News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

The Provincial Executive.—-A Provincial Government Gazette published on Tuesday informs us that his Honor the Superintendent has appointed his Executive and apportioned the various portfolios as follows: —Henry Bunny, Esq., will act as Provincial Secretary ; A. W. F. Halcombe, Esq., as Provincial Treasurer; and George Hunter, Esq. without a portfolio. C. B. BoRLASE, Esq., has been appointed Provincial Solicitor of the Province of Wellington. Prorogation oe Council. —A proclamation in Tuesday's Provincial Government Gazette announces that the Provincial Council stands prorogued. A Return Riele Match, between the City and Hutt Volunteers, will be fired at the Adelaide Butts to-day. Appointments.—Joseph Godfrey Holdsworth, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, Robert Maunsell, Esq., of Tenui, and Charles Augustus Vallance, of Wairarapa, are gazetted Justices of the Peace for the Colony. A Mistaken Statement has been going the rouwd of the papers with reference to the Wreck Recovery Company, which we have bsen requested to correct. That company has not purchased the Wellington. That vessel was bought at the auction of 18th April, by Mr C. J. Harrison, on behalf of a new steam company, to be formed. The same owners subsequently purchased the Taranaki, and have commenced operations as the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company. The Wreck Recovery Company will be wound up. Licensing Meeting.—An adjourned meet-! ingoftheLicensingßenchwasheld on Tuesday, J. Woodward and W. Dorset, Esqs, and Major Paul being present. The license for the Victoria Hotel, Te Aro, was transferred from Robert Somerville to Hugh Bradfoot. The license for the Express Hotel, Cuba street, was transferred from W. Chisholm to Robert Somerville, who has also become proprietor as well as landlord of the hotel. Ab Chisholm's license had only been granted on the understanding that it was not transferable, the Bench had some hesitation in granting the transferin this instance; but as Mr Somerville had bought the property the objection was not considered to apply, and the transfer was therefore granted. Leave was also given to change the name of the hotel, to " The Imperial." An application to transfer . from Wm. Donald to John Delaney the license of the Waterloo Hotel, Kaiwarra, was adjourned till the next meeting of the Bench. Daniel Crosbie, a man supposed to be connected with a late robbery in the Rangitikei district, was arrested at Wanganui on the 28th, on a charge of having stolen a gold chain, and a cheque for £ll 10s at Palmerston some short time ago. He was remanded to Rangitikei. Crosbie, it appears, bears a strong resemblance to a man, named M'Corquadale, who was sentenced a few days ago in the R.M. Court. When we say that M'Corquadale's looks are enough to hang him, it is obviously not flattering to Crosbie.

Fatal Accident.—lnformation was received in town on Tuesday by the Police that a man named Alfred John Cox, a settler at Palmer3ton, was accidentally killed that day by a falling tree. The deceased was the man who about four years ago received two years' imprisonment for bigamy, and was brother to to the man named Cox, who was arrested here two or three years ago for embezzling the funds of some society at Auckland, for which he acted as solicitor. The deceased, who had been a resident of Palmerston for the last two years, leaves a wife and family: It is said he was very well esteemed in the district.

Timber Ballast. —We noticed on Tuesday several large timber wains unloading alongside the ship England. The timber (red pine) comes from the mills of Mr Harris, at the Pakuratahi, and we believe he has received an order for 30,000 feet, which the England is taking as ballast, and as an experiment to test the English market regarding this timber. The timber is cut as large as to admit of it being conveniently transported in waggons, but is still bulky enough to meet all the requirements of home wood-workers, who will doubtless saw most of it into ordinary planking. The baulks range from five to eight inches in thickness, twenty inches wide, and about fifteen feet in length. The Wanganui Hospital (says the " Herald") is largely endowed with land, but the deed is lost —the trustees have lost the deed ! —and the land, town land, —town land, in desirable building positions—cannot be leased, and the hospital, consequently, is virtually deprived of its endowment. The Government do not care, the trustees are equally indifferent, and society overlooks it. Meantime, there is suffering which might be lessened, there are lives sacrificed, which probably might be preserved, and there are memories saddened and embittered which might have clung with loving fondness to a place which christian charity had hallowed by its holiest offices'.' The WaNO-ANUi Bridge (says the " Chronicle") is so near completion that the tollhouse is actually occupied. Preparations are now being made for painting the iron. Volunteer Notices.—Ensign Jacob Montieth, ot the New Zealand Militia, is gazetted Lieutenant. Captain Arnot, of the Greytown Rifle Volunteers, and Ensign Cuffin, of the militia, have resigned their commissions. His Excellency has been pleased to accept the servies of the Wellington Highland Rifle Volunteers, and to disband the undermentioned corps at their own request, viz: —The Invercargill Light Horse Volunteers, the Nelson (City) Artillery Volunteers, and the No. 1 (Nelson City) Company Rifle Volunteers,

Readings.—We understand that the concerts and readings at the Te Aro Schoolroom, in aid of the organ fund of St. Peter's Church, are shortly to be resumed. The choir are practising diligently, under the direction of Mr Moreshead, the organist of the church. The immense success which attended these entertainments last winter, should be a guarantee to those who intend to take part in the coming ones that their efforts will be appreciated. Lighting the Whare.— On Saturday night the gloominess of the Queen's Wharf was, we trust, finally dispelled. Of the lampI posts erected for the new light four were lit, three on the main trunk and one on the southern outer T. The lamp on the opposite arm is not yet finished ; another at the south end of the middle T has not yet been lit. We believe it is intended to put up a gas lamp at the extremity and centre of the wharf to replace the present red light used for the guidance of steamers. When these new lighting arrangements are completed, master* of steamers will no longer experience their former difficulty in coming alongside the wharf at night; the three head lights—a red with a white light on each side, and the line of lights immediately behind the red one will be an unerring guide. Formerly, we believe, the red globe light of Mr Allan's shop used occasionally lead to a little confusion in the minds of masters of steamers, but this can no longer be the case. Last night the wharf was thronged, and the improved light met with general appreciation. The Water Scheme was on Friday last advanced another stage by the Council, but not without giving rise to one of those scenes paculiar to the City Council when water is the subject of discussion. Clearly water is not Councillor Carpenter's native element, for once plunged into the depths of ways and means for water supply, his once acute and vigorous understanding gets washed out, and, like a rudderless barque, he flies into the wind. The worthy councillor, on finding himself a solitary castaway on the " wide waste of waters," as it were, lashed into a foam over the matter, condemning in no measured terms the monstrous tyranny and injustice shown in endeavoring to make all the ratepayers contribute to the scheme. So much for those energetic and progressive councillors, the teachings of science, and the advice of our most scientific men ; and as for the articles which the councillor had seen in the papers advocating the scheme, and pointing out the numerous and solid advantages which would flow from it—they were all rot and rubbish. It would appear also that nothing short of a plesliscite of the town will convince the worthy councillor that the majority of the inhabitants can require water for other purposes than merely to boil their pots,_ as he announced his intention to memorialise the Assembly to strike out certain of the rateing clauses. The councillor, it appears, has an iron tank and a well, so have many of his Thorndon neighbors, ergo, the water scheme is not wanted. Besides, if Thorndon wanted water, doesn't the Tinakori Road abound in streams, and has it not got a watershed of several acres, and could not they impound a little dam of their own, &c, &c, at a cost of £3OO ; and, to sum up, the Councillor objected to pay u a brass farthing" for water. The Councillor's outburst brought his Worship to his legs, and elicited utterances of surprise all round j but Mr Plimmer ventured on a joke. He failed to see anything to be surprised at, as _ Councillor Carpenter was only acting in strict consistency. We suppose he ineantthat he had alivays labored under hydrophobia. Eire. —Last Wednesday evening a small bedroom, forming a portion of the Junction Hotel, Pahautanui, was discovered to be on fire. Assistance was at hand, and the flames quickly got under, but not till they had consumed all the bedding and furniture in the apartment. The fact that the root was of iron localised the fire, otherwise the whole of the extensive premises forming the Junction Hotel would have certainly been destroyed. Inquest.—At the inquest on the body of a new-born infant at Waihenga, in the Wairarapa, the jury returned a verdict of "Died from natural causes." Our Town Belt, or that unoccupied portion which has lately been leased by Mr. Owen, and what is to be done with it, bids fair to prove an interesting subject of discussion in the City Council. Councillor Quin tabled a motion three weeks ago to consider this matte/, but the other members felt that a great deal could be said as to how it should be disposedof.andhave postponed the discussion a little longer. The public, too, ought to feel interested in these belt acres. Such a variety of opinions prevail with regard to the disposition of this piece of ground that we will just give them in brief, in the hope that it may lead to a fusion of opinion bafore the next sitting of the Council. Since the birth of the Acclimatisation Society many think the reserve is a splendid opening for their purposes; others think that Te Aro has as much right to a recreation ground as Thorndon ; while many think we have not advanced sufficiently for the luxury to dispense with the small income derived by leasing the ground. Still another view is tat en : that it is not fair to constantly expend on the town ways the receipts of what was originally a reserve for recreation pur-

poses. Southern Coal. —A contemporary says : We have been Bhown a sample of coal discovered in a fresh locality by Mr Robert Wilson, lessee of the Tokomairiro coal fields. The coal has been fairly tried and tested, and is pronounced by blacksmiths and others to be the best they have yet seen in the country. Our Next Governor.—The " Wanganui Chronicle" introduces the following rumor to the public :—lt is rumored that, on the expiration of Sir George Bo wen's term, the Marquis of Normandy will be the next Governor of New Zealand,

Boat Accident and Loss of Life.—We regret having to chronicle a most unfortunate accident that took place on Thursday afternoon, which resulted in the loss of two lives. About two in the afternoon the first cutter of H.M.S. Virago, with thirteen men on board, started for the shore under a double-reefed sail, as a very strong breeze was blowing from the north-west with occasional heavy squalls. About midway, and near the outer buoy, a fierce gust struck the boat and completely capsized her. The accident was seen from the shore, and several boats put off to the rescue as speedily as possible. Very few minutes elapsed before the rescuers were amongst the struggling men, several of whom were encumbered with heavy weather clothing, and when drawn out of the water were very much fatigued with their efforts in buffeting the rough sea that was running. After the excitement of the moment occupied in rescuing the crew of the swamped boat from their perilous position, and each of those who had been in the water looked round to see if his comrades had been equally fortuuate, it was discovered that two men, Taylor and Smith, were missing. Taylor, who was a warrant officer's steward, was quite a young fellow, and unable to swim. To make his chance worse, he was very heavily dressed. We understand that the poor fellow joined the ship only a few months ago in Auckiand. The other man was one of the regular crew of the boat, and could not swim. The swamped boat was soon afterwards brought on the gridiron, while another boat from the Virago went out grappling for the bodies as long as daylight permitted, but unsuccessfully. From the strong wind blowing during the whole of yesterday and last night, and the heavy sea setting in on the Te Aro beach, it is more than probable that the bodies may be cast up during the course of the day # A singular coincidence is connected with this sad occurrence which is worth mentioning. Amongst the boats which went to render assistance, the first, to reach the fatal scene was a boat belonging to the schooner Crest of the Ware (Bell, master). This same boat, with precisely the same crew on board, about two months ago rendered similarly valuable assistance to another of the Virago's boats which had been capsized. Mr Crosbie, Mr Maxwell, and Mr Foster, officers of the Virago, were among those in the boat, and the accident was nearly fatal to one of them. He was supporting himself by an oar, and one of the two drowning men seized hold of his legs when sinking. Fortunately for the survivor, the previous efforts of the drowning man had so exhausted him, that he soon let go his hold. Several of the Virago men were patrolling the seashore between the Baths and the Maori pa during the night, in the performance of the melancholy duty of looking out for their comrades' remains. But up till a late hour last night the sea had not given up its dead. Sale of Property.—A very extensive sale of property was held at the Exchange on Thursday by Messrs Bethune and Hunter. The attendance was large, the bidding spirited, and the prices obtained were considered highly satisfactory, and especially so with the city properties. The property at Rangitikei, containing 138 acres and improvements, particulars ef which we published some days ago, brought £320: town acre, No. 52, sold in allotments at 20s 255. and 30s per foot, realising £320 : town acre, No. 67, sold at 15s per foot, realising £120; town acre, No. 779, sold for £75 ; town acre, No. 781, realised £7O; town acre, Ne. 866, and land at Manawatu, withdrawn. Wellington Christy's.—The late successful entertainment, being the first of a series, was attended with many preliminary expenses, but the nett proceeds amounted to £ls, which sum has been handed over as a contribution to St. Mary's Orphanage; The following lettei s have been kindly placed at our disposal : " Wellington, May 4th, 1871. My Lord ,—I have great pleasure, by the direction of the committee, in .enclosing a cheque for the sum of £ls, being nett proceeds of a concert given by the members of the Amateur Christy's in aid of a local charity, and beg to request your Lordship will be good enough to place the same to the credit of the fund for the support of St. Mary's Orphanage.—l am, &c, A. T. Mag-innity, Secretary and Treasurer. His Lordship Bishop Viard." " Wellington, May 4th, 1871. Dear Sir, —I have to acknowledge the receipt of £ls, an offering for the purposeof the erection of St. Mary's Orphanage, an institution much required.—l am, &c, t Ph. J. Viard, Bishop of Wellington. A. X. Maginnity, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer. Winter Evenings.—The chill breath of winter is daily becoming sharper, the days are sensibly shortening, and the question naturally presents itself—What are many of us going to do to relieve the monotony of the long evenings ? It has been a distinguishing feature in Wellington, as it has also been pretty much all over New Zealand, to get up readings, lectures, and various amusements of an intellectual nature during the winter months. We have no doubt that the ensuing winter will prove no exception to the good custom we have hitherto followed ; but that it should not be so, we merely mention the fact as a reminder, for it seems that this Beason we are more dilatory than our neighbors. In many of the outskirts of the province catering for intellectual recreation is going on actively, and in the country districts of the neighboring Island readings and other entertainments are in full swing. We have a lively recollection of the excellent series of lectures got up in connection with the Presbyterian Church, Willis street, chiefly through the instrumentality of the Bev Mr Baterson and some other gentlemen, and weknowthatthe public at large would accept as a welcome boon suoh another series for this season. It is a pjty that the versatile brain power possessed hy many of our foremost men should not be mado to part with ita wealth of thought m Uws for tjjt Q f tiiojy fellow #i»

zens; and to many of the gentlemen themselves, who are daily engaged in the dry routine of departmental duties, a chance lecture or oration would be a not unpleasant change. Then there is our Debating Society, which proved such a signal success last winter. No doubt after the thought and observation during the last few months the members will be bursting with argument and facts, and ready to discuss the most abstruse point in the whole category of social questions. We merely draw attention to the matter thus generally, leaving it for those who kindly bestir themselves in this good work to fix their own arrangements.

The Census.—lt is some considerable time since the last census paper for this city was returned, and yet we are in ignorance of its population. The census was taken simultaneously for the whole of the colony, but as yet published returns have only come to hand from the South Island districts ; at least if any have been published for the North Island we have not yet seen them. What is this to be attributed to? Are the people south of Cook Strait more inquisitive on the question of vital statistics, or is it merely that they have a more expeditious way of doing things)? We make no doubt that if there is any delay in publishing the returns, as would appear from the number of enquiries we have of late heard on the matter, that the delay has been unavoidable. Benevolent.—At a meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Society held on Tuesday, £1 was paid in from Mr Palmer by Archdeacon Stock; also 10s from Captain Thomas, and 5s from Mr Eitchett. Several cases of distress were relieved.

The Wanganui S.N. Company.—At the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the above company, the balance-sheet showed a net profit for the six months of £734 18s Id, while that of the half-year ended 11th October, 1870 was only £486 lis 3d. Taking into consideration the general depreciation in steamship property, the directors have written off £3OO from the value of the Wanganui, and recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, and a return of 6s per share on the paid-up capital. The report concludes : —" The Wanganui has made the following trips during the half-year—24 to Wellington, one to Manukau, and one to Dunedin —in all 26, for three of which excurcursion tickets were issued at reduced rates, realising the sum of £378 for passages alone. Your directors have to report that, under the new manager, the business of the company has been most satisfactorily conducted and trust that by economy and good management so to work the boat in the future that the shareholders may receive fair interest for their investment. The Moon.—There will be a full moon in the first week of each of the first seven months of this year. In July there will be two full moons—viz., on the 2nd and the 31st ; and in the remaining five months the moon will be at the full in the last week of each mont h. Many years will elapse before this will occur again. The Wanganui Weighbridge is now in full operation and can weigh anything from half pound to a ton and a half.

Stoppage op Survey.—The Marton corcespondent of the " Wanganui Herald," writing on the Ist says : —The natives atKakariki, a pah opposite Mr Pox's, have refused to allow the Government Engineer to survey the lino for the proposed new railway, and say it shall not go through their lands. I suppose this will cause a fresh settlement of the Manawatu difficulty by Mr McLean. Possibly some more concessions in the way of grants of land will have the desired effect in removing this last obstruction. One of the natives principally concerned in the stoppage was at Marton on Saturday, but did not seem to apprehend the slightest trouble or inconvenience to himself on account of his own action in the matter.

The Atlantic and Pacific again Connected by Railway.—lt has been notified that under a commission from the Argentine Government, Messrs Waring Brothers are sending out a staff of engineers to survey a railway route of about 1200 miles, from Buenos Ayres across the Andes, to join the Chilian railway system from Santiago to Valparaiso, thus connecting in the southern hemisphere the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Small-pox and its Cube. A correspondent of an Auckland paper, in the course of some remarks on the probable introduction of small-pox to this colony from England, says:—During tho year 1863 the English press called public attention to a new specific, the eftects of which in arresting the progress of the disease were described as marvellous. The medicine was said to be a decoction of the root of a papaveraceous plant, a native of Nova Scotia, named by different writers Saracenia purpur Indian cup, and Saracenea purea or pitcher plant. One writer says " It will cure small-pox in all its forms within twelve hours after the patient has taken the medicine ; and however alarming and numerous the eruptions or confluent or frightful they may be, the peculiar action of the medicine is such that very seldom is a scar left to tell the story of the disease." If such a potent medicine exists, it is very desirable that the medical men should be furnished with an abundant supply to enable them successfully to combat with the expected foe. Pedestbianism.—The "Lyttelton Times" remarks: —A match was made on Saturday night—Bird, the English pedestrain against time. Mr Harris backs Bird to run twenty miles in two hours. Mr Maxwell backed time. The match is for £IOO a side, £2O was staked with Mr Baylee, of the Criterion. The match will come off on June 24, within five miles of Christchurch, on the return of the Pedestrians from Dunedin. Mr Harris offered to back Bird against any man in New Zealand, giving one mile start out of fifteen, but there was no response, It is hardly necessary to say that twenty miles in two bouys is an eitra-

Accident.—We (" Bruce Herald") regret to learn that Mr Chalmers, senr, of Milton, met with an accident on Tuesday, last week, whereby his leg was broke. It appears that after he had dropped work that evening, where he had been ploughing upon a farm near Canada Bush, and while occupied feeding the horses one of them struck him, and broke his leg below the knee, besides fracturing a small bone at the ankle. By some means or other Mr Chalmers managed to bridle and mount the horse, and rode him about a mile and a half to procure the assistance of a neighbor, Mr Hagan.

The Emperor op Russia a Confirmed Drunkard. —The Emperor Alexander 11. is generally known in St. Petersburg to have become a confirmed drunkard. He imbibes nothing but the strongest kind of alcholic liquors. All the efforts of his family to reclaim him have proved fruitless.

A Mystery in the Calendar.—ln this year there will be fifty-three Sundays, but only fifty-two weeks. Nowhere during the year does Sunday come oftener than once in seven days. The first week of the year begins with Sunday, and so do all the other weeks. This may appear mysterious at first, but by consulting the calendars for 1871 and 1872 it will be seen that the last week of 1871 begins with Sunday, and has a Sunday following it. As two Sundays cannot come together, the year 1872 begins with Monday, and, it being leap year, Sundays will occur once in seven days thereafter. The arrangement will place Sundays at the end of the week instead of the beginning, and is a complete theological triumph for the Seventh Day Baptists. This complication of the calendar is supposed to have been planned by the Jews, who, on account of their superior education, were entrusted with its revision. This explanation is not to be binding upon anybody, nor to conflict with any person's constitutional privilege of universal toleration. —" Exchange." Rifle Match.—On Monday last a most exciting contest took place between ten picked men of the Alfred and ten of the Victoria Troops of cavalry at Rangitikei. The match took place at the butts on Mr D. Eraser's property, near Parewanui. A number of ladies complimented the volunteers by their presence, and enlivened the scene already gay with bright flags and the uniforms of the men. The day was everything that could be desired, and the %hooting, in which everyone seemed to take the greatest interest, especially in that of tne mounted, was very good. After a hard struggle, and numerous changes, now one and now another being ahead, the Victoria men won by two points. This is the second match that has taken place this year, the Alfred winning the first and the Victoria Troop the second. Both sides feel that a conquering match must take place, and the contest will, we doubt not, be hardly fought and hardly won. The following is the total score :—Victoria Troop, 401 points ; Alfred Troop, 399 points ; average total per man, 40 points. After all was over, both parties retired to the Handiey Arms Hotel, where a dinner was prepared by the Alfred Troop for their friends. After dinner toasts and songs followed till a late hour of the evening, when all dispersed and retired to their respective homes.

The Late Eatal Boat Accident at Akaeoa.—The searchers for the missing bodies in the late sad catastrophe succeeded, on Saturday the 22nd inst., in finding the body of Greorge Bryant, one of those who perished. The body though sadly disfigured, was easily recognised. It was brought to Akaroa, where an inquest was held the same day before W. H; Pillet, Esq., coroner, and a verdict returned similar to that on the remains of the late Mrs Dalgleish. Some six or seven boats were searching on Sunday for the two other missing bodies but, unfortunately, unavailingly. Bryant was buried on Sunday afternoon in the Akaroa cemetery, his remains being followed to the grave by a great number of the inhabitants of the town and district. Died op Laughing.—We often hear the phrase, " I shall die a-laughing." The South Bend (Indiana) " Register" tells of the following actual case ;—At Bremen last Saturday, Mr Newsbaum, while taking a lot of miscellaneous articles from his waggon, caught hold of a green cowhide and jerked it from the vehicle in such a manner as to excite the risibilities of the bystanders. Among the nurtlber was a man named Jacob Methuselah, who laughed so heartily and continued as to attract the attention of his companions, and soon they saw that he began to spit blood most profusely. In a few minutes the blood issued from his mouth in such quantities as to alarm his companions, and he was then taken into a house, where efforts were made to stop the flow oi blood ; but the man's time had come, and in fifteen minutes.from the time he began bleeding he was a corpse. The doctor decided that it was a case of hemorrhage of the lungs. Mr Methuselah was an apparently healthy man, and his death is cited as one of the strangest that has ever occurred in this vicinity. Western Eloquence.—Western oratory has long been famous, but only Western writers can hope to do justice to its peculiar merits. We get both the oratory and the analysis thereof in the following paragraph from an Ohio paper, describing a member ol the Legislature of that comparatively Eastern commonwealth while in the throes of delivery. Mr Acker, the eminnet horn-swaggler, thrilled the house on Saturday with one of his most majestic efforts. A short-horn reporter describes the scene as indescribable. Ladies on the back seats were obliged to climb up to the back of the chairs to escape the torrents of eloquence and things. The speaker was so charged with the electricity of eloquence that his sharply pointed spike»tail coat frequently stood at an angle of sixty degrees and trembled like an aspen. The oratoy most of the time resembled an irresponsible victim in galvanie slippers, He reared, and plunged, and squealed like SOO poimdj of petticoat on hes? pair

A New Lodge.—A new lodge of the Wellington District, 1.0.0.E.M.U., was opened at Q-reytown on Saturday last. The new lodge was formally opened by the District Officer of the Wellington District, at the Rising Sun Hotel, and eleven members were initiated. P. Gr. Edwin Marriott was appointed N.Gh ; Edwin Braggins, V.G-.; and Brother Hammorich, secretary. After the installation ceremonies were completed everyone sat down to an exlent repast provided by Host Puller. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were afterwards duly honored, including of course the Order of the Forresters. Money that will not Make itself Wings.—A friend has kindly shown us a coin which is really a curiosity in its way, and reminds us of the ancient iron money of the Spartans. It is a square copper two-daler piece—Swedish currency—of little more than a century ago. Its measurement is 7| inches by 6|- to 6| inches (the shape being rather irregular, and one end broader than the other ; thickness, from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch j weight, 51J ounces avoirdupois. It bears five large stamps, each looking like a coin, about an inch and a half in diameter. That in the centre has the inscription " 2 Daler Koppar-mynt"—the last word but partly legible—and those in the corners bave the Swedish crown, with the letters E R S and the date 1748, which was during the reign of King Frederick of Sweden. We see from a work upon coins that during the previous century the Swedish two-daler piece was nine inches square, so that the present specimen appears to have been, like our own new bronze coins, reduced in size to meet the requirements of modern purses. Its appearance, however, which is sharp and fresh, does not justify the idea that it has been much used. Indeed, a purse or pocket must be tolerably large which could conveniently accommodate money coin weighing beetween 31b. and 41b. each. —Adelaide paper. A Submerged Tunnel. —An engineer in the employ of the Turkish Government has planned a railway tunnel, made in sections, to be submerged thirty-four feet below the surface of the water, and moored to the bottom by chain cables. He proposes to sink it across the Bosphorus, and thus connect Europe and Asia by railway. Mining Facts. —A correspondent writes to the " New Zealand Herald" :—Sir, —A recent number of the Thames " Advertiser" says: — "In order to give our readers an idea of the mining works carried on, we may mention that the quantity of blasting powder used on the field during the quarter ending March. 3lßfcis 15,0001 b; and during the preceding quarter, ending Dec 31st, the quantity used was 13,8251 b." The " A nnual Review of the Californian Mines," for 1870, just published has the following :—" The quantity of powder exploded on some occasions have been larger the past year than ever before—on the 29th of December, twenty-five tons of powder were set off in the tunnel of the Blue Point Company, afc Sucker Flat, several other blasts nearly as largo having been fired during the year."

A Giant Possum Hunting.—As anecdotes concerning the Chinese giant seem to take the place of the " enormous gooseberry" jußt now, we (" Star") may contribute our quota to the record. Last week Chang, in company of a few of our local sportsmen, went out to indulge in the relaxation of a little possum shooting. The night was fine, and the light of the moon, soon disclosed plenty of the kind of game sought for. Chang espied an opossum on a honeysuckle tree, and was asked why he did hot shoot him. The giant declared that it would be a waste of powder, and reaching forth his long brawny arm he clutched the animal by the tail, and brought it down to the dogs, observing that the 'possum had evidently miscalculated his length of reach. Journalistic. —The Grreymouth " Star " has changed hands, the plant and copyright having been purchased from the original proprietor, Mr Browne, by Messrs Reid and Co., by whom the paper is now published. Electeo-plating has been started in Auckland by Mr Eeaton, an optician. A local paper says: —Knives, forks, spoons, cruetstands, and similar necessaries may safely be given to him as steel, and returned with all the appearance of being solid silver, and that, too, at a really trifling cost. Native Meeting.—An Auckland exchange reports :—About 300 natives from the various Kaipara districts, Omaha, Mahurangi, Matakana, and other Northern settlements have assembled in order to hold an uhunga, the occasion being the removal of the bones of the old chief George Wynyard from Waitangi to Babylon. A tangi is also to be held over the body of the young chief Hikitea, who was closely related to Otene, the leading chief in Kaipara. Hikitea died at the native settlement at the Sand-hills, and extensive preparations have been made, according to Maori custom, to do honor to his memory. His death had been expected for some days prior to its occurrence, and a large quantity of" kai was collected in anticipation, which will doubtless form a leading feature in the ceremonies engaged in. Monstbous Fbauds.—A recent "Grey River Argus" has the following:—"Many of our readers will remember a Mr. Caspar, who formerly kept a cigar shop in Dunedin, and afterwards brought out the patent fire extinguishing machine, " L'Extincteur." He went home to England some years ago as principal agent for this machine, but appears, according to the London correspondent of the " Age," to have got into trouble in connection with some contracts with the French Government. Entrusted by the Defence Committee with a contract for boots for the French army, he was afterwards acoused of conniving with the manufacturers in London at substituting pasteboard for leather in the soles. He is now imprisoned in France. This and ofcher similar frauds will account for the fearfully seedy appearanos of Faidboi'bo'g and Bouybaki %

Night Licenses, we observe from our exchanges, are now abolished throughout Victoria, and, according to the "Temperance Ne ws," dancing saloons are solving the problem of maintaining an existence without what has always been considered the necessary adjunct of a bar. Even the compositors on the daily papers have-- to content themselves with non-intoxicating refreshments, and, after ceasing work, are compelled (sad fate!) to go home without being able to spend the remaining hours of the night in card-playing at an accommodating public. It is too soon to notice the effect of the change in the diminished number of arrests by the police ; but we have no doubt that the quiet of our streets and the diminution of crime will be promoted by the operation of the new law, which we trust the authorities will be careful to see gets a fair trial. Haeboe Defences.—An Auckland contemporary under this head statos that for some time past tho Hon. the Native and Defence Minister has been busy obtaining information as to the methods and cost of fortifying our principal harbors. His attention has not been confined to Auckland alone, but to the principal harbors of the colony. We believe, however, that Auckland is the place which has furnished the most elaborate reports and perfect plans of defence. Lately a board of officers of the Naval and Artillery Volunteers sent in a very complete report, accompanied hy the necessary plans ; and this, together with other information in the possession of the Government, is now under consideration. We hope no unnecessary delay will take place in initiating some measure of defence for the harbor and shipping when it can be easily accomplished. -Few places possess the same natural advantages for defence that Auckland does, and the cost of defensive works ought to be correspondingly comparatively low. We think the Government ought to provide the Artillery Volunteers with the necessary material in the use of the torpedo, and also with various models for the purpose of studying their mechanism. A galvanic battery, ought also to be provided, for the purpose of exploding the missiles tried. The expense of a few experiments of the kind would not be greater than that of a lengthened practice with shot or shell.

Reception to the Ofeicees of the Nevada.—We are glad to observe, says an Auckland contemporary, by an advertisement in another column, that a committee has been formed for the purpose of making arrangements for a complimentary luncheon to be given to the officers of the Nevada, on her arrival in Auckland from San Franoisco. _ It will be seen by the names on the committee that the matter has very properly been taken in hand by many of our leading commercial men, and there is no doubt their efforts to make the affair a success will be seconded by all sections of the community, and that the result will be worthy of the occasion in every respect. We believe it is intended to apply to the directors of the New Zealand Insurance Company for the use of their splendid hall, which could not be better inaugurated than in such a manner. His Excellency the Governor is expected to arrive in Auckland in time to preside. Naeeow Escape from Fiee.—The " New Zealand Herald" reports:—lt appears that some person had passed the shop of Mr P. A. Philips at the corner of Shortland street, with a bottle of kerosene oil. Through an accident the bottle was dropped on the footpath, it broke and spilled the contents. It is conjectured that some one who saw the accident threw a lighted match among the spilled oil, which at once ignited and a great blaze was the result;. Mr Asher, superintendent of the Fire Brigade, was standing in his shop door at the time, and seeing the flames he at once rushed to the scene of impending disaster. By the aid of several people who came on the scene, the fire was extinguished before any damage was done to Mr Phillip's property. This ready ignition of the oil seems to indicate a very bad quality ; and if so, the Inspector of Weights and Measures should at once inquire into the matter, in order that no more oil of a similar kind may be disposed of, or we may have to chronicle some serious accident from lamp explosion. Tatjpo Road.—The "Chronicle" of the 26th sajs :—The Matatera natives, headed by young Aperahama, their chief, purpose urging on Mr Fox the desirability of carrying the proposed road to Taupo via Matatera and No 2 line, instead of by Kennedy's and tho "Upokongare Valley. They maintain that a far more practicable route exists by crossing the Waugaehu river somewhere above their kainga, and following the valley of that river, than by Mr Field's track, but we understand that Mr Booth has examined it and finds the upper parts of it impracticable. Amusements of an indecent or immoral nature do not seem to be tolerated in the East. In Australia, Catherine Hayes made a fortune ; Lola Montes was a dead failure. In Calcutta, not long since, a German danseuse made her debut and her farewell appearance in the Town Hall on tho same evening. The authorities prohibited a second appearance, and yet she wore an amount of clothing which on the stage at home at this period would be considered abundant. In Bombay some people declined to subscribe to the Italian opera, on the ground that it was improper for a woman to appear, for instance, as Maffeo in Lucrezia— a singular objection, as was pointed out at the time, to be taken in an Indian city, where the natives frequently go about nearly naked.—" Cornhill Magazine." How to Take It.—Josh Billings gives some advice to a young lady as to how she should receive a proposal:—You ought to take it kind, looking down hill, with an expression about half tickled and half scarf. After the pop is over, if yure luvyer wants tew kisß you I don't think I would say yes or. no, but let fche thing kind ov take its own course.

Patea. —A correspondent of the " Wa'nganui Herald" writes from Patea on the 26th " that the roads, bridges, &c. are all progressing very favorably. Population is increasing. The native difficulty is almost becoming a thing of the past, but stiil the order lately issued against interference with loyal natives returning unmolested to the district is not very reassuring. However, lam credibly informed that as a general set-off, the natives along the coast have withdrawn their opposition to the road and telegraph between Patea and New Plymouth. The general aspect of the country has very much improved during the lost season ; a large amount of building,clearing, and fencing having been done, as well as an immense increase in our flocks and herds. Mr Hirst is commencing a jetty in the town of Carlyle, an enterprise which will be a great advantage to not only the town but also to the whole district, Many really nice houses are springing up, and the Patea of 1871 shews a marked difference as compared with Patea of 1869. No amount of praise would, or could, bo too great for the action taken by tho pre sent Ministry (the way having been to a great extent prepared for them by their predecessors), backed up, as they have been by the settlers, for the policy pursued,—first by creating confidence among the settlers by blockhouses, &c, also keeping the natives clear of the district, next by opening up the country by roads, bridges, telegraph, and coaches. All that seems to be required now is improving the entrance to the river, which question is under consideration.

Thiety Miles in Theee Hours —Those who are sceptical (says the " Lyttelton Times") of A. E. Bird's ability to run twenty miles in two hours—and the number is by no means small —will be somewhat taken aback to learn that he has made a match to perform even a more difficult task. He has in short accepted a bet of £2OO to £SO that he does not run thirty miles in three consecutive hours. This is a feat nothing approaching to which has ever been witnessed on this side of the line, and, to say the least, betrays a confidence by Bird in his powers of endurance that ensures an exhibition of pedestrianism worthy some sacrifice to witness. The match was made at Tattersall's on Saturday night previous to the athletic sports' meeting, and from a full knowledge of the gentleman who backs the old scythe bearer, there can be no doubt as to the bona fides of the match. The conditions stipulate that the race shall be run on or before the sth August; twelve hours' notice of the day to be given by Bird, and that it is to be run within twenty miles of Christchurch. The provision " on or before" is made with the view that if Bird feels that he is in the requisite form on the evening previous to running his twenty mile match he may declare to run the two races off at the same time, thus the distance to be run in the first match would also form a portion of the thirty mile match. But, on the other hand, should he not be in sufficient condition for the longer race, he will have six weeks in which to specially prepare himself for it. Five per cent, of the money was staked by each party to the match on Saturday night, forty-five per cent, more is to be paid on the 10th of June, and the balance on the 23rd of the same month. We need scarcely say that the feeling is strongly in favour of time, although it must be said that Bird is very confident. A New System op Catching- Wild Duck. —A son of Mr C. Hall's, of Yeumburra (says a Yass paper), has hit upon a system of catching wild ducks which is perhaps altogether new to the native youth. Last week he placed rat-traps, in which he put some corn, at the edge of the river (Murrumbidgee), and on the following morning he found in the traps two ducks. The next morning he obtained another in the same manner. The duck in snapping at the corn breaks the thread, and is caught fast as a rat or a mouse would be. Chinese in Otago.—The Chinese in the Upper Shotovor district are thus referred to by the special correspondent of the " Wakatip Mail," who has recently paid a visit to that locality :—" The Chinese are here in abundance, Skipper's Creek being the favorite place of Celestial resort. By some they are considered a nuisance, and a disadvantage to the place, while others are of the opposite opinion. There is one fact, however, the Chinese work for all they get, and whon they have money, expend it pretty freely; some storkeepers' bills shown to me were highly satisfactory on this score. One barbarian dealer in grocery condiments let me see some Chinese accounts ranging from £4O to £l2O, and the items for luxuries, such as lobsters, sardines, jams, P.B. and old T. — sometimes amounting to cases of the latter — were something alarming. From what I learned the Chinese are the best customers the storekeepers have for luxuries, which they consume in astonishing variety and quantity; with such facts before us they are not to be hastily despised. There is plenty of room for them at the Upper Shotover, without elbowing out the Europeans. There exists a country here of immense extent to develop, having a variety of mineral resources unequalled elsewhere ; if anything is badly wanted it is population, and the more in number the better off will be each individual." A Eelic of Barbarism is a term applied to the hardship of making accused persons stand during their trial upon any charge,_ by one accustomed to the practice of our criminal courts. ■ Akmy Reform:. —A report reaches the "Pall Mall Grazette," which it gives under due reserve, that every regiment is in future to comprise three battalions. One 850 strong for foreign service; one for home service, 510; and one as the recriting depot, which is to consist of militia regiment of the country. The last will be officered by the present halfpay officers, all whom have been written to and asked if they desire to serve. Eor the first year every militia regiment would be embodied, but after that only at certain intervals.