News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 30, 19 August 1871, Page 13

News of the Week.

Supreme Court.—A sitting of the Supreme Court in banco will be held on Tuesday, the 22nd inst.

We understand that Kawana and Tarawhio are returned from the meeting at Kakariki. Hapi, and other Hauhau chiefs, have written to the Defence Minister placing Horowhenua in his hands. Hapi says his party will not interfere with a quarrel between Government Metehaimona laiawho and people have declared that they will obey only the commands of the Hon. D. M'Lean. A telegram from Mr Woon, R.M., authoritatively confirming all these statements was received on Wednesday. Lecture.—The Right Rev the Lord Bishop of Wellington will deliver the next lecture of the course at the Willis street school-room on Monday next. The subject will be —" Conscience : what it is, and what it is not." Mb Haxcombe.—The " Wanganui Chronicle" says :—'There is a requisition now in course of signature, calling upon Mr Halcombe to resign his seat in the Provincial Council as one of the members for Rangitikei, in consequence of his alleged parentage of the District Highways Act, and as the electors are anxious for the repeal of certain portions of that measure, or at- least the rating clause of it, they wish another member, who can go in to assist in this object. The Rev. Mr Ward.—The Wanganui " Chronicle" says news was received by last mail from England that the Rev. R. Ward has been appointed for the Christchurch circuit. Members of the Primitive Methodist Church will be glad to hear the news. Rev Mr Lewis. —We are glad to be able to contradict the report that the Rev.' Mr Lewis is suffering from typhus fever taken while in the execution of his ministerial duties. His illness is attributed to severe over-exertion of mind and body. The symtoms which caused so much anxiety in the early part of the week have disappeared, and strong hopes are entertained of his ultimate recovery. Early Closing- Entertainment. This society gave one of the most creditable entertainments of the season at the Athenaeum on Wednesday night. The room, as we have before noticed, was very tastefully decoi'ated, the stage being cosily dressed with neat curtains, the motto, " Support the Early Closing Association," being ranged along the back o/ the stage in letters of silver. Some excellent readings were given, while many of the songs were so good as to be encored. The audience was just sufficient to fill the room comfortably, and altogether the entertainment was highly spoken, of by all who were present. Concert. —The concert given by the choir of the Congregational Chapel, Woodward street, on Tuesday night, was thoroughly successful. A number of choruses were given in a very effective manner by the* choir. The Rev. Mr West gave two very humorous readings—one from Dickens, the other from Lamb—which kept the audience' in a perpetual state of hilarity during their delivery. Mr Paine sung " The motto for Every Man" in such a way as to necessitate its repetition. On the whole a very agreeable evening's entertainment was provided by the choir, everybody being very much pleased with the improvement effected by Mr Paine in the singing of the choir.

Morris Again.—This pertinacious advocate or opponent of the Permissive Bill—for it is impossible to say which he is—tvas again arrested by the police on Wednesday in Sydney street,-where he had established himself in a favorable position for declamation. At the time of his arrest he was armed with "a banner with a strange device," which he had triumphantly elevated on the end of a long clothes prop. This banner or dirty sheet is about six feet long, and of the same width, and is clumsily daubed with strange assertions, proclaiming the Hon. W. Fox to be AntiChrist, a hangman, and a murderer, for that he is endeavoring to extirpate the poor publicans. These are only a few words from the heading of the flag or rag, the lettering of which is done in the latest style of " sensation." The arguments of the banner are very voluminousj and after consigning Mr Fox to perdition, he magnanimously winds up with " God Save the Queen." In his possession was another flag with a gigantic cross in the centre, while in the corner is a representation of a poor publican hanging by the neck, having been '• worked off" by Mr Fox. There was found in his possession a piece of paper curiously elarborated with squares, octagons, and obtuse angled triangles, all to prove the road to ruin by the workings of the Permissive Bill. Morris appeared before Mr Crawford on Thursday morning, when he was remanded for eight days.

Revision Court.—A Revision Court was held in the City Council chambers on Wednesday,his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Igglesden and Toxward, assessors, together with Mr Wallace, the valuator, being present. * The only business done was the striking off the roll of the names of those persons who had not paid their rates, no objections to the list compiled by the Town Clerk having been received. The lists were then signed as the lists under which future elections for the year will be conducted, but the Clerk was instructed to forward them to the legal adviser of the Council for testification as to the legality of the manner in which they had been prepared.

The Footpaths.—ln accordance with the resolution passed at the City Council meeting a short time ago the footpaths on Lambton Quay are undergoing a course of asphalate in the parts most affected with asperity of the surface. There ox'e many parts all along the beach where the expenditure of a small amount will be well repaid by the comfor it will confer on pedestrians.

Deputation.—A deputation consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Messrs W. Johnston, E. Pearce, E. W. Mills, J. E. Nathan, W. R. Hastwell, S. Revans, and the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, waited on his Honor the Superintendent to urge upon the Provincial Government the desirabfity of erecting a temporary bridge across the Hutt river. The deputation were well received by his Honor, who promised that the G-overnment would.do all that lay in their power to carry out the suggestions of the deputation. The gentlemen composing the deputation than thanked his Honor for his courtesy, and withdrew. The want of the bridge has proved such a serious inconvenience to the inland settlers, as well as a great monetary loss to both them and the business people of the ci'.y, that the G-overnment should at once endeaver to secure them against these constant recurrences of the interruption of the traffic on a road which forms the only means of communication between the extensive country in the Wairarapa district and the city. The small farmer is the greatest sufferer by these canstant stoppages of the traffic, as the town trade is the only market for those of his class residing on the other side of the Hutt. It is well that the Government should guard themselves against frittering away money in any erections of an insubstantial kind, but the interests of those whose living almost depends upon the taking of some steps in the matter should be at once attended to.

The Wanganui Prisoners.—By the Wanganui on Monday night M'Donald, on a warrant of commitment, charging him with the crimes of arson and murder. The man Corbett, charged with commission of a rape upon a married woman at Wanganui, also arrived. They were both immediately despatched to the gaol. Lunatics. —Two lunatics from Wanganui wei*e brought down in the steamer Wanganui on Monday night. One has yet to undergo medical examination ; but the other has been committed to Karori on the certificates of two medical gentlemen. The form of mania with which he is afflicted is flax machine on the brain. Nothing can dissuade him from the idea that he has a flax machine in his head, and that it and his brains are continually on the rack. His undivided idea is that this machine has been sent to bim for approval, and that.as yet he is undecided whether it is the " right sort," but he is determined to investigate the matter till it shall leave not a rack behind. Both men are quite harmless beyond the unlimited indulgence in the peculiarities of their frailty. Lecture by Archdeacon Stock:. —The third of the course of popular lectures was delivered on Monday evening by Archdeacon Stock. The arrangement was that the lecture should be delivered in the Presbyterian schoolroom, Willis-street, but at the hour of meeting the school-room was so crowded that an adjournment was made to the Church. The Rev J. Patersou was in the chair, and the audience included the Bishop of Wellington and clergymen of the several denominations," Major Richardson, Speaker of the Legislative Council, and a number of the members or the General Assembly. " The Antiquity of Man" formed the subject of the lecture, which was listened to throughout with the greatest attention, and apparent approval, the learned lecturer being frequently and warmly applauded.

The City Council Election.—ln the general excitement of the opening of Parliament the interest of the citizens was not wholly absorbed, for altogether about ISO votes were recorded on Tuesday for the two candidates, though Mr Anderson did not get many of that number, Mr Buckley having a majority of 80, the numbers being —Buckley, 135; Anderson, 55. A little evidence of electioneering times was given by the placarding of several cabs, proclaiming the honesty of the candidates, together with other characteristics which went to prove their capability to spend the money of the ratepayers to the best advantage. As we have not advocated the claims of either candidate in a frantic or unscrupulous manner it may be held by some that any opinion we might offer on Mr Buckley's success could not by any possibility be considered genuine or sincere. However that may be, we look upon the choice of the ratepayers as one that is likely to strengthen the ranks of our City' Councillors, and make them what Mr Buckley himself said they should be —a class of more prominence in the body politic than they have been in times past. But the whole strength of the statement does not belong to Mr Buckley, for the recent action of the Council has proved it to be what he desires it should be. A Wellington Chess Club.—The question has again and again been asked—" Why don't we form a chess club in Wellington ?" Knowing that we number a great many good players among our citizens, it does seem strange that there has not been sufficient unity upon the matter to result in the formation of a club. Many interesting and hardly fought games have recently taken place between the Christchurch and Dunedin clubs, and we see no reason why Wellington chess players should not enjoy the novelty of playing a friendly game by telegraph with either or both of those clubs. We should then know what statusour city players ai*e entitled to take among the chess players of the colony. We are now not far behind the other cities of New Zealand in horticultural shows, cricket and football clubs, and musical entertainments, and we think it is time we organised a force to contend in this most intellectual game. We have been informed that a club is about to be established in Auckland, to be called the " Auckland Chess Club," the founders of the Club being the ten competitors who took part in the two recent matches between the West End Club and the Outsiders. We have not heard any further particulars than that the annual (subscription has been fixed at one guinea, and that it is intended, if possible, to obtain the use of an apartment for holding the Club's meetings.

Reuter.—ln view of the changes in pres 3 telegraphy which must result from the laying of the cable to Port Darwin and the completion of the overland line from Adelaide, it must be satisfactory to the press of these colonies to learn that Mr Reuter has long since been mindful of their interests. Mr Collins, the manager of the Eastern Branch of Reuter's organisation, who has been entrusted with the establishment of Reuter's central office at Melbourne, has already prepared the way for his visit by issuing circulars to the press of Australia and New Zealand from Bombay, and, if he is not even now in Australia, will no doubt come down by next mail. It may not be generally known that the "Argus" and "Sydney Morning Herald," which, with a few second-rate journals, compose the so-called Australian Associated Press, have sent home special representatives to Mr Reutlr, in the hope of securing to themselves certain exclusive privileges in press telegrams, for which they were prepared to pay a very tempting sum, and that their attempt has come to nought, the motto of Reuter's agencies being " Serve all, favor none." Mr Reuter, as we learn from a circular issued by his agents (Greville and Company) at Sydney, expresses his determination, while offering every facility to the press, both as regards economy and efficiency in telegraphy, to " vigorously oppose any combination of newspapers," independently of his agency ; and, with his facilities and complete organisation throughout the world, there can be no question but he must supplant all other agencies. Mr Reuter proposes to carry on his operations by means of the organisation ' already established by his agents in Australia and New Zealand, but no doubt many iinpi'ovements and modifications will be introduced which his varied and lengthened experience have suggested. In any case the press of New Zealand must be a gainer by its conneetion with Reuter's agents, and more especially when telegraphic communication is established between New Zealand and Australia.

Mining Records.—We have received from the Government printer of Victoria a very elaborate set of mining records of that colony, accompanied by a map showing the formation of the various quartz layers and auriferous strata of many of the mining districts. It a future date we will lay before our readers some of the information contained in this useful compilation, and, in the meantime, any of our miners desirous of examining these records, and of profiting by an investigation of the valuable statistical and other information they contain, may do so by calling at our office. Runaways.—About four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, a young horse, with a spring cart attached, belonging to Mr Jameson, the grocer, came bowling along the beach at a merry pace, but being sufficiently discreet tQ keep the middle of the road no damage of any kind was done. The animal is supposed to have indulged in the sudden freak in imitation of the vagaries of a large piece of paper which was being whisked about by the wind of Saturday afternoon. By the time the animal reached Jacob Joseph and Go's store he had shot his bolt and was brought up standing. On Sunday, about midday, another single harness quadruped was seized with a refractory idea, and made an ambulatory trip down the beach from the Thornden end. Jacob Joseph's store exerted the same charm as in the other case; for on reaching the corner of the reclaimed land on which it stands the horse very carefully turned into the adjoining pasture—the reclaimed land—and after surveying what might be termed the oasis of Wellington, if it were green instead of a delicate split-pea kind of yellow, commenced quietly to browze amongst the luxurious growth of old kerosene tins, clinkers, carpenters' shavings, rusty boilers, and decayed ship cabins, which are rapidly growing into such proportions as to form the most pleasing and attractive spot in the Empire City. Nothing could have been more fortunate than the accidental choice of such a central site for the display of our municipal adornments; the thing is a standing testimony to the care of those who have the management of these matters, and is now coming into such favorable notice as to draw forth enconiums of a flattering kind from the citizens themselves, to say nothing ot the opinions of those persons from other portions of the colony who visit us once every year, and who come prepared to notice the characteristics of the people and the place with a critical eye. A Distressing Case.—A young woman, who has been an inmate of the hospital for a day or two, was brought up at the R.M.' Court on Saturday morning on a charge of lunacy. Excepting the fact that the inquiry was necessary as a matter of law, there seemed little necessity to bring her into court to test her sanity, for as soon as she entered the box she gave convincing proof of calenture by curtseying to everybody in the court, pre paratcry to playing imaginary tunes on an imaginary piano, the rail of the prisoner's dock doing duty as an instrument on which to perform the figurative strumming. During her rapid maniacal flights she performed a number of wild and weird-like gesticulations in a manner as strange and diversified as they were sudden, first giving the spectators in the court an olla podrida of popular " toons," then flashing her ogles about, throwing her hands up into the air, beating the desk with her hands, and winding up with a fearfully solemn but awfully sad peroration to so insane an exhibition. On the testimony of Drs Johnstone and Grace, the justices of the peace who sat on the bench committed her to gaol in the absence of room in the asylum at Karori.

Export op G-old.—The ship Alexandria which sailed from Auckland for London on Saturday, is the bearer of about 13,000 ounces of gold, and one and a half tons silver, the produce of the Thames goldfield.

The Fenian Prisoners.—ln the House of Representatives, on Wednesday evening, the Hon. Mr Stafford, in reviewing the reply to the Governor's speech, said the action taken by the Government with reference to the convicts landed at Lyttelton was a very proper one, but it was a very unfortunate occurrence that,, among those convicts there were four prisoners who were political offenders. In these days of falling dynasties it was difficult to say who were disturbers of the peace, and although he did not understand Fenianism in New Zealand, he could understand it in Ireland. They wanted a republic, and he was not prepared to say that it was not a patriotic wish. The very sympathy which had been evoked by those calling themselves Fenians showed how unfortunate it was that the Government had to act in this matter. If these prisoners came by themselves, he should have taken no cognizance of them. He thought harm rather than good resulted from the deportation of persons who, while they had mistaken views, had shown earnest sincerity in giving effjet to those views. The Hon Mr Fox, referring to these remarks, said he was glad the hon member had expressed his concurrence in the course the Government had taken. They had no other course to pursue. It would never do for them to draw a distinction between the ordinary criminal and the political offender. It might be that they were nDt transported for their political action, but for criminal acts arising out of that. The Government had no means of ascertaining their offences, but a rumor reached them that there was one who was concerned in the blowing up of Clerkenwell Prison, and he could not think they would have been transported for a long term of years if it were not for crimes associated with their political offence. The Government could not apply the thermometer as to the degree of their criminality, and the only course they could adopt was to remove them. They did this in the most lenient manner. They tcok the course of shipping them to another colony. They had no choice in the matter. They had either to send them back or keep them here, but the captain of the vessel positively refused to take them, and there was no course but to let them take ship for New South Wales, taking care to intimate to the Government of that colony the character of their visitors. Rechabite Soiree.—The Order of Rechabites held a soiree on Thursday in the Presbyterian schoolroom, Willis-street. By the invitation of members of the lodge, and by the courtesy of the commanding officer, a number of the seamen on board H.M.S. Basilisk were present. After tea a public meeting was held, Mr Clark, M.H.R., presiding. By that gentleman, and by others present, addresses suitable to the occasion were delivered, and there was a succession of short addressess, recitations, and songs, by Mr Bowater, Mr Whitehead, Mr Fraser, Mr Russell, Mr Godber, Mr Reid, Captain Boig, and others present. Some of the happiest of the recitations and songs were those given by the sailors who contributed to the entertainment of the meeting. The Hon. Mr Fox, who was also present during part of the proceedings, addressed the meeting, referring, among other things, to the fact of a petition from Westland in favor of a permissive bill, and signed by 1,600 persons, having been that day presented to the House of Representatives. At the conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and those assembled separated after spending the evening in a very pleasant and profitable manner. Otago University.—The following are the terms of the memorial presented to the House of Representatives by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and members of the Council of the University of Otago :—"That the General Assembly of New Zealand, by the New Zealand University Act, 1870, provided an annual payment of £3OOO out of the Consolidated Revenue of the colony for maintaining the University of New ''Zealand, and towards defraying the several stipends of the professors, officers, and servants of such University, and for the establishment of lectures in the affiliated colleges, and towards defraying the expenses of such fellowship, scholarships, prizes, and exhibitions, as should be awarded for the encouragement of students of such University, and towards providing a library for the same, and towards defraying all the necessary charges connected with the management thereof. And that the Council of the University of New Zealand has apportioned the above sum for the current year in the following manner, namely, £IOOO for the establishment of twenty scholarships, £I,BOO for the establishment and subsidising, in the affiliated institutions, of such professorships or lectureships as may be determined on, and £2OO for the payment of the incidental expenses of the Council. And that the University of Otago has been deemed to have, for the purpose of tenure of scholarships only, the privileges of an affiliated institution. We therefore pray that the University of Otago may share with the other provinces in the distribution of the grant out of the Consolidated Revenue on the principle laid down in the Capitation grants of last session of the Sreneral Assembly." Manners.—The following paragraph occurs in the annual report by Mr Hodgson, Inspector of Schools, in Nelson province :—-The remarks that I felt it my duty to make last year, upon the uncouthness of manner so apparent in many of the children attending our schools, have not been without effect, if I may judge by the general improvement in the demeanor of the scholars, both when in and out of school, which is so marked that no one who has had an opportunity of observing them can have failed to notice it. The use of foul language is still, I regret to say, more common than it ought to be.

Something likh Dispatch.—The barque Coronilla has arrived atLytteltonwith the necessary plant for the Canterbury Great Northern Railway;

The " Watchtoweb."— The seventh and eighth numbers of this magazine are to hand. In the first is a very full report of the Hon. Mr Vox's remarks on the Preaching of the Present Age, about which there was lately so much fierce and "tall" writing m Wellington. These remarks are the calm and temperate utterances of one who has thought evidently a good deal on the and ; being singularly free from dogmatism, it is inconceivable how they could offend anyone The sneaker had evidently determined to avoid the too common practice at Church soirees of uttering pleasing platitudes The following extracts will serve to show the general tenor of his remarks :-In the present day, at least in the ordinary ministrations of. the Church, preaching seemed to have lost its power, the preachers were feeble and the hearers listless. He had been led to analyse the causes of this difference, and he thought he could point out a few of them. In the first place, the great preachers of former days did not attack sin in the abstract, they boldly attacked the prominent sinful habits of those to whom they preached. They singled such sins out which particularity, and denounced them without mercy Such men as Huss, Jerome of Prasue, Wycliffe, Martin Luther, Knox, Wesley, Whitfield, and the like never hesitated to " hit out' at the prevailing sins of the age, which stood between the people they preached to, and their acceotance of the Gospel. Now his experience of modern preaching was that it greatly'failed in this particular. Another peculiarity'in modern preaching, which he also ranked among its defects, was the entire exclusion of the history of the Church from the time of Patmos to the present day. The Church has had a continuous existence of 1800 years since the book of the Apocalypse closed the direct revelation between God and man. That long period had been fruitful of events of the highest Christian importance, and had produced confessors and martyrs innumerable, who bore witness by their sufferings and deaths to the truth of the doctrines which they maintained by their preaching and their lives. What a mine of wealth was here for the preacher of the present day ; but how seldom did he present its riches to his hearers! The result was that the minda of most congregations were a blank on the subject., and ignorant of the connecting links which bound them to the ancient faith. It seemed to him that this omission tended greatly to narrow the catholicity of our Churches. Each congregation, ignorant of its relationship, which were the growth of past centuries, limited its sympathies almost to the four walls within which it worshipped. A third topic on which he (Mr Jb\) thought the preachers of the present day might enlarge ■with advantage to their hearers, was the operations of the Church and of Christian individuals of the present period. The progress of missions—the charitable institutions carried on a spirit of Christian faith, Buch as the Ashley Downs Orphanages, the Rough House of Wichern at Berlin, and a thousand other evidences of the vitality of Christianity, might form the subject of Christian instruction, and enforce the text of " go then and do likewise." But the congregations seldom hear of these things unless when a charity sermon, as it is called, is occasionally preached for the benefit of some institution with which the particular congregation is connected. Of the works of the Christian Church as a whole, and, regarded from a Catholic point of view, they seldom (aB congregations) hear at all. In conclusion, Mr Fox hoped that the rev. gentlemen now present would not suppose that he intended to criticise any of them. His remarks were, as he had already stated, derived from a lifelong experience in all parts of the world, and he had no intention of commenting upon preaching in New Zealand in particular. If he had said anything which bad a particular application, he begged to assure them that it was not his intention to give it such ; but he had simply given the meeting a resume of his experience on a large scale. The other contents of the number are varied in their character, and Emmot, a tale from humble life, is admirably told. The Clifton Waltz. —A copy of this composition has been sent to us for notice. The whole thing being the work of persons resident in the city says a good deal for the talent we have amongst us. The author of the piece is Mr Flood, who is best praised by omitting comment on his already well known ability. The lithography of the work has been executed in the establishment of Mr R. Burrett, and is equal to anything among the most recent importations from England. The trifle is highly spoken of by those who have heard it well rehearsed, and if its intrinsic merit be on a par with its external appearance we can add a great deal to the opinions already expressed. M anawattt. —A correspondent writing from Palmerston, on the 9th inst, says:—"Rain has been continual here for the last month, and we almost despair of ever having any fine weather again. The saw mill is working today for the first time, and its proprietors are deserving of great credit for the indomitable spirit they have displayed in grappling with and overcoming the almost insuperable difficulties they had to contend with in" getting their machinery up the river. The mill will give employment to a number of hands. Mr H. Phillips, of Greylown, is going to build a large store up here. Business is very dull, owing to the freshet in the river preventing! the canoes bringing up the goods ; and there was very nearly a famine here last week." Mb Webb. —Among the list of passengers who arrived by the Hero at Auckland on the 7th is the name of Mr Webb, nephew of the eminent American shipowner, whose boats are now carrying the Trans-Pacific mails. This gentleman has taken a tour through the colonies, and been in communication with the various Governments on the subject of the mail service. Mr Webb goes on to San Francisco by the Nebraska.

Sleeping- in Church —ln a church not far north of Aberdeen, one of the members was in the habit of sleeping every Sabbath during the sermon. One Sabbath, however, the quietness and gravity of the chinch were fairly upset by the sleeper losing his equilibrium, and falling bump right on his head in the passage. The minister, who was an eccentric and quaint plain-spoken old man, stopped short in his sermon, and, addressing himself to the now wide-awake member, said, " John, ye've gotten rnony a soun' sleep in the devil's cradle, but he has fairly coupit it on ye the day." , " Australian Tendencies." —Under this title " An Old Colonist," writing :n "Eraser's Magazine" on the political construction of the populations of Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania, sums (hem up in this way :—Speaking generally, the tendencies of these three colonies would seem to be :—ln Queensland to an aristocracy: one ruling class, and that the upper. In Victoria to a progressive or unstable democracy : many classes actively competing and evenly balanced. In Tasmania to a conservative democracy : the gro-it majority of "the population of one class; that class, therefore, all powerful. An Expensive Pauper.—A pauper belonging to the parish of Errol, Scotland, has recently died at an advanced age in a lunatic asylum. He was boarded in the Dundee, Montrose, Perth, and Murthly Asylums, and has cost his parish £1,150, he having been located in these asylums for the long period of forty-eight years. He survived all his relations.

Registrar. General oe Lands.—An Auckland exchange observes that Mr Moorhouse having resigned office as Registrar General of Lands, Mr Maddock, late of Duneclin, is a candidate for the appointment. Edinburgh and Glasgow.—The population of Edinburgh, according to the Census returns, is 201,143, being 33,022 more than in 1861, while the population of the City of Glasgow has increased to over 520,000. A New System op Arms.—The FrancoGermanic war is over, and the treaty of peace Bigned, but that wondeiful precaution which made the struggle so one-sided from the beginning is still at work in the Prussian lines. Bismarck and Moltke are about to introduce a new system of arms for the soldiers. The Dreyse gun is to be discarded, and a new rifle, called after General Werder, is to take its place. Baron Krupp has constructed a model of a new cannon, which, it is said, will batter down the heaviest ramparts at a distance of 13 kilometres, or about nine miles ! For the founding of these monster guns great changes have been introduced in the Essen forges, and several colossal steam-hammers have been set up, the cost of each exceeding four millions of francs. If this be true, it would seem that the Prussians assume that; if they can only obtain motive power to transport their artillery, the mere difficulty of construction will place no limit to the range and power of their guns.—" Globe." Alcoholism. —Does " Alcoholism," as the " Saturday Review" calls it, prevail among the lawyers ? The " Law Times" declares that it does, while the " Law Journal" stoutly maintains that the members of both branches of the profession are models of sobriety. Having,asserted that there are solicitors who keep a sherry bottle for the use of their clients, and barristers who reserve " a beer-barrel for attorneys' clerks in criminal cases" (!), the " Law Times" expresses its belief that the habit is " too deeply rooted to be affected by discussion," aud that for the bar to " give up alcoholism itself and discourage it in clients is more than we can expect."—" Globe." The Dollinger Question. —People in England, thinks the "Pall Mall Gazette" " are very apt to overrate the importance of the so-called Dollinger movement in Germany, there is no doubt that to a certain number of Catholics there the matter is of some moment ; but even that number is but small, comparatively speaking. The rest of the educated classes in Germany take about as much interest in it as they do in most matters appertaining to the Church militant. Thoy look on it with a certain languid wonderment, not much caring which side may issue victorious. The "National Zeitung" of Berlin has some very characteristic remark 3on the subject. We have no reason, it says, to take up a hostile position with regard to the Catholic Church, or to wish her destruction; but we are also too foreign to any of the movements within her pale to be able to back any one of them. We cannot get up any ardor for a church which makes the laicus taceat in ecclesia one of her primary dogmas. Whether the " Old Catholics" by an infalliable Episcopate, or the " New Catholics" by an infalliable. Pope is very much the same to us. Theoretically, the infallible Episcopate may become as dangerous to the state as the Pope ; practically —as we readily grant the the antilnfallibillist —there is more danger to be apprehended from an infallible Pope. But we think things have now assumed such a shape for the German people that the Pope may really say what he listeth. He may, if he chooses, confound, a few minds that just want to be confounded, but he will not hurt the development of our state affairs. We think, therefore, we may gladly leave him his infallibility. What is more, we do not even believe in the durability of this movement. The Ecclesia regnans —the clergy—is, with infinestimal exceptions, utterly subject to the Pope, and the lay element—the Ecclesia serviens —will not cease to consider itself as such, whatever may be said about it. _ And this alone could impart any real meaning to the present movement. We shall therefore confine ourselves as hitherto, to the communication of the documents pro and contra without leaving our neutral position one way or tli£ other. We know our readers too well to try and enspire them with enthusiasm for Dollinger or Schulze, whom we have never looked upon as Paladins and Knights of the Holy Ghost.

I The Thames Forkshore— Native Meet- ' ING ._We learn from the " N. Z. Herald" of the 9th instant, that, in anticipation of the session of the Assembly, the Ngatimaru chiefs and people expressed a desire to represent to some influential member their grievances and complaints with respect to the fore-shore at the Thames, the unconditional disposal of which by them has been debarred by the Shorthand Beach Act of 18fi9. Accordingly a meeting was arranged, and-Mr Williamson, one of the members for Auckland, and Mr O'Neill, the member for the Goldfields, were requested to meet them, with the view to consult with them as to the proper steps to be taken with regard to their difficulties. The mooting was held at Parawai, and was attended by most, if not all, of the principal chiefs and influential men of the tribe Mr O'Neill was unable to attend, but Messrs Williamson, O'Keefe, with Mr John C. Young, as interpreter, appeared at the time and place appointed for the meeting. Mr Waiter Puckey, Civil Commissioner, was also present. The natives expressed what they had to say from underneath the British Ensign, which they had themselves hoisted for the occasion, and the speakers maintained a most, respectful aud loyal tone throughout. They were also most friendly in their reception of Mr Williamson, and in the remarks addressed to him in explanation of the subject of these compliments. In reply to these addresses, Mr Williamson recommended the natives to forward a petition to the Government, and he promised to represent what they had said. Mr O'Keefe also addressed the tribe, and, among other matters, referred to the stoppage of the telegraph by Te Hira—a subject on which Mr Willliamson recommended them to remonstrate strongly. Before the conclusion, Rewi, the principal Ngatimaru chief, came forward on his own behalf and that of the tribe, and warmly expressed satisfaction for Mr Williamson's coming to confer with them, and convey their thoughts to the Parliament. Germans in London.—The number of Germans in London is said to be more than 100,000. Terrible Mining Accident —We, " Grey Rirvr Argus," have to add another to the long list of mining casualities in this district. On Thursday evening, the ground in one of the drives at the claim known as the " Greek's," situated at Merton Town, Hal"-Dunce Creek, caved in, and sis men were covered. As soon as the accident was known, a strong body of men set to work to clear away the debris, and fortunately their efforts were so far successful that four out of the six men were recovered. The others, who were further in the drive, were killed. Relays of men were at work until yesterday morning at ten o'olock, when our informant left, and the working party had come in sight of one of the bodies, but at that moment a set of timber hastily put in gave way, and necessarily delayed .operations. There is hardly a shadow of doubt that both the remaining biu-ied men are dead, and Mr Warden Whitefoord proceeded up river this morning and held an inquest on the remains, which have by this time been brought out. One of the victims is a man named Neilson, and the other a Greek, whoso name we have not been able to ascertain. Awfully Sudden Death through Intoxication. —An Auckland paper says another has been added to the list of persons who have met with their death whilst in a state of intoxication. The victim in this case was a man named Samuel Clo«e, who at the time was employed as an engineer on the paddle steamer Challenger, which has just returned from the Kaipara. It appears that Dr. M. E. B. Nicholson having missed the Enterprise on her last trip to town on Saturday evening was leaving Holme's wharf when his attention was attracted by the cries of some ladies. On hastening to the spot he found that a man who, but a few minutes previously, had passed him seemingly the worse for liquor, had fallen into the water. The Doctor, with assistance from Holme's Hotel, succeeded in rescuing him from his dangerous position, and removed him to the hotel, where for two hours restoratives were used to induce respiration. Ultimately, these" efforts were successful, but on ex»imination a severe wound was noticed on the left, side of Close's face, extending down his temple. From this it appeared that deceased must, whilst endeavoring to get into a boat, have fallen, and the water being very shallow he must have struck his head against some hard substance, which caused the wound. Everything possible was done to alleviate his sufferings, but being in an intoxicated state the full extent of his injuries could not be ascertained. After lingering for some hours in intense pain he died at one o'clock on Sunday morning. Dr Nicholson informs us that in ail probability life would have been saved, but'for the wound on his head, which most likely produced concussion of the brain. An inquest will be held on his remains, when thefljfal cause of his death will be ascertained. Retuenohment in Otago.—We cut the following from the Dunstan "Times," of which district Mr Pyke is Warden :—" For sale, by private contract, a first-class buggy and saddle horse. Only cause of sale, reduction of salary by Provincial Government. Apply to the undersigned—Vincent Pyke." Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying the foundation for Counsumption and Wasting, the use of Savory & Moores's Pancreatic Emulsion and Pancreatine, already so highly approved by the Medical faculty, will be found among the most potent remedial agents ; they effect the digestion of Cod Liver Oil and prevent nausea, while they efficiently supply the place o fthe oil when the stomach rejects it. These facts are attested by the published records of medical men, extracts from which accompany each bottle, price from 2s to 21s. Savory & Moore, 143, New Bond Street, London, and all Chemists. Note—Savory & Moore's name and trade mark on each bottle. April 22,1871. 52w. -

1 Earl Belmore's Visit to New Zealand, —The Greymouth " Evening Star" gives the following version of the causes of Earl Belmore's visit to Auckland :—" It is said that the visit of Earl Belmore to Sir George Bowen is not altogether one of pleasure. The Home Government, as is generally known, long since suggested the desirability of a federal union of the colonies as a means of mutual support in times of difficulty, when, if .'one colony is threatened either from within or without, the others will be bound by reciprocity of interests to protect it. The idea is a favorite one with old and intelligent colonists, and Dr. Lang, probably the ablest man in New South Wales, has been most active during the last twenty years in advocating the federalisation of the whole of the Australias and Polynesian islands. In his advocacy, he has been encouraged latterly by the home Government, who, it is believed, find that, as there is nothing hanging to the colonies in the way of revenue, whilst it is responsible for the protection of them in time of war, the sooner it gets rid of its responsibilities the better ; and there is no better way than that of a federal union. Just as a father says to his grown-up sons, so does Britain say to its offshoots—There now, having reared and protected you from infancy to manhood, and feeling that I am getting old myself and am no longer able to protect you, the best thing you can do is to go into partnership and set up business for yourself. Perhaps by-and-by I may want your help; and for all I have done for you in the past I hope vou will show your gratitude by giving it me" should I feel compelled to call for it. It is believed that Earl Belmore is in New Zealand for the purpose of furthering the object we have referred to." Meat Preserving.—A Launceston paper of a recent date reports that on July 4th about twenty gentlemen assembled in the coffeeroom of the Cornwall Hotel, Launceston, on the invitation of Mr M. A. Cleary, for the purpose of seeing opened and tested a tin of meat preserved by Jones' vacuum process in London, more than eighteen months ago. A tin, labelled " Roast Beef," was opened in the • presence of these gentlemen by one of their number, and emptied out in a compact solid mass on to a dish, there not being the faintest objectionable odour either about the beef itself or the emptied tin, as is frequently the case with meats preserved by other processes. Upon being carved, the beef cut smooth and close grained, more like corned than fresh beef in texture. In flavor there was nothing to distinguish it from any other cold roast beef, save that it required rather more salt to make it quite palatable, and even this difference was not observed by all. The best proof that the meat gave entire satisfaction to those present is that they made a hearty luncheon of it. The vacuum preserving process is equally applicable to fruit, flesh, fish, or vegetables, and Mr Cleary informed those present that for £SOO the plant could be erected. Temperance.—At a temperance meeting held last week at Christchurch a Mr Gillan said he had been a teetotaller for twenty-one vears, and wished he had been one a longer time. The drunkenness in Christchurch was disgraceful, and very much shocked him, as one who had lately come from the country. It was time the teetotallers should arouse themselves and put an end to such scenes of vice. Mr E. Ford said he had just had a letter from a place in England, which seemed, when he left it, to be in a most hopeless condition in reference to teetotalism. He had now learned that all the clergy, save one, and nearly all the magistracy were total abstainers. A Black Villain Done Bkown.—Some amusement was caused at the City Court, Melbourne, by. the behavior of a colored gentleman naufed Green, whose complexion was very brown. He had given a tall man named William Boggis in charge for assault, and after extending his lip with his two hands to show the Bench how it had been cut against his teeth by the blow, he crossquestioned another darkie who was called for the defence. This witness said he saw no assault, and Green, taking him by the hand, adjured him to be a man and speak the truth, and then asked him whether they were not standing in the street with their hands " entwined," when the prisoner came up and struck him. The witness said he did not see it anyways, and Green, then stepping back a pace," said in a deep tragic whisper, " Oh, you perjured villain !" After hearing the evidence of a constable, the Bench fined Boggis 10s, with 10s costs, or seven days' imprisonment New Caledojsia.—We are in receipt of newspapers from Noumea, from the 28th June to the 19th inst. Improvements are being made in the streets of Noumea, especially in Rue Sebastopol aud Rue Vauban. The Cheflieu is complained of as being "horribly dull." The Government are taking precautions to prevent the pleuro-pneumonia, which ragea amongst the cattle on the Duces Peninsula, from spreading on the mainland. The " Moniteur de "la N. C," of the 12th of July, publishes a decree the object of which is to prevent contagious cattle diseases from spreading among the cattle of the native population. The Governor, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, and by the director of the arsenal left Noumea on the Bth inst, in the Titeina, to visit the western coast. He returned to Noumea on the 16th fnst. Berkley, Sept. 1869. —Gentlemen, I feel it a duty I owe to you to express my gratitude for the great benefit I have derived by taking ' Norton's Camomile Pills.' I applied to your agents, Mr Bell Berkley, for the above named Pills for wind in the stomach, for which I suffered excruciating pain for a length of time, having tried every remedy perscribed, but without deriving any benefit at all. After taking two bottles of your valuable pills I was quite"restored to my usual state of health. Please give this publicity for the benefit of those who may thus be afflicted."—l am, Sir, I yours truly, Henry Alleass. —To the proI prietors of Norton's Camomile Pills.

Hewitt's Match.—lt will be recollected that previous to the departure of Messrs Harris and Hewitt for Dunedin, the latter/made a match with several gentlemen of Christchurch that he would run hulf a mile on a level road in lm 55£secs. > The amount staked was. £25 by Hewitt against £SO by the backer of time. From the names of the gentlemen concerned in the affair there is not the slightest reason to doubt but that the match will be fairly run off, and Hewitt himself is very sanguine of doing the distance. If he does do so, it will be a really splendid performance. At present there is no time fixed, but Hewitt will have to declare some day not later than August 19th, with libe/ty, should that day prove unfavorable, to extend the time, seven days notice of such intention being given to the backer of time. Ten pounds has been deposited by Hewitt, and £2O by the backer of time, and the remainder has to be forthcoming on the 18th instant. -, *

Argus" says the facility with which "boys can be arrested and taken before a magistrate when caught committing some petty offence, for which a sound impromptu thrashing would be a sufficient and impressive punishment, seems to be one cause of the prevalence of juvenile delinquency in Melbourne, as when a boy has been once locked up, and has appeared in court, he is almost certain to make a second appearance in a very short time. A, case in point is afforded by the conduct ofsmall boys from 18in to 4ft in height, who nearly every night " shin up the spouts" between the Theatre Eoyal and the G-in Palace, cUmb upon the roof of the theatre, and creep through a window in the roof into the gallery, where they make up in applause for their surreptitious free entry. On Saturday night, as soon as the doors were opened, they began to reconnoitre, and a constable who was sent for and reached the place, found about twenty of them bobbing about the roof like rabbits. ' The boys were only following that instinct which prompts youngsters to get into a circus tent by crawling under the canvas at the risk of being pulled out again by the hair. If the young scamps were caught, and thrashed every now and then, and the window through which they enter were spiked in unexpected places, these pranks would be stopped much more effectually than by the employment of a constable. On this occasion the officer caught two urchins named Alexander and Walsh, who were taken before the City Bench, charged with being illegally en the premises. The father of Walsh said that his boy worked for him, "but had got out for the night was up the country. The mother of Alexander promised that the boy would never do it again. The Bench cautioned them that if brought up again they would be sent to the training-ship (where probably they would be kept at a cost to their parents of half-a-crown, or perhaps nothing a week), and the boys were sent home. Fo doubt they will be the heroes of the crowd when they next break loose, and between their jubilant summersaults will concoct a plan for " mobbing the bobby" next time he appears on the roof.

The Critical Periods oe Human Liee. —From the age of forty to that of sixty, a man who poperly regulates himself may be considered in the prime of life. His matured strength of. constitution renders him almost impervious to the attacks of disease, and all his functions are in the highest order. Having gone a year or two past sixty, he arrives at a critical period of existence : the river of Death flows before him, and he remains at a stand-etill. But athwart this river is a viaduct, called " The Turn of Life," which, if safely crossed, leads to the valley " Old Age," round which the river winds, and then flows beyond without a boat or causeway to effect its passage. The bridge is, however, constructed of fragile materials, and it depends how it is trodden whether it bend or break. Gout, appoplexy, and other bad characters are also in the vicinity to waylay the traveller, and thrust him from the pass; but let him gird up his loins, and provide himself with perfect composure. To quote a metaphor, the " Turn of Life" is a turn either into a prolonged walk or iato the grave. The system and powers, having reached their utmost expansion, now begin to close like flowers at sunset, or break down at once. One injudicious stimulant, a single fatal excitement, may force it beyond its strength : whilst a careful Bupply of props, and the withdrawal of all that tends to force a plant, will sustain it in beauty and vigor until night has nearly set in.

The Maequis of Kobmanby.—" Vanity Fair" contains a cartoon which professeirto he a portrait of the new Governor of Queensland, the Marquis of Normanhy". The following are the editorial comments upon the sublect of the results that training and culture can produce in a favorable subject. He has sat in both Ileuses of Parliament, and supported liberal measures like a politician? he has governed Nova Scotia with aptitude and discretion like a statesman, and has occupied in the Boyal household the status of Captain of the G-entlemen-at-Arms and Gold-stick like a .cpurtier. His natural intelligence makes him at home in any situation, and strengthened as it is by great experience, he may always be counted upon to take a prudent course, to do precisely the right, and, what is more important, never to do the wrong thing. These qualities will commend him to that vigorous, young colony of Queensland of which he is now appointed Governor; and his passionate devotion to field sports, and great social geniality, are an additional security that he will obtain their full sympathy and ready support in performing the duties he has undertaken He has therefore every prospect of successfully ruling that distant dependency in a manner that shall develope its own strength, bind it by stronger ties to the home country, and thus knit together more firmly the component parts of the great British Empire," *

Meat Pbeserving.—The " Hawko's Bay Herald" of the 11th reports :—We learn that Mr Bobert Stuart, who returned from Dunedin on Monday lagt by the Nebraska, has procured during his stay in Otago several specimens of preserved meat of various "descriptions, embracing beef (boiled and cured), "mutton, sheep tongues, ox tongues, and soup. All have been turned out at the Green Island Meat Preserving Works. He expects them to arrive in Napier by the Rangatira to-day. No doubt an inspection of them will be useful to those gentlemen who have. been for some time past meditating the establishment of a company here. When we learn that in Otago the various(meat preserving Works take 25,000 sheep per week between them, we can imagine what benefits such an establishment would be calculated to confer on Hawke's Bay.

Railway Locomotives. From recent Melbourne exchanges we learn that the Victorian Commissioner of Railways, with Mr Fehon, traffic manager, made an inspection of the sew bogie-engine recently brought out for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company. The engine, which is the first of its kind imported into the colony, was made by Stephenson, and cost the company when landed £2,400, which is abou t the price paid for most of the other engines at work on the lines. The engine weighs, when loaded with coal, &c, about 30 tons, and it runs upon four pairs of wheels instead of three. It has a 15in. cylinder with 22in. stroke, and the diameter of the driving wheels is 5 feet. The chief advantage of the bogie is, that it works round curves more easily than ordinary locomotives, and the engineers of the company are well satisfied with the new engine. Mutton Fish.—The " Geelong Advertiser" says:—The shells of mutton fish are being so eagerly bought up for ornamental purposes that it is somewhat surprising a more vigorous Bearch is not instituted after them along the coas 1 ;, where, at certain seasons of the year, they are said to be plentiful. Mr Roffey has disposed of a number of shells lately at fourpence and sixpence each, according to their size and beauty ; and in England, New Zealand mutton fish shells realise, we are informed, £2OO per ton. It is the inside lining that is sought after. This is like mother-of-pearl, of many varied hues. The Yictorian shells do not appear to be quite so brilliant and variegated, but are still very handsome. Specimens of workmanship from the New Zealand shell were shown to us a few days ago by Mr Green, the chemist, and were quite equal in beauty to anything that could be done with mother-of-pearl." The " Times" on the Liqtjob Trade.—e We find in the " Western Morning News" (May 8) the following excellent remarks by the London correspondent of that journal : ((rrjjg «dimes' has done much good, and not a little harm, in its day : b6t all its former sendees have been surpassed by those which it is now rendering to the cause of temperance, and for that reason its past sins should be forgotten. I remember nothing more remarkable in the history of journalism, since the day that the leading journal one morning astonished the world by announcing that the Anti-Corn Law League was a great fact, than the position it has taken within the last three weeks with regard to the liquor traffic. Every one will remember how the efforts of the temperance party to deal with this gigantic interest have been derided in the leading journal year after year until within a very few months ago. Yet now the trumpet of the ' Times' speaks with as certain a Bound as the trumpet of the Alliance itself. Day after day the brewers and the publicans are told that just in proportion as they magnify their profits under the existing system do they prove the lamentable waste of the resources of the working classes, and of the imperious need of Government interposition to prevent that waste. ' Publicans' profits represent misspent money' is the epigram in which the 'Times' ; summed up the whole case on Monday, and now again to-day it enlarges on the same text in an article full of power. We no longer hear of the right of traders to trade how and where they please. We are told, as the Alliance has been asserting for the last 20 years, that this is no ordinary trade, that it ig, most prejudicial to the interests of the nation, and that it must be greatly restricted, if not altogether suppressed. I need scarcely say that such arguments, coming from such a quarter, must be of enormous assistance to the Government jnst now." Utah.—Strange to say, the census returns show there are more males than, females in Utah Territory. Foe Teade in teh* Dark. —About 8 o'clock, one night a man was seen by a workman of the Galatea claim, Smythesdale, (Victoria), in the sluice-boxes. The workman called three times, and receiving no answer, fired a shot, *. The intruder was found to be a Chinaman, who received the shot in his back, and he is not expected to live.

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