News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 35, 23 September 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

The Hutt Bridge.— An event that will be looked upon with something more than mere pleasure by the inhabitants of the Hutt and the adjoining districts, namely, the driving of the first pile of the Hutt bridge, will take place to-day. His Honor the Superintendent will drive the first pile, figuratively, and the work will then be proceeded with as rapidly as possible. The Artillery Volunteers will be present, and are to fire a salute to celebrate the event.

Wool Buyers. —Amongst the passengers by the mail steamer Nebraska were Messrs Harding, Harrington, Denny, Yon Blarcom, Cavalli, and Williams, woolbuyers and manufacturers, from Boston and New York. Motueka Election Inquiry.—Sir D. Monro Unseated.— The labors of the Committee of the House of Representatives, called upon to inquire into the allegations of the petition of Mr Charles Parker against the return of Sir D. Monro, terminated on Wednesday. On Tuesday the committee had adjourned, at the hour of the House sitting, without coming to a decision. They met again on Wednesday forenoon, at eleven o’clock, for further consultation, and they remained closeted for two hours, when the committee room doors were opened, and the following was read by the Chairman, in the presence of parties and their counsel, as the decision of the committee : —“ That Sir David Monro was not duly elected. That Charles Parker, Esq., was duly elected, and ought to have been returned. The Chairman also intimated that the committee had given the question of costs their careful consideration, and that it was agreed that each party should pay his own costs. We understand that the decision thus announced, and which was afterwards reported to the House, was the decision arrived at by all the members of the committee, with the exception of Mr Gillies. Civil Service Examinations. —The regulations for the examination of candidates for employment in the Civil Service, dated Ist February, 1871, and published on the 2nd March, 1871, are rescinded, and amended regulations, to take effect from the Ist January, 1872, are published for general information in the Gazette of yesterday. Registrars. —The following gentlemen have been appointed Registrars of Births, Deaths, and Marriages:—Mr J. E. J. Boys, Greytown ; Mr H. Crayne, Masterton ; Mr R. Langdon, Castle Point ; Mr G. M. Snelson, Palmerston North ; and Mr J. B. Smith, Foxton. Law Practitioners Act. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Westport, on Thursday, the 7th instant, John Goldstueker was charged with a breach of the Law Practitioners Act, by making out and preparing certain documents which came under the conveyancing business of a solicitor, and for which he had received payment. Defendant did not deny writ-

ing out the documents, produced but said in defence that he had only copied them f..nm old documents of a like character, and that in doing the writing, or hiring himself out as a copying machine, he did not know he was transgressing The law. The Magistrate remarked that the object of the Act was to protect the public, and in the document produced several discrepancies appeared, which he thought made the documents valueless. Defendant would be fined 20s and costs. Wesleyan Church Anniversary.— The third anniversary of the opening of the above church was held on Sunday last, when the Rev W. H. West preached —in the morning—an excellent discourse from Psalm cxxvi, 6, to a large and attentive congregation ; and the Rev T. Buddie —in the evening—from Elijah s vision of the living waters, xlvii, 1-5. A tea meeting was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening, when a large party did justice to the good things provided. The room was tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers, interspersed with illuminated mottos and varied with a considerable display of bunting.. After tea a public meeting was held in the church, the body of which was well filled. The Rev T. Buddie presided, and in his address gave a report of the financial position of the church, showing that one hundred pounds had been paid off the church debt during the year. The meeting was addressed by the Yen. Archdeacon Stock on the great question of the day—education. In an appropriate and interesting speech he dwelt on the supreme importance of a religious education for the children of New Zealand. The Rev Mr Paterson followed, endorsing the Archdeacon’s remarks, stating that, he should prefer a more denominational system, but, rather than have schools without the Bible, he gave his hearty support to the bill now before the parliament; following these remarks with practical references to the efficiency of the preaching of the present day. The Rev Mr Dean addressed the meeting on some of the hindrances to the spread of earnest Christianity. The Rev Messrs Harper, and J. Woodward, Esq., proposed and seconded votes of thanks to the ladies who provided the tea and to the choir, who rendered with great taste the following sacred pieces of music •—“ Thine O Lord is the Greatness,” “Jubilate Deo,” “ I was glad, &c.“ I will lift up mine eyes,” and “ Nunc Dimittis.” The meeting was both practical and profitable, and separated about 9.30, being considered a great success. The proceeds were over £45 for the Trust Fund. Supreme Court.— Sittings in Bankruptcy.—There was a sitting of the Court on Wednesday for the hearing of applications in bankruptcy, His Honor Mr Justice Johnston on the bench. Mr , Borlase applied that the ease of Mr Thomas Wilson might stand over, as the notices had been published. Granted. In re John Glover, the insolvent did not appear, und the case was struck out. In re John Carroll, Mr Izard applied for a final order, which was granted. In re Edwin Hoskins, the bankrupt did not appear, and the case was struck out. In re Kenneth Douglas, Mr Borlase applied for a final order of discharge. The case was postponed. In re Wm. Robertson, Mr Izard appeared for the bankrupt. There was no trustee’s report, and the case was adjourned. This bankrupt was subjected to an examination by His Honor, after which he was excused from attending to apply for a final order, unless notice was given to him by the trustee. In re Henry Charles Mandy, Mr Ollivier applied in the absence of the bankrupt, for a final order of discharge. His Honor doubted whether, without the personal appearance and examination of the bankrupt, he had power to grant a discharge, Mr Ollivier argued that the Court had sch power in extreme cases. After some argument His Honor postponed the case. In re John Henry Schmidt, on the application of Mr Izard, final discharge was granted to the bankrupt. In re Henry William Nickless, Mr Buckley applied for the bankrupt’s discharge, which was' granted. In re Bowater and Holmes, Mr Ollivier applied for final discharge. Adjourned till next sitting day. In re Wm. M'Namara, Mr Borlase applied fora final order. Granted. In re Thomas Atkinson, a similar application by Mr Borlase for the bankrupt. Granted. In re William Henri Pascoe, Mr Borlase appeared for the bankrupt, and final discharge was granted. On the application of Mr Buckley, complete execution of’a deed of assignment by Te Hapuku was ordered by the Court. In re Farrell O’Riley, Mr Izard appeared for the bankrupt, Mr Ollivier to oppose on behalf of the trustee, and Mr Quick on behalf of Messrs Taylor and Watt. After a lengthy examination of the bankrupt, his order of discharge was suspended for three months. The Legislative Council. —Though there have not been many notices of motion on the order paper of the Legislative Council during the past few days, the Council has been pretty busily engaged in forwarding numerous bills through various stages. On Thursday, for instance, the orders of the day included the second

reading of the Otago Settlement Bill and the Wellington Waste Lands Regulations Amendment Bill, the third reading of the Contractors Debts Bill, an adjourned debate on the Religious, &c., Trust Bill, the committal of two other bills, and the consideration, in connection with two more bills, of amendments by the House of Representatives. A number of select committees of the Council have also been meeting daily.

The Gold, Duty.— Another attempt is to be made to reduce the amount of the gold duty. Mr Collins has given notice of his intention to move for the reduction of the amount to 2s per ounce. Palmerston. —The following extract is taken from the letter of our own correspondent : —“ The unfortunate Dane who had his leg cut off by the falling of a tree last Saturday, I am sorry to say, is not doing so well as could be wished. Dr Spratt, deeming it prudent to have further advice, sent for Mr Batten Smith of Foxton, the nearest local practitioner. On his arrival, a consultation was held ; and Mr Smith concurred with Dr Spratt, that in order to save the man’s life an amputation above the knee joint was necessary, as mortification had appeared in the leg bone. The operation was successfully performed this morning, and, according to the latest accounts, he is doing well.”

State Despatches. -*-We have received printed copies of further despatches from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to his Excellency the Governor. They include a despatch, acknowledging receipt of a despatch from the Governor, and stating that, though no naval cadetship falls to New Zealand till 1874, the Secretary for the Colonies will consider any recommendation for a cadetship in 1872; a despatch enclosing an Order in Council regulating appeals from the Appellate Court in New Zealand ; a despatch acknowledging his Excellency’s account of his visit to Otago ; a despatch forwarding correspondence with Mr Yogel on the subject of reinforcing the Australian squadron, and stating it to be the intention of the Admiralty to reinforce the squadron; and, finally, a lengthy despatch respecting differential duties in the colonies.

New Zealand Wool. —On looking over the wool catalogues we notice that a decided advance is apparent, especially in greasy wools- Of the finer qualities the Castlerock brand realised the highest price for New Zealand fleece wool, reaching 27ijd for the best parcels.

“ The Pooe Man.” —The ultima thule of “poor man” advocacy in the House has been reached ; the sentimental ardor of some hon members, who “ gush” so frequently on the wrongs of the “ working man,” the hardships of “ the poor man,” and the deep-drawn sighs of “ injured widows and orphans,” has received a wellmerited satire. On more than one occasion lately Mr John Hall, as the only means of putting down a member who sits near him, and who is subject to uncontrollable fits of cacoethes loquendi , has found it necessary to set up his claims to the “ championship’’ by denouncing all pretenders to the title and declaring that he, and he only, is the real “ working man’s advocate” in the House. Of course this kind of “ sarkasum” is of the most telling kind, and in some degree exerts a deterrent effect on the frequency of the “ bunkum” speeches which have such a painful influence on those who are compelled to listen to them. But even Mr Hall’s lustre has been dimmed. In the discussion in committee on the Highway Boards Bill, Wi Parata, who objected to the imposition of rates on Maori land, claimed the votes of several members, whom he named, on the ground that he heard them continually advocating in the House the interests of the “ poor man,” and the “ poor miner.” He now claimed that as he had a grievance they should vote with him on behalf of “ the poor Maori.” The hon member seemed aware that he had made a coup d’etat , and was cheered on all sides. Perhaps we shall hear no more of “ the poor man” for some time.

Fatal Accident— On Wednesday a fatal accident occurred at the Mungaroa Hill to a road laborer named John Hartley. A mass of earth and rock suddenly slipped from the face of the sideling where the unfortunate man was at work, completely burying him, and killing him on the spot. Mr Fuller, who was passing, conveyed the remains to the Mungaroa Hotel, where they await the holding ot an inquest. Fiji. —The following is the text of Lord Kimberley’s despatch to Lord Belmore, Governor of Hew South Wales, on the subject of the English authority in Fiji: “ Howning-street, 10th July, 1871. My Lord,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship’s despatch (Ho, 44) of the sth of April, forwarding copies of letters from Mr Wolfen and Mr Emberson relating to the state of affairs at the Fiji Islands. I have forwarded a copy of your despatch to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who has now under his consideration measures for the enlargement of the powers of Her Majesty’s Consul at the Fijis, so as to enable him to deal with certain offences committed at those islands. I have, &e. (Signed) Kimbeeley.”

_ Monster Petition. —A monster petition presented to the Yictorian Assembly on the 30th August from the licensed victuallers and others against the Permissive Bill proved to be about 70 feet in length when unrolled. Harbor Works at New Plymouth. —ln the House yesterday, Mr Carrington gave notice of his intention to move that the House should vote £45,000 for the purpose of constructing harbor works at New Plymouth. The late Mr Wastney.— In noticing the death of Mr Wastney, member of the Nelson Provincial Council, the “ Colonist” says :—Mr Wastney was one of the first settlers, who came out with the Expedition party for the New Zealand Company, and lias always taken an active intei*est in all affairs affecting our public welfare ; his loss will be deeply felt in Suburban North, which district he has represented in the Provincial Council for many years.

The Liquor Traffic. —Prom Yictorian statistics it appears that in Ballarat there are 291 hotels to a total of 5,253 ratepaying electors. Castlemaine shows 29 hotels, 21 beer shops, to 1,100 electors ; Geelong, 80 hotels to 2.371 electors ; Melbourne, 382 hotels, 246 other licenses, including 29 brewers, and 10,287 electors. In the shires and road districts there are 1,418 publicans’ licences, 832 beer licences, and 63,706 electors. Personal. —Mr Laurence Cockburn, a son of the famous Lord Cockburn, and formerly partner with Mr Matthew Hervey, has met with his death at Brighton, the suburb of Melbourne, During the night, by mistake, betook a glassful of belladonna, which Mrs Cockburn had been using as a tonic, and, from its effects died.

The Case of Supple. —A despatch was received by the last English mail with reference to the case of G. H. Supple, who was convicted and sentenced to death more than twelve moths ago, for the murder of ex-Detective Walsh, who was shot in endeavoring to protect Mr G. P. Smith from Supple’s attack. A law point reserved in his favor was argued before a full court, and decided against him, whereupon his friends appealed to the Privy Council. It is now learned from the despatch received by the Government, that for the want of money to prosecute the appeal, it has been abandoned. The whole matter has therefore been remitted to the Yictorian Government. The sentence of death recorded against Supple will be altered, there is reason to believe, to imprisonment for life, but the Cabinet has not yet finally considered the subject. Dirty Bank Notes. —ln the course of criminal trials at the sittings of the Supreme Court at Hokitika, the filthy condition in which many of those bank notes at present in circulation are became the subject of comment. His Honor Mr Justice Richmond expressed his surprise that the banks, who derive so large a profit by the circulation of their paper, should re-issue their notes when they were so begrimed with dirt that it was quite with a feeling of loathing that any person of cleanly habits could touch them. He often shuddered to think in what strange places they had been. It was still more surprising that the public should submit to have such paper put in their hands for money. His practice was to refuse such notes and to ask for gold. A Mechanical Scavenger.— -A trial of a street scraper and street sweeper recently imported by the Borough Council of Prahan would be eminently useful in the streets of Wellington. The implements are drawn by horse-power, and are the patent of Messrs W. Smith and Sons, Barnard Castle, Durham. The scraper is somewhat similar in principle to the hand ones at present in use in the city, but the scrapers are placed at an angle to the axle, the inclination being backwards from the right to the left. The mud removed from the road is thus placed in a line on the left hand of the machine. The scraper is easily drawn by one horse, and on the oc casion of meeting any obstruction, or for removing the scraper from one place to another, there is a lever at the back of the machine for lifting the scrapers from the ground, which works in the same manner as that of a horse rake. The sweeper is very much like a large American crumb brush. This is also drawn by a horse, and the brush revolves in the opposite direction to that in which the machine is drawn. The revolving brush, like the scraper, is placed at an angle to the axle, and the dirt swept is left in a line at the end of the machine. The manner in which these machines acted was very satisfactory, that portion of Chapel street operated upon showing the effects of the cleaning to a late hour in the day. The saving in labor in using these machines is very great, and the work is much more effectively and quickly done than by hand labor. The cost is not very great, as the two machines, with two sets of brushes and chains for the sweeper, only cost £75.

Me Anthony Teollope in Queens land. —At a dinner given to him at Kockhampton, Mr Anthony Trollope said : —I am not here as a writer of novels. I have endeavoured to write on other subjects. I

have travelled through most of the great countries in which the English language is spoken, and endeavoured to become acquainted wutli them. I have visited the United States; and if I go to New Zealand, as I moat probably shall, I shall have seen nearly all the lands inhabited by descendants of Englishmen. I have endeavoured on former occasions to give a correct idea of the countries visited—not misleading by eulogy on the one side, or chaff on the other. Nor, if able to carry out my purpose, should I do so in this case ; my aim would be to give a fair, just, and true account of what I have seen here. I should “ nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice,” that those at home may be enabled to form a correct impression of these colonies. Latest from the Thames. —The following mixed items appear in Auckland papers of the 12th, as latest from the Thames : —An accident happened at the Tweedside claim at 11 o’clock this morning; two men were working in an open cutting about thirty feet deep, when the side gave way, and two tons of earth fell on one of them, crushing him and inflicting severe internal injuries. There were exciting rumors about the Otago in town this morning, consequent upon the the contractors having terminated their work by cutting the reef. It is reported that gold was seen in the stone. Mr Corlett has announced his intention of starting a new morning paper. He has received large promises of support and seems confident of ultimate success. Cock-fighting has become popular as a Saturday’s afternoon amusement, being witnessed by hundieds. No efforts made by the authorities to stop it. Carried on publicly at Taruru, and lots of betting. Massacre in the Sandwich Islands. —A number of natives had obtained permission to go on board the Fairy for the purpose of going to Fiji as laborers, each being armed with tomahawks. Objections were made to their being possessed of weapons, but they explained that they were in fear, in consequence of having killed a chief of Ekpeti. The captain was aroused by some one on deck at noon next day, and at the same time the mate rushed out of his cabin with his jaw nearly severed from his head. The master endeavored to defend himself with a brace of revolvers, but was forced back and the top of the cabin slid over. Every effort to free himself was made but without avail. The position of the captain and mate was pitiable, the whole of the crew being murdered and the mate badly wounded, the vessel stranded, and the natives yelling from the beach triumphantly, believing the prey to be in their hands. Night, however, brought a respite. They were without a boat wherewith to escape, and the wretches swarming to the shore thirsting for their blood. Morning light brought a renewal of hostilities, the natives keeping up an incessant fire until night, when darkness again interposed, and the two men managed to leave the vessel and reach the mission station, where they received kind treatment. The vessel was found afterwards gutted to her ballast and pitted with bullets. Every praise is due to the teachers for their conduct in the affair, and the captain owed his safety to them. Two Fisherman Drowned.— The following account of the fatal accident of Waimea West is given by the “ Nelson Colonist —On Wednesday week last, two fishermen —John Hemming and Heniy Moat, then in the employ of Mr Henry Crawford, of Bridge street —left Nelson, for Astrolabe, in an ordinary fishing smack, and we regret to say that little has been heard of them since. They are reported to have left Astrolabe on the following Friday morning, and on the evening of that day, Mr Westrup, on his way from Motueka to Nelson, passed a boat of a similar description to the one in which these men started. A heavy gale was then blowing, and the poor fellows are supposed to have tried to make for the Waimea West entrance, but were unsuccessful, and lost their lives in the attempt, the boat probably filling at some distance from the shore. Mr Crawford becoming alarmed at their prolonged absence, went in search of them on Wednesday morning, when he picked upon the Rabbit Island several pieces of the boat, the hat worn by Moat, and three oilskin coats, belonging to him and his mate. These articles were readily identified by Mr Crawford, and there is, therefore, very little hope of the men having escaped the accident. The Late Fire at Ballarat.— Early on the morning of the 25th August a disastrous fire broke out at Sandhurst which resulted in the total destruction of the property known as the Beehive buildings, in Pall Mall. This range of buildings included two large stores, those of Messrs Buick and Co, and Messrs Moore, Brothers and Co, and a large number of offices occupied by the managers of mining companies and mining brokers. The contents of the stores were entirely consumed, while the whole of the books, papers, and scrip belonging to over 120 mining companies were burnt to ashes. Altogether some £IOO,OOO worth of property was destroyed. Messrs Buick and Co, and Messrs Moore Brothers and Co, were

both well insured, but no insurance money could compensate the mining companies for the loss of their deeds, papers and books, which will necessarily cause serious difficulties and complications in carrying on future operations and. in ascertaining the position of the various shareholders.

Pedestrianism. —Austin and Edwards, pedestrians, have been running some races at Nelson, and, after a visit to Motueka, are to proceed to Wellington, where it is likely that some matches will be arranged Fiji.— By the arrival of the Strathnarer from Levuka, the Auckland papers have later Fijian news, but none of any importance. The papers are principally taken up with reports of the proceedings of the Houso of Delegates, which has met to give the finishing touch to the Constitution granted by Thakambou, who wishes, it seems, now to change his name to Ebenezer, that being the name given to him at his baptism. To outsiders, the reports of the proceedings in the House of Delegates are altogether devoid of interest.

Colonial Butter. —The “ European Mail” imports : —Large quantities of Australian butter have been taken off the market for shipment to Holland, where it is repacked and returned to this country as Dutch; the price at which it is purchased here is very low, and wall leave a loss to shippers. Colonial butter-makers have much to learn, their produce being badly made, too much buttermilk being left in it, which has a tendency to make it rancid. Why do they not get a few good dairy hands from Ireland ?

The Colonial Engineer. —We notice that the Colonial Engineer-in-Chir-h Mr Carruthers, accompanied by Me c -rs Dees and Blair, engineers for the Chi ilia line, visited Invercargill last T msday. The following day they went per railway to Winton, from whence they proceeded en route to Kingston, with the view of examining the route of the projected railway. They also propose before leaving the district to make a similar examination of the Mataura line from Invercargill to the Longford. Mr Macandrew’s Resolutions. —A second meeting for the consideration of Mr Macandrew’s resolutions has been held in Christchurch, and after a prolonged discussion it was further adjourned until yesterday at 3 p.m. The “ Times” is informed that a public meeting will be called early next week, when resolutions will be proposed for the abolition of existing provinces, and the creation of one province for each island, having enlarged legislative powers, with a central Federal Government, limited to federal concerns. Colonists in England. —Among the items of personal gossip received by the Suez mail we notice —Mr S. Butler, formerly of Canterbury, has a painting in the Royal Academy entitled “A Reverie,” and his friends believe that he will yet be heard of in the art world. —Mr A. G. Horton, of Timaru, Canterbury, is in London, engaged, in connection with his friends, in prosecuting an old standing claim in the Chancery Court. —Several Australian and New Zealand colonists have been “doing” the ruins of Paris since the close of the war.

The Agent-General. —Writing in anticipation of the arrival of the AgentGeneral of this colony, the “ European Mail” says : —The arrival of the Hon. Dr Featherston, the new Agent-General for New Zealand, is looked for by the now overdue San Francisco mail, and he is likely to be cordially welcomed by the leading political men of this country, as well as by the New Zealand colonists. Dr Featherston’s mission is a difficult one, but that he will succeed in establishing a satisfactory system of immigration for the whole colony no one appears to doubt. At present New Zealand seems scarcely known in the rural districts of England, and this is the chief reason why so few English immigrants find their way to the colony. Dr Featherston possesses the advantage of a long and most intimate personal acquaintance with the colony and its requirements, and it is to be hoped all sub-agents may, if possible, possess similar qualifications, for by such means only will New Zealand reallj' be made properly known to the emigrating classes.

MAEAYILLA COCOA.—No breakfast table is complete without this delicious beverage. —The “ Globe” says : —“ Various importers and manufacturers have attempted to attain a reputation for their prepared Cocoas, but we doubt whether any thorough success has been achieved until Messrs Taylor Brothers discovered the extraordinary qualities of ‘ 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 Grocers, of whom also may be had Taylor Brothers’ Original Homoeopathic Cocoa and Soluble Chocolate. Steam Mills—Brick Lane, London. Export Chicory Mills, Bruges, Belgium, Advt.

Snow Storm in Southland.— ln Invercargill on Tuesday last the snow lay to a depth of some inches, a circumstance unknown in the place for the past twelve years. As the day wore on assisted oy passing showers of-rain and sleet, it commenced to melt, and as a matter of course the streets and thoroughfares were reduced to a wretched state of sloppiness. At the Bluff the snow lay in some places down almost to the water’s edge until an advanced hour on Tuesday, and from the appearance of the surrounding country, the fall appeared to have been pretty general. Writing from the Mataura Ferry, the “ Times’' correspondent reports that the low lands had a coating of snow, in many places, half a foot deep. The lambing season having commenced, apprehensions were felt for the safety of the young flocks. The snow storm does not appear to have extended in equal severity further east than Balclutha. The New Zealand Medal. —The members of the permanant staff of the 2nd Warwickshire recently assembled at the Barracks, Leamington, in review order to witness the presentation of a New Zealand medal to Sergeant-Major J. Mark, by Captain B. D. Knight, adjutant, commanding the staff. Captain Knight, in complimenting the sergeant-major on his much-prized recognition of his gallant seevices, said :—“ It affords me great pleasure to present you with this medal. I have presented many in my life, but never with so much pleasure as to day. I am sorry to know that a period of nearly twenty-five years have elapsed since you were in the engagements for which the medal is now given, and also that so many are dead who were entitled to the same decoration, but never received it. ’ Sergeant-Major Mark, late of. the 99th Begiment, now sergeant-major in the 2nd Warwickshire Militia, served in the 99th Begiment two years, and in 1845 and 1846 was present at the storming of the Kawiti’s pah at Ohacwai on July 1, 1845, and destruction of the Sanu on July 10. Again at the destruction of Arratuaus pah on July 16, also at the capture and destruction of Kawiti’s pah at Buapekapeka in January, 1846. At the storming of Kawiti’s pah at Ohaeawai on July 1, 1845, he carried his wounded brother, Sergeant David Mark, late of the 99th Begiment, off the field, and also assisted in taking two officers to the rear, both Wounded. The sergeant-major is in possession of the medal for good conduct and long service. A New Zealand Warrior in Trouble. ►—William Nox*ris, 30 years of age, was recently brought up in custody before the Lord Mayor, charged with obtaining money by false pretences. Mr Hayden attended from the War Office to prosecute. The prisoner had been a soldier in the 43rd Begiment, with which he had served in New Zealand, and he had obtained a medal. He was discharged in 1866, and in July, 1868, he joined the army reserve force, being enrolled by Captain Bruce, the staff officer of pensioners of the 2nd North London District. On that occasion he was paid £1 enrolment money, and 15s bounty. By the agreement he also received 15s a quarter, the condition being that at any time during a period of five years he should join his regiment if required to do so. The bounty, Captain Bruce said, had since been increased to 4d a day. On December 16, 1868, the prisoner was again enrolled by Col. Pigott, the staff officer of pensioners of the East London District, and was paid another £1 and bounty, and three days afterwards he was again enrolled in the reserve by Staff Sergeant Bleach, of the Woolwich District, and was paid £1 5s 9d. In each of these districts he had called for payment of the quarterly bounty, and in consequence of the recurrence of the same name and description the fraud was discovered at the War Office, and orders were issued to pay him no more money and to give him into custody. At the Woolwich District he had not called for his bounty since June, 1870. The Lord Mayor committed him to take his trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Coal.— A seam of wliat is said to be * ( true coal” has been found at Kaitangata, in the province of Otago, six feet thick. Wanganui. —The “ Chronicle” is informed that letters have been received from the Bev Mr Neville, stating that he will not be able to be in Wanganui before Christmas next. As another local item of news, the same paper states that the Provincial Government has received a counter petition to the petition praying that Wanganui should be constituted a municipality. 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. 'I am, Sir, yours truly, Heney Allpass.— To the proprietors of NobtoTS Camomile Pills.

The Museum will not be open to the public this evening (Saturday), 23rd instant, as the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute takes place on that date, to which members only are admitted. The annual address to the members of the Institute will, on that occasion, be delivered by bis Excellency the Governor. Iron Ore Furnaces. —An invention which may be of considerable importance in connection with the enterprise of utilising the Taranaki sand, is being shown in the International Exhibition in London Mr C. W. Siemens exhibits a model of his regenerative gas furnaces for producing cast steel from iron ore directly. Perhaps it is as well to explain what a regenerator is, so that readers may not imagine that it is a theological term. It is simply a chamber under a furnace for storing up the heat which is usually wasted by being allowed to escape up the chimney. They are made of fire brick, and in this case are four—two being employed in receiving and storing up the heat, which remains in the waste gases after leaving the furnace, and the other two giving up the heat, which they have previously received, to the gas coming from the produce and to the air required for burning it. The results are, that the gases which usually escape up the chimney are generally not above 300 Eahr., while by means of the regenerators the furnace can be heated to an indefinite extent. Besides this accumulatiou of heat in. a gaseous jorrn, the fuel is freed from all its earty impurities. Mr Siemens claims by his process that a just equalisation, of quality can be obtained, to the economisation of labor and fuel. Taxing Absentees. —The question of taxing absentees lias again cropped up. in the Victorian Parliament, Mr Zeal urging that there was a good precedent in the practice adopted in the mother country. For example, if a person in the colony invested a sum of money in English funds, he would have to pay an income tax to the Imperial Government before he could draw the proceeds ; and the same with the colonial shareholders of the English banks in the colony. Mr Duffy confesses that be, with, no doubt, many others, has been desirous of fiuding some method of reaching the absentees with large incomes; but he had not been able to find a precedent for legislation in any country. The Missing Nelson Fishermen.— A search party was seut out by the Government on Sunday, to discover if possible traces of the missing men ; but they have returned without finding anything beyond some further fragments of the boat. They carefully searched along the shore from the Babbit Island to the Moutere Bluffs.

The Muedee of Two Victoeians at Tanna. —By way of New Caledonia, particulars have been received from Tanna, one of the New Hebrides, of the murder by tbe natives of two young men, Mr James Eraser Bell, and Mr William Abater Boss, who not long ago seetled in the island as cotton planters. Mr Bell was brother of Mr Henry Bell, and nephew of the late Mr W. M. Bell, of the firm of Messrs Bell and Buchanan of this city, and Mr Boss was nephew of Mr Monro, accountant, his other relatives resident at Geelong. Mr was formerly a clerk in the National Bank, Melbourne. Abo. it two years ago he joined Dr Dana,, a relative of Captain Dana, police magistrate, in the purchase of the steamer Gem, in which they proceeded to the New Hebrides, where Mr Bell established a cotton plantation. He afterwards came to Melbourne on account of sickness, and had just returned to Tanna a few days before he set out on his journey in the course of which he was murdered. It is impossible to guess the motives of his murderers, as he was a great favorite with tbe natives, and never hesitated about trusting them unreservedly. He had fifty of them employed on his estate, and it would appear that tbe murderers belonged to a tribe to whom he was a stranger. The P. and O. Company. —The last homeward P. and O. mail steamer takes with her the formal notice of the Government of Victoria that the contract with the P. and O. Company for the conveyance of the European and Indian .mails will not be continued after the expiry of the agreement, two years hence. All the other colonies had previously given notice similar in purport. The fact that all the colonies will be free from liability to the P. and O. Company, will facilitate cooperation in any new arrangement that may be deemed desirable. Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation, and in many cases laying the foundation for Oounsumption 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 l the 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 *