News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 23, 1 July 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

Opening of Parliament. —We understand that Parliament will be called together for the despatch of business on the fourteenth of August next. Wellington Philosophical Society.— A meeting of the members of t.his society will be held this evening, at eight o'clock, in the Colonial Museum.-

Collectors. —Mr J. Mulhevin has been appointed rate collector for the Karori-Makara district; and Mr Alex. Findley for the Western Rangitikei school district. Waiwjttj.—The following persons has been elected a board of Wardens for the ensuing year, for the Middle Waiwetu Road District: Messrs James A'Court, Edward Pierce, Charles Death, senr., Henry Knight, Peter Smith, Charles W. Brown, chairman. Greytown School District.—The ratepayers of the above district have elected the following persons as a committee :—Rev. A. Knell, Dr J. Smith, Messrs Moles, T. Walker, J. E. I. Boves, J. Baillie, M. Hirschberg, R. Lucas, M/Caselberg, J. A. Petherick, A. K. Arnott (Chairman). Mr Lucas was appointed collector, and Mr Hirschberg treasurer. Me David Blyth has been elected Chairman of the Kaitoki Road District. Pahatjtanui,—The following persons have been elected wardens of the Pahautanui Small Farm Road District:—Messrs E. Bolton, B. Draper, D. Cook, S. Flighty, D. Galloway, Chairman. Appointments.— Amongst the appointments gazetted we notice the following :—W. Stuart, Esq., to be Registrar of Deeds, District Land Registrar, Curator of Intestate Estates, Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, and Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hokitika, Westland ; J. M. Bath am, Esq., Examiner of T'tles for the Westland Land Registration District. The Superintendent.—From the remarks dropped in debate by the Provincial Secretary, it will be seen that his Honor the Superintendent has formally relinquished his intention of resigning the office of chief magistrate of the province at the close of the business of the present session. The province has every reason to be gratified at this signification of his Honor's. The universal belief in Dr Featherston's honesty of purpose is quite equalled by the belief of the people of the province in Mr Fitzherbert's business capacity and energy, and if proof of this were wanting, we could not do better than point with the greatest satisfaction to the method, tact, and expedition that have characterised the actions of Mr Fitzherbert and his Executive during the present session of the Provincial Council. Court oe Appeal.—A draft order has been prepared which will be submitted at next meeting of the Privy Council directing that appeals should in general, and as matter of ordinary practice, be heard only from the Appeal Court in New Zealand, reserving her Majesty's right to hear appeals direct from the Supreme Court. An order in Council is reprinted in the Gazette regulating the form and type to be used in printing the cases, records, and proceedings in appeals, and other matters pending before the Judicial Committee of the Council. Postal. —By a proclamation in a General Government Gazette, issued on Saturday, we learn that in the case of a letter posted wholly unpaid the letter must be detained and dealt with according to rule 153. If a letter addressed to any place within the colony is insufficiently stamped, but nevertheless bears one of the value of a penny, it must be forwarded, but charged double the amount of postage of which it is deficient; and if a letter, liable to more than one rate, addressed to the United Kingdom or any of the Australasian colonies, be prepaid with only one rate, it also must be forwarded, charged with the deficiency, and one rate added as a fine ; but a letter addressed to any other colony or foreign country must be detained and dealt with according to rule 153. Statistical —ln a table published in Saturday's " Gazette," showing approximately the population of the colony, as ascertained by the last census, we find the following totals of increase, as compared with the returns of December, 1867 : Auckland, 14,014, or 2900 per cent; Otago (as before union with Southland), 12,001, or 24 70 per cent; Taranaki, 121, or 925 per cent; Wellington, 2,032, or 9-25 per cent; Hawke's Bay, 776, or 14 68 per cent; Marlborough, 864, or 1976 per cent; Canterbury, 8,468, or 22'09 per cent; Southland (before union with Otago), 826, •r 1039 per cent. In the following divisions ot the colony the populations have decreased. The figures are:— Nelson, 1,376, or 577 p r cent; Westland, 176, or 113 per cent; Chatham Islands, 51, or 27'71 per cent. The total difference in the population of the colony shows an increase since December, 1867, of 37,499, or 1714 per cent.

Deserters. —A circular from the Secretary of State for War, published in Saturday's Gazette, announces that as H,M. troops have been withdrawn from the Pacific Colonies it is inexpedient to claim any men who may be in such colonies in a state of desertion from their regiments, so that it is therefore now unnecessary to take any steps for their apprehension. A, J. Maxwell, of Fernhill, has passed his junior examination. New Cricket Ground. —We have been favored with a view of a sketch of a plan for a Pavilion Grand Stand, drawn by Mr Bruce Wallace, to be erected on the new cricket ground. It purports to meet the requirements of the Cricket Clubs and the Caledonian Society combined, and as far as we can judge, does so most effectually. It is a good beginning, and may perhaps stimulate others to exercise their ingenuity in a similar manner. The Ship England has on board a full complement of passengers, and a cargo valued.at £44,000. In wishing Captain Harrington a prosperous voyage home we may at the same time express a hope that his ship will be again placed on the berth for our port. During his stay here Captain Harrington has, in a variety of ways, betokened more than a passing interest in our welfare, and this can only be interpreted as evincing a reciprocity of good will towards the business people of the city. As part cargo the ship takes home a trial lot of timber, shipped by Captain Harrington himself; and from his long experience in the commerce of the different parts of the world, and his knowledge of the requirements of the English timber trade, we are inclined to attach some significance to this matter. No doubt if the England does not return here, Captain Harrington will take means to make known to us how the speculation turns out. During her stay in port the England has been caulked and repainted all over outside, and it says a great deal for the capabilities of our shipwrights to elicit from Captain Harrington the opinion that he could get his repairs done here as cheaply as at home. New Zealand Insurance Company.— From the report of the half-yearly meeting of the above company, we notice that the statement of accounts is of a most gratifying character, not only to the shareholders but also to the public who have to insure, inasmuch as the directors have been enabled to place a portion of the profits to the capital account, thereby giving an assurance to insurers that the stability of the Company is increased. According to the balance sheet the capital is now £75,000, which is increased to £IIO,OOO by £35 000 as a reserve and reinsurance fund. The investments amount to £108,678, which, with cash in hand, £10,900, make the total sum to their credit £130,216. There has been received from premiums, and from interest and transfer fees during the halfyear, £39,789 ; while losses and expenses of management together amount to £25,415, leaving the net profit for the half-year nearly £14,374, or nearly £5 15s per share. The sum of £5 has been added to each share, making the amount now paid up per share £3O, and the dividend payable is thirty shillings per share, or ten per cent, on the paid up capital, The report is the twenty-first that has been issued, and the meeting at which it was presented is the first held by the Company in their new handsome buildings which have been erected in Queen-street, Auckland. The dividend will be payable at the head office on the 22nd instant, and at the branches on the receipt of advices. The Metropolitan Hotel.—The re-open-ing of this hotel by Mr Osgood (formerly of the Empire) was celebrated by a complimentary dinner, at which about forty gentlemen " assisted," including his Worship the Mayor, the Provincial Solicitor, G. Crawford, Esq., M.P.C., Councillor Mills, and other leading citizens. Mr Crawford, in proposing the toast " The Guest of the Evening," gave a very humorous and entertaining sketch of the gradual progress of Wellington during his lengthened experience of thirty-one years. He concluded by stating that the time had now come for Wellington to have a first-class family hotel, and that the reputation of Mr Osgood as a genial and enterprising landlord was so widespread that he felt sure, whenever it was known that the Metropolitan was " Osgood's Hotel," it would be considered scemd to none in New Zealand. Mr Osgood, in reply, returned thanks for the compliment paid him by so many influential gentlemen honoring him by their presence at his opening night, and it would be his pride and care to show that their confidence was not misplaced, and that the Metropolitan was second to no hotel in the colony. When he came first to Wellington the grass was growing in the streets, and people declared he was mad in building the Empire Hotel. Very soon, however, it was seen that a first-class commercial hotel was duly appreciated, and that his enterprise was crowned with success. Wellington had made great progress since that time, and he felt confident of being as successful in providing the city with a firstclass family hotel as he had been in providing it with a first-class commercial hotel. When he said that he had made up his mind to cast in his lot with them, and to do his utmost to make the Metropolitan Hotel second to none in the colony, the gentlemen present, who knew him so well, did not require any further assurance that the expectations indulged in by the Chairman would be more than realised. The kind reception accorded to him by all classes on his return to Wellington had fairly astonished him, and he could not express how much he had been affected. But all this kindness, and the unusual compliment paid him by this complimentary dinner, would only encourage him to put forth his best efforts more fully to deserve what he could not but think the far too flattering opinion held of him in the City of Wellington. To say that the dinner was a sumptuous one, and the arrange* ments all that could be desired, would be mere surplusage in Mr Osgood's case.

The Net ADA. —This vessel arrived in our harbor at 7 o'clock on Tuesday night. She made rather a lengthy passage of nineteen hours from Napier, which is partly accounted for by the rough weather, and partly by the tact that fast steaming with boats of the class of Webb's resolves itself into a question of coal consumption. Very convincing proof of the power of " going" in these boats was given by the Nebraska on her trip to Sydney, and we understand that the Nevada is equal if not superior in steaming power, but as she has merely to arrange her passages to contract time, and as there is no object to serve by the making of quick trips, we are not likely to hear of anything wonderful In the way of smart coastal trips. The appearance of the boat as she lay at anchor last night was something unusual to the eyes of persons so much accustomed to the ordinary steam boats thai visit our port. Her galleries presented the appearance of an illuminated upper storey of a factory, and the broad glare of the red light gave the great vessel almost the literal appearance of a painted ship upon a painted ocean. The Nevada did not bring many passengers, and had no cargo at all for this port. As the vessel carries a clea-ance for all New Zealand ports, she was not troubled with customs formularies, and left the harbor last night about ten o'clock, having been only a few hours here,

Pahautanui.—On Saturday la9t Colonel Harrington, accompanied by Colonel Reader, visited this district for the purpose of inspecting the Pahautanui volunteer and militia companies, both of which are under the command of Captain James Taylor. After the militia had been put through the manual and platoon exercise, Colonel Harrington informed the men who composed it that he had no very high opinion of their proficiency in drill. The fact i 3 that many of the men cannot see the slightest necessity for their learning to drill, and only attend parade because they are compelled to do so. This feeling was represented to Colonel Harrington, who confessed that it was of little use to teach men to drill after they had passed a certain age, but stated that it was not in his power to exempt men in the third class from attending parade, unless they obtained certificates of competency in accordance with a clause in the Militia Act. The volunteers then fell in, and after a little manual and platoon exercise, were put through various marching and extension movements, finishing with a little target practice. Colonel Harrington was more complimentary to the volunteers, whose proficiency, both in drill and shooting, he considered creditable, considering the short time that the corps had been formed. He also noticed the interest they appeared to take in their corps, and the success they had achieved in the district prize firing. Captain James Taylor must be congratulated that his men have passed their first annual inspection in so satisfactory a manner. Baker's Hill.—Several shareholders in this company are taking steps to call a general meeting of the shareholders, with the view to purchasing the engine and five-stamper battery now at Makara, the property of the Wellington Quartz Crushing Company. The cost of the machine, . we believe, was £7OO. Though it is only a five-stamper, we are informed that the engine is powerful enough to drive fifteen stampers. Reports from the claim state that the auriferous dyke has not yet been crossed, though in the last few feet the rock has got both harder and poorer. Eighteen feet, however, is reckoned as likely to yield not less than half an ounce to the ton. The Morning- Star.—An extraordinary general meeting of this company is convened for Friday evening, 14th July, at seven o'clock to take into consideration the advisability of increasing the capital of the company and other business. Use eor Flax Sticks.—A correspondent of the "Press" states that the common flax stick, pared down to a flat smooth surface, answers well the purpose of an impromptu razor Btrop. ~__ , _ , Wanganui Magistrate.—Mr Walter Builer will leave by the next Californian steamer on his long meditated tour to England, for the purpose, principally, of having his work printed there ; the impossibility of his having it executed in the colony, we suppose, necessitating its being taken to th» home country. The work, when completed, will form a valuable companion to Hocbstetter'p, and to the many admirable volumes which have come into existence of late years, which have swelled the series of works which are destined to take such a prominent place in the education of the young New Zealander. To the ornithologist or the entomologist, Mr Buller's work must prove an invaluable vade mecum. During Mr Buller's absence, Major Edwards, who is now in Wellington, will fill his position as Resident Magistrate at Wanganui. California Passenger Trade.—The passenger arrivals at San Francisco by ocean routes for April numbered 741, of which 207 were from Panama, 284 from China and Japan, 82 from Australia, and 44 from the Hawaiian Islands. The departures by water for the same month were 916, including 484 to Panama, 234 to British Columbia, and 113 to China and Japan. The number of through passengers arriving here by railroad for April was 3,149, while the number so departing was 2,034. Nelson Coal.—The Wellington Gas Companyhave imported some 70tons of Collingwood coal, and we understand that it is the intention of the company to give it a fair test, and, if found suitable for making gas, they intend giving all the encouragement they can in order to assist in developing colonial industry. New Zealand Flax—A correspondent of the " European Mail" writes :—With regard to New Zealand flax, I may remark that during Easter time little thought has been given to it, and that the demand for it, as well as other fibres, has been very quiet. I may mention that Mr Vogel is busying himself with inquiries in connection with this flax.

Fenians.—A return published in England of the Fenian convicts recently released, shows that nine were liberated in Australia. Australian Maize.—The Indian newspapers say that Australian maize has been introduced into the presidency of Madras with great success. The Approaches to the Bridge.—These have been commenced, and are being proceeded with rapidly. The difficulty of procuring the iron bark timber on account of the floods in Few South Wales has considerably retarded the work.—" Wanganiu Herald," Accident.—The Hawke's Bay Herald" says:—A severe accident accurred on board the Government p;s: Luna. As some of the men were steaming out a tallow-cask, the head of the cask suddenly burst, enveloping the men in the steam. Mr J. Massey, the second engineer, and one of the stokers (Nolan) were scalded, the latter so severely that he had to be removed to the Provincial Hospital. The Manufacture op Flax. —A corrospodent of the " European Mail," says :—" I had the honor of erecting works for the manufacture of flax on a large scale, for the late John Fergus, Esq., M.P., and I found that, by causing a small stream of water, at a certain temperature, to pass through the steeping vats during the fomenting process, I greatly hastened and perfected that process, so that I was enabled,by this simple means alone, to greatly increase the value of the flax produced, as much, indeed, as to nearly double its value."

Features op the Late "War.—A reremarkable feature of the late war, which must have puzzled many, is thus adverted to by " The Times" of April 1: —" If we were asked to point out the conclusion most naturally to be drawn from the melancholy events of which the country nearest to our shores is now the theatre, it would be one totally subversive of all our preconceived notions respecting the ascendancy money exercises on all human affairs. Everybody in France seems always to have money enough for everything. The wonder began with M. Garobetta, who, when all the military power of Imperial France seemed to have utterly foundered, had apparently only to stamp his foot upon the generous soil of his country to elicit myriads of warriors, and never gave himself a moment's thought as to the sources from which the 'sinews of war' were to spnng. One fifth of the most flourishing French departments paid their revenues into the hand of the German invader ; the collection of taxes and the receipt of customs were greatly interfered with by the disorganisation of the service in other provinces, and by the stagnation of trade and industry in almost all of them, yet M. Gambetta was never at a loss for the cash necessary to make large purchases of arms and ammunition abroad, and for the outfit and equipment, as well as for . the daily maintenance, of his improvised armies at home. He was, indeed beaten in the end, but not on economical or financial grounds; and the only new burden he seems to have inflicted on France is that ten millions loan which his friend M. Laurier negotiated for him on very reasonable terms in the London market. After Gambetta however the deluge might have been expected to set in. M. Thiers engaged to pay Prince Bismarck two hundred millions of war indemnity M. Thiers, who was

said to be unable to pay the first instalment of £20,000,000 war indemnity to the Germans, due this day, and to have sued for and obtained a respite of a fortnight, found the means of effecting the payment last evening. Somehow, money and time are matters about the possible want of which a French statesman never seems to entertain the slightest fear."

Bismarck Generous.—There has for some time been a rumor current that Prince Bismarck is going to be generous ; if, indeed, an act of bare justice can be so styled. He is, report says, going to give back North Schleswig to Denmark, in accordance with the Treaty of Prague. It is four and a half years since that treaty was signed. Triumph.—The triumphal entry of the Prussian troops into Berlin, we are informed, is postponed until August 3, the birthday of the Emperor's father. On that day last year, the monument of the Konigs Blatz, in commemoration of the war of 1866, was to have been unveiled, but the outbreaks of hositilities with France necessarily deferred it. Shocking Scene in a Theatre.—The " Diritto" of Florence gives an account of a shocking accident which took place the other night at the Prince Humbert Theatre in that city. A ballet pantomime was being performed, in which an encounter takes place between brigands and soldiers. One of the former, who was fired at, fell mortally wounded, a bullet having entered tho forehead and penetrated the brain. At first the audience applauded the incident. It soon, however, became apparent that- a terrible tragedy had really occurred, and tho audience were worked up to a pitch of the highest excitement. Women sobbed, men shouted, and many leaped upon the stage to see if the man was really dead. The performance, at which the King was present in his private box, was immediately stopped ; and shortly afterwards a magistrate came upon the stage and took the names of all performers engaged in the piece. It is not thought that the occurrence was accidental. The deceased was not a regular performer, but a printer engaged by the night as a supernumary. He was only seventeen years of age. Useful Invention. —Perhaps in no country in the world is greater consideration given to the economising of time and labor than in America; and we are perhaps doing good service in drawing tho attention of housekeepers to an article lately manufactured by Enoch Morgan's Sons, of New York, under the title of "Sapolio," which cleanses windows, knives, tins, brass, paint, dishes, &c, better and easier than any other article that has come under our notice.

Telegraphy Extraordinary.—On the day of the marriage of the Prince Louise and the Marquis of Lome, press messages of all kinds made up of close upon 55,033 words were forwarded from the central station of the Postal Telegraph Department in Telegraph street. Some idea of the amount of labor this represents may be formed from the fact that this enormous number of words would make on a rough calculation, twenty-seven columns of the " Times" newspaper, and, if sent over a single wire, would have taken close upon thirty hours to transmit. Signs op Progress.—Owing to the increasing trade on Lake Wakatip, orders have been given to build two steamers to run upon it. One boat is to be a screw steamer of 79 tons measurement, 8-lffc long, 13ft beam, and 6ft 6in deep. The other is to be a paddle boat, and of a much larger size than the screw. How to Test a Diamond.-—The " British Trade Journal" says :—A set diamond may be tested by placing wax on its back. The lustre of a true gem will not be affected by this operation, whilst the spurious brilliancy of paste imitations will be totally destroyed by it.

New Zeaia-nd Flax as a Material por Twine and Hope.—Mr N. T. Lockhart, formerly of Nelson, and who is connected with a largeflax spmningand manufacturing concern in the county of Fife, Scotland, writes to a Nelson paper as foliovvs :—"I have sent you per book-post a sample of twines made from Now Zealand flax. I have made several experiments of samples I had from New Zealand, also samples from London. Flax, as at present prepared, is quite unfit for spinning purposes and the manufacture of fabrics. It will make very good heavy twines, fishing lines, or ropes ; well suited for running gear on board vessels ; it answers very well to mix with Manilla hemp ; it wants the fineness and color of Manilla. The people of Nelson have the idea that it will do well for canvas, baggiug, and woolpacks. This is a great mistake; it cannot be spun into yarns as at present prepared in New Zealand. I have the best opportunity of proving its merits, as my friends use large quantities of Italian hemp, similar to New Zealand flax, but much finer. They have the newest improvements in machinery. A drawing of one I have sent by this post to Rees and Gibson, of Rangitikei, I am satisfied would be a much superior machine for dressing the fabric than anything I have seen in New Zealand flax. A large quantity can be put through at once, four chains passing through the rollers at one time, each chain as thick as your arm. I should like to see flax become a large item of export with you, and w : ll put myself to some trouble to have a sample spun into yarn. If any of your friends are anxious to have a sample tested, by forwarding it to Shaw, Saville, and Co., they will send it on to me." "The Morning Star " —The proprietors of the Auckland " Evening Star" have determined to publish a morning paper, to be called the " Morning Star." The prospectus is written intentionally in a straiu of a wild extravagance. The following is a specimen : —" It will not be an Auckland paper, nor yet a provincial paper, neither a colonial paper—in fact, no paper at all, but a sun—a blazing sun—and not a satellite, illuminating space with its effulgence. It will be the unflinching advocate of royalty—religion—freedom —and the uncompromising enemy of Communism, the Devil, and Tom Russell. In the person of the Colonial Treasurer it sees Apollyon, and touching him as with the spear of Ithuriel, will reveal his horns and tail, and his cloven hoofs to an amazed people. Its speciality, however, will be its perfect independence; in fact, in this respect it will exemplify the character of the bird that perches on the Rocky Mountains and flaps the North and South poles with the wings of freedom." Butter Exporting. Light has been thrown upon the question of butter exporting to England by the publication, in a New South Wales paper, of a letter addressed to M? E. R. Evans, "from Messrs Willis, Mer.y, and Lloyd, of London, regarding the shipments of butter made by the Central Illawarra Butter Company. The facts are the most important that have been published on this I matter; we, therefore present them very nearly entire:—"From samples wo have seen of Australian butter, we regret to find that it does not arrive in so good a condition as could be wished, and compares most unfavorably with butter supplied to this market from France, Germany, Sweden, and other places. At present we find there is a considerable quantity of Australian butter in the market for which it is difficult to find a sale. During the war sales were affected at 80s per cwt, but now the market is well supplied with Continental butter, and it is difficult to find customers for Australian. The present nominal price of Australian butter is 65s per cwt, in small cwt kegs, and we are sorry to see a good many of yours in such packages. The price of the best Normandy butter in this market is at present 156 s per cwt, and from this you can form some idea of its superiority over Australian. We shall be glad to aid all we can in developing a plan by which this butter may be brought to this country without deteriorating in quality, and with this view we took an opportunity of introducing the subject in a paper read by Mr Jones, at the Royal Colonial Institute. It was suggested that the butter might arrive in better condition if packed in small quantities, say of 601 b to 1 cwt each, and these again packed in hogsheads, with salt, which would keep the ( butter cool and free from taint. Large casks are the most unsuitable packages. We think this is worth a trial. The salt used here for butter is a description known as butter salt, and if you gave us instructions we would send a small quantity as a trial, of the best description we could get. In the outer cask of course the ordinary Liverpool coarse salt would be sufficient.

The Education Question in Nelson.— It is rumored, says the " Nelson Examiner," upon we know not what authority, that in the choico of the next School Committee and Central Board of Education, a quiet but detei _nii ed attempt is to be made to return men who will give as much as possible of a religious i, irn to the public school teaching, by introducing the use of the Bible as a school-book.

Traces op Early Times.—The Wanganui Herald" says :—Mr George Small has brought some relics to our office, consisting of a rocket, a canister and shot, and a piece of iron belonging to g,-ape shot, which he unearthed a few days since on his father's farm. The rocket is slightly peretratcd with rust, which is not surprising, considering that it is about twenty years since it was fired. The artillery used to fire in those days for i'an as much as anything else, for it is understood that the best practice failed to inflict any loss on the prudent native, who 60on acquired the art of dodging and keeping out of the way of these large missiles. Billiards.—The match in which William Cook, jun., undertook to give John Roberts, 200 points in 20C0, for £IOO a side, was played on April 17, at St. James Hall, on a table by Burroughes and Watts—the same which was used at the University matches. Cook won by 4,09 and nine points. The play was very slow—the game occupying five hours and a quarter. There is not the least doubt that the spot stroke won the game, for the allround play of Roberts was fr.' the superior and certainly most interesting, the spot stroke being exceedingly monotous. Still, there can be no doubt Cook is a beautifi' 1 . player, and the next match for the championship between him and young John Roberts, on May ?5, will be a most exciting game. Sporting.—' A nod being as good as a wink to a blind horse,' gentlemen who still have confidence in professional pedestrianism may be referred to r, report in the " Ballarat Star" of a dispute between a Mr Hardyman and a Mr Sansom, described as a well-known runner. Sansom had to run against a Melbourne man named Watson, and Hardyman put the 'Band of Hope' money on the stranger. If he had no faith in his townsman as a runner, he had a 3 a man, for we find him on the eve of the race lending Sansom £lO. Few words were wasted at the interview, and those which were used are in dispute, but Sansom took the money as he says 'as a bribe to sell the race,' and then ' split' to his backers. How the one party who thought Sansom was on ' the crook' put it on Watson, and how the other took all that was offered, is a little byplay dull people, as well as knowing ones, will be able to imagine. Such events were apparently quite a matter of course with the hero of a hundred gallant struggles, only it answered him better on this occasion to win, and win he did, to the disgust of the Hopeful Band, who bring an action, and get back their £lO 'as money lent.' But had there not been the £lO hold on Sansom, does anyone suppose the Band would have indulged, in hope, and backed their hope in Watson to the extent it seems they did ? And this is pedestrian sport. — " Melbourne Telegraph."

Meanness. —The meanest set of men that ever lived has just been lighted upon. Let any of our readers ransack their memory for the worst instance of it they can think of, and they will still fall short of any approach to au illustration of a colonial goldfield speciman of selfishness and hardhearted meanness. It was thought that the man who gave to each of hio children a penny overnight if they went to bod without tea or supper, and then made them pay their penny for their breakfast before they had it, was about as mean a reptile as ever crawled, but in we can beat that. Stawell has the unenviable notoriety of being the habitat of the most consummate practisers of meanness that could possibly exist. Their cultivation in this line can be best attested by the following extract from a letter in the " Ballarat Courier''" of yesterday : —A man named Lewis was killed in the North Cross Reef Company by some mullock falling upon him, and of course the other workmen went to the rescue ; and would you believe it, Sir, the time the men spent in recovering the body and landing it on the smface, was actually deducted from their salary on Saturday. After a neat calculation, the directors found that the wages coming to the deceased man, amounted, up to the time of his death, to £2 Is 8f d ; but a litfcly sympathy came over these generous men, and they instructed the manager to make it even money, and pay the widow £2 Is 9d, which was accordingly done. This happening in one of the richest mines in the colony, makes it all the worse." If our readers can supply a parallel case to the above they may do it—we cannot. Mu Disraeli's Sarcasm.—As a specimen of the rougher kind of sarcasm of which the Right Honorable leader of the conservatives is capable, we extract the following from the " Spectator :"—On the recommendations of Mr G-ladstone (said Mr Disraeli, amidst great cheering), we have legalised confiscation, we have consecrated sacrilege, we have condoned high treason, we have destroyed churches, we have shaken properly to its foundation, and we have emptied gaols ; and now we cannot govern a county, and must come to a parliamentary committee. He had found, as ho supposed, the philosopher's stone in relation to Irish affairs, and no time and labor had been grudged him, and no offence taken at the most startling measures ; and now the Right Honorable gentleman, after all his heroic exploits and at the head of his great majority, is making government ridiculous. Valuable Stock,—The " Southland News" l states that a valuable addition to the live stock of the province has been made by Captain Raymond, of Avondale, who, in returning recently from a visit to Australia, brought over ninety Rambouillet rams from the Messrs Degraves' flock—the best in this part of the world—together with a pure Shetland pony and two Angora goats.

Titokowaru. The following resolution has been unanimously agreed to in the Taranaki Provincial Council: —"That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, calling his attention to the continued presence of Titokowaru and other rebel natives in arms in the settled out-districts >f this province, and requesting him to call the attention of the Native Minister to the paramount importance of an early settlement of the status these natives." In the course of the debate which ensued, Mr Richmond expressed the following opinion :—" There were only two ways in which this native difficulty could bo settled satisfactorily, namely, either by extermination or allotting land, within the boundary of which the natives would be compelled to reside. In his opinion the Government were not in a condition to follow either of those methods, as force would be necessary in the fulfilment of them, and the only course which seemed available was to allow the rebels to settle down quietly in their own districts." Unemployed.—The Balclutha correspondent of the Bruce " Herald" states that " the country districts are swarming with men willing and able to work —men who are wearing the shoes off their feet without finding sufficient employment to enable them to buy another pair. Lowe's Match Tax. —One ,of the telegrams brought by the Suez mail stated that Mr Lowe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had been obliged to withdraw his proposition to tax lucifer matches. We learn from the New York papers that Mr Lowe sent the following telegram on the subject to General Pleasonton, one of the Commissioners of the United States Treasury:—" Please cable immediately how tax on friction matches works. Did imposition derauge manufacture, or check consumption? What yield this year ?" To this General Pleasonton made the following reply :—"Tax on friction matches works well. Manufacture not deranged, nor consumption checked. Yield 2,000,000 dollars per annum." From the same source we learn that Mr Lowe's announcement of the proposed tax was received with " great laughter." The proposal was to place a half-penny stamp on each box containing one hundred matches, while a still higher rate was to be imposed on wax lights. The revenue expected to be raised from this source was £550,033. In the evening of tho same day, Mr Gladstone stated that he had given instructions to the police to prevent demonstrations against the tax, so t'uat the "disorders" reported to have occurred were not unexpected. Chinese Esculapius.—Amongst the recent Chinese arrivals at Duuedin, from Hong Kong is a physician, who passed a brilliant examintion at home. The principle on which this gentleman conducts his practice, is "no cure no pay"—a hint worthy of consideration by our own medical fraternity. Chinese Punishment. —The following account of the cruel mode of punishment practised by the Chinese Government is related in a letter from Foo-chow :•*-' A poor man is being starved to death in a cage—his neck through a hole in the top and his toes just touching the ground. In this inhuman position, with his hands and arms tightly tied behind his back, he is exposed to the gaze of tens of thousands of his countrymen in a public thoroughfare, within a hundred yards of where I am writing—his tender-hearted brethren laughing and jeering as they pass the miserable wretch, as if the spectacle were the most amusing in the universe. The poor man's crime is theft, and he is the third who has suffered within the last few months in tho same refined fashion. The length of time they live is from four to six days.' Snake Fight.—A ferocious encounter between two black snakes was witnessed by Mr T. Brimmer, on Ben Nevis, near Eversley, last week (says the " Riverine Herald.") He observed them coiled up together, snapping and biting each other most furiously, and in their combat rolling down the mount. They fought till they came to the edge of a high rock, over which they fell, still twisted together. The fall seemed to paralyse them for a moment, when they separated, and the smaller of tho two made off, pursued by the larger. Tb« spectator of the fray then pursued and de»* patched both combatants, A Gigantic Scheme.—By the last mail from Melbourne, a gentleman in this city received the prospectus of a scheme that has been projected in Melbourne, for establishing a connection by canal between the northern and western portions of Victoria. It is to be called the Grand Victorian North-western canal, and the projectors say they are ready to form a company for carrying it out, if the Victorian Government will promise them a subsidy in land proportioned to the magnitude and importance of the undertaking. The canal, with all branches would run through the districts of Rodney, Bendigo, Gladstone, Ear-Kara, Borung and Kararook, and its entire length would be SCO miles ; it is projected to have a fall of nine inches per mile, to be sixty feet wide, and ten feet deep. The projectors ask the Government to give them a lease for 999 years of the land through which the canal would be formed, together with every alternate square mile of country on each side of the line, or else a grant or fee simple of the same quantities of land. The projectors estimate that the land retained by Government would increase in value from £1 per acre to £5 or £6 through the increased facilities for settlement given by water carriage, and also by a system of irrigation, which the company propose to establish. It being their intention to erect about 130 engines at different jslaces for pumping water for land irrigation. The estimated expenditure of the company is £3,00,000, and it is stated that the whole of the money has been promised in the Melbourne market. —"Dunedin Star." Biack Swans.—Hundreds of black swans are now to be seen on the lagoons near Timaru. Where they abound, however, wild ducks are not to be seen,

Canterbury Meat Preserving Company. —As tho preservation of meat is becoming a question of great importance to Wellington stock producers, we place before our readers the following information brought out at the meeting of the Canterbury Meat Export Company, on Thursday last:—Taking the yield of meat and tallow from the sheep mentioned in the company's report, as received from Mr Gray, we find that the sheep averaged 561bs 7oz at the factory, and yielded 211bs of tinned meat, and 191 b Goz of tallow. We believe that most of the meat sent home hitherto has yielded from 6d to 7d per lb, but the price has, of cou-se, been greatly assisted by the exceptional demand for the article through the Franco-Prussian war. We therefore propose, for the purpose of our calculation, to fix a price at which there is no doubt an almost unlimited demand would be opened up for the article, say 5d per lb. Thus 211bs tinned meat at sd, gives 8s 9d ; I9lbs 6oz tallow, at 43s per cwt gives 7s 5d ; the skin gives, say, Is Id ; in all, 17s 3d. The following charges have to be deducted :—Charge at factory for foiling, and casts, and expenses of putting on board ship, Is lb, 4s 4£d ; sale expenses in England, including freight insurance, &o, on meat, Is 9d; do do on tallow, Is 2d ; in all, 9s Id—leaving a balance of 8s 2d. It will be seen that we have quoted the very row price of Is Id for the value of the skin, and that the return, after paying all expenses, and providing for a fall in tho value of preserved meat in England to 5d per lb, will bo 8s 2d for sheep that will average 561bs 7oz at the factory. We believe that the return would be proportionate for sheep of lighter weight, provided always that they are in fit condition to preserve. The Company have now had tho advantage of the experience of a very able expert from Melbourne, whose advice will doubtless enable them to work not only on a much safer but cheaper basis in future. We should imagine that, under these circuinatouces, the additional capital required by the company will be found on the terms proposed at the meeting, viz., that of giving to persons subscribing for any of the remaining sha-es a return ou the shares of a per cent.ige to be agreed upon before any division of profits takes place with the old shareholders. A suggestion put forward by a shareholder is, we think, we'l worthy of the consideration of the directors—that sheep should be taken in payment of shares ; this having the double advantage rf simultaneously providing capital and profitable employment. It was stated at the meeting that the work has been carried on for tho last few months with the trifling loss of less than three per cent, on the amount of meat presoivcd. Oath Taking.—-The Dunedin " Star" says: —A legislative attempt is to be made during the ensuing session of Prvliament to abolish tho taking of oaths by plaintiffs, prosecutors, and witnesses in our courts of law. A Nelson member is to take action in the matter. Gold Mining in Nelson.—A Collingwood correspondent of tho " Mail" says that the prospects of the district have improved of late. Veiy rich stone was found in the Perseverance Company's ground, report stating it to be as much as an ounce to the dish. A lease lias been taken out by a private company in Nelson to dredge part of the Aorere river. Wild Ducks.—Wild ducks are said to be unusually scarce in the Waikouaiti district this season.

What are Two Hundred Millions Sterling?—A gentleman residing in Sydney has translated the following from a late German paper:—This sum is easily spoken, but few people have a faint idea of its vast proportions. The following will give some faint notion of it. If we reckon 54 sovereigns to a pound weight, then is the weight of this war indemnity 1395 tons 15 cwt, and it would require twenty railway trains of fourteen trucks each to transport it; in this way each truck would carry five tons. This mass of gold would fill a* room 18 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 9 feet 6 inches high. If this quantity of sovereigns could be put into a roll, as is the custom in many merchant's houses at home, the roll would, if we take sixteen sovereigns to the inch, measure 197 English miles and 1500 feet ; but if we put them flat, one close to the other, it would cover more than 405 acres, and if one man were put to the test of counting them, working twelve hours in the day, and countiug 60 in the minute, it would take him 15 years and 8 weeks."

Sea Encroachment. —The " West Coast Times" says :—The sea continues to encroach at Westport. Between Freeman and Palmerston streets, and waves have cut a face of fully three feet into a very much oHer formation of soil than has hitherto been disturbed by the sea in the vicinity of Westport. Eoots and stumps of trees are now laid bare, evidencing the lengthened period that must have elapsed since a similar encroachment had taken place.

.American Perjiissivism.— The "New York Herald" says : —The Board of Excise of Hempstead, Long Island, have resolved to grant but four liquor licenres. There are about forty dealers. The Board is of the opinion that it has the right to act as it pleases, and expresses its determination to force the unlicensed dealers to suspend. The Excise Board of Greenport has refused to grant any licenses. It has decided to aid the temperance folks in clashing out the liquor traffic. An appeal to tho courts is to be taken in both cases.

Those Eccentkic English ! The "Figaro" states that an English gentleman, recently deceased, left a legacy to his nephew conditionally that he visited his tomb once a year and wept over it. Unfortunately our eccentric countryman was given to travelling, and during one of his journeys died in New Caledonia, an island in the South Pacific Ocean. The unfortunate young man has, therefore, to make an annual pilgrimage to that remote land before he can obtain the legacy

Street Railroads.—lt is believed that London will soon adopt the American horse railroad system on a large scale ; while Troy, a city in New York State, proposes to try narrow street gauge railroads, with c; s five feet wide, to cirry twenty passengers. Hall's Line.—The " Daily Times" has been requested to state that in cons quence of tho s.B. Auckland having been wrecked there will be no connecting steamer at Auckland to meet the City of Adelaide at Fiji. A Sleep of Death.—A few days ago a party of men were engaged in clearing flax and grass from a swamp near Waikouaiti mill. They set fire to the grass, the burning of which revealed a human skeleton. 4s 6d in money and a portion of an old pipe were found beneath it. No art'ele that could assist in its identification could be found, beyond a pair of old water-tight boots, heavily nailed and partly burned. The skull was perfect, and free from any perceptible injuries. From general appearances, the skeleton had evidently remained unobserved for many years, and but for the burning of the grass would no doubt have remained undiscovered still longer. The Fenians. —The barque Queen of the South, Captain Adair, sailed for Sydney on June 26. Amongst the passengers were Messrs Flood, Baincs, Fennel, Goldin«, and Kelly, who proceed to Sydney en route fov Sin Francisco. The four ticket-of-leave men from Western Australia, who, since their airival, have been kept in custody, will be permitted by the Government to le_ve in the Binie vessel, instead of having to return to the colony :" em whence they came. DEATn in the Pulpit.—T.ie Rev Benjamin Eaton, f *st and only rector of l.inityEpiscopal Church, Galveston, A merica, was stricken with death while standing in the pulpit, April 2. The Galveston " News" thus describes the affecting scene :— ( He ascended the pulpit. Announcing his text, ' There is yet room,' all trembling beneath the weight of his last message, he referred to one after another of the friends of his youth and the communicants of his church that had gone before. Then, as if the thin veil that hides the spiritual from mortal vision had been rent, and his eye could see such scenes as none could see and live, his fine descriptive powers bent themselves te their task. He painted Death entering the church door, passing up the broad aisle, laying his bony hand to the right and to the left, breathing his cold, clammy breath on the cheek of beauty, and wafting the silver hairs 0 f a g e — now touohing the father, then the son, then the mother, then the daughter. _ _As the spectre, so plain to his entranced vision, advanced to the chancel door, and as he saw that his time had come, his words struggled for utterence. He faltered —his weakening limbs staggered. A gentleman who advanced to his assistance was wafted back. For ten minutes he spoke—his words only audible to those next t} him. The excitement of the audience was fearful. The silence of death was only broken by the words he strove to speak. Three times he struggled to continue, saying : ' I am very sick but I must say.' Again he staggered ; he fell into the hands of Mr O. R. Hughes, as he raised his hands to pronounce the ascription. Like Moses, that other servant of God, he was too weak to hold up his hands, which was done by Mr Hughes, as ho said his last pulpit words, ' To God the Father.' The hand of death lay on his shoulder, was too heavy—for himself, for his^ friends. His tongue refused to speak; _ his hand dropped. He was cai-'ied to his rectory, where he died."