News of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 45, 2 December 1871, Page 12

News of the Week.

Government Gazette. —A Gazette was published on Thursday, containing several important notices. A proclamation, dated the 22nd ult., announces that the whole of the Militia in the districts of Rangitikei, Wellington, Greytown, Masterton, South Napier, and North Napier, have been released from training and exercise under the Militia Act, 1870; another proclamation intimated, that his Excellency the Governor, under the powers conferred by the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1871, intend forthwith to enter into negotiations for the purchase from the native owners of the block or parcel of land situate in the province of Wellington, on the Turakinaliiver, containing 46,975 acres. The Hon. Henry Sewell has resigned his office as Commissioner of Stamps. The Hon. Julius Yogel has been appointed Commissioner of Customs. The Hon. William Reeves has been appointed a member of the Executive Council, and taken the necessary oath. A petition from inhabitant householders of Wanganui, to be constituted a Borough; and letter of assent from his Honor the Superintendent, are published for general information. Despatches, with enclosures, from theEightHonthe Secretary of Stateforthe Colonies, inclosing regulations for an examination of candidates for the Civil Service of India, which is to be held in March, 1872, are published for general information. Lieut-Colonel Edward Gorton has been appointed Inspector of Stores under the Public Stores Act, 1871. The tender of Mr William James of Wellington, amounting to £203 19s 6d, has been accepted for furnishing the new court house at Wanganui. Stamp Duties.—Under the Amended Stamp Act, which is now in operation, adhesive stamps on receipts can be cancelled as heretofore by affixing the initials of the party signing it and the date, the only alterations made under that head being an increase of duty from Id to 2d, and a reduction of the amount chargeable to £2 instead of £5, as heretofore. Cheques on bankers are all liable from the Ist December to a two-penny stamp, and t may be denoted by impressed or adhesive stamps or partly by each, as may be most convenient; but, if by the latter, they must be cancelled by the drawer writing his signature continiously over the stamp, so that part of the name shall appear on the right and part on the left of the stamp, together with the date, as provided by the act of last year with regard to adhesive stamps. on bills of exchange. The Debentures.— The design for the reclaimed land debenture forms has been prepared, and the work will be immediately placed in the hands of the lithographer for execution. The Council must have been taken a little by surprise by the facile and expeditious way in which the duties entrusted to the committee have been accomplished, as the arrangements are not at a stage sufficiently advanced to enable them to take delivery of the cash. The Mutual Investment Society, according to the terms of "the agreement, have the money ready to hand over at once, and the interest will date from the Ist December accordingly, but in the absence of the Superintendent it is impossible to close the transaction. However, a few days longer will see the completion of a matter which has involved a considerable amount of difficulty and no little consideration on the part of our City Councillors. The Basin Reserve.—-The alterations which have been madein the flat at the basin reserve have made a great improvement, not only in the appearance, but in the extended utility which increased, space affords. The advantage will be chiefly advantageous to the cricketers, from the fact that a portion of the made ground will not be fit for use by the Caledonian Society. An unbroken space of about 200 yards can be had from north to south.

and about half that distance in the cross direction. The bluff or hill from which, hitherto, the public have obtained so fine a view of the ground has been partially removed, but anything objectionable in the loss of standing room had to be sacrificed to appearance, and it must be admitted that an improvement has been made. A want that has long been felt lias now been supplied, namely, a proper piece of ground for the carrying out of all kinds of out-door sports. Great credit is due to all concerned in the carrying out of these alterations. Horticulueal Show. —In our published account of the list of prizes we omitted to mention that the first prize for potatoes was awarded to Mr George Pike, of the Taita. They were an exceedingly fine sample of the kind called flukes, and well deserved' the first prize. Ocean Current.—The following letters have been forwarded to us by Mr Seed, Collector of Customs. The letter shows that a bottle cast into the sea has drifted a distance of 4000 miles in 16 months : "Waitangi, Chatham Islands, 6th Nov., 1871.—Sib,-—On the 4th inst., the enclosed paper was picked up, contained in a glass bottle, on the beach near this place. By R. J. ILa Nauzs, Esquire's orders I send the same to you. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, (signed) Richard W. Rayner : 'Editor of any newspaper * * * his good will in putting * * enclosed in his daily paper.-—P. Cawline, master. Ship Weathersfield, frorn Liverpool to Melbourne, with 24-| passengers and general cargo; registered tonnage, 1,051; official number, 51472: crew, all told, 27; and out from Liverpool 96 days. All well this day, 4th April, 1870. Wind strong from the south-west, with hail squalls, and a south west sea up ; several patches of '* kelp " weed to-day. Latitude, 44° 4' south ; longitude, 95° 10' east; aneroid, 29 950 ; sympiesometer, 29*950; thermometer, 52° ; barometer out of order by sea water.—P. Cawline, master; P. Nolan, mate; F. Geose, second mate.'" Excursionists.—At 6 o'clock on Menday evening, the wharf presented a busy aspect. Crowds were flocking in towards the steamers Luna and Wanganui, and crowds were assembled on the jetty to see them off. The Luna had a full complement, having on board,in addition to those enumerated in our issue of yesterday, a number of the Armed Constabulary, who were on their way to be stationed at Patea. Every inch of the deck space of the Wanganui was occupied as standing room by those on board. Travelling trunks, hat boxes, and all the appurten ances necessary to the outfit of the tourist were being hurriedly packed away, everyone making a rush for the most comfortable quarters, which, we imagine, will not be ot the most rosy description at the best. However, being holiday time, all seemed content to be hustled and to put up with many other little unpleasantnesses. His Excellency the Governor went on board the Luna between six and seven, and shortly after both boats took their departure. Recovery oe Debts. A case, the result of which is worth being remembered by business people, was decided in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The case was that of Evans v. Smith, in which the defendant had contracted a debt for board and lodging, in 1867, had failed to satisfy the amount of the claim, was sent to gaol, and was released by the plaintiff on the understanding that "he should make an effort to pay, but on regaining his liberty entirely forgot his promise. The plaintiff, seeing nothing profitable in throwing good money after bad, took no more notice of the matter, until seeing an announcement in the newspapers that Smith had recovered an amount of £SO from another person for commission on the sale of a station, when he immediately applied that the money to be paid into Court as the verdict in that case should be impounded until the Resident Magistrate had an opportunity of deciding on the validity of Mrs Evans's claim. In this case Mr Allan contended that the release of the defendant from gaol was a complete discharge of the debt, and quoted the English Act in support of his argument. The plaintiff' did not appear by counsel, but her son, Mr Evans, of Lambton Quay, re quested his Worship to adjourn the case to give time to examine the Colonial Act on the point. It will be seen from the decision given on Tuesday by his Worship that Mr Allan's contention was perfectly correct as regarded the law of England, but the New Zealand Resident Magistrates' Acts of 1858 and 1867 controvert this by providing that the consent to release by the plaintiff'does not exempt the defendant from liability, and the amount of Mrs Evans's claim, with costs, was ordered to be paid out of the money recovered by Smith from Cemino, which bad been impounded by the Court. The Mines.—Slow but steady progress is being made in the effort to discover gold in the claims in the neighborhood of Baker's Hill. The Baker's Hill Company have nearly completed their water race and the water wheel will be finished in

about a week. It will be equal to between ■ three and four horse power, and will be j engaged to drive three head of stampers, I though it is said, by those who understand the matters that it will be equal to ' driving four. The drive has not been taken any further than the 440 feet, the stuff to be put through being taken from the second driye, from which was taken the specimens reported on so favorably by Messrs Brown and O'Neill, M.H.R.'s, who were appointed by Parliament to examine the ground in connection with the passing of the Waterworks Bill. Very little information of the company's operations can now be obtained by inqui sitive visitors, as the manager of the works has taken the precaution to fasten up the drives ; consequently specimens of the stuff now being got out are not hawked about the town in such plentiful number as was formerly the case. The Never Despair hold a meeting on Tuesday next to elect new directors and transact general business. We are glad to observe in the advertisement the announcement that of the 4000 new shares alloted 3200 are already taken up. Bearing in mind the statements of Mr Palmer, and the manner in which he supported his opinion by taking 200 additional shares in the company on the strength of the prospects obtained, we shall be surprised if the whole number are not taken up before the day of meeting. Of all the Wellington companies this appears to us to offer the most encouraging prospects. The Caledonian Society.—We observe that the above society have issued their programme for the sports to be held on New Year's Day, 1872. As those interested are aware great improvements have been effected in the running ground. The circle, hitherto ridiculously small,will be enlarged, so that the chances of the competitors will be something like equalised ; at least more so than they have ever been before. The ground will be in the form of an oval, giving a run home in the straight of about fifty yards. This will give the best man some chance of winning. On the old course, particularly in the short races, the circle was so small and the turns so sharp that it was next to im possible to pass the inside man, and many complaints arose from this cause. We hope the committee will endeavor to increase the straight run in as much as possible. One thing they have been eminently successful in, that is in providing a monster programme. There are thirty two events down, which will cause an expenditure iu the aggregate of about £95. The prizes have been raised this year with the object of making them attractive to persons at the other ends of the province, and even to competitors from other provinces. The committee deserve great credit for the energy they have displayed in their preparations. New Caledonia Gold. —A Sydney paper, speaking of a cake of gold received in that city from the diggings in New Caledonia, says : —" It was of rather a dull color, and appeared more of the character of New Zealand gold than the produce of Australia." Croup.—A case of very sudden death, caused by croup, is reported to have occurred at Johnsonville on Sunday last. The subject was a healthy boy, between lour and live years old, whose mother had taken him with her to see a friend residing in the township above named. No alarming symptoms had presented themselves previous to the boy's arrival at Johnsonville, and he was taken off in the course of a few hours.

Bishop Patteson. —The late Bishop Patteson thus wrote of a visit he paid to the island of Santa Cruz, on which he was murdered : —" Nothing could have been more delightful than the day I spent in making frequent landings on the north side of Santa Cruz. It is apparently a very fertile island, certainly a very populous one. The inhabitants are very ingenious, wearing beautiful ornaments, making good bags woven of grass stained with turmeric, and fine mats. Their arrows are elaborately carved, and not less elaborately poisoned; their canoes well made, and kept in good order. We never before landed on this island, but the primate, long before I was in this part of the world, and two or three times since, sailed and rowed into the bay at the north west end, called Gracious Bay. I went ashore this last voyage in seven different places, large crowds of men thronging down to the water's edge as I waded to the beach. They were exceedingly friendly, allowed me to enter the houses, sit down and inspect their mode of building them ; they brought me food to eat, and when I went out of the houses again, let me examine the large sea-going canoes drawn up in line on the beach. I wrote down very many names, and tried hard to induce some young people to come away with me, but after we had pulled off some way their courage failed them, and they swam back to the shore." Death op a Maori Chief at Otaki.— Heremia Te Tehi, chief the Ngatihapu tribe at Otaki, died at that place on Tuesday last. It will be remembered that Heremia was the chief who took so active a part in the hoisting of the Maori Xing flag and the other turbulent demonstra-

■t-ions in connection with that event which i took place at Otaki about the year 1862. j His death was caused by an affection of a febrile nature which is just now very prevalent amongst the Maoris. From our exchanges we observe that the well known chief, Paul Piuaha Paora Mataetaere, died recently at Te Moananui's residence at Ohinemuri. The deceased was one of the leading Coromandel natives, and was a popular man amongst both natives and Europeans. He had only arrived at Te Hira's place the night before his decease. Meat Expoet Company.—The adjourned meeting of this company will be held at the Mechanics' Institute, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday next, at 1 p.m. Ancient Order of Fosesters. —The Foresters of Wellington will, we understand, hold their annual fete on Boxing Day. The locality has not yet been determined on, but a committee has been appointed to choose the most suitable situation in the vicinity of the city. These annual fetes are held for a very praiseworthy object, the proceeds being i devoted to the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of the order. We hope the general public will by their attendance support the Foresters, and thus aid them in the object they have in view. The Telegraph Committee's Report. —lu printing the result of the inquiry into the management of the telegraph department, the " Otago Daily Times" excises the whole of that portion of the report referring to the "reckless and wicked" conduct of the person Hart, who • was brought forward for the purpose of substantiating the charges preferred by Mr Barton. This trifling incident is quite : of a piece with the whole action of those who have so ignominiously failed in the attempt to damage one of the most useful branches of the public service, by destroying the confidence which should properly ■ exist in an establishment to which is en trusted so much of the private business of ■ ■ the people. Steam Excursion.—We observe by that the N.Z.S.S. Co. intend making a cheap excursion trip to Nelson and back on the . 23rd instant, by the s.s. Taranalri. We understand that the Star Club intend sending two boats and crews to Nelson to ; contest at the regatta, which takes place on Boxing Day. We have no doubt that many persons will avail themselves of • this opportunity of proceeding to Nelson i by this favorite steamer to spend their Christmas holidays. The Taranaki on i the trip to Nelson will steam up the ; Pelorus Sound, for the purpose of allowi ing the excursionists an opportunity of viewing the beautiful and picturesque scenery of that district. This vessel made a similar trip last year, and all who went : spoke in high terms of pleasures of the excursion.

New Boat.—The boat ordered for the Wellington crew arrived on Thursday afternoon in the Alhamhra. She was at once taken to Captain Pearce's shed where she was laid out on tressels. In appearance she looks exceedingly long, being a trifle over the usual length for a four-oar, her dimensions being forty-four feet in length and twenty-three inches in beam. The wood employed in her construction is cedar, which is built in iu three lengths of sufficient width to cover the distance from the keel, or where the keel should be, to the gunwale. The joints are very cleanly finished off', being hardly perceptible to the touch, so that she presents to the water a surface as smooth as a looking glass. With the boat has come down a set of oars and a couple to spare in case of breakage, the whole being put down in Wellington at a cost of £SO, an amount which must be acknowledged to be very reasonable. The total cost has been reduced, however, through the generosity of Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, & Co., who, from a desire to encourage our aquatic arrangements, have conveyed the boat free of charge. A. gentleman recently from England, who examined the boat last evening, declared her to be equal in workmanship to the boat built for the Cambridge men for the University race of last year. To further the desirable object of the committee, it is necessary that the public should extend somefurther support to the expenses which have not yet been covered by the subscriptions already in. There will yet be a considerable amount of unavoidable expense connected with the training, and sending down of the crew to Canterbury, for which the committee will have to find the means; so that we hope those of the public who feel an interest in the success of the Wellington boat,) will display their enthusiasm in an unmistakable way. Lake Wakatip.—The mining population of the Lake Wakatip district is ostimated by the Warden at 2430, of whom 1241 are Europeans, and 1229 Chinese. At one time during the last three months there were 1800 Chinamen in the district. Picton and Blenheim Bailway.—We learn that his Excellency the Governor, having intimated to his Honor Mr Seymour his intention to visit Marlborough at no distant date, the Superintendent considering the occasion apropos solicited Sir George Bowen to turn the first sod of the railway, to which he graciously replied

that he would have much pleasure in so doing, and arrangements are to be made accordingly. It is more than probable that the vice-regal party will include Mr Brogden and other notabilities. —"Express," Nov. 25. Colonial Prizes. —The negotiations between the Defence Office and Colonial Packe have been attended with a successful issue. The Colonial prize competition is to take place in Canterbury this year on a range to be prepared at Cashmere which is said to be an excellent one. Auything up to 1000 yards can be attained, and the Peninsula hills will form as good a background as could be desired. Tenders have been invited for the manufacture of the necessary targets, the cost of which will be defrayed by the General Government, The rules are well worthy the attention of all volunteers, for there are many important alterations from last year. DffNEDiN Races.—The Dunedin races are to take place on the 22nd and 23rd of March. The stakes to be run for exceed £IOOO. Diving tor Gold. A patent diving apparatus, consisting of a diving dress and helmet, is to be tried on the Shotover. It is expected that by this means crevices in the rock which could not otherwise be reached can be worked. Bishop Abraham.—Thefollowing reply to the address forwarded from the Diocesan Synod of Wellington to the late Bishop of Wellington has just been received:— "My Dpar Friends, —I have just received aud hasten to acknowledge the beautiful work of art in which the Diocesan Synod's parting address to me is set. I need hardly say that every one of the exquisite pictures brings back to me the happiest associations, and will serve, I trust, to remind me continually of the sound and well-tested principles on which the New Zealand Church Constitution was founded; and by which the Church here in England may steer her course in any coming emergency without fear of losing the support of the laity, but rather with the assurance that all their energies and best affections will be called out by an appeal to their good-will and spirit of co-operation with the clergy. You will not doubt that I still watch with the greatest interest all the proceedings of the General and Diocesan Synods, and all the signs of life that are again showing themselves in the native church, as well as those that abound amongst our own countrymen.. I thank you for your kind wishes and prayers on behalf of my wife and son, as well as myself, and I can assure you that my own are daily offered up for the Bishop, clergy, and laity of the diocese of Wellington.— I remain your sincere frieDd and brother in Christ, C. J. Abraham, Bishop.—The Close, Lichfield, 6th Sept., 1871." Peaches. The peach crop in the North Island is reported to be a complete failure this year.

The Bahia and San Francisco Bailway.—A correspondent supplies us with the following particulars regarding the construction of this line of railway. As he suggests, there is a remarkable similarity between it and the line to be constructed from Wellington to Masterton in its length, in the features connected with its construction, and in its passage through two inland villages—Masterton and Featherston :—" The Bahia and San Francisco railway is 76f miles in length, and is a single line of sft 3in guage. For fifteen miles it strikes the shore of the bay (and from which it takes its name), and then strikes into the interior, which is so thinly populated that there is not a single town on the line, and only two places that deserve the name of villages. There are several steep inclines, and some sharp curves on the line. The present rate of speed is twenty-one miles per hour. The maintenance of the way during the year 1864 amounted to £21,866, or £284 per mile. The authorised capital, £1,800,000, on which the Brazilian Government guaranteed a return of 7 per cent., provided the receipts, covered the working expenses, but, unfortunately, this has not yet been the case. The capital expended was £4640 less than that sum. In 1864 the gross income amounted to £23.723, and the working expenses, with the London charges., to £51,951, leaving a deficiency on the year of £28,228. Mr Vignoles was the engineer, and Mr Watson the contractor." MARAVILLA COCOA.—No breakfast table is complete without this d.elicious 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 Mart - villa Cocoa above all others. For homoeopaths and invalids we could not recommend a more agreeable or valuable beverage." So'd in packets only by all Grocers, of whom also may be had Taylor Brothers' Original Homceopathic Cocoa and Soluble Chocolate. Steam Mills —Brick Lane, London. Export Chicory Mills, Bruges, Belgium, |

Bechabites.— The members composing ibis useful ingredient in our community will make known to.the general pubic their condition and prospects by the holding of a soiree and musical entertainment on the sth December Several members of the order will address the meeting, which will be presided over by the Hon W. Fox. Any talent'available in the way of music, vocal and instrumental, has already been secured tor the occasion. T j ti New Building—Messrs J. and H. Barber, butchers, have just had completed the addition and enlargement to their shop in Willis street, opposite the Independent Office. The original building was erected two years ago, and this has been raised five feet and a new lower storey put in, to which has been added a handsome front, 40 feet by 30 feet in height, divided into three arches, the outer ones being semi-circular, and the middle one elliptical, the lower cornice to which is supported by lonic pilasters resting on neat pedestals. A great convenience has been introduced in the shape ot revolving shutters, which have been manufactured in Wellington at less than half the cost of imported ones. This circumstance should commend itself to those of our citizens-who have hitherto sent away from the colony for works of the kind. The building has been made very convenient for the business by the introduction of a number of interior offices, a small goods shop, &o. Tbe finish displayed in the work is creditable alike to the architect and thebuilder, MrTringham and Mr "RpflTQ Funeeal op the Late Me Hat.—The remains of the late Mr John Hay were interred in the Southern Cemetery, Duncdin. The funeral procession which started from the residence of the deceased's brother (Mr D. B. Hay,) was a very large one considering the weather, comprising about 200 persons, including His Honor the Superintendent, several members of the General Assembly and Provincial Council, and the Masonic Lodges, which were well represented. The burial service was read by the Rev. E. G. Edwards. . - The Inter-colonial Eace.—A gentleman who arrived in Christchurch, from Sydney via Melbourne, recently, states that the Sydney Bowing Club have decided to send a crew to compete at the inter-colonial race, and that good men have been selected for the purpose. This will make four entries from clubs outside the province, and it is not unlikely that even more will yet be received. Apropos of the event, we may state that the keel of the new boat for the Avon Club has been laid. The crew of this boat are already in training, as also are crews to represent the Canterbury and Union Clubs, for each of which new boats are ordered. The formed crew is a much better one than we have yet seen turned out by the club, and under ordinary circumstances should carry their colors with credit to the province. It has been suggested that as the tides are favorable on the 6th of January, the great race should be fixed for that day, but as the announcement has gone forth that it will take place on or about the 15th it would be manifestly unfair to crews outside the provinces to select an earlier date. The tides being favorable on the 26th, preference should therefore be given to the latter date. Accident.—Mr Williams, who, we are informed is a schoolmaster at the Taita, met with severe injuries on Saturday, through being thrown from a young horse which he was exercising. The animal seemed not to have been thoroughly broken in, and Mr Williams was taking him through the streets of the town for the purpose, we suppose, of completing that part of a horse's education which is conveyed by accustoming his sight to wheelbarrows, goats, hoardings, scaffoldings, &c. The ordeal, however, seems to have come upon Mr Williams's Bucephalus too suddenly, and making a bolt down one of the streets executed a number of evolutions, which resulted in a manner very unpleasant to Mr Williams, who was hurt to an extent sufficient to incapacitate his return to his home at the Human Skull. —A skull, supposed to be that of one of the two unfortunate seamen who were drowned by the upsetting of the Virago's boat, was found on the beach, at Te Aro, on Sunday by some boys. It is only reasonable to suppose that it belonged to the body of the lad Smith, as when it was recovered there was no head attached. The Eclipse Expedition.—The Sydney Government intend to take part in the Eclipse Expedition. The Queensland Government steamer, Governor Blackall, will come to Sydney to take the party to York Peninsula. The §l2 Lever Watch, "So. 13.550, purchased from Ohas.'P. Norton & Co. 86 Nassau street, New York, January sth, has 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.—JAS. E. WILSON, Sec. American S. M. Co. N. Y., JJew York, July 30th, 1870.

Exteaoedinaey "Plant" of Specimens. —About a fortnight ago, a young man, residing at the Temperance Hall, undertook on his own accord to clear out the well. After bailing for a long time, and the water getting low, he descended into the well, and was proceeding with the work when he struck the bucket against something hard, and found it was a piece of quartz. Curiosity prompted him to wash it; and, to his joy and astonishment, he pecieved it to be richly studded with goid. " Putting on a spurt" he fished out some more specimens with gold in them, and very rich. The question then was, had he struck a rich reef? or, was it only " salting ?"—the conclusion came to was the latter. Now comes the strangest part of the business. On Tuesday night, silent as gravediggers or as " resurrection" men, the original depositors came to take up their " plant,' and it appears they searched about till they found a bucket, then with the aid of a rope (which they left behind as a trophy for the police), the well was duly emptied —as indications show —and after hours of toil one of the unfortunate " planters" was lowered down, and sent up some of the bottom, but no specimens. Imagination enables us to guess the rage, disappointment, and solemn looks of the poor fellow and his mates—no specimens. Perhaps they took it in turns to go down to make sure; the result was all the same-sold, completely sold !—" Thames Advertiser," Nov. 22. Be. Ukquart.—Dr Robert TJrquhart an old and well known medical practitioner—died at Port Chalmers early yesterday morning, after a short illness. Butter. —Cheap butter is being shipped from Auckland to England for cart grease. Dog Show.—A dog show is to be held at Auckland in a few days. The Wool Clip.—The wool clip in the Wanganui district is expected to show an increase of ten per cent this year. A Peripatetic Parliament. — The "Hawke's Bay Herald," on observiug that Mr M'Lean had supported the motion in favor of making Parliament peripatetic, says no doubt many of its readers felt curious to know on what ground it was that he did so. The argument that he urged in favor of it was that it would have the effect of breaking down provincial jealousies. This argument is, perhaps, the best that can be urged in favor of so bad a cause. The end is an excellent one, and if the means proposed would result in its attainment, there would be much to say in favor of their adoption. In our opinion, however, they would have the very opposite effect. They would throw down a new prize to be scrambled for, a new apple of discord, among the provinces each year, the holding, namely, of the session of Parliament in their capital town during the next, and they would drive every province which thought that it had the smallest chance of getting the sittings of Parliament held within it into a vast amount of entirely useless and distinctively provincial expenditure in the erection of Assembly buildings. Musical Arrangements.—The musical societies of Christchurch are getting up the "Messiah" for Christmas. The Dunedin Society has just produced the "May Queen." "The Mendelsohn Society of Christchurch are just going to produce '* Aftviilic Death op an Old Colonist. Mr William Budge, who arrived in the colony in 1842, as chief of the first staff of civil engineers sent by the New Zealand Company to survey the Wairau Plains, died at Blenheim a few days ago, aged 55. Effects of Railways.—The possibility of tbe railway between Tokomairiro and Lawrence being proceeded with at no distant date, is reported to have already caused a demand for land along the proposed line. Investment at the Thames. — We (" Southern Cross") have' been favored with a perusal of a private letter sent by a gentleman in Auckland to a friend in Victoria who had forwarded £IOOO for investment in Thames stock. The responsibility of investing the money was declined, the reasons assigned for doing so being thus stated :—" I do not feel justified in investing it on a field where there is so ranch mismanagement, and as a rule here the better the prospects of the claim the more chance you have of losing your money, unless you wish to become a speculator, and join in the system ot rigging the market. As I am aware your object is to have a safe investment, 1 unhesitatingly slate there is no such thing here. ... I may be able make money for you, but the risk is too great. The Thames goldfields are undoubtedly the richest ever discovered, but you have less risk in Victoria, mining being carried on with more honesty and integrity ot purpose." . Insurance. —As insurance is a matter in w-hich the public at large is deeply interested, and as by competition between different offices the public is pretty sure to benefit, many of our readers will no doubt welcome the arrival of another company in tbe field. The Scottish Commercial Insurance Company announces its intention of opening an agency in Dune-

din for transacting the usual fire and life business undertaken by similar establishments. A good many miners are now employed in working on the sea beach to the north of Charleston. They are all doing well, making from £5 per week on the poorer beaches to double that amount on the richer ones. The crops in the south of Canterbury are so far in splendid condition, and give promise of an abundant harvest. He Fancied he couldn't be Eight.— At the Thames, a man fell down stairs, but proceeded about his work as usual, apparently none the worse for his fall. At the expiration of a week, however, he began to feel severe pain, and on going to a doctor, he found that his collar-bone was broken in two places. Guano.—At the late Horticultural show in Christchurch there was shown a sample of guano from Akaroa. It is said to be rich in ammonia and valuable as manure, while the deposit of it is reported to be extensive. Crops.—The cereal crops in the Dunstan district are greatly in want of rain, and are excepted to bo below the average. Potatoes have suffered in some degree from night frosts. The Governor of South Australia.— The following feeling acknowledgment from Sir James Eerguson for the public sympathy shown to him on the occasion of his recent loss is published in the Adelaide papers : " I desire to express my deep sense of the condolence and sympathy which have been manifested for myself and my family, in the sore affliction which it has pleased Almighty God to lay upon us. The ways in which these sentiments have found expression have been various, and there may be many of which I do not know, but I thank all for having paid a spontaneous tribute of respect to the memory of one most dear to me, who had it at heart to do what good her strength and means permitted in her sphere of life. I venture to commend to the increased regard of the public, for her sake, the objects which, beyond the parish or church district in which we lived, she most wished to serve—the Orphan Home, the Servants' and Convalescent Home, the Female Refuge, the provision of pleasant and devotional books for those in the bush, in hospital, and in prison—for of these she spoke when she knew she w r as dying, wishing she could have done more for them ; and especially she said, '! I wish that the Servants' Home could be kept on a proper footing, to save girls from becoming bad." Acclimatisation.—By the May Queen the Dunedin Acclimatisation Society have received a female fallow deer which was forwarded by Mr J. A. Ewen, under the care of Captain Leslie. Tbe deer was one of a lot of six presented to the Society by R. C. Lipnincott, Esq., of Overcomb, near Bristol. Five of them, however, died shortly after they were calved, and the one which has just been received, was reared by Messrs Mather, Gardiner and Co, of Bristol. We learn that it is the intention of the Society to forward the hind to the station of Mr John M'Kellar, at Tapanui, where there is now a good sized herd of fallow deer, the original stock having been imported by the Society from Tasmania some years ago. Female Pugilists.—Several cases of assault by females are recorded in the West Coast papers. Synagogue.—Funds arebeing collected in Auckland for the erection of a synag°LAW and Gospel.—Mr C. E. Button, a Hokitika solicitor, has been preaching to crowded audiences at Ross, Westland. New Zealand Institute.—The Auckland Institute, at a meeting held a few days ago, nominated Dr J- E. Gray, F.R.S., as an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute. _ Mining in California.—Mr John Manning, formerly of Hokitika, who has been inspecting the system of miirng carried on in California, writes to a contemporary as follows:—"The gold districts in this country are wretchedly poor —are, indeed, exhausted almost —and rich, as compared with those of Australia and New Zealand. Still companies can manage to make these miserable goldfields yield' fine returns, notwithstanding the poverty of the ground worked and the great scarcity of water here, not a drop of rain falling for nine months out of the twelve. I venture to say that if a company were formed in New Zealand to work with machinery such as is used here, a princely fortune might be realised. . . . . I should not be surprised if before long some of these sharp Californian miners will be out in New Zealand, when they will introduce their machinery, and backed up by the most wealthy and influential men in the country, will secure the fattest share of the auriferous lands." Colonial Rifleman.—The Auckland "Star " says that Lieutenant Hazard, of Nr 2 H.R.V., who is now on a visit to England and the Continent, and who was well known in Auckland as a crack shot with the rifle, has been distinguishing himself at home. He was too late for the Association's meeting at Wimbledon, but at a country meeting at Birmingham he

fired four matches, and took prizes in two —shooting against Queen's prizemen, of whom there were several at the meeting. We are glad to see that Mr Hazard can hold his own even amongst the best shots of England. The Canterbury Anniversary .—I he Superintendent of the province has received a letter from Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald, stating that he would be unable to visit Canterbury on the 21st anniversary. Tasmanian Gold—The quantity of gold exported from Tasmania during the first six months of the year was 1719|0z, valued at £6,616. A Vigorous Pastor.—The Rev Mr Coleman, Catholic Priest, a new arrival from home, has been attending to his flock at the Wakatip. The rev. gentleman preached very strongly of the lite Catholics were leading there; reproved various sins; commented upon the absence of even a hut for the accommodation of the priest; and to his being compelled to live in hotels full of rottenness"; to the disgraceful state of the church ; upon sending Catholic children to the public school; against mixed marriages between Catholics and Protestants, unless the children of such issue were brought up in the Catholic faith; and other subjects. Mirage.—A correspondent sends to the- " Nelson Colonist" the following communication :—On a perusal of the columns of " Nature" for last year, I find attention is drawn to the frequent and varied occurrences of this phenomenon in England. We are not without vivid instances ot it in New Zealand. One of the most remarkable that I have yet seen in any latitude tor iliusory power, may be witnessed almost any wet day upon the cessation ot rain from the summit of a hill overlooking the Valley of the Takaka. As the densities of the strata of the atmosphere vary with the currents of air sweeping land or seaward, the river seems bodily lifted up, giving the appearance of a full flood, when there is only a moderate quantity of water m its bed This illusion being repeated every few minutes, until the atmosphere becomes of a uniform density. Not being aware of a similar instance having received previous notice, will, I trust, be a sufficient apology for trespassing on your space. The new four-oared boat, recently built to the order of the Kaiapoi boating club by Mr R. H. Matthews, Kaiapoi, was launched on Monday evening with the usual aquatic ceremony. The launch took place between Messrs Birch and Co., and Callender, Newnham, and Co a wharves and was witnessed by a large number of persons. Mrs G. L Melish, the wife of the president had been requested to name the boat, and at the time appointed, that lady stepped forward to perform the duty intrusted to her. The champagne bottles were uncorked, and their contents poured into engraved pewters, which had been won in former aquatic contests by the Kaiapoi men. Mrs Melish said "I name tins boat the Pere, and I hope that her colors maybe always to the front in aquatic contests. I wish the boat and crew every success, and hope that the former will do credit to her name at the forthcoming regattas. (Loud cheers). Three cheers were then given for the new boat, and the lady who named it. Mr Dudley, the vice-presi-dent of the club, then stepped forward and, in the name of the Kaiapoi boating club, thanked Mrs Mellish for her kindness in naming the new boat He hoped that her good wishes would be fully realised, and he was certain that it would neither be the fault of the boat nor crew if thev did not succeed in winning the Cup. (Cheers.) The champagne was then passed freely round, and most ot those present drank success to the new boat. The boat was then drawn up alongside the Jane Elkin, which was decorated with bunting in honor of the occasion, it was manned by Messrs Jameson, Burnip, and Wood, and proceeded down the river on a trial trip. 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 1 suffered excruciating pain for a length of time, having tried every remedy persenbed, but without deriving any benefit at all. Alter 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 Nvho may thus be afflicted. —I em, Sir, yours trulv, Henuy Allpass.-Io the proprietors of Kobton's Camomile Pills. "Where the digestive powers are so weak as to cause imperfect Assimilation and in many cas-3 layin* the foundation for Counsumption and Wasting, the use of Savory & Moores'a Pancreatic Emulsion and Pancreatine, already so highly approved by the Medical facu ty will be found among the most potent remedial agents ; they effect the digestion of Cod Liver Oil and prevent nausea, while tney efficiently supply the place o f 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 -

Gold Export.—The following are the exports of gold from Auckland for the month of October:—l9,Bl2 ozs 2 dwts 4 grs, of the value of £75,378, the duty j on which was £2252 19s lOd. | Loss of Life.—A shocking accident occurred, says the " Westport Times," at Belle Vue Terrace, Charleston, on Thursday afternoon, November 9, to a miner named William Reid, who was killed by a fall of earth from the face where he was working, in company with other men. The fall came unawares, the face having been considered perfectly safe. A large block fell on upon the head of deceased, killing him instantly, and knocking down and partly covering another man named 3STye. Deceased was thirty-two years of age, and a native of Scotland. He was a married man with three or four young children, who are left entirely destitute, The "Argus" reports that a miner James Hodge was accidentally killed at Murray Creek on the 7th November. A mate of deceased named Alexander Ross was felling a small tree on their claim, No 1 and 2 North Amalgamated Adam Smith's reef, and Hodge by some means got within reach of the sapling as it was falling. It is supposed a branch, struck him on the head and dashed him against a stump. The unfortunate man was killed instantly, as his skull was completely crushed, the brains protruding. The body was interred at Reefton on the following day. A miner, named Patrick Heffernan, was killed in his claim at the Greenstone, Westlaud, on November 14, by a fall of earth. Pearls.—A cargo of pearl shell recently arrived at Sydney sold at the rate of £l6O per ton. Some of the shells in this cargo were of magnificent size, and we are informed than an experienced party with a vessel is now fitting out in Sydney, to start for Torres Straits at the end of November to pursue this industry. Earthquake.—A slight shock of earthquake was felt at Wanganui at 1.45 p.m. on Saturday last. Settling the Waitotara District. —Mr M'Lean is about to arrange with Kemp and other loyal natives, to purchase their interest in the confiscated land in the Waitotara district, with the object of locating some of the immigrants upon it who will soon be arriving in the colony. Fashion.—Professor Huxley, in a late lecture, said that the present feminine fashions outrage all common sense, by displaying a woman's figure in the form of a candle-extinguisher upside down; that such an absurd style of dress is physically injurious and anatomically monstrous. Fatal Accident.—Mr George Cross second son of Mr J. S. Cross, Harbourmaster, Nelson, was thrown from his horse on Sunday last at St Leonard's station, Amuri. and was so seriously injured that he survived but a few hours. Election Meeting.—We understand that Mr Bryce will shortly ask his constituents to meet him for the purpose of reviewing the session, Kerosene.—An extensive deposit of kerosene is reported to have been discovered near Yass, New South Wales. Professor Black:.—Professor Black is expected to arrive in Otago in five or six weeks. Industrial School.—There are now 94 children in the Indistrial School at Dunedin, all of whom enjoy good health. Potatoes. —Tasmanian potatoes are under-selling Auckland grown ones in the Thames markst—a fact which the Auckland papers regard as indicative of a screw loose somewhere. Dunedin Hospital .—D uring the nion th of October, 87 patients were admitted into the Dunedin Hospital. Of these, 26 were Chinese and 7 Maoris. Telegraphic Copyright.—The object of the measure passed in the Victorian Parliament to secure the copyright to telegrams is, in effect, to give the Associated Press the copyright for forty-eight hours of the telegrams from Europe and elsewhere that they will procure by the line to be opened in January next. The bill proposes to inflict a penalty on any newspaper or periodical, not belonging to the association, re-publishing in that period an Associated Press telegram. It also seeks to prevent the transmission beyond the colony of any such telegram, except by the association, within forty-eight hours after its publication here. The First Californian Digger.— James W. Marshall, the discover of gold in California, has been forced in his old age to resort to lecturing and selling the written history of his life and adventures in order to gain a livelihood. Some Wives.—Dr Hall has written a long article to prove that it is unhealthy for a man and his wife to sleep in the same room, but the Rome " Commercial" knows of some wives who would make it unhealthy for their husbands to sleep anywhere else. The Colonizing Measures. The " Hawke's Bay Herald" hears on good amthority that Mr Brogden will arrive in that province from Wellington at an early date. This looks well for the prospects of seeing the Napier and Ruataniwha railway commenced without much delay. Four hundred families have been sent for

to settle the Seventy-mile Bush and the edge of the Ruataniwha plain. Hawke's Bay will have a chance of being a very different place two years hence from what it is now. The Circuit Courts.—A late General Government Gazette contains an Order in Council declaring that on and after the 28th inst, the existing appointments for the holding of Circuit Courts for the dispatch of civil and criminal business of the Court before one of the judges thereof shall be revoked, and that after the 28th instant Circuit Courts shall be held in the Wellington district as follows :—" At the Supreme Court House at Wellington, on the first Monday in each of the months of January, April, July, and October in each and every year : at Napier, at the Provincial Council Chamber, on the second Monday in each of the months of June and December in each and every year, the first sitting to be held there on the second Monday in the month of June, 1872 ; and at Wanganui, at the Resident Magistrate's Court House there, on the fourth Monday in each of the months of April nnd October in each and every year. To Stone-throwers. —A peculiar accideut happened at Nelson lately to a young man named Faine. His arm was broken immediately above the elbow while he was in the act of throwing a stone.

" Many a Slip," &c—A wedding party, consisting of one-hundred and thirty-eight persons, were lately drowned by the upsetting of a boat on the Sutledge. New Class of " Settlers." —At present there are nine Chinese in the Tuapeka Hospital. The Huge Fish.—The capture of the large and strange fish to which we have already alluded is described as follows by the " Sydney Morning Herald" of the 2nd inst.:—" At Manly Beach, between 4 and 5 o'clock yesterday, our well-known fisherman, Benjamin Skinner, after repeated blows with a harpoon, succeeded at last by a thrust in the eye in securing one of the largest and greatest curiosities in the ' finny tribe' imaginable. It measures 10ft long, 12ft broad, and about oft thick, no tail, with hard shell back. Skinner has been offered a considerable sum for this monster, but has declined to part with it until the curator of the museum has seen it, having been for some time past collecting for that gentleman. Many folks have ventured an opinion, such as ' sunfish,' ' electricfish,' &c. ; but Mr George Smith, who has seen sunfish and electricfish, positively states that it is neither. Therefore, until some one comes forward w r ho can really take upon himself to assert what it actually is, this extraordinary scaly adventurer will remain a mystery. Whatever it is, the villagers of Manly have turned out with the utmost interest to view the stranger, and are bothered in their conjectures as to the origin of their visitor. Six men have already stood on his back, and — although room for more —made not the slightest impression on his conical roof, one of the gentlemen being a well-known citizen, and up to 18 stone." The fish has since turned out to be a monster sunfish. Poultry Statistics. —The total number of poultry in the colony of New Zealand at the time of the last census is returned as 872,174. Destruction of Trout in the Maitai, Nelson. —Within the last week two remarkably fine trout, both male fish, have been found dead in the Matai. The first measured twenty-six inches in length, and weighed six pounds all but an ounce. The second fish, which some boys saw, the " Examiner" says : —On its back in the bathing hole, near Mr Richardson's paddock, was scarcely dead when Mr Huddleston, Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society, reached the river. This fish was scarcely so long as the other, being 23|inches, but weighed fully six pounds, and was truly a magnificent fish considering its age, which was only three years and two months. Both fish were remarkably fat, and indeed it is to this their death is attributed. Neither exhibited any sign of having sustained any kind of injury, and the one found yesterday, when handled, appeared like a mass of blubber. As both of these fish were males, their loss is of little consequence. The size of these fish, compared with some that are to be seen in the river, removes all doubt as to the trout having bred last year, and the number of young fish must now be considerable. Two of last year's spawning were caught on Thursday morning in an eel basket sunk in the Brook street stream the preceding evening. These fish were about nine inches long, and must have weighed a pound each. Of course they were liberated. A similar catch was made, we have been told, two or three weeks ago. We learn from Mr Huddleston, that the six pound fish got out of the river on Tuesday morning last, was of exceedingly fine flavorwhen cooked. Thomas Carlyle and the Ladies.— Thomas Carlyle in his recent visit to the far north put the mirliegoes on his aristo cratio travelling companions. The railway carriage was comfortably seated with many ladies anxious to record their having

been the road and rail companions of the great man. The subject started was Dr Darwin and his theory. The ladies argued the pros and cons in a womanly manner, looking to Mr C. for approval. He gave every fair ladye the same kindly nod and smile, no doubt remembering Josh Billing's saying. "Woman's inflooence is powerful —espeshila when she wants ennything." One of the party, after she had given out, said—" What do you think, 'Mr Carlyle?" His cool reply was — " Ladies, you left nothing to be said." •'•Oh, yes ! but what is your opinion ? you have not given us that yet." Tammas was too far north to be sold. He made the following pithy reply:—" For myself, 1 am disposed to take the words of the Psalmist —' Man was made a little lower than the angels.'" The Scarcity of Labor.—A peculiar feature of the ingathering of the harvest in England is the admitted scarcity of labor. In almost every corn-growing district in the kingdom farmers are compelled to carry on harvest operations with a. force far too small for their requirements. The complaint now comes that the harvest fieldsat the Land's Endcannot be reaped for the want of reapers. The farmers have offered to competent harvestmen from £4 15s to £5 10s per month, with food, to come over and help them; but this comparatively liberal rate of remuneration has not brought out the requisite force. The reason of this is not far to seek. A general revival of trade during the last few months has absorbed most of the skilled workmen in the leading manufactures, and a good of unskilled labor has been necessarily pressed forward to positions of higher wage-earning power. We simply note the fact as one of the signs of the times, illustrating most forcibly the law of supply and demand. Export of Coal.-The export of coal from the United Kingdom in 1871 has averaged more than a million'tons a month. The return for August shows that in that month the export reached 1,267,950 tons. Highland Boots.—There is a tradition hereabouts that rain can do no harm to anybody ; and orthodox Highland boots are made with just sixteen stitches, that number being found exactly sufficient to keep upper leather and sole together. The object of a Highland bootmaker, I may add, for the benefit of the benighted Sassenach, is not to prevent water from getting in, but to allow it to get out. If the shoe is tight enough to bale out the water from a boot, it is amply sufficient for all ordinary requirements. - " Telegraph's" correspondent. Shakespeare.—The " Cape Standard" reports a very successful performance of Shakespeare's " Julius Cassar" by native Kaffir students. A Pretty Foot.—A young lady with a very pretty foot, but a rather large ancle, went into a San Francisco shoe store to be measured. The admiring clerk, who is of Gallic extraction, complimented her in the following queer way : "Madame, you have one bootiful foot, but ze leg commenced too immediately."