News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 26, 22 July 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

The Medal Commissioneks.—The report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the justice of the claims for the New Zealand medal, have published their awards in the General Government Q-azefcte. Of those of interest to claimants in this province, we publish the following, awarded for services prior to the 31st December, 1866:—Bryce, Thomas, private, Hutfc Militia; Christie, Walter, trooper, Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry; M'Gregor, John, guide to Her Majesty's forces, Wanganui; Eobinson, John, private, Wanganui Bangers; Rooks, Chas. C, lieut.-col., Wanganui Militia; Jones, Hy. Ireson, captain, Wanganui Volunteers ; Kerr, Thomas, private, Wanganui Eangers. The following were those awarded for services performed subsequent to the 31st December, 1866 :—Anderson, John, private, Wanganui Militia; Chapman, David Fisher, corporal, Wellington Eifles ; Hardinge, Henry D. Cecil, private, Wanganui Militia; Monahan, John, trooper, Wanganui Cavalry ; Murphy, James, sergeant, Wellington Eifles ; M'Donald, Win. H. C, private, Wanganui Militia; Eyan, William, trooper, Wanganui Cavalry. The claim of Edward Grreenway, lieutenant, Wanganui Militia, has been rejected. Acclimatisation. —Captain Stafford, owner of the Camille, which vessel arrived on Sunday, has presented to the Acclimatisation Society three black swans. The birds are young, and, owing to the rapid passage made by the vessel, have not Buffered on the voyage. EOAD PROM TAURANGA TO OrOFI The Governor having, under the powers in him vested by the Immigration and Public Work Act 1870, deemed it expedient to open and make a new line of road from Tauranga to Oropi, all persons affected by the making of the road, are required to set forth in writing, addressed to the Governor and left at the office of the Public Works Department, General Government Buildings, at Tauranga, within forty days from the first publication hereof, any well-grounded objections he or they may have to the said line of road. Copies of the plans of the property affected by the making of the road may be seen at the office before mentioned. Yenus and the Sim. —Astronomical students not previously aware of the fact may be interested to know that the sun has now upon its surface a spot plainly visible to the naked eye, when protected by a glass smoked over a candle. The spot is the largest that has been on the sun for some time past. The planet Venus, the evening star, is now unusually brilliant and can be easily seen in the day time. Its position is due North about two o'clock, and half way between the zenith and the horizon. A little patient search on a clear day will readily detect it. The brighter the day the more easily it is found. A New Borough.—-A petition contained in Monay's Gazette in conformity with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, has been received by the Governor from the inhabitants of the township of Wanganui, praying to be constituted a borough, and will be considered on the 19th September next. Palmerston North A General Government Gazette notifies that the name of the post office in the Province of Wellington known as " Palmerston," has been changed to " Palmerston North." The Storm in Waieaeapa.—We learn from our Wairarapa correspondent that that district was visited by a terrific gale and thunderstorm during Tuesday night. The wind was never more strong, the lightning more vivid, or the thunder louder than on this occasion. The thunder was very loud, but the noise of the gale was at times even louder. A more fearful storm was never before witnessed in the district. The rivers overflowed their banks, and a few fences and trees were blown down, but the damage done, considering the strength of the gale, has been but trifling. The up mail coach was stopped at the Hutt Eiver, but the down mail left Masterton at half past six o'clock on Thursday morning as usual. Appointment.—By a Provincial Gazette issued yesterday Henry Bunny, Esq., is appointed Acting Provincial Treasurer. Peesentation op Me Yogel at St. James'.—Mr Julius Yogel, Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, was presented to His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales by the Secretary of State at the levee held at St. James Palace on April 26, on behalf of the Queen. We are glad to learn that it is the intention of John Martin, Esq., to put the s.s. Phcebe in commission again. She will resume her usual voyages about the 25th instant, when she will proceed to the Bluff, via intermediate ports, for the purpose of conveying the members for the Southern provinces and their families to Wellington to the forthcoming session of the House. . ~ South Makaea— The annual meeting ot the ratepayers of the South Makara School District will be held at the school-room, on Thursday, August 3rd, fer the purpose ot electing a new school committee.

Pound. —His Honor the Superintendent has declared the stockyard of James Edward Boyß, on acre No. 91, at Greytown, to be a public pound. St. Petee's Organ.—We are informed that the arrangements for the procuring of the new organ for St. Peter's Church are in a very satisfactory way towards a successful issue. Through the support extended by the public through the entertainments given at the school-room and other sources, the amount at present raised amounts to about £177, in addition to which thore are many other sources of receipts towards the carrying out of the same object. Mr Kebbell, a passenger by the steamship Nebraska, is armed with the necessary authority to purchase an organ in London at a cost of £250 — a price which it is expected will purchase an instrument of considerable power. The amount left to be subscribed is not very considerable, but as the £250 is to be spent for the purchase of the organ in the builder's workshop, the parish authorities will still require a great amount of support at the parish entertainments, and in other ways, to make up the balance of the £250, and to place them in funds to defray the expense of packing, freight, and other incidental expenses connected with its transit hither.

Peesentation. —On Monday evening the parishioners of St. Peter's Church gave a testimonial of their goodwill to Mr Moorshead, the late organist of the church, who is now proceeding to Napier. The gift consisted of a handsome gold watch and chain, a gold pencil case, a large reference bible, and a photographic album. The Archdeacon, who made the presentation, pointed out the appropriateness of the gifts —the watch for present duties, the bible as a guide in spiritual duties, the album as a memorial of past connection. Mr Moorshead, in reply, said that he deeply felt the kindness of the givers, and would hold the valuable presents he had received not only as a mark of the goodwill towards him, so generously expressed, but as a link still binding him to a place where he had spent four years so pleasantly, and which he left with very great reluctance. The funds were collected by three members of the choir. On the same evening the public meeting of the parishioners was held to receive the annual report and balance sheet. The report showed a considerable increase in all the different sources of income during the past year. A vote of thanks was given to the churchwarden, Mr W. F. Oheesman, for the efficient way in which he had conducted the money affairs of the parish. Mr Oheesman was elected churchwarden for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen : —Messrs E. Anderson, De Castro, Didsbury, E. Hunter, Kebbell, T. Kebbell, Pearce, Snow, Sheath, Spinlo, Palmer, Gandy. Archdeacon Stock informed the meeting that he had appointed Mr Hamerton orgamst and Mr Quick as incumbent's churchwarden.

Cemetery.—Section No. 371 in the township of Foxton is proclaimed as a public cemetery. Pout Nicholson Mining Investment Company.—Notwithstanding the general run of ill luck attending many of the holders of Thames stock, excepting of course the fortunate owners of Caledonians, this company seems completely to have turned up trumps in their investments at the Thames. In opposition to the theory of fluctuations attaching to all companies who undertake the actual working of the reefs this company seems to have struck a uniformly lucky vein. The profits, spread over such an extended proprietary, will not perhaps be very great to each individual member, but although the coming in of the profits may be slow there is the flattering unction that they are sure, for we have now to record the closing of the company's books preparatory to the declaration of the seventh dividend.

His Excellency the Governor, as a power in the State, is thus described by Mr Gillies, the Superintendent of Auckland, in his recent speeeh:—The Governor is a mere cypher, bound to do what his ministers for the time being advise; he is the representative of Her Majesty, of the dignity and history of the monarchy; but he is, so far as the colony is concerned—l speak of the office, not of the individual now so worthily holding the office, and representing those ideas—an umbra, a shadow, without whose existence we would not suffer, and by whose extinction we would scarcely be gainers or losers. I wish you perfectly to understand this, that the Governor in name, is not the Governor at all, in reality; that when you address indignant remonstrance to His Excellency to disallow this or that Act. to assent to this measure or that, to do or leave undone, any political action, you are, save when imperial interests are concerned, merely addressing the Ministry of the day, and not His Excellency in person, as a separate entity at all. He is governed by his responsible advisers. They are the Governor —he, but an oracular medium to the priests inspired. Australian Mutual Provident Society. —Our readers will observe that a local branch of the above very large and successful institution has been established here under the control of a board of directors, comprising some of the most influential members of this community. It is to be expected that the identity of interest which will be thus created between the members resident in New Zealand and the Society will conduce greatly to its prosperity, and as its success must benefit all the members in equal ratio, our fellow colonists may be congratulated on being enabled to participate in the great advantages it offers under local direction. One important; feature in the new arrangement will be that applications and proposals will be determined without the necessity of referring them to Sydney, thus saving both time and expense. We are sure that the high reputation this Society enjoys all over the Australian colonies renders it quite unnecessary to commend it further to the earnest attention of our readers.

Webb's Line. —A complaint of a nature likely to do a great deal in the way of injuring the reputation of this line in the opinions of those of the Australians who prefer Webb'a line to Hall's on account of having the advantage of seeing the New Zealand cities en route, has reached us from a gentlemav. at present in Wellington, who engaged a passage in Melbourne for the last trip of the Nevada. It seems it was stated to the gentleman in question that the Melbourne boat would reach Wellington in time to catch the Nevada in our harbor, but as that boat did not reach here until some two days later, of course his passage was lost, so that instead of saving a fortnight, as he expected to do by taking Webb's boat, he has lost a month of valuable time. If there is no agent for this line of boats in Melbourne, we would suggest that some steps should be taken to insure the circulation of reliable instruction as to how persons desiring to catch the outgoing boat from New Zealand should act in the matter ; and if there is an agent it would be better that he should send on passengers by a boat whose sailing date from Melbourne would allow some margin of time for detention at the ports on her route, and for bad weather, or other uuforeseen causes. As it is well known that the greater number of the Australian passengers adopt Webb's route on account of its attractions to sight-seeers, some care will have to be taken in the manner we have indicated, as the Australian travellers will think twice before running the risk of losing their passages for the sake of the advantage of seeing New Zealand on their journey. We commend the matter to the attention of Webb's agents everywhere. Accident. —A rather serious accident occurred to a boy named Cahill on Friday afternoon. It appears that he has for some time passed been engaged in Mr Seager's foundry, and was at the time of the misfortune doing something on one of the boilers ; from this he jumped, and lighted on the handle of a sledgehammer standing on its head, and which at the time he did not see, the result being a severe rupture. He was taken to the Hospital, and under the care of Dr Grace, is, we learn, now progressing favorably towards recovery. Johnsonville School. —The following persons have been gazetted as a local committee in connection with the Johnsonville school:— Rev W. D. E. Lewis, chairman ; Henry Taylor, Esq; G. W. Jordan, Esq ; Messrs W. Lowes, Thomas Broderick, E. Petherick, and G. Hobbs.

The Atiien;eum. —The library of the Athenasurn is to be re-opened on Monday next, Through the generosity of the Provincial Government and many citizens, the number of volumes in the library has been greatly increased, about 500 works having been added by this and other means. It is the intention of the committee to endeavor to hold the soiree during the week succeeding the opening of the library. The Odd Fellows' Hall will be engaged for the purpose of giving the soiree, His Honor the Superintendent, and most of our leading citizens having promised to assist in making the performance as great a success as possible. Many ladies, also, have consented to take an active part in the getting up of the entertainment on the occasion, which will consist of instrumental and vocal music, to be succeeded, in the orthodox way, by dancing. The committee have many improvements in view for the purpose of increasing the comfort of members and, in the hope of gaining an addition to its members, by making the Athenaeum more attractive to the general public. New Eeligious Periodical.—We have received from the publisher, Mr C. Waters, of Auckland, the first number of the " The New Zealand Primitive Methodist Messenger." The periodical contains a number of interesting articles, original and extract, all in the style peculiar to the Methodistical publications of the times —seeking to convey religious precepts and to enfore practical observance of them by the recital of thrilling anecdotes. The only article of any particular interest is one referring to the arrival of the Eev E. Ward from New Zealand, which says:—ln London, Mr Ward became the guest of the Missionary Secretary. His long voyage and the novelty of railway travelling had unfitted him for immediate effort ; nevertheless he attended Suttou-street chapel, and took part in the revival services being held there. We have mentioned the novelty of railway travel ling; and perhaps our friends may be surprised to hear that Mr Ward has only seen a railway three or four times in his life. He attended the conference at Nottingham in 1843, and saw the Nottingham and Dcby line, which was then regularly worked. He saw another line when he was on his way to London and New Zealand. He also saw a small railway on the other side of the earth. Beyond these limited glances his acqunintance with our every-day locomotion had not extended.

Scab. —The sheep of David Cameron, of Tauerau, are declared to be scabby, and his certificate has been cancelled from the sth July. The sub-inspector of sheep at Wanganui has suspended the clean certificates of J. Blyth and J. C;i moron, from the 4th July. Call to the Bar. —Among the names of gentlemen called to the English bar by the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple in Easter term last (May 2) are those of Martin Chapman, Esq., and Frederick Eevans Chapman, Esq., sons of Mr Justice Chapman. Both are natives of this colony, and Mr Martin Chapman was for some time secretary to the learned judge. ; Dlffeeence between Eeligion and Theology.—Mrs Grreig, a candidate for the London School Board, has undertaken to define the difference between religion and theology. She says she is 'in favor of instructing children in religion, which teaches people to love one another; but she is not willing to introduce into the schools theology, which has taught men to hate each other."

Lunacy.—The " Wairarapa Mercury" says, with reference to the man Blake, recently committed to Karori:—A man of the name of Blake, who was previously sent from this district as insane, was discharged from the Karori asylum as sane last week; he returned to the Wairarapa and committed various excentricitiPß, one of which was playing a flute up and down the main road, until he was found on Wednesday night covered with mud near Mr Dakin's property, Carterton. He was conveyed to Greyf own and consigned to the lockup, where he was kept for three days and nights. He was taken to Feathereton this morning. Keeping a man in gaol for three days without being brought befoi'e the Resident Magistrate, is one of the most disgraceful things we have heard of.

M. Q-TJSTAVE Flourens. —Best known as a Revolutionist, M. Gustave Flourens was also a writer of merit. The son of the well-known Secretary of the Academy of Sciences, he was himself a lecturer at the College of France ; and his course on " Ethnography," delivered in 1863, attracted much attention afc the time. His work on " The Science of Man," published in 1864, was, we believe, his only non-political book; and in 1865 he left France for Crete, where for three years he fought in the mountains against the Turkish troops. The beet known of his later writings is his " Paris Delivered," published last month, a work which is well worthy of being read at the present moment. Whatever view may be taken of his politics, even his opponents never failed to admit his great courage and perfect honesty. Killed, near Nanterre, by the cavalry of the Marquis de Galifet, his death is deplored in Paris by many friends, who were far from being Revolutionists. Postal Communication. Arrangements have been made for despatching the mails for Now Zealand, via San Francisco, once in every four weeks in future. The next despatch will take place from London on the evening of Thursday, June 1, and thenceforward mails will be sent from London on every fourth Thursday. The Home News. —An advertisement from Mr Lyon, the Wellington agent, which appears above our leading article, explains the nonarrival of the " Home News" by the present mail.

Miss Burdett Coutts. —As will be seen by an item among the additional telegrams Miss Burdett Coutts has been elevated to the peerage under the title of Baroness Burdett Coutts. She is known almost as well in the colonies as she is at home. The colonial bishoprics of Adelaide, Cape Town, and British Columbia were founded by her, and it will be remembered that in South Australia she founded an establishment for the improvement of the aboriginies. People in the colonies will agree that the Queen never did a more gracious act than when she offered to Miss Coutts the title by which the latter will henceforth be hnown. A Bill oe G-eeat Weight. —ln the House of Commons, on May 17, a great portion of the sitting was occupied with the consideration of the Permissive Liquor Bill. A number of petitions were presented pro and con, as aho one against the Government Licensing Bill, from Manchester, extending over 560 yards of paper, and weighing fortyfour pounds. In the end the House divided, and the bill was rejected by 206 to 124. Respectability in the Horrors.—'The " Wanganui Herald" has the following : Messrs Halcombe and Hunter have resigned then seats in the Provincial Executive, shocked at the depravity which could have appointed Mr Henry Anderson, of Wanganui fame, of high, and honorable, and temperate career, to an office in the Land Department. The fair exterior of Provincialism is thrown off —the thing has gone by express train, and, without any notice, to the dogs. No act could have been more suicidal to the provincial system. We rejoice consequently ; and as the two most reputable members of the Grovernment have left it in disgust, we may hope that its unprofitable days are drawing to a close. Mr Henry Anderson in office! Terrible calamity! we should exclaim, if we had the smallest faith in the provincial creed. Respectable politicians must have gone into the horrors in the "great city!" Bumble Bees.—By papers received last night by the Orneo we observe that the Rev. Charles Cotton, of London, expects soon to have some bumble bees ready for shipment to New Zealand. As it seems to be necessary, however, that some gentleman should be found who would volunteer to give the bees a little attention on the passage, purely as a labor of love, we anticipate that this, added to the ordinary difficulties, will have the effect of delaying their departure for some time longer. Constitutional Provisions. —An old negrmade application at one of the public buildings in Washington, a short time since for something to eat, and claimed that he had a right to come there for victuals. The head of the department was called in, who asked the darkey upon what right he based his claims. " Why," said the sable representative of the Fifteenth Amendment, " I understan' dar's provisJuons in the Constitution for de colored folks, and I Jtaven't had de fust

crumb." Exhibition op Flax.—A recent Gazette has the following :.—The House of Representatives having resolved that there should be an Exhibition in Wellington during the next . session of the Assembly, of all varieties of flax fibre prepared in the colony, manufacturers are invited to forward to the Flax Commissioners, through the Superintendent of their province, samples of the fibre, rope, sacking, or any other material prepared by them from the New Zealand flax. The sample of fibre should not be less than 201 b in weight, and ten or fifteen fathoms of each kind of rope will be sufficient. It is desirable that a statement of the processes and estimated cost of manufacture should accompany the samples.

Freemasonry.—At a Masonic banquet recently given at Charleston to Mr Shephard, the Provincial Treasurer, that gentleman is reported to have said that "He looked, upon the fact of the establishment of a Royal Arch Chapter at Hokitika as a most remarkable circumstances in the history of Fremasonry, considering that the country on the Coast had been so recently but a waste, unpeopled, and all but unknown, and that the Sublime Degree was one but rarely attained or sought after at home. This proved how truly and how deeply masonic spirit penetrates on the West Coast of New Zealand, and migh probably be traced to the peculiar position of its inhabitants. More scattered than at horn a, having left their household ties behind them, they felt more strongly the need of that bond of unison which masonry alone could give. In the Lodge and in the Chapter they meet together as brothers and companions, and in the time of trouble they relied upon each other that comfort and assistance which their obligation imposed. Those were perhaps reasons why Masonry flourished in new settlements more than in the old country. He believed that the establishment of the Royal Arch Chapter at Hokitika would tend greatly to the extension of Freemasonry on the coast, and help to spread wide those noble principles which are the distinctive characteristics of the Craft. Grinding- Ambition Up and Down. —As an outlet for the exuberant vanity of the amateur elocutionists of the city, the promoters of the Winter Entertainments in Christchurch offer a prize for the best recitation to be given at a public performance. The proposition does not state whether any plan has been adopted by which " the winner stands out" of future competitions; possibly the introduction of some such stipulation, by preventing the reappearance of successful candidates, would have the effect of saving the lovers of genuine entertainment the infliction of a great amount of stage-struck muffism by getting through the anxious crowd and having "no more on't." But whether such a condition is imposed or noi, the plan may work the same legitimate end should the judges award the prize for nothing but real elocution. The competitive plan would afford a good opportunity for setting down those who persist in airing their pretensions in public to the annoyance and discomfiture of those to be found in every audience who have correct notions of what amount of talent a person should be possessed of who has the temerity to face them for the bestowal of their approbation. The cup to be awarded to the successful competitor is of very elegant design, and already nine persons have entered. Clutha Railway.—The General Government has accepted the tender of Messrs Sparrow and Thomas for the construction of ten malleable iron girders for the Clutha Railway. Martin's Bay.—The settlement of the south-west coast of the Middle Island is gradually increasing. An item in the "Ross News" says:—Mr Brown, our district surveyor, returned from the south on Sunday, having completed the survey of a track from Bruce Bay to the Haast river. He informs us that the population is becoming more settled, and that a large proportion are cultivating a little ground and producing many of the necessaries of life. The line of road is described as being through good, sound coun« try, and that it can be used a dray roed when widened out. The present contract is for track five feet wide, and about forty miles in length, the consideration being 1380 acres of land. We learn that no new discoveries have been made, but the country is mostly auriferous, although the miners have not worked any but beach ground. A party are out prospecting for copper, and coal has been found. The Provincial Treasury oe Canterbury.—A Provincial Gazette, recently issued, contains a statement of receipts and expenditure by the Treasurer of the province for the quarter ending June 30. From this we ascertain that the credit balance of the province is £80,151 18s Id. The Victorian Ministry.—A telegram in the "Newcastle Chronicle" (N.S.W.) of July L, says that the whole of Mr Duffy's Cabinet has been re-elected. Mining at Marlborough.—The " Marlborough Press" of the 29th ultimo says :—At Quail's Terrace several parties are doing well. Quinlan's party is making at present £7 or £8 a week per man. O'Brien, Cantwell, and Mulvahill have bottomed on gold ; also Maher, Fitzpatrick, and a few more parties ; but all the terrace that is supposed to be auriferous is taken up. The diggers here, most of whom have neat little gardens, complain greatly about the depredations of cattle, which, besides breaking down fences and eating their vegetables, desCroy their races, boxes, and flumes. At Deep Creek there are about one hundred and fifty miners. A new terrace has been opened between Big Beach and Deep Creek. There has been a new race brought into the Forks. Perjury in Law Courts.—ln some Lee tures on the Decaloerue, delivered to a Sunday School at Caulfield, by the Chief Justice of Victoria, Sir George Stephen, the learned gentlemen bears emphatic testimony to the frightful extent to which perjury prevails in the Law Courts of that colony.

Jewish Workshops in London. —Sir David Salomons has carried a bill through the House of Commons permitting Jews who close their workshops and tobacco manufactories on Saturdays to re-open them on Sundays for the employment of members of their own faith not younger than thirteen years of age. The measure now awaits a second reading in the House of Lords, and has been rendered necessary by the oppressiveness of the Workshop Regulation Act, 1867, some of the clauses of which led to results quite unforseen and never intended.

Railway Extension. A Marlborough paper of a recent date says : —Until the return of Mr Vogel we do not expect to hear of any action being taken in regard to the construction of the Picton and Blenheim Railway. It seems that while we are waiting for the attention of the Government to this line, private enterprise in the Pelorus is likely to take the lead, for we learn that a company is about to be formed in that district for constructing a tramway for the purpose of conveying timber and produce from the Pelorus Valley to Havelock. This, taken in connection with the opening of the Rai Valley for settlement, adds considerably to the importance of that district.

A Desperate Throttler. Who ever heard of a pig being chocked by a mouse ? An occurrence of this nature, says the "Southland Times," has been brought under our notice by Mr Lyons, of Myross Bush, who states that while clearing up a stock of grain the other day, the pigs about the homestead were busy taking advantage of the opportunity to improve the quality of their bacon. A large number of mice were deprived of their comfortable quarters, but no notice was taken of this common occurrence. Some time after the clearing-up process had been finished, a poor porker, about three months old, was observed to be lying in an unwontediy quiet position. On being examined, it was found to be dead, and a, post mortem was immediatedly held to ascertain the cause of its sudden collapse. Astonishment was expressed when a mouse was found in the throat, and a verdict was consequently passed that " piggy" had "died for want of breath, superinduced through being suddenly called upon to do duty as a mouse-trap." Human Remains Found.—The " Timaru Herald" of the 12th inst says:—About mid-day on Monday last there were discovered on the beach near the Waimataitai lagoon some human remains, which had been washed up by the rough sea which has been running for the last day or two. The fact was at once communicated to the Police, and the remains were picked up and conveyed to the Police Station, On examination they proved to be an arm from the wrist up to the elbow, a left thigh bone, and a foot. The two former were denuded of flesh, though the muscles were still attached to the arm; the foot, however, was covered with flesh, which can only be accounted for by the supposition that it was protected by a boot until very shortly before it was found. It is thought that the thigh bone does not belong to the same subject as the other remains, as it appears to have been in the sea a much longer time, and is quite clean of flesh and muscle The arm and foot probably belong to Nielson, the late mate of the Otaway, whose fate has hitherto been shrouded in mystery, doubts having been expressed as to whether he was drowned at all, but had murdered his companion, and then landed and effected his escape. On the possibility of this being the case, full descriptions of the man have appeared in the Police Gazettes of this and neighboring colonies. The finding of the foot, however, sets any such suspicions at rest, as it must undoubtedly belong to Nielson, both of Webb's feet having been found and identified by the boots on them, which boots are still in the possession of the Police. We understand that the Coroner has decided not to hold an inquest on the remains as there is no evidence to put before a jury to enable them to come to any conclusion as to how the person to whom the remains belonged came by his death.

An Odd Fellows' Hall eor Christchurch. —A premium for the best design for an Odd Fellows' hall has been offered in Christchurch. According'to the plan the building is to be 45 x 26 all over, having a spacious lodge room and two ante-rooms, one 10ft x 9ft and the other 12ft square. The hall will be lighted with side lights, and when completed will be an ornament to the neighberhood.

The Sea Level oe New ZEALAND.-r-An interesting discovery was made at Forbury Park, Dunedin, the other day, consisting of a stratum of fine white quartz gravel, evidently wind-blown, and very similar to the thin layers found on the neighboring sandhills. The gravel is almost as fine as rice, and would form an admirable top dressing for garden walks, or for workmg it on the surface of asphalt. The bed is another proof in corroboration of the theory of an alteration in the relative levels of sea and land in the adjacent district.

Preservation of Bietheight. The newly born son of Bazaine, although born in Germany, was not born on German soil, his father having, by prudent foresight, conveyed a long chest of French earth into the land of his captivity with his other baggage. Thus the Israelite Pilgrims, in olden times, brought away a boxful of earth from Palestine, so that their remainß might repose at last in the mould of the Promised Land. A Leabned Kleptomaniac.—For some time past many books were missed from the Imperial library at St. Petersburgh. Suspicion rested on one of the librarians, a German theologian (a St. Petersburgh paper gives the name of M. Aloys Pilcher), but his high standing in the world of learning made it impossible to act upon it. Some time ago, however, on his leaving the library, one of the servants who assisted him to put on his overcoat felt beneath the clothes on his back a large volume. The consequence was a domiciliary visit, which led to the discovery of about 7000 volumes stolen from the~ brary. The selection bears an honorable testimony to the critical acumen of the learned thief. An Extraordinary Whist Hand.—A recent " West Coast Times" says :—" Four gentleman in Hokitika were playing a game of whist a few nights ago, when one of them, on dealing the cards, had the fortune to find that his own "hand" consisted of the thirteen trumps. Players of whist and readers of Hoyle will be able to appreciate the extreme rarity of the circumstance.

The Other Manawatu Imbroglio.—The Wanganui " Herald" says that no real settlement has yet been come to between the rival alaimantß—the Ngatiamaniapoto against the Ngatiapa backed by Kemp and his tribe. Mr Edwards did his best, and everything seemed to bid fair for peace, but he had no sooner gone than the old strife was revived, and armed bands are now watching each other over the disputed territory and, at latest intelligence, a collision was considered imminent. Warning of this at least has been forwarded to tho several hapus of the Wanganui tribe, who have been told to hold themselves in readiness for further complications. The quarrel as it stands is a pretty one, but one with which the Government or the settlers have nothing whatever to do, and it will be their own fault if they are involved in the meshes of this dispute.

Railway.—The total number of miles of railway open in New South Wales was 405£, the cost of construction of which was about £6,350,000. Excluding the line from Sydney to Paramatta, fourteen miles in length, and which cost about £35,000 a mile, the cost of construction per mile was £14,41)7. The average cost per mile of maintenance is £127, as compared with £354. lis 3d in England. Insurance.—The "New Zealand Herald" says : —The recent melancholy accident to George Ritchie, Esq., illustrates the advantages of life insurance. The deceased gentlemen, we are informed, about three months ago effected an insurance on his life for £IOOO in the Australian Mutual Insurance Company. Toe:angamutu. The wily Maori King, Tawhiao, has invited the friendly natives to visit Te Kuiti for the purpose of deciding the Aroha case.

Maori Remains.—While the men employed upon the Kaiapoi town section of the Canterbury Northern Railway were at work on Monday last, cutting through the huge sandhills on the eastern side of the township, they were rather astonished at unearthing the skeleton of a human being. The bones, from their appearance, must have lain in the ground for some considerable length of time, and as a Maori pah existed in the locality in the early days of the settlement of the colony the only probable presumption is that the remains were that of a Maori. Near the ground where the skeleton was found are a large number of holes varying from six to eight feet deep by twelve feet in diameter, and present the appearance of a once warlike pah. The skeleton, though not altogether complete, has been purchased from the workmen by a resident in Kaiapoi, and though his taste for ancient relics would appear very peculiar, he intends having it articulated as a matter of curiosity.

The Maori King's Proclamation.—The Thames correspondent of the " Southern Cross" says that a native of the Ngatimaru tribe arrived in Shortland yesterday, with the intelligence that the King had placed himself in communication with Rice, the chief oi the Ngatihaua tribe, upon the vexed question of the Aroha survey. His Majesty, it seems, despatched a trusty messenger to Rice, with a proclamation to the effect that he (the King) had decided not to permit the selling or leasing of native land to any European ; also that surveying was to be discountenanced, and the establishment of schools on native territory. Rice's' co-operation was asked for, and also the co-operation of the natives of the Upper Thames. His Majesty, however, met with a point blank refusal. The Ngatimaru are very much excited by this intelligence, and vow that in the event of its being confirmed they will proceed to Te Aroha, and occupy the land for perraament settlement, and defy the King and his Waikatos to do their worst.

The Insolvency Trade.—The writer of the " Peerybingle Papers" says the corky insolvent is a quite-colonial sort of party. You can't sink him because of his corkiness ; but of all cool touches in his line, a note that a friend of mine got couldn't be beat. Here it is : " Sir, —Before I file my schedule, I propo?© to pay all my creditors at 7s 6d in the pound. I might rise enough money to satisfy all. If I go through the Court there, will not be sixpence in pound. Yours, Let me know before next Wednesday." Observe the innocent artfulness of this gentle youth. He could pay seven shillings and sixpence in the pound ; but " if I go through the court there will not be sixpence in the pound." If the new insolvency law makes it cost seven shillings to earn sixpence, its inventors ought to be proud of it. The Telegraph in New South Wales.— From the report of the Superintendent of Telegraphs of New South Wales for 1870, it appears that the revenue from all sources, and departmental expenditure from Ist January to 3lßt December, 1870, is as follows : —Revenue from eighty-six stations, £28,550 4s 8d ; balance on intercolonial business, £2225 10s lid ; balance on guaranteed lines, £1262 3s 3d total, £32,037 18s lOd ; expenditure, £29,830 8s sd; nett profit, £2207 10s 5d ; total extent of lines, 5247 miles; cost of construction, £195,544 15s 7d. Reduced charges for telegraphic messages came into operation on the Ist July, 1870, since which date a considerable increase in the number of messages has resulted. Eor the last six months in 1869 the total number of telegrams was 76,016, and the amount received £15,914 8s 4d, and for the same period in 1870 the number of messages was 101,131, yielding only £13,748 13s 9d, showing an increase in the number of messages of 25,115, being fully equal to 25 per cent, and a decrease in the revenue on the half year as compared with the corresponding period in 1869 of £2185 14* 7d.

An Odd Fellows Journal. —It is proposed in London to bring out a newspaper in the interests of the frieudly societies, more especially the Odd Fellow*, and the ,( Record" thinks there must be a sufficiency of special topic in connection with the various Orders to render such a publication valuable to)"those institutions, and generally popular.

Thompson's Road Steameb.-A private trial of the Thompson's Road Steamer lately landed at Auckland, took place on Saturday week, when everything was found t _work satisfactorily. A public trial was shortly to U mi* -Hares must be plentiful about The " Advertiser" states that six of Seseanirnalswert killed one day last week at the rear of Mr Dann's mill, on the Moorabool

1 TICKLISH OPERATION.-The operation of opening the tracba, or windpipe (says the "Newcastle Chronicle,") for the purpose of removing some foreign substance, and which operation is known as tracheotomy, was on Thursday successfully performed by Dr Bowker an d his assistant, Dr Peers on the infant daughter of Captain Davis, of Perkins street. The necessity arose out of the following circumstances :-On the Wednesday afternoon the child, Ada Davis, aged four years, was playing about, having in her mouth a number of pumpkin seeds; whilst thus engaged she fell and striking her head, commenced crying pa'smodically, aid Bellowed one of the pips. Medical assistance was immediately called m, aB a succession of fits, accompanied with a most distressing cough ensued; everything was done to alleviate the child's sufferings On the following day, however, as no signs of improvement manifested themselves, the patient was carried down to the surgerj in Bolton street, as it had become evident that ™thinff short of an operation could save her life Tracheotomy with the aid of chloroform, was" successfully performed, the seed being voided by the orifice made, and the little invalid is now doing well. "AFTER MANY ROVING YEARS." -The " Leisure Hour" last arrived has an article on MrM'Gregor, of Rob Roy Canoe celebrity, who was an infant when he and his father, Colonel M'Gregor, and his regiment were rescued in the Bay of Biscay from the Kent East Indiaman. A stranger amfcdote still was related by the Rev S. D. Waddy, recently at a meeting of the Wedeyaj Bear man's mission. It was to the effect that at the time of danger Colonel M'Gregor threw overboard a bottle with a slip of paper enclosed telling the position of the ship andher comnany. Several years after that Colonel M'Gregor was one day walking along the ehore in the West Indies, when he saw a man pick up something. He went to see what it was, and on clearing away the encrusted matter about it, the identical bottle and its enclosure were seen which he had thrown overboard when expecting shipwreck. Pearl FisaiNG.-Pearl fishing in Western Australia seems to be progressing. The "Fremantle Herald" (Western Australia) of Mav 26, says the three vessels arrived within one week, having on board in the aggregate thirty-seven tons of pearl shell, worth £5,000, besides many valuable pearls. The Civiii Organisation of Queensland. —Queensland would seem not to be in flourishing circumstances. From a blue-book just issued in Queensland by the Government, it is noted that the Civil Service there was composed of 2,143 persons, without counting those paid by fees or only occasionally emnloved. The money thus spent in salaries was estimated to amount to £2 16s 4d per head. The total revenue proper of Queensland was only £743,058, and of that sum not less than £315,000 was disbursed in salaries and wages. The debt of the colony at the same time was £3,000,000, so that after the payment of salaries and interest there could be but little left to be expended on public works. To help the Government out of its financial difficulties, the newspapers seek the encouragement of immigration on an extensive scale. A Masonic Ball.—The proceeds of the late Masonic ball in Melbourne, amounting to the handsome sum of £213 16s 3d, has been paid over to the treasurer of the Masonic Almshouses, to bedevoted to building purposes. Magnanimous.—The Hon. W. J. T. Clarke of Victoria, haß set an example that might well be followed by wealthy people in the colonies. At a meeting of the committee of the Melbourne Hospital, the secretary report ed the receipt of a donation of £250 from Mr Acclimatisation.-The Auckland Acclimatisation Society have passed the following resolution " That 500 trout be sent for to Canterbury." Meteorological Phenomenon. lhe Auckland " Evening Star" of July 10, has been informed by an eve-witness, and the statement has been confirmed by several others, that a curious phenomenon occurred this morning in the harbor, about a quarter past seven. It will have been noticed by all that about that hour a very loud peal of thunder, accompanied by instantaneous- and very vivid lightning, suddenly startled the city, and at this instant, as we are informed, something fell into the harbor about half way between the outer T of the Queen-street wharf and the breakwater. The concussion was so great that the water arose on each Bide to the height of a cutter's mast, and a large volume of spray, or ashes, or eteam, for it has been described as having the closest resemblance to the latter two subBtances, was borne for along distance down the harbor. The instantaneous noise of the electric explosion was so great that no report was heard from the concussion with the water, but it is very evident that some object descended with great momentum, whether electricity, or, as it is commonly called, a " thunderbolt," or whether it might have been an aerolite or some other meteorological wanderer. The appearance presented in the effects, as described by Bpeotators, was as if a mass of burning log and cinders falling into the water had produced the ashes and steam borne away so far to leeward. It is a fortunate circumstance that a vacant space on the surface of the harbor was the scene of the phenomenon, and that the boats and shipping, and wharves, in the immediate neighborhood, did not come under the itroke of the descending object.

California v. Australia.—Mr C. M. Ware, a colonist of thirty-three years' standing in Australia and New Zealand, writes a letter on the above subject to the " Melbourne Telegraph," in which he eays:—" The latter end of last year I left Australia for California, and after spending some three months in various parts of that State, I was struck with the energy and enterprise displayed by the Americans in the different enterprises. During the time I visited the various foundries, mills railways, tramways, schools, stores, wharves, and other notable places, in all of which I received the greatest kindness in regard to information from all with whom I came in contact. I have come io the conclusion that it is necessary to the welfare of all young and rising communities to adopt protection. By so doing you give employment to thousands of the rising generation, both male and female, causing them to be brought up to work, and to know the value of the money they earn, all of which, I contend, tends to make them more industrious, and to become better citizens." The writer, after contrasting the enormous price of English goods compared with American, caused by the heavy duties on the former, goes on to say : " No* real American will use, or encourage the use of anything that can be made or manufactured in America and is imported from England. And until Australians come to the same conclusion, I consider it stands to common sense that the colonies will never make that progress that they should, considering they have every element within themselves to make a great nation. Two Governors at the Thames.— The " Mail" of July 7, says:—His Excellency the Governor, Sir George Bowen, together with Earl Belmore, Governor of New South Wales, the Countess of Belmore, and suite paid an informal visit to the Thames this morning. They landed at Grahamstown Wharf from the Colonial Government p.s. Luna, this morning at 8 o'clock, and were received by Major Cooper, the. officer in command of the Militia and Volunteers of the district, Captain Goldsmith, Inspector of Mines, and several of the leading Maori chiefs of the district. They visited the Golden Crown and Hauraki batteries, also the residence of Chief Taipari, where they were presented by Mrs Taipari with a handsome kiwi mat and feathers. Their stay did not exceed three hours, and they left from Tararu Wharf at 11 o'clock. The French War Indemnity.—lt is stated that Baron Eothschild has given an opinion that France will be able to pay up the whole five milliards of francs in the course of the year. M. Cremieux has addressed a letter to M Grevey, the President of the National Assembly, in which the ex-Minister proposes that France should promptly subscribe the war indemnity of five milliards, in order to rid herself of the Prussians. He says— Let each of us consider the state of his fortune, and let us make an advance to our country, which will be repaid over a long course of years." M. Cremieux himself offers 100,000 francs for this purpose. Extended Commercial Relations with the Colonies.—H.N.M.S. Curagcoa arrived at Queenscliff on June 28. This vessel has been despatched by the Dutch Government, from Java, to take on board an expedition to visit the harbor and settlements on the west, east, and north coasts of Ausrraha and the Island of New Guinea, with a view of promoting the commercial relations between these colonies and the Netherlands Indian possessions ; and also to report upon the commercial resources of the latter island. The expedition will be under the command of Mr Ploos Van Amstel, the Consul-General of the Netherlands. A Village under Cover.—One house in New York is inhabited by 1,218 persons—" a villnge under one roof." , Railway Carriage Manufacture.—The following which we take from the " Cornwall Chronicle," of the sth June, speaks well for Tasmanian enterprise :—" Several mouths ago, when, additional rolling stock was found necessary on the Launceston and Western Railway, we urged the importance of having it constructed in the colony. The result was that tenders were called for the construction of 55 goods waggons to be completed by November next. Several tenders were sent in, that of Messrs Waugh and Lockie being accepted. We paid a visit on Saturday to the work-shops of this firm on the station ground and were greatly surprised at the progress made. Thirty-four of the waggons have been completed and turned out, and in addition the firm has constructed carriages which some of the directors never dreamt of seeing made in the colony, viz, four sheep vans, two cattle trucks, two horse boxes, and two timber waggons. So far they have constructed the waggons for about ten per cent less than English cost, they have been turned out to the entire satisfaction of the railway authorities, and are admitted to be of better material arid more substantial workmanship than the English trucks. The timber used is the best seasoned blackwood. The bulk of the iron work has been imported, but for the horse boxes, sheep vans, &c, the iron work has been supplied by Mr W. H. Knight, of the Phcenix Works, Wellington street, from designs by Mr J. F. L. Jetter, the traffic manager, Messrs Waugh and Lockie have kept on an average ten men employed at their works, besides the numbers for whom, fticidentally, the construction of these carriages has found employment—sawyers, blacksmiths, craftsmen, &c; and in this way the colony has considerably benefited. , Originality.—The following is a verbatim conv of a letter which was handed up to the chairman of the local, land board at Echuca on Thursday :-' Kyneton, 1871, Pipers creek —Pleas My Lord Your Lordshipe to necve this note as it is Im Posabel not to be in tim as i cant leve my horn at present so l hear By outhrise Mr to answer any thign on My be half re quired, i ramen your obedient searvent ••"

The Provincial Executive.—The resignations of Mr Hunter and Mr Halcombe have been accepted. • New Zealand's Hapless Case.—Our landed estate in the south has been largely alienated; in the north, we have never acquired one. We have a General Government managing not only the affairs of the colony, but in this, and other provinces of the North Island, managing, or mismanaging, the greater part of the landed estate, the confiscated lands, but ignoring all liabilities to aid in education or public works in these districts. We have the goldfields, and a variety of other matters, managed by means of delegated powers, the natives managed by flour and sugar and taihoa. We have several of the provinces all but bankrupt officially, others of them having their vitality sucked out by the extravagance of the General Government.— " Mr Gillies' Speech." New Zealand's Hopeless Case.—But you may ask me, and fairly so, Where is the cure ? You have shown us the evib, show us the remedy. Iconoclast that you are, shatter not our idols, though they be but false gods, unless you can show us a better faith, —a better future. Alas! I can but answer that I, like many of you, am but groping in the twilight,—but looking earnestly for more light. I feel the Egyptian yoke of bondage, but see no Moses to lead us out through the darkness. I see streaks of light here and there, and what gives me most hope, I hear voices from North to South wildly crying, " the burden which is put upon us is greater than we can bear." I tell you I can offer you no specific, but I can explain to you various methods suggested, by which the evils may be alleviated, and give you so far as I at present see the advantages and disadvantages of these various methods.—" Mr Gillies' Speech." High School for Girls.—The remarkable success of the high school for girls in Dunedin has excited much interest throughout the colony. The people of Nelson are bestirring themselves, and a lady has gone down to Dunedin to judge for herself and collect information. Mr Hislop has handed to the Provincial Council a statement of the revenue and expenditure as follows:—Mrs Burn, £250; Ist assistant, £150; 2nd do, £80; approximate charge against girls' schools for 20 hours per week visiting masters of High School, £250; janitor, say £25 ; fuel, sundries, &c, £SO; total, £805" 127 pupils at £8 each, £1 016. In favor of school, £2ll. We learn also that of the 127 day scholars 15 are constant boarders, and 15 day boarders. Would not such an institution be equally successful in Wellington ? Is it not as urgently required ? The movement in Dunedin began with the ladies themselves. They formed themselves into a committee, and had to persevere for six years before they succeeded. We commend their example to the ladies of Wellington, and anticipate for them even greater success. A Terrible Orator. —An Ohio paper thus describes an effort by one of the Ohio's legislative orators : Aukler, the eminent horn-swaggler, thrilled the House on Saturday with one of his most majestic efforts. A shorthome reporter describes the scene as indescribable. Ladies on the back seats were obliged to climb up the back of the chairs to escape the torrents of eloquence and things. The speaker was so charged with the electricity of eloquence that his sharply-pointed spike-tail coat frequently stood at an angle of sixty degrees, and trembling like an aspen. The orator most of the time resembled an irresponsible victim of galvanic slippers. He reared and plunged and squealed like three hundred pounds of petticoats on her first pair of filcntcs The Failure op Messrs Newton, Brother & Co.—The " Sydney Herald" of the 4th says :-The intelligence regarding the stoppage of Messrs C. Newton, Brother, and Co. is received with regret. The colonial liabilities of the firm are small, and the effects of the failure will be felt by those whose bills are under discount, and require to have them renewed. A private telegram from London, which must have been of later date than ours,, reporting the suspension, was received- here this afternoon, st ting that a meeting of the creditors of Messrs O Newton, Brother, and Co. had been held, and a compromise of 15s in the £ accepted. Chinese Labor —According to the London " Spectator," selfishness " is the main strength of the cry against ' the cheap labor' of the Chinese."

Moa Bones —The Oamaru " Times" states that some moa bones, in an excellent Btate of preservation, have been exhumed by the men at work on the Jetty road there, at about 15 feet below the original surface. Dbedging—Dredging for gold will shortly be commenced in the Aorere river, in the Nelson province, by a company, that has just been formed for the purpose. Expoet of Gold.—On her last trip from Auckland to Sydney the Hero took away 15 boxes' of gold, containing 20,9050 z 13dwt 6grs, valued at £76,655 A New Goldfield. —Most people have heard of the rich beach claims on the West Coast, many of which yielded " piles" to their fortunate owners. It would appear that something even better has been discovered at Timaru. A coal merchant advertises in one of the local journals that a certain barque is hourly expected with a cargo of best Newcastle coals, adding, " and they will be sold cheap for cash taken from the beach." Charitable Aid.—The calls upon the Resident Magistrate for relief, to come out of the £SOO voted at the last session of the Provincial Council, have been so fast and frequent of late that the Provincial Secretary has requested his Worship to suspend the issue of orders for rations. The Government have themselves taken the matter in hand, and will devise means by which relief will be dispensed in urgent cases.

Farewell Discoubse op the Rev. J. Ross AT to the intimation given in a report of a meeting of Presbytery at Masterton, the Eev. J. Ross gave his farewell discourse on Sunday last, —the church, which has been described as the prettiest in the Wairarapa, was filled in every part. Mr Ross founded his discourse upon Acts 26th Chapter, 26th and 27th verses—" Wherefore I take you to record thia day that lam pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare all the counsel of God." The preacher dwelt at some length upon the close and sacred tie which exists between a Christian minister, and the flock over which he has the pastoral charge. The discourse was divided into three parts. Ist. The responsibility of a minister. 2nd. The meanß used to carry out this responsibility. 3rd. The end to be desired —that, as the Apostle declared, he might finish his course with joy. It might be taken as one of the marks of the high appreciation in which Mr Ross has been held in the Wairarapa to have seen many settlers coming from different parts of the Valley, some twelve and fifteen miles, to be present on this occasion ; and we feel sure we are expressing the sentiments of the congregation as a whole, when we say that the discourse was very eloquent, powerful, and appropriate. Mr Ross was much affected during its delivery," and evidently felt deeply the position of declaring, for the last time, the solemn truths he was wont to proclaim to a people whom he was £sbout to commit to thelcare of that Shepherd to whom it had been his privilege to direct them. Mr Ross gave intimation in the evening that a temporary arrangement had been made for conducting services in the church for the present. " The Australian Israelite."—The first number of this paper has just reached us. In accordance with the of the prospectus, and our own anticipations, we have before us a production of the highest order in all respects. The opening article treats, of course, of the long-existing want of an exponent and advocate in all matters, religious and secular, affecting the Jews of Australia, and is couched in language attractive none the less for its taste and finish than for its modesty and force. As we intimated in our notice of the prospectus the " Israelite" opens up a new field for the expression of diversified ideas upon all topics, and offers every facility for fair and earnest discussion. Taken altogether, the tone of the new paper, in its literary sense, is of a very superior character, the exetion of its mechanical parts is also a noticeable feature, the typography evidencing the employment of skill wrought to the most scrupulous degree. By the initiatory publication it is evident the management understand how to launch a first-class newspaper, and have produced one from which many of its older contemporaries in all the colonies might take many useful hints. We wish the new venture all success. Accident at the Golden Crown Shaft. The " Thames Advertiser" says an accident occurred to one of the contractors of the Golden Crown mine while ascending the shaft in the cage, which, hut for the presence of mind and activity of the brakesman and engine-driver, would have proved very serious, if not fatal. The contractor, Andrew M'Laughlan, stepped into a loaded truck on the cage for the purpose of ascending to the surface. By some means the truck tipped up when the cage was raised about a dozen feet. The capsized truck jammed M'Laughlan, but fortunately the brakesman (Sanderson), who was at the collar of the shaft, noticed by the vibration of the rope that something was wrong, and had the engine stopped instantly, thus in all probability saving the man from more serious consequences. The cage was then lowered to the landing, when it was found that, except some severe bruises and injuries to the legs and feet, M'Laughlan was safe. He was brought to the surface, and conveyed to his own house. A Man Gored by a Bull.—A serious aceident has occurred at Northern Wairoa, Auckland. Some Maoris were out cattlehunting, and one of them, separating from his companions, endeavored to intercept a fierce wild bull, which, coming on him before he was prepared, knocked him down. The Maori then got up again, and made ready to receive the next charge with his tomahawk; the blow, however, was ineffectual, and the maddened animal rushed upon the unfortunate fellow, and drove one of its horns through the fleshy part of his thigh, and then, tossing him in the air, broke several of his ribs, and frightfully battered him about before any of his friends could come to the rescue. He now lies in a very precarious state, and no hopes are entertained of his recovery. Jews in Russia.—The Jewish population of the Russian Empire consists of 2,158,619 souls. Of this number 752,487 are Poles. The new German Empire comprises a Jewish population estimated at 1,200,000. St. Paul's, Thorndon— The annual gathering of the parish will take place on Thursday evening next, in the schoolroom, Sydney street, at eight o'clock. The University of Otago.—The strong utilitarianism which is so characteristic of and forms such a powerful element in everything undertaken by the people of Otago has made its presence apparent in the preliminary arrangements for the forming of the university library, the wise forethought of the authorities having already provided the nucleus by the importation of the necessary books and apparatus. The books comprise the works of the principal classical authors, both Latin and Greek, and works of reference; also, a number of valuable works on moral and physical science. The apparatus comprises materials for instruction in mechanics, hydrostatics, pneumatics, heat, magnetism, electricity, galvanism, and chemistry, and the selection appears to have been carefully and judiciously made. The same remark also applies to the books selected.