GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4860, 19 October 1876, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The Legislative Council on October 10 threw out the New Zealand Forests Act Repeal Bill by 22 to 9. A meeting of the committee of the Featherston Memorial Fund was held on October 9; Mr. Woodward in the chair. The sub-com-mittee appointed at ‘ the last meeting reported the terms upon which Signori Vescovi and Sani were willing to execute the bust. Considerable discussion took place, and some modification of the terms was agreed to, subject to which being accepted by the artists, it was determined to complete the arrangements and entrust the commission to those gentlemen; the completed work to be delivered to the committee by the 31st of July, 1877. The Provincial Appropriations Extension Bill was circulated on September 26th. It is very short, and is simply that, subject to the provisions of any Act or Acts to be passed in the present session of Parliament, the provisions of the Provincial Appropriations Extension Act, 1875, shall continue in force until the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, and the words thirtieth day of September throughout the said Act shall be read as and shall be deemed to mean the thirty-first day of December.

His Honor the Chief Justice delivered judgment in the contempt of Court case on the 14th October Mr. Barton being present. His Honor read his judgment, in which he pointed out the gravity of the offence which had been committed, being an insult to the Court, and not to, the Judge alone as an individual. He regretted also to be obliged to say that the manner in which Mr. Barton conducted the proceedings when shewing cause had to his mind very much aggravated the offence. But he accepted Mr. Barton’s assurance that he intended no disrespect to the Court or to him (as Judge of the Court), and he would therefore discharge the rule. Mr. Barton thanked the Court, and stated that he had never expected such a judgment would be fecorded in the case ; and wished to state openly in Court that if he had caused the Chief Justice the slightest pain by his conduct he humbly regretted having done so. The following report has amongst others been presented by the Chairman of the Committee on Native Affairs ;—“ This is a petition from the Natives of the Ngatikahungunu tribe on the East Coast of the North Island. The petitioners desire that publicity should be given to the fact of their allegiance to the Queen, and their faithfulness to her laws. The petitioners allege that there ought to be an annual assembly of Native chiefs from all the tribes, to discuss subjects of interest to the Native race, and to suggest subjects to be brought up before the General Assembly. They also express an opinion that the existing Maori Eepresentation Act should be repealed, with a view of passing another Act largely increasing the number of Maori members in the House of Eepresentatives. They state that the operation of the Native Lands Act is bad, and pray that attempts to purchase land under that Act by officers of the Government should cease ; and they further pray that a better Act may be passed. I am directed to report as follows: That this petition involves questions of public policy, many of which have a very important bearing upon the interests of the Maori race. The committee suggest that the petition be printed and circulated, and they recommend it to the favorable consideration of the Legislature.”

The members of the Wellington Club entertained the late Premier, Sir Julius Vogel, at dinner at the clubhouse on Saturday evening, September 23. There was a very large attendance. ’ All the members of the Ministry were present with the exception of the Hon. Dr. Pollen, that gentleman and several other members of the Club being prevented by illness from attending. The President of the Club, George Hunter, M.H.K., occupied the chair, and after due honor had been done to the toasts of “ Her Majesty the Queen" and “ His Excellency the Governor,”proposed “The Health of their guest, Sir Julius Vogel.” In doing so he stated that in accordance with the rule which had always been observed within the walls of the building they were in, he was precluded from referring to topics of a political character, or saying anything that could by any possibility raise a difference of opinion amongst them, therefore his speech would necesaarilly be brief, and due honor done to their guest as a simple member of the Club. He proceeded to state that in meeting that night they had been actuated by a desire to show some slight mark of respect to one whom they had always been glad to see in the Club, and who ‘ would be missed and regretted by them all. He concluded by saying that he felt he was justified in assuring their guest that the members of the Club and the inhabitants of Wellington would always take a deep interest in his welfare, and sincerely hoped that in his new career he might be fortunate and successful. Sir Julius Vogel acknowledged the toast, and in replying said he should never forget what he owed to New Zealand, or the kindness he had received in Wellington and other portions of the colony, and said that if he should be successful in life he thought nothing would give him greater pleasure than to return to New Zealand and take up his residence amongst his old friends. In the meantime, it would be his duty and sincere wish to promote the interests of New Zealand to the extent of his ability, and he mentioned that if any of those present should visit the old country he hoped they would not fail to find him out. The Hon. Mr. Stafford lien proposed, in eloquent terms, the “Health of Lady Vogel,” and depicted in glowing language the loss that the community she had resided so long amongst would sustain by her departure. The toast was responded to in a hearty manner, and Sir Julius Vogel replied, concluding his speech by asking those present to join with him in doing honor to the toast of “Prosperity to Wellington and the members of its Club.” Mr. Pearce, M.H.R., replied to this toast, and the party broke up shortly after, everyene feeling they had spent a very pleasant evening, but regretting the cause which had brought them together. At a meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul’s on September 27 it was decided to make a grant of £6O to St. Mark’s parish, in aid of parsonage rent. The question of a new hymnal was discussed at length, and it was decided to adopt the import of a committee appointed to consider the matter, who had recommended delay till the General Synod should meet.

.A ntanher of men who have been at work on the Wairarapa’ railway contract came into town on October Bth by special coach, en route for the Kumara rush. Stones from Mr. J. Blackstono’s quarry can now be seen on the reclaimed land. These measure 15 x 10-x 5, and some kerbs 30 x 15 x 8. The quality appears undeniable, and as a single horse and dray, we are informed, has brought six loads in one day, the quarry may be bohsidered within easy reach of town. A sample of hammer-dressed atone can be inspected at the Surveyor’s office. Quantities of smaller sizes of this stone, suitable for yard paving, &c., are available at the quarry. The increase of. pupils at the English High School has so outgrown the accommodation in Featherston-street- that Messrs. Bowden and Perritt have determined to erect forthwith new and commodious premises for their pupils in Abel Smith-street upon an eligible and healthy site, lying between the residence of the Ven. Archdeacon Stock and Mr. Budden’s market garden, to be ready for their reception after the Christmas vacation.

We are indebted to Captain Williams for the following copy of a telegram received by him on Octobers, from Nelson ;—“At a meeting of the shareholders of the Para Para Coal and Iron Company, limited, held here last night, the following resolutions were carried, to be submitted to a meeting to be held in six weeks hencel. That the best legal advice be obtained to compel defaulting shareholders to pay up. 2. That the company be wound up under inspection.” The Synod of the Church of England was opened on October 3rd, and after the President’s address had been delivered, the ordinary routine business of the first day of the session was gone through. Amongst notices of motion was one by Mr. Didsbury, affirming the desirableness of publishing a Church newspaper in the diocese, and appointing a committee to consider and report upon the question of cost; and. another by the Rev. Mr. Harvey, for a committee to consider the advisableness of establishing a Church of England Temperance Society in the diocese. A heavy landslip occurred at the reclamation works bn October 3rd at the place from which a mass of earth and rock fell some time ago. Three of the men working there were almost covered with the earth, and sustained some bruises, while a third, who was completely buried, got severely crushed, and was taken to the hospital. Several trucks were smashed. As we have repeatedly said, these landslips are excessively dangerous, and Tuesday’s experience should be more than necessary to show that something ought to be done to lessen the danger to the men engaged on the reclamation works. We are indebted to the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs for the fpllowing :—“ Some few months since it was ascertained that the jarrah piles used in the construction of the Mangere bridge, Onehunga harbor, were being injured by worms, and doubts were entertained as to whether the timber employed was the true jarrah, or whether it was the spurious sort so closely resembling the true as to be frequently very difficult of detection. Numerous worm-eaten specimens were obtained and forwarded to the Government of Western Australia for examination, the result of which has been communicated to our Government in the following report:—‘Prom the opinion of competent judges who have examined the specimens of timber from the Mangere bridge, Auckland, I feel that there can be not the slightest doubt as to all of them being of the true jarrah wood. The worm, however, in each case has merely penetrated the sap, as it will do here, but they will go no further unless in squaring the pile the heart of the timber has been exposed. When round timber of this class can be used for piles it is always as well to do so, especially in positions likely to be subjected to the attack of the teredo navalis. 1 do not think there need be any cause to fear for the stability of this bridge from the effects that the worms may have upon it, as they will not penetrate beyond the sap, as has been abundantly proved by a very long experience of this timber when similarly exposed in. this colony and other places! — (Signed) Jas, A. Thomas, Government Engineer.—Public Works Department, Perth, W.A., 28th August, 1876.’ ” The Odd Fellows’ Hall was opened as a skating rink on Saturday, October 7, for the first time. Those enterprising caterers for amusement Messrs. Bates and Howard have again hit the public taste, for there was a large attendance both in the afternoon and evening, and all, whether onlookers or Tinkers, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. A number of the fair sex put in an appearance, and certainly far outstripped the male skaters, one lady especially causing general admiration by the grace and ease of her movements. The skating itself to the uninitiated looks quite an easy matter, and our reporter in a weak moment was persuaded by the obliging manager to try his hand. The result was more rididulous than sublime, for, on attempting to do as other men, his legs shot out in a most surprising manner, his head coming in violent contact with what should have been ice ; the ceiling above became as the inky firmament of night, and the number of stars were past counting. When the room —or rather he—became all right again, he picked himself up, shooting out at right angles, and finding himself reclining on the bosom of a member of Parliament. All sorts of thoughts about breach of privilege floated through his brain, and in a frantic effort to reach a seat his head came in violent contact with and disturbed the' digestive organs of an eminent tragedian. At length he was assisted to a seat, and when he took off those skates he felt a sadder and wiser man, and determined that ranking was not his forte, for the rest of the afternoon and evening merely being a spectator. Considerable amusement was caused by the frequent tumbles and cannons which occurred, in the evening as many as four and five coming down in a heap. Mr. Hillsden is quite proficient in the use of the skates, figures and the outside stroke presenting no difficulty to him. He is very kind in giving new chums a hint, and we can only recommend any one with a spare afternoon to invest a shilling at the rink. The proprietors have gone to considerable expense, and we are glad to see that they are being remunerated as they deserve. The furious gale blowing on September 26th continued till 6 or 6 am. next day, its maximum strength being reached between 2 and 3 o’clock, when it had increased to a perfect hurricane. At the Observatory 630 miles of wind were registered in the twenty-four hours. The gale however lasted about eight hours out of that time, including that during the afternoon. At the Heads the greatest velocity on Friday afternoon was 71 miles per hour, equal to a force of about 251bs. on the square foot., During the night the velocity was estimated at 80 to 90 miles per hour, which would give a pressure of about 371bs. on the square foot. When the change came the barometer rose a tenth in an hour, and the temperature fell 10 degrees in as many minutes. The rainfall was insignificant. The damage done in some cases was serious, and from various parts of the town came apocryphal accounts :of escapes. Insecure chimneys early came to grief, and on the Adelaideroad owing to the open exposed character .of the country wooden buildings were blown down. Windows in the City Hotel were smashed, fences blown down, and residents were alarmed by sheets of corrugated iron and debris flying about. In the bay the sea was exceedingly rough, and masters of the various vessels in the port had an anxious time of it. However, every care was taken by the harbor authorities and by the crews of the several vessels, and the damage done was but trifling. Throughout Saturday and part of Sunday it was quite calm, but towards six o’clock a strong wind came up from the S.E., and for a time there was every appearance of as heavy a gale coming from this quarter as had on Friday night blown from the opposite quarter, but it died away, and in the evening rain fell copiously. The weather has been more severe than any experienced for a long time, and no doubt New Zealand, has been caught in the circuit of the gale which recently has done so much damage to shipping and resulted in such serious loss of life on the Australian coast. The only casualty on the coast., yet known of is the going ashore of the Matan.

An amendment was on September 28th made in the Wellington College Reserves Bill, so as to empower the College Governors to mortgage instead of sell the reserves. In this form the Bill passed. It has been determined by the Maori chiefs now assembled in Wellington that a meeting shall be held in March next, to consider the whole question: of Maori lands in this island: how they are to dispose of their lands in the future, and what steps they shall take as to the restoration of the confiscated lands of friendly natives. The meeting will probably be held at Ohinemutu.

On October 12 in the Legislative Council Mr. Robinson asked Colonel Brett if it were true that C. E. Haughton had' the entree of Bellamy’s. Colonel Brett informed the hon. gentleman that Haughton’s name had not been formally erased from the list of visitors; but it had in effect. Did that person appear in the precincts of the House he would be immediately ordered off. There was a meeting of the Athenaeum Committee on Tuesday night, October 10 ; his Worship the Mayor in the chair.’ Negotiations were concluded with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency for the loan of £6500. It is proposed to use this money in the erection of a handsome new building on the present site. We congratulate the committee on the conclusion of the matter, and hope soon to see the fruit of their labors, in the shape of the completion of that which, as a design, bids fair to become one of the architectural lions of the town.

Some members of the House of Representatives (Opposition members) were engaged on Thursday, 12th inst., in innocent and healthy exercise at the rear of the Government buildings. They were playing lawn tennis, which is no doubt a more agreeable pastime than listening to or taking part in a debate such as was going on in the House at the time. Suddenly there appeared outside the Legislative Hall a form bearing an accurate resemblance to the leader of the Opposition in every respect save an absence of the dignified bearing peculiar to that honored gentleman. The game was interesting, but the interest in the game was ridiculously small in comparison to that which the players very soon took in the person on the hill, whose actions were of a peculiar, not to say extraordinary, character. Wildly pantomime, he waved a handkerchief over his head and capered along the crown, while in dumb show he beseeched the players to approach. He might have been bursting with some joyous secret that bound him to the small area in which he was performing some lately invented polka. It suddenly dawned on the faithful ones that there might be something up, and they left their game. The cause of this little scene, it may be stated, was this. A division had been called for in the House on the motion of Mr. Burns re the Inspector of Prisons, and the Opposition members were wanted accordingly. Unfortunately for the Opposition two or three of the members arrived at the door of the House just in time to hear the door locked in their faces, the Speaker having given ,the order just previously. The Government bad a majority of one only. To Opposition members—Moral: Attend to games political, and leave tennis balls alone.

In reference to the late Father Petit Jean, the Bay of Plenty Times relates the following : —He formerly belonged to the French Mission at the Bay of Islands, and accompanied the troops when they . marched against Heki’a pa in 1845. As he was well-known to the natives, he was allowed to enter the pa, and on his return to the camp strongly advised the officer commanding the troops not to storm it. His advice was, however, disregarded, and the Rev. Father was threatened with hanging to a tree. The pa was stormed, and the loss on the side of the Imperial troops was 127 men killed and wounded in seven minutes. Colonel Hulme, commanding H.M.’s 96th Regiment, father of Mr. C. F. Hulme, of this district, led the storming party, and was the last to retire, the bugle sounding three times before he left the pa. One of the storming party, John Madden, an old settler, resident at Greerton, who has kindly furnished us with these particulars, says he has never met a man who was there who can tell how the gallant colonel escaped. Alter the fight the dead bodies of the troops were left on the ground for three days, and were mutilated by the natives, until the venerable (late) Bishop Williams and the Rev. R. Burrows obtained leave from the natives for the bodies to be removed. An old colonist named Ben Turner has recently died in Auckland. He was exceedingly eccentric, and months ago had bis tombstone prepared with an inscription and all written upon it. The Star gives the following account of Ids life:—He was born in Worcester, in 1796, and was therefore already a youth when Nelson’s great naval victories were won; when Wellesley was winning his way, to the final triumph at Waterloo, which overthrew a dynasty. He saw the throne of Great Britain and Ireland occupied by four sovereigns. He left his native town fifty-six years ago, and entered on the adventurous life of a whaler, in which capacity he came to New Zealand in 1822. The vessel was wrecked at Chalky Island, a small island close to Stewart’s Island, upon which Mr. Turner was afterwards engaged in the sealing and whaling trade for several years. Between 1827 and 1830 he made several trips to the North Island, and resided for a short time in Wellington, where he was engaged in the timber trade. Then he removed to Kapiti Island, where he was a spectator of the famous expeditions of the cannibal warrior, Te Rauparaha. It was there that he narrowly escaped becoming a meal for the Maoris, two of his European mates being killed and eaten. Probably it was the old man’s well-known toughness that saved him. Mr. Turner afterwards travelled overland from Wanganui to the East Coast, through the heart of the tribes then at war, and he lived for a short time in the Tauranga district. In 1832 he removed to Kororareka, where' he erected sawmills, and owned vessels trading to Sydney. The lawlessness of the rude adventurers who formed the population of the Bay at this time necessitated the formation of a Vigilance Committee, of which he was chairman, and for some time a species of rough-and-ready, but a very efficient, system of justice was meted out. In those days there was no overshadowing Native department, and the committee used to summarily inflict punishment upon Maoris who offended British dignity. Then the natives trusted and respected the pakeha, Mr. Turner was mainly instrumental in the capture of Manuka, the murderer of the Robertson family. In later years Mr. Turner prospered by supplying the troops. In 1845 his property was burned in Hoard Heke’s raid on Kororareka. Mr. Turner afterwards removed to Auckland, where he has since lived upon an income principally derived from rents. The Chairman of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society the other day at a meeting reported that the fish-house in the Domain had been completed. By this time next month 250,000 salmon ova from California would probably be delivered to them, and the society should be in readiness to deal with them. The boxes now in the society’s fish-house were capable of containing 60,000 ova for the purpose of hatching. Of the balance, 100,000 ova would have to be at once sent off to Canterbury, and, say, 40,000 ova to Wanganui. That left 110,000 ova for Auckland, The fishhouse would contain 60,000, and they proposeed to dispose of the balance as follows : —20,000 or 25,000 to be placed in the Oratia or Swanson’s Creek, which fell into the Waitemata. It was a good plan, and £lO or £ls would be all that was required to make the necessary boxes, &c., to secure their successful hatching there. From the 60,00® ova in the fish-house when they hatched they proposed to supply the Wairoa, Manukau, Waikato, and other adjoining rivers, and the balance, or remaining 25,000, he proposed should be placed in the Thames river. If that were agreed to, he should be at the whole expense connected with this lot himself. One of his men had been down at Auckland, and received the necessary instructions to enable him to attend to the boxes while the ova were hatching. That plan would fairly distribute the ova, and secure the young fish against their enemies until such time as, they were able te take core of themselves. That plan, if carried out, would absorb the whole of the 250,000 ova.

The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Coffey, who are about to reside in Wellington, Mr. Coffey having accepted charge of a church here, were presented with very handsome testimonials on leaving Milton, where Mr. Coffey has ministered for three years. The Rev. Mr. Lindsay, a member of the Presbyterian ministry, who has recently arrived from Scotland, and is to take charge of the .Featherston district, preached on Sunday morning, September 24th, in St. Andrew’s Church, Lambton-quay, and in the evening at St. John's, Willis-street.

We are indebted to Mr. Monteith for the following return of patients in the Provincial Hospital during and ending the month of September, 1876 :—Admitted, males 9, females 4 ; discharged, males 13, females 1 ; left in Hospital, males 3,6 females 9 ; total remaining 45. The specimens of the result of the late smelting at the Titanic Steel Works have been inspected by a large number of persons. The iron is exceedingly bright and clean, but we understand doubts have been expressed by practical men as to whether it is not of too brittle a character to be valuable for casting purposes. It is generally conceded that it will make splendid malleable iron. ' The following extract from a telegram from Captain . Fairchild to Mr. Seed, Secretary, of Customs, has been courteously placed at our disposal by Mr. Seed. It possesses a mournful interest, as it tends to force upon us the sad truth that the Britain’s Pride will never again be heard of ;—“Bluff, September 25, 1876. We arrived at 3 p.m. to-day. We went into all the Sounds, and searched the coast from Jackson Bay to Foveaux Strait, and could not find any trace of the Britain’s Pride. Ido not think any portion of the Britain's Pride or any of the crew ever reached the New Zealand coast; if they had we must have seen something of them.” The Blenheim Fire Brigade have received a donation of £lO from the General Government. This was in consequence of the Superintendent, Mr. Seymour, having - brought under notice of the Government the fact that the escape from destruction of the entire block of buildings, General and Provincial, including the new telegraph office, was due solely to the energetic and persevering exertions of the Volunteer Brigade, continued without intermission during many hours. The telegraph office was frequently on fire, and a large hotel adjoining so much burnt that the whole front was charred into holes. If the fire had gained this building, nothing could have saved the Government offices. The town is not supplied with waterworks acting by pressure, but every drop had to be pumped by the manual labor of the volunteers.

Some excitement was created on October 2 by the discovery that a considerable sum of money had been abstracted from a safe in one of the offices of the Native department. An imprest is usually taken by this department to meet payments of small sums to natives, and on Saturday some £llO had accumulated. The keys of the safe in which the money was deposited had been missing some days, and it was consequently left unlocked. On Monday morning, on the officers of the department attending, the keys were found near the safe, but the money was missing. The money is scarcely traceable, some £6O being in gold, and the remainder in notes of various values up to £lO. The police were duly informed of the occurrence, and Detective Farrell went to the office, but could not get information which would give him a chance of securing the robber, a sufficient description of the money not being in the possession of the authorities. A recent arrival from London, an essentially “ smart youth,” created a disturbance in the Theatre Royal on September 26 as the play was proceeding, wherefore he was arrested. He was far from being drunk, and displayed rich humor on the road to the station by original remarks on colonial habits. As a specimen of a London flower reared in a particular school well known to natives of “the village," he did not in any way interfere with his reputation, exhibiting the customary precocity, and not falling to express his contempt of colonial administration of the law, as represented by two very large policemen, who, by the way, feund great amusement in their charge, and treated the little imp with a leniency which perhaps he might not have received under similar circumstances in Kensington, which he was very careful to inform the inquiring clerk was his home when he happened to be there. But having actually no particular residence at that moment, he made himself at home within the small space provided by a hospitable Government, and expressed himself happy in the possession of a piece of tobacco, to be devoted to exercise in mastication.

The. collapse of one of the massive booms, forming the upper section of the girder of the railway bridge on the side nearer the town, and the miraculous escape of a number of workmen engaged in elevating it into position, have been one of the principal topics of discussion in town during the day (says the Wanganui Herald of the 20th ult.), and not a few have visited the scene of the disaster. This unfortunate catastrophe took place shortly before 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and was caused through one of the rings attached to the top scaffolding—of which there are five, and into which were hooked tackles to regulate the purchase —giving way. Theboom which was in process of being raised weighs some eleven tons, and this weight was supposed to have been equally distributed among the rings, reducing the weight actually borne by each to about two tons. The inferior quality of the iron of which the ring was made is doubtless the whole cause of the catastrophe, for if of superior metal it could have borne considerably more strain. This ring breaking, a sudden strain was thrown upon the others ; but they stood the shock, the ultimate collapse being attributable to the lengthening out of the tongues of the blocks, when the boom fell with a terrifia crash. Three men were on the boom at the time, and a number of others were walking quite close to it, all 4t whom escaped without the slightest injury. The scaffolding suffered but slight injury, only three of the longitudinal beams being broken by the heavy weight with which the boom fell upon them—a weight that has been calculated at about 25 tons. Fortunately, the mortices of theboom at the shore end remained over the caps of the terminal posts, otherwise the catastrophe would have been attended with a complete collapse of the scaffolding and loss of life. About a month’s delay has thus been caused, and the girder will have to be taken away and reconstructed. In order to make the delay as short as possible the contractors intend to make use of one of the girders of the opposite end of the bridge. Settlement of Stewart Island is quietly but steadily progressing. From a resident there we (Southland Times) learn that the population, particularly of juveniles, has increased so far as to warrant the erection at Half-Moon Bay of a schoolhouse, which is attended by about 20 children. The place is also used by Mr. Peterson, the teacher, _ for conducting Divine worship in on Sabbaths”, when it is customary for a pretty considerable congregation to attend. Gold has been found in various parts of the island—in one or two places in sufficient quantity to pay small wages; but the difficulty of getting supplies to them prevent their being worked. A party has just started on a prospecting tour round the island. The sawmills are in full swing, employing a large number of men, and becoming an important industry. One alone, Messrs. MoCallum’s, will give work to about 30 men. The supply of timber is sufficient to keep a large number of mills going for years to come. The population, as a rule, are all thriving and contented, but one drawback is very much felt—the difficulty experienced in acquiring a legal title to any land. Were that process simplified in any way, the island would soon be maintaining a numerous and prosperous community. The “ unfortunate ” Mr. Smytbies was disposed of by the hon. gentlemen of the Legislative Council on October 9. In an impassioned speech Colonel Brett moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill He hoped the Council would temper justice with mercy, A discussion lasting an hour or so followed. The cold light on the matter by Mr. Hall was too much for mercy, for she vanished from the bosoms of sixteen hon. gentlemen, and the Bill was thrown out. The division list showed sixteen to eleven.

It is stated by the Wairarapa paper that the Kumara rush is taking a number of men away from work on the railway contractsWages have been raised to prevent this as much as possible. Major St. Hill, who was well known in New Zealand some time ago, has accepted an appointment as private secretary to Mr. Weld, Governor of Tasmania. He has recently been acting as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Presidency. The Anglican Synod brought its deliberations to a close on October 10, During the evening there was a discussion on the temperance question, in which the Bishop very emphatically expressed his opinions on the question in so far as the action of tie Church as a body was concerned, ■

The following tenders were received by the Public Works department for No. 3 contract, station buildings, Timaru to Vaitaki Railway, viz. :—Accepted—Thomas H. Parsons, Timaru, £3559 ; declined John Ogilvie, Timaru, £3797; Thomas R. Jones, Timaru, £3897 7 George Filmer, Timaru, £3985. There aro some excellent game birds, says the Masterton News, .knocking about the outskirts .of .the - Rangitumau bush just now—geese,' turkeys, and even peacocks being: amongst the number. Any good sportsman visiting the locality would be likely to do a very fair stroke.

In an Auckland telegram of the 27th ult. it was stated that a man named Hugh Rae, who had been fined £IOO for sly grog selling, was supposed to have gone South, and that a warrant had been issued for his apprehension. It appears that Rae did not leave Auckland, a telegram having been received at the police station yesterday that Rae had been arrested in Auckland on that day. The following tenders were received at the Public Works' Office, Wellington, for, the Lowther contract (permanent way, &c.), of the Winton to Kingston railway :— Accepted— W. H. Topham, Wanganui, £2014. Declined John Whittaker, Dunedin, £2035 ; J- B. Blair, Invercargill, £2036 ; Alexander Menzies, Invercargill, £2044 ; J. G. ProctSb Dunedin, £2400 ; D. W. McArthur, InvercirgilL. £2761.

Thousands of acres, says the Bruce Herald,. are this season being broken up by runholders in Southland. Turnips are generally sown broadcast on the first furrow- 600 acres thus treated last year by Mr. McCaughan on Wantwood station yielded an immense crop of excellent turnips of large size, which were fed off by sheep. The land is now being sawn in wheat, and is of very excellent quality. Additional fresh ground is this season being similarly treated by him. The Jiangitikei Advocate states that a large and very brilliant meteor was observed on the evening of the 26th a little before 7 o’clock. It travelled from west to east with great rapidity, its illuminating effect being nearly equal to that of the moon at full. One remarkable feature connected with it was, that itr was attended in its erratic flight by a much smaller one, as though a portion of the larger meteoric body had become detached. It was visible for several seconds, and left behind it a train of tremulous light.

The Wairarapa Hews hears excellent accounts from the stations regarding the prospects of the lambing season. On Abbotsford station the percentage this year will be not less than eighty, which is 20 per cent, in excess of the previous year. Up to the present time it has been observed that all the pure-bred Lincolns have dropped doubles, and in one case, which occurred on Thursday, three were dropped at one birth. The reports from the other stations in the Taueru are likewise satisfactory. The estimate, however, has not yet transpired, so that we can only speak of them in a general way. The grass is also said to be growing remarkably well, so that, coupled with the present fine weather, the runholders’ prospects are altogether cheery. Mr. Lee, the Inspector of Schools, has recently been examining the schools in the Rangitikei district, making the annual classification in the standards, and we have much pleasure in reprinting the remarks of our local contemporary, the Advocate, as showing the results of the present educational system in that district: —lt will be seen from the information we have been able to gather that our public schools in this neighborhood are in a satisfactory state, as not one of them appears to have produced unsatisfactory results in this last examination. We hope that this improvement will continue, and that the parents will assist the present staff of competent and energetic teachers by sending their children regularly to school. By the system now in operation, the schools are kept in a healthy state of emulation, both as regards individual pupils and the comparative results of the several schools. The comparative merits of the different schools will probably be set forth in the Inspector’s annual report. We may, however, say this much, that there are very few children in the different schools who have not advanced a standard since the first passes made, when the children were first definitely classed, two years ago. The few failures were mostly caused by very irregular and broken attendance. This proves that if children will only attend regularly they are bound to make very satisfactory progress. We cannot conclude our notice without congratulating the settlers in having as an Inspector of Schools a gentleman like Mr. Lee, whose heart is in his work, and who never wearies in his endeavors to advance the cause of education. We believe that to Mr. Lee’s exertions the encouraging success of our various schools is mainly due. It is to this gentleman we are indebted for the initiation of a system which has worked so well, and to the development of which Mr. Lee has so energetically devoted himself. Considerable anxiety is being felt here regarding the safety of the ship La Hogue consequent upon a telegram published in this paper some few days ago from the West Coast stating that a quantity' of wreckage, together with a life-buoy marked “La Hogue, London,” had been washed ashore. It cannot be that the La Hogue has been wroc]ied\in the vicinity of our coast, for looking'at a late Home paper, we find that she left London on July 21st and passed Plymouth on the 24th, bound for Sydney, therefore she could not be near New Zealand when the wreckage was found, being only 64 days out. A telegram in our shipping columns, from Port Chalmers, mentions the arrival there of the Thomasina McLellan, after a very dangerous voayage, from London, consequent upon some coalsgettingon fire. A large quantity of powder and matches were on board, which had to be jettisoned before reaching Rio Janiero, into which port she ran for safety. There were a large number of passengers on board. On October Ist the new Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Mr. Lindsay, preached at the Fernside and Feathereton churches. We (Standard) understand that a manse is to beerected for him at Waihenga, towards which over £IOO has already been subscribed, the Hon Mr Waterhouse heading the list with £SO, We learn that Mr, Joseph Ames, of theProvincial Hotel, Upper Hutt, has arranged with Mr. C. Moody for the lease of the Lincoln’s Tnn Hotel, on the site of the old Crown, and Anchor, on Lambton-quay, the building? of which is to be pushed en, so as to be completed in time for the quarterly licensing; meeting in December next. We cannot imagine the reason that induced Mr. Moody to change the name of the hotel, but the new building will greatly improve the appearance of the locality. Mr. Ames is well known as one. of the best boating men. in Wellington, and will no doubt be welcomed back by his old comrades of the Star Club. We wish him every success. , - .