Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 227, 22 January 1876, Page 13

Town News.

The Hon. Mr. Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs, arrived in Wellington in the Taupo on Thursday from the South.

By a telegram received late on Thursday from Castle Point Ave learn that the Avind Avas then bloAving hard fram E.S.E., and that a tremendous sea Avas running. Barometer still falling, and Avind inclined to become more easterly. The glass here had fallen about ITO during Thursday. The Luna returned from the Strait on Wednesday, the large cog-wheel of the Avinding machinery being broken. The xxlieel Ai T as taken to the Lion Foundry for repair, and it is also intended to make another Avheel outside the drxxm of this cog-AA 7 heel for winding the chain, in order to effect greater purchase. The men Avill Avorlc in shifts night and day until the job is completed. A fire occurred at Kaiwarra on Wednesday morning, at an eai’ly hour, in the house of Mr. Phillips, AY'hich Avas burnt to the ground. The Central Fire Brigade turned out with their usual promptness, and made all possible haste on the road to the scene of the fire, but they Avere unfortunately too late to be of any serA'ice. The hoxxse avrs insured in the Horthern Company for £250.

Three lads, destined for the Auckland Industrial School, arriA’cd in Wellington on Thursday from Dunedin by the Taupo. A painful accident happened to Mr. Mason, of the Hutt, on Wednesday. He fell from a hayrick, and Avhen assistance arrived Avas discovered to be insensible, but from Avhat xve could hear he xvas not dangerously hurt. An inquest Avas held on the body of Michael Christian in the Morgue on Monday. Witnesses Avere present Avho identified the body beyond the possibility of mistake, and a verdict of “ Found droAvned” was retxxrned.

A young AX'oman, to all appearances respectable, and not more than twenty-two years of age, AA r as taken into custody on Sunday in a state A 7 eiging on delirium tremens. She arrived fram Auckland on the same day. The body of the child Hector ScrimshaAV, droAA 7 ned in the Hutt River, Avas found on Thursday evening. An inquest was held, and a verdict of “Accidentally dram-ned” returned. The polling for the Wellington portion of the Western Maori District took place on Saturday at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Mery few x'otes were polled, but Wi Parata had a slight majority. The Mormon apostle, Mr. Hurst, lectured at the Odd Felloxvs’ Hall again on Sunday ; but a Mr. Gray, at the conclusion of Hurst’s address, made a few remarks, in xx-hich he quite disposed of the rubbish talked by the Mormon apostle.

Mr. Thomas sold the regatta booths and cards at public auction on Monday. Four booths xvere knocked down to Mr. Jones, Melbourne Hotel, at £l4 14s. each. Mr. Morgan obtained txvo refreshment booths at £4 4s. each ; and the cards xvere sold to Mr. Tolley for £ls. In Friday night’s Gazette is published for general infoimation a notice from the Tasmanian Gox r ernment that no cattle or sheep xvill be admitted into that colony unless a certificate from a veterinary surgeon arrives xvith them to shoxv that they are free from disease.

Captain Williams, of the Ax 7 alanche, has in the kindest manner placed his x-essel at the disposal of the Regatta Committee as flagship for the second day. The charge for admission to the ship xvill be lialf-a-croxvn, and arrangements are being made to procure a band if possible. A case of sudden death occurred on board the p.s. Manaxvatu early on Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Grant xvere passengers on board the Manaxx r atu from Wanganui, Mrs. Grant being in ill health xxdien she left. At 10 o’clock this morning she was found dead in her bed. It appeared from the statement of Mr. Grant that his xxdfe had been suffering from genei-al debility. A lecture on “The Earth’s History from the Creation of Man to the Birth of Jesus Christ ” xvas delivered in the side-room of the Odd Felloxx 7 s’ Hall on Thursday, the lecturer illustrating his remarks by means of a diagram. The attendance was x 7 ery poor, but those present listened attentively to Mr. Moran’s treatment of his subject. The ketch Otalci took on board on Wednesday some heavy pieces of stone, one of marble, for shipment to Otaki, AA'here a monument is to be erected to the memory of the great chief Rauparahau, now dead and buried some sixteen years, but xvliose achievements in connection AA'ith natix r e Avars are xx 7 ell knoxvn. The erection, of xx 7 hatexer form it is to be, should at least be imposing, inasmuch as it is calculated to cost Mr. Thomas Rauparahaix about £4OO. The stone referred to xvas sent from England to order.

On Friday morning his Honor the Chief Justice passed sentence upon Michael Foley, xvho xvas on Thursday convicted of rape. His Honor in passing judgment read three prex'ious convictions for trifling offences, and after referring to the fact that in other colonies a prisoner convicted of rape was subject to sentence of death, and in this colony the offence had alxvays been visited severely, passed a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment. On being removed fram the court prisoner muttered “ What a dose.”

The folloxving tendex-s wei'e receix'ed at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Kartigi contract of the Dunedin-Moeraki Railxvay (formation and permanent xvay) :—Accepted : Donald Mxxnro and Joseph Culling, Moeraki, £58,747. Declined : Daniel McKenzie, Port Chalmers, £57,454 ; Matheson Brothers, Dunedin, £64,008 ; David Proudfoot, Dunedin, £65,359 ; J. B. Blair and Co., Mosgiel, £65,714 ; J. Dunbar, Dunedin, £68,268 ; Markham and Barkley, Oamaru, £69,635; Allan and Stumbles, Timaru, £69,829; Wang Sam Macpherson, Clutha Bridge, informal.

The nomination of candidates to fill the seat in the House of Representatives for the Eastern Maori District, took place at Hapier on the 4th inst, x\ 7 hen Poronai-angi Hotene, Takamoana Karaitiana, Rangipuraxx-he Kepa, and Hikairo Mita xx-ere put forxvard. The only polling-place for the Wairarapa- portion of district, Greytoxvn, xvas croxvded xvith natives of all ages and both sexes last Saturday (polling day), xvhen Mr. Wardell,R.M., and Mr. Freeth, Hatfve Interpreter, recorded the votes of the natives xvho came in. The result in Greytoxvn xvas:—Mr. Karaitiana, 38 ; Mr. Hotene, 1 ; Messrs. Kepa and Mita, nothing. Mr. Karaitiana belongs to the same tribe as the Wairarapa natives, and it is believed that tribal relations, and not personal merits, influence the natives principally in the sex r eral portions of the large Maori electoral districts in giving their votes. We hax r e been informed that there are sex 7 eral hundred natives above txx 7 enty-one in Wairarapa, therefore the number polled xvas x 7 ery small—at least compared to the recent pakeha election, xvhen about txvo-thirds of the electors on the roll x*oted. Perhaps, hoxx-ever, as natives cannot read, information can scarcely be diffused at all among them.

A most interesting letter from our special correspondent regarding the operations in progress for grappling the cable, xx'ill be found in another column. It will be’ seen that a portion of the cable xvas on Monday brought to the surface in an e xtraordinary state, and ex'entually parted, leax'ing txx'O miles of it, xvhich are noxv in the cabin of the Luna.

At the meeting of the Wesleyan Conference on Tuesday, it xx r as decided to station the Rex-. Mr. Morley at Christchurch, the president of the Conference, the Rex*. Mr. Reid, being appointed to Wellington, xx'ith the Rex 7 . Mr. Dewsbury as coadjutor. A third minister is to be given to Wellington, to take charge of the Adelaide-road Church, but xvho the third minister shall be is not yet decided. The Rex's. Messrs. Richardson and Laxx-, noxv officiating at the.Hutt and Wairarapa respectix'ely, are to change places, and a second minister may be appointed to Wairarapa. The men Young and Paul are about the same as last reported, but Reidal is sloxxdy sinking. It is really most surprising hoxx- xvell they keep up, and the fact speaks x'olumes for the care and attention that is being paid tothem. Some visitors from the country complained to one of the Wairarapa papers of the men being put in a close ward, and huddled uptogether with other patients. They have been placed in the newest and largest ward in the hospital, and are associated with several convalescent patients only, which, instead of doing them harm, rather tends to keep them inspirits.

An attraction is to be provided on Anniversary Day for residents at and visitors to the Hutt, in the shape of a Christmas tree and fancy stall, in the Masonic Hall, Lower Hutt. Tea and other refreshments may be procured (J during the afternoon and ex r ening at the Hall. y\ The tree xx 7 ill be lighted up in the evening, when it is anticipated that many persons returning from the regatta, as well as those living in the neighborhood, will be present to witness it. The money realised is to be given to the new church building fund. According to Mr. Travers, Hew Zealand jurisprudence is unique. On Thursday, during argument in a case, he stated that his client had been sued for £SO damage for breach of contract. Practically the case xx 7 as decided in his favor, but the judgment of the court—the Wellington Resident Magistrate’s Court —xvas appealed against, and while the appeal was pending his client xvas sued in the Otago District Court and directed to pay £l3O, and so carry out his contract. As the matter noxv stood, two courts were in direct antagonism to one another, and a man xx 7 as being sued in Wellington for non-fulfilment of a contract which had been enforced against him by the District Court of Otago. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, -Stoat xx'as brought up and again remanded, no evidence being heard. William Phillips xvas also placed in the dock, but Inspector Atchison asked for a remand of seven days, as the Commissioner of Police in Dunedin xx r as not -perfectly satisfied as to the evidence of identity at present obtained. The remand xx 7 as granted accordingly. A man named Thomas Smith was charged xvith refusing duty on board the barque Union. He xvas remanded, being under the influence of liquor. Charles Gallagher, the man xvho, on being released from the lunatic asylum, got drunk and quarrelsome, xvas brought up on remand, and ordered back tothe lunatic asylum. On Sunday, a child of Mr. Beck, tailor, of this city, was playing on one of the fenders of the wharf, and he accidentally slipped in. Ho one observed him fall, and he must have been in the water a couple of minutes xxlien a man named Ashbridge discovered him, and gave the alarm. A Finlander named Karlsson jumped in after the child and rescued him. On being taken aboard the steamer Egmont, Mr. Griffiths rubbed the body to restore animation, and having succeeded, administered stimulants, and put him to bed, and in the evening the child was pretty xvell. Great credit is due to Karlsson for the prompt manner in which he jumped into the xx'ater, without waiting to strip—for poor men cannot afford to spoil Sunday clothes-—and to Mr. Griffiths for his kindness.

Txvo seamen, guilty of desertion, xvere made an example of on Wednesday at the R.M.’s Court, and it is to be hoped others will take xvarning. This practice of desertion by seamen employed on ocean ships gives shipowners, agents, and masters an amount of trouble and annoyance which they alone can fully appreciate. The captains of vessels ship their crews at Home for the xeyage, and of course calculate upon taking them back to the port at which they ship ; therefore xvhen any number of the crew desert, they are always put to a great deal of trouble, and v'ery often to considerable loss of time, as it Is by no means easy to find able-seamen in colonial ports willing to ship for an ocean x r oyage, the pay for coasting service being better, and the living superior. The only way by xvhich a check can be placed on this practice is by treating delinquents with severity. On Wednesday a number of the leading merchants and bank managers of the city entertained E. J. Dowling, Esq., of the Bank of Hew Zealand, at dinner in the Empire Hotel, previous to his departure for Wanganui. The chair xvas occupied by P. A. Buckley, Esq., Provincial Solicitor, and the vice-chair by R. J. Duncan, Esq., J.P. Mr. Dowling's health was proposed in laudatory terms by the chairman, and responded to xxlth enthusiasm by the company. Mr. Dowling, who has been about three vears in the Wellington branch of the Bank ’of Hew Zealand, leaves to take the management of the Wanganui branch, and it is not too much to say that during his stay here he has earned the esteem and respect of the commercial men of the city. A very pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent. Host Moeller sustained the high reputation of the house in the spread he provided, xx'hich was the most successful entertainment of the kind in this citv.

Shortly after seven p.ra. on Sunday the Te Aro fire bell rang out an alarm, and the Fire Brigades, together with a large crowd of the general public, were soon on the spot from whence the smoke was seen to rise, only to find, however, that a quantity of dry gorge and general rubbish, planted opposite the City Hotel, had by some means caught fire, and was beginning to blaze in earnest just as the firemen had fixed their hose. The piece of land on which the gorse was placed is a hollow, and wants filling in, but inasmuch as there are houses in close proximity to it, the Municipal authorities should be aware that dry gorse and other stuff liable to be easily fired is scarcely the material to be used for reclamation. Gallant actions sometimes fall short of their aim, and good aims are often unrewarded by success. Mr. James Ames experienced this on Saturday. He had just returned from a little boating excursion, and having dressed himself was about to leave the Star Boating Club’s shed, when he heard the cry “ A boy overboard.” From the direction of the cry he imagined the boy must be under the shed, and, with a promptitude that did him credit, he plunged into the water without pausing. to divest himself of his hat or any other portion of his attire. He could not find the boy underneath the shed, however, and on taking a look round saw the boy being hauled into a boat. So Mr. Ames had his ducking for nothing.

A visitor to the sice of the new hospital can see the large quantity of useful work that has there been performed by prison labor. The work of brickmaking is most conspicuous. In this locality there is an abundance of clay, and to utilize this a brickmaker has been engaged to teach the convicts the art of brickmaking. They have proved apt learners, and some of the long-sentenced men are now quite as aufait in the work as their instructor. The first burning took place the other day, and a kiln of 16,000 bricks of excellent quality was turned out. These are to. be used in building other kilns, and when a brickmaking machine (shortly expected from America) arrives, the operation will be put in full swing. For the hospital about two millions will be required, and Mr. Bead expects to be able to turn out fully 40,000 a week.

On Sunday afternoon a very interesting ceremony took place at St. Johns Presbyterian Church Sunday School. —- viz., the presentation of a pulpit Bible and hymn-book to the Rev. James Paterson for use in the new church. The book had been subscribed for by the scholars of both schools, and naturally all the children were present at the ceremony and were highly delighted with the proceedings. Two of the female scholars carried the books to the desk, and a member of the boys’ Bible class read the address and made the presentation, the scholars all standing and singing the well-known hymn, “Holy Bible Book Divine,” &c. The Rev. James Paterson thanked the children for the gift, and delivered a short address. The Bev. Mr. Fraser and Mr Young (late of Kaitoka) also addressed the children, and a very pleasant afternoon was spent. It is needless to say that the books are very nicely bound, and are excellent specimens of the printers’ art. Last Friday’s Gazette contains proclamations forming new districts for Tokomairiro and Western Otago District, under Debtor and Creditors Act, 1875 ; districts under Marriage Act, 1875 ; delegating powers under 7tb, 10th, 12th, 13th, and 42nd sections of the Marine Act .to the Otago Harbor Board, and revocation of powers previously granted under the Act to the Superintendent; Order in Council appointing Edward Shaw warden of the Nelson south-west goldfields and justice of the peace for the colony ; appointing newspapers gazettes under the Debtor and Creditors Act ; William Morrison is appointed Lieutenant in the Rangitikei Rifles ; J ohn Thompson Love, of Wellington, tinsmith, has been granted a patent for gas-light controller and improver ; a list of the clergymen registered under the Marriage Act is published ; also, under Medical Practitioners Act, list of registered practitioners ; Land Transfer Act notices, &c.

A peculiar circumstance in connection with the breakage of the cable is that there are no indications of chafing, even at the extreme end which has been recovered. The wire covering is much oxidised in several places, particularly at the spot where the break occurred, and there are strong reasons for supposing that the rupture of the cable is the result of chemical action on the wire covering. What forces were at work to produce the excessive oxidation is a problem, but the existence of a sulphur spiing at the spot where the fracture occurred, or the presence of copper in the rocks upon which it rested, are suggested as solutions. It is well known that some of the rocks in the vicinity of the Strait are highly impregnated with copper, and the frequency of earthquakes in this province has been by some persons attributed to a disturbing cause, situate in or near the Strait, so that either hypothesis may possibly be correct. If so, the process of oxidation will continually _be going on, and much trouble may be anticipated.

Preparations were commenced on Monday for the erection of the fountain presented by Mr. John Martin to the citizens of Wellington. It will occupy the. extreme angle, of the small reserve lying between Featherston-street and Lambton-quay, in front of the new Union Bank. In connection with this subject, we may mention that the following letter was received some time ago by Mr. Martin :—“ My dear Sir, —It affords me very great gratification to be the medium of communicating to you the thanks of the City Council for your munificent gift of a public thinking fountain to the citizens of Wellington. Some little delay has unavoidably arisen in its erection, but it will ere long occupy the site chosen for it, and I have no doubt will prove highly useful as well as ornamental. It may be that your spirited example will be followed by other wealthy townsmen, until our city—largely en-

dowed with natural beauty—shall have added to it a fair measure of artistic adornment. Again, thanking you most heartily in the name of the citizens of Wellington, I am, &c., William Hutchison, Mayor.” We understand the Mayor has a plan for enclosing and ornamenting the whole of the limited reseive on which °it is intended the fountain shall stand. He expects to carry out his purpose by public subscription, and as it is the first thing of the kind which has been proposed for the beautifying of the city, we hope the effort will be attended with success. John Thornton was cutting down a tree at Liverpool, New South Wales, when it fell aid nearly severed his leg. He completed the severance, and crawled a mile for assistance. A gentleman fishing in the harbor yesterday, after waiting in vain for eatable fish to hook themselves on the lines hung out, suddenly perceived a great strain on a large line, and on hauling it in discovered that he had caught a shark fully seven feet long ; he shortly afterwards caught a large eel. The Ilobart Town Mercury relates that in September last a man named Lloyd, while driving a valuable young mare in a dray, managed through carelessness, to upset the cart. He was so severely injured that he died, and the mare was also so much hurt that it was thought she must be shot. Her owner, however took great care of her, and she so recovered that by the use of a boot with a wooden shoe she is now able to canter about with other horses, although she has only three feet, the fourth having been amputated to save her life ; it was the near fore foot at the joint. The Resident Magistrate’s Court business yesterday was as follows :—William Blander, on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, was remanded for eight days, as his manners were eccentric, and he appeared to be suffering the effects of heavy drinking. Thomas Williams, an old offender, was charged with being an habitual drunkard, and remanded for eight days. Isaac Arkwan and John Wenan, seamen, were carged with desertion from the ship Pleiades. It appeared that they left the ship on Saturday last and went to Blenheim, where the police were communicated with by Inspector Atchison, and the men were forwarded to Wellington under arrest. They were sentenced to twelve weeks’ imprisonment each, the captain to have the right to demand their release, whenever he shall be ready to sail. Patrick Kyle, a respectable-looking man, on suspicion of lunacy, was remanded for eight days. A sensational incident disturbed the usual quiet of Lyell’s Bay on Saturday. A son of Mr. Baker, clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, was walking on the beach when a boy came along on a horse, which shied and knocked Mr. Baker down, afterwards kicking him in the face. The horse planted the front of its hoof on the bridge of the nose, but fortunately no serious result is anticipated, although the consequence might have been instantaneous death had the kick been heavier. There were a few pedestrians on the beach at the time, having proceeded to the Bay to see the whales. These gentlemen at once rendered what assistance was in their power at the time, and Mr. Williams, of the telegram department, who happened to be passing at the time, very kindly placed his horse at the service of the young man, who was conveyed from the spot on the horse’s back, a man walking on each side. After proceeding in this way for some distance they met a vehicle, in which Mr. Baker was taken to his residence, and there received medical aid. On enquiry on Sunday a reporter ascertained that Mr. Baker was getting along much better than might reasonably have been expected. Gallagher, the man who, while on leave of absence from the Lunatic Asylum, so maddened himself by drinking that he ran a perfect muck in one of the streets of the city, and was therefore arrested, was brought before the Resident Magistrate’s Court on remand on Tuesday morning. The Bench recommitted him to the asylum. Possibly no alternative offered, as the law now stands, but the sooner an alteration is made the better, for the country cannot afford to pamper in idleness men like Gallagher, who on all principles of justice hould have been placed on the list of penal servitors. Putting on one side the sentimental rubbish written about liberating dangerous lunatics and so forth, a consideration of the plain facts lead to this conclusion. According to the evidence of Mr. Seager, the energetic keeper of the asylum, Gallagher was admitted into the asylum about twelve months . ago in a very bad state. The treatment lie received soon reduced him to comparative docility, and in a few months he became perfectly sane. He remained so for a considerable time, and Dr. France seeing no probability of a relapse into his former condition, certified that he was eligible for discharge. The keeper of the asylum, therefore, obtained an order for his discharge ; but it must be stated an error was here made. Mr. Travers, the Inspector, being absent, the Superintendent of the province was applied to for an order of discharge, which he gave, though according to the Act the order should have been given by the Inspector. However, the order was made and acted upon. The patient was dismissed a thoroughly sane man ; but enjoined not to drink, as indulgence in alcoholic liquor would undoubtedly affect his brain. Notwithstanding the warning, he got drunk, temporary loss of reason followed, and while in this condition, he broke the common peace. Why should such a man not be punished as a criminal ? Mackay gets drunk, delirium tremens supervenes, and in his madness he breaks a few panes of glass. For this he is held responsible—the Chief Justice tells him drunkenness is no excuse—if he consciously gets drunk, he must answer for unconscious acts—and he is sent to gaol. Wherein lies the difference between the cases ? If Mackay was responsible, clearly so was Gallagher. He is now quite sane ; but instead of undergoing punishment for his offence, is eating the bread of idleness at the expense of the country, and shutting out from the benefits of the asylum men who are fit candidates for admission.

GRAPPLING FOR THE CABLE. '.(FROM OUR OWN * CORRESPONDENT.) On board Government p.s. Luna, Cook Strait, Monday, 8.45 a.m. There is really nothing to narrate this mornin°\ The Luna was kept under easy steam from the time she left the wharf this morning. There was no necessity to hurry, as it was known that the Egmont could not be out upon the fishing ground before ten or eleven; and it would be dangerous for the Luna to remain long hooked to the cable with such a heavy southerly swell rolling against her as there is on now and has been all the morning. We are now only holding our ground for another hour or so before grappling, and about which time the Egmont is expected to show up. Apart from the heavy ocean roll, the sea is smooth and the wind light, so that one can scarcely realise the fact that it would be dangerous to go on with the work; but those who understand such matters say ihat if the vessel gave one of those unusually heavy lurches which she takes every few minutes it might damage the cable, and probably snap it at the sharp angle where the grapnel holds it, and as our submarine cable represents in round numbers about £30,000', it is laudable that every care should be taken to avoid seriously impairing it in any way. Very sanguine hopes are entertained that, even if nothing more is done, one end of the cable will be hooked to-day, then cut and transferred on board the Egmont. As a telegraph operator and an instrument are on board the Egmont, communication with Wellington will be had at once, provided that no intermediate injury to the wire exists. There is just the slightest shade of fear that such an undesirable a thing may be in existence, as it is known that a good deal of the Wellington side of the Strait is rocky. There are indications of the sea becoming smoother. The Tui is alongside at 9 a.m. Since the Tui left us this morning a good deal was done, and done in a smoother and more expeditious manner than any of the cable work got through yet. Things seemed to have settled down into grooves, and everybody seemed to know his proper place, and the work was carried on quietly and without the least confusion. The failures and experiences of last week made the road to success more easy and certain. At present it might be premature to say that the operations of the day, taken as a whole, constitute a triumph or not. Perhaps it would be nearest to truth to say there has been a little of both. There is a mixture of satisfaction and regret. We are satisfied with what has been done, but would rather that we had not to do it in the way it was. The more certain way of giving a clear idea of the labors of the day will be to take seriatim the circumstances of the day’s labor as they eropped up. When the Tui left us this morning preparations were made for getting out a buoy to buoy the cable when picked up, this time a thin wire rope that would offer but little resisting surface to the tide being ready for use. The grapnel was thrown over in a very strong tide and heavy swell, with a good stiff breeze. This cast was not successful. Sufficient margin was not allowed for the force of the tide. Another cast was made, but again unsuccessfully, the grapnel showing when hauled up that it had undergone some very rough usage. while dragging on the bottom. . It had evidently been dragging most, if not all the distance over the rocks. One prong was broken short off, a.nd the others were a good deal scratched without being bright, as was the case when a sandy bottom was dragged over. The disabled grapnel accounted for some tremendous tugs that shook the ship from stem to stern, and on one occasion brought the winding engine to a stand-still. It was a source of no little gratification to see how well the tackle lstood such a great strain, though it could not be expected that it would defy a series of such severe tests. As there was good reason to suppose that we had been too near the original break, there was nothing for it but to steam more to the eastward and southward and have another try. By this time the Egmont was alongside to tender if required. As the wind and tide required all the power of the steamer to contend against them, steam was got up in both boilers, and every care was taken that the cable should not be missed that time. After a good deal of rough dragging, the indications of being fast were more attractive than the sound of the dinner bell, and the midday meal was postponed half an hour, everyone being absorbed in watching the tautened chain and rope. The strain upon the latter steadily increased, until at one time the utmost point of tension seemed to have been reached. ' The full power of the winding machinery appeared to have been reached, and every moment something was expected to give way. The first thing to snap was a tooth of the large driving, wheel attached to the drum. Another ominous jerk and quiver, and all thought the cable had again slipped from our grasp. It turned out not to be so bad as that, though the result was a little annoying. After hauling in some slack, the strain again increased, though it was nothing like what it had been before the last snap. It was at once surmised that the cable had been broken in a fresh place and that the piece was coming up. _ It hung, over the prong of the grapnel as limp as a piece of rope. After sufficient was got upon deck it was at once cut and tested by Mr. Floyd, the electrician of the party, but there was no electrical response whatever, so that any lingering doubts as to the cable having been broken were removed. Unmistakeable evidence had been obtained of the rocky nature of the bottom, and the way the cable appeared to have been laid created anything but a good opinion of those answerable for the work in the minds of those on board the Luna, The appearance of the cable —and a very remarkable appearance it presented —as it was hauled in, amply proved that its only resting points had been a rock pinnacle here and there. The length of the piece broken off before it was cut was 1267 fathoms ; but that, is now in two

pieces—one 70 and the other 1197 fathoms—all of which is coiled away in the hold of the Luna. A considerable portion was practically as sound as when laid down, but in parts a ~ good deal of oxidation was noticeable, though not sufficient to impair the cable, which, if laid upon a good bottom, would no doubt last at least another ten years.' The amount and variety of vegetable and animal life clinging to the cable was an interesting site, and enough to send a naturalist into ecstasies. There appeared to be an endless variety of seaweeds and mosses, of shells and slugs, anemones, and a thousand and one strange forms of marine life quite new to the ordinary observer. In places the cable looked like a gigantic string of bananas. At others it was adorned by bulbous and knobby looking growth resembling pineapples. Some beautiful and delicate specimens of clear white and vermilion coral were secured. Amongst the shells were diminutive oysters, fluted cockles, and enormous barnacles, some of the latter being of a delicate rose color. There were brilliant colored mosses and sponges, and what might be called sea ferns, interspersed occasionally with pendant bunches of bright and many-colored berries. The whole mass was teeming with worms and animalcules that would be a treat to look at if placed under a microscope. Even young octopods had their home in the mass of vegetation which enveloped the cable. Other parts came up clean and bright without a trac 3 of any growth whatever. The work of winding in occupied something over two hours, and as the afternoon was well advanced, with a nasty sea tossing the vessel about, and the breeze freshening, it was deemed inadvisable to do anything more that day, and the Luna was put back to Worsens Bay for the night, .Dr. Lemon and Mr. Floyd coming on to Wellington by the Egmont, which has been engaged to tender the Luna for a few days. What the next step will be is not yet decided upon. An altogether new idea in connection with recovering the cable has been discussed and received with considerable favor, and as it is not without attractiveness, the public will no doubt feel interested in the matter. It is pretty certain that all the cable between White’s Bay and the original break is in capital condition, and likely to remain so for an indefinite period. It is equally certain that a very large portion of the cable on the other side of the break has been laid over very rocky ground, and the probability is that there are more corroded and weak patches than the two that have been proved to be so. Forty-two nautical miles o£ cable were laid, and as that is more than ought to be necessary if laid in a direct line of any kind, it is considered that there is an unnecessary amount of slack, and that a good deal of that might be utilised to replace the present defective parts. The argument educed from these facts is that it would be wise to lift a few miles of the cable in Lyell’s Bay, which is reasonably supposed to be in good condition, pick up the White’s Bay end, and splice it with, that taken up in Lyell’s Bay, and then land ifc at Otorongo Bay, effecting communication with Wellington by means of a short land line over the intervening ranges. This plan has a good deal to recommend it, but it will be understood that it is one merely under consideration, not decided upon.

Tuesday, January 13.

Dr. Lemon and the gentlemen who went ashore last night in the Egmont returned to the Luna this morning about 1.30. As it was understood that the plan whicli had been under discussion the previous day was not to be adopted, or at least not until that at present being carried out failed entirely, the end of the cable picked up yesterday was put round the drum, passed overboard, and the end of it buoyed. We then proceeded to pay out the remainder of the piece in a circular course in front of the Pilot Station. We were an hour and a half at the job before all the cable was out of the hold. Owing to the drum being so close to the hold, where the cable is coiled, it comes up rather fast, and as there is no strain to keep it close to the surface of the drum wheel, the work of paying out does not proceed with the same regularity and smoothness as in hauling in. It was midday before we got to the scene of operations anil began to grapple once more for the Wellington end. Several casts were made, but all were unsuccessful. Various reasons for this were given, but as there was some discreprancy, none were considered to be entirely satisfactory; and the day’s work was on the whole rather unsatisfactory. One thing was made abundantly clear. The bottom was very rocky and irregular in depth, sudden shoaling and deepening being far too frequent. This made the work of grappling exceedingly difficult and uncertain. The wind, and sea rose in the afternoon, so much so as to render hopeless the idea of doing any more of that kind of work that day. We put into Otorong Bay, with the view of sounding from there to where the original break was, so as to ascertain the nature of the bottom. The Luna was anchored in about seven fathoms of water, with a sandy bottom running into the shore. The mode of sounding was to heave the lead every two and a half or three minutes, or equal to quarter mile distances. The course was south and by east, but as the tide was very powerful and rapid, there was very considerable deflection towards Sinclair Head. The following is a list of the soundings taken:

The last few casts cut up the lead considerably. As it was getting late the steamer was headed for Worser’s Bay, where she anchored for the night. An early start is to be made

to-morrow morning, so as to grapple the cable during the.ebb tide, which will be more favorable than the flood. Wednesday, January 19. Yesterday’s ill success seemed to have no depressing effect. All was activity at an unearthly hour this morning, and long before the sleepers had any idea of rousing themselves, the trampling of feet and rattling of chains showed that grappling had been commenced. By 7 o’clock several casts had been made ; but there was no luck. We were either on the wrong line, or else the ruggedness of the rock bottom caused the grapnel to jump too much. The ship was frequently brought up ; but only till the hawser came perpendicular under the bow, when it used to relieve itself by a jerk, and a fresh cast had to be made, the position being shifted more or less each time. About breakfast-time, we were hooked without any mistake. The strain became greater and greater as the weight rose from the bottom. The engine, which had been running in single gear, was brought to a stand-still, and had to be thrown into double gear. This made the strain slower, steadier, and more powerful. The hawser creaked and groaned—“talking” sailors call it—so ominously, and stretched so much that it was expected to snap momentarily. The cable, or whatever had been grappled, was over 30 fathoms off the bottom. There were 30 more to come in. Suddenly a cog of the driving wheel flew, then another and another snapped, and apprehensions were felt that the wheel would take a run and strip, sending its teeth flying in all directions. Another revolution, and it looked as if it would do so, for four cogs snapped all together, and the engine had to be stopped to prevent an accident. Here was a quandary. It was impossible to make another revolution with the same strain on. And even if the machinery bad not broken the hauling-in hawser was ready to do so. It seemed to be like a camel wanting the last feather to break his back. If anything was to be done it should be quickly. The appearance of the hawser showed there was no time to hesitate. After a moment s consultation Captain Fairchild bent a spare grapnel to a Europe rope, and took a few turns around the steamer’s shaft, and set the engines to work. This took the weight off the first rope and grapnel, but very few feet were gained by this plan before the Europe rope snapped. A fresh turn was taken, but it snapped again very soon. A very fine new five-inch Manilla hawser was let down over the bow with the third grapnel. This also took hold, and relieved the other two of the strain upon them. There was no doubt as to the strength of the shaft, and the power of the steamer was more than sufficient to lift what was on, but unfortunately the gear possessed only a modicum of these qualities, and it became perfectly clear that as the strain increased in proportion as the surface was neared, something must go, and as the machinery would in any case have to be repaired before the work in hand could be carried out, it was decided to make a virtue of necessity by allowing the cable to slip back to its bed, extricate the grapnels, if possible, and then buoy the lot. This was successfully performed, and after allowing the steamer to drift along the cable, the third grapnel disengaged itself, and was hauled in. The other two, however, were not to be loosened, and they and all the rope attached to them are now lying along with the cable. Before parting with the hawsers, a couple of flagged buoys were attached to them by a thin but strong wire rope, well calculated for such work in such a tide from the fact of the slight resisting tide presented. It was calculated that the cable was grappled over a mile from the break, and that the strain was still further increased by the cable beingjammed somewhere under an overhanging rock, or in some such way. A new driving-wheel will have to cast before operations will be resumed.

The bearings of the buoy are as follow : From Sinclair Head, S., 40deg. W., distant, ox miles ; from Karori Rock, S., 20deg. E., distant 2% miles.

CITY COUNCIL. Thursday, January 20. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Moss, Gillon, Cleland, Rainie, and Pharazyn. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and adopted. outward correspondence. Letters to John Henderson, C.E. (re street tramways) ; to Mr. Jaclcson, wharfinger ; and to Captain Mundle, piermaster, were read. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. Prom Messrs KLrull and Co., enclosing an account. —Referred to Finance Committee. From his Honor the Superintendent, as follows : Superintendent’s Office, Wellington, 10th January, 1876. Sir, —Referring to a promise made by me to your •predecessor in office, touching the re-survey of the city of Wellington, I have the honor to inform you that the Commissioner of Crown Lands reports the work to be completed. The Chief Surveyor of the province of AVellington, Mr. H. Jackson, in a memorandum to the Commissioner, states that he has tested by calculations the traverses executed by Mr. Briscoe, and that they have all come within the small limits of error of q-link in ten chains on level ground, and f-links in the same distance on hilly ground. The work lias been performed, and drawn to a scale of one chain to an inch, and is on twenty-seven sheets of elephant drawing paper. The compilation will not be undertaken at present, but I shall be prepared to give instructions which will enable any draughtsman you may employ to take tracings of the work, and copies of field books, which will, as I am informed, afford ample data for the preparation of working plans. Under these circumstances, I have directed the promised payment of a bonus for work so well done to Mr. Briscoe. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, William Fitzhf.rbf.rt, Superintendent. To his Worship the Mayor of Wellington. The Mayor suggested that the levels of the city in connection with the surveys should be now taken. Councillor Cleland moved That the Mayor be requested to confer .with the Super-

intendent in order-to-have the services of an officer for taking the levels. Councillor Gillon proposed that the letter be referred to the Public Works Committee. Councillor Moss seconded. The letter was ultimately referred to the Public Works Committee.

From the Botanical Garden Board, asking for a- portion of the Town Belt rents, £3. It was resolved to pay the amount. An apjilication from Mr. J. M. Taylor, valuator, for a payment of £6O on account. It was resolved that £55 be paid to Mr. Taylor. TENDERS FOR FORMATION OF HAINING-STREET. Before opening the tenders the Mayor said that several parties had waited on him to say that the plan proposed, if carried out, would be most injurious. A deputation from the inhabitants of. Hain-ing-street were in attendance, and said they were in favor of the original plan thrown aside for that now adopted. It was moved that the tenders should not be opened until next meeting, and in the meantime the plans should be open for the inspection of the inhabitants of Haining-street. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES’ REPORT. Gentlemen, —I have the honor to make the following reports : 1. That during the last fortnight I have impounded twelve head of cattle, and made the usual charge of Is. per head. 2. That the drainage of Mr. AY. AA r . Taylor’s premises in Old Custom House-street lias_ been completed, and the street beside them, which was such a nuisance and eyesore to people passing, is now as clean as any in the city. 8. That large quantities of rotten onions and potatoes, and putrid fish are frequently thrown on the beach in Old Custom House-street, and such a large quantity of the latter on the 12tli inst., that I got a man from the City Surveyor to bury them, when altogether there was about a cart load. To put a stop to this practice I would respectfully suggest that the place be fenced in. 4. That the drainage of part of Artliur-street is so bad that I have consideredjit necessary to draw the attention of the Mayor and Councillor Greenfield to it. The proprietors of several houses will drain immediately, and undertake that others shall do the same, provided that an outlet be provided them by the Corporation. Tliis I believe can be done by taking a drain across Cuba-street- to the open drain, a distance of about thirty-five yards. Referred to Public Works Committee.

WHARF COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The committee recommended that an offer of £6OO be made to Mr. Jackson for the plant, wool presses, &c., his property, and at present in use on the wharf, to be handed over on the Ist February next, in good order. And that in the event of his refusing that offer, that he then be offered £IOO as a rental for said plant, &c., for a period of three months, from the Ist February next. The Mayor was instructed to negotiate with Mr. Jackson. On the Surveyor’s report of the 17til instant, re mooring posts, pointing out certain defects in the timber, it was agreed that the posts as supplied be accepted, though not strictly according to order, and that Councillors Dransfield and Mills be a sub-com-mittee to arrange the account for the same with Mr. ’AVilliams. The Mayor said he had had a conversation with Mr. Jackson, who had declined the offer, hut had suggested an alternative, one involving a valuation, which he (the Mayor) declined, and he was glad to say that they could now procure all the necessary plant outside of Mr. Jackson. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. On the application of Mr. Masters, the committee recommend that a sum not exceeding £5 be spent in repairs to Hay-street. The committee advise that the contract for lighting the street lamps be continued as before for a further period of three months. In respect to formation, &c„ of Haining-street, and in inspecting the plans prepared by the City Surveyor, the committee are of opinion that it should be an instruction to the City Surveyor not to exeeed 18in. in deptli of cutting or filling in any part of said street. On the application of Mr. I. Plimmer, that the drain in Kent-terrace, nortlx of Majoribank-street, may be covered in, the committee recommend that if the residents iu the neighborhood deposit with the Town Clerk £3O, the work be carried out. With respect to Messrs. Poulson and Sellars’ petition re AVoolcombe-street, the committee recommend that Messrs. Poulson and Hunter be requested to move their fences to the proper line, and that the required footway, as proposed by the Surveyor, be carried out at a cost not exceeding £SO. AVitli regard to the drainage of premises in AVillisstreet, as reported on by the Inspector of Nuisances in his report of the 6th inst., the committee' advise that the Inspector be authorised to extend the drainage, on the persons benefiting paying the cost of the work. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The report was read and adopted as follows : 1. .The committee suggest that what is required for the proper keeping of the Council’s accounts is a simple form of double entry, namely, a cash-book (to be kept by the receiver of the money, and to specify the particular department for which the payment is made)- -a journal, to be entered up once a month — and a ledger,—and they recommend these books to be commenced forthwith. The accounts to start from the Ist day of October last. 2. Tlxe whole of the accounts should be kept in one set of books, and not scattered over a large number of separate books. 3. AYliile tlxe committee recognise tlxe propriety and even necessity of keeping the accounts of the several departments of the Council’s finance distinct and separate in the Council’s books, the}' fail to see any necessity for having the bank account split up into several separate accounts, and recommend that there should be bixt one bank account for the Council’s moneys. APPOINTMENT OF WHARF OFFICIALS. It was resolved to consider these applications in committee of the whole Council. MOTIONS. Councillor Gillon moved—That in order to secure the efficient and economical administration of the affairs of the city, it is necessary that the departmental arrangements should be entirely reorganised, and that in order to leave this Council perfectly free in making fresh arrangements, it is desirable that three months’ notice of the termination of their existing engagements should forthwith be given to all three permanent officers of the Corpoi-ation. He disclaimed any sinister motives in connection with his action in this matter. Councillor George seconded.

After discussion, during which Councillors Dransfield, Moss, Rainie, and Greenfield opposed the motion, and the Mayor deprecated blaming the officers for things that were really largely the Council’s fault, Mr. Gillon having replied, the motion was put and There voted : Ayes—Councillors Gillon, Cleland, Pharazyn, George. Noes—Councillors Milts, Moss, Dransfield. Rainie, Greenfield.

Councillor Pharazyn moved—-That, considering the financial position of the Corporation, no salary should be voted for the Mayor during the current year. In moving this Councillor Pharazyn said, as usual, his motives had been altogether misinterpreted by the Press, and he hoped the motion would not be carried.

The motion was not seconded, and therefore lapsed. The Council then rose.

SUPREME COURT.—IN BANCO. Thursday, January 20. (Before his Honor the Chief Justice.) SOMERVILLE V. GROVES.

This was an appeal from a decision of the Resident Magistrate at Wellington, and in its details was rather complicated ; but the leading features of the ease were:—Plaintiff some time before the commencement of the action, while in Dunedin, had seen in the workshop of defendants the body of a landau carriage. There was some conversation at the time, resulting in the defendants promising to let the plaintiff know thepriceofitwhenfxnished by the defendants, so that he might have an opportunity of becoming the purchaser. The plaintiff, who resides in Wellington, received shortly after the Bth October, 1874, a letter of that date from the defendants at Dunedin, stating that they had completed the carriage, and that the price was £IBO. This offer was not accepted ; and on the 17th of November following the plaintiff telegraphed to know if the carriage was still open for sale, to which the defendants replied by telegram that it was, and in November the plaintiff telegraphed to know the lowest cash price, to which the defendants answered that the price would be £l3O delivered at Dunedin. The plaintiff telegraphed that he would give that price delivered in Wellington. There was then a telegram from the defendants declining. On the 23rd November 1 , the plaintiff telegraphed as follows :—“ Will give £l3O ; add freight and insurance. Ship per Albion. Reply paid.— Robt. Somerville.” The carriage was sent as ordered, and the defendants drew upon the plaintiff at sight for the price, and for freight and charges. On its arrival in Wellington, plaintiff was dissatisfied with the cai’riage as fitted up, and refused to accept it or the draft. After this evidence had been taken, the defendant’s counsel raised several points of law, including that of want of jurisdiction. The Resident Magistrate took time to consider his decision, and adjourned the same until Thursday, the 4th of March, 1875, when he decided that the cause of action did not wholly arise in the Dunedin Resident Magistrate’s district, and that the plaintiff was entitled to nominal damages for breach of contract, fixed at twenty shillings, together with costs. Appeal by the defendants was brought upon the following grounds :—l. That the cause of action arose wholly in the Dunedin Resident Magistrate’s district, and consequently that the jurisdiction to decide the case was not in the Resident Magistrate for the Wellington district, before whom the case had been brought. 2. That the amount involved took the case out of the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, which in Wellington is limited to £SO. A preliminary discussion took place, in which the Chief Justice expressed a doubt whether the Court had any materials to base its decision, because the case stated did contain the facts found by the Resident Magistrate, which induced him to decide that the cause of action solely arose in Dunedin. The Supreme Court could not go into the evidence and say upon that evidence the Resident Magistrate was wrong. All the Court could do was to say whether or not a magistrate had properly applied the law to a series of facts found upon the evidence brought before him ; but if a magistrate’s conclusions of fact were not stated, how could the Court give a decision as to the correctness of his conclusions of law.

Eventually Mr. Hutchison elected to go on, taking his stand upon the case as it was, being unwilling to allow it to he struck out, as he would have no power to call upon the Resident Magistrate to state a case. The case before the Court had been stated under agreement by the solicitors of either party. Mr. Hutchison contended the Wellington Court had no jurisdiction. The contract was made at the place at which the telegram arrived. The telegram ordering the carriage was despatched from Wellington, but it was acted upon in Dunedin, and in Dunedin the contract was therefore made. The whole cause of action, therefore, arose in Dunedin. (Newcombe v. De Roos, 29L.J., N.S., Q.B. 4.) The delivery was in Dunedin according to the terms. The price was not altered, but the place of delivery was, and no better proof of acceptance of delivei’y was the remark inspecting freight and insurance and the definite instruction to ship by a particular vessel. (Brown v. Hare, 4 H. and N". 822, and 29 L. J., N\S., Ex'. 6.) As to what constituted cause _of action, that was the cause for complaint, and wherever the cause for complaint was oiven, there the cause of action ai'ose. (Vaughan v. Weldon, 44 L.J., C.P. 64 ; Jackson v. Spittal, 39 L.J. C.R. 321.) As the decision of the Resident Magistrate, notwithstanding the fact that the claim was limited to £SO, affected an agreement involving £l3O, it was in contravention of the Resident Magistrate’s Act, and was bad. It was an estoppel if he had jurisdiction, if it was not an estoppel then he had no jurisdiction. (Otago and Southland Investment Company v. Burns, 2 N.Z. Court Appeal Rep. 570, 573.) In reply to Mr. Travers, who asked if it were necessary for him to argue his side of the case,

The Chief Justice said at present he was of a different opinion to Mi\ Hutchison respecting the second objection to the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate, and he could scarcely believe that Mr. Justice Richmond’s judgment in the case Otago v. Southland Insurance Company supported the view put forward by counsel. As to the other part of his argument, he thought the difficulty was that the

case was not properly stated, and if this were so, the best course would surely be to go before the Magistrate and ask him to state his conclusions of fact upon which he arrived at the conclusion of law that his Court had jurisdiction. However, if the parties could not agree to do this, counsel had better proceed with his argument. Mr. Travers submitted that the verdict of the Magistrate was perfectly good, and that the cause of action arose as much in Wellington as it did in Dunedin. He cited in support a recent case, Trevor and another v. Wilkinson, 31 L.T. N.S. 731, in which it was laid down that the drawing of a bill of exchange was sufficient to give the court of the district in which it was drawn jurisdiction, notwithstanding that it was accepted out of the place. Iu this case, the contract having been made by correspondence, had been in fact made in both places, and each disti’ict had jurisdiction, and it was not necessary that the action should he where the breach of contract happened to take place. Eor instance, if an agreement were made in Wellington between two pex-sons, the one binding the other to deliver a cargo of rice in Fiji, and the contract was not carried oxxt, the nondelivery would be a breach of contract, but it would be absurd to say the breach of contract was wholly in Fiji. Then again, if the jurisdiction was disputed, why had defendant not objected to it at the outset. He chose to go on with the case, to cross-examine witnesses, to consent to postponements ; he went into the merits of the case first, and afterwards objected to the jurisdiction. Under such circumstances an appeal would not lie. Mr. Hutchison replied, urging that Newcome and De Roos covered the ground of Mr. Travers’ fii’st argument, and as to the other part, objection to the jurisdiction of the Court was taken at the conclusion of plaintiff’s case. His Honor reserved his decision. WISDOM V. WHITE. Mr. Hutchison moved the Court to make absolute the rule nisi, granted on a previous occasion, setting aside a conviction by the Wanganui Resident Magistrate. There was no opposition, and the Court granted a rule absolute. GRIFFIN V. BRANDON. Demurrer to defendant’s plea. Mr. Hutchison for plaintiff, and Mr. Gordon Allen for defendant. After a slight discussion on a preliminary point, the matter was ordered to stand over till next day, as there was probability of a. settlement out of Court being effected. SAMUEL V. DUNN. Argument on demurrer to plaintiff’s declaration. Mr. Izard for defendant, Mr. Hutchison for plaintiff. Plaintiff had leased land to defendant, and as default had been made in payment of therent, he brought an action of ejectment. It was not alleged in the declaration that a demand for rent had been made on the day the rent became due according to the custom at common law, or that six month’s rent was in arrears and that there was not sufficient distress upon the land according to statute law. Defendant therefore complains that the declaration was bad, as iu failing to set this forth plaintiff had failed to allege that he had the right of re-entiy, or that he had any title to the land. Mr. Izard cited the case of Dowsefct v. Stilling, decided by Mr. Justice Johnston as on all fours with this case, and quoted from the recoi-ds to show that such a demurrer was allowed by that learned Judge. Mr. Hutchison argued that as the declaration alleged demand had been made that was sufficient, and if this were not large enough, the proper course for defendant to have taken would have been to take out a summons in Chambers, and not put the parties to the expense of the tedious process attendant upon demurring. It was a matter of evidence and not of pleading. Mr. Izard having replied, His Honor gave judgment, and said : —I think the demurrer must be allowed on the ground that even if the allegation of demand having been made appeared in the declaration, which I think questionable, demand in accordance with the requirements of the common law is not alleged. It was necessary for plaintiff, in order to show he has a right to re-enter under the lease, to have alleged that he made such demand as the common law makes indispensable. It is quite true the third paragraph of the declaration alleges that default in the payment of the rent had been made for twenty-one days, and that demand was made for the said rent, but that was not sufficient. It is necessary to allege on what day the demand was made, namely, the last day of the twenty-one days, the very day on which it became due. More than this, it is necessary to allege the hour of the day—if it was demanded in the early part of the day, or the middle of the day, that was not a proper demand. It was necessary to show that the demand was made at a “ convenient hour before sunset.”' It was necessary to make it on the land. There is nothing here in this declai-ation alleging these things; it does not, I think, show whether or not any demand was really made. For these reasons, I think the demux-rer must be allowed, and with costs. I quite concur ■with the judgment of Mr. Justice Johnson in the case Dowsett v. Stilling. A demurrer by plaintiff to defendant’s plea was ordered to stand over till next day. The Court then adjourned.

IMMIGRATION RETURNS. We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Elliott for the following return showing the immigration to this province during the yeax* ended December 31st, 1875 :

WELLINGTON AND HUTT BUILDING SOCIETY. The first annual meeting of the above society was held in Mr. Wallace’s axxction room last evening, G. H. Vennell, Esq., being elected to the chair. A letter was read from W. M. Bannatyne, Esq., regretting his inability to attend. The Chairman commented on the favorable report which the committee were enabled to present, and said there had been some doubt on the inauguration of this project, but those doubts had been completely removed since their Hutt friends had joined them ; and the happy results, as the report showed, were due and were creditable to the union of the two districts. He then moved the adoption of the report, and called upon the secretary to read it. The report was as follows : The committee of management have pleasure in reporting that the operations of the society have been very successful. The number of shares now on the register is 8681, held by 187 shareholders. Of these, have been realised at a premium of £lO, giving an income of £SB ss. monthly from redemptions, in addition to £217 2s. 6d. from subscriptions. Sixteen more shares have been realised, but are not chargeable with redemptions till this month. The committee having authorised the issue of debentures. in accordance with the Building and Land Societies’ Act, 1866, have obtained from that source £2410, and from payments in advance on shares £475 10s. 9d. These amounts, together with the bank overdraft, £1559 16s. lid., have enabled the committee to afford the large amount of assistance to shareholders represented by mortgages for £8220. As the demand for money does not diminish, the committee hope to circulate the Society’s debentures to the full amount authorised by law, and with the proceeds realise a much larger number of shares at an earlier period than they otherwise could. From the profit and loss account it •will be seen that the profit is £1172 6s. 7d. This, divided among S6Bl- shares, gives a profit of £1 7s. each. In July it was decided to increase the entrance fee to ss. per share, and the committee have now increased it to £l. The following members of committee retire, but offer themselves for re-election :—Messrs. Duncan, T. Mills, and Toxward. The annual meeting will be held at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, the 20th inst., at Mr. Wallace’s auction room, when shareholders are invited to attend either in person or by another shareholder holding a proxy. An audited balance-sheet is forwarded herewith. Geo. H. Tribe, Secretary Wellington and Hutt Building Society. Wellington, January 12, 1576. Financial Statement, First Year, ending 31st December, 1875.

£S2S3 4 3 We, the undersigned auditors, hereby certify that we have examined the account books, authorisations vouchers, mortgage deeds, and other securities of ■“The Wellington and Hutt Building Society, 1875,” and compared them with the above balance-sheet, and found them to be all correct. W. It. Waters. Thos. W. Pilcher. Mr. Duncan, in seconding the adoption of the. report, said he thought the success of the society so far was largely attributable to the energy of the Secretary, and the economy which had been exercised in all the society’s business. The report was adopted unanimously. Mr. Brandon, M.H.R., moved a vote of thanks to the committee for the attention to the interests of the society. M!r. Quick seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The retiring members of the committee were re-elected, as also were the auditors. Votes of thanks to the trustees, other officers and the chairman, closed the proceedings. ’

NIGHTSOIL AS MANURE. * Nightsoil ought always, if in any way practicable, be used for that which nature intended it for—namely, manure. Man and animals take their nurture from the earth, and the surplus of it, with the used-up parts of their body, return to it. Man being of social habits congregates in lai’ge numbers in certain places. Here his excrements accumulate in great quantities, which are apt, if not carefully removed, to create diseases. To dispose of these excrements various ways are adopted in various countries. The two most economical processes now in use, which allow the utilisation of the excrements as fertilisers to which they are so eminently adapted by the chemical composition of their constituent parts, are the following :—The first method, largely used on the Continent, especially in the military bari’acks, is to have six casks, of appropriate size, on low wheels for every five cesspits in use. As soon as one cask gets filled, it is simply i*emoved, and another put underneath the cesspit. The contents are at once disinfected, rapidly dried with hot air, ground up and sold as powder ; or mixed with dry clay, and sold at a cheaper rate than the former article. The excretia. as they come from the cesspits, contain the ui'ine and the foeces, and consist on an average of— ,

0 ‘771 Nitrogen (forming ammonia &c.) 0 ‘270 Phosphoric acid (P2, 05) 0 '143 Potassium oxide (K2, O) 0 '396 Sodium oxide (Na2, O) 0 'Bl4 Other ashes, consisting of the oxides of magnesium, calcium, iron, aluminium of hydrochloric, sulphuric, silicious, and carbonic acids 5 TOS Organic matter 92 'SOO Water 100 -000 One hundredweight of this composition would yield B£lbs. of dry powder, which would still retain 3 5 "per cent, of moisture, just as the driest wood would retain some 20 per cent, of moisture. This dry powder gives the following chemical analysis, to which I add for comparison an analysis of an average guano of very good quality : Name of Substances. In Dry Powder. In Guano. Water (with sand &c., in

The second method is the dry earth system, which consists of covering the fresh excrements with dry earth. Common clay (silicate of alumina, with oxide of iron), which is always the most important part of our dry earth, acts as one of the most powerful absoi’bents for ammonia, and sulphuretted ammonia, we have got. The tenacity of clay to retain ammonia stretches so far that nothing short of red heat will destroy it ; hence its importance as regards agriculture. The clay, to act at its best, must be in fine division, and this is found in common dry earth, where it is, on an average, intimately mixed with one third of sand. This latter ingredient acts solely as a diluent to keep the particles of clay loose, so that liquids, air, or gases, might percolate the earth freely, which would not be the case in pure clay. In the dry earth system, the excrements consisting of fceces and urine, get mixed with about three times their weight of dry earth. If this mixture is first properly deodorised, and dried by hot air, a manure is produced after the following description, always assuming that it does not contain more than 15 per cent, of moisture :

Pouclrettc, a French word for manure artifically prepared from excrets, as is frequently done in France, contains generally between 1'56 per cent, to 3‘S per cent, of nitrogen, and would therefore be a similar product to that received in the above way. Manures made from night-soil are especially adapted for agricultural purposes, as they are quick, but still not too energetic, in their action. The value of manure depends not only on its constituents alone, but also on the condition in which they are presented to the plants. Wool, for instance, takes six and more years to decompose, and contains 16 per cent, nitrogen. Fresh blood decomposes exceedingly rapidly, and contains three per cent. The latter, if applied pure as a manure, acts detrimentally to the plants by its too rapid decomposition. If it is, howevei-, mixed with a proper quantity of charcoal it forms a most excellent fertiliser.

Wool saturated with a ley made of common potash (woodasli) and lime, and covered with earth, and then used for manure, will show exceedingly good results, as in this state it will decompose in one year, instead of six or eight years. The same applies to bones, which in Queensland are simply thrown away. When one thinks that in one boiling-down establishment alone, in one year, 160,000 sheep were killed solely for their fat, and all the valuable refuse which amounts to at least 201 b. per sheep, or 1600 tons, was totally thrown away, it is surely easily explained why certain nutritive grasses (generally rich in potash salts) die out. It only amounts to the old story, always cropping and never returning anything. Common stable dung contains about 4-10ths per cent, of nitrogen.

To manure one acre of land properly, about four tons of such manure would be required. Of the dry powder made of the excrements, only 4cwt. or scwt. would be required. Of the manure from the dry earth system it would want from 17cwt. to 20cwt.

To calculate the value of manure, one has to consider the amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, the manure contains, always

provided the three ingredients are in such a condition a 3 to be easily available to the plant, and the soil in normal condition as to its principal constituents, like clay, sand, lime, &c. On the Continent, 1 per cent, of nitrogen in a manure is calculated to be worth 16d.; 1 per cent, of phosphoric acid, 6d. Leaving out the value of the potash, a ton of common pure nightsoil, composed as I stated in the beginning, would be worth 275., according to above valuation ; the dry powder would be worth something like £ls ; the guano would be worth £22 ; and the manure from dry earth, or pouclrettc, according to given data, nearly £4. These calculations do, as above-mentioned, refer only to prices ruling in Central Europe, and not to Australia. The usefulness of the abovementioned manure for the farmers depends very much on the circumstance if they can bear the cost of carriage. In the direct neighborhood of large cities fresh deodorised nightsoil, without any preparation whatsoever, would be the most economical ; the poudrettc for distances of 100 miles; and the dry powder for more remote parts of the country would be the best to be recommended. Stable dung with 4-10ths per cent, of nitrogen would not pay to be carried further than 10 miles, except where carriage is exceedingly cheap, as it is on the Continent during winter months, when it is often done to keep horses, &c., employed.

Cast. Fathoms. Bottom. 1 10 Coarse gravel 2 10d Bine gravel 15 4 18 Bock 23 Coarse gravel 6 25 ,, 7 30 ,, 8 40 ,, 9 35 Hard bottom 10 40 ,, 11 45 ,, 12 40 ,, 13 50 Sand 14 55 Hard bottom.

Ship. Date of Arrival. No. of Souls. No. of Adults Berar".. January 22 362 2901 Avalanche January 25 67 59 Humboldt January 28 387 315 Dallam Ton er March 17 169 1451 Bdwin Fox .. April IS 26S 2201 Hindostan May 22 190 1571 Bammershaggen July 11 420 3311 Collingwood'' July 9 265 216 Kodney August 29 4S4 396 Halcione September 5 10 91 Herschel October 23 245 Howrah November 9 295 2491 Avalanche December 3 225 186 * Quarantined.

.RECEIPTS. £ s. d. Entrance fees 113 35 0 Subscriptions 2605 10 0 Surveys ' 2 2 0 Debentures 2410 0 0 National Bank .. 1559 16 11 Premiums 1330 0 0 Redemptions .. ' .. 270 5 0 Transfer fees IS 0 0 Fines 1 11 0 Advances by shareholders 475 10 9 £8786 10 s disbursements. £ s. d. Charges 307,13 8 Preliminary Expenses .. 72 13 0 Furniture 40 11 3 Stationery 38 19 0 Mortgages S220 0 0 Interest 94 11 7 Commission 3 S 2 Cash in hand 8 14 0 £8786 10 8 PROFIT AND LOSS. £ s. d. Entrance fees 113 15 0 Premiums.. 1330 0 0 Redemptions 270 5 0 Fines and fees 21 13 0 £1735 13 0 Preliminary expenses £72 13 0 Management 311 1 10 Interest 94 11 7 Stationery and furniture 25 0 0 Liabilities.. 60 0 0 Profit, 1875 1172 6 7 £1735 13 0 LIABILITIES AND ASSETS. £ s. d. Shareholders 2605 10 0 Shareholders, balance of advance .. 475 10 9 Debentures 2410 0 0 National Rank .. 1559 10 11 Sundry creditors 60 0 0 Balance of assets 1172 C 7 £8283 4 3 Mortgages £S220 0 0 Furniture 35 11 3 Stationery IS 19 0 Cash S 14 0

guano) 15% 25-462 Nitrogen S’73S 12-200 Phosphoric acicl 3-060 12-121 Potassium oxide 1-632 0"565 Sodium 4-488 Other ashes as above mentioned 9 "322 with sodium 11 "352 Organic matter 57-860 38-300 100-000 lOO'OOO

Earth-closet Manure. Guano. Nitrogen 2'570 12-200 Phosphoric acid 0-900 12-121 Potassium oxide .. 0-480 0'565 Sodium oxide 1-320 Other ashes .. 2'710 with sodium 11'352 Organic matter 17-020 3S-300 Earth and moisture.. 75-000 25-462 100-000 100.000