News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 22, 24 June 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

The Electra.— Messrs Le-vin and Co. have heard from Messrs Shaw, Saville and Co. this mail to the effect that the report of the Electra having arrived from Wellington was incorrect, inasmuch as it was an American vessel of that name which was spoken. The Break op Day.—A meeting of this company was held at Barrett’s Hotel on Thursday night, at which it was resolved that a trial crushing of five tons of stuff should be made previous to resuming active operations. The Weighbridge. —About BO tons of coals were weighed at the Weighbridge on Monday, for Captain Williams, and everything proved satisfactory. The Weighbridge is very conveniently situated, and the carters atter being accustomed to it, will make a point of going there, without any inconveaienee to themselves.

Street Improvements. —A great improvement has been effected in the neighborhood of the wharf within the last few days, the roadway and sidewalk in the vicinity of the Custom House and Telegraph Office having been neatly renovated, so as to render it passable to pedestrians without the inconvenience and vnmeasantness hitherto inseparable from, a visit in that direction. It is in contemplation to erect a corrugated iron fence for some distance along that portion of the breastwork immediately behind the weighbridge, and also to complete the approaches to the wharf, so as to make them of an equal width with Groy-street. As soon as that portion ot the roadway in front of the Custom House is metalled and completed, it is proposed to remove the stand for express waggons and drays to a more convenient place in contiguity to the weighbridge The evident indefatigability which has been displayed by the City Surveyor and his staff in the matter of city improvements since the setting in of the rainy season is in a high degree commendable, the approbation of the citizens being conveyed by the almost, total absence of complaint from any part of the city. ‘‘A Gay and Festive Cess.”— ln the Supreme Court on Wednesday a man named Dennis Wright, in applying for his final discharge, handed in a statement of accounts, from which it appeared that the major portion of his liabilities had been incuned through an over- indulgence in “ whiskey, tabacca, and ingyuns,” as Handy Andy has it,, the balance being made up of a few trifling scores on account of jewelry and billiards. He described himself as a half-pay officer, and, with the object, we suppose, of extending so accommodating a principle, didn’t make any attempt to pay his creditors at all. How he got into debt seemed incomprehensible to him ; indeed, like Lord Dundreary, he thought it a thing that “no fellah could understand. His Honor very properly withheld the discharge for the remodelling of the bankrupt s accounts. , ~, , ... , •, Highland Brigade met at the drill-shed on Wednesday night, and were put through their facings by Drill Instructor Nelly. Several new members were sworn in, and, after a very satisfactory practice, the mombers of the Brigade adjourned to the Empire for the purpose of electing officers, when Messrs Sidey and Lennox were elected to the offices of lieutenant and ensign respectively. A committee was then appointed to draw up a set of rules for the working ot the corps, a proposition to adopt as many as possible of the Dunedin Highland Brigade rules being agreed to by the meeting, the committee to report at the next meeting of the Brigade. The Ceristys. —A very fair house greeted the second appearance of the Christys on Monday night. The entertainment consisted almost entirely of vocal music, and many of the pieces were nicely rendered, and well received by the audience. The proceeds of the entertainment were given to Mr Flood, the conductor of the company. The ATHENiEUM. —The Athenaeum committee notify that considerable additions are to be made to the library, for the purpose, of making accommodation for the forthcoming series of lectures which it is intended to give during the winter months. It is also requested that members in arrear will pay their subscriptions before the end of the present month ; that accounts against the Institute be sent in by the 30th inst., or they will not be recognised; and that all books belonging to the Institute be l’eturned before the expiry of the 24th instant, after which date no books will be issued until further notice. The yearly and half-yearly tickets, £1 Is, and 10s 6d, respectively, will be issued on the Ist July: payment, in all cases, to be in advance. Fire.— About four o’clock on Sunday morning a fire was discovered in an unoccupied house, the property of Mr H. Woods, situate on Piuitea point. Shortly after the alarm the Central Brigade arrived on the ground with both their engines, and No. 1 was quickly got to work, and succeeded, assisted by the ram jhen descending, in arresting the progress of the .lames before the whole building was consumed—a portion of the framework and a lean-to being left standing. There was a good sprinkling of members of the W.Y.8.8. present, but from want of horses none of their engines were taken to the scene. Credit is due to the Centrals'for bringing their engine from the Post Office and then saving a portion of the house, which was a very old wooden one. We hear that the building had been untenanted for some time; was almost empty, and uninsured. a j Wholesale Meat Preserving.— I The Sydney Meat Preserving Company’s works, which are eight miles from Sydney, on the Paiiamatta river, will be prepared in a short time to tin 1000 sheep per day. Salaries.— A Bluebook lately issued by the Queensland Government shows that out of a total revenue of £743,058, that colony pays annually £315,000 in salaries and wages,

Annual Inspection Parade. —No 1 Company fell in at two o’clock on Monday, at the Barrack Deserve, for the purpose ©f undergoing their annual inspection by Colonel Harrington ; about thirty members were present. Previous to the arrival of the Colonel, the Company was put through a little preparatory exercise, in the way of manual exercise, &e., and about half-past two Colonel Harrington came on to the ground, and was received by Colonel Deader. The rear rank then took ground to the rear, and the Company fixed bayonets, presented arms, and having come to the port, Colonel Harrington inspected the arms and accoutrements of the men. The Company was then put through the manual and platoon exercise by Lieut. Werry, and afterwards were told off and put through a few movements in subdivisions, sections, and fours by Ensign Nation. Major M c ßarnett then assumed the command, and in his hands the Company were put through what seemed to be most familiar to them, and in which they displayed greatest proficiency — company movement. Major M‘Barnett had the men completely in hand, and the marching, forming fours on the march, and other movements, were executed with creditable exactitude. In skirmishing order the Company did not display such proficiency,, the deploying being sometimes performed in a very confused manner. At the conclusion of these movements, Col. Harrington addressed a few words to the men, informing them on what points they required to pay more attention to drill, and noticing that the period of the year was much against the performance of the necessary out-door drill. The Company was then dismissed, and the Veterans were marched on to the ground. The same formula ot inspection having been gone through, Captain Crowe put the Company through the manual and platoon exercises. The platoon exercise was rather uneven, showing either carelessness or a want of drill on the part of some of the members, but the manual exercise was much superior to No. 1, and was all that could be desired by the moßb fastidious of military eyes, the different motions being done well together, and the hands coming away smartly. There was evidence of drill here. Captain Crowe then put the company through a number of difficult company movements, every one of which went to prove that the company had been well drilled. The eompany wheeling was excellently well done, the careful feeling towards the pivot man keeping the line free of all wavering. In forming fours on the march, the company went through some difficult movements in countermarching, &c., another complicated marching movement —forming from fours into twos, then company to tbe front—being done with g:»it precision. The Veterans made the best show in numbers, about forty members being present. From the way in which Major M‘Barnett and Captain Crowe handled their men, we must -congratulate our volunteers on having two such officers among them, as it was pretty evident to the spectators present that it was in no small degree due to the proficiency of the officers themselves, and the clearness with which they gave the word of command, that the whole parade was so remarkable for the absence, of anvthing partaking of the nature of bungling in" the ranks. About twenty of the Cadets were on the ground, under the charge of Sergeant Warren of the Veterans, and for persons so young went through their perfoimances very creditably. The band of the garrison was on the ground under the charge of Bandmaster Currie, and played several airs with its usual excellence during the course of the afternoon.

Baker’s Hill Company.—A meeting of this company was held at Donnecker s Hotel on Tuesday night at which aboutforfcy shareholders were present, Mr Baird being in the chair. The report and balance sheet were read, from which it appeared that after the financial transactions of the year there remained a balance in hand of £5 19s 4d, which, added to £ll4 ss, the amount outstanding on shares sold, amounted to £l2O 4s 4d, against which there were unpaid accounts to the amount of £3B 8s lid. Since the last report the company’s men have been kept steadily at work, the drive being now 320 feet, in the last 20 feet of which, as we have stated in previous issues, gold was found in such quantity as to justify the directors in having atrial crushing, which gave a return of 7dwts 3grs of retorted gold. The gold was placed before the meeting. At the last meeting it was decided that 290 new shares should be issued, but 174 of these shares were withdrawn from sale, pending the result of the late crushing, and it is now proposed to offer these shares for sale by tender to the present shareholders, and if they are not taken up in a reasonable period they will be offered to the public. The retiring directors, Messrs J. Fitchett and F. Cooper were unanimously re-elected. The directors expressed themselves as very sanguine as to the ultimate result of the company s efforts, and this feeling seemed to be endorsed by the meeting. A number of resolutions were passed, the most important of which were—- “ That the sale of shares be stopped, till a trial of five or more tons has taken place. That owing to the improved prospects of the claim, the resolution passed at the last general meeting of shareholders, giving a bonus of one share for every share applied for in the new series by original shareholders be now rescinded.” Mr Bennett tendered his resignation to the meeting, but withdrew it, at the unanimous request of the meeting. All the business having been transacted, the meeting separated, with great confidence as to the future good prospects ot the company.

The Yalue oe a Raeeaelle. —The Communal Council of Ferugia is contemplating the purchase of Raffaelle’s “ Madonnina del libro and some other pictures belonging to Count Conestabile, for the sum of £16,000.. The Empress of Russia lias offered £12,600 for the Raffaelle, alone wishing to present it as a birthday giftto the Czar,

The Nebraska, it would appear from our Auckland telegram, was not to be distanced by a colonial steamer, and accordingly commenced her career in Australian waters by making the smartest trip between Auckland and Sydney that has ever been recorded, beating the Hero, generally believed to be a very smart boat, one day out of ffre and a-lialf, the American doing it in four and a-half. It is possible the captain of the Nebraska may have been twitted with the prowess of the Wellington over the Nevada in their late run up the coast; or he may have put on a little extra steam in order to introduce his line to the notice of the Australians with all the select of “ the fastest on record.” The latter is certainly not a very stupid way of gaining favor with the go-ahead spirit of Victoria and New South Wales, who are considered to display quite an American-like partiality for “ smart boats.” Artillery Parade. —The Artillery assembled at their drill shed on Saturday, at one o’clock, in full dress, and marched to Pipitea Point for the purpose of being inspected by Colonel Harrington, and also to fire for the Government prizes, Captain Pearce being in command. During the morning a target, consisting of a sheet of calico about 5 feet by 3 feet, had been moored at a distance of 1720 yards from the Pipitea beach. Punctually to time, the battery paraded, about forty-five members being present, and, headed by the battery band, proceeded along the beach followed by a crowd of people. The smartness of the men and the neat dress were the subject of general remark, and the whole proceedings gave an unusual air of enlivenment and bustle to the city. On the ground a number of people had assembled, and with the addition of those who always form the side processions to a band of music for the purpose of imbibing the flow of soul, there was a goodly concourse. Arrived at the scene of. action, the detachment [piled arms, and, having unlimbered the big guns, wheeled them into position, Sergeant Sample being in charge of No. 1 gun, Sergeant Brogan No 2, and Sergeant Lyon No. 3. A sighting shot was fired by each gun, and the firing for the prizes then commenced, the first tbi’ee rounds being ■with solid shot. In the first round, No. 1 was about ten yards to the right, No. 2 being so close as to be almost doubtful whether.it was a hit or not, No. 3 being short. The shot of No. 1 was quite as close as No. 2’s first; but in this round both No. 2 and No. 3 were to the right; the firing in the third round being very close. At the close of each round, Captain Pearce gave the order to change rounds for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the men and to give the supernumeraries practice in sighting. The detachment then fired two rounds of shell with time fuse, and although the target was not hit the firing was very close, with the exception of the,last shot of No. 3, which fell about 800 yards short. The order was then given to charge with grape for the purpose of firing a salvo. This over the detachment limbered up, the small arms were unpiled, and the striking up of the band was the signal for the return to town. Of course, with the target situate in such an awkward place for scoring, the points awarded could not be very accurate, but by the aid of glasses and the advantage of the eminence of Mr Brandon’s garden a sufficient guide was obtained to enable the scorers to award the prizes. No. 2 gun, under Sergeant Brogan, takes first prize. No. 1 and No. 3 were very close, and ultimately the second prize was awarded to Sergeant Sample s gun. The want of a proper land target, to enable scorers to examine shots and award the correct points, was much spoken of, but Colonel Harrington complimented the men on the accuracy of their firing and their general efficiency in drill. The band looked neat in their new dresses, and showed a great deal of improvement in their playing. The prizes that were awarded were as follows No. 2, 12 points; No. 3, 8 point*; and No. 1, 7 points. The winners merely take the honor attaching to their respective positions on the score list, the money having, with creditable consideration, been handed over for the benefit of the band fund. The Census. —It is interesting to compare the returns as now published with the approximate statement, made by the Colonial Treasurer in the financial statement, which was made the basis of distribution for the capitation allowance, and for grants to road districts out of the £50,000 : Mr Vogel’s estimate, DifferCensus, 1871. 1870. ence. Auckland ... 62,357 62,000 Inc. 357 Taranaki ... Wellington... 23,982 25,000 Dec. 1018 Hawke’s Bay 6,059 6,000 Tnc. 59 Nelson 22,506 24,000 Dec. 1494 Marlborough 5,026 4,700 Inc. 326 Canterbury ... 46,801 40,000 „ 6801 Otago and Southland... 70,578 70,000 „ 578

257,124 250,000 Inc. 7124 Time Table eor Webb’s Line. —The following time table of the San Francisco mail route has been kindly supplied to the “ New Zealand Herald ” by Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane : London Thursday, May 4; Thursday, June 1; Thursday, June 29 ; Thursday, July 27. Leaves San Francisco Wednesday, May 24 ; Wednesday, June 21; Wednesday, July 19 ; Wednesday, August 10. Arrives at Auckland Wednesday, June 21 ; Wednesday, July 19; Wednesday, August 16 ; Wednesday, September 13. Outwards — Leaves Auckland Thursday, July 13; Thursday, August 10; Thursday, September 7 ; Thursday, October 5. Arrives at San Francisco Tuesday, August 8 ; Tuesday, September 5 ; Tuesday, October 3; Tuesday, October 31. Arrives at London Monday, August 28 ; Monday, September 28 ; Monday, October 23 ; Monday, November 20.

A Mayor’s Nest. —The salary of the Mayor of Auckland has been fixed at £250. City Valuation. —The Town Clerk of Christchurch submitted at the meeting of the City Council recently the rate book for this year. The gross valuation is £86,789. The value of the four quarters of the city are as follows : South-east, £33,665 ; south-west, £22,710 10s; north-east, £15,366 ; north-west, £15,047 10s. The general rats of Is will bring in £4339 9s. The Waimakariri rate will be collected at the same time, being a rate of 2d in the pound, amounting to £723 4s lOd. The valuation of the city last year was £86,635. . Acclimatisation. —At a recent meeting of the Otago Society, it was stated that four fallow deer had been sent to IWfr John M/Lean, Movern Hills, in 1867. Shortly after they had been sent thither, a buck and a doe killed themselves by trying to leap a high fence. The other pair, which were then turned out on the ranges, were not seen till recently, when it was found that they had increased. The red deer, it was said, which had been turned out at the same place, had lately become shy, and had betaken themselves from the paddocks to the ranges. New Zealand Flax. —A correspondent of the “ European Mail” writes : —‘ I have been making some enquiries concerning New Zealand flax, and through the courtesy of a leading firm of brokers give the following information for the encouragement of growers. They write : I We are now paying for experiments that arts being made on the leaf, so as to lesson tho expense of preparing and producing a fibre that will be more applicable for the real flax purposes; we also want to utilise the waste leaf, so as to be available for making paper ; in that case we could find an outlet for 1000 tons a month, but we are afraid that the high freight will be an obstacle we cannot overcome. If the dry leaf could be delivered in Great Britain at £8 per ton, there would be no limit to its consumption for paper. To give you an instance : In 1851 we introduced a fibre from the Mediterranean, and in 1860 we succeeded in getting 3,000 tons used in the year. It has attained to such proportions that with an advance of price just double, we are quite starved upon an import of 93,000 tons per annum, and the manufacturers have got over their prejudice against raw material.

TnE Port Light at Napier.— This light is now in good working order. A party went out on Wednesday night last to the Pania reef, to observe it from tiiafc point. They report that the results are satisfactory. _ It is ready to be lit regularly as soon as notification is made in the “ Gazette.” Knighting our Commissioners. An “ Anglo-Australian ” writes The arrival of Dr Featherston in London, as Agent-General for New Zealand, is looked forward to with much pleasure, and hopes are expressed that Mr Knowles, who acted as his secretary when he was last here, may accompany him. I notice that the New Zealand “ Times ” correspondent complains that the Doctor and his colleague, Mr Dillon Bell, were not knighted, and his suggestion that this honor should ba conferred upon them as o compliment to the colony may yet be carried out. If they be not, they may console themselves that in these days knights are almost as plentiful, so. to speak, as blackberries, and that the distinction from a certain point is, after all, one of an equivocal character. A Lament prom Auckland. —The Auckland co-respondent of the " Otago Times” •writes:—As the time for the departure of what is called the “ vice-regal party” to Wellington approaches, there is much weeping and wailing here. People want to know who is to fill up the terrible gap, and how are the archery parties and other small gaities to be supported in the absence of a social centre, with aides-de-camp whose whole duty it is to see to these important matters. At present we are hopeless, and see no way out of the forlorn prospect. Perhaps to yon, not accustomed to the immense advantage of a social centre, and of some one to “ give tone to society,” the problem may appear less desperate; but to many of us here its solution is looked upon with great concern. WKat is to become of Government House and its splendid grounds is not known ; but some Goth has proposed to turn it into a public school, for which purpose it would not be surpassed in the colony. H The Auckland Scrip Market.— David George Smaile, lately of Wellington, was charged at the Auckland police court with havin'* offered for sale a transfer of two scrip in the Alburnia Gold Mining Company, well knowing the same to be forged, with intent to defraud Joseph Westmoreland. The same defendant was charged with having committed a similar transaction on the 6th of June, in the case of six scrip of the same company. Mr Broham applied for an adjournment, stating, that there was another similar charge against defendant, and material witnesses were absent at the Thames.—The cases were remanded for a week, bail being allowed—prisoner’s own bond for £2OO, and two sureties in £IOO each. „ . ~ Artesian Well.— The work of sinking the artesian well at Napier has been recommenced. The rods are now down to a depth of 315 feet. The formation is still clay. There is at present a flow of water to the amount of about two gallons per minute. Farming in Canterbury. —Ploughing for spring sown grain in the Nothern distiicts of being rapidly gone on with. On the Downs Canterbury is, the u Press ’ lately stated, most of the sowing may be considered over while up on the plains sowing will be continued till the end of the present month. Wheat is being extensively planted. . A reliable correspondent informs the same journal that at least half as much more land as last season in being broken up for cultivation of this cereal, evidently owing to the anticipated increase in. its price at the time of next , harvest.

Survey. —The survey of the railway from Nelson to Foxhill has been commenced. Expoets. —Mr M. Cassius, of Hokitika, is shipping wool and hides to Melbourne by the intercolonial trading vessels. A Spiritual Want —The Mount Ida “ Chronicle” states that “ Naseby is now without a resident mimster of any creed.” A Spiritual Want Supplied.— A hotel has been opened at the “ mosquito township” of Oeo, Taranaki, by a Maori firm. Maoris Woolgathering.—At an agricultural show held at Nelson the other day, a Maori took the first prize for the best Southdown ram, and the second prize for the best pen of Southdown ewes. Unemployed. —Large numbers of men are said to be vainly seeking employment in Hawke’s Bay, a false report having lured them thither from Auckland. The Great Ross Extended Claim.A ccording to the West Coast papers this claim, which now belongs to Mr M. Cassius, is “paying very well.” It employs thirty-six miners.

Putting on the Wrong Side. —At Timaru, a carter has been fined 50s and costs for not keeping on the proper side of the road.

The March oe Intellect. —The natives in Hawke’s Bay are reported to be everywhere desirous of obtaining European instruction for their children. Caledonian Dividends. —The Caledonian mine paid the sum of £71,500, in the shape of dividends, on May 31. Bumble Bees. —The Rev. W. C. Cotton, of Frodsham, is making efforts to procure some bumble bees for New Zealand, and as soon as fine weather sets in he will doubtless have some ready for shipment. Cloth. —A public meeting was held in Christchurch a few days ago to take steps for the establishment of a cloth factory there. The attendance was small, and on this account, after some speeches had been made, the meeting was adjourned without anything definite being done. Dredging. —The success of the dredges on some of the Otago rivers has induced the West Coast miners to turn their attention towards this branch of mining, and it is proposed shortly to place a dredge as an experiment on the Upper Buller. Mr Lowther Broad is said to be the moving spirit in the affair.

News erom Home. —We must go from home to hear news, and from Otago we get the following item. The “ Times” says : The Norwegian immigrants can hardly be expected to transmit to their friends in Europe favorable accounts regarding New Zealand, for it is stated that the road leading to the township where they are located is for ten miles buried in mud deep enough to reach to a horse’s chest, and flour has in consequence reached the price of 27s per cwt. Exported Oats. —The “ Oamaru Times” states that the oats exported from that district have gained a very unenviable notoriety in the Melbourne market, owing chiefly to the slovenly manner in which they are cleaned. Canterbury oats enjoy a better reputation, and fetch from 4d to 6d per bushel more. The same holds good of the West Coast and Auckland markets.

Permissive Bill. —The agitation in favor of a Permissive Bill has extended to one or two country districts of the province of Nelson.

Farming Prospects. —The prospects for next season of the farmers in the Oamaru district was reported by the local paper to be favorable, good progress having been made both in ploughing and sowing. Hokitika. Hokitika, like Westport, is suffering from the encroachments of the sea, which has undermined a portion of the wharf to such an extent that it is expected to fall in.

Kawakawa Coal. —The Kawakawa (Bay of Islands) coal mines continue to be actively worked. Indeed the demand for coal is so great that vessels are subjected to considerable delay before they can succeed in obtaining a cargo.

Father Larkins. Father Larkins, of West Coast notoriety, has been appointed “ To minister in holy things to the Catholic portion of the Lawrence (Tuapeka) community,” as stated by a correspondent to the “ Bruce Herald.”

Scientific Rumor. —We (“Grey River Argus”) are informed, from a reliable source, that by the last mail to San Francisco, a telegram was sent by the Ministry to the Hon Julius Vogel, imperatively urging his immediate return to the Colony. He may possibly return by the July steamer. An Anachronism. —Upon the authority of one of tho oldest members of the House of Repi-esentativcs, the “ Otago Daily Times” learns that the statement made by tho “ Hawke’s Bay Herald” to the effect that Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Williamson were members during the first session of tho Assembly, is incorrect.

A Last Fond Wish. —The “ Otago Daily Times,” in its last monthly summary for England makes the following prophecy:—A full inquiry into all the circumstauces connected with the telegram libel case will probably be instituted when the Assembly meets; and if, when the question comes up for discussion, the House adopts the same view regarding the past administration of the Telegraph Department by the Ministry, as is entertained by the public of New Zealand, and by the newspapers of the neighboring colonies without one single exception, a change of Government will take place. Fortunately, this is the first occasion on which the character of the colony has been blackened by the act of her rulers, and nothing short of their removal from office will enable New Zealand to regain, in the estimation of her neighbors, that high character which has been associated with her name since she became possessed of representative institutions.

The Wakatip Claim at the Thames has been sold by auction for £730. Tennyson.— Tennyson’s physicians are of opinion that the poet laureate is in danger of losing the use of his eyes. Teltimonial. —The “ Wanganui Herald” says:—lt has been decided to present Mr Buller with a testimonial, and a committee has been formed to give effect to the object. It is proposed enabling the recipent to purchase a piece of plate, and a list has been opened and at the time of our going to press a sum of upwards of £SO had been subscribed, thus evidencing that the people of Wanganui are ever ready to recognise sterling worth.

The Price op Law. —A number of shareholders in the reef recently discovered at Murray Creek, left town early yesterday morning to attend the Court at the Inanghua, in order to contest the jumping of their shares by miners. A few days ago they telegraphed to a legal gentleman at Wesport (as all the Greymouth solicitors were engaged in the Supreme Court), to enquire the cost of his services in representing them on the occasion, aud the answer made the modest demand of £4O! It is needless to add that the offer was declined with thanks.—“ Grey River Argus.” Clan Campbell. —The representatives of the clan Campbell, in Australia and New Zealand, will be glad to hear that it has been decided to defer the presentation of the clan’s wedding gift to the Princess Louise until August next, in order than the members of the clan in the most distant colonies may join in this expression of welcome to the bride of their future chief.

Hue and Cry. —The following is an extract from the “ Victorian Police Gazette” : John Hurst, chai’ged on a warrant issued at Greymouth, New Zealand, with the embezzlement of £5 and other moneys, the property of the Paroa District Road Eoard, at Paroa, County of Westland, on the 25th October. He was employed as secretary and collector to the Paroa Road Board at the time he absconded, and was afterwards proprietor of the “ Freeman” newspaper. Captain David Spain, R.N., has been allowed by the Admiralty to count the period served by him in New Zealand during the Maori war as sea time, precisely as if he had been in command of a ship. Captain R. H. Burke, balf-pay, 68th Light Infantry, lias been appointed Staff-officer of Pensions at Perth, Western Australia. He served in New Zealand during the Maori war of 1864-65 66. Justice behind Time. —A Scotch judge condemned a man to be hanged on the 28th of the month, for sheep stealing. As the poor convict was being removed, he exclaimed, “ My lord, my lord, I haena got justice here to-day.” The judge looked up from his paper and said, “ Weel, weel, my man, ye’ll get it on the 28th.” Sudden Death of the Stoutest Woman in London. —Mr Langham recently held an inquest on the body of Mrs M. Kenny, aged thirty-three, described as :he “ stoutest woman in,London.” It appears that for some time past the deceased had complained of great difficulty of breathing. She retired to bed in her usual state of health, and early next morning her husband found his wife dead by his side. Mr Langdale, surgeon, said he had made a post-mortem examination. The deceased was a woman of enormous size. He found the whole of the internal organs loaded with fat, and the heart was of immense size, weighing 23£ ounces, the ordinary weight being ten ounces. It was covered with fat. The cause of death was from fatty degeneration of the heart. A verdict of natural death from disease of the heart was returned. Awfully Sudden Death. —On June 8, a laboring man, whilst going to his employment at Huia, from Onehunga, fell dead. His companions conveyed 'his remians to Onehunga township, where an inquest on them was held. His name was Michael Geary, late of the 18th Regt.

Marriage with Deceased Wire’s Sister. —The majority of twenty-six, by which the House of Lords threw out the bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife’s sister, is the largest majority known since 1851—a majority greater than the whole Bench of Bishops, even if all voted together against the bill, a fact which some Radical writers seem to forget. Against one point in the proposed measure, viz., its retrospective effect, the “ Guardian ” utters an indignant protest : “ Nothing ever surprised us more than to see Prime Minister advocating it. The case is simply this. Men knowingly and deliberately yiolate the law, to gratify their own desires ; and then, not content with denouncing its justice, they have the face to ask that their lawlessness should actually be made a ground for doing away with the law, and that all the penalties of broken law should be removed.” Frying Bankrupts. The “ Chronicle” says that the passenger list of the steamer Wanganui contained—-besides the names of some other respectable persons—a whole batch of bankrupts flocking to the forthcoming sittings of the court. Wanganui appears in great insolvent force before his Honor Judge Johnston this term. The Weather and the Roads. —A fortnight’s almost incessant rain has managed to reduce the roads about Wanganui to such a state as to make them almost impassable. The Government road between the Kai Iwi and Waitotara is actually so. The main road between Turakina and Wanganui has been considerably cut up, but is better able to stand inclement weather, and is being repaired wherever required.

Immigration. —Advices have been received hy the Provincial Government that Mr Vogel has approved the Canterbury immigration contract for the ensuing season, submitted to Mr Vogel in London by Mr Ottywell, English agent for the province, and the result was in every respect satisfactory. The contract, we should say, provides for four ships at intervals of six weeks, and the first will start during the present month:

Trade with America.—We learn from an Auckland paper that, in order to facilitate trade between this colony and America, Mr Webb has made such arrangements as, on the whole, may be considered favorable. Should these give satisfaction to our mercantile community, and so lead to any considerable export trade, it is not unlikely that still move liberal terms may follow. The following charges for the conveyance of wool have been published : —To San Francisco, 1 cent per lb ; the same freight will be accepted for delivery in New York at 1$ (2} cents per lb). Also liberal terms are offered for shipments of gum. Messrs Collie, Stewart, & Co, of San Francisco, will advance 75 per cent upon consignments. of wool aud gum to New York or San Francisco. A late San Francisco paper says : —Eastern manufacturers have been large purchasers of the spring wool clip at pretty high figures. Large quantities have gone East by rail, and the ship Comet has sailed for New York, carrying 248,851 pounds. The steamer Constitution, for Panama, en route for New York, had 152,624 pounds. For all desirable clips prices are sustained ; while, by reason of the free receipts of choice parcels, purchasers neglect those that are dirty and inferior, so that prices for these are shading off somewhat.

Chinese Immigration. —While Chinese immigration to Otago is on the increase, it appears to bo falling off in California. The “ San Francisco Bulletin” says :—“ The question of Chinese immigration, so far as California is concerned, is apparently working out its own solution. One statistician, who has made this question his study for years, claims that the number of Chinese in this State has decreased twelve per cent, since January Ist. The reduction may be slightly over-estimated, but there has, no doubt, been a large decrease, very few are coming, while many are going. We know that the Pacific Mail Company’s steamers bring a few Chinese passengers, and that the arrival of a ship load of Chinese is of rare occurrence. These facts are patent to any person who has paid attention to the matter. The decrease of the Chinese population is not owing to the return of prosperous Johns to their Flowery land, but because of their departure to other States and territories. Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah have received a liberal supply of able bodied Celestials from California, and the Southern and Eastern States have also been sprinkled with queues and almond-eyes. Within thirty days a ship, with four hundred Chinamen on board, will arrive in this port. The whole invoice will be forwarded to the Southern States to fulfil a contract. So far as known, there is only one other ship under charter to bring Chinese to this country. An attempt to contract for several hundred Chinamen to fulfil a contract in Peru resulted iu a failure. Peru bears a hard name among the Celestials, and even the tempting offer of 28dols per month—six months’ wages to be paid in advance — could not induce the Chinamen to go there ” Lord Lytton. —Mr J. H. Eriswell, in his “ Modern Men of Letters,” draws the following sketch of the author of Maltravers : “ Walking, let us say, up the hall of the Freemasons’ at a Literary Fund Dinner’, there is a gentleman, rather feeble, doddering, a Cousin Feenix, with tumbled hair, a face rough, flushed, a noble forehead and high aristocratic no3e, a gentleman unmistakably—a gentleman with the “true nobleman look” that you do not find one man in a thousand has, and of which Pope spoke. He is not very strong, this gentleman, and has a scared kind of stare —that, indeed, of a student out in the world. In this living face, and in photographs from it, there is a suspicion that it is 1 got up’ to what its owner thinks its best; that Pelham would be younger than he is. Yain struggle with time ; what gentle waggoner can put a * skid’ on his wheel when he is going down a hill, or * with a finger stay Ixion’s wheel,’ as Keats has it ? Look at the hair brushed forward and manipulated, the eyebrows, whiskers, and hair somewhat darkened, the moustache and imperial! The whole look of the man has just the clever artistry—not insincerity, for Lord Lytton is a true man—which is the little bit of bad taste which has prevented its master from being the very first in his rank.” Growing Wheat. —At a recent meeting of the Stoke (Nelson) Farmers’ Club, the following statement of the average cost per acre of growing wheat in Nelson was produced Two ploughings, harrowing, rolling, &c., £2 ; seed, 10s; labor, harvesting, &c., £1 10s ; threshing, 12s 6d ; bags, carting, and other small items, 12s 6d ; total, £6 ss. This showed that oven supposing the average yield to be twenty-five bushels, the grain must be sold at 5s per bushel in order to meet the necessary expenses of growing. Meat Preserving. —Evidence of the progress of the meat preserving industry in the province of Otago is to be found in the manifest of the ship Jessie Readman, which sailed for London on June 7, among her cargo being 5060 cases of preserved meats. Since the beginning of the year, 9214 oases of preserved meats and 810 casks of tallow have been exported from Dunedin to London, and these figures, it is believed, will be increased in the course of a few weeks.

Acclimatisation. — A Nelson paper informs us that Mr W. Robinson, of the Cheviot Hills, recently obtained 36 skylarks from that province. They were obtained for him by Mr Felix Wakefield, and were conveyed to their destination without the 1038 of a single bird. These birds, says our contemporary, are now so numerous in Nelson, that it is folly for other parts of the colony desiring larks to incur the risk of importing them from England.

Wanganui Exports.— The “ Chronicle” says it is high time that Wanganui became more independent of Wellington and established direct communication with the home markets. The fact of the wool-ship 3 in Wellington refusing to take Wanganui produce, for reasons or jealousies which ought to have

no weight with business men, is in itself sufficient to necessitate a chauge from Wanganui remaining a mere hanger-on to the skirts of Wellington. The s.s. Wanganui left this morning for Lyttelton with a largo cargo of flax, which had been refused or delayed freight at Wellington.

Presbyterian Church. —Tho session of the Presbyterian Church at Wanganui, after considering the vote of the congregation on the question of instrumental music, have decided that the matter had better be left in abeyance for the present. There voted in favor of tho introduction of an harmonium, 100; against, 38 ; while it was calculated that upwards of 150 members and adherents abstained from voting, whose inclinations were agaiust the step proposed.

Squatters and the General Assembly. —With a view of enabling the Otago constituencies to obtain a larger choice of candidates for the General Asssembly “ outside the pastoral tenants of tho Crown,” one of the members of the Provincial Council has given notice that he will move the following resolution :—“ That with a view to assist in diminishing the difficulty hitherto experienced by Otago constituencies in obtaining a sufficient choice of candidates for the General Assembly outside the pastoral tenants of the Crown, this Council is of opinion that for the future it is advisable to pay out of the Provincial revenue, to each Otago representative in the General Assembly the sura of £l5O per annnum ; that in order to secure this desirable object without placing any additional burden on the revenue, this Council agrees |to abolish the honorai’ium heretofore paid to its own members; also that a respectful address be presented to his Honor tho Superintendent, requesting that a sufficient sum for the above purpose may be placed upon the Estimates.” A Successor to the Pope. Prince Sigismondo Chigi, the official guardian of the Conclave, has been called to the Vatican, and installed there to await tho course of events. It was rumored, however, that the conclave of cardinals would meet in Malta whenever called upon to elect a successor to the reigning Pontiff. Pio Nino was elected on the 16th June, 1846 ; and it is a remarkable fact that no Pope of Rome has ever occupied the Papal see for the full term of five-and-twenty years. Two have filled it 21 years, two for 23, and three for 23 years each. In April last Pio Nono only wanted two months to complete the full term of a quarter of a century. Black Swans. —From Timaru exchanges, it appears that these birds are increasing very rapidly on the lagoons to the south of the township. Lately no less than 200 were counted in one flock. It is said that wild ducks, formerly numerous in the same lagoons, have almost entirely disappeared. Lorne. —A grand dinner was given at the British Legation, in Florence, to the Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne, who left on the same evening for Rome aud Naples. Pius IX, —The Pope is stated to be suffering from dropsy, and it was genera 1 ly feared in .Rome that his malady would have a fatal termination.

The Queen of the Thames. —We publish the following extract from the “Australasian” : —‘ Captain M'Donald’s pragmatic selfsufficiency in connection with the clearance of his vessel from this port, when Mr Goisett made it a sine qua non that he should provide her with a long-boat, is not forgotten ; and we shall bs curious to learn the part which that boat played in the salvation of the passengers and crew of the Queen of the Thames.’

Cost of the Census.— lt is estimated that the cost of the late Census in Britain will be £100,600. The Founding of Rome. —On the 21st of April —which people did not omit to notice was the anniversary of the foundation of tho city—Prince Pallacini-Rospigliosi was formally installed as Civic Pontiff or Syndic of Rome, amidst great festivities. Dollars and Dimes. —By the Gothenburg, which arrived at Port Chalmers from Melbourne on Thursday, the varitius Banks in Dunedin received 30,000 sovereigns, besides a quantity of silver.

MARAVILLA COCOA.—No breakfast table is complete without this delicious beverage.—The “ Globe” says :—“ Various importers and manufacturers have attempted to attain a reputation for their prepared Cocoas, but we doubt whether any thorough success has been achieved until Messrs Taylor Brothers discovered the extraordinary qualities of 1 Maravilla’ Cocoa. Adapting their perfect system of preparation to this finest of all species of the Theobroma, they have produced an article which superseded every other Cocoa in the market. Entire solubility, a delicate aroma, and a rare concentration of the purest elements of nutrition, distinguish the Maravilla Cocoa above all others. Eor homoeopaths and invalids we could not recommend a more agreeable or valuable beverage.” Sold in packets only by all Grocers, of whom also may be had Taylor Brothers’ Original Homoeopathic Cocoa and Soluble Chocolate. Steam Mills—Brick Lane, London. Export Chicory Mills, Bruges, Belgium. Advt.

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. These facts 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. [j>2w.