News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 17, 20 May 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

Meeting- of Parliament. —A proclamation published in a General Government Gazette issued yesterday, announces that the next session of the General Assembly stands prorogued until the 22nd day of June next. The Street Lamps, which have not been completed so as to admit of being all lighted up at once, are to be lit for the first time on the Queen’s Birthday. Land Sale. —Mr J. H. Wallace sold at Tuck’s Hotel, Masterton, on the 10th inst, a portion of Tankersley’s Opaki estate, at £2 8s and £2 6d per acre. A considerable portion of the allotments was withdrawn at £1 17s 6d per acre —£2 being the reserve. There was a large attendance, and the auctioneer explained to his audience the bright prospects “ looming in the distance” that may fairly be anticipated, when the proposed cheap railway is made. The line as laid off passess through the property. The unsold sections are for sale by private contract. Karori Pound. —The stockyard of Mr Henry Kells, hotel-keeper, Karen, has been declared a public pound. Sheep Reports. —The followingflockowners in the Wairarapa district have been granted clean certificates Mr Abraham Harris, Houtotara; Messrs R. and A. Cockburn, Low Manaia. While in the same district the clean certificates of the following owners have been cancelled Messrs J. and E. Dorset, Opaki; Mr Duncan Morrison, Glenmorvin ; Mr J. M. Jury, Ahiaruhi; Mr W. Welch, Opaki; J. V. Smith, Masterton. A clean certificate has been granted to Mr Daniel Richards, Kai Awa, Porirua.

Appointments. —A Gazette issued on the 13th contains the following appointments:— William Halse, Esq., to be Revising Officer for the electoral district of the Province of Taranaki; Loughlin O’Brien,. Esq., to be Revising Officer for the electoral dtstrict of the Province of Auckland ; Kenuth Rose, Esq., to be Deputy Registrar for the district of Invercargill; Michael Lynshey, to be clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Oxford; John Thomas Tylee, Esq., to be Receiver of Land Revenue for the Province of Hawke’s Bay ; Allan Shaw Douglas, Esq., to be Registrar of the Joint Stock Companies for the Province of Taranaki. Mr John Kelleher ha 3 been appointed a district surveyor for this province. Nukumaru Hotel. —Mr Handley has opened a commodious hotel at Nukumaru, right under the shadow of what was once the dreaded Taurangaika pa. The Wanganui Coach did not reach town on Tuesday night until after ten o’clock, owing to some detention having occurred at the Manawatu River, which was in fresh that morning. Mr Young reports that the roads are not in such bad plight as might have been expected from the weather Wellington was treated to in the early part of the week. Soiree. —The Soiree in aid of the funds of St Mary’s school took place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Tuesday night, and a large number of people assembled; indeed taking the weather into account —always a paramount consideration on such occasions, such a numerous assemblage could hardly have been counted on.. Dr Grace and Captain Sharp were indefatigable in their endeavors to promote the en joyment of those who had honored the occasion wich their presence. A number of songs, duetts, and a quartette were sung, and Miss Solomons played a pianoforte solo with a great deal of taste. At the conclusion of the singing Captain Sharp thanked those present for their attendance and, dancing commenced almost immediately. The Hall presented a very gay appearance when the dancers began to take their places, and when our reporter left the giddy throng” were in entire possession of the “ glassy floor.” An Awkward Accident.— We were informed on Saturday of an accident at the Hutt River on the previous day of a disagreeable nature, though fortunately not attended with serious results. A couple of young men, J. Corbett, butcher, and John Eagan (son of- Mr Fagan, bootmaker), attempted to cross the river, in a flat-bottomed boat, constructed by themselves. About half-way across, the crazy craft became unmanageable, and drifted down the river rapidly. Corbett, who was standing up came in contact with the wire rope on which the ferry punt works, and was whisked out in a twinkling. Seizing the rope he hung on to it for some time, and ultimately contrived to work himself along the rope until those on shore were able to haul him out. After Corbert was jerked out of the little boat, it continued to drift down stream until it reached the wire rope on which the passengerboat works, where the other occupant, Fagan, was jerked out in a similar manner to his companion. Fagan worked himself along the rope in a similar manner to Corbett, but rather more expeditiously. The Patent Slip Site.— We understand that the required site for this piece of work, comprising 20 acres, has just been obtained by the Provincial Council under the provisions of the Patent Slip Act. This the Government will hand over to the Patent Slip Company as a freehold and free of charge. The value of the site was to be settled by arbitration, Mr Pearce on behalf of the Provincial Government and Mr W. W. Taylor representing the trustee of the estate of the late owner (Mr Jenkins). This however, they could not do. and Mr Walter Johnston was called in to act as umpire. He valued the site at £SOO and that settled the business. The land will be now reconveved to the Patent Slip Company. Fresh in the River.— ln consequence ot a fresh in the Hutt River on Tuesday, the Wairarapa coach had to return to town. The passengers by the Upper Hutt- coach were also disappointed, as neither the punt nor the passenger boat could be got into working order. It was reported that fifteen feet of the river bank bad been washed away.

N Z.S.S. Company. —The attention of shareholders in the N.Z.S.S.. Company, and of persons desirous of becoming shareholders, is called for Monday next, the 22nd inst., at the offices ot Messrs Bethune & Hunter (late N.Z.S.N. Company’s oflices) for the purpose of finally discussing matters connected with the formation of a comptete and strong company, Testimonial to Mr Woon.—A telegram in another column informs us that the inhabitants of Wanganui have presented to Mr R. W. Woon a testimonial as an acknowledgment 0 f the beneficial influence of his services in settling the complicated land claims of the natives on the Wanganui river. Revising Court.— J. G. Allan, Esq, Revising Officer, sat in the Supreme Court on Thursday, for the purpose of going through the list of objections to claims to vote on the roll of the Wellington Country District. Nearly all the objections made were sustained. The City Carters are going to be shoved aside, but only for a few paces. The present stand around the Pier Hotel in Grey street, and fronting the Customs Bond, will have to be vacated by them, another stand being, destined for them opposite the Telegraph Office. This arrangement will in no way interfere with the carters, and will add considerably to the convenience of the public. The Engineer of the City Council is to erect a substantial fence alongside the sea wall from the weighbridge office and as far back aa may be deemed necessary, and by the side of this fence the carters will take their Btand. Wellington District Oddfellows.— The usual quarterly meeting of the District Committee was held on Thursday last, when; deputies from the several lodges were attendance. P.P.G.M. E. Lewis, G.M., pre-' sided on the occasion. From the returns of the respective lodges, and the auditors’ reports and balance sheets, which were read by the Corresponding Secretary, P.G. E. Bannister, it appeared that the number of members amounted to 594, fifteen of whom bad been initiated during the past quarter; fifteen members received sick pay to the amount of £57 19s 6d, and £25 had been paid on account ®f two funeral donations. The total amount of funds reached the sum of £SSB7 16s 2d. The following members were nominated for district officers during the ensuing year : For Grand Master —P.G. Thomas Madeley, D.G.M., and P.G. Jas. M. Ryan; for Deputy Grand Master —P.G. E. Campbell, P.G. N. Valentine, and P.G. Edward Jackson. An application for opening a new lodge at the Rising Sun Hotel, Wairarapa, under the name of the “ Loyal Effort Lodge” was granted. After the disposal of some other business, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to the district officers, and the meeting was then adjourned until Thursday, 27th July next; _ -

The Weighbridge, and where to erect it, occupied the attention of the Council during a portion of their last sitting, and brought their impecuniosity more into the light. The weighbridge is to be erected at the end of the Queen’s wharf, facing the Custom House ; and as the miniature offices now occupying the site are much the worse for wear, the sea air and water having corroded the gal vanised ii’on portions; and as they are not large enough for. the new purpose for which they are wanted, the Engineer was instructed to remove them. As the placing of a weighbridge in proper working order is a job requiring some care and knowledge of the machine, the suggestion of the Engineer that the work should not be given out by contract was accepted by the Council. The erection of the office and fixing the bridge will therefore be proceeded with at once, and will be done by day labor. The advertisement calling for tenders to lease the bridge for twelve months stirred up a competition, as no fewer than nine tenders were opened. It appears that the freight on the bridge came to more than was anticipated, owing to the bulky nature of the machine. Though only a trifle over a ton in actual weight, yet as it occupies about 280 feet measurement, it was charged for as eight tons. The prime- cost of the weighbridge is £9l 10s ; but the total cost when delivered here was swelled to £lO6. So keenly alive are the Council to the necessity for exercising the utmost economy in their expenditure, that the advisability of utilising the material in the small offices about to be pulled down in the erection of the new one was discussed ; but as the Engineer said he could use it to the better advantage of the Corporation in other ways, the matter was left to his discretion. But other remarks cropped up in the course of conversation which would indicate the necessity likely soon to arise for an expenditure on the wharf, at present out of the power of the Council. As the entrance to the wharf is so narrow as sometimes to impede traffic, and as the ereetion of the weighbridge office is certain to still further encroach upon the already too limited entrance, the suggestion was thrown out to erect the office upon piles clear of the wharf. As the expenditure sanctioned for this piece of work cannot embrace such a costly foundation for the office, we presume the entrance to the wharf will have to suffer to some extent to make room for the requirements of the weighbridge.

Wellington Sauce. —Messrs Williams & Co. have forwarded to our office a bottle of sauce manufactured by them, which is of a flavor similar to the celebrated Lea & Perrins’ decoction. We are not informed that it is manufactured from “ the recipe of a gentleman in India,” but the sauce goes a long way towards becoming a successful rival to the Worcestershire, for local consumption at all events. The bottle was divided into quantities, and distributed amongst a few persons qualified to judge in such matters, and the verdict was unanimous approval of the quality of the contents, and disapproval of the suspicious-looking exterior of the bottle, which is certainly a close imitation of the ensemble of the Lea & Perrin. We would suggest something distinctive in the label, and the adoption of some similar title to the heading of this paragraph.

Hutt Bridge. —Tuesday being the day for sending in the tenders for the erection of a temporary bridge for foot passengers from the broken platform of the Hutt Bridge to the Wellington bank of the river, the following were sent in, viz.;—Mr Wallis, £460 ; Messrs Ross and Thompson, £200;- Mr Thirkell, £130; Mr Brown, £6O;. Mr Revell, £ls. The latter tender was accepted. Mr Revell has recently arrived here from Westland. The bridge is to be constructed of wire, with planking laid down for walking upon.. It is marvellously cheap, as compared with the other tenders ; but we are informed that it is calculated to answer all the requirements necessary.

Opening up the Ohinemuri. —If our Auckland telegram may be relied on when it Btates that the long-vexed difficulty regarding the throwing open to the diggers the presumably auriferous lands of Ohinemuri, has been accomplished, that fact may be regarded as most fortunate for the province of Auckland, and gratifying to the colony at large. The opening of this valuable country—for we learn on good practical authority that its auriferous wealth is undoubted —will not only present a fine field for the enterprise of the dissatisfied of the gold-mining population of the colony, but will, if in any degree successful, impart a stimulus to many branches of trade. It is much better that the matter should have been settled slowly and peacefully than that the diggers should have attempted to force their way, as was ill-advised by some. We trust that this is but an earnest of all other native difficulties being surmounted peaceably and satisfactorily to both races.

1 A Wellington Theatre. —Rumors have doubtless reached most of our town readers that preliminary steps have been taken with the view to the erection of a theatre in this city by means of a joint stock company. Had the speculation been based merely on the ground that a theatre was wanted, and that therefore it was reasonable to suppose the expenditure necessary would yield a profit, we might have entertained doubts on such an anticipation. We are glad to learn, however, that it is not so —that it is not merely the erection of a theatre the promoters have in view, but a building adapted to meet a variety of civic requirements in a greater degree than any building we now possess. The Odd Eellows’ Hall has hitherto served for our diningroom, theatre, ball-room, and the varied performances and amusements incidental to town life ; and though it may have been in a manner equal to most of the demands made upon it, it is also certain that it cannot always contrive to do so, and that it is very deficient in many of the desiderata of a public theatre. Apart altogether from the question of whether or not a theatre is wanted, we hail this step as one in the right direction, inasmuch as it will afibrd an illustration of the power of cooperation, and what can be achieved by a community determined on the advancement and improvement of their city. This spirit of putting our own shoulders to the wheel by the aid of co-operation in order to supply our wants, instead of supinely waiting upon their development in the natural order of things, or for the shrewdness of private enterprise to step in and make a profit out of the whole body of citizens, is one of all others we should wish to see put in practice. To a rising population the channels of enterprise are practically unlimited ; and even though the ventures do not always afford dividends, as in the ease of our defunct steam company, still the community generally derives a benefit. We have been favored with a glance at the draft plans for the new theatre, and must say they disclose an arrangement that combines elegance of appearance with great economy of space, and a general adaptability to the varied requirements of a theatre, a concert or ball-room, and other purposes of an analogous nature. The building will be T shaped, with a frontage of 50 ft, which will be ornamented with a balcony verandah, obviously a convenience on a stormy night to persons lightly clad. The second story of the T contains a billiard and readingrooms, including several ot the latest conveniences introduced into theatres. Strict attention has been paid to acoustics in the laying out of the interior, and seats will be provided for 600. The capital proposed to be raised is £3,500 in 350 shares of £lO each, payable in monthly calls of £1 per share. As the shares are being taken up readily, we may ere long have to call attention to the first meeting of shareholders.

Interchange or Products with California. — lb is now an admitted fact that the “ bagmen” of Dunedin are the first on the spot anywhere and everywhere where there is trade to be done, and their principals, the merchants, are not one whit behind in being the first to take advantage of the presence of the American boats in our waters. The Nevada takes away with her on this trip a quantity of butter, cheese, and beer, shipped at Dunedin. It would be well for our merchants here, and also those in other parts of the colony, to make up consignments of surplus produce for disposal across the water. It may not be generally known that at the present time when butter, for instance, is selling at its minimum rate in New Zealand, the highest prices are ruling in San Francisco, and no doubt this is the case with a great many other articles of commerce, in which a very lucrative trade might be opened up. It is possible that a little dilligent inquiry, coupled with a spirit of trade enterprise, might afford very gratifying results to any person who ntay choose to be first to engage in it. The Nevada has also on board a consignment of bitter beer, also shipped at Dunedin as an experimental consignment. Captain Blethem is confident that the sale of this article will return a handsome margin to the shipper. At a Bazaar at Oamaru on behalf of the Wesleyan Church, £l2O was realised after the payment of all expenses.

Revising the Rolls.— J. G. Allan, Esq, Revising Officer, sat in the Supreme Court Chambers on Wednesday, for the purpose of hearing evidence why the names of persons objected to on the published list of objections should not be struck off the electoral roll for the district of Wellington. Only about six persons appeared to sustain their claims to have their names retained on the list, and after same trivial amendments the claims ■were reinstated. One gentleman objected to, Mr Gr. S. Cooper, claimed expenses for being compelled to appear, on the ground that the objection urged was frivolous and vexatious, inasmuch as he had not “ removed from the district," which was the objection urged. Mr Jackson, the objector, disclaimed any intention of having acted in the matter with a vexatious intent. He had simply adopted the words used on former occasions, whioh ho thought would be more specific and be more easy of comprehension as being customary. Mr Allan explained to Mr Cooper that he could not allow expenses, as the object was to purge the roll of informal and invalid claims. There can be no doubt that the refining process now being adopted will go a great length towards .doing away with a great deal of the unpleasant bickering which has taken place at past elections about dead men’s votes and the voting of persons who, in a great many instances, have not resided in the city for a number of years. About six hundrod names have been objected to, and the objections seem, to be well founded, as shown by the small number of persons appearing before the Revising Officer to sustain their claims; while the number ot applications to be placed on the roll is about equal to the number to be struck off. This revival in matters political is highly creditable to the community. It shows that the apathy which has so long existed is finally shaken off, and that the people of the province are awakening to a sense of duty in laying claim to their political privileges in such numbers. All shades of opinion in our body politic have assisted in some degree to produce a purified roll—a list that will represent genuine votes only ; and it is to be hoped that the result of future electoral contests will be accepted on all sides as the deliberate expression of the public opinion of the place. Row that Mr Allan has commenced in earnest to revise the rolls in a systematic and searching manner, it is highly desirable that the practice should be studiously followed up in succeeding years. Mr Allan will open bis Court again at ten o’clock this morning, and it is expected that the whole of the day will be occupied in completing the Wellington roll. General Holiday. —Wednesday being the day appointed for the departure of Dr Featherston, a general holiday was proclaimed in the government offices and in the banks, to enable as many as possible to be present at the dejeuner given in compliment to the AgentGeneral jbn the occasion of his leaving the scene of his many years of labor. As a high mark of the respect, all the business places and shops in the City were closed, and not a “ busy character" was to be seen. After the luncheon the centre of attraction was the Nevada herself, and the steamers Ahuriri and Go a-head made numerous trips to the American wondei’,” being crowded to uncomfortableness on every occasion. The breeze during the day was just strong enough to make the operation of getting along alongside a delicate and tedious matter, the Ahuriri on one trip snapping her topsail yard and on another carrying away her poop stauncheons. Of the ship herself it is not necessary to add anything to what has already been said excepting to say that the colossal proportions of the steam ai’ms and their eccentric appearance excited universal wonderment, a 3 also did the marvellous economy of space. Another feature which “ noks" one, as Artemus says, is the cosmopolite character to be observed in the composition of hercrew; indeed what is there American where this element is not. The officers displayed the greatest affability to the fifteen hundred people or thereabouts who wen.t on board, and the trip was heartily enjoyed by everyone.

Colonial-made Machineey. —The “Dunedin Star" says :—lt was with much pleasure that yesterday we examined a new machine for breaking and gauging dough, made by Mr R. Peters for Mr Hudson, and now at work at his confectionery manufactory ' in Princess street. It is exceedingly strong and well put together, and Mr Hudson informs us, besides being superior in finish and efficiency, the cost has not been greater than that of an inferior machine imported direct from England.

Anothee Flax Mill accident is recorded by the “ Dunedin Star" :—“ A lad named John Jones, aged fourteen years, who is employed at Mr Fraser’s flax-cleaning establishment, while engaged at the scutching machine, had his left arm drawn in by the machinery, and before the engine could bo stopped, a deep and ugly flesh wound above the elbow, and some severe bruises had been inflicted."

S cablet Fever. —A contemporary suggests that the following caution may be read with advantage where scarlet fever breaks out: — “ Books which have been handled during the recovery from scarlet fever should be burned after they have served their purpose for the patient. In the stages of recovery such books frequently become charged with the germs of the disease.” The Australian Mutual Provident Society’s twenty-second annual report shows that 1980 new policies have been issued for the year, producing £32,562 of new premiums. The gross income has increased to £224,395, and the accumulated fund £138,357, making a total invested capital of £818,142. G-old having been discovered in Madagascar (says'* Nature”) the Government of the island has prohibited search. If gold is discovered in remunerative quantities there will be such a rush of Europeans to the country as will dispossess the native inhabitants.

The Nevada.—Mr Driver, M.H.R, and American Consul, in speaking at the dinner given at Port Chalmers to the Captain and Officers of the Nevada, made the following remarks. The information has evidently been derievd from a different source to the one whence the “ Post" draws its information. He felt very gratified that he had lived to see a vessel like the Nevada arrive in these waters, because he was confident that vessels of her class had only to visit the various ports of New Zealand and New South Wales to secure that support to which a line of steamers of such a class was entitled. To compare them to steamers temporarily put on to carry out the service was too ridiculous. To have amongst us a gentleman whose health they had already drunk, Captain Blethen, as well as the son of Mr Webb, the owner of a large fleet of steamers, was, under the circumstances which had brought them together, an occasion of which they ought to feel proud. Some persons had deliberately stated that the Nevada would be the last boat of this line we should see here. It was such intentional misrepresentations as this that were calculated to injure the owners of the steamers Mr Webb would corroborate him, he [thought, in stating that it is intended to run this line of steamers regularly and punctually, and to endeavor to secure what they had already done in every other place where their efforts had been directed, namely, public support. It was also intended that the Nevada should come here again, and that after the arrival of the second steamer, the boats would continue to visit this port. He stated this much, so that the public might know that the reports which had been circulated in order to injure the line were without the slightest foundation. Painless Toothdrawing. A Dunedin paper announces that Messrs Howard and Raymond, of that city, are extracting teeth absolutely without pain, by the aid of protoxide of nitrogen gas. Fatal Accident. —The Dunedin “ Star” says that a fatal accident occurred on the South Road, near the Meat Presarving Works at Green Island, and on mounted constable Bevan proceeding out there, he learned that a teamster named Peter Cameron, while driving a three-horse dray laden with oats into town, had been killed through the dray falling on him. The road near the works has been newly and heavily, metalled, and to avoid this teams are usually taken off the road, and driven along the sides. It is supposed that Cameron took his way too much off the road, that the off-wheel slipping down the bank, the dray fell through a fence into the gully below. One of the hands at the works observed the accident, saw the dray roll over, taking Cameron, who had been seated on top of the oats, along with it. Assistance was promptly obtained, but when the dray was lifted, he was found doubled in two, with his head between his legs, and quite dead. On the deceased were found deposit receipts for £357, and £8 17s in money. He was unmarried, and has a brother residing at Otakia. Mobe Misrepresentation. —The Superintendent of Auckland is thus referred to in a paragraph of an evening contemporary : —“lt was remarked as singular that his Honor the Superintendent of Auckland did not attend the luncheon given in Auckland to the officers of the Nevada. It is said that Mr Gillies very strongly disapproves of Mr Vogel’s mail contract." The facts of the case are these. The managing committee of the luncheon made their arrangements without consulting Mr Gillies in any way. He naturally resented such a discourtesy to the elected head of the province by staying away from the entertainment. So far from his absence being attributable to any dislike to the mail contract or any unwillingness to join in the reception of the officers of the pioneer ship. Mr Gillies, we are informed on good authority, carefully explained to them the real reason for his absence, and invited them to dine with a select party, at the Club, on their return to Auckland. On that occasion he will have an opportunity of expressing his dislike to a contract which makes Auckland the first and last port of call. Fiji. —A number of merchants, resident at Levuka, Fiji, have addressed a letter to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, setting forth the advantages to be gained by 'steam communication between the two places. Mb Ckacroft Wilson, O.B.—The “ Press” says :—By the s.s. Nevada, which leaves Lyttelton on Tuesday next for San Francisco, via Honolulu, one of our most energetic and esteemed fellow-colonists, Mr Cracroft Wilson, 0.8., proceeds to England for the benefit of his health, which, since his late accident, has been exceedingly delicate. During the many years Mr Wilson has been connected with Canterbury he has always identified himself with the progress of the province, and has, both in his private and public capacity, done much for the generul benefit. During the many years he represented Canterbury iu the General Assembly he earned for himself the esteem and respect of all sides of the House by his thorough outspoken and independent consideration of the measures byought under consideration, and the universally expressed regret by journals of all shades of opinion at his retirement from the Assembly, and the responsible office of Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, which he held for some ten years, testifies to the impartial and faithful discharge of those duties. Socially, Christchurch will miss Mr Wilson exceedingly, and we feel sure all classes of Canterbury colonists, while regretting the cause which compels Mr Wilson to take a voyage to the home country, will join with us in the hope that he may return with improved health. The Canterbury Yeomam-y Cavalry, with which corps Mr Wilson has been connected for some time, will escort him to the railway station, and there is no doubt but that other corps will join in the expression of respect for one who has long been identified with the volunteer movement in Canterbury.

New Steamship Extensions. —The “New York Standard," of March 8, has the following curious statement“ The refusal of Congress to double the subsidy of the Pacific Mail Company for its China line seems likely to work an unexpected good. It now appears that instead of commerce being increased by the granting of the 500,000 dollars asked for, the true extension of trade will bo best served by its refusal. News came to us from Washington that the Pacific Mail Company yesterday informed the postal department that, owing to the defeat of their application for an additional subsidy, they will have to economize greatly if they are. to continue the China line, and they propose to do this by seeking the trade of various other ports. They will, theoefore, touch at Honolulu on the trip between San Francisco and Yokohama. From Honolulu they propose to run a second line by way of the Fiji Islands, to Sydney and Melbourne, the capitals of Australia. Instead of the 500,000 dollars asked for the China line, they propose that Congress shall give only 200,000 dollars for the additional service to Australia, thus securing the trade of two millions of English-sp&aking people end saving 300,000 dollars to the treasury by the transaction. It is stated that the line from San Francisco to New Zealand, which Congress only refused to subsidize by three votes, has already been finally decided upon, a contract having been entered into with the New Zealand Government. That line is bound to run anyhow, and therefore nothing can be gained by subsidizing it. Besides there are only three hundred thousand people in New Zealand ; whereas there are over two millions in Australia, This is the sbowiug made by the company, and, if true, plainly indicates that we are likely to be gainers in more ways than one by the refusal of Congress to give a double subsidy to ttye Pacific Mail Steamship Company.

How to Cheat the Doctob. —A soldier patient at Herbert Hospital, Shooter’s Hill, few days ago wrote the following advice, says the “ Medical Times and Gazette," to a comrade : —“ Previous to going to hospital rub your tongue with chalk, ready for the word, ‘ Put out your tongue then, when the doctor is going to feel your pulse, be sure to knock your elbow against the wall, and it will beat to any number in a minute ; then, if you wish to persevere to be invalided, be on the look out for a friend to bring you a bit of raw bullock’s liver every morning, in order to spit blood for the doctor ; of course, have a little bit of the liver in your mouth, under your tongue, fresh, ready for him when he comes round the hospital ward, and have a good piece ready to spit out for him when he approaches your cot ; then give a great sigh and a groan, and you are sure to be ordered lamb chops, chicken, rice pudding, port wine, Guinness’s stout—-in fact, you may live on the fat of the land for the remainder’of your soldiering, which will not be long; but, depend upon it, you are sure of a pension, even under ten years’ service.” We hope there are not many in hospital quite so clever as this “ old soldier.”

Te Hira Rotting Away. —An Auckland correspondent of the “ Hawke’s Bay Hei’ald," in commenting upon the Ohinemuri question, says: —Most people think it better to wait awhile believing that self interest will soon prevail with the Maories to unlock Ohinemuri. Te Hira is described by the “ New Zealand Herald’s" “ Special Commissioner" (save the mark) as (one side of him) “ rotting away." It further appears that Te Hira has to be carried about, and altogether, it would seem, he his not likely to live long. Such being the case, it is evident that a little patience may do much to solve a rather troublesome question. All Thebe. —Population is not increasing everywhere. A few weeks ago a man sixtyfour yeai’s old pessed through Nevada City, looking for a location in which to settle. He had with him ninety-four children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. He stated that his brother was soon coming with one hundred and seventeen children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. A woman who was sitting in a waggon belonging to the migratojy Iparty, being asked how many children she had, looked around her as if counting the flock about, her, and answered, “ I had fourteen when I started, and I guess they are all here !” Pedestbianism. —The “ Lyttelton Times” says : —Mr F. S. Hewitt, has mada a match to run half a mile in 1 min 55| secs. This is the quickest time in which the distance has been done in England, the occasion being a race between Nuthall and Fleet, from a conversation on which the present match originated. The bet is £IOO to £SO on time, aud the race is to be run straight on a turnpike road. Should either party back out of the match after the return of the champions from Dunedin he is to forfeit £5. Public Works in Otago. —The “ Dunedin Star" says it has good authority for stating that, practically carrying out the Public Works Immigration Acts haß been placed in the hands of the Provincial Government, and that one of the first steps taken will be inviting tenders foi the construction of ten miles of railway at the Clutka end of the Southern Trunk line.

Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying the foundation for Counsumption and Wasting, the use of Savory & Moores’s Pancreatic Emulsion and Pancreatine, already so highly approved by the Medical faculty, will be found among the most potent remedial agents ; they effect the digestion of Cod Liver Oil and prevent nausea, while they efficiently supply the place o fthe oil when the stomach rejects it. Thesefacts are attested by the published records of medical men, extracts from which accompany each bottle, price from 2s to 21s. Savory & Moore, 143, New Bond Street, London, and all Chemists. Note —Savory & Moore’s name and trade mark on each bottle. April 22,1871. [s2w.

The Superintendent of Otago, in his speech at the dinner given to the Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin, to the officers ot‘ the Nevada, said:—lt was remarkable that out of the seventy-eight gentlemen who now composed the House of Representatives in New Zealaud, there were only three members who had seats daring the first session of the Assembly, and of those three he had the honor to be one. (Applause.) He was very much inclined to think that the people of this colony had very little reason to be grateful to the General Assembly for what had been done in the past, whatever might be done in the future. He trusted the future would be very different to what the past had been, excepting the session of 1870, which was really the only bright spot in the history of the General Assembly of New Zealand, We might think that, from the policy of the last session, a new era, probably, was about to dawn upon the country —an era of railways, of immigration, of the development of our auriferous resources, and last, though not least- an era of the friendly communication which had been established between this country and the great continent of America. (Applause.) Regarding his Excellency’s Ministers, of course it would ill become him on that occasion to pass any eulogiuras upon them, however much he might and did agree with and support the policy with which they were identified, a policy which was the policy of peace with the aboriginal natives, and of acting in harmony with the provinces, so long as the provinces existed, and of utilising the credit of the colony, not upon gunpowder, but in developing the material resources of the colony. He returned thanks for the compliment paid to his Excellency’s Ministers and the General Assembly. (Applause.)

Substitutes eob Winter Keep foe Cattle. —“ Nature” pertinently remarks that the great difficulty which has been experienced by farmers during the present winter in procuring sufficient food for their cattle may have the effect of directing attention to fresh substitutes for the ordinary winter keep. Turnips and swedes have been a complete failure throughout a large breadth of the country, and the hay crop has been generally so deficient that many agriculturists have been already brought to the verge of ruin. In the Argentine Republic, as is well known, vast herds of cattle are reared upon the natural grasses of the pampas, or upon the lucerne which grows there in great abundance, but in the province of Catamarea both man and beast depend for support mainly upon the leaf and fruit of the algar-robo. It provides their principal stock of food during the winter months, and is said to be exceedingly nutritious. The algarrobo (Hymenceo Courbaril Jetaiba ) is indigenous to the country, and its fruit is gathered annually and stored with much care. The long pods are pounded in a wooden mortar, aud the residuum is then passed through a sieve, and the meal converted into circular cakes, which, after having been dried in the sun, are fit for use. Iu this state it is called “ patay," and is exported as a breadstuff into other districts of the Republic, jn some of which it forms the exclusive food of the people. Its merits as a means for fattening cattle are also thoroughly appreciated, and it might be a great boon to our farmers if the Acclimatisation Society would ascertain whether the algarrobo might not be introduced into this country with advantage. The tree grows to a height of forty feet, with widespread branches, and a rather slender stem s and flourishes best upon a dry soil. The Suez Canal, says an exchange, has now been a twelvemonth working, and it is officially stated that the receipts average about £20,000 a month, or about £240,000 a year, The head-quarters of the company being in Paris, the war and siege have prevented the usual official report being made, which should have given information regarding the net as well as the gross revenue ; but the statement as to the gross traffic affords some material for a retrospective glance at the anticipations of traffic and profit which were indulged in a twelvemonth since, and which we showed to be exaggerated. The promoters of the enter- ' prise, it will be remembered, did not shrink from calculating on a traffic of two or threo million tons of shipping per annum, and this immediately; and no doubt if the canal bad such a traffic it would pay very well. But the data of the calculations were imaginary : the annual tonnage of the existing carrying trade which the canal would serve is at the outside about three million tons—this being a certain figure ; and, as the trade was not likely to change all at once, and the canal offered no advantages to give a great and sudden stimulus to new trade, it was unreasonable to look forward to the traffic so confidently reckoned on very soon.

The Siege oe Paris. —“ The more people I hear talk,” says the Paris correspondent of the “ Daily Telegraph,” “ especially among the poor, the more do I incline towards the impression that real starvation has been very rare, if indeed it has ever occurred at all. Almost the entire body of the lower class of laborers has been paid or nourished by the state throughout the siege ; none of them were ashamed of being fed at the public expense; most, indeed, were no doubt highly satisfied at being able to eat without working. They have often not had enough to satisfy their appetites—that is certain ; but still they all got sufficient to keep life well in them. It is in the two or three, tiers above the lowest rank that the trial has been most felt; among the higher class of workmen’s families, the employes of every kind, and the small rentiers, All these people hesitated to accept charity, and their material needs have certainly been increased by their unwillingness to beg, and their moral anguish. Still, even there—painful as the trial has been—it does not appear to me that there has been thus far any actual dying for want of the strict necessaries of life.”

SwbdeS.t—A writer in an American paper says that the Swedes become hardy laborers and honest citizens. They are nearly all far travellers, finding their way to Illinois, lowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, where they find a climate not unlike their own, and soon become settled down as thrifty farmers. Of late years the Swedes have formed a very conspicuous part of our annual immigration. Not less than 23,453 arrived during 1869, nearly 10,000 more than arrived in 1868, and nearly 20,000 above the arrivals during 1867. Of these it is safe to say {that 90 per cent, go out West as agriculturalists ” A Word to Catholic Ladies. —Archbishop Spaulding, the head of the Catholic Church in the United States, has issued the following circular, to be read throughout his diocese, soliciting funds for the Pope, so long as he is deprived of temporal sovereignty over Home: —If our Catholic ladies, in imitation of the noble example set them by their sisters in Borne, in Belgium, in England, and elsewhere, would firmly resolve to abstain from all luxury, and even from lawful amusements, so long as their Holy Father iB in chains j if they would generally devote to his necessities say one half of their superflous jewellery, ornaments, and expenses;. even . the world would applaud them for their heroic sacrifice ; and what is far better, they would have the applause of their consciences, and the abundant blessing of God on themselves, their families, and children; white the Holy Father’s wants would be adequately supplied. How, in fact, can Catholic ladies find it in their hearts to dance and amuse themselves, to wear super-

flous and # expensive clothing, to rival one another in the extravagance and expensiveness of their adornments, while the Common Father of the faithful, and their one beloved Father in’Christ, like St Peter, his predecessor, is in chains, and robbed of the very necessaries of life —of what is essential to his position as Supreme Doctor and Pastor of Christians! How can the children engage in most expensive luxury, while the Father is reduced to the verge of want and almost starvation, and is wholly at the mercy of his enemies, who are also the enemies of Christ, and of all religion, all truth and all virtue!

Rather Strong Language.— The “San

Francisco News Letter” has the following:— We omitted last week the abuse justly due to Congress for its disgraceful action upon Californian interest in re opening the M'Garrahan gwindle after it had been definitely disposed of by the Supreme Court of the United States, hitherto the highest judicial authority of the land. No abuse could do justice to the subject, so we will omit it again. Besides, this action is quite insignificant in comparison with the more broad and general iniquity of refusing a subsidy to the Australian line of steamers, after the petty colony of New Zealand had been true to the intelligent British policy, and voted a handsome sum to the enterprise in which she is not half so much interested as we. The same niggardly spirit withheld the increased subsidy to the China line, by reason of which we shall have to content ourselves with the inadequate monthly service. The Australian line, however will be

at once put on and run at a loss, until some future Congress can be skamed into sustaining it. We think this motly crowd of niggers and intelligent idiots known as the Congress of the United States has covered itself so thickly

with infamy that the same might be scraped off with a knife; and if we were deputed to do the scraping it should go hard but some flakes of skin should come off along with it. The Cow and the Calf. —Jim Smith was a noted auctioneer. One day he was selling farm stock. Among the articles he sold was an heifer, very attractive in her appearance, and consequently Jim dwelt extensively on her many excellencies, winding up with the eloquent flourish that she was “ gentle as a dove,” Thereupon, a long, slab-sided countryman, whose legs were some inches longer than his trousers, approached the heifer, and stooping down commenced handling her teats. Bossy, not relishing such familiarity, lifted her hoof and laid “ Greeny” sprawling some ten feet. “There,” says Jim, “that shows one of her best traits; she’ll never allow a strange calf to come near her.” “ Greeny,” „ meanwhile picking himself up, and giving his bushy pate a harrowing scratch, exclaimed: “ No wonder when her own calf has been bleating around her all day.” Encroachment oe the Sea at Westport. —A “ Westport Times” of the past week gives the following unpleasant state of affairs on the sea margin:— During Wednesday night the storm increased, driving home a tremendous surf, and the tide of Thursday morning inflicted a serious amount of damage. At the end of Freeman street, and on each side of it extending to the slaughter-yards onthe spitand northwards along thebeach, a strip of ground, in many places a hundred feet in depth, has been swept away, threatening the flagstaff. The signal shed had to be removed. The bonds belonging to Messrs Bailie and Humphrey, Powell and Co., and Mr John Corr were condemned by the Collector of Customs as dangerous, and the contents were removed to a building formerly used by Mr D. Leslie as a bond, and to the Government receiving sheds. The residents in the streets exposed to the tide were swamped out of their houses, and portions of the town which had hitherto escaped were threatened with speedy extinction. A number of dwellings near St. John’s were also flooded, the occupants escaping by means of drays. Dr Thorpe’s residence was surrounded with water, a boat plying between the house and terra,firma. Of the Old Cemetery not a vestige remains, and on its site the sea has formed a tolerably distinct channel towards the river, but without breaking a clear passage through. In north Gladstone street nearly all the houses were flooded, and high water mark my now be defined as about thirty feet distant from the fences at the rear of ttie buildings in that part of the town. At. daybreak, the storm abated with a brobability of the

wind shifting, and, fortunately for Westport, such was the result. At night, there was still a terriffic swell, large bodies of water were swept over the beach, but it was evident the crisis was past.

The Man Morton, whose name was once so disagreeably prominent in the newspapers of this city in connection with the extraordinary case —Morton, Rodgers, & Brown—is now we are informed undergoing imprisonment in Adelaide gaol on two charges of robbery.

Another Great Ocean Telegraph Cable. —The latest accounts from Heart’s Content describe the weather at that place as of the most tempestuous character, and that all attempts to grapple with the broken ends of the two cables had, up to that time, proved ineffectual, but it was hoped that, should the weather become less story, the next endeavors to raise both cable ends will be attended with better fortune than the efforts which have hitherto been made. We have already stated that a company which has been incorporated a few years since—lß66—-in New York, for the purpose of laying a cable from that part to a point on the French coast, which has since that time held its plans in abeyance, had at last determined to proceed with the work, but instead of making France its terminus it will be laid direct to a Russian port, the Government of the latter country having given great assistance, and conceded a good deal towards the furtherance of the enterprise. Another cable is, however, to be laid—this time commencing from the western shore of America and across the Pacific to the eastern coast of Asia. The New York Chamber of Commerce has taken the matter vigorously in hand, and with every appearance of carrying it to a speedy completion.—“ News Letter.” Count it Up. —A German correspondent, with a view of assisting by practical illustration to obtain an idea of the enormous amount of war indemnity (£200,000,000), which France is required to pay, forwards the following to the “ Melbourne Argus ” translated from the Adelaide German newspaper “ Take 64 English sovereigns to lib weight, gives 1,395 tons 15cwt 2qr 261 b, and it would require 20 railway trains, each of 14 trucks, (containing 5 tons of gold for every truck) to transport this mass of gold, which again would fill a room of the following dimensions : —lßft long, 16ft wide, and 9|ft high. To form a roll of sovereigns, reckoning 16 sovereigns to an inch, woitld require a length of 196 English miles and 1.500 ft. A smart cashier, ordered to count this sum of sovereigns, working 12 hours on every week day, able to count 60 sovereigns per minute, would require 15 years and eight weeks to accomplish his work.”

TiMARU. —The “ Timaru Herald” of Staturday says About 12.30 p.m. yesterday an accident occurred to one of the boats belonging to the Government Landing Service. The boats of the service were engaged in carrying grain to the s.s Alhambra, and were putting it on from the seaward side of the vessel; the mate, when requested to do so by the men working the boats, having refused to shift the unloading tackle on to the inshore side of the ship. As one of the boats was passing under the steamers stern to get round, the screw, in rising and falling with the swell, struck her below the water-line, knocking a hole in her, and by the time thirteen bags out of a cargo of eighty one bags of wheat had been got out, the boat sank. The boat is a wooden one, and she must in sinking have turned out most of her cargo, for her stern soon rose above water. She was anchored where the accident occurred, and will be got ashore and repaired. The “ Herald” also says that on Saturday some men walking along the Ninety-mile beach, found—about half way between Rocky point and the wreck of the Despacth—a boat with a foot in it, and at a few yards distance a thigh bone. The boot corresponds with that found a short time since, and is easily indentified as belonging to the unfortunate man Webb. On Rocky Point a human hand (left) was also found yesterday. This must also have been Webb’s, for was said to have always worn a gold ring on the left hand which he could not pull off. The hand found is covered with flesh, and has no sign of a ring being worn on any of the fingers. It is strange that no positive evidence has as yet turned up that the mate Neilson lost his life on the night of the lilh of April.

Paris. —The correspondent of the “Daily News” who succeeded in getting into Paris directly after the capitulation was taken for a Prussian. “I got into conversation (he writes) in English with a man who had been in America, but this* had no effect in leading my critics to suppose I was an Englishman.” “ These Prussians, sacre, they know every language under the sun,” sententiously remarked an elderly gentleman with a big cabbage under each arm and a pair of red stripes down his legs. My horse shared with me the public interest; but it was not the interest usually attracted towards horses. There was no criticism as to her points, her probable action or her soundness. No, “ she was a fine fat animal; she must be succulent; how well she would eat; what would I not give for a slice of her.”

The Eieteenth of Mat. —It is generally recognised that the Canterbury winter begins on the 15th May, and an old resident informs the “ Lyttelton Times” that with one exception rain has fallen there on that date in each year for the last twenty-one years. Hotel Life in America. —A New Zealander, Who has been making a trip to the Antipodes, writes to a friend in this city of his hotel experiences in the great American “ Empire City” of New York : —I am putting up at an hotel which I am told contains 700 rooms, in which, at the present moment, are 500 lodgers, who have their multifarious wants attended to by 400 servants.” And in another portion of the letter surprise is expressed that in none of the hotels is a fire (grate or stove) to be seen, all heating being done by hot water pipes.