News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 27, 29 July 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

Provincial Council Election.—The nomination for the vacant seat in the Provincial Council took place yesterday, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Mr Edward Pearce proposed, and Mr S. Levy seconded, the nomination of Mr Edward Mills ; Mr Toomath proposed, and Mr Beck seconded, the nomination,of Mr Charles Seager. The show of hands'was in favor of Mr Mills, and a poll being demanded by Mr Seager, will take place on Monday next. Latest erom Horowhf.nua. —The “ Wanganui Herald” of July 19th says: A letter was received this morning by R. W. Woon, Esq., from Kemp at Horowhenua. Kemp states that all danger of a collision is now over, and that his side and the Ngatiraukawas are waiting for the arrival of the Hon. D. M'Lean, the Native Minister. Whare Improvements.—Last Friday afternoon the old Customs offices at the end of the wharf were taken bodily away, on two foundry trucks. After some difficult and circuitous navigation they were safely landed in the market yard. The improvement in the neighborhood of the wharf will be a very marked one. It is proposed to open out the approaches, so as to continue the line of road straight through from Grey-sheet, and to fix a hand rail along the side of the wharf. What with the painting, road making, building, and removing, the neighborhood of the wharf now presents a marked contrast to its appearance of a few months ago, and, we may add, considerably for the better. Land Sales.—The amount of land sold in the Province of Wellington during the month of June is stated by the last Gazette to be 423 acres 2 roods 36 perches, which was paid for in cash to the amount of £lO3 10s, and scrip for £375, so that the actual accession to the Treasury funds is very small. The land taken up is principally in the Manawatu district.

The Gale.—Mr Young’s coach did not arrive in town till nine o’clock last Friday night. It was delayed by the bad weather. Mr Young describes the storm as being the worst be has seen for three years; he never saw the tides so high, but the rivers continue low. Many of the telegraph poles have been blown down, but they are being quickly replaced. The gale was so great at times as to blow the water up in the air in sheets, like immense water spouts. He saw a steamer —doubtless the Wanganui—at four o’clock on Fridaj afternoon, under Kapibi, steaming up to her anchors, and rolling dreadfully. It is impossible, he says, to give an adequate idea of the fury of the gale. We are indebted to him for Taranaki and Wanganui files. Kerosene Storage.—lt seems this question is also occupying some further attention in Dunedin as well as in Wellington. On an application for a license .for a kerosine store, which was deemed to be in an unsafe locality, a correspondent of the “ Otago Daily Times” remarks: —“That the question involved is safety, or rather that the real question to be considered, is that of danger, not that of inconvenience and expense.” Punctuating Acts oe Parliament.—A short time ago Mr Justice Johnston, from his seat on the Bench, expressed his disapproval of the practice adopted in this colony of omitting the pause marks from Acts of Parliament, and in looking over our Melbourne files we find that a synonymous opinion has been expressed by Sir Redmond Barry in the Melbourne Supreme Court during the trial of a case in which the whole matter at issue hung upon a question of punctuation, or want of it.

Provincial Engineer.—Mr J. D. Baird has been appointed Provincial Engineer at a salary of £4OO per annum. Mr Baird is to reside in Wellington. The Luna left early on Tuesday morning for the Manukau to bring down his Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen who are expected here by the first of August. His Excellency’s Secretary, Captain Matchell, has arrived in Wellington. The HoROwnENUA Dispute.—Major Edwards returned to town on Monday from his second visit to the dissatisfied tribes in the neighborhood of the Horowhenua. He says there is no ground for the rumor of a rupture being imminent, the natives still adhering to the arrangements made by him on the occasion of his first mission. From the disposition of the litigants in the matter at issue, as ascertained from his second visit, he does not apprehend that there will be any further disputes between them.

Native Intelligence.—Ropata, we learn, is still out in pursuit of Te Kooti, in spite of the snow and the scarcity of provisions. Some of the cake made of hino berries, on which he and his men are at present subsisting, has been shown to the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald.” It certainly seems a very uninviting kind of provender. It is not unlike, in appearance, the black rye bread in common use on the continent.

Mr J. O. llamley.—The friends of Mr J. 0. Hamley, who was for so many years in charge of the Ordnance Store Department in New Zealand, will be very glad to learn that his name appears in the army list for June as an assistant controller, with the rank of lieut.-colonel, and that he has been promoted to the charge of the gun wharf at Chatham. Mr Hamley has been also appointed a C.B. for his services in New Zealand. The Permissive Bill.—From the statements of a correspondent we learn that the petition being prepared in Auckland for presentation to the General Assembly is in substance the same as that sent up by the City Council of Edinburgh to the British Parliament, in favor of Sir W. Lawson’s Permissive Bill, and for which a majority of the Scotch M.P.’s voted. A really workable Permissive Bill is quite as much required for Auckland as for Edinburgh. The London “ Times” at last shows unmistakable indications of a disposition to advance towards the Alliance platform. Hear wdiat the Thunderer now says of the Alliance movement: —“ The publicans must prepare themselves for the continuance, perhaps the increase, of an agitation ; against which, in the long run, they will find it impossible to stand.” May we not say the same of the publicans in this colony P In the long run, though not now, the New Zealand Alliance may prove too strong for the publican party.

Inspection Parade. —The usual monthly inspection parade of all the corps took place on Wednesday night in Captain Pearce’s new drill shed, the Highland Corps being put through by Sergeant Major Nelly. There was a very full muster, and at the conclusion of the inspection Colonel Reader intimated that Captain Pearce’s cup would be presented at a parade to be held immediately after the arrival of his Excellency the Governor, which he expected would be in a few days.

New Zealand Railways.—Our readers will be glad to learn that the arrangements with influential capitalists at home for the construction of our railways are now far advanced, and that several other important matters which have been engaging the attention of Mr Yogel in London also look very promising. Death oe Another Old Colonist. -By various methods, and with unusual rapidity, come the calls of Time upon those of our pioneers who have passed the summit of the arch of life. At very short intervals of late have we had to chronicle the coming of the relentless “ scythe-bearer,” and again has the inevitable message arrived, but this time under extremely melancholy circumstances. A telegram received on Thursday announces the death, by drowning, of Captain Taylor, of the firm of Taylor and Watt, Wanganui. Capt. Taylor left Wanganui recently in a vessel belonging to the firm, the Lady Denison, on a trip to Melbourne, and from the scant information to hand, we learn that while assisting to work the ship was caught in the luff of the sail, or else was knocked overboard by the boom. Captain Taylor’s connection with the colony dates from 1840, when he and his partner fixed on Wanganui as the scene of their colonising operations. Sheer perseverance and strict attention to business had enabled them to acquire sufficient, at least, to smooth the troubled waters of life, and just as Captain Taylor had ceased to form “ a busy character in the dull scene,” and had stepped into the shade of retirement after so long a period of toil, he has been hurried away by a simple accident, without any forewarning that be was to Ue so suddenly to “ swift destruction doomed.” The news of Captain Taylor’s death has created great sorrow in Wanganui, and as a mark of respect, our telegram states that all business in the town was suspended on receipt of the melancholy intelligence. Captain Taylor was a most useful but most unobtrusive citizen, warm-hearted, and frank. He pushed his way through life without making enemies, and his death is lamented by a large circle of friends; in other words, by all bis fellow-settlers who knew him. In Wellington yesterday the painful intelligence caused quite a sensation among our old settlers, who might have been seen clustering together in knots, talking over the sad theme. We have not heard such a general expression of genuine sorrow over the death of any other old colonist for a very long time. We are sure we are expressing the feeling of the city when we say that Wellington joins with Wanganui in expressing her sorrow at the death of so esteemed a colonist, and her sympathy with the family in their irreparable loss.

Appeal Court. —The Court sat on Thursday morning, and judgments in the following cas®3 were given : —ln Smith v. Moore and Another, Mr Justice Johnston gave the decision of the Court as follows —That the judgment of the lower Court be sustained with costs. In Taylor v. Jordan, judgment was given for plaintiff with costs. In Regina v. Charles Harley and Others, the majority of the Court were of opinion that the offence of selling arms to the natives is felony, and ordered that the judgments of the Court below be confirmed. In Regina v. Williams and Others, which eases had boon reserved in consequence of a doubt existing as to the legality of the custody from which they bad escaped, being at the time under penal servitude, the Court decided that the convictions for “ breach of prison 1 ’ in the Court below be sustained, the custody from which they at the time escaped being legal. This concluded the business of the Court.

Petroleum. —A bottle of petroleum from one of the springs near Poverty Bay has been exhibited in Napier. It is extremely clear, and paper or rag dipped into it burns with a white and brilliant flame. A New Province. —There is a rumor in the South that the settlers in the Patea district are meditating the advisability of asking for the separation of their district from the province of Taranaki. Parish Meeting.—A meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul’s was held on Thursday evening at the schoolroom, about 20 members being present. The Rev W. 11. Ewald was in the chair. After the transaction of some formal business, W. M. Bannatyne, Esq, the treasurer, read the report and balance sheet, in the course of which ho paid a high tribute to the schoolmaster (Mr Mowbray). The report stated the average attendance at the school to be between SO and 90, and went on to state that unless the receipts from ordinary sources were augmented by subscriptions from the congregation, many of the requirements of the school would have to fall short. At present the school fund was quite inadequate to pay expenses, and although the schoolmaster did all in his power to keep up the receipts, still they could not be made to meet expenditure, and he hoped that when an appeal was made to the parishioners they would respond liberally. The appointment of officers was then proceeded with. Mr Barraud proposed and Mr Smith seconded, that Mr Powles be the parishoners’ churchwarden during the ensuing year. The motion was carried unanimously. In thanking the meeting Mr Powles Baid he had no objection to accept the office but he could not promise to hold it for the whole term. However, he would do his best for the parish and would continue to act as long as his arrangements would permit. The vestrymen appointed for the year were Messrs Anderson, Bannatyne, Moore, Levin, Blundell, Smith, Cook, Barraud, Allan, and MTntyre. Mr Powles proposed that Messrs Lambert and Holmes be appointed auditors for the year.—Carried. Mr Barraud proposed Messrs Bannatyne, Buchanan, Stowe, Pharazyn, Tuckey, and Marr, as the school committee for the year, the incumbent to be chairman ex officio. This being the conclusion of tbe meeting, Mr Barraud said he felt that the parishioners could nob permit that opportunity to pass without marking their feeling for their pastor, who was about to leave the parish. He thought it would bo hardly necessary to move a resolution on the subject, nor would he put his feelings into any official form. He wished to state that the parishioners desired to return their sincere thanks to him for his kindly ministration during the time he had been among them, and to express their good wishes for his future welfare and happiness. Mr Bannatyne would support the remarks of Mr Barraud moat cordially ; he acknowledged the services of the Rev. Mr Ewald with great pleasure and much thankfulness. Mr Moore said he could notallow the opportunity to pass without expressing his feelings in the matter. He desired to express his gratification at the zealous interest the rev. gentleman had taken in the welfare of the parish, particularly in school affairs and in benevolent matters. He earnestly hoped tbe change would conduce to Mr Ewald’s happiness and welfare, and that his health, which he understood was one cause of Mr Ewald’s removal, would be benefitted. It was well known, and the fact was appreciated, that Mr Ewald’s duties had been very onerous and had been performed at a great sacrifice to health. He felt sure that he was justified in saying that the whole of the parishioners would always desire to hear of his welfare. In reply, Mr Ewald said he hardly knew how to reply to the kind expressions of the meeting, and he felt more had been said of him than he deserved. The parishioners were already in possession of his sentiments, and he was extremely grateful for the kindly feeling given expression to by the meeting. He was thankful, indeed, to leave New Zealand with sueh assurances as had been given expression to that evening. Nothing could have given him greater pleasure, and he would often look back to the time when Mr Bannatyne and Mr Moore spoke so kindly of his ministrations. He would look back to that evening as one of his most pleasant recollections, and he thanked God that he had been successful in gaining the approbation of the parishioners. Some other business peculiar to the working of church matters was then entered upon, and at its conclusion the meeting broke up. The London Exhibition. —English letters speak favorably of the Sydney exhibits at the London Exhibition.

Chagrin. —The offer of Is per head for shags made recently by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, has led to the destruction of 210 of those birds. Of these, however, only 90 were paid for, as the remaining 120, which were killed by one settler, were placed by him, as he thought, in safety for the night, but when he rose next morning he found they had been swept away by a ilood.

The Weather. —From all parts of the colony we have very lengthy accounts of the severity of the weather, and its destructiveness to crops, dwelling houses, and all descriptions of property. Although we in Wellington have not experienced its full effects, still we are not altogether without very convincing proof that the severity of the gales has not been equalled even in this “ windy” part of the world for many years past, as an evidence of which we may note the blowing down of a double chimney stack of a house on tbe Tinakori road one day last week, the bricks coming down with such force as to make a passage right through into the room below. The result can be better imagined than described, the interior of tbe room having the appearance, as described to us, of being literally smothered in soot. In Otago the crons in high lying districts bare been destroyed by the lying of the snow, and in Canterbury farmers have suffered from the floods, which have not been so severe since the celebrated flood of 1864, when part of Christchurch itself Avas under water. As helping to give an idea of what the force of these storms really avus, Ave give the folloAving account written by a person in Christchurch of the storm of July 19 :—As my experiences of last night’s most peculiar storm are I find confirmed by others, I beg, through your columns, to lay them before the public. The day, it will be remembered, was peculiarly warm, and towards evening the wind got up, and heavy clouds Avere hanging about the horizon, from which emanated a series of very vivid flashes of lightning. Between ten and eleven o’clock, I heard distinctly a low rumbling sound, evidently having its origin underground. It appeared to travel from the south-west towards the direction of town, and before reaching the actual locality in which I was placed, veered off in the direction of the Port hills, and I could hear it dying away in the distance. About this time the lightning became more vivid, and was succeeded by heavy peals of thunder, together Avith rain. The rumbling sound came again and again, and the last time appeared to come completely beneath me, and all the windoAV frames in the house shook audibly—perhaps shuddered will express my meaning better —but the course of this sound I could trace as before, and it again appeared to turn and to die away in the direction of the Heatheote valley. The rattling of the windows lasted for about eleven seconds. Some time after this I experienced a decided shock of earthquake, lasting about three seconds, and I only regret omitting to note the exact time. I believe, however, it was about 1 p.m. I can add that watches and other articles hanging about the wall were set in motion. My inability to afford more minute information can be explained by the fact that I was very busily engaged during the whole time that these disturbances occurred, and therefore could not give the phenomena my undivided attention. St Peter’s. —The catering of the churchwardens of St. Peter’s drew together a crowded auditory at the schoolroom ou Tuesday evening. Evident pains had been taken by the choir to render the musical part of the entertainment as successful as possible, and some of our best readers, who, by the way, had been called upon to do double duty on account of there being two entertainments down for the same evening, assisted to make this one of the most enjoyable of family parties. Mr Elliot ! gave a very effective reading, from a piece we are not acquainted with, in which he introduced an amount of touching and well marked pathos that deservedly won the applause of the audience. Of quite another order was the reading of Mr Waller, who gave “Bob Sawyer’s Party.” A combination of admirable features, composed of an unusually clear articulation, a great power of change from the shrill virago tones of the landlady to the sombre and reflective utterances in which Mr PiekAvick’s ion hommie finds exprossiou, went a great Avay towards exciting and sustaining the risibility of his listeners. But when we Avere introduced to the necklace quandary the reader eclipsed himself by his rendering of the carefully suppressed drollery of such a serious “ situation.” There was a slight fault —common to readings—it was a little too long. The irresistibly funny version of the comical story of “ Alonzo the Brave” was done in a finished style by a gentleman Avho Ave should like to hear sing something of a higher order on the next occasion ; not that this medley was not well given, because, as we have already said, the trifle was excruciatingly funny ; but although Ave had little opportunity of judging, we think the gentleman had a voice equal to bettor things. The singing of the ladies was nob first-rate, the old enemy, nervousness, playing too prominent a part. The fine duet, “ What are the Wild Waves Saying,” a gem of G-lover’s that will last for ever, had evidently not received the preparation sueh a piece deserved, but avg are aware we are already trenching on delicate ground, and, as we wish to avoid the charge of being considered hypercritical, we Avill append the disclaimer that our remarks are made in good will; but we would wish oui amateurs to bear in mind the motto that “ What is worth doing is worth doing well.” Archdeacon Stock assisted greatly in maintaining the success of the entertainment by the employment of his usual tact in carrying out the programme Avithout the occurrence of any hitch. Farming Prospects in the South. —With regard to pastoral and agricultural matters in the Arrow district, Otago, tire “ Advocate”

says : —Owing to the sudden heavy downfall of snow we have had on the ranges during the past week, some apprehension is felt by our stockowners for the safety of their flocks, where grazing in high localities. The farmers are now busily engaged ploughing up their stubble land for the spring wheat and oat crops. The late severe frosty weather has retarded progress in this particular work. Some of our husbandmen who are not well supplied with animal strength will consequently be later than usual in getting their spring crops in the ground.

Resignation op Mr Moorhouse.— We regret to have to annouuce that Mr Moorhouse has resigned the office of Registrar-G-eneral of Land. The reasons assigned are of a purely private nature.

Timaru and Temuka Railway.— The Acting Engineer-in-Chief, on behalf of the Colonial Government, invites tenders for the construction of the first section of the above ; tenders to be sent in not later than Sept. 4. Mining in Otago.— 'Owing to the weather having teen less severe, the miners in tbe Arrow district have been able to resume work during the last feAv days, and some of them have been very successful. One party obtained £IOO per man for a week’s work.

Auckland Mining Notes— The “ Weekly News” of the 15th inst. contains the following items : —The Coromandel goldfield district, on the point of the Peninsula, has a population of about 300 people. They are an active and industrious mining district, suffering from the neglect of a paternal Government. The Tokatea claim crushed last week 330 tons, yielding 2256 ounces of melted gold, at £2 18s per ounce, or nearly £6OOO for a week’s work. The Harbor View, 23 tons, yielded 218 ounces, at £2 16s 6d per ounce ; and 200 tons are noAV being crushed for the Royal Oak and Excelsior claims, from which is expected five ounces to the ton. Crushing machinery at Coromandel is very limited. Roads and tracks are only on paper. This fact materially retards the valuable industry of mining in this portion of our goldfield. The yield of gold for the month, 40,000 ounces from 8000 tons of stone, or an average of five ounces to the ton, is highly satisfactory, and marks New Zealand as pre-eminently ahead of any quartz mining goldfield in the Southern Hemisphere. Mr James Farmer, of Auckland, member of the House of Representatives, has sold his interest in a very few claims at the Thames for £55,200 sterling, and with accruing dividends that gentleman nets about £90,000 sterling for a very nominal outlay. Fire Clay. —A similar discovery to that made by Mr Smith, of tbe Constabulary Armoury, has been made in Canterbury. In the Provincial Council now sitting in Christchurch, the Provincial Secretary laid on the table of the House some specimens of pottery from the Malvern Hills, together Avith some fire clay from the same locality, which excited considerable curiosity amongst honorable members.

Preserved Meats.— The “ Press” says that besides the large quantities of preserved meat and talloAV that are constantly being forwarded from the factory of the Meat preserving Company to the vessels loading for England, it is exceedingly gratifying to notice similar shipments from Christchurch and the neighborhood. Several tons of preserved pork have been already received on board the Crusader from the factory of Messrs M'Connell and Co ; and important consignments of beef, suet, tallow, &c, are being forwarded at tbe present time with despatch to the Helenslee from the establishments of Messrs Hancock, M'Keever, and Mein respectively. On the same subject the “ Oamaru Times” informs us that the quantity of preserved mutton turned out at the establishment at Kakanui, is 1,000,000 lbs, besides a large quantity of tallow. In Norember next operations on a still more extensive scale will be commenced. The “Majetin” Apple. —We have reciived a pamphlet, published by Mr George Robertson, of Melbourne, treating of a subject Avhich has puzzled gardeners in all parts of the world, viz., the blight on apple trees. The object of the publication of the pamphlet, which is a very lengthy and interesting one, is to assert the power and efficiency of the “ majetin” apple to resist the destructive effects of the American blight on apple trees. The following passage from the introduction, written by Mr Lang, gardener, Melbourne, gives the actual l’esult of experiments in Australia, and as this evidence must be more convincing to our readers than any opinion of our own, we reprint it: —“ Two dozen plants of the majetin apple were procured from Norwich, in England. These arrived and were planted in the nursery in May, 1863. The imported plants, which were grafted on the crab apple, were planted as stools, and during the very first summer satisfactory evidence was obtained of the valuable resisting qualities possessed by the Majetin apple, for the stocks were attacked by blight, and some suckers arising from the stocks were clothed with blight as with a woolly covering, and out of the midst grow up the shoots of the majetin itself, clean and healthy, and as free from blight as rods of steel. This was vei’y satisfactory, and the same phenomena have been exhibited in the nursery year after year ever since ; and never in any ease has the majetin apple been affected with blight.” When it is considered that a celebrated naturalist (Reaumur) states that one of these blight insects in five generations may be the progenitor of 5,904,900,000 descendents, and it is supposed that in the course of twelve months there may be no less than ten generations exceeding in fecundity that of any other known animal, it will be obvious to any one reflecting on the matter that the difficulty of destroying and keeping clear such an insect is a very serious one.

The Magpie. —The acclimatisation of that useful bird, the Australian magpie, at last seems to be in a fair way of successful accomplishment by the plan of liberating a number together, in localities where they have been previously confined in large aviaries, and have been accustomed to be fed at regular hours and at a certain call. When liberated the birds are found to return nightly to their old quarters, like a brood of fowls. The credit of utilising this simple and effectual means of localising the birds on a large scale is due to Mr J. Oakden, of Christchurch, who is said to speak in high terms of the grub-destroying qualities of his magpies.

A Call. —A call has been made by the members of the Congregational Church iu Dunedin to the Rev T. Roseby, of Sydney, who was lately on a visit to that city. The call was presented to Mr Roseby before bis return to Sydney, and a definite reply is not expected from him until about a week after his arrival there. Discovery oe Human Remains at Akaroa. —On Saturday, June 15, news was brought to Akaroa of the discovery of a skeleton on the French Farm valley. The remains were found by Mr George Brough, of Wainui, who was out cattle-hunting with some of his brothers. They were making a short cub home, and in doing so had to climb a very precipitous place. On reaching .about half-way up the precipice, George Brough cauglit sight of a skull in a crevice of the rock ; he turned to one side, examined, and collected that and other bones together. He then went over to Akaroa, and gave notice to the police. On Sunday morning, Sergeant Ramsey and Constable Flannagan, accompanied by Messrs R. Townsend, C. W. Bridge, and John Pearce, proceeded to the French Farm, where they were joined by the Brough brothers and others, who guided them to the spot where they had found the remains. The place is described as being the bluff face of a lateral spur, nearly perpendicular for about two hundred feet. Half way up this bluff, in a small crevice of the cliff, the bones were found. There is one side lead to the crevice, a lead requiring a steady foot and a cool head to tread with safety. The party remained about two hours hunting for any property that might give a clue upon which any opinion might be founded to lead to the identity of the remains. Fourteen years ago this month, and within a few days of this day, Mr Joseph Dicken, one of the Canterbury pilgrims, and a settler in Akaroa, was lost in the bush at the back of his property in French Farm, and though many of the inhabitants of Akaroa hunted and explored the bush for days and weeks near and around the spot, no trace was ever discovered of the missing gentleman, and all hopes were given up. This discovery, with the many circumstances attached to it, point to the probability that the remains are those of that unfortunate gentleman. The bones have been examined by two medical men, and we understand that their opinion is that they belong to a European male,-tolerably advanced in years, and with hair of a very light-brown color.

The Scott Centenary.—As there seems to be no move made in Wellington to take part in the celebration of tbe centenary of Sir Walter Scott, we reprint whatever we can obtain for the benefit of those who feel any interest in the matter as to the doings of our neighbors in other parts of the colony. The apathy evinced in this matter seems to be quite of a piece with the slowness of our leading citizens in all other topics. We find from our exchanges from all parts of the colony, and indeed from all parts of the world, that efforts are being made to make the occasion a national ti’ibute to the poets memory. At Dunedin a meeting of the committee appointed to make arrangements for the celebration of the centenary met at the Athenaeum on July 19, the attendance being very large. Mr George Brodie was elected chairman, and the sab-committee appointed at the last meeting presented their report. They suggested that the centenary of Sir Walter Scott be celebrated by a dinner restricted to gentlemen; but that should it be deemed desirable that a further demonstration be made by either a ball or conversazione, the sub-committee would suggest another committee be named for that purpose. At Lytteiton there will be a similar demonstration, but it is to be combined with the celebration of the marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Louise with the Marquis of Lome. The Wangaehu Fire. —The “Wanganui Herald” remarks :—There has seldom been a case heard in Wanganui that has created more excitement in the public mind, or that involves greater consequences to the public than the one heard this morning in Court. Tho accused may be innocent or guilty ; but at present it would be premature and unjust to form any opinion on the evidence adduced by the prosecution. There has been no motive yet shown for the crime ; and, however strong the evidence might be in other respects, it is incomplete until that is done.

Induction at Turakina. —Tho “ Wanganui Chronicle” of the 20th reports that the Presbytery of Wellington met yesterday at Turakina, for the induction of the Rev Mr Ross, late of the Wairarapa, to the pastoral charge @f the congregation of the district. The usual services on such solemn occasions were held. The Rev Mr Elmslie preached and presided, the Rev Mr Paterson gave the charge to the newly-inducted minister, and the Rev Mr Cumming addressed the people on their duties and responsibilities in cri'nnecfion with the preaching of the Gospel and the preacher. At the close, Mr Ross was warmly welcomed by the members of his congregation. Wanganui. —The “ Chronicle” of the 21st reports : —This afternoon at eight minutes to 2 o’clock a slight but prolonged vibration was experienced in this neighborhood. The same paper reports:—Wintry, wet, muggy, windy weather continues. To-day the Wanganui is in high flood, streaming from bank to bank, and having dislodged a number of piles at the Bridge, happily not required any longer. Caution should be exercised in crossing the Turakina Bridge, more especially with loaded carts and drays.

Thompson’s Road Steamer —A trial took place at Auckland on Tuesday last of the Thompson’s road steamer. The engine went up Grafton Road, along the Kyber Pass Road, down Symonds-street, and Alten Road, and so back to the foundry. The trial was very satisfactory, the steamer attaining a speed of about four miles an hour ; but the engineer is of opinion that when it has been fairly tried, and has got into thorough working order, it will go at the rate of six milas an hour.

The Permissive Bile—We observe that the Presbytery of Wellington have unanimously adopted a petition to the Assembly m favor of a Permissive Bill. Foxton. —A correspondent of the “Wanganui Chronicle” writes The kr a ™ r ° ac } between Palmerston and Foxton will be finished before next'summer, which will enable us to do an extensive timber trade. Totara,. matai, and red pine can be supplied for years in large quantities. The advantage of steam communication will also, I trust, encourage a trade between this port and Wanganui, which would greatly benefit both places. Ido not consider the entrance to this river equal to the Wanganui. It is not so easy of ingress or egress, nor is there so much water on the bar, and consequently it is not safe for such large vessob to enter as those that visit Wanganui from the other colonies. For this reason we cannot expect to rival Wanganui in her particular trade, but may be able to work with her and receive mutual benefit. ANew Goldfield on the West Coast. Some excitement has been caused in Westpoit by a report brought by some cattle dealers to the effect that valuable gold discoveries had been made in the river Mangles, tribituaiy of theßuller. No less than sixteen ounces of coarse gold was said to have been obtained from a single dishful of dirt taken from the river bed. The “ Odd • Fellow.” —The first number of a new monthly, entitled the “ Oddfellow,” has been published in Launceston. New South Waees Revekue.—The Customs revenue of New South Wales for the last five months shows an increase of £21,000 on the same period during last year. Salmon. —Mr Hall intends to introduce salmon ova into New South Wales from California, by the return trip of the City of Ade-

laide. What New Zealand Pays to Adelaide. —According to statistics given in an Adelaide paper of May 27, New Zealand has imported this season from South Australia as follows • Flour, 275 tons, valued at £2350 ; wheat, 53,096 bushels, valued at £12,761 ; total value, £15,111. The above figures relate to a period up to April 15th, A Volunteer and Militia Ball came off on the 18th in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Wanganui, The hall was very prettily decorated for the occasion, and the music was all that could he desired. There were upwards of 130 ladies and gentlemen in the room, and the dancing was kept up till an early hour. POSTAL. —We learn ironi our Melbourne files that, by the last Suez mai’, a communication was forwarded by the Government to the Agent-General, asking him to obtain further information relative to the Cape mail route, and also to ascertain whether the Imperial Government would be inclined to grant any subsidy in support of a postal service by such a line of steamers. The Chief Secretary has received a telegram from the Governor of South Australia, notifying that at the end of two years that colony will cease to contribute to the P. and O. Company’s service. It is therefore considered not improbable that at the expiration of that period the whole burden of that line w'll fall on Victoria. The Government of that colony has received pi opositions for two services via San Francisco, one from the colony of New Zealand and the other from a private firm. Co-operation in Victoria.—Our friends of the Manners street Co-operation Society will be glad to learn that at the usual quarterly meeting of the William stown Cooperative Company (Limited), held on the 11th July, the balance-sheet for the three months ending June 10 was read and adopted. Under the heading “ Manufacturing account,” the expenditure was £475 7s 10d, inclusive of £6B 2s 9£d stock on hand at the commencement of the quarter. The credit side showed —sales of goods. £437 Is lid, and stock on hand, June 10, £6O 0s 9d ; the profits of the company for the last three months being £2l 14s 10d. The liabilities of the company consist of borrowed money, bank overdraft, and debts due by the company, the •whole amounting to £834 18s 7£d. The assets are as follow Plant, £ll2 osß|d ; land, £75 9s lOd ; premises, £519 10s; debts owing to company and other items, £l9O Is 8d ; total, £897 2s 2£d ; the balance to credit of profit and loss being £62 3s 7d. The Weather on the West Coast The “ West Coast Times” says that the continued boisterous state of the weather has been the means of causing considerable damage to property of different descriptions, amongst which we may notice that the topmast of the flagstaff at the signal station was carried away during Tuesday night, and it was found to have broken off at the cap. The tidal balls, and a portion of the ironwork, were found yesterday morning lying in the river among the piles. These being secured, the difficult task of lowering down the broken spar was at once proceeded with, and accomplished without any mishap. We understand that a new topmast is now being made, and will be ready to be put in its place in a day or two. The only wonder is that the whole structure was not carried away by the heavy fresh and wind together, as it seems to be in a most shaky condition, and needs considerable repairing. The heavy fresh has caused considerable damage on the opposite side of the river, known as Wadeson s Island, the current having washed away a long slip of the island, and there is everv probability, by the appearance of the weather last night, that a great deal more damage will be done, but for those who have to suffer by it, it is to be hoped that it may hot be so. The Graving Dock.—The “ Dunedin Star” says that the engineers of the Dock Trust took possession of the engine-house of the new Graving Dock yesterday, and were forcibly ejected by the contractors, but as our information is from a private source, we do not positively affirm that such was the case.

Government Liee Assurance and Annuities. —Captain Baldwin, the lecturer appointed by the General Government under the Life Assurance and Annuities Act, has arrived in the province of Canterbury, and intends to give a series of lectures in the chief centres of population. Hitherto, he has confined himself to Otago and Southland, where he has been very successful in extending the business of the department. He proceeds, in the first place, to Timaru and the southern portion of the province, but -will shortly invite the people ot Uhristchurch and neighborhood to attend a public meeting. TnE Hokitika Boad. —This road, which our evening contemporary spoke of in such contemptible terms a short time ago. is thus spoken of by the Canterbury “ Press” :—The information which we published regarding the damage done to the West Coast road is of considerable interest to a large section of the community. That road has been lor some time past the principal outlet for our surplus stock of cattle and sheep, and should it bo long closed to traffic, a serious loss will result to our farmers and squatters. This will be apparent when we state that not less than 8000 head of cattle and 30,000 sheep are annually sent out of this province to the West Coast market, the whole of which passes over this road. The old track via the Hurunui is certainly still available, but the loss by this route is so great that our dealers who even now suffer from the competition, would be completely driven out of the field by the Wanganui shippers. We trust, therefore, that should the contractor be unable to make good the damage done on this road, the General Government will see their wav to take immediate action in the matter. Funeral of Mr Manson Sinclair.—The Nelson “Evening Mail” says that at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon the members of the Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Volunteers and Fire Brigade, together with a large number of friends of the deceased, assembled at his I father’s house, whence they accompanied the ’ body to Christ Church, where the first portion of the service was read by the Rev. G. H. Johnstone. The procession then reformed, and proceeded to the cemetery. TnE Inangahua.— From both public and private sources of information, we (“ Nelson Mail”) learn that the reef's in this district are likelv to turn out exceedingly rich, and, that residents in the locality have the utmost confidence in their eventually proving of great value, is shown by the fact that high prices are being paid for sections in Boefton. The “Westport Times” reports the sole of one portion of land with a frontage of 21 teet for £4O, and of another of 25 feet for £3O. Those, however, says our contemporary, arc far from being the highest prices asked, the best allotments being valued at from £IOO to £l5O. In addi tion'to those signs of prosperity we observe that two breweries are to be started atßeefton. Fare to England via California.—The “ San Francisco Bulletin” says : —“ By the Australian steamer of Webb’s line which sailed on Wednesday, ivstructions were sent to the company’s agent iu New Zealand to issue first-class tickets from Auckland to Liverpool for $367. This sum will pay for a first-class passage to this port, a first-class railroad ticket to New York, and a first-cabin ticket by any of the five lines of prominent steamships from the latter port to England. The fare by the Peninsular and Oriental route and its connection from New Zealand to Liverpool is §440 The passenger will therefore save $73 in gold by taking the American route, while he will also make one of the most extensive, varied, and magnificent trips which the world affords. The trip includes the breadth of the entire American continent, and its chief cities, with a view of some of the grandest scenery in the world. Passengers can break the trip for as long a period as they please at this city, from which they can make the trip to the world-renowned Yosemite Yalley and back for $44. The cost of second-class passage by the English route between Auckland and England is $350, while by the American route it is but $294. No steerage passengers are carried by the P. and O. mail steamer, but they are taken by the American line for the extremely low price of $166. The distance from Auckland to to San Francisco is 5900 miles ; to New York, by the Pacific railroad, is 3300 miles > and from the latter point toLiverpool is 3200; making a total distance of 12,400 miles. . The schedule time for the through trip is 52 clays. The time now occupied in making the trip by the English route, via Melbourne, is 57 days. The American trip has therefore advantage in point of time, and great advantages in lessened cost of travel, in comfort, variety, and pleasure.” Colonial Agents in London. —ll m “ Anglo Australian” of the “ European Mail” mentions that the agents fer the colonies aie receiving more and more notice from the Colonial Office. Lord Kimberley had invited all the agents general to his state dinner on May 20, iu honor of the Queen’s birthday. /'hang. —Since his sojourn iu Wellingto Chang has visited nearly all. the inland towns of continental Australia. At Pleasant Creek, Victoria, a rather remarkable episode in his career took place, which is very amusing, but also prompts us to enquire what can have become of the little Chinese lady who was introduced to the Wellington public as. Chang s lady-like “wife,” the charming Kin Foo ? When visiting one of the charitable institutions at Pleasant Creek, an attractive, young woman presented Chang with a splendid bouquet, and asked to be allowed to kiss bis celestial countenance, with which she professed to be enamoured. Chang blushed, and after some hesitation consented. The inamorata detailed her worldy prospects, her wealth in shares in a golden claim on the North Cross : reef, which she would place at his disposal, if : he would make her his bride. Chang then then went to Ballarat, and pursuing the object of her love, she has gone there too to make a fresh offer of her heart and hand to the tallest

man in the world. It is now reported that the lady is said to have been graciously presented with an engagement diamond ring by Chang. She has been stopping at the same hotel as the giant, and on his departure from Ballarat for Geelong the enamoured lady also, departed for her home ot Pleasant Creek, intending to watch narrowly the movements of the “ tall one-” _ . The Late Lunar Eclipse—For the information of our scientific readers, who may wish to compare notes, we reprint from the “Sydney Morning Herald” the following interesting observations on the late partial eclipse of the moon, made by Mr Russell, the Government Astronomer of Sydney.: At 10 o’clock p.m. there was a faint darkening of the north-east border of the moon, caused by the penumbra. At twenty minutes past 10 o’clock, slight fringe of color was observed on the north-eastern edge of the moon. At 10.31, the earth’s shadow came upon its northeastern border, thirty-six degrees from its north point. The color of the shadow was of a smoke blue. At 10 40 the shadow reached Aristarchus, and by 10.47 the middle of Plato. At 10.53, a faint tinge of red was noticed in the blue. By 11 o’clock p.m., the northern end of the Apennines was just in the shadow ; at 11.20, the whole of the Apennines were in the shadow; at 11.31, ‘33. of the diameter of the moon was eclipsed. At 12 o’clock, the Apennines emerged, and at 12.15, Plato also came out of the shadow : at 12.34, the shadow passed from the moon’s disc, and for a short time afterwards the edge of the moon was darkened by the penumbra. Throughout the eclipse, the'whole outline of the moon’s main features could be seen through the shadow, and the red tint usual on such occasions was plainly discernible. The presence of Saturn and four of his attendant satellites close to the moon added much to the interest of the observations of the eclipse. Artesian Wells.—The remarkable difference in the strata formation has often been a subject of comment and controversy created by the effoi’ts made in different parts of New Zealand to obtain water by the sinking of artesian wells, In many parts of the colony where the attempt to obtain water by this means has been tried, it has failed ignominously, while in Christchurch artesian wells have become so common that the ordinary price for sinking a well was about £ls, and. in some eases less, a good flow of water having been obtained in many inst ances in about four hours. Of course, the altitude above the sea level will always form a great part in the calculations in sinking, but it seems that in Hawke’s Bay it is impossible to obtain water at any depth. A company has been formed there for the sinking of a well on the now famous Artois method, but the result,.so far,has proved abortive, although the boring rods had reached the extraordinary depth of 393 feet. It must be admitted that this is rather a remarkable contrast to the instances we have cited above of the Canterbury wells. The company at Hawke’s Bay were £SO in debt for labor, although there was cash in hand to liquidate a great part of the amount, and at a meeting a resolution was proposed and adopted that the operations be for the present suspended, and that additional subscribers be invited to continue the sinking. When operations are resumed, we shall be glad to hear, both for practical and scientific purposes, that the sinking has been successful. The Deluge—Science v. Scripture.— From the “ Melbourne Daily Telegraph” ive learn that Mr William Walker, alias Tom Cringle, has started “ A Theory of Deluge,” if we may so designate the chimera, and on the the proposal the “ Telegraph” makes the following remarks ; —Mr William Walker is away from us ; but that is nothing. . Age does not wither, nor latitude stale his infinite variety. In London he is Tom Cringle still. He has devoted liis attention of late to cyclical deluges, and has published his views in a handsome little volume, which he has made due haste to send us, and which we are grateful to receive, notwithstanding the shock its contents are calculated to convey. The uncomfortable conclusion at which Mr Walker has arrived is that “ Noah’s flood” was the result of a disturbance of the equilibrium of the ocean —the inevitable consequence of a change of its centre of gravity, which will occur again. He quotes M. de Hon, to the effect that fourteen such deluges have already occurred, and his own independent observations point to the a i rival of the fifteenth. Australia is rising, the “ ice cap” at the North Pole is increasing, the world, which we know has a singular list already, will get titled a little more, and the water will rush to the other side. The result is feelingly depicted. “ The South Pacific, the South Atlantic, and Antarctic Oceans will be suddenly poured across the equator, and submerge the Northern Hemisphere; the high grounds rising above the level of the southern oceans will form the archipeligo of a new Polynesia. Australia, by the Great Barrier Reef being laid dry, will be joined to New Guinea, and thus acquire a new eastern seaboard 1,200 miles long, between which and the present Australian coast will be a wide valley, now the navigable channel for ships bound northwards, which would soon be covered with cocoanuts, palms, and other beautiful flora of the Southern Hemisphere ; while England, Scotland, and Ireland will become what they were before the last catastrophe, which happened in the opposite direction.” The peril of our friends in England should, indeed, induce a general application for passage-war-rants. A few families, Mr Cringle anticipates, may escape to the mountain ranges, but they will survive “ only to fall back into a state of torpid barbarism, which shows no gleam of hope iu its utter desolation.” London Bridge itself will not be left for the historic New Zealander to muse upon. The time, it appears from the “ profound work” of Mons. Alphonse Joseph Adhemar, entitled “Revolutions de la Mer,” may be accurately calculated. The oceanic cataclysm—a good word, Mr Walker, a

very good word —will occur 6300 years hence. Mr Cringle’s cycle is completed, therefore, in a little under 9,000 years, calculating from Noah’s Deluge, according to the chronology of the learned Usher. We shall only stop to point out that our author differs from the illustrious Mr Muddle in Marryatt’s novel, whose cycle "was fixed at 33,494 years. Mr Muddle s catastrophe is the furthest off, and we prefer that.

The Bumble Bee, and the Spread of Clover. —The Rev. Mr Cotton, Vicar of Frodsham in England in a letter to “ Land and Wafer” writes : —I was glad to see the enquiry in “Land and Whter” as to the best method of carrying my dear old friend the bumble bee to New Zealand, and naturalising him there. They ■would be a most valuable race of colonists; For whilst the oi’dinary honey-bee does its work there, as here in the fertilisation of whiteclover, the red clover still remains without the assistance of that species of bee whose longer probocis enables it to reach the nectaries inaccessible to the shorter one of the Apis melifica. Every lover of accurate observation in natural historv must remember that excellent passage in Darwin’s “Origin of Species” pages 73 and 74, in which he shows the intimate connection be tween the number of cats in a given district and the yield of red clover seed. Cats are the natural enemies of mice, and mice the devourers of bumble bees, so that the increase of the first involves the decrease of the second, the consequent increase of the third, and the subsequent abundant fertilisation of red clover seed. Now in New Zealand, cats are plenty, and mice too have introduced themselves. 'The former is there, as in England, “ a domestic necessary cat,” but many of them have gone wild in the bush, and, in lack of an abundance of mice, have learned to live upon lizards. I ascertained the fact by a post mortem on a feline carcase, which the Maoris, with whom I was travelling, hunted down and were preparing to cook, as we were on very short commons. The honey-bee lives from year to year as a member of a social republic ; that of the bumble bee is broken up by the first frost of autum, and reconstituted at the arrival of spring by the impregnated females, who alone survive the winter. The female bumble bee buries itself in the earth when the males and neuters are destroyed by the frost. The large yellow-tailed bumble bee, the most common sort here in Cheshire, which build its nests in mossy pastures, is that which I should advise your correspondent to select for New Zealand.

Done Brown —Mr Brown, whose speech on the Hundreds Bill convulsed the House last session, has been more successful as an orator in the Provincial Council of Otago. At the beginning of the session, the Council passed a sort of self denying ordinance that members should be paid 15s instead of 20s a day for their attendance. Some weeks elapsed, and the same retrenchment was extended to all other departments. Even the sick nurses at the hospital had to submit to a reduction. Mr Brown, nothing shamed, assumed his favorite role of a repealer, and attempted to raise the honorarium to its old figure by moving that members should he paid a sum not exceeding at the rate of twenty shillings per day. The Speaker said such a motion was perfectly in order, and Mr Brown had the gratification of seeing it passed. We leai’n, however, that the very reason which dictated this ruling of the Speaker will defeat Mr Brown’s “ little game,” and that, holding as he does that Mr Brown’s motion cannot alter the original motion, he is determined to certify for only fifteen shillings after all ! The public generally think that the latter more nearly represents the value of their services, and that with advantage it might be still further reduced. So say we! Encounter with a Kangaroo.—One of the most desperate conflicts with a kangaroo (says the “ Mortlake Dispatch”) that has ever taken p ace occurred in this district last week. It is not uncommon to hear of “ old men” kangaroos as high as from 7 feet to 8 feet being slaughtered after a desperate encounter, but one recently assailed at Hexham Park stood several feet above that height. As Messrs W. Toloman, jun, and W. Heard were riding in that neighborhood one day last week, accompanied by a couple of dogs, they happened to come across a specimen of the marsupial which astounded them not a little. It was soon attacked by their dogs, but after dragging these fully a mile it decided on showing fight. The horsemen, armed with whips, essayed to approach the now determined and infuriated animal and combat it, and very soon a whip-handle was broken across it. The kangaroo after making a great ntmber of unsuccessful attempts to grasp its assailants, was laid hors de combat , with the loaded end of a riding-whip, but not until it had played destruction with one pair of trousers. It is described as having stood at least 10 feet high, the skin proved to be as thick as a bullock hide, and the fur on it was three inches long, while the tail, we understand, lias turned the sale at 24 lbs.

It’s an 111 Wind. —The “ San Francisco Chronicle” of the 22nd June says there was considerable talk and excitement of a <c fishy” character among the traders and merchants on Davis street and other localities, where the fish trade is an important item. The temporary sensation was caused by the telegraphic despatch of the morning, stating that the French Government would transport 4000 of the Paris Communists, with their families, to New Caledonia. This latter is an island in the South Pacific Ocean, near Tahiti. The milk in the cocoa nut is here : San Francisco is rapidly getting control of the trade of the Fiji Islands, and the increase of inhabitants by the arrival of the Communists would throw into the commercial coffers of its merchants from 500,000d0l to 1,000,000d0l per year, the principal items being codfish and salmon, of which they, the Communists, are great consumers.