News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 12, 15 April 1871, Page 13

News of the Week.

The Hon. the Pbemieb left for the West Coast on Monday. We understand that be intends going overland to Napier by the Manawatu gorge, through tbe line of road now in progress. Change oe Name.—Notice is given that the name of the Po.it Office in the province of Wellington known as " Eangitikei" has been changed to " Middle Rarigitikei." Appointments.—A Gazette issued on Thursday announces the following appointments: John Knowles, Esq., to be Under Secretary in the Public Works Departments ; Thos. Powell, Esq., to be Deputy Sheriff for the District of Wanganui; Ed. Fawconer Tizard, Esq., to be a Resident Magistrate for the district of Okarita vice J. Aylmer, Esq., resigned; Frederick Green Skipworth, Esq, to be clerk at Gisborne of the District Court of Hawke's Bay ; Allan Shaw Douglas Esq. to be Deputy Commissioner of Stamp Duties for the province of Taranaki, vic3 R. C. Hammerton, resigned. Revising Oeeicees.—The following persons have been appointed Revising Officers tor the eleptoral districts set after their names : Henry Pitt, Esq., for Picton and Wairau; Edward James Lees, Esq., for the various electoral districts of Canterbury ; and and also for Buller, Grey Valley, Hokitika, and Totara. Postal. —It is notified that in consequence of the transfer of the British Mail Packets from the Marseilles line to that between Alexandria and Brindisi, it is no longer desirable, with a view to prompt delivery, that correspondence for Belgium should be forwarded in the mails to France, as heretofore ; and it is recommended that such correspondence for transmission by tbe Suez route should be addressed to be sent direct via Brindisi. The Sppebintendency.—Our readers will observe that, for some reasons not explained, Mr Masters has retired from the contest. His Hotice of withdrawal contrasts very favorably with his address as a candidate—being short, clear, and grammatical. Indeed, nothing in his connection with the election is so becoming as his early retirement. Mr Joseph Pudney, whose remains were interred on Monday, is another now missing from the band of immigrants brought by the Aurora on the 22nd January, 1840. The deceased, who died after a very protracted illness, was a most industrious man, and generally esteemed by all who knew him. He was foreman of the work of reclaiming the firsb piece of land, and was for many years in the service of the Town Board. Accident.—Mr Prosser, with his coach and some passengers, became stuck for a short time in the Hutt River on Saturday. The stoppage was caused by the coach encountering some obstacle beneath the water, which led to the breaking 61 the pole when the horses strained to get the coach free. By the help of the ferry boat the coach and horses were brought to the other side without any other damage having been occasioned. A Cbash in Chuech.—Shortly before divine service on Sunday night in the St. Andrew's Church, on Lambton Quay, an accident oocured which might have been attended with most unpleasant results had it happened but a short time later. It appears that after the church was lit up, the rope suspending the chandelier in the nave gave way, and the kerosene lamps came down with an alarming crash. The oil ignited, and for a moment tbe aspect of things looked dangerous; but through the prompt exertions of several members of the police force, who happened to be at hand, and immediately gave assistance, the flames were put out, and things once more restored to order.

We Couldn't See It.—The " Wanganui Herald" publishes the following telegsam received from a correspondent (doubtless more interested in the contest than Greville &Co.) : April 6, 1.58 p.m.—Finnimore nominated ; excellent speech ; made great impression. Show hands second. This correspondent must surely have been equally gifted with the friends of Mr H. Anderson, who were so situated (though " elevated" might have been the more correct term) that they could see fifty-three hands held up for him. Leave oe Absence.—We understand that W. Buller, Esq., has obtained leave of absence for twelve months, and intends paying a visit to the home country. Major Edwards has been appointed to act, in Mr Buller's place pro tern. From what we know of Major Edwards' capabilities as a magistrate, and his very general popularity wherever he has been stationed, the district of Wanganui has been fortunate in obtaining the services of such an experienced gentleman and exemplary magistrate.

Cashieeed.—The result of the enquiry into the conduct of Inspector M'Donald has been that he has been cashiered for„ embezzlement. Cricket.—The return cricket match between the Veteran and Artillery Corps will be played on the cricket ground on Saturday at half-past two. The following will compose the Veteran team :—J.. W. Ingpen (captain), W. Brewer, G. Brewer, C. MTnto-m, J. Kinniburg, J. Churchill. T. Dawes, G. Harris, J. Salmon, W. Waters, S. Coffee, (12th man, White) ; umpire, Churchill, sen ; scorer, Capt. Crowe. The ' Land Teanseee Act. —Greville's agent in Wellington lately telegraphed to all the papers the following :—" In consequence, it is .said, of great and general pressure brought to bear on the Government, the Registrar of Land has been directed to issue licenses to land brokers. Mr Moorhouse will accordingly visit the chief towns of the Colony by the earliest opportunity. The "Evening Post" characterises this as a "bunkum telegram." We can only repeat that it is strictly true. H.M.S. Vieago.—New Zealand is not to be deprived of its " last ship " so soon as was anticipated. Captain Sandys, on receipt of his sailing orders, we understand, telegraphed to His Excellency, and has received a reply requesting him to delay his departure. It certainly does seem strange for the Imperial Government* to frighten us with a filibustring expedition from America, and by the same mail take away our only defence against it. The Governor, we believe, was on his way to Hokitika when he received this announcement, and we may expect him in Wellington before the end of the month. Gymnasium.—A meeting of persons interested in the establishment of a gymnasium was held at the Pier Hotel on Thursday night; and it was evident from the way in which the young men who are making themselves active in this matter are going about the work, that there is every prospect of a well-appointed gymnasium becoming a permanent institution in Wellington. The report of the committee, read by Mr Baker, recommends that, instead of renting premises, an effort should be made to erect a building. It appears there is good reason to expect that the Px'ovincial Government, may be induced to grant, a'piece of land for the purpose on the Reclaimed Land, as we learn thst several of tbe members approve the idea.* Immediately behind Kirkcaldie and Stains' premises is spoken of as a desirable site on which to erect. It is estimated that for £3OO an excellent Bhell could be put up and fitted with the necessary appliances ; and it is proposed to raise this sum by 300 shares of £1 each, 10s of which shall be payable at once, and the balance in. two months. It is intended also to make the building useful for other purposes than gymnastics, by making it serve as a drill shed for the volunteers, who will doubtless be willing to contribute something for such a convenience. Several gentlemen have already promised to take shares in the company with the object of furthering the undertaking. This is a very business like arrangement, and we trust the energetic committee who have carried the matter thus far will experience no difficulty in prevailing upon a sufficient number to take up the 300 shares. In the meantime the committee will draw up a prospectus and wait upon the business men of the town with that object, and report at a future meeting. A Lucky Washeewoman. —"A singular instance," writes the " Geelong Advertiser," " has been mentioned to us of the changes of fortune which sometimes occur in this colony. A few years ago there was an industrious woman on a diggings not a hundred miles from Ararat, who made her living.by washing for the diggers. Sometimes they paid in money and sometimes in scrip, and sometimes, acceptiug a good- hint from her clients, she invested in shares from time to time, and .these ventures turned-out so succesfully that she now keeps her carriage, and with a pair of prancing horses, drives through the pleasant streets of the pretty township in which she has made her fortune." A Caledonian Ceushing.—The Thames " Advertiser" in reporting the last fortnight's crushing for the Caledonian claim says the "total yield for the fortnight is 13,7840zs I7dwts of melted gold, This is the largest return ever obtained from this or any other mine during a similar period, There are still about 6cwt of specimens on hand, including the magnificent stone weighing L26lbs, and calculated to contain £1,700 worth of gold, which has been on view dnring the last few days at the Bank of New Zealand. The latter was taken to Auckland, by the manager on Saturday in the p.s. Golden Crown, and we have no doubt it will make some of the "Old Identities" open their eyes with astonishment. Late-on Saturday night the final retorting for the fortnight was completed, and the result, amounting to 1002ozs, was lodged in the bank to be melted this morning. This increases the already extraordinarily high yield to 14,7860 z I7dwt for the fortnight's crushing. DoG- Teains.—A correspondent of the "New York Herald" gives an account of the " dog trains" in general use from tbe Northern territories of the United States to the Artie Sea. These are somewhat different from the Esquimaux trains, the dogs being harnessed in singie file, while those of the latter are driven abreast. Four dogs constitute a good team. They are of no particular breed, all species of goodsized dogs being used. The dog sledge consists of a thick plank, about One foot wide and ten feet long, with the forward end turned up like a skate. A dressed skin resembling parchment in appearance, is attached to this, very like a laced shoe, and the traveller placing his robes inside, gets in, and is wrapped up as tightly and in about the same manner as his foot would be in an English shoe. The baggage of the.traveller is. placed at his back, and the driver runs on snow-shoes behind. The freight pledge consists of only a plank, curved at the end, without any covering.

" The Boldest Ceime Yet."—Under this head the "New York Journal" of the 7th, received to-day, prints the following story, in the form of a telegram from Albury, with the date of the previous night:—This, evening, just as the 8.30 Boston train started from the Union depot, in this city, to cross the Hudson River Bridge, a man sprang into tbe American Express Company's car and shot the express messenger, T. A. Halpine, through the neck, in the r.'ght eye, and in the right ear. The robber then took the keys from the messenger and opened the safe, from which he abstracted 2,259 dollars in bills. He accomplished all this while crossing the bridge, and on arriving at East Albany jumped off the train and made his escape. The crime, was not discovered until the train had stood at the East Albany depot some minutes, when the wounded messenger crawled to the door of the car and attracted attention. He was immediately taken to the City Hospital, and, notwithstanding his terrible wounds, was able to convarse and to give an account of the robbery. . Halpine resides in this city, His recovery is not considered possible. A Patent Coee.—The "Argus" states that a recent English invention has just been introduced to the Victorian public which is pretty sure to find favor among those who drink ginger beer, lemonade, sodawater, and other aerated waters. Its object is to provide the means by which these waters —gingerbeer especially—shall be of higher and more uniform quality, and to avoid the difficulty and danger attending the drawing of wired corks. The process is this. The bottles are of glass, with a sloping shoulder to neck, and inside each is lodged a stopper, compo3ed of. lignum vitse, surrounded by a sort of collar of indiarubber. The effect is that the aerated water is forced into the bottle, and when—the latter being full—the tap is turned off, the gas in the bottle, eager to escape, forces the stopper to the neck where the india-rubber collar fits air-tight, a portion of the wood of the stopper projects somewhat from the neck, and all that is necessary to open the bottle is to give that wooden top a tap. This drives the india-rubber down, the gas is freed, and the aerated water can be poured out in an effervescent'state. The whole contrivance is most ingenious and inexpensive, and sets aside all chance of danger. Moreover, it is asserted that the improvement in pumping the water into the bottle, necessarily heightens the quality of the potable, and that at least gingerbeer can be supplied without that " ropy" appearance which is so often complained of. Mr Hogbin is the purchaser of a patent for the Australian colonies, and Mr P. G. Dixon of West Melhourne, is the Metropolitan manufacturer of the same. The samples which have reached this office are excellent. We are informed that the invention is making way in England, and thousands of pounds are offered for the monopoly of its use in each of the larger manufacturing cities. Insolvency.—A Melbourne paper says that a new phase of the working of the Insolvency Act will shortly be brought under public notice, and as it is one which materially affects both creditors and debtors, the result will be watched with some interest. Mr F. Harrison, wine and spirit merchant, by virtue of the 30th section of the Insolvency Act, obtained a summons against Mrs Sarah TJggles, landlady of the i)over Hotel, to appear and show cause why her estate should not be sequestrated. Affidavits had been put in that application has repeatedly been made for the sum of £l2l 14s, in which she is indebted to Mr Harrison for the supply of wines and spirits, and that he had failed to obtain payment of his debt after using reasonable efforts to do so. Instead of resorting to the slower process of bringing an action in the County Court for his debt the creditor has adopted what will be found to be a more summary way of obtaining judgment. The Act provides that any debtor served with a summons may apply to the Court to dismiss it on the ground that he is not indebted to the creditor, or to such an amount (£SO) as will justify such creditor in presenting the petition for sequestration against him. This step has been taken by Mrs Uggles, the hearing of which is fixed before the Judge in insolvency. The Peospeeity op England.—ln the "Fortnightly Review" for this month Mr Fawcett has written an article headed " To what extent is England prosperous ?" of which the, following is an extract: —The well-being of a country cannot be measured by its imports and exports ; the true test is to ascertain how many people there are in it who have made a proper provision i'or inevitable contingencies, and are in a position.to discharge the responsibilities which they have assumed.' It is idle to congratulate ourselves upon vast national wealth, when we know that as each winter recurs there are in the richest metropolis in the world 150,000 paupers. In education Mr Fawcett sees the only cure for the evils under which we at present labor. The Education Bill has done little more than commence an attack upon the difficulties in the way. Education must be compulsory. Sueing- a Husband.—-The question, can a wife sue her husband ? was answered by the District Court of Scott county, lowa, recently, in the case of Mary Allen v Henry R. Allen, in which plaintiff alleges that defendant, her husband, borrowed of her 1000 doL, and then deserted her. The husband demurred on the ground that a wife could not sue her husband for debt. The Court overruled the demurrer, thus deciding that a wife deserted by her husband can sue him at law for a debt due to her from him. Judgment was rendered for plaintiff for 700dol.—"N.Y. Herald." Redccxion in Salaeies.—A bill is now before the N.S.W. Legislature to reduce legislative salaries to the following sums : —The Governor, £5000; Colonial Secretary, £1250.; Colonial Treasurer, £1250 ; Attorney-General, £1250; Secretary for Lands, £1250; Secretary for Works, • £1250 j Solicitor-General, £IOOO Auditor-General, £9oo* j

Waitotaea and Patea.—The " Wanganui Chronicle" of the Bth says :—lt is gratifying to note the continued progress and improvement in these districts. Every week something in the shape of addition to stock or buildings may be observed. Evidently the Maori has ceased to be a terror ; Mr Handley has built a public house right under the shadow of Taurangaikapa, once so formidable but now in ruins. Mr Thomas Kells' hotel at Waitotara is as comfortable as any town hostelry, and every care and attehtion are taken of cattle crossing in the punt. The same may be said of the ferry at Patea, and over both of these rivers there are wires for crossing the punts. Beyond Patea and on to Waihi, the saraes signs of progress are visible. Stores are about to be built at Hawera and Waihi. United States Population.—The quinquennial census of the United Stateß was lately completed,- and Bhows that the Union contains a population of 39,000,000, or about one-fourth more than the United Elingdom. It has increased 22 per cent, in the decade, and at the same rate will, in 1900, reach 75,000,000. 0f these, about one-tenth will be negroes, as they increase, notwithstanding the war, nearly as fast as the whites. The largest State, New York, now numbers 4,370,000, or a million more than the six New England States, which collectively number only 3,482,000, or a fourth of the population of "The West," now above 12,000,000. Poisonous Gloyes.—Our attention (says the " Medical Press") has been directed by a respected correspondent to a case which he ascribes due to the wearing of gloves dyed with some poisonous substance. His patient, a lady, purchased a box of green-colored gloves, at a well-known and respectable house. In none of the gloves was the dye permanent, for, upon the hand becoming heated, it was stained to such a degree that warm water would scarcely remove it. After wearing a few pairs—for the gloves rapidly became shabby—the lady, noticed a vesicular eruption presenting itself at the sides and root of the nails. This vesication in a few days proceeded to ulceration. Under suitable remedies the rash disappeared, but upon the lady resuming the wearing of the gloves the mischief recommenced with renewed severity. Upon our correspondent examining the gloves further, and analysing a solution prepared from them, he discovered the existence of an arsenical salt, which at once cleared up the mystery of the case, and the nature of the dye. Mountain Ranges and Pulmonaey Disease.—The connection between " dust and disease" is unhappily a subject of interest, the "Pall Mall Gazette" thinks, to a very large number of our countrymen, for it is becoming a settled opinion among doctors that pulmonary consumption is fostered, if not altogether induced, by the presence of inorganic organic impurities in the air we breathe/ Hence there has sprung up a disposition to treat the disease by exposing the patient to the influence of a pure and dry atmospherp, uncontaminated by the presence of a large population. These conditions cannot be obtained, except in a mountainous district, where of course the temperature is njuch lower than in a less elevated district. In spite, however, of this apparent drawback, there is good evidence to show that a winter in the High Alps may often do more to arrest the progress of the disease than a winter at Mentone; and Dr. Burner Yeo, who has a modified belief in, Alpine treatment, has collected some curious confirmatory statistics. It appears that in Europe phthisis is almost unknown at an altitude of 1700 feet, provided that other conditions be favorable. At the equator a greater elevation is required. In the Peruvian Andes, for instance, patients are sent to mountain valleys of nearly 10,000 feet above the sea-level, and in Mexico to places 6500 and 7000 fee thigh ; but it must be remembered that elevation alone does not necessarily possess any curative properties. Thus, at Andermatt, on the summit of St. Gothard, phthisis occurs; while at Klosters, 700 feet lower, it is unknown. The former place, as most tourists kuqw, is swampy and malarious; while the latter has a dry subsoil, and a pure though keen and bracing air. A New Light.—A new artificial light has recently been experimented with at Cologne, and is said to have been very successful, emiting a brilliancy equal to that of ninety or a hundred candles, and ten times that of an ordinary gas jet. The light is produced by the combustion of liquid hydrocarbons in oxygen gas. The latter is obtained meqhanii cally from the atmosphere. Atmospheric air is. compressed into receivers containing water, by which means a portion of the nitrogen of the air is absorbed, by the water, leaving the oxygen insoluble. The changed air is then passed into another receiver, where some more of the nitrogen is absorbed, and the process is repeated some eight or nine times, until at length an atmosphere is obtained containing about ninety-seven per cent, of oxygen. In this gas the hydrocarbon burus with great brilliancy, emitting a blueish-white light resembling that produced by electricity and burning magnesium. This light will be both cheap and brilliant, and can be procured almost anywhere. New South Wales and the San FbanCisco . Sebvice. The "Sydney Morning Herald" says that the announcement made by the Post Office authorities that they will not be responsible for the safe delivery of letters forwarded by the outgoing Californian mail is causing great inconvenience in commercial circles. During the past year mercantile houses have sent their American correspondence by this route, and it was also largely used for the transmission of duplicates of advices per Suez mail. The notification being delayed until after the overland mail had left, has made matters more complicated than they might have been had it been made previously. There can hardly be a doubt that if a mail is made up for the Wonga it will be delivered at

San Francisco, and the existing postal treaty between the United States and the Home Government is sufficient guarantee that it will be transmitted to its destination. Missing a mail is of such importance to merchants that they are anxious that the Postmaster General should take steps to prevent its occurrence. Good JOB Atxckxand—A correspondent •with a very long name, in a letter to tho *' Hawke's Bay Herald" speaks thus of Auckland :—During a four years' residence m Auckland, I have seen more of that Christian charity, which thinketh no evil, than in the rest of forty years in other parts of.the world. Aocedent.—The "Chronicle" of the 4th eayß .—While the Wanganui Cavalry were on parade yesterday and practising leaning, Mr M'Minn's horse stumbled and fell upon his leg, injuring some of the bones of the foot. One or two others were also thrown, but they escaped without injury. The Stjperiivtendency.— The "Nelson Colonist" says:—The nomination took place yesterday, when four candidates, Mr Fitzherbert, Major Finnimore, Mr Masters, and last and least, Mr Henry Anderson (who is probably the most unfit man that could be well pointed to for any office of the kind), were nominated. "Yet, strange to tell, on the show of hands being taken, Mr Anderson was second on the list, although Mr Fitzherbert had five to one of a majority. Queensland Immi&rants- —The late arrivals from Germany, remarks the " Maryborough Chronicle," are finding engagements at a faster rate than we might have expected, considering that this is the dull season. There remain now in the depot only 20 married couples and 25 single men. The Queensland brought up last night a number of the immigrants per Star Queen, which vessel was laid on for Maryborough, but it was judged by the Government expedient—the labor market here having been pretty well supplied by the Eeichstag—to arrest the voyage of the former at Moreton Bay. The passengers consist of ten married men, tweve married women, ten children, twenty single men, and twenty single women. The single men and women in a short time will no doubt all find employment, but we are afraid the married couples with families will remain some time at the depot. Very few engagements have as yet however, been made for the district, and we trust our country residents may yet Bend down instructions for engaging the hands that are now seeking for work. Supposed Filibuster op Poet Stephens. —The ' Brisbane Courier" of Saturday has the following:—"A report to the following effect, by Captain Evans of the Star Queen, which arrived here on Monday last, has been handed us :—At daylight on the 16th instant, when the ship was off Port Stephens, a vessel was steering as if to cut her off. AH sail was made, and the Star Queen rapidly gained ground. Smoke was then seen rising from the pursuing vessel, which was soon afterwards discovered to be a steamer. The wind falling light, the steamer came up rapidly, and she approached so* closely that her pprts, about six on each side, very plainly visible, as were also a large number of armed men on deck Showed the French ensign. The breeze, freshening the Star Queen increased the distance between them, and ran up the English ensign, when the pursuer hauled her wind, and stood away." The Cerberus.—The "Leader" has the following in its scientific columns:—The voyage of the Cerberus is watched with even more interest by the English Admiralty than by any section of the colonists to whom she belongs, lhat this vessel should have been unable to go to sea without such an alteration as would render her useless as a fighting ship is a proof that she is very far from what a model man-of-war should be. Her temporary bulwarks alone have cost £15,000, and until they are removed she is helpless for either defence or attack. The loss of the Captain Bhows that without bulwarks such a ship is unseaworthy. These defects were noted by Mr Haddan, of the Admiralty, and he set himself to devise a remedy. He recommends hinged bulwarks, which may be lowered and raised at will. It has been urged as an objection to this arrangement that the bulwarks, even when lying flat, would be shaken to pieces by the turret guns being fired over them; but even if it were true that this would be the result, the plan may be worthy of adoption. If the bulwarks served their purpose till they were injured in battle, they would do well. Battered bulwarks, too, are better than none. If they let in water they will also let it out. But this is only a part of Mr Haddon's scheme. He proposes to construct a turret on Monorieff's system, so that the guns might be lowered below the deck when getting loaded. Of course the apparatus required to effect this would add very much to the weight. He has also a plan for throwing out and taking in the hurricane deck. It is but small consolation to us, however, that the mistakes made in the building and fitting of the Cerberus will serve as a warning when other ships of a like kind are required. Keturned Diggers.—A Thames paper understands 4t that a number of diggers who left the Thames during the recent rush to Queensland, returned per s.s. Hero, and expressed their disgust at the chase they have had in search of a will-o-the-whisp auriferous region. One of the unhappy rovers sold ten scrip in the Caledonian just before his departure for £lO, and other mining interests at equally ridiculous figures, whereby he reckons his loss at some £3ooo^besides. loss of time and expenses of travelling, which in Australian districts is an important consideration. In companyi with others of the returned miners he now expresses his belief ibat taking it altogether, there is no better place than New Zealand, and it will belong ere he is again induced to travel on such a fool's errand."

Tauranga Mail.—lts Continuance. — The Thames " Evening Star" says :—We are glad to hear that the Government have made arrangements for the continuance of this service, which are likely to prove successful. The cause of delay has arisen from the fact that Mr McLean would do nothing until he had obtained the concurrence of every friendly native chief concerned in the matter. By this means he has taken it out of the power of any of them hereafter to stand upon their dignity (?) and refuse assistance, " because action was taken without having consulted them." We believe that the means o be adopted for carrying on the service for the future are as follow: The contract from Katikati to Tauranga will remain in the hands of Mr Warbrick; that from Katikati to the Thames will be let directly to the natives, with Hopihona at their head. The question thus becoming one essentially of self-interest, the friendlies are not likely to let a good thing in the way of money be lost to them through any action of Te Hira's. In fact, the native greed will be set agaiast native obstinacy, and is pretty certain to overcome it." The Taranaki Fire Brigade, says a Taranaki paper, has been broken up. After being in existence four years—during which time it has been of great service—both for preventing fire and in staying its progress —the members, at a meeting held on Tuesday evening last, caine to a determination that the brigade should be disbanded. Although no blame can be attached to the members for the course they have taken (considering the way they have been treated), yet it becomes absolutely necessary that the townspeople should take steps for the protection of their property in the event of a conflagration taking place, which might happen at any moment. They have seen how Canterbury has suffered by fire, and should profit by the lesson and be prepared. We recently brought this subject before our readers, and showed that it was necezsary a rate should be levied on the buildings in town, to obtain means for the maintenance of an efficient fire brigade. Those who are most interested should agitate the question, and by resolution passed at a public meeting should press upon his Honor the Superintendent the necessity of sen ding down to the Council during its next session a Bill to meet the requirements of the case. We think the thanks of the community ara due to the members of the late fire brigade for their services, and as we hear that most of them would be willing to fnrra a fresh one, were means and appliances for extinguishing fires provided, we hope soon to record the formation of another brigade. British Pluck.—The " Brisbane Courier" says: —The (slightest breach of the laws of order by a native of the South Sea Islands never fails to be made a subject of serious complaint, but everything approaching provacation is generally left untold. An occurrence took place in the "most frequented part of Queen street on Tuesday, which was a disgrace to civilisation, and tends to show how the§e people are sometimes aggravated. One of them was walking quietly along the footpath, when a cowardly fellow knocked his hat off, and, as he stooped to pick it up, another blackguard kicked him and knocked him down. A gentleman, who saw the affair, endeavored to find a policeman, but, of course, one was not to be found, and the offenders were allowed to escape. Marriage in High Life.—The Lambton correspondent of the "Newcastle Chronicle" sends that paper the following:—A colored barber, of this township, and a widow have been living together as man and wife for many years, and were generally supposed to be legally married. The widow having, by her first husband a daughter residing in England, determined (with the permission of her sable lord) to send for her, and the latter arrived the week before last; strange to say, this young girl ' immediately fell in love with her supposed stepfather, and in less than a week, and unknown to her mother, became the happy bride of this black Lothario. After the marriage, this shameless couple returned to their residence, and informed the poor mother of the heartless manner they had served her, and turned her out of that house of which she had been mistress for so many years, penniless and friendless. The bride is eighteen years of age, and the colored bridegroom forty-four. Mr Stafford at Timaru. —The "Colonist' of the 4th says in its notes of the month : —Among the events of the last month is the speech of Mr Stafford, delivered to bis constituents at Timaru. It was a long speech, as Mr Stafford's speeches generally are, and. the propositions really deserving the name of new were few, original information being very thinly diffused through the seven or eight columns of type his manifesto occupied. The most prominent and startling doctrine enunciated was a doctrine not likely to be relished either by his own party, or by those who are opposed to him. It is true that a few whose principles in matters political are based on the mere dictum of their leader, may shut their eyes to scruples and sound policy, and favor Mr Stafford's new land policy ; but it is much too far " advanced" to accord with even the rapid and radical changes which new countries frequently witness. Mr Stafford, as we show elsewhere, proposes to pass a law under which forcible possession shall he taken of freehold land,, the purchased property of certain large landholders who bought and paid for their property in the early days of the settlement of the Colony, the equivalent to be given being the original price paid for the land, with ten per cent per annum added. We can understand a proposal, which even at this late period might stop all future absolute sales of land, and substitute leaseholding direct from the Crown, which would enable settlers to employ their capital in working the land, instead of being impoverished, as many are, by the first purchase j but. wholesale seizure, as proposed by Mr Stafford, is not

likely to come into operation ; while the mere proposition—a so-called "newidea," a bid for p OWer —j 8 likely to drive accession to power further away, because, with other things/ leading to distrust of a politician who can so far forget existing rights. The large possessions of many landowners were without a doubt, mistakes in the beginning, but were made open-eyed by the Government, who allowed and offered the sales and took the money. But the rights of landowners exist; and the question is not only their rights, transferred as they have often been to sue- j cessors, who have paid tenfold the original price of the land, or more ; it is the right of j these successors, and of capitalists in England, j mortgagees of the very land that Mr Stafford proposes thus summarily to deal with. No man has made more lofty pretensions respecting the necessity of preserving the credit, the reputation, the financial good faith of the Colony, than Mr Stafford. What will be thought by financiers at Home of this appearance of the great financier, the liberal economist (in promises), in the character of the "Bepudiator" of the early obligations of the Government to the purchasers of land, sold in good faith, and paid for in hard cash. Facts for Taxpayers.—The inhabitants of Vioeland, a town in New Jersey, will not allow a house to be licensed there for the sale of strong drinks. They have a Permissive Bill, and the last vote taken showed 1200 against the traffic to four votes in its favor. The population of the place is 10,000, and the expense last year for care of their poor, their criminals, pay of police, &c, &c, amounted to fifteen pounds (£ls) sterling, just because no drink traffic is allowed in theplnce. Now, let us take a town of a similar size in this colony. Launceston has a population of 10,329, and by the last return the sum of £2265 7s 7d was expended in 1869 in payment of its police. We say nothing of the maintenance of its criminals and paupers, but simply state that i its police cost for one year the sum of £2265 7s 7d. But then Launceston is privileged to have about sixty liquor shops. Our taxpayers j are a noble-minded, disinterested, un.-elfish set of men. They are quite prepared to pay any amount of taxation caused by the drink traffic rather than deprive any man of his beer, or prevent the publican, the brever, and the spirit merchant from becoming rich by a trade which pauperises the rest of the community. It would be altogether beneath them to pay, as the inhabitants of Vineland do, only £ls a year to maintain their police, their poor, and their criminals.—Tasmanian paper. Wool Show. —An arrangement has been ' made by the Agricultural Society of New South Wales to hold a second National Wool Show next season. From the " Mail" we learn that several propositions to alter the values of the characteristic points were entertained at a meeting held with that object last week. It was resolved to divide the wools into combing and clothing qualities, but the .proposed alterations in value of the points were referred to the wool stewards for consideration, with a request that a report upon them might be sent up in a week. It was suggested that condition should be divided into two elements, color and brightness ; also that fineness should be ascertained by the microscope; that the felting properties of wool should have points, and that it should be judged for its aptitude to receive the colors most in request. In the opinion of some members of the committee, eveness of fleece should not be noted. It was generally considered that the award sheet in clothing should vary from that for combing wool ; for instance, length should be unnoticed for clothing wool. There will be very little alteration in the headings under which the points are ranged that were used this year, but the maxima will be different. Thus, length and density will be lowered as respects evenness of fleece, soundness, softness and condition —for in them weight overlapped and preponderated. Ihe society has begun to recognise the fact of the interests of brokers and growers not being necessarily identical, but often the reverse. To the grower the main question is, which wool, or which kind of sheep, will net the largest profit in a certain country ? It would be well if a series of prizes could be arranged to elicit an equal number of correct replies. A New Beverage.—"ln a recent number of the " Pharmacutical Journal," says "Nature", "a paper appears by Mr Cook on the fudrana, the seeds of a tree termed the Paullinia sorbilis, belonging to the order Sapindacese, and abundant in the province of the Amazonas. The fruit is scarcely as large as a walnut, and contains five or six seeds, which are roasted, then mixed with water and moulded into a cylindrical from resembling a large suasage, and finally dried in an oven. Before being used it is grated into powder, very like powdered cacao in appearance. Two spoonfuls of the powder are mixed in a tumbler of water, and the drink is regarded as a stimulant to the nervs, and, like strong tea or coffee, is said to take away the disposition to sleep. Th- active chemical principle is an alkaloid, which Dr Stenliouse has shown to be dentical with tbeiue. Guarana contains more than double as much of this alkaloid as good black tea, and five times as much coffee, the proportion being 507 per cent in guarana. It ts rater a singular coincidence that the same olkaloid should prevail in all the principal substances employed in a similar manner as beverages in different parts of the world—' in the tea of China and India, the coffee of the Arabia, cacao of Central America, the mate of South America, and the guarana of Brazil. Guarana is a nervous stimulataive and restorative. French Gaiety.—ln the campaign of 1812 a distinguished general officer of the French army was severely wounded in the leg. The surgeons, on consulting, declared that amputation was indispensable. The general received the intelligence with much composure.

Among the persons who surrounded him, he observed his valet-de-chambre, who showed by his profound grief the deep share he took in the melancholy accident. "Why do you weep, Germain," said his master, smilingly, to him; "itis a fortunate thing for you j will have only one boot to clean in future."

Mortality amongst Chinamen in the Noeth.—The "Queensland Express" is sorry to learn that a malignant disease has made its appearance among the Chinese who are at work in the neighborhood of the Gilbert, and, that it has already sent many of them to their long homes. It appears that the disease, which is of a peculiar character, was introduced by the most recently arrived Celestials, who went from China to Kockhampton. It commences with fever, which lasts about forty-eight hours, and then developes into enormous swelling all over the body, under which the patient rapidly sinks._ In consequence of the appearance of this disease among the new arrivals, they are avoided by their countrymen and compelled to live by themselves. A Moot Point in Acclimatization. —The Melbourne " Leader," writing of the operations of the Victorian Acclimatization Society, Ba y ß : —f< Never was a society so unfortunate as this Acclimatization Society, and never were the labours of a society so universally and so deservedly condemned. In the Essendon and Moonee district the hares are a nuisance, and are shot as such in defiance of the law. In the Yering and Upper Yarra districte the dejer are committing terrible ravages in the gardens and cornfields, and as a matter of course they are shot by the settlers. The sparrows and minahs are, however, so great a curse in the Melbourne district that gardeners are at their wits' end what to do with them. We have board of one gentleman —a prominent horticulturist, and who, in years gone by. was usually an exhibitor of choice fruits, who, in despair at the havoc caused by these birds, has resolved to cut his fruit trees down. It is positively not worth the expense and trouble necessary to maintain fruit trees in health, if the crop is lost year after year through this pest. But perhaps a greater evil still is the tacit rebellion to the law ; and the growth of the poaching spirit as evidenced by the destruction waged against the hares, the deer, and other animals which have cost the country, through the - Society named, a very large amount of money to introduce." The "Australasian" of the same date also says : —" With the ripening of the grapes comes up for earnest consideration the subject of the sparrows. In some gardens every berry is emptied as fast as it colours. Their chief penchant seems to be the muscats, the black and grizziy frontignans being both stripped of fruit. The question now asked on every hand is, ' What is to be done ? ' The evil haß attained to such a magnitude that some extraordinary measure must be projected to meet the case. First, the cherries ; next, the apricots and plums; and now the grapes —all ruined." Prussian Despotism.—Two members of the North German Parliament—Bebel and Leibknecht —have been apprehended on a charge of high treason against the King of Prussia. The two deputies are Republicans and they have distinguished themselves by the vigor with which they denounced the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, and by the hostility with which they treated the proposal to make King William Emperor of Germany. An unfortunate newspaper editor who ven? tured to question the propriety of the arrest of tho deputies has also been thrown "into prison, and his paper has been confiscated. The iron heel is on the German neck. Mr G. A. Lloyd on Protection.—ln the course of Mr Lloyd's speech ot Newcastle as reported in the " Chronicle" he said, speaking of protection —" Mr Lloyd denied that the success of any country depended on a protective policy, and he held here in New South Wales it would be suicidal to adopt it. Whnt did protection mean ? It meant a duty on flour. It meant that Californian ships should not come here with flour to give the poor man a cheap loaf and take Newcastle coals away in exchange. He could tell them one argument against protection which would so straight to their pockets, and that was this : The suit of clothes he had on cost him in Sydney £7, and on enquiring the prioe in California, where the importation of manufactured goods was almost prohibited, he was told they would cost £2O. That was the effect of protection in California, and that was what it would do for New South Wales. American Enterprise.—Go where you may American enterprise is found in the forefront of the battle of business life. Some years since, we met an American gentleman travelling in the wilds of South Africa, as the representative of a celebrated American map publisher. Our opinion having been asked, as experienced in the colony, respecting his chance of doing a business, we looked at him pityingly, and advised his inßtant withdrawal to a more civilised and populous quarter.,: Our friend quietly shook his head and intimated his intention of " pegging away." Meeting him sometime after in Cape Town, it transpired that he had done a most capital trade in the country. So much for perseverance. The next time we heard from him, he was in Paris! Looking over a late Cape paper, we note another instance of the kind. About twelve months since, Mr Jerome L. Babe visited the Cape as the agent of and with a view to introduce to the Colonial Government and the frontier settlers a much approved magazine rifle. We now note that the same gentlemen is now editing, for an edition of jLO.OOO copies, a pamphlet on the South African, Diamond Fields. Mr Babe is still in the Cape, but the work is to be published in America, by the well-known publishing firm Of Harper Brothers. The prospectus states that the" book is to be " got up in first-rate style, with engravings, maps and sketches*"