News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 44, 25 November 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

The Wellington and Masterton Railway.— Only a few days ago Mr Fox announced the intention of the Government to apply themselves to the carrying out of the great works which the Parliament had entrusted to them with a diligence and singleness of purpose which they hoped would insure the success of the schemes and the consequent benefit and prosperity of the country. He might, without immodesty, have appended the words, “ with expedition and despatch,” for the echo of his speech has barely faded when we are informed that the contract for the Wellington and Masterton line has been signed, and that an actual commencement of the works is to be made in three weeks. This may fairly be looked upon as a fruitful result to the labors of our representatives, who, by the bestowal of unremitting care and attention on the business of the House, have a very gratifying account to lay before their constituents as the result of the legislative duties of the session. The Next Session. —A rumor has obtained currency during the last daj r or two to the effect that the Government had definitely decided on holding the next session of Parliament in Dunedin. There could have been no reliable ground for such a statement, as the Government have not yet entertained the matter further than to instruct the Colonial Architect to visit Dunedin to ascertain whether the accommodation at the disposal of the authorities there is adequate to the requirements of the Legislature and the Government. It is very probable, however, bearing in mind the determined and persistent action of the House of Representatives, that the next session of Parliament will be held in the City of the South, if it be at all possible to make suitable arrangements. The Luna. —It is definitely settled that the. Luna will leave for Wanganui on Monday next, at 7 p.m. She will convey his Excellency the Governor, Lady Bowen, and suite, the Hon D. M‘Lean (Minister in attendance), his Honor the Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, and several members of the General Assembly and Provincial Council. Mr Andrew, M.H.R. —We have received information from the Wairarapa that a requisition to Mr Andrew to resign his seat in the House of Representatives is in course of circulation and is likely to be extensively signed. We trust Wanganui will not remain passive under the infliction of Mr Bryce. Justice of the Peace. —Patrick Alphonsus Buckley, Esq., has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace for the colony. Trade Marks.— Arthur John Burrs and Co, of Mosgiel and Dunedin, in the Province of Otago, Woollen Manufacturers, have applied to register the following trade mark, viz :—“ A. J. Burns and Co, Mosgiel.” It is to be imprinted in ink of any color upon every yard of woollen cloth or other goods, and upon the inside or wrong side of the goods manufactured by the said A. J- Burns and Co. We understand that the drapery stock of Messrs Turnbull, Reeves and Co, has been sold by tender to Messrs Ross and Glendinning, Dunedin ; and we also hear that our townsman, Mr James Smith, Te Aro House, as soon as the stock changed hands, purchased from it largely for cash, and we trust advantageously. The balance of stock will be forwarded to Dunedin. The removal of so large and varied a stock from this market must be felt a great inconvenience to many of our shop keepers. Death of Captain Sedcole.— All the vessels in harbor displayed the ensign at half-mast on Sunday as a mark of respect to the memory of one of our oldest, most enterprising, and most respected coasting traders, Captain Sedcole, late of the schooners Shepherdess and Enterprise, whose death we have to chronicle to day. As the result of prudence, thrift, and rigid business habits, Captain Sedcole was surely, though by slow steps, providing for himself and family a comfortable provision for the requirements of advanced age. After many years trailing to and from the coast ports, he had, by gaining the confidence of those with whom business had brought him into contact, so far increased his business that the old Shepherdess was no longer sufficiently capacious for the requirements of the business carried on by himself and his partner, Captain Mowlem. About a year ago the two left for Sydney on the look-out for a more suitable vessel, and after an inspection of the coasting craft of the neighboring colonies the result was the purchase of the Enterprise, which vessel Captain Sedcole sailed to the time

of her last trip, when he was suddenly laid up by illness. Captain Mowlemtook charge of the vessel during the, next voyage to the Kaikouras, it being thought or hoped that Captain Sedcole would be sufficiently recovered to assume the command on her return. These hopes did not receive verification, his illness having assumed a more serious phase, culminating on Sunday in death. During his long connection the deceased gentleman had made very many warm friends in many of our coast towns, as well as in Wellington. The inhabitants generally of the latter place shared deeply in the feeling expressed in the circumstance noted in the opening sentence of this paragraph. City Eating. —Appeals against the valuation for the year will be heard on Saturday next between the hours of twelve and on« <*’ "1* Peeress. —At a sale of thoroughbreds held in Christchurch last Saturday a bona fide bid of £525 was made for the winner of the Canterbury Cup, but the owner refused to allow her to be sold at less than £6OO, which, considering her performances, unexceptional breeding and quality, may be considered very reasonable. We may mention that Peeress arrived here in the Taranaki. Wrecked Cargo. —On the last trip of the Go-a-Head Captain Doilo called at Kapiti, in accordance with instructions received by telegraph from Wellington, for the purpose of bringing away some of the cargo of the Mosquito. The owner of the latter vessel, however, refused to part with any portion of the cargo until freight was paid upon it. Under these circumstances Captain Doile continued his course, not having accomplished the desire of those who wished to recover possession of their property. The Battle of the Gauges. —The Legislative Council of Victoria amended the Kail way Bill in favor of the wide gauge by a large majority. Sabbath Desecration. —A deputation of anti-Sabbatarians recently waited upon the Chief Secretary of Victoria, Mr Duffy, with a petition containing 20,000 signatures. Crime in N.S.W.—There were no less than six cases of murder for trial at the last Bathurst assizes, New South Wales. Australian Sugar. —Sugar is arriving largely from the northern districts of New South Wales. A Hairless Horse. —A perfectly hairless wild horse has been caught in the MTntyre district, Australian territory. Pish. —An extraordinary unknown fish, weighing over a ton, has been caught at Manly, New South Wales. The curator of the museum pronounces it to be the largest sunfish ever known. Teaducer and his Stock. —It ought to be some satisfaction to the breeders of thoroughbred stock in this district (Wanganui “ Herald”) toknow that the Traducer family is carrying everything before it in Canterbury, the Epsom of the colony. The Btockofthis horse maybe known by their names, which humorous!}' bear a moral relation to each other. Last year Envy won the Christchurch Derby. This year it has been won by Defamation, with Detraction second. The Criterton Stakes were won by Slander; the Maiden Plate by Defamation ; the Free Handicap by Envy ; the Kailway Plate by Defamation, and the Metropolitan Handicap by Envy. This is a splendid performance for the Traducer family, and we congratulate Mr Walker upon the achievements of his horse’s produce. Governor General of Canada. —The “ Scottish American Journal,” published in New York, suggests that the Marquis of Lorn should be appointed to the high office of Governor-General of Canada, as “ Scotchmen abound in the Dominion, the Campbells are numerous, and the Marquis is sure to be popular.” The “ New York Herald” publishes a Canadian telegram stating that the Dominion Government has been informed that it is the intention of the Home Government to appoint the Marquis of Lorn to the post. The telegram adds that the Marquis and Princess are expected to arrive at Montreal early in October. Salmon in Otago. —A telegram informs us that a salmon has been seen in the Clutha river, near Cromwell, Otago. Mr W. H. Shepard’s Estate. —A stormy meeting of the creditors of the late Mr Shepard, coach proprietor, has been held at Wanganui. Mr Farrah, who had been deputed to make a visit to Wellington to investigate matters on behalf of the creditors, having informed the meeting that he had accomplished nothing beyond ascertaining that the estate had been vested in Mr Brown, the Curator of Intestate Estates, and that he himself had been deputed to manage the estate on behalf of Mr Brown and the creditors, he was requested to withdraw from the meeting. This Mr Farrah reluctantly did, whereupon the meeting proceeded to appoint Mr Wright to manage the line of coaches. Mr Farrah was again permitted to appear upon the scene of turmoil, and having complained of being placed in a false position by having his appointment rescinded, he made certain charges against the chairman (Mr W. Finnimore) which were stigmatised by that gentleman as

“base lies.” Personal exchanges of this sort were then put a stop to by the meeting, but the equability of those present seems to have been much disturbed, for the rest of the business was performed in a very topsey-turvcy manner. A motion having been duly proposed and seconded, “ That the chairman forward the minutes of this meeting to the Curator, with a request that he should wind up the Estate as speedily as possible,” the following amendment was proposed, “ That the minute of last meeting, as regards the appointment of Mr Farrah as agent, be ratified and confirmed ” This latter was carried, and the meeting having satisfied itself that its own interests had been well attended to in the appointment of two managers or agents, voted £lO for Mr Farrah’s expenses to Wellington and broke up.

Sugar Culture. —A new industry is being commenced at Sava Sava, in Fiji, namely, the growth of sugar. Canes have been planted, and crushing machinery ordered. Telegraph with Auckland. — The contract for the erection of the telegraph line from Kati Kati to the Thames has bee taken, all obstacles to the execution of this the last link in. the chain of telegraphic communication with Auckland, having been removed. An Adenda. —A few significant words were accidentally omitted from that portion of Councillor Moss’s utterances at the City Council relating to the borrowing of the money. In stating that the money could be obtained cheaper by going away from home he also informed his Worship that although the money could be obtained cheaper out of the place there would be commission and exchange to be added, which would make the interest equal to the amount at which it could be obtained in Wellington. Mr Halcombe at Tauranga. —Mr Halcombe has been at Tauranga for some daysinspecting the block between Te Pana river and Katikati,. containing about 150,000 acres purchased bv the Government in 1865, during the Fox-Whitaker Ministry. One of the boundaries of this valuable block actually reaches the summit of the Aroha mountain at the Thames. The want of individualising of the titles to Tauranga lands lias been a stumbling block to the promotion of settlement in this important district. Had the Whitaker and Fox Ministry remained any length of time in power, Tauranga would, years ago, have been settled, and the place, which is at present a wild wilderness, would have been dotted with thriving and flourishing homesteads. Mr W. A. Thomson’s Lecture on Life Assurance. —Mr Thomson, agent and lecturer to the Australian Mutual Provident Society, has been lecturing at Greytown, Masterton, and Carterton. At Masterton, 11. Bannister, Esq, occupied the chair. After explaining life assurance and its origin, Mr Thomson made a comparison between existing offices, advo eating the Mutual, and illustrating its success by numerous diagrams, one showing the reduction of premiums by bonuses to blank in twenty years. Another, showing that if this bonus or profit be added to the policy, the value increases to more than double in twenty years. Another diagram, the longevity at various lives from childhood to old age, proving that the longest age from which life may be expected is seven, for De Morgans says we may lay an even wager one to one that a child of seven years will see forty-two years and six months. He showed that if a properly-conducted mutual office were to close its doors at any time the premiums of ensured would be sufficient to pay out every life with interest, and also pay working expenses. He quoted from the “ Insurance Keview,” a journa that has carefully watched the proceedings of existing offices. In speaking of the Australian Mutual Provident Society it said, “ The present position of this Society with its clearness of accounts, vigor of management, and economy of expenditure, seems to us to be the most creditable to all, who have been concerned in bringing it toitspresentprosperousstate. The “ Commercial World,” also an insurance journal, believed it would surpass the famous old equitable society of London, and that the clear and succinct manner in which the business and accounts are detailed furnishes a capital model for all other offices to follow. He stated that the reversionary bonuses declared by this Society amounted to £485.000, and that the invested capital was £831,000. with a reserve fund 0f£50,000. At the conclusion the lecturer was asked numerous questions in reference to the society. Many con verts were made, and the meeting terminated after the usual vote of thanks for the lecturer and chairman. Cricket Match. —H. M. S. Basilisk being in Lyttelton harbor, advantage was taken of the opportunity of playing a game with an eleven of the officers and crew. A very strong eleven was selected to play against the visiting team, and the Christchurch club were victorious. The visitors had a very fair eleven, but, owing to the want of practice, they did not do so well as they would otherwise have done; nevertheless, some of their eleven played very

well. The Christchurch club were first to take the field, and succeeded in disposing of their opponents for 52 runs. Messrs Werry, Vivian, and Smith obtained double figures. After luncheon the Basilisk eleven took the field, but were not so successful as their opponents, as, at the fall of the last wicket, the club had put together a total of 98. Telegraphy. —The following interesting paragraph is copied from the “ Overland Ceylon Times “ According to the ‘Daily Telegraph’ slip, the time occupied in the transmission of messages from the United Kingdom and India is as under, difference of longitude being allowed for —Yia Kussia, 5 hours 7 minutes ; via Turkey,' 12 hours 48 minutes ; via Suez, 8 hours 33 minutes.” Protection. —As a result of the protectionist tariff in the United States, a San Francisco paper says that a suit of ordinary clothes costs fifty dollors in gold in that city, while a better suit may be got in London for fifteen dollars. Criminal Treatment. —Canterbury is setting a good example in dealing with criminals, youthful or adult. In addition to a reformatory for boys the provincial authorities have provided a gaol for females, entirely separate from the gaol into which male offenders are received. New Zealand Geography. —A letter received in Christchurch by the last mail, bore the following genuine and charmingly ambiguous address :—Mr George Cole, Post office, Middle Island, New Zealand, or elsewhere.” It is almost needless to say that the letter reached its destination. Kifle Shooting. —Mr P. O. Wilson, of the Port Chalmers Naval Brigade, in firing for places in the forthcoming match with the north Dunedin Kifl.es, made the remarkably fine score of 55 out of a possible 60, with a medium rifle, at ranges of 400, 500, and 600 yards. Scarlatina. —It is said that scarlatina, in a very malignant form, has presented itself at the Buller. Extraordinary Feat. —Pedestrianism seems to be the order of the day at Kenwickton, in Otago. Tom Carr, a man of fifty-five years of age, has taken up a challenge which exceeds any of the achievements of Edwards’s which have yet been heard of. Tom is to walk 144 miles in 36 hours. He is to commence his task on Monday next, at 6 a.m., and finish at 6 p.m.onthe following day. A Large Yessel. —The Spain, the largest vessel ever built in the Mersey, has just been launched. She can carry 1570 passengers. Fijian Industry. —The manufacture of ice has been added to the local industries ofLevuka. Gold Export. —The Bank of New Zealand shipped from Grcymouth the other day 17790zs lOdwts, and the Bank of Australasia 9600zs ldwt, 15grs of gold by the Alhambra. Wanganui Bridge. —The “ Chronicle” says there will be abundance of time to prepare for the opening of the bridge, as telegrams from Wellington now intimate that the Governor will not leave for Wanganui until Modday the 27th, arriving here about 10 o’clock on Tuesday the 28th. Next day (Wednesday), the 29th, will be fixed for the ceremony of opening the Bridge, and on Thursday his Excellency will likely proceed up the river, which lie has expressed a wish to do. The public are even now waiting anxiously to have the use of the bridge; it is perfectly fit and ready for traffic; and there ia always something tantalising to the public in being forbidden to use what is not only necessary and right, but intended for public use. A settler having cattle to cross cannot be made to see that ho should waste time and patience in punting them across the river, when there is a fine bridge on which they may be driven with the greatest ease. In a few days, too, the wool will begin to come in, so that, in almost every point of view, it is a pit}' that the formal opening could not have taken place this week. Away from Home for News. —The “ Greymouth Star” says:—We received the following telegram this afternoon from Greville’s agent, dated Wellington, but the news comes, of course, late to us, being so near Hokitika, from whence the intelligence is received in the first instance. The message reads:—“Hokitika —Party found 670 z nugget, Greenstone, last week found another 20oz. Kush set in. Cummings, cattle driver, supposed drowned in Teremakau.” Export of Butter. —Among the exports by the Beth Shan from Auckland to London were 311 casks of butter weighing in the aggregate 26,2801b5. A Kepoeter’s Sympathy. —During the season 1840-41, I had the gratification of restoring another of our glorious old English comedies to the modern stage —• Beaumont and Fletcher’s “ Spanish Curate and in the following, and last season of Madame Vestris’s management, the pleasure of reviving my English version of the opera of “ Norma” for the first appearance of Adelaide Kemble, now Mrs Sartoris. While superintending the production of Knowles’ “John of Pro cida,” I met with an accident, which I i only mention for the sake of a character-

ise anecdote in connection with it. In passing from the stage into the pit over some planks that had been placed for the purpose of our going to and fro to see the effect of the scenery, ono of them slipped, and, falling on the back of a pit seat, I broke a rib, and was consequently confined to my house for about a fortnight. On my first visit to the theatre afterwards I crawled out to get some luncheon at the Garrick, and, returning to the theatre at a very slow pace, I met under the piazza one of the reporters of the “ Morning Herald,” with whom I was slightly acquainted. He stopped me, and remarked upon the alteration in my appearance, and the difficulty I seemed to have in walking. I explained to him the cause, upon which he exclaimed, “ God bless me ! How sorry I am I never heard of it 1” I was both touched and surprised by the evident interest he took in the matter, considering we knew so little of each other, and was about to express my appreciation of his sympathy, when before I could speak he added, “It would have made such a capital paragraph !”- Kccollections by J. K. Planche, in London Society. A Valuable Cow. —Mr John Page, of Christchurch and Woodend, is the fortunate owner of a cow which has presented him during the last three years with no less than six calves—four heifers and two bulls, two on each occasion. Such an animal is worth showing at the Agricultural Exhibition, especially if her progeny can be shown along with her, and Mr Page is in a position to do that. The cow is of no particular breed, but is described bv her owner as a good, useful, and profitable dairy cow of large frame. Canterbury Museum. —We take the following from a description, in Land and Water, of the museum in Canterbury, England:—“ln the little room, on the bottom shelf, are two heads of New Zealanders. The tatoo marks on the skin are very neatly cut, and show the progress of ‘ science and art’ in that far distant country. One of the heads has straight, the other curly hair. Tatooed New Zealanders’ heads are now very rare. In former times the natives could get good prices for the heads of their friends, enemies, or relations. They dried the skin with the hair on in a most clever manner, and I wish I knew how it was done. Captain Cook, I believe, first brought in the fashion of having a New Zealander’s head as a curiosity, hut at the present time these people are more civilised, and no longer cut off and sell each other’s head. These heads, therefore, at Canterbury, are valuable. I should say their market price would be about £lO each. Insects have bored holes into the skin of the face of one of them. The heads, therefore, should be washed with bi-chloride of mercury, and be put in air-tight glass cases near the weapons from New Zealand. They are too good to be put out of sight.” Prisoners of War.— The “ Hawke’s Bay Telegraph” says the whole of the Maori prisoners now in Dunedin gaol, are to be liberated at Christmas next. The Government have given a distinct promise to this effect. The Tichboiine Case. —The “ Yass Courier” says : —On Saturday last Mr Cox arrived in Yass with his family, on his way to Sydney, to take passage by the next overland steamer for England, as a witness in the Tichborne case. Of course, the important pocket-book was in his possession. He started from this town by the mail on Sunday. As showing the enormous cost connected with this, we may state that the arrangement made with Mr Cox is that he shall receive one guinea a day fromlhe day he started from home, that his passage is to bo paid firstclass by overland steamer, and that all his expenses for a three months’ stay in England are to be defrayed. Cox is secured to give evidence by the barrister employed on the part of the defendant to the suit, and we understand that he is expected to prove something else in addition to producing the famous pocket-book. We understand that Mr Cox was told that if he did not accept the offer made a subpoena would issue compelling his attendance as a witness, and he wisely chose to undertake the voyage on the terms proposed. Gold Yield. l —The month’s yield of gold at the Thames amounted to 15,155 ounces, from 8080 tons of stone. Of this the Caledonian claim yielded 4740 ounces, the All Nations 1105, and the Nonpareil 850. ~ 2000 ounces were obtained from tailings. Acclimatisation. At the monthly meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, held on November 6, Mr Earle stated that he expected a shipment of salmon ova would be made from England to the Society about the end of this month or the beginning of December. At first there would be but one box sent, which was to be followed by two or three otherp. The ova would be sent on to Liverpool, to either the office of the Inman or Cunard Co., and would be stored in the icehouse there until a ship was ready to sail for New York. The ova would then cross the continent of America at the coldest season of the year, and, on their arrival

at San Francisco, would be placed in an icehouse, waiting an opportunity to be forwarded here by the mail steamers, on board which the ova would be kept in the iceroom. He had made arrangements with Messrs Collie, Stewart and Co to take care of the box of ova on its arrival in San Francisco, and he has had no doubt but they would do so, and that there was a reasonable hope that, in a short time, there would be plenty of salmon in the New Zealand riyurs. The Late Bev J. Atkin.— The Bev J. Atkin, the fellow martyr of Bishop Patteson, is stated by the Taranaki Herald to have been the son of Mr H. Atkin of Kohimarama, near Auckland, and to have been about 28 years of age. The Timber Trade.— Six small craft arrived at Lyttelton on the 6th inst. witli 216.000 feet of timber. Fresh Discovery of Coal. —Intelligence has reached Christchurch of the discovery of a seam of coal at Ashley Gorge, on one of the branches of the Ashley Biver. Specimens of this coal have been brought to Christchurch, and it is said to be of good quality. Newcastle, N.3.W. The average amount of coal exported annually for the last three years from Newcastle, New South Wales, has been, in round numbers, 700,000 tons.. Poverty Bay. —Poverty Bay is going ahead. Shops and dwellings are going up in all directions, the erection of a schoolhouse has been commenced, and a newspaper will be started there before long. The new Court House Wanganui Mr B. W. Woon, on the conclusion ©f the ordinary business of the Court on Wednesday last, said that as he saw the Press represented, he thought it behoved him to say a few words on the opening of the new Court House. The people of Wanganui had great reason to be proud of the noble edifice which had been erected i for the dispensation of justice in these districts. He regretted that the Court had not been formally opened, as it was an honor to the place, and he considered that the Hon Mr Fox and the General and Provincial Governments deserved the thanks of all who were interested in the advancement of the town and district He hoped to see the Market Place now p-operly laid off, so as to be in keeping with the building which stands on it. Naseby Loyalty. —On the Prince of Wales’ birthday, according to the “Chronicle” “not a single flag was displayed in Naseby, Otago, and the day passed off just as though there was no such thing as royalty or royal princes in the world, or if there were, that the people did not care anything about them. The New Zealand Medal.— The “ Wanganui Herald” is exceedingly irate at the manner of awarding the war medal. It says Are the Commissioners to blame that many who never heard a shot fired in earnest have obtained the honor P However, this is not the worst part of the business. We find that the recipients are in the company of rank Hauhaus, cannibals, and the worst scoundrels in the whole island. Here is an instance. TeWepiha was present at the murder of the Bev Mr Yolkner, and was the man appointed to sell by auction the effects of the murdered man, a duty which he performed with horrid levity, amidst the grins and howls of his infuriated cannibal confreres. This same IVcpiha has claimed, and his claim is acknowledged and gazetted for the New Zealand War Medal. Here is honorable company to be in. The reward of bravery, loyalty, and fidelity to the colony shall dangle at the breast of one of the most degraded of the savages who have been revelling in the blood of the colonists. After this there could not be any consistent objection made to To Kooti having the medal. The Boating Season at Canterbury. —Canterbury is great in sports and shows. Whether for the support of horticultural shows, race meetings, poultry fails, agiicultural exhibitions, horse racing, or boating prizes, in all of which she stands preeminent amongst her sister provinces, her inhabitants deal out their donations with a liberal hand. In view of the coming boating contest, in which nearly every province in the colony will be represented, considerable preparation is being made by the members of the clubs, which is only equalled by the enthusiasm of the citizens. During the recent visit of Lady Bowen, a boat procession took place on the Avon, of which the “Lyttelton Times” supplies the following notice:—Lady Bowen and a select party of ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom we noticed Mrs Bolleston, Mrs Studholme, Mrs Stevens, Miss Collins (Nelson), his Honor the Superintendent, Mr Harman (DeputySuperintendent), Mr E. C. J. Stevens, and Mr G. L. Lee, bad in the meantime taken up a position on the terrace at the saluting base, which afforded a commanding view of the river. During the progress of the procession, both down stream and on the return journey, her Ladyship displayed great interest in the rowing of the various crews, and frequently made pleasurable comment on the general appearance of the display. The boats proceeded down the pver until the six-oar, which, by the by,

was evenly rowed, bad passed Staumore bridge, when each craft was turned in its own water, and the procession pulled back in reverse order. On arrival at the saluting base, the whole of the flotilla formed line with the six-oar in the centre, and taking the command from the Marshal, gave the aquatic salute “ peak oars” with even greater precision than on the opening day of the season. Three hearty cheers were then given for Lady Bowen ; and the Marshall having issued the orders “ Down, all,” “ Disperse,” the boats proceeded back to the sheds, and the proceedings closed. As a memento of the occasion, her Ladyship condescended to select “Ilissus” as a name to be conferred on the new four-oar boat shortly to arrive from England to the order of the Canterbury Club. Vicissitude.— A life of vicissitude is sketched in the following paragraph from the “ Bendigo Advertiser —“ In a fraud summons case —Eyre v. Cook —heard on Thursday in the Sandhurst County Court, an extraordinary statement was made by the judment debtor respecting his past career in this and the old country. In 1 reply to the solicitor for the creditor, ho said during his lifetime he had adopted multitudinous methods of earning a living, , from an omnibus conductor to following a Bothschild’s hounds; and though at one time living in perfect affluence, he was now reduced to indigence. Some years after his arrival in the colony he was very successful in mining speculations, and became possessed of property to the value of £20,000; but of this fortune be lost every farthing. At one time, he said, he was the heaviest shareholder and a director in the Catherine United Company, a company the value of which in the market at the present time is about £150,000 ; in fact, he was the founder of the company, as well as the one which preceded it, viz., the Catherine Beef Claimholders’ Association, and it was through his instrumentality that Mr Eyre, his brother-in-law, had been appointed manager. Within the last six months he had not earned more than £6, and during that time he has been living with his sister, supported by her husband. Mr Liddle, for the plaintiff, said the defendant was given to drink, and made no effort to pay Mr Eyre, who had supported his wife and family for a considerable time, and he asked the Court to make an order for the payment of the amount due, £243, or send him to gaol. Judge Macoboy, however, held that no fraud had been proved, and dismissed the summons. Government Telegrams. —lt may be interesting to know that the number of Government telegrams sent from Wanganui last year was 2,806, representing in value £594 17s 6d. The Gale at Wanganui.— The gale that raged in Wanganui last week has been most devastating in its effects. The salt spray carried by the wind has ruined almost all the vegetation in the district exposed to its action. Many promising gardens and orchards, the pride of many a cottage home, present a saddening aspect, choice plants and shrubs being shrivelled up and killed by the spray. The last gale of the kind in March last did much towards destroying the fruit crop and this storm has completed the work. Wc have not heard of any greivous damage in the town. Mr G. Walker’s tobacconist’s shop, at]the corner of the Avenue and the Quay, felt the full force of the gale. The shutters on one aide were torn down, about 5 a.ra. on Sunday, and the iron bar securing them bent like the letter S. Every window in the town in the direction of the gale was coated with a thin crust of salt. Cool. —The “ Argus” says, the watchhouse keeper at the Sandridge Police station was the victim of one of the coolest tricks ever perpetrated by a drunken man. Two men named Thomas Southing and John Logan were lodged in the lock-up for drunkeuness. Upwards of £lB was removed from the former when he was arrested. As soon as he recovered his sobriety he applied to be liberated on bail, and the lock-up keeper agreed to release himon conditionthatbedeposited £lO as security for his reappearance. While he was performing his ablutions preparatory to taking his departure, his companion in misfortune coolly walked up to the constable in charge and applied for the balance of the £lB, remarking that he wanted to be off. Not doubting for a moment that it was Southing who was addressing him, thelock-up keeper handed over the money, and, obtaining a receipt for it, allowed the wrong man to go free. Shortly afterwards the owner of the money presented himself, but it was some time before he could convince the constable that he had been imposed upon. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Logan. The sl2 Watch, No. 13.580, purchased from Cbas. P. Norton & Co. 86 Nassau street, New York, January sth, lias been carried by me over six months, with a total variation in time of only 26 seconds, without the slightest regulating, and presents the same brilliancy of color as when purchased. —JAB. R. WTLSON, Sec. American S. M. Co. N. Y., New York, July 30th, 1870.

/ A Wandering Legislature.— The “Southern Cross” shows. weighty reasons against peripatetic Parliaments, and remarks “ Although not ostensibly emanating from the Provincial party, such a result as that witnessed in the House of Bepresentatives shows unmistakeably the ascendancy which private and local interests can command when pitted against the broader general interest of the whole colony. Much as the conduct of public affairs might bebenefitted by a permanent change, it seems beyond question that the expense and confusion resulting would far more than counterbalance any possible good derivable from such a singular arrangement as a wandering Legislature. Mr Duffy’s Defence.— ln reply to a constantly reiterated charge, that of Mr Gavin Duffy being a “rebel,” as based on the action he took in Ireland twenty-five years ago, he made the following manly and noble reply :—“ About a quarter of a century ago, when he was living in his native country, there died in that small island more men, women and children than inhabited the whole of this continent, though the country produced enough food for them all. There were iu that country a number of young men who felt that they would rather die than look on without attempting to aid their country. Most of those men, whom he was proud to have been associated with, were either dead or scattered through the world, and wherever they went they figured as men of honor and capacity, loved by the countries where they lived and died. . . • He left his native country and his seat in the House of Commons, and if he had not preferred his fidelity, his convictions, and the interests of his native country to personal profit, he might have gone to a British colony as its Governor. One of the party of which he was a member had gone out in that capacity ; some were made Judges, some Ministers of state; offices, in fact, were scattered amongst them. He could not hope that his life would be a long one, and there were few who could look back upon a past career with more shortcomings; but he might say it without fear and without impiety, that when called upon to meet the Judge of all men, he should not be ashamed to answer for anything that he had done during his Irish career. He did what he believed to be for the good of his country and his people. He was not ashamed of anything he had done in the associations with which be had been connected, and the recollection of which he would not part with for anything that parliaments or sovereigns could give or take away.” The Wellington Debts Act.— The “ Wanganui Chronicle of the 18fch, in speaking of this act, has the following observations “The province of Wellington owes certain debts which must be paid. The General Government cannot permit tdem to be either repudiated or unpaid. Many of these debts of small amount, are owing to comparatively poor men, who suffer from the want of the money. It is most desirable to have them paid at once, and the General Government brings in a bill to enable, them to do so. The bill is objected to, and it is objectional in so far as it props up provincialism for a short time longer, but it lias the recommendation of letting certain debts be paid, which must be paid sooner or later, and the sooner is greatly preferable to the later. The settlers of the province of Wellington cannot escape the pa} 7 meut of the debts, and, after all, what has to be done had better, as w r e have seen, be done quickly. Besides, some arrangements must be made for transferring the functions of provincialism elsewhere, before it is ended, and no such arrangements have not yet been proposed. The French Visitors to Ireland. — A ludicrous scene is thus amusingly depicted by the “Pall Mall Gazette:” — “Nottheleast uncomfortable circumstance in connection with th&proceedings of Lhe Irish with regard to Msc French deputa tion is themysterious scene which occurred at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. After the deputation had had their luncheon, and the procession had formed opposite the hotel, Count Flavigny appeared on the balcony and said, ‘ I thank you with all my heart for your kindness, and it you will take the lead we will follow.’ Count O’Neill then appears to have ejaculated, * People of Ireland, we will not forget your kind reception. Vivo la France, vice Vlrlande ! ’ upon which Mr Martin made his appearance on the balcony, and gesticulating wildly, said, ‘ March on, march on, and we will follow.’ In consequence of the cheering, it is stated, Mr Martin could not be heard, ‘ hut the people understood him.’ This docs great credit to the sharpness of the people. It is evident that botb he and Count Flavigny were anxious to go somewhere and do something, but that neither of them was anxious to take the lead, each urging the other to go first. Count Flavigny, with a true spirit of chivalry, waived his right as a guest in favor of Mr Martin, who, on the other hand, not to be outdone in courtesy, declined the proffered honor and by shrieks and gesticulation, ex pressed the pain he would feel at being compelled to take precedence of the count.

Count O’Neill seems to have acted with singular wisdom, and by crying Vive la France , vice Vlrlande ! evidently sug gested!thatMr Martin and Count Flavigny should jump together.” A Horse Killed. —An accident occurred yesterday afternoon, by which a fine animal was killed. The horse having fallen struggled to raise and free himself. The cart then tipped completely over, and swinging the animal up in the air he was caught by the reins round his neck and completely strangled. Butter Export. The “ Lyttelton Times states that the salting down, of butter for exportation is now proceeding very vigorously, and in one cooperage in Christchurch the men are working almost night and day, yet they have been unable to supply the number of butter kegs ordered. Drinking. —There is a world of sad truth in the following letter, which appears in an Auckland contemporary : —Living near me until last night, was a quiet, clean, honest, truthful, hard-working woman. But she has fits of drinking, when she is a devil incarnate —a nuisance to the whole district. Probably she has stripped her home and her back fifty times, for she never gives over drinking, as she says, till “ her duds are all gone.” A policeman had the humanity to beg of each publican in her neighborhood not to give her drink, saying, “ he did not want to take her up, knowing she was an industrious woman.” Of course I need not tell you the result of his appeal. I know a man, too, who rarely returns to his home sober, Sunday or week day. The house he most frequents is kept by an “ intemperate teetotaller.” Where would be the use of his wife trying to convict that publican ? At an hour’s notice he would have ten, twenty witnesses, if necessary, to swear the said man never had a “ drop too much in his house” —that would satisfy our justice* loving Justices of the Peace ! That same man has been a known confirmed inebriate for at least the last ten years in Auckland. But men and women have not only drunk of deep waters, but they have fouled the residue with their feet. Kidnapping. —A Wellington telegram in a contemporary states that the steamer recently reported to be kidnapping in the South Sea is the Wainui, of Dunedin. Bemains of a Maori. SergeantMajor Bezar informs the “ Wanganui Herald” that ho discovered on the 18th at the.back of the Butland Stockade, the skull and bones of a human being. From the formation of the skull (the teeth of which are in excellent preservation) Sergt.Maj'or Bezar conjectures that the remains are those of a Maori; probably one of those concerned in the affair of 1847. A Wonderful City.— Near the foot of the Bocky Mountain midway between Cheynne and Denver, is the city of Greely. Mr St. Clair, the lecturer, about two years ago traversed this country, then a wilderness, in his own carriage, making, his journey bj 7 night to avoid the Indians, and near where Greely now stands was attacked by savages. He says a few weeks ago he landed from the cars at this new city, which boasts of 2000 people, over 400 fine houses, two hotels, two public halls, some twenty stores, and two churches. An irrigating canal of thirty miles, besides the lateral ditches, furnishes water for the town, and miles of fence encloses the city ; alarge grist mill in process of erection indicates a most wonderful energy and success, where, fourteen months ago, never a spade bad been struck or a single hut erected, This seems to be a practical illustration of the principles of co-operation and a community of interest; but perhaps the grand key to this unprecedented success is to be found in the lofty moral tone of the emigrants and settlers. Every person is a property holder, and has a personal interest in the town, while the trustees of the colony will give no deed of any kind of property except with Lhe proviso of forfeit in the case of sales of intoxicating beverages on the premises. As a oonsequence, wc find it is the only village throughout the great North-west, excepting Utah, where exists a prohibitory law. Dram drinker’s bummers, black-legs, and liquor dealers avoid Greely as if it were a pestilence. The skull of the late Mr Grote, the historian of Greece, has, in accordance with his own wish, been opened by Professor Marshall, and, contrary to general belief, the brain has been found to be astonishingly small and of peculiar formation. Where the digestive powers are so weak as to came imperfect Assimilation, and in many cises l iving 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 ! 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. Savoiw & Moore, 143, New Bond Street, London, and all Chemists. Note —Savory & Moore’s name and trade mark on each bottle. April 22 1871. 52w.

Hawke’s Bay Land Sales. —We learn that in the province of Hawke’s Bay the" sales of land by the natives since the passing of the Native Lands Act are 320,000 acres, which were sold for £87,012, about 8s an acre. Acclimatisation. —At the last meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the Curator reported that the ten rooks recently landed were alive and well, but not yet able to fly. Several substantial additions have been erected in the Acclimatisation gardens. A portion of the ponds had been cleared out and laid down in rye grass. The English perch spawn was now hatching in the boxes in countless thousands. The Californian quail at large in the gardens were increasing, and the Wonga Wonga pigeons had made a nest and laid. The Unemployed in Melbourne.—A disturbance took place on the 7th amongst the “unemployed” men doing the Government stroke at the North Carlton quarries. Mr M'Lellan had gone round and discharged about 50 who did not come within the category of persons entitled to the special employment, and he was followed round the place and hooted. At about noon, some of those discharged had a row with some of the piece-work men at a hotel, and a serious fight appearing imminent, the police were sent for. Two constables came, and locked up in the Carlton watchhouse a man named Toohey, employed at piece-work, on a charge of drunkenness, "but further interference was not considered necessary. The Picton Cup.— Private Philpotts has won the Picton Volunteer Company’s Challenge Cup, with a score of fifty-one points. Coromandel. There are whispers abroad, says the “ Southern Cross,” and at the corners, and amongst the sharebrokers, of something very good indeed as likely to come out of Coromandel. Great prospects, it is said, have been obtained out of some of the reefs, which promise returns against which the Caledonian will not bear the slightest comparison. Allotments for commercial stands are being quietly looked up, and shares are held for higher figures. Nothing definite is stated. All at present is speculation, closely enveloped in mystery. There is seldom smoke without fire, and so it is quite possible something may have become known in favor of this district which has not been freely divulged. Result op Drink.—A rather sudden death occurred at the Timaru Hospital on Monday last. The deceased, who was rather an elderly female, named Mundy, but generally known as “Scotch Maggie,” has been ailing some time from paralysis, brought on by a life of intemperance. She was conveyed to the hospital on Monday, and died a short while after being admitted. Municipal Oratory. The newlyelected mayor of Melbourne, Councillor Penwick, was duly installed in office at the annual meeting of the City Council on the 10th inst. His first speech from the mayoral chair was pithy and brief. It was in these words :—“ Gentlemen, —I hope it will be a year of peace.”/ It is to be hoped that the aldermen andcouncillors will form their orations on this model during the new year of office, and accomplish more business with less talk than has been their practice. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring mayor, and ordered to be engrossed and presented to him. Goldmining in Tasmania. —Mr Greig, the legal manager of the City of Hobart Goldmining Company, received a telegram from Campbell Town, stating that the company had just finished a crushing of 137 tons of quartz, the yield from which was not less than ounces of retorted gold. Encouragement to Agriculture.— The sum of £2OOO has been voted by the Legislative Assembly for the National Agricultural Society of Victoria, on condition that the buildings to be erected are approved by the Board of Land and Works, and that they shall be available for other large exhibitions. The Victorian Permissive Bill.— The Permissiveßill was practically shelved for the session by the Legislative Council on the Bth. The hon member representing the Government moved that the second reading be set down for Tuesday, but an amendment deferring the second reading to next Tuesday week, by which time Parliament will in all probability have been prorogued, was carried almost unanimously. Piji. —A state of civil war appears to be the normal condition of things at Eiji. Nobody seems to object to it, and it offers to white residents an opportunity of agreeable variety and a means of diversifying the monotony of island life. The “ Fiji Gazette” reports:—A correspondent from Nandi informs us that Ratu Kini mustered a force of 2600 warriors at Vunda, and started for the Ba River on the 29th of September, and that a re serve force of 3000 men were located at Nadroga, awaiting marching orders. On 2nd October the ascent to the mountains was made under the leadership of Ratu Kini, Sarawalla, Tui Nandi, and Navalu.

On the 7th the town of Nagigo was invested, and a heavy musketry fire was opened upon it, and its early surrender s anticipated. We understand that the assailing party have a large stock of ammunition, and that although assistance had been offered from Bau, it had been declined for the present. Some dozen white men in search of adventure, have also accompanied the expedition. From a more detailed account in a late issue we observe that the form of adventure which these white men prefer is making safe and deliberate shots at the hostile natives at very long ranges, with carfully sighted rifles. Some capital shots are recorded to have been made, occassioning great consternation on one side and warm admiration on the other, but even the pleasing and highly civilised amusement of knocking over natives at 1200 yards in time becomes devoid of interest, and appeared to be loosing all excitement with the adventurers. Bazaarism. —The proceeds of a late bazaar on behalf of the Catholic Orphanage at Geelong, will, it is expected, to amount to £IOOO. The amount realised at one stall alone was £237. Telegraphy. —Mr J. C. Fleming, the representative of the project of telegraphic communication with Europe by way of West Australia, and thence by submarine cable to Java Head, to which we have alluded a few days ago, has received an official reply from the Chief Secretary of Victoria to his proposals. Mr Duffy, declines to undertake the construction of any portion of the work, or to recommend to Parliament so large a subsidy as is proposed for Victoria. He will treat if Mr Fleming can submit what to his Government may seem fair terms. However, before being able to put proposals of a different nature before the Government, Mr Fleming will have to communicate with London. Trial by Jury, —A description of a juror being in the, to jurors, not uncommon condition of mental fog is thus given by the “ Bathurst Times” “In one of the cases tried last sitting a verdict of ‘ Not Guilty’ was given and duly recorded, when one of the jurors exclaimed, with a bewildered look, * Eh! What ? I think the man’s guilty.’ The court was convulsed with laughter, and the jury turned round and confronted each other in blank amazement. For an instant the Crown Prosecutor looked puzzled, and so did the judge. His Honor then said the prisoner had been clearly acquitted, and the fact was recorded. Moreover, he considered the verdict a correct one, and it could not be disturbed. Another juror here exclaimed, pointing to the one who had objected, ‘ Oh, it’s all right, your Honor ; he’s changed his mind now, and says he does not think the man is guilty.’ An irrepressible burst of laughter followed this announcement, and the jury left the box. The doubtful juror, however, looked greatly mystified, and wore an appearance of complete bewilderment at the novelty of his position.” Captain Audley Coote. —The derangement of the San Francisco mail steamer interfered somewhat with the movements of Captain Coote, on his return to England regarding the contract for the formation of the Tasmanian Main Line Railway. Captain Coote was a passenger by the Nevada, which sailed from Sydney on the 27th ult, via Auckland and Honolulu. Some Walk. —An American named June Weston has accomplished the “ biggest walk” on record. He has completed his undertaking to walk 400 miles in five days. He had eighteen minutes to spare at last. Cricket Scoring. —Mr W. G. Grace has made one of the highest scores recorded in cricket. In the match between the North and South of England, played very recently, Mr Grace played for the latter. In the first innings he was given out “ leg before wicket” without scoring. In the second innings he had his revenge. He took the bat soon after midday on Tuesday, and when the wickets were drawn at the end of the day he had made 142 (not out). He resumed his innings on Wednesday, and when his wicket fell the great batsman had made the enormous score of 268, being one of the most wonderfully correct innings, both offensive and defensive, ever manipulated. MABAVILLA 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,

k The Great Lunar Eclipse.-— A Victorian paper, in advocating the despatch of the eclipse expedition, makes the following contribution to astronomical science : —“ About two minutes only, we believe, will the total shadow last. That side of the moon we never see, and where the intensest cold dwells will be presented to us. It is not often that darkness is thus made visible.” The Gigantic Bird of Madagascar. —A couple of eggs, which throw those of the moa into the shade, have recently been purchased by the authorities of the British Museum. The “Times” says:—“Eggs of an extinct bird of Madagascar, which might well have suggested the idea of the gigantic roc of Arabian romance, have from time to time reached Europe of late, and the British Museum has now acquired by purchase two specimens of these eggs from fluviatile deposits in Madagascar. The larger egg has a circumference of 36 inches in the long and 30 in the short axis.” One of England’s Glories. —Lord John Russell, in a speech made at the conference of the National Union for the Suppression of Intemperance, over which he presided, said that during the five years ending with 1870, the temperate British people spent for intoxicating liquor the nice little sum of 514,842,345 pounds sterling—about twenty-five hundred million dollars. This amount is about three times as large as the annual income of all the railways of the United Kingdom ; twice as large as the capital of all the savings banks; half as large again as the national revenues for the whole time, and fifty times as large as the collective income of all the religious and philanthropic societies in the country. France and Italy. —The “ Times” of September 8 has the following remarks on the unsatisfactory relations of France and Italy:—“lt would be vain to deny that there are serious grounds of estrangement between the two principal members of the Latin family. The Italians have never forgiven M. Thiers the astounding frankness with which he declared before the Versailles Assembly that ‘ he would go to war with Italy for the Pope’s sake if he could ;’ and still less the almost unanimous applause which this declaration elicited from an Assembly in which it was expected that at least some one would rise to argue that France ‘should do as she would, be done by,’ and that the French had no better right to force the Pope upon the Italians than the Italians would have to force him upon the French. Since the days of that unfortunate discuss’on on the temporal power there is hardly any limit to the bitterness with which the press of the two countries ministers to their mutual rancour and ill-will. The presence of two French legations in Rome, the interference of French agents in behalf of convents, and ecclesiastical colleges claiming, with or without reason, the protection of France in order to evade the laws of expropriation and secularisation which must apply to Rome as to every other part of the Italian Kingdom—a hundred petty acts of more or less deliberate hostility have engendered among the Italians a conviction that France is only ‘ nursing’ a quarrel which she is not for the present moment in a position openly to seek. The French, on their part, soured by adversity, and bent on visiting it on all unoffending neighbors, never tire of denouncing the ‘ portentous ingratitude’ of the Italians, and upbraid them for joining Germany and Austria in a so-called ‘ League of Peace,’ aiming, as the French imagine, at a renewal of the Holy Alliance, and tending to the isolation and thorough humiliation of France.” Sydney University. —One hundred and eighty candidates, including a large number of ladies, have presented themselves for examination at the Sydney University. American Rubber Stamp. —This is the name of an exceedingly neat and handy office stamp invented and sold by an American firm, Messrs Stetson & Lyster. Their agent, Mr J. E. Orton, called at our office yesterday, and exhibited the stamp and its capabilities in our presence. It is in all respects similar to the ordinary hand stamp used in shops and offices saving that the die from which the impression is taken is composed of a preparation resembling gutta percha and the cost is about one-fourth of that of the ordinary stamp in use. The material of which the face is composed is plastic yet durable, the printing clean and sharp, and the required impression made without damage either to the instrument or to the paper to which the design is transferred. Its economy alone should ensure a large sale. Value of Land near Wanganui.— The “ Wanganui Chronicle” has the following : —“ MrFinnimorehad an extensive sale on the 3rd November, of sundries belonging to two bankrupt estates. 150 acres of uncleared land in Rangitikei brought 14s per acre. The farm of Ardo, consisting of 133 acres of fine open land, was bought in by the mortgagee at £8 an acre. As. an indication of the present de • pression it may be mentioned that it is only three years since Mr Franklin bought this farm at £l4 an acre.”