traffic superintendent at the Birsula station of the Odessa seotion of the South-west railway. It had been sent off from Fultawa, and was addressed to Odessa. 1 ? It was opened by order of the official named, and inside was discovered the body of an old man, evidently a. Jew. Subsequent examination elioited that the name of the unfortunate man was Ohaskind, and that he was a native and townsman of Konotop, in the government of Fultawa. Under the corpse was found a note, on which was written, in the Little Russian language, •If you Jews will not quit the country living, we shall send you out dead.' How the man came by his death has yet to be ascertained." A Valuable Opinion. —Mr Samuel Morley, writing to the "New York Tribune," says :—" I have unaltered faith in the soundness of the free trade dootrine, and a firm oonviotion, as the result of a somewhat extended visit to various portions of the States, that it will ultimately become the policy of this country, I have been greatly struck everywhere by the evident and growing desire for free trade, and am convinced the American manufacturers need no protection. I think, taking into consideration the coat of living, that a laboring man is as well paid in England as in America. I recently helped to return to his native land an English mechanio, who assured me he could live as well for 40s a week in England as for 60s a week in Philadelphia. The laborer seems to feel the independence of his position more here, but he is fully as independent of his employer in England as here." The Channel Tunnel.— The "Daily News," speaking of the progress made with the Channel Tunnel, says :—On the French side the work has already reached a distance of 1800 metres, while on the English side 1600 metres have been completed. This makes in all 3400 metres, or considerably more than one-tenth of the entire extent of piercing to be accomplished, the tunnel being rather more than 29 kilometres long. Supposing that it is decided to go on with the work, and that the needed twenty millions can be raised, there seems little reason to doubt that the tunnel might be completed in a few years. The original calculation was that it would only require two years to pierce a way of seven or nine feet in diameter from one side of the Channel to the other, a machine being worked from eaoh side. Now that the experiment is proceeding in good earnest there seems every reason to hope that the task might be aooomplished within something less than that period from the present date. If so, another four years would probably be required to complete the entire work and render it fit for traffic.

Tho present French Minister of War has abolished the drum, and the existence of the ourirassiers is now threatened. He has just ordered that the familiar white cotton gloves of the line regiments be replaced by gloves of buff leather, as being more serviceable. It is estimated that there are at present over 200 farms on which cattle plague exists in North and North-east Lancashire. All cattle affected with pleuro-pneumonia are at once killed.