MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 90, 15 April 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

CHARGE OE PERJURY. (Continued Jrom To-day's Supplement.) YESTERDAY. Erancis James Blundell deposed: I am the Editor of the Evening Mail. I remember reporting the case of Adams _ . Boyes. I was present when Mr Adams was examined and cross-examined. I read the paper after my notes were published in the paper, and found them correct. By Mr Conolly: Ihave destroyed my notes. I examined the report by reading the proof and my notes. By Mr Pitt : This is a correct report of what Mr Adams said, and I read the report with my notes whilst the evidence was fresh in my memory. (Mr Blundell read the report, which was as follows : — " Acton Adams: The bill of sale produced was given to me by Edmund Thomas. None of the money secured by it has been paid. I never authorised the sale of the sheep. Cross-examined: I never entered into any agreement with Donald for the sale of Marahau. I never gave him possession. I deny that he is there under authority from me. I believe Thomas gave him possession. I had an offer from Donald by letter, which was forwarded to me at Wellington. I returned ifc to Nelson, and never saw it again till yesterday, when I put it into a bundle of papers to be sent to Mr Atkinson, but it was lost in heing carried across. The purport of the letter Was that in pursuance of wbat passed between Thomas, himself, and me, he went to Marahau, and found the hop garden in bad order, but there was a good dccl of feed, and that he would nofc take ifc unless he could get a new lease at a lower rate. If he could get that he would give £700 for the place, for three years to pay nothing except 8 per cent, and after that £100 a year for seven years. I never accepted the offer. I entered into the negotiations with him, but never gave him any authority to c nter.. There was no memorandum whatever between us about it. His Honor : Between them all poor Donald appears to be in a queer position, and nothing more than a trespasser. Cross-examin-ation continued : Thomas said the price was to be £800. I don't recollect giving Donald any letter to Thomas. He seems to have slipped in whilst I was in Wellington. No charges for costs have been made against Mr Thomas in reference to the sale, the transaction never having been completed. The interest on the money was made up at the end of last year, and charged against Thomas in the usual way. I have never taken possession of the property, and I was looking to a sale to reimburse me my money. I wrote to Beyea for the price of the sheep, because I heard Thomas had sold them to him. I should not bave objected to Thomas killing a sheep for his owu use. Re-examined by Mr Atkinson : I had only one business interview; with Thomas after my return from Wellingand that was in January last. I said to him, why did you sell the sheep, when you knew you had no right to sell them. Thomas replied that I should get my money from Donald Donald has not paid me anything under the offer made by him for the property.") That report I believe to be correct. Cross-examined hy Mr Conolly : Ido not take a verbatim note. Apart from my-re-port I do nofc remember much about the trial. I don't remember Mr Adams saying, when he said he had entered into no agreement, that he really said no "written" agreement. I usually follow the evidence closely in reporting. Edward Percy Palmer deposed: lam an

articled clerk in the office of Messrs Pitt and Moore. I remember the case of Adama v. Boyes,' heard in the District Court in February lagfc. I remember attending at the Court office on the llth February and ordering a 'subpoena for Mr Acton Adams. I produce my diary with an entry of the suqpceua. I saw Mr Moynahan, the assistant clerk, and I also gave him a notice for the production of certain documents to be fixed to the subpoena. On the following morning I saw Mr Adams at Mr Pitt's office, and he asked for Mr Pitt. I told Mr Adams he was not down yet. He then told me to tell Mr Pitt he would nofc come to Court to give evidence unless he was paid a guinea for his expenses. I don't think he Baid anything about the subpajna. Cross-examined by Mr Conolly: The entry in my diary does not state that t he subpoena waa one of Jucis decum. Mr Adams, in speaking about the guinea, did nofc appear to be joking, and he did nofc speak in a jocular manner; John Joseph Moynahan deposed . I am a clerk in the District Court. I remember the last witness coming to me and ordering a subpoena. He gave me a piece of paper and I issued a subpoena. I cannot tell whether it was. served. I wrote an exact copy of the paper Palmer gave me, and I am positive I attached it. to the subpoena. Cross-examined by Mr Conolly : When a subpoena is served the officer serving it generally has a duplicate and makes an affidavit of service; but not always. Tn this case I don't think there was a duplicate. - By. Mr Pitt: There was no other subpoena for Mr Adams in this case. Mr Pitt then asked his friend to produce thiß subpoena jacisdecum, for producing of wbich he had given notice. ' Mr Conolly : You have not proved the service, and we deny that any subpoena jucis decum was served, and we cannot produce ifc. Mr Pitt argued tbat the subpoena should be produced. Mr Conolly then stated that they had lost the subpoena. Edward Moore, solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, deposed: I remember the case of Adams v. Boyes, heard in the District Court. I w a. present aud took notes, which I produce. I remember Mr Adams being examined. (Witness then read from his notes of Mr Adams' evidence. Mr Adams, whilst making an explanation about the sale, said, "' When I made the sale to him it was upon the understanding thafc I should get the leasehold." The counsel for the defendant spoke to the effect, " Oh, then, you did make a sale to Donald." Mr Adams at once said, "You have taken me up too sharply." He then corrected the expression by saying tbat what he intended to say was, " when I w_s trying to make the sale." Cross examined by Mr Conolly: lam quite sure that those words were used or some to thafc effect. lam sure they were used, though I made no note of them, for it passed very quickly. There was no comment, I believe, by the counsel for the defendant as to thia. My idea of his evidence was that unless he could get the Maori sections the contract was off. Re examined by Mr Pitt : The counsel for the defendant had been trying to make out thafc there was an agreement, and when he made this second statement, it was taken to refer to that contention. The Court then adjourned till 10 o'clock TO-DAY. Arthur Samuel Atkinson, sworn, said : I am a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. I remember the case of Adams v. Boyes, tried in the District Court on the 12th Eebruary last. I was counsel for the plaintiff. I remember a letter on pink paper to have been spoken of at thafc trial ; it was alleged to have beeu lost. I never saw that letter. I heard Mr A. Adams give the whole of his evidence in that case. I remember Mr Adams -being examined as to any sale by him of Marahau to Robert Donald. Mr Adams' evidence with regard to the sale of Marahau, to the best of my remembrance, Mr Adams' said I did not sell to Donald. He also said I did not give possession to Donald. The crossexamination lasted a considerable time. At some time during the examination in reference to what was going on, having reference to a contract, the Judge said you mean no contract under the Statute of JTrau Is. Mr Adams assented to that. I believe it was in that connection that Mr Adams said, the pink letter was the only writing in the matter. That letter contained the offer from Donald, and that offer was not accepted. I understood Mr Adams to say there was no contract between Mr Adams and Donald because Donald wanted both freehold and leasehold, and Mr Adams could gire only leasehold. Mr Adams was asked as to how Donald got possession, and the question was raised as to by whom he got possession. I understood that so far as Mr Adams was concerned Mr Donald was there without authority from him. Cross-examined by Mr Conolly : I took no note of this part of the examination of which I have spoken. At the second trial I wa 9 only present at a part of it in the afternoon. I believe I beard Mr Donald examined. I heard Mr Donald say that Mr Adams' evidence, as to the pink letter, was about word for word what the letter contained ; and on that second trial a letter from Adams and Kingdon to Donald was produced. It was put in my hands ; that was the flrst time I had seen of it or heard of it. That letter was in the handwriting of Mr Percy Adams, and I think dated the 13th November. I know Mr Adams was away from Nelson during the greater part of tbe session till nearly its end.' . In being instructed in the case, of Adams v. Boyes, I saw him very often up to the time of the trial by hia instructions to me as his counsel. I had nothing to lead me to suppose that he was concealing anything. I said " had you not better get Donald ? " but he said "Oh no ; we don't want Donald." I remember the substance of the plaint and defence in the action of Adams _ Boyes. Mr Conolly : Is there anything in the plaint to which Donald might have been a witness ? Mr Atkinson : If you put ifc that way I must say yes. The reason I suggested was to answer the sth plea, and to upset the allegation, for you must not wait to gather your forces till your enemy is in the field. I understood thafc Donald was in possession before the conversion of sheep. Mr Adams told me Thomas had given possession to Donald. My impression from Mr Thomas' evidence was that it was he who gave Donald possession, though he did not saya ao in words. Re examined by Mr Pitt : I can't say I heard Mr Thomas say "if showing the boundary is giving possession I gave it," but it is in my mind. My remembrance is that Mr Thomas represented himself as having acted under compulsion that the place was sold by Mr Adams, and that he acted under compulsion. I had nothing to lead me to suppose that he was concealing anything. Mr Pitt : Is that your opinion still— Court objected to this— Mr Pitt : Then as a matter of fact do you know thafc Mr Adams has concealed anything from you. Witness • I don't know whether he concealed anything, but I knew nothing of the deed dated 24th March. Mr Conolly asked through the Court whether Mr Atkinson had been advising with the prosecution and whether his partner was not retained by them. Witness :Aa far aB my partner is concerned I do nofc know actually, but I do nofc think he has been retained. I am not retained or paid in the matter, but I I have conferred. The question puts me in

a difficulty, I am bound to say yes, but the consultations, I may say, were almost entirely not on the merits of the case. By Mr Pitt : When Mr Bunny and you saw me about Mr Pell appearing, it was that he should appear instead of Mr Pitt who gave reasons against doing so. Mr Pitt : Were not the consultations regarding the course Mr Bunny should adopt upon certain events happening, and not as lo the merits of tho case. Witness : He consulted me as a member of the profession, as to what he should do as a professional man in certain contingencies, and this had nothing to do with the facts of the case. I did not hear of the information till after it was laid. I did not know it was going to be laid. Mr Pitt at this stage asked his friends if they produced the mortgage of the freehold and Mr Conolly handed it in. Mr Pitt also asked for the draft of the agreement of the the 24th March. Mr Conolly we have not a draft. Mr Pitt: Then I call for the day hook. Mr Conolly produced the book, aud Mr Pitt said I see the entry is on the 24th December. Mr Pitt then asked Mr Conolly to admit that the entry was in Mr Adams' handwriting and he did not want to examine defendant's own clerks, however, he caUed ' Alfred Thomas Jones who desposed: lam an articled clerk to Mr Acton Adams. The book produced is the hook produced ia the day book of the 24th December, 1879. The entry is in the handwriting of Mr Acton Adams.- It reads:— "24th December. R. Donald. -Instructions for preparing agreement of Marahau freehold, £700, payable £100 a year after 'third year, making 10 years in all interest 10 per cent from 3lst December, 1879.: Get lease if possible." I; may have seen the entry on the day it was made, I first saw. it as far as I know on the sth January, I cannot say whether the entry was then in the state it is now. I cannot say whether the words get lease if possible were there then. lam the attesting witness to the agreement dated 24th March, I did not see Donald sign it, I attested it under a wrong impression, I saw Mr Adams sign it. The agreement is engrossed by me, and I drew Ihe agreement from the instructions in the day-book. lam alao the attesting witness to the mortgage of the 29th June. The agreement of "the 24th March only relates to the Ereehold. I may have seen Donald on the sth January, I don't remember. I don't know whether Mr Adams saw him. The day was a very busy one. The reason I drew the agreement for the sale of the freehold only, was that I took instructions from the day-book and they were clear. Cross-examined by Mr Conolly : In addition to engrossing the agreement I put the plans on it, copying them from the mortgage. I knew the contents of that mortgage, and I knew it referred only to the freehold. The native leases were also in the office with tbe other deeds, and Mr Adams had no mortgage over those native leases. I draw most of the simple conveyances and agreements, and in this case I drew the deed aa well as engrossing it, and all was done on the same day. l have made search for the draft. After I had drawn it. I endorsed it, but in the meantime the agreement was signed by Donald. After endorsing it I put it in the safe, and I next saw it on the 24th of March. It was then in the same state as when I put it away in the safe. It bote Donald's name and nothing else, and Mr Adams then signed it in my presence, and I was then under the impression that I was also witness to Donald's signature, but afterwards I remembered that I was not. I believe that I completed the attessation on the 24th March. Letters written, by either members of the firm 1 are put on a chair in Mr Adams' room, aud are taken into au adjoining room by a clerk and copied in a press, and after they are copied, they are posted. .They do not go back to Mr Adams' room. If they wish to refer to a letter the custom is to request one of the clerks to turn up the letter hook, which is kept in the clerk's room. Mr Adams was away at the session of Parliament, aud returned about the 15th December. He was absent nearly three months, I think I believe Mr Adams went away for his holidays a few days prior to the 24th of December, which was a Wednesday. I think he went away either on the Sunday or Monday previous, and he did not return till some time after the sth of January. Those were very busy times during Mr Adams' absence in Parliament. I cannot tell you approximately the number of letters sent away, there would be a very large number. Re-examined by Mr Pilt : I cannot : say whether Mr Adams came back from Wellington during last session. After his return from Wellington I can't say whether be perused the letter book. I believe the letter produced was copied in the letter book. I cannot say whether it is Mr Adams' practice to peruse the letter book after absence. I drew the agreement and engrossed ifc. I cannot Bay whether I showed Mr Adams the draft ; I don't think so. A portion of the drafts are in my room, and a portion in Mr Adams. Ido not necessarily have those I draw. I think the draft was nofc altered. I looked for the draft on Tuesday last, and looked through all the drafts. Mr Pitt : Are you in the habit of losing drafts in the office ? Witness : Drafts have been lost. Robert Donald deposed : I am a farmer residing at Marahau, which lies in a bay 6 or 6 miles the other Bide of Riwaka, a little to the southward of Astrolabe. It is in the Waimea County. I remember in the month of November making an offer to Mr Acton Adams for the purchase of Marahau. I remember afterwards receiving the letter produced from Messrs Adamo and Kingdon in answer to my letter. I first went to Marahau about the beginning of November. In the first place, I had had a conversation with Mr Acton Adams and Mr Thomas in Nelson about the beginning of November regarding tbe Marahau property freehold and leasehold, as to the quantity of land and so forth it had been offered to me for sale. In consequence of this conversation I went over to see Marahau, no one went with me. When I came home I wrote the pink letter to Mr Acton Adams, and tho letter of the 13th November was an answer. This offer was for 8 per cent, and I must have seen Mr Percy Adams though I do not remember it and arranged for paying 10 per cent interest for a time instead of 8 per cent. I then arranged with Mr Thomas to go over with me. I took it that I should take his implements, &.., which be had at a valuation, and he was to hand me possession of the property both freehold and leasehold. I understood he was glad to get rid of it as well as Mr Thomas. I understood I was going there with the good will of both parties. I told Mr Thomas I had bought the place from Mr Acton Adams. He asked me if I had bought the place, and I said yes, I did not use the word Adams but Mr Thomas would understand. The next time I saw Mr Adams was some time after for I was away 8t the West Coast, and I got back only a few days beforejChristmas. It could not have been many days after my return that I isaw Mr Adams. I remember signing the agreement produced which relates only to the freehold. I never directly agreed with Mr Acton Adams upon the terms of that agreement except what you have seen by that letter. I remember seeing Mr Acton Adams about Christmas last. I told him I had been over with Mr Thomas and got possession and that I had purchased £24 Os 6d worth from Mr Thomas and I told him I had paid him under an order from Mr Percy Adams, I knew there was a bill of

sale over the things I purchased. I then became aware that Thomas refused to give np the Maori lease, I did not know the reason. We spoke about some sheep that were on the property, and I said that the reason I did not purchase them were that they were too goo ._ for me# Mr A dams then said he would turn the sheep over to me to make the most out of them so as to pay the rent of the Maori laud which was due and which I think he said was £45. I came to no arrangement about the place accept what you see in that agreement at the same time I considered Mr Thomas had given me his term of the lease and that Mr Adams was to get me an extension. Ido nob now consider that I have bought the place I signed the agreement in good faith. This arrangementwas made in Mr Adams' office, I did not see him enter the terms in his book, I remember Mr Adams giving evidence- in the case of Boyes v. Thomas on the sth April I don't remember what he said. After Christmas I don't think I saw Mr Adams again. Mr Adams did not tell me to go to Mr Thomas to get possession. I signed the agreement in Mr Adams' clerk's office, Mr Batchelor was present, I have a receipt for the costs which I paid. I produce the receipt for £5 7 which includes the cost of agreement. He charged me £2 2s, but I said it was too much and that he ought to take oif the half. .Mr Batchelor said you had better speak to Mr Adams, and I then opened Mr Adams' door, and told Mr Adams tbat two guineas was too much for drawing up the agreement, and that he ought to take off onehalf. He said that as I was paying my other account he would do sb. I said nothing more. I was in a great hnrry. I did not take my copy of the deed away, for Mr Batchelor said it had to be kept till it was signed. I was under the impression that Mr Adams had signed it, but I do not swear to it. I expected he had signed it, because I had paid for it. I left it there in good faith, thinking it was completed. There is now au insurance on the buildings, and I produced the receipt, dated 7th February, and signed by Mr Batchelor, for the insurance, which I received from Mr Batchelor in Messrs Adatts and Kingdon 's office. The receipt was for £1 18s 4d insurance and 6s 8d costs. Since signing that agreement ou the sth January, I have made no other agreement with Mr Adams about the property. At the first interview between Mr Adams, Mr Thomas aud myself, I don't think anything .jas said about the price. I don't think I said anything about the price to anyone except Mr Adams. Cross-examined by Mr Conolly: It might havo been in September thafc I first spoke to Mr Adams about the Marahau property. I think it was November when I first went there. After that I wrote the letter called the pink letter, which I wrote ac Wakapuaka. I have seen a report of Mr Adams' evidence in tho first trial, Adams v. Bojes, and I was afterwards examined concerning the contents j of that letter, which are correctly stated in Mr Adams' evidence aa reported in the Evening Mail of the 13th February. I don't remember that Mr Thomas ever said that the price of Marahau was £800, but Mr Adams had previously. I understood I was negotiating for all that Mr Thomas hold. I re» ceived that letter at Wakapuaka, and I must bave seen Mr Thomas within a day or two 5 he was living in Nekon, and I think I saw him afc tbe hotel. I say I must have seen Mr P. Adams, because I had not definitely agreed to the rate of interest. Ido rob swear ! that he did. When I received the letter of November, I was satisfied that ifc was sufficiently near my term?, for I did not intend to pay 10 per cent for more than six months, as I knew I could get tbe money for 8 per cent. I may havo in my own mind accepted fche offer, and put off seeing Mr Adams. Mr Thomas went with me Jo Marahau.. and _L was away two days. I was only on the property ono day. I inspected the implements, and agreed on the price. The understanding was that I had taken possession, and I employod a man to keep possession, and he was there about seven weeks. Mr Thomas, ifc appeared to me, was quite glad to get quit of everything, and was quite willing to give the leasehold. Mr Thomas asked mo in a Nelson street whether I had bought the place, an d I said yes. I told him what I was going to give for it. I took ifc for granted that there was no mortgage over the Maori leasehold. The price named was £700. I knew Mr Adams had no title to tbe leasehold, and that I was getting Mr Thomas interest in the leasehold Mr:- Thomas mado no objection, but pnfc in possession of both freehold and leasehold. I afterwards came up to Mr Percy Adams, and told bim what I had purchased, and asked whether I should pay Adams and Kingdon or Mr Thomas. He said, "You had better pay us." I came out, and within a few yards of the door I met Mr Thomas, whom I told what Mr Percy Adams had said. Mr Thomas •aid, " Stop, I will go in and see them." I said, "I will go along with you." He said, '* No, I will go by myself." He went in, and in a few miuutes he came out with an order from Mr P. Adams to pay him, and I paid him. I told Mr P. Adams that I had been in possession, and I have been in possession I ever since. I did not become aware thafc Mr Thomas objected to making over tbe leasehold till after I returned from the West Coast. I think I heard thafc from Mr P. Adams: When I saw Mr Acton Adams, a few days before Christma., I knew this. It was my impression that there was money due on the lease, and that tbat was the difficulty. I knew before Ghristmas that Mr Adams could not just then get me a transfer of the lease. Of course, it was a very material part of the arrangement that I Bhould get tbe lease. I should never have bought a pennyworth from Thomas if I had nofc thought that was the arrangement. I cannot say that I saw Mr Adams making a note. It was a very material thiDg to ms tbat I should get tbe leasehold, aud I will press it on him yet. Mr Adams did nofc offer me the sheep instead of the lease. He offered me then to pay off the arrears of rent. Mr Mackay appeared to ma to cause tbe difficulty as to getting the Maori lease. Mr Adams "was to see Mr Mackay. I (signed the agreement on the good faith tbat the arrangement about the lease should be carried out afterwards. On the sth January I went into Messrs Adams and Kingdon's office, and entered the room on the right [as you go in. I think I remained a few minutes, for I talked to Mr Batohelor about his brother while Mr Batohelor was making out fche account. I believe I sat down in a chair and read tha agreement. I went to Mr Adams's door, and saw Mr Adams •sitting afc the table, writing. He said, " are you paying your other account?" \1 said yes ; and he called Mr Batohelor aud told him to take it off. Mr Adams remained in hia chair I believe. I went baok to the other room and paid my bill. I did nofc see Mr Adams out of the offioe. I had no time to stay. I was present all tbe time of the last trial on the sth. I heard Mr Adams say, " I had not seen the agreement before February." Mr Bunny then said' " Donald says you were present." I recollect the remarks which followed about Mr Adams being usually pretty long-sighted. I have nofc told any more than I have said now. If I told Mr Bunny that he was present when I signed, ifc was under a misapprehension. Fiom the 6th January till the the trial last week I don't think I saw Mr Adams at all. I never applied for my copy of the agreement, and but for this I might not have done so for six months. Ke-examined by Mr. Pitt : I have never given up the idea that I have a right to the Maori lease, according .to my arrangement.

I know perfectly that it is not in the deed, and I have no agreement about it. I think I was in Court all the time on the occasion of the hearing of the case Thomas v Boyes. I heard Mr Adams say I had reluctantly abandoned the leasehold hefore signing the agreement, but I have not abandoned the Leasehold yet. I was to give £700 for this place, I did not know howmuch Mr Thomas owed bim. I heard £630 mentioned in Court. If Mr Thomas owed only this I don't know how Mr Adams could have given me the sheep, I was not then aware how they stood. When I gave my evidence in Boyes v. Thomas I was question^ ed as to whom I signed the agreement before. lam sure I signed before Mr Batchelor. I believe I called in and saw Mr Percy Adams, the letter says please call in and see us, but for all tbat I can't remember it. I under stood that tbe Maori lease was separate altogether. I told Thomaß that I. bought the place, but I did not tell hith the terms, I had nothing to do with terms. The reason I thought I was going to have the Leasehold was because it was mentioned in the first interview, and I should never have made an offer unless I considered it was to be included. At that interview no price was mentioned that I recollect. It must have beeu a month or two before that, that I heard the price was £800. The Court : When you went to Mr Adams' office and opened the door and spoke to him about the charge did you tell him you had signed the deed. Witness : I don't tbink I did. When I went over to Marahau with Mr Thomas he pointed out tbe leasehold land as well as the freehold land. The reason I went on the sth January to sign the deed was that I had all my things in town for three days. I had a boat engaged, and was going out with the tide. I had no appointment to sign the deed that day, but I think I must have called in in the morning. I was nofc aware tbat the agreement would be ready for me that day. When I purchased the chattels from Thomas he offered me the sheep, too, but I had store sheep. At half -past four Mr Pitt closed the case for the'prosecution, and Mr Conolly waß about to open the case for the defence when the Chairman said the Bench wished a short adjournment before proceeding with the case, and in about ten minutes their Worships re-entered and dismissed the case stating that there had been no perjury committed by Mr Adams, and that his reference to agreement meant anagreemeat binding under the Statute of Frauds.

We take the -following from; the Neto Zealand Times':— -The, arrival of a vesflel from a., South Australian p.ortjv wittia full cargo of bark; for tanning* purposes, should induce those who take an interest in tbe development of local industries ? to ; &_k the question whether equail^'good'_oi.terial could not be collected in 1 thfe 'extensive forest b of this colony. So far as^ the, existence of suitable bark -is concerned, the answer can only *be in! ihe affirmative, as there are many. trees, both large and ' small, which would; ffi/nish it'ih alniost unlimited quantities, mostj_otew.orth^;a__ong them beii.g ; ,tbe liraau,: a tree which is abundantly produced in all the forests both north /aiid^sbuth. 1 Why its bark is not gatlfeped. especially during the ..present depr^eed; st^te of the- labour market, is a puzzle which we. are not at; present abie_toa_olveii Itimigh t however,: come:; within scope of the Local Industries Cotntoi-tee. "We may add that Austra. ia,^sp«S-iiaily .the colonies! ' of ' Victoria and v S'dl_-__. Au_.r__ia, hasfisgularfwattle farms, which .prove , very;. pf6flt_ble, although the' bark collected irom the yo___g-t_eeß-is. he-only return. As it would take mSny, years to. .exhaust tbe native supply in New-Zealand, the local prdMe^shouldprovß the most remuner___v#! > ■ -v •"'■'■'-• \.

The Bank of England ha. no end'of valu-able-.<_3__-_ttt__l to its Keeping: The vaults of its establishment hold mouldering chests, deposited t_fera~_or safety's sake, aud~apparently forgpttto_^ys_eir owners. -In 1873 one fell to pieces*! rom gheer rottenness, exposing, to sight .^quantity of massive plate and Qibupdle of yellbv. papers. The latter prqvedto i be a^cqllectibn of love-letters of the."Re-toratipn^ wjaicjti.' the directors were enabled to deliver to the. lineal descendant of the original owner. A manufactory in Germany turns out l 000 pounds of grape'sugara day, made from old linen. The old linen, which is pure vegetable fibrrae. is treated with sulphuric acid and converted into dextrine. This is washed withrlimevraterrandthen-treated with more acid, and almost, immediately it changes and crystallises. _i__)' glucdsej or grape sugar, which is highly valued in the making qf rich pr-serves arid j jellies. The process is said to be'ecoifomical, arid the - sugar ..is chemically the Ba__e : a_ that __ouhd in the grape. Wby the project Bhould be objected to on the score of its organ iitnot clear, if one reflects that grapes are, nourished by materials more of-fensrve-tban; old, .rags, and that there is practically no difference between a transformation oTnaJure's "laboratory "and one in the laboratory of the chemist. Still, there is a great outcry over the, German sugar* rag factory^ and considerable danger of, the entefpri-B" "being stopped by the German Government.'

Wanted Oiling. _-rA. - bright; •' little three-year-old, while her mother was trying to get ber to sleep, became interested in fome. outBide noise. Sbov.as told, iti was caused D y a cricket, when sh© sagely observed : " Mamma, I thiols: heoughjt to be oiled." The hard. times •have induced ., a , spirit of economy in America. A Brooklyn young lady recently observed to hier par _nt at, the breakfaft ta-iiei'fapa, t really don't' think we need a fire in the parlor. I get along just as wfll Iwttaout lit/. «W«ll,.n_y dear, you must have it comfortable for callers , 'O, tha.T_aakernaxlr_.er«nce, papa ; - there's only one whom I, care for,. and he's ; got xa. ulster big enou&fe'_or both : of iu_' •

of a Russian prisoner.-— The ! St. Petersburg correspondent .of the. '* Parliament" writes : "A- piece of news ..fromi; -Siberia furnishes a striking instance of the increasing laxity of the Russian Government. Some eight years since ; a wealthy merchant named Plotyzine, the leader and chief propagandist of the Skoptsi sect, was arrested by the police. Plotyzine and several of his fellow prisoners were condemned to exile in Siberia. A despatch just published in the "•Nowosti" now announces that M. Plotyzine had been employing his time while under detention in Sibeir ia "in building steamships at a yard which he had brought into? being. A'__w days sincethe first vessel was - ready, and the prisoner went on board, in full" view of the authorities present, as he said, j dst « to try the engines.' It is scarcely necessary to remark that, once oh the opeti, a_a, he made sail direct for San Francisco, ' instead of returning to his late quarters." ; German telegraphic.: engineers have re.: cently been experimenting with aluminium •_ as a material for telegraph. wires." This: metal can easily be drawn, to, a much finer gj.ug__jtban_ls, possible with iron, and its con-: diictibility is twice as great as .that: of iron Wire. Its excessive cost has hitherto prevented ita use for the; purpose indicated, bu.tr ifc' is found that an alloy. of aluminium and ' iron. can easily.be made which, will produce., aj wire' bbt__ ' finer ami stronger,, "and less susceptible tb atmospheric changes as a conducting medium. """ "' | G-bw^er got a good dinner at home a fe'wT day_i ago^ by; telling- hia wife that he was '. gping to bring a judgi' 'boine-with him . t& .thatjneal. When lie arrived: alone and MraCt asked him where;the jqdgeiwsi^j.heCtrinmppantly pointed to himself, remarking : -••{l^m a j^d judge p^.a dinner.'' He wiltbe> obliged tb cook up a dinner in, some; other wky hereafter.